RADIO
Welcome back to my hitting streamers column for Week 7, 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 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. This week, the Cubs have eight games. The Red Sox and Seattle have seven, but they face good pitching matchups. The Rays occupy a number of positions on the below list simply due to player availability. With that said, let’s dive right in.
Bats to Stream and Start in Week 7
Mitch Moreland (1B, BOS) - 30% owned
Moreland has four games against the Orioles this week, and if that's not reason enough to start him, there's more. The righty-masher has a home run every 20.2 at bats against righties in his career with a .258 average. This year, he has batted .339 against them with a homer every 11.8 at bats. He should face six righty starters this week. However, he has also managed to hold his own against lefties this year, posting a .325/6/15/19/1 line overall on the year. In the middle of a Boston lineup that is second in the majors in runs per game, Moreland should provide power and run production this week, with the possibility of a decent average. Facing good pitching matchups, he is this week's top streamer.
Ryon Healy (1B/3B, SEA) - 38% owned
Healy is one of those players who can be undervalued in 5x5 leagues due to some limitations that have no effect on these leagues. For instance, his low walk rates will not affect you, nor will his defensive limitations at his previous position (3B). Despite spending time on the DL this year, Healy is now healthy and has posted a line of .260/6/13/16/0 in just 19 games. Even though he is unlikely to produce at that pace all year, he should maintain that batting average with good power and run production. In his young career, he is a .280 hitter with a homer every 20.9 at bats. Facing favorable matchups this week, he is a great streaming option who is likely to provide you with a home run and run production. Insert him in your lineup with confidence.
Addison Russell (SS, CHI) - 41% owned
After being the subject of Manny Machado trade rumors this offseason, Russell is off to a slow start. In 33 games, he has a .266/1/8/18/1 line. However, despite just turning 24 in January, he has a career 162-game average of .241/17/73/74/4. This week, he plays eight games and faces good pitching matchups. His bat has heated up of late, with a 1.042 OPS in the last 14 days. Even though he is a relatively unexciting fantasy option overall, he is this week's best middle infield streaming option. Do not expect much in terms of speed or batting average, but he could produce a homer and some decent run production.
Dustin Fowler (OF, OAK) - 7% owned
Dustin Fowler has had an interesting start to his career. In the first inning of his debut, he suffered a gruesome injury. Then, he was traded for Sonny Gray. Now, he has made his way back to the bigs, again showing the promise that had Oakland trade for him. For fantasy purposes, Fowler is first and foremost a basestealer. In 451 minor league games, he stole 82 bases. However, he has also shown some power. In 70 minor league games in 2017, he swatted 13 homers. In 30 such games this year, he added three more. While he is unlikely to provide a great average, he is a good source of speed who could also provide a homer here and there. He is the best overall streaming option this week if you are seeking speed without giving up too much in the other categories.
Carlos Gomez (OF, TB) - 4% owned
Carlos Gomez has appeared on this list numerous times over the past couple years due to his power/speed combination. While he is no longer going to hit 20 homers and steal 40 bases in a season as he did in 2013, Gomez still possesses the tools. In 118 games last year, he had 13 homers and 18 steals. In 115 games the prior year, he posted 12 and 17. To start 2018, he has a line of .195/5/18/8/3. As this line shows, he is a good option for power and speed and can produce some runs, but he is likely to hurt you in the batting average department. If you are looking for a high-risk, high-reward option, he is your guy.
Ben Zobrist (2B/OF, CHC) - 11% owned
Zobrist has slowed down (literally and figuratively) in recent years as his years of double-digit stolen bases are now behind him. However, he still produces a serviceable average with average run production and double-digit power. Whereas Gomez is a risky buy, Zobrist is a steady contributor. This week he has eight games against good pitching matchups. As his line of .293/1/11/9/0 in just 23 games this year suggests, he is a decent bet to keep you afloat in the batting average department while helping you in run production. Do not expect much else.
Matt Duffy (3B, TB) - 3% owned
From a fantasy perspective, Duffy is likely to be what Zobrist was: a player with a decent batting average who can just eclipse the double-digit threshhold in both homers and steals. For instance, in 2015, he posted a line of .295/12/77/77/12. That is far from exciting, but it is production across the board. Despite his .297/1/6/9/2 line to start the year, I would continue to predict average production from him. With decent pitching matchups this week, he has a chance to provide streaming value. While that is hardly a ringing endorsement, the streaming pool becomes shallow quickly this week.
Others to Consider
Mallex Smith (OF, TB) - 28% owned - Smith has 40 stolen bases in 183 career games, including eight this year. If you need speed, he is worth an add.
C.J. Cron (1B, TB) - 30% owned - Cron has never shown the full extent of power that people expected, but he is off to a great start this year, with a line of .264/7/17/20/0. He is not a bad backup power source.
Jeimer Candelario (3B, DET) - 35% owned - Candelario is a good young hitter (.286/5/21/16/0), but he faces tough pitching matchups this week.
