🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for April 21

Brad Johnson's fantasy baseball daily streaming picks for April 21th. Pitcher and hitter streamers for MLB DFS games, and head-to-head (H2H) waiver wire targets.

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your daily source of waiver wire and streaming advice. This is your one stop guide to address lineup holes, stream pitchers, or target categories of need.

Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, April 21st.

Let's get to it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Agenda

  1. Judging Stanton
  2. Today's Weather and Updates
  3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. Judging Stanton

Let's talk about this statcast video of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge hitting mammoth home runs. This is nothing new for Stanton. However, I'm very encouraged by what I've seen from Judge. Not that Dylan Covey is a quality opponent, but it's reassuring to see Judge recognize and turn on a hanging curve ball. As a minor leaguer, he had a reputation as somebody who struggled to identify pitches. That wasn't the case yesterday.

I'm buying Judge wherever he's available, which, by now, is almost nowhere.

 

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Cincinnati is looking like a storm risk tonight. The game will start, but will it finish? Monitor accordingly. Denver, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York may be at risk tomorrow  per my not-so-handy weather map.

 

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, April 21th

Pitchers to Use

A trio of very veteran pitchers are the top streaming options. My preferred target is crafty Bartolo Colon versus the Phillies. The use case for Colon is straightforward. He's a good bet for a quality start and a chance for a win. Sometimes he'll hand you positive ratios. Sometimes they're negative. Such is the way with known quantities on the waiver wire. Colon is evenly matched against Jeremy Hellickson.

CC Sabathia is not back, but he does look a little better. At least to my eye. He's improved as a pitcher over the last few seasons - necessitated by losing his elite stuff. He's done a great job keeping hitters off balance through three starts. Like Bartolo (in both size and usage), Sabathia is best targeted for his chance at a victory. He may receive a ton of run support.

The other veteran, Hector Santiago, is the riskiest of the bunch. He has a history of posting solid numbers over long stretches. He also melts down with all too much frequency. Although Santiago has strong numbers through three starts, the peripherals point to at least a 4.00 ERA going forward. He has a rough matchup against Justin Verlander.

I'm a big fan of Alex Wood as a pitcher. In his first start of the season, he exited with a perfect game intact. Did I mention he only threw 3.1 innings? Wood is working his way back up to a starter's workload. Expect another start of five or fewer innings.

Other Targets: Adam Conley

 

Pitchers to Exploit

There are a lot of pitchers like Alec Asher around the league. They walk few because they work in the strike zone. They also strike out few because they're predictably over the plate. Given time an opportunity, they might learn to become a Brandon McCarthy or a Scott Feldman. The Orioles picked up Asher off the Phillies scrap heap. The Red Sox should feast.

Tyler Glasnow is obviously a promising prospect. Everybody says as much. The command just isn't there. He's walked seven batters in 6.2 innings. If the Yankees do one thing well, it's take pitches. Keep betting against Glasnow until it backfires a few times.

I was bullish about an Adam Wainwright rebound entering the season. There was talk of a rediscovery of his curve ball. The curve does look improved, but his fastball no longer plays. He allows too much loud contact. And the Brewers are known for hitting it hard or whiffing.

Other TargetsTim Adleman, Mike Fiers, Nate Karns, Wily Peralta, Mat Latos, Alex Meyer, Trevor Cahill

 

Homers on the Wire

I keep saying Matt Joyce will be fine. His plate discipline is normal, he just isn't making good contact. It's easy to see in his .167 BABIP and .105 ISO. His hard contact rate remains a robust 38.7 percent. The top sluggers settle around 40 percent hard contact. Keep using Joyce, and he'll eventually reward you. His teammate Yonder Alonso is already reaping the benefits of his freshly updated swing path. They face Hisashi Iwakuma.

Travis Shaw still bats third or fourth for the Brewers, and he's still available in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues. Shaw has four home runs. He'll have a chance for another versus Wainwright. Keon Broxton's ownership has fallen below 50 percent, and for good reason. He's been a disaster. The upside remains tantalizing in sufficiently deep leagues. Domingo Santana is the better pick off the wire. He's more widely available too. Santana does have some trouble with right-handed pitching.

If you can afford to take a risk on a player who might sit, Aaron Hicks is about due for a spot start. He already has four home runs and a ridiculous walk rate, making him a smart matchup for Glasnow. Greg Bird is pressing at the plate. He's less desirable versus Glasnow. The game is at notoriously pitcher friendly PNC Park.

Other Targets: Justin Smoak, Danny Valencia, Brandon Guyer, Josh Reddick, Logan Morrison, Corey Dickerson, Aaron Hicks, Greg Bird, Aaron Altherr, Pablo Sandoval

 

Steals on the Wire

I feel like a Kevin Kiermaier truther even though I valued him well-below consensus during draft season. Kiermaier has speed and just enough punch to be a viable four category threat. His batting average is the lone weak category. The Astros have been picked on for stolen bases in the early going.

Brett Gardner should take advantage of Glasnow's erratic command and the Pirates inability to hold base runners. Gardner may swipe a couple bags.

Other Targets: Cameron Maybin, Andrew Toles, JaCoby Jones, Ender Inciarte

 

Skill Positions

Austin Hedges has shown some signs of life. He'll face a southpaw with poor command tomorrow. The Brewers catchers are a better bet for production, but it's hard to tell which will start. See who plays tonight of Manny Pina or Jett Bandy then claim the other one.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Josh Hart

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Out Sunday
Michael Porter Jr.

Resting on Sunday
RJ Barrett

Unavailable Sunday
Brandon Ingram

Could Remain Out Sunday
Scottie Barnes

Uncertain for Sunday
Joel Embiid

Questionable to Play Sunday
Tidjane Salaün

Tidjane Salaun Available Versus Jazz
Grant Williams

Ready for Season Debut
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

off the Injury Report for Sunday
Kevin Huerter

Active on Saturday Night
Jalen Smith

Back for Bulls Saturday
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Corey Perry

Available Saturday
William Nylander

Returns From Six-Game Absence
Mark Scheifele

Scores Twice as Jets End Skid
John Carlson

Records Two Assists Friday
Karel Vejmelka

Picks Up Win No. 20
Clayton Keller

Dishes Out Three Assists Friday
Jamie Benn

to Remain Out Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Expected to Play Saturday
Alexander Kerfoot

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Friday
John Klingberg

Could Return Sunday
Noah Laba

Could Return Saturday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kevin Stenlund

Available Friday
Anze Kopitar

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Aliaksei Protas

Back in Action Friday
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP