🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
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 lineup 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

Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Saturday
Marcus Johansson

Questionable for Saturday
Bo Horvat

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Saturday
Seth Jarvis

to Be "Out for a While"
Phillip Danault

Rejoins Canadiens for Draft Pick
Mason Marchment

Blue Jackets Acquire Mason Marchment
Ja Morant

to Miss Second Straight Game Saturday
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
RJ Barrett

to Remain Out Saturday
Jakob Poeltl

Facing Another Potential Absence Saturday
Jerami Grant

Picks Up Questionable Tag
Deandre Ayton

to Miss Matchup Against Clippers Saturday
Lauri Markkanen

Unlikely to Play Saturday
Klay Thompson

Iffy for Saturday
Anthony Davis

Expected to Play Saturday
James Harden

Available Saturday
Domantas Sabonis

to Miss 4-5 More Weeks
Anthony Edwards

Returns Without Minutes Restriction Friday
Zach Collins

Upgraded to Available Friday
Tre Jones

Available With Minutes Restriction
Ayo Dosunmu

Returns From Three-Game Absence
Kasparas Jakucionis

Makes First Career Start Friday
Davion Mitchell

Ruled Out Friday
Craig Porter Jr.

Skips Friday's Game
Sam Hauser

Available Versus Heat
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
Andrew Wiggins

Misses Friday's Action
Donovan Mitchell

Unavailable Friday Due to Illness
Jonathan Marchessault

Out Day-to-Day
Tristan Jarry

Oilers Place Tristan Jarry on Injured Reserve
Patrick Kane

to Remain Out Saturday
Shea Theodore

Considered Week-to-Week
Karl-Anthony Towns

& Josh Hart Active Friday Night
Jack Eichel

to Miss at Least Two More Games
Davante Adams

Likely Won't Play in Week 17
Jordan Martinook

Misses Friday's Contest
Evan Rodrigues

Available Against Hurricanes
Tyler Seguin

Undergoes Surgery, to Be Re-Evaluated After Olympics
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Listed as Questionable for Week 16
Drake London

Expected to Play Sunday
Tee Higgins

Questionable to Play in Week 16
Michael Carter

Will Start at RB in Week 16
Dalton Kincaid

Will Practice on Friday, Expected to Play on Sunday
Garrett Wilson

Shelved for Remainder of 2025
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Zach Werenski

Enjoys Second Consecutive Multi-Goal Game
Logan Thompson

Collects Second Shutout of the Season
Linus Ullmark

Blanks Penguins Thursday
Tyson Kozak

Hurt Against Flyers
Conor Timmins

to Miss 6-8 Weeks With Broken Leg
Tristan Jarry

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Versus Bruins
Anthony Cirelli

Injured in Thursday's Loss
Kenneth Walker III

Breaks Off Long Touchdown in Comeback Win vs. Rams
Matthew Stafford

Racks Up Highest Yardage Total in Over a Decade
Puka Nacua

Delivers Career-Best Performance on Thursday Night Football
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
Jakobi Meyers

Jaguars Agree to Three-Year Extension With Jakobi Meyers
Davante Adams

Officially Out on Thursday Night
Devin Neal

Placed on Injured Reserve, Will Not Return in 2025
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
Christian Watson

Questionable for Week 16
Josh Jacobs

Listed as Questionable for Saturday Night
T.J. Watt

Unlikely to Play in Week 16
D'Andre Swift

Questionable to Face the Packers
Rome Odunze

Ruled Out for Week 16
Jawhar Jordan

Could be in for Significant Workload Against Raiders
Rome Odunze

Expected to Miss Third Straight Game
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Josh Jacobs

Expected to Play in Week 16
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff
CFB

Dylan Raiola Entering His Name into Transfer Portal
CFB

Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby Plans to Transfer When Portal Opens
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia, Phillies Finalizing One-Year Deal on Monday
Brandon Royval

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
CFB

Baylor, LSU, Miami Among Potential Suitors for DJ Lagway
CFB

Aidan Chiles Will Enter Transfer Portal
Manel Kape

Shines At UFC Vegas 112
Kevin Vallejos

Gets Second-Round Knockout Win
Giga Chikadze

Suffers His First Career Knockout Loss
CFB

Quarterback DJ Lagway Entering Transfer Portal
Cesar Almeida

Gets Dominated
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Wins Sixth Fight In A Row
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Melquizael Costa

Gets First-Round Knockout Win
Marcus Buchecha

Still Winless In The UFC
Kennedy Nzechukwu

And Marcus Buchecha Fight To Draw
Lance Gibson jr

Lance Gibson Jr. Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
King Green

Gets Back In The Win Column
Kenley Jansen

Agrees to One-Year Deal With Tigers
Merrill Kelly

Returns to Diamondbacks on Two-Year Deal

RANKINGS

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