RADIO
Happy tax day and welcome back to Streaming Wars, your daily source of waiver wire and streaming advice. This is your one stop guide to plug lineup holes, stream pitchers, or target categories of need.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, April 19th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Brewers Catcher Poll Results
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Brewers Catcher Poll Results
Yesterday, I was pondering the future of catcher in Milwaukee. Including injured backstop Andrew Susac, the Brewers now own three offensively interesting backstops. Presently, Jett Bandy and Manny Pina are battling for primacy. I asked you to weigh in on Twitter.
Which Brewers catcher to own for immediate production?
— Brad Johnson (@BaseballATeam) April 17, 2017
With less than an hour left in the polling, Pina leads Bandy 62 to 38 percent (24 votes). They're both making strong bids. Pina has a .462/.481/.654 batting line with nearly 40 percent line drives. Regression will set in immediately, but he still projects to a roughly league average batting line.
Bandy is decidedly more strikeout prone - a trait from which the Brewers do not shy away. He hit his second home run of the season last night to go with a .321/.367/.607 line. His numbers are also ticketed for regression, although he's much closer to a sustainable pace. Bandy's biggest issue may be his aggression. He works his way into pitchers counts. Pitchers know they don't need to throw strikes to get him out.
For what it's worth, my fantasy money is on Bandy as the more productive member of the Brewers catcher platoon.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Only Atlanta is a serious rain risk today. Keep an eye on the potential for storms right around game time. Tomorrow, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Chicago may be at risk according to this vague weather map.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, April 19th
Pitchers to Use
Joe Ross is already 55 percent owned. He's returning to major league action tomorrow with a start against the Braves. Ross has a reliever's approach to starting - sliders, sliders, and more sliders. He throws his bendy ball nearly 40 percent of the time, and it's the only reason he's a viable major leaguer. His fastball is heavily exploitable. He may be rusty or overly amped up tomorrow.
I suppose I have to mention Amir Garrett since he's made two strong starts. Do yourself a favor - don't use Garrett tomorrow. He's a lefty with unimpressive stuff pitching at a hitter's haven. If you have an open spot and don't need a hitter, you can consider stashing Garrett. If he happens to pitch well on your bench, at least you'll have a trade asset. Oh, and he's somehow 53 percent owned.
Other Targets: Woof woof
Pitchers to Exploit
In Oakland, Martin Perez will face Jesse Hahn. Both have produced good results thus far. Perez's success can be pinned upon an ultra fortunate 95.4 percent strand rate. In fact, Perez is usually among the worst in the league at stranding runners. His command has been non-existent this season. He's going to melt. Hahn relies too much on an average fastball to survive the Rangers lineup.
I'd almost be tempted to use Tyler Anderson versus the lefty prone Dodgers if he wasn't opposed by Clayton Kershaw. Alas, Anderson's path to victory is covered with brambles. He's made a few too many mistake pitches. If you dig deep enough into the peripherals, you'll glimpse the same successful pitcher from 2016. He's a nice buy-low candidate in deep settings.
J.C. Ramirez isn't a major league reliever. That the Angels have asked him to make multiple starts is a scathing indictment of their farm system. And front office. Excluding the Padres, every other team has a better sixth starter than Ramirez. Dallas Keuchel and the Astros are the primary beneficiaries.
Other Targets: Tommy Milone, Dylan Covey, Ubaldo Jimenez, Trevor Bauer, Adalberto Mejia, Jhoulys Chacin
Homers on the Wire
Orioles prospect Trey Mancini is forcing his way into the every day lineup. After popping three home runs in 15 plate appearances last season, he's added another four bombs in 24 plate appearances this year. He'll almost certainly start versus a southpaw at Great American Ballpark. Remember, there's no designated hitter, so he'll play at the expense of Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, or Craig Gentry.
Aaron Hicks is playing regularly thanks to a Matt Holliday injury. He picked a great time to pop three home runs. Hicks is showing early signs of a breakout, but we're still in super tiny sample land. Other Yankees of note include Aaron Judge, Chase Headley, and Greg Bird. They're in a good spot against Covey.
I really want to get excited about the Twins stack versus homer prone Bauer. Alas, Joe Mauer, Jorge Polanco, and Robbie Grossman aren't true blue home run threats. There's enough of a chance that it's worth consideration in an appropriately deep league. They'll be available in nearly any league not labeled AL-Only.
Other Targets: Josh Reddick, David Peralta, Scott Van Slyke, Enrique Hernandez, Chris Marrero, Brandon Guyer, Corey Dickerson, Logan Morrison, Lucas Duda, Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, Scott Van Slyke, Ryon Healy
Steals on the Wire
Ender Inciarte is still just shy of 50 percent owned despite strong early season production. Improbably, he's already hit four home runs with the help of his offseason swing path overhaul. He still mostly makes contact on the ground, leaving me hesitant to predict more than 12 to 15 home runs over the full season. He's only stolen one base thus far, but another 19 are coming. He'll face Ross. Matt Wieters is a mid-tier defensive catcher.
Gentry somehow bats leadoff when the Orioles face a lefty. He still have enough speed to be a base running threat.
Yankees leadoff man Brett Gardner may be the best pick off the wire if you're solely targeting stolen bases. He's up against an exploitable White Sox battery.
It's Rajai Davis day tomorrow. He'll face Perez who, as I noted above, is very due for a bad outing.
Other Targets: Travis Jankowski, Wilmer Difo, Kevin Kiermaier, Jose Reyes, Jarrod Dyson, Leonys Martin, Delino DeShields, Adam Frazier
Skill Positions
Sam Dyson is officially out in Texas. He'll head to the disabled list with a hand contusion. I'm pretty sure he also has some kind of arm injury. Matt Bush has been named "closer." However, due to his injured shoulder, Jeremy Jeffress, Tony Barnette, and Keone Kela could pick up the odd save.
If you need a one day catcher, Josh Phegley is always of interest when facing a mediocre lefty like Perez.
