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Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for July 26

Kyle Bishop's fantasy baseball daily streaming picks for July 26. Pitcher and hitter streamers for MLB DFS games, and head-to-head (H2H) waiver wire targets.

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 Wednesday, July 26.

Let's get to it.

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

 

Agenda

  1. Devers' Day
  2. Today's Weather and Updates
  3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. Devers' Day

Today should mark the major-league debut of top prospect Rafael Devers. The Red Sox opted not to start him yesterday against James Paxton. Devers will likely be shielded from southpaws early on as he gets his feet wet. As with any 20-year-old going up against major-league pitching for the first time, expectations should be tempered, but fantasy owners are understandably excited to see what the kid can do.

 

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Both today and tomorrow are looking good, with near-perfect baseball conditions in most of the country.

 

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, July 26

Pitchers to Use

Ian Kennedy struggled in his last outing, but prior to that had turned in four straight quality starts. As usual, Kennedy's inability to limit home runs makes him a high-variance streamer. He has a favorable matchup today at Detroit, though, and there are few appealing options on the wire today.

To wit, I am also forced to recommend a pitcher who has allowed 15 runs over his last three starts. Even for a guy who calls Coors Field home, Jeff Hoffman's splits are extreme. 28 of his 37 runs allowed have come at home, despite an even split in innings. The rookie has been quite good on the road, though, pitching to a 2.45 ERA with 33 strikeouts against only five walks in 33 innings. He'll take on the nonthreatening Cardinals in St. Louis and should be in line for a bounceback performance after getting lit up by the Pirates in his last turn.

Other Targets: Patrick Corbin

 

Pitchers to Exploit

Incredibly, James Shields has been even worse this season than he was in 2016. In nine starts spanning 46 2/3 innings, Shields has hideous ratios (5.79 ERA, 1.63 WHIP), has allowed 12 homers, and currently sits on a 4.2 K-BB% that would rank as the worst among all starters if he had enough innings to qualify. The Cubs have won eight of 10 since the break, averaging nearly six runs per game. So, uh...good luck with that, James.

While the matchup is by no means intimidating - the Athletics are one of the worst-hitting teams in the game - Marco Estrada has been atrocious for the last two months. He's made nine starts since June 1, and completed the sixth inning in exactly one of them. That outing was his only quality start of the bunch, and he walked four batters that day. During this horrid stretch, Estrada has posted a 9.52 ERA and 2.14 WHIP, allowing nine homers and 29 (!) walks in just 40 2/3 innings. It's been a stunning reversal from his first two months, wherein he produced a 78/17 K:BB and excellent ratios (3.15 ERA, 1.11 WHIP).

Other Targets: Anibal Sanchez, Aaron Blair, Andrew Moore, Ervin Santana

 

Homers on the Wire

Randal Grichuk has gone deep in four straight games, and six of his last eight entering Tuesday's action. The Cardinals outfielder has a .957 OPS since being recalled from the minors a month ago. Grichuk's poor plate approach keeps him from being a rosterable asset, but he's good for a couple of these streaks every year.

Matt Chapman has a similar profile to Grichuk, and also happens to be on a streak. He's homered in three straight contests and also had a two-homer game back on July 15. We're dealing with small samples from a rookie here, but Chapman has been whiffing a lot less since the break and boasts a .303/.333/.909 line during that time.

Other Targets: Nicholas Castellanos, Maikel FrancoMike Napoli, Josh Bell, Matt Adams, Lucas DudaPaul DeJong

 

Steals on the Wire

Mallex Smith has predictably regressed at the plate after a torrid start, but he's swiped 15 bags in 19 tries despite playing in only 45 games. With Kevin Kiermaier's return still at least a couple of weeks away, Smith offers cheap speed in a year where that's been particularly tough to come by.

Other TargetsJarrod Dyson, Orlando Arcia, Whit Merrifield, Rajai DavisManuel Margot

 

Skill Positions

With Brandon Maurer headed to Kansas City in the Trevor Cahill trade, Brad Hand looks like the best option for saves in the Padres' bullpen. That's assuming he isn't traded this week as well, though one executive was quoted as saying, "I don't think the Dodgers would ask more for Kershaw than A.J. [Preller] is for Brad Hand." Also reportedly in the conversation is erstwhile flamethrower Carter Capps, who's still rounding into form in the minors.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Aaron Holiday

is Moving into Starting Five
Aaron Gordon

is Available on Sunday
Christian Braun

is Downgraded to Out
Jamal Murray

is Unavailable on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
Kristaps Porzingis

Won't Play on Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

is Available to Play on Sunday
Christian Braun

Downgraded to Questionable on Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Suit Up on Sunday
Norman Powell

Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
Victor Wembanyama

Cleared for Sunday
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Cole Perfetti

Contributes Two Assists in Sunday's Win
Carl Grundstrom

Misses Sunday's Practice
Jrue Holiday

Cleared to Suit Up Versus New York
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Josh Hart

Returning on Sunday Night
Travis Konecny

Hurt at Sunday's Practice
Thatcher Demko

Lands on Injured Reserve
Colin Miller

Injured Versus Devils
Bryan Rust

Remains Out Sunday
Morgan Geekie

Won't Play Sunday
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
Mark Stone

Extends Goal Streak With Empty-Netter
Nikita Kucherov

Has Four-Point Outing Saturday
David Pastrnak

Records Six Assists in Big Win
Stefan Noesen

to Have Knee Surgery
Carter Hart

Out Week-to-Week
Thatcher Demko

Exits With Injury Saturday
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Philip Broberg

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
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
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
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
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

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