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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 Friday, May 12th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Marquezed
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. Marquezed
The Cubs were dominated by German Marquez yesterday at Coors Field. There's a reason he was a top 100 prospect entering this season. One good outing against a good offense at Coors Field doesn't make him an automatic start. Through four outings, he's alternated gems with duds.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
As I warned, the Orioles-Nationals game is a 50 percent risk for rain all evening. Postponement is possible. The forecast looks fine for Friday.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, May 12th
Pitchers to Use
It's a good day for streaming pitchers. Jordan Montgomery is a favorite of mine despite mixed results through five starts. His 3.81 ERA and 8.26 K/9 are merely decent. However, he has the stuff to become a better version of Rich Hill - once he learns how to use it. In particular, his two breaking balls can be lethal. He's induced a lofty 13.9 percent swinging strike rate. It's the 10th best whiff rate among pitchers with at least 20 innings. Monty has a challenging matchup against the Astros at Yankee Stadium.
On the surface, Mike Foltynewicz is 0-4 with a 4.55 ERA. His fastball is down two mph. Most of the damage came in his most recent outing. Folty didn't get a full spring training. I expect his velocity to recover as he builds stamina. The rest of his peripherals look fine. He's limiting hard contact and has a solid 8.19 K/9. He'll face the Marlins.
As with the last time I recommended him, don't count on Joe Biagini to toss five innings. He'll therefore be ineligible for a win. This time, there's at least a small chance he'll last that long. A shorter appearance is probably better for fantasy owners anyway. The more times he faces the opposing hitters, the worse his ratios. At least, that's usually how it works.
Other Targets: Jesse Hahn, Miguel Gonzalez, Patrick Corbin, Matt Shoemaker, Scott Feldman
Pitchers to Exploit
Chris Tillman survived five shutout innings in his 2017 debut last week. He was throwing duds. His fastball velocity was down three mph, and his command was shaky. A meltdown is possible. Then again, the Royals offense is awful.
The Tyler Glasnow Travelling Walk and Stolen Base Experience is on tour in Arizona. The Diamondbacks should swipe a couple dozen bases. Or at least two. Glasnow has a 1.93 WHIP. Despite over a strikeout per inning, everybody reaches base.
Andrew Cashner keeps getting good results while looking pretty terrible. He has a 2.63 ERA with 4.94 K/9 and 6.26 BB/9. The wheels will fall off this bus. The Athletics offense is starting to click a little too.
Other Targets: Nick Pivetta, Christian Bergman, Josh Tomlin, Jose Urena, Jhoulys Chacin, Eddie Butler, Tyler Chatwood, Jordan Zimmermann
Homers on the Wire
You finally can't find Yonder Alonso on the waiver wire in the majority of leagues. Jed Lowrie and Matt Joyce remain available. Joyce will probably walk a couple times against Cashner.
Colby Rasmus is just two percent owned, and he's doing work through 25 plate appearances. He has a 1.233 OPS with three home runs, seven runs, and eight RBI. Since his Week 1 is coming a fifth of the way into the season, it's been less noticeable. He'll face Rick Porcello at Fenway. It's a tough park for left-handed power. Try Logan Morrison too.
Trey Mancini is criminally underowned (18 percent) because he's buried on a roster deep with OF/DH types. His hot play, including a .968 OPS and seven home runs in 71 plate appearances, has him starting most days. He always plays when a lefty is on the bump. Say hello to Danny Duffy and spacious Kauffman Stadium.
Other Targets: Jim Adduci, Tyler Collins, Josh Harrison, Josh Bell, David Peralta, Brandon Drury, Chris Taylor, Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham, Brandon Moss, Neil Walker, Wilmer Flores, Hunter Renfroe, Carlos Gomez, Shin-Soo Choo, Derek Dietrich, Max Kepler, Robbie Grossman, Kennys Vargas, Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce
Steals on the Wire
This is your last chance to claim a share of Keon Broxton. He's up to 47 percent owned. The volatile Brewer is on a hot streak. When he's humming, Broxton offers a choice blend of power and speed. A massive strikeout rate ensures he'll zero out more often than you'd like. The good days are well worth the bad.
The Athletics are one of the weaker teams with regard to preventing stolen bases. Jesse Hahn is one of the prime offenders. If Delino DeShields reaches base, he'll run. Maybe more than once.
Kevin Pillar remains the best all-around player on the wire with speed. He'll face Bergman. Jose Reyes is the best challenger to Pillar's mantle. He sees Garza. If Jett Bandy is behind the dish, count on Reyes to run.
Other Targets: Rajai Davis, Kolten Wong, Jose Reyes, Hernan Perez, Manuel Margot, Jarrod Dyson, Ben Gamel, Taylor Motter, Michael Taylor
Skill Positions
Keep riding Austin Hedges for spot starts. Jett Bandy is sitting today so he'll probably play tomorrow. He and Manny Pena sometimes do two days on and two days off.
Also keep half on eye on Addison Reed. Jeurys Familia's command has been very inconsistent since his return from a domestic abuse suspension. He fell apart in two straight postseasons, although I thought he pitched well in 2015.
Update: after writing this column, Familia was diagnosed with an arterial clot in his throwing shoulder. Reed will serve as the replacement closer.
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