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Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, June 30th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Futures Game Rosters
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Futures Game Rosters
If you ask me, the All Star Break is a big old yawn fest. The one exception is the Futures Game. It's our chance to see some of the best near-majors prospects in the league. In many cases, we're already talking about or even stashing these players (i.e. Derek Fisher). Here's a brief video displaying the rosters with light commentary. Alternatively, I trust you can click around on mlb.com and find an article.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Games are already under way today with Chicago the lone remaining storm risk. The forecast has improved slightly since earlier in the day. The Midwest could be a disaster zone tomorrow with Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago face storm threats.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, June 30th
Pitchers to Use
Generally speaking, I don't like using low strikeout, league average starters unless I have a very specific use case - like I need the innings volume or a chance at a quality start. Clayton Richard's best selling point is that quality start potential. He'll generally toss about six innings of three-run baseball. He's a high ground ball rate guy. A matchup against the Dodgers isn't ideal.
Doug Fister is set to make his second start of the season for the Red Sox. In his Boston debut, his velocity was way up - all the way to a whopping 90 mph. For Fister, that's pretty impressive. He hasn't thrown that hard since his superb 2011 campaign. There's a small chance for surprisingly strong numbers. He's only four percent owned. He'll face the Blue Jays.
Other Targets: Mike Montgomery, Mike Foltynewicz
Pitchers to Exploit
Austin Bibens-Dirkx has a unique name and two good starts to his name. The 32-year-old's overall numbers tell a different tale. The 3.68 ERA is offset by a 5.29 FIP. With a low 5.15 K/9 and 2.21 BB/9, he just doesn't have the stuff to succeed in the majors. Look for his .194 BABIP to regress. Hunt down some White Sox.
Parker Bridwell offers a very similar story. In 21.1 innings, he has a 2.95 ERA, 6.19 FIP, 5.06 K/9, and 2.53 BB/9. He's benefited from an unlikely 95.7 percent strand rate. Once those baserunners come around to score, the wheels will fall off the bus. Grab some Mariners.
Other Targets: Chris Tillman, Josh Tomlin, Anibal Sanchez, Ben Lively, Mike Pelfrey, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Matt Garza, Sam Gaviglio
Homers on the Wire
Tommy Pham remains widely available at just eight percent owned. His matchup against Tanner Roark is a positive in that Roark has scuffled of late. However, they're both ground ball guys which should ultimately favor the pitcher.
Robbie Grossman has perfect plate discipline against left-handed pitchers. Jason Vargas has well above average command too. It's an interesting matchup between two masters of the strike zone.
Other Targets: Jed Lowrie, Matt Joyce, Matt Chapman, Franklin Barreto, Matt Davidson, Melky Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera, Ian Happ, Lonnie Chisenhall, Mitch Moreland
Steals on the Wire
Mike Pelfrey and catcher Kevan Smith may be the most exploitable battery in the majors. Delino DeShields, Carlos Gomez, and Shin-Soo Choo are in line for a big day.
The Orioles have struggled a tad with baserunners this year, making it a perfect day for Mallex Smith. Tillman's simply struggled at everything.
Other Targets: Jarrod Dyson, Taylor Motter, Michael Taylor, Eric Sogard, Leury Garcia
Skill Positions
Austin Barnes is in line for a start. He's slashing .278/.398/.478 with even better numbers against left-handed pitchers.
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