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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. This article, which began last season, runs seven days a week. We are always ready to stream.
For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your weakest categories, and target players who may be available on your waiver wire.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, June. Let's get to it.
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- Ray of Hope
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Ray of Hope
The Tampa Bay Rays activated Kevin Kiermaier from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday, and he immediately goes back to his center field spot and leadoff role. Most fantasy owners might not have Kiermaier anywhere near their radar after he missed just over two months with a torn ligament in his right thumb, especially since he was just 7-for-43 (.163) with one RBI and one steal before his injury.
The 28-year-old's defense has always been top-notch, but don't forget that he also managed to hit a respectable .276 with a career-high 15 home runs, 39 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 56 runs scored in 98 games for Tampa in 2017.
He shouldn't have much competition for the leadoff spot from here on out on a rebuilding club, and Kiermaier should be much better than he was to begin the year, assuming that his thumb is completely healed. Savvy owners in need of steals in particular should scoop him up now before he has a big game and makes the rest of the fantasy community remember he exists.
2. Weather and Updates for Wednesday
Over the last several days, there has been some wet weather across the midwest and east. There is a chance of rain/thunderstorms for a handful of games on Wednesday, including Tigers-Reds in Cincy, White Sox-Indians in Cleveland, Mariners-Yankees in the Bronx, Brewers-Pirates in Pittsburgh and Orioles-Nationals in D.C.
If you own any players on those teams or are starting any of their probable pitchers, make sure to check to see if there are any delayed starts or cancellations.
3. Streamer Picks
Pitchers to Use
Tyler Mahle has been decent this year with a 3.96 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 75 innings. His two-seamer was on in his last outing against the Royals last week in which he went a season-best 6 1/3 innings while allowing no runs and only three hits.
He faces a similarly weak offense in the Tigers (.657 OPS in June) in a matinee game Wednesday. If his two-seam fastball is working once again, he has a great shot for another quality start. Mahle has been great so far in June, going at least five innings in each of his three starts and only giving up two earned runs in 17 1/3 frames.
A day game against a weak offense in a pitcher's park? Yes, please. That's what Frankie Montas is looking at against the Padres on the road Wednesday. He comes into this one with a sparkling 2.67 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in four starts. He's surrendered seven free passes in his 27 innings, but four of those came in his last start against the first-place Astros.
Montas also hasn't fanned many batters (just 15 in 27 innings), but the Friars should oblige him there, as they rank second in baseball with 696 punchouts. The Padres also ranked third worst in OPS in the big leagues at .669 on the season. Montas should be a popular DFS streamer.
Other Targets: Jose Urena, Derek Holland, Brent Suter, Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Pitchers to Exploit
Andrew Cashner does have a 7.7 K/9 in 13 starts this year, but that's about where the positives end. He's 2-8 with a 4.98 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and is allowing almost two homers per nine innings. The veteran right-hander is coming off the disabled list on Wednesday and will have a tough first matchup against the potent Nationals. Cashner has allowed at least eight hits in his last four starts. Stacking Washington hitters is advised.
Any pitcher might be one to exploit while facing the red-hot defending-champion Astros right now. Nathan Eovaldi is the unfortunate soul who has to go up against them on hump day. While Eovaldi looked dynamite in his first start back on May 30 against Oakland, he's given up 12 runs and four home runs in his last three starts, including eight hits and five earned runs last Friday against the Yanks. His high-90s fastball has only generated 16 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings, too.
Other Targets: Anibal Sanchez, Reynaldo Lopez, Chad Kuhl, Felix Hernandez, Jonathan Loaisiga, Lance Lynn
Homers on the Wire
Kauffman Stadium isn't necessarily a home run park, but the balls could be flying on Wednesday with Royals starter Jake Junis on the mound; he has allowed a whopping 18 long balls (1.9 HR/9) in 85 1/3 innings this year, including three in his last outing against the Astros. Both Jurickson Profar (five homers, 14 RBI) and Shin-Soo Choo (four homers, eight RBI, .349 average) have been really hot over the last two weeks and are good targets for power.
Other Targets: Joc Pederson, Aaron Hicks, Ian Kinsler, Ryon Healy, Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk
Steals on the Wire
As seen above, Kevin Kiermaier is making his return from the 60-day disabled list Tuesday and can easily provide double-digit steals for the rest of the season. He's an immediate waiver wire add if he's available in your league and you're looking for speed.
Sticking with the theme of the Rangers from the home run section, Delino DeShields has picked it up of late by going 12-for-34 (.353) with 11 runs scored and five thefts in the last 14 days. Plug him in on Wednesday.
Other Targets: Michael Taylor, Rajai Davis, Leonys Martin, Jace Peterson, Craig Gentry, Jose Iglesias
