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Jeff Kahntroff analyzes hitter streamers and starts for Week 25. These bats are potential fantasy baseball waiver wire adds to stream for head-to-head leagues.
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 25, taking a look at hitters to add or stream off the waiver wire for this week's scheduled games.
To keep things simple, I pick from players who are 50% owned or less and who play at least seven games in the week. If someone jumps off the page at me as a less than seven game player, I may make an exception, but otherwise, the advantage in a number of games dictates my choices.
Streaming can be a valuable tool, by allowing you to feast on favorable pitching matchups and simply have your hitters play more games than your opponents' hitters. If you have the roster space, streaming a hitter can be useful not only to fill a vacant lineup spot but also to fill in for someone who has five games that week or faces tough matchups. In 5x5 leagues, four of the five hitting categories are counting stats, making the value of extra games significant. Streaming also can allow you to target a specific category of need. This week there is a mediocre pool of seven-game streamers. It is deep enough that I am not adding six-game options, but it is not so deep that you need to sit good regulars. Let's dive in.
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Bats to Stream and Start in Week 25
Adalberto Mondesi (2B/SS, KC) - 36% owned
Mondesi is a buy and hold. In just 60 games on the year, he is already 16th in MLB in stolen bases. He is on a 162-game pace of .286/22/95/73/62. Despite the speed, he likely will not maintain that current batting average with his batted ball profile. However, at his age that profile certainly could improve. Nonetheless, he is a 23 year-old with elite fantasy stolen base potential coupled with some pop. Even though he does not face the juiciest pitching matchups this week, his stolen base potential combined with the ability to contribute in other categories makes him the top option.
Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TB) - 27% owned
Kiermaier was a fantasy breakout candidate this year, and suffice it to say that he has not broken out. Nevertheless, last year he did post a line of .276/15/56/39/16 in just 98 games. In 105 games the prior year, he finished with 12 homers and 21 steals. In his down 2018, he still has seven homers and nine steals in just 79 games. He has continued to perform better against righties, and he should face five of them this week. He is a good bet for all around production.
Willy Adames (2B/SS, TB) - 23% owned
Adames has been featured in past entries, so I will not bore you by reciting the same facts. In sum, he is a former top prospect who just turned 23 years old and has shown the ability for double digit homers and steals. In his brief MLB career (71 games), he has continued to show that ability, with a line of .263/8/36/25/6. He will benefit from favorable pitching matchups this week and has the opportunity to provide balanced production.
Scott Schebler (OF, CIN) - 15% owned
After swatting 30 homers last year in under 500 at bats, Schebler is impressing again this year. In just 94 games, he has a line of .272/16/51/47/3. Even though he may not play every game, he has shown the ability to hit both lefties and righties. He faces average pitching matchups and should provide decent fantasy production this week.
Aledmys Diaz (3B/SS, TOR) - 9% owned
In 111 games in 2016, Diaz posted a line of .299/17/71/65/4. He walked 41 times while only striking out 60, and that combination of plate discipline and power placed him high on many 2017 draft boards. But, in 2017, he flopped, and he was traded to the Blue Jays in the offseason. In 117 games this year, he has a line of .255/17/53/48/3. He gets to face the remnants of the Orioles’ rotation this week and has the chance to contribute.
Kevin Pillar (OF, TOR) - 18% owned
In 140 games, Pillar has a line of .244/12/56/54/14. He has produced fairly consistent numbers over the past few years, averaging 12 homers and 18 steals the prior three with steady run production. Given the September lineups, he may not start every game. But, he has the potential to produce across the board. He faces the Orioles staff and thus should have some chances to put up some numbers.
Others To Consider
Ryan O'Hearn (1B, KC) - 7% owned - O’Hearn is batting .360 with nine homers in 75 at bats versus righties this year and should face five. While that is obviously not sustainable, he could be an option for homers in deeper leagues.
Nico Goodrum (1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, DET) - 13% owned - Goodrum would have been near the top of the list but for the quad injury. Keep an eye on his health, and if he looks healthy, insert him into your lineup.
