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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 Thursday, July 20th.
Let's get to it.
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- Fantasy baseball closer depth charts
Agenda
- Trade Deadline Antics, Part the First
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Trade Deadline Antics, Part the First
Yesterday featured two big swaps - a sort of trade deadline 11 days before the real deal. The first sent J.D. Martinez to Arizona. The fantasy impact is pretty straightforward. The DBacks will play one fewer scrubby outfielder. The Tigers will play an additional scrubby outfielder. Martinez's value doesn't really change since the slightly better offense is offset by the lack of safety net. With his balky back and foot, having the designated hitter role available was reassuring.
The other deal involves far more moving parts. Todd Frazier, David Robertson, and Tommy Kahnle are headed to New York in exchange for Tyler Clippard and some solid prospects. If you're in a league deep enough to need Garrett Cooper or Chase Headley, one or both is likely to lose a lot of playing time to Frazier. Meanwhile, top prospect Yoan Moncada has been summoned as the White Sox second baseman. We'll see if he can improve upon his MLB debut.
If you've had Kahnle stashed as the next White Sox closer, sorry for ya. Nate Jones is also shelved for the season, so I'm assuming Clippard or Anthony Swarzak will handle the ninth inning. Robertson also hemorrhages value as a fantasy asset. You'll probably want to avoid streaming hitters against the Yankees now. Their bullpen is obscene.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
It's all dry today and tomorrow. That's good since there are only nine games.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Thursday, July 20th
Pitchers to Use
Luis Castillo has surged to 22 percent owned as more and more owners take notice of his 98 mph heater. My concern relates to the rest of his repertoire - a changeup and a slider. While he's induced great results with those pitches, he hasn't shown much confidence in the slider - probably due to suspect command. Unfortunately, that has let opponents sit on his fastball. They've posted a .308 average and .662 slugging percentage against the pitch. It's been a heinous season for pitching though. Castillo should be owned just in case he pieces everything together. He has a tough matchup against the Diamondbacks.
Jhoulys Chacin is running hot, and he's preparing to visit pitcher friendly AT&T Park. Chacin's seasonal line has improved to fantasy average (8 wins, 4.33 ERA, 7.67 K/9, 1.31 WHIP). More recently, he has a 2.68 ERA (4.60 FIP) since the start of June. Don't count on a win opposite Madison Bumgarner. A quality start though? That's very much possible.
Other Targets: Seth Lugo, Mike Foltynewicz
Pitchers to Exploit
It's been a long time since I haven't had a double handful of exploits to target. Francisco Liriano and Doug Fister have both struggled this season, yet they're also both the type of pitcher who could snap off an unexpected gem. They face each other at Fenway.
Alternatively, Wade Miley has struggled following a strong start to the season. Since mid-May, he's allowed 51 runs in 56.2 innings with 6.51 K/9 and 5.08 BB/9. Woofwoof.
Other Targets: wow
Homers on the Wire
It's come to my attention that Mike Napoli has been underrepresented in this section. With Joey Gallo struggling, Napoli is likely to soon take a much larger and more consistent role in the offense. Although he started the year on the wrong foot - leading to a .203/.277/.462 batting line - he's been much better since April. He has 16 home runs and a .237/.316/.577 slash in 177 plate appearances since early May. When he plays, he usually bats fourth, fifth, or sixth. Teammate Carlos Gomez is also a good pick versus Miley.
Over his most recent 100 plate appearances, Orlando Arcia is hitting .347/.380/.558 with five home runs and four steals (three came on one particularly frisky day). He's still buried at the bottom of the Brewers lineup, but it's reassuring to see him seemingly improve at the plate. Don't go overboard trying to acquire him - his hot streak is accompanied by a .373 BABIP and 21.7 percent HR/FB ratio.
Other Targets: Lucas Duda, Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, Chris Young, Trey Mancini, Matt Adams
Steals on the Wire
Delino DeShields usually plays against left-handed pitchers - either Shin-Soo Choo or Nomar Mazara will take an off day. DeShields doesn't benefit from platoon splits, although he does seem to be more patient against southpaws. And Miley has struggled to throw strikes. While some base runners will run less often against lefties, DeShields does not appear to be one of them. He'll probably run if he finds his way aboard.
Other Targets: Kolten Wong, Keon Broxton, Denard Span
Skill Positions
With Stephen Vogt sidelined, that means Manny Pina gets even more action.
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