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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop guide for streaming and waiver wire advice. Use this column to address your problem categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, April 28th.
Let's get to it.
Editor's Note: Our friends at Fantrax have even more fantasy baseball advice columns and videos to help improve your teams. Be sure to also check them out!
Agenda
- Goodbye Forever Judge
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Goodbye Forever Judge
If you've been reading the column all season, you'll remember the first 10 days included frequent urgings to pick up Aaron Judge while you still can. Judge is now 82 percent owned and the 25th ranked player on Yahoo. Here he is bashing his seventh home run and making a diving catch.
It's always a good sign when a power hitter can go oppo-field with a fastball on the outer half. It really cuts down on their exploitability.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Detroit, Colorado, and Cleveland have rain in the forecast. In each case, it's expected to clear within two or three hours of start time. We're probably looking at some rain delays rather than flat out postponements. Be aware, it is getaway day so it's possible they'll be overly hasty with the postponements.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, April 28th
Pitchers to Use
It's a great day for streaming pitchers. In addition to the more widely available names, Lance Lynn, Jharel Cotton, and Chase Anderson are all between 50 and 55 percent owned. They have solid matchups which is why I've bothered to list them.
You may have noticed I'm a big Charlie Morton fan this season. I've noticed he hits a wall right around the third time through an order. It's not just a matter of hitters feeling more comfortable, his command starts to decline rapidly too. The Astros might start trying to get him through the fifth inning before moving onto one of their relief studs like Chris Devenski. Otherwise, Morton is liable to continue ruining otherwise strong starts in the fifth and sixth innings.
Matt Boyd has a track record of plus command and control. This season, he's struggling to avoid free passes. He lowered his arm slot mid-way through 2016. His results immediately improved to streamer-worthy. I remain concerned about his batted ball profile - a ton of hard and pulled contact. I'll still roll the dice opposite the White Sox.
I've been trying unsuccessfully to target Adam Conley. Even having lost a couple tics off his fastball, Conley has maintained his effectively wild success in the majors. He's prone to the occasional meltdown or gem. Mostly, he gives you shot for five or six decent innings. The Starling Marte-less Pirates aren't an intimidating opponent for a left-handed pitcher.
Other Targets: CC Sabathia, Blake Snell, Bartolo Colon
Pitchers to Exploit
Jayson Aquino is a soft tossing southpaw - a profile that doesn't often work in the majors. When pitchers like Aquino do develop into solid starters, it's usually because they've refined their craft over several seasons. The Yankees should feast upon Aquino.
Bust out your Cheshire Cat grin because Mike Pelfrey is on the bump. Now with the White Sox, Pelfrey should help to fuel a victory for Boyd. Just about every hitter puts something in play against Pelfrey. He lives and dies by his BABIP. Mostly, he dies.
Kyle Freeland won't have to contend with Coors Field. Escaping to Chase Field isn't much of an upgrade. It's quickly becoming my favorite park to target this season (last year was Great American Ballpark). Freeland is a sub-replacement level lefty who lacks strikeout stuff or the command necessary to avoid walks. A high ground ball rate has saved him thus far. Chase Field's rock hard infield will convert some of those worm burners to hits.
Other Targets: Ariel Miranda, Tyler Skaggs, Nick Martinez, Tim Adleman, Luis Perdomo, Zach Eflin
Homers on the Wire
Yonder Alonso watch: four home runs and a .286/.355/.571 line in 62 plate appearances. He's going to ruin righties all season, and he's just three percent owned. His matchup with a ground ball pitcher like Morton elevates the home run potential. Alternatively, try Matt Joyce or Jaff Decker. You'll be disappointed you skipped on Alonso.
Since the Tigers are super shorthanded on offense, Tyler Collins has risen to second in the order versus right-handed pitching. While the results haven't been there, it's encouraging to see him make hard contact at over a 40 percent rate.
It's Brandon Guyer day versus Miranda. Look for Guyer to get hit by at least one baseball. He may also hit a baseball. His career numbers versus left-handed pitching are tasty, and Miranda has a minus fastball.
Other Targets: Brandon Drury, Yangervis Solarte, Scott Schebler, Jedd Gyorko, Greg Garcia, Josh Reddick, Ryan Rua, Melky Cabrera, Matt Holliday
Steals on the Wire
Hernan Perez has skittered across a couple of my personal waiver wires, but he's always been claimed for FAAB money. Overall, he's 30 percent owned. I tend to save mine for one or two game changing moves. After an ice cold start, Perez has hit his way back into relevance. Unfortunately, he doesn't play every day yet. Since he's a below average hitter with well above average fantasy stats, he makes for a weird asset.
Kolten Wong is warming up. And if he continues to hit, he'll soon find himself an everyday starter. Wong isn't far removed from top 10 status among second baseman. That was just before every second baseman realized they can hit 20 home runs. Wong's more of a 12 to 15 home run guy, but he'll also chip in 12 to 15 steals.
Other Targets: Manuel Margot, Alcides Escobar, Hernan Perez, Cameron Maybin, Tyler Saladino
Skill Positions
Well, one of Manny Pina or Jett Bandy will start. I've given up trying to determine which is due to don the gear. The best bet is always the one who doesn't start today. Of course, the Brewers don't play today...
