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Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to bolster your neediest categories.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Thursday, May 11th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- I Lied!
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. I Lied!
I thought yesterday was the last in which Yonder Alonso would be below my 50 percent ownership cutoff for this column. His ownership did climb from 41 percent - all the way to 46 percent. We get one more day. And it has to be the last because he popped two more home runs last night.
Pay close attention to the video. He got all of the first homer for a "just enough" oppo-boppo. He appeared to be fooled on the second shot; a "just enough" homer to center field. It's a sign of good things to come when a slugger can miss-hit home runs.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
Starting packing up in Chicago. The Twins and White Sox will almost certainly postpone for a future date. The Cubs and Rockies have more incentive to squeeze their game in between angry red and yellow blotches. That's a weather map reference in case it's not clear.
The nation is set to receive a drencher tomorrow, but only one major league venue is forecast for the flood. Keep an eye on the O's and Nationals.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Thursday, May 11th
Thin Thursday is comprised of 11 games this week. Happy hunting.
Pitchers to Use
Hyun-Jin Ryu is pitching at Coors Field in his return from minor injury. Terrifying. He's also the best combination of talent and availability (13 percent owned). Ryu has a 4.05 ERA with 9.79 K/9 and 2.70 BB/9. His first start of the season was in Colorado, and it went fine - two runs and five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. He's since stretched out to higher pitch counts.
I can't believe how many times I've recommend Miguel Gonzalez. I feel... soiled. He's boring volume with a chance at a victory and a quality start. He won't help in any other category. Hopefully he also won't hurt you. Gonzalez should receive run support opposite Nick Tepesch.
JC Ramirez is the "exciting" name to target. The hard throwing righty has transformed his pitch selection. In the past, he's leaned heavily on a four seam fastball. He'd throw a slider around a quarter of the time. This year, the slider has become his primary pitch. He main fastball is a sinker. I'll admit, I was slow to warm up to Ramirez. So long as his arm handles the barrage of sliders, he should be owned in most formats.
Other Targets: newp
Pitchers to Exploit
Hisashi Iwakuma's velocity is down near four mph this season. He always skated the line between injured and healthy. I'm guessing he's flat out broken now. His 4.35 ERA looks fine. A glance at the peripherals - 4.65 K/9, 3.48 BB/9, and 2.03 HR/9 - suggests scary times are ahead.
Bronson Arroyo and Ty Blach are working at super pitcher friendly AT&T Park. Arroyo needs more help than a ballpark can provide. He'd give up homers at the infamous Polo Grounds. Blach has a pitiful 2.18 K/9 and 3.05 BB/9 in 20.2 innings.
Tyler Anderson ain't the guy he was last season. The Dodgers are going to go ham at Coors Field on Thursday.
Other Targets: A.J. Cole, Jhoulys Chacin, Martin Perez, Nick Tepesch
Homers on the Wire
Yasmani Grandal's continued struggles against left-handed pitching provide a good excuse for the Dodgers to start Austin Barnes. Arguably the best backup catcher, Barnes is slashing a robust .265/.359/.529 in 39 plate appearances. He'd be 10-team mixed league relevant as a starter. He could play tomorrow at Coors. Other Dodgists include Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez, and Franklin Gutierrez. Taylor leads off against southpaws. Guti bats cleanup. Can of Coor(n)s.
The Padres are swinging over to Texas today for the second half of their home-away series. The DH is back in play. That means all three of Carlos Gomez, Shin-Soo Choo, and Delino DeShields will play. As bad as Chacin can be, none of these hitters are must-use. I'm probably more interested in Hunter Renfroe and Yangervis Solarte versus Perez.
Other Targets: Scott Schebler, Christian Arroyo, Max Kepler, Steve Pearce, Seth Smith, Aaron Hicks, Rickie Weeks
Steals on the Wire
Manuel Margot's ownership continues to plummet despite an uptick in stolen bases. More are coming. He'll face Perez. DeShields is on the other side of this one. They're both leadoff hitters.
I keep forgetting Kevin Pillar is eligible for this column. Mostly because he's playing way too well to be only 42 percent owned. The Blue Jays leadoff man mixes a touch of power with plus speed and a high average. He's opposed by Iwakuma.
The Mariners see something in Ben Gamel because they keep giving him chances. In his latest trial, he's slashing .362/.455/.596 (.500 BABIP) in 56 plate appearances while batting second. It's a blessed lineup spot - recall Mitch Haniger did most of his damage out of the two hole. Gamel has 10 steal speed. Taylor Motter and Jarrod Dyson are probably better bets for steals versus Marco Estrada.
Other Targets: Tyler Saladino, Michael Taylor, Hernan Perez
Skill Positions
The aforementioned Barnes joins Austin Hedges and Jett Bandy/Manny Pina in the catcher streamer crew.
Mark Melancon hit the disabled list with a minor shoulder injury. Shares of Derek Law are up for grabs.
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