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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, May 23. Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- Time for a Turnaround?
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Wednesday's Picks
1. Time for a Turnaround?
Injuries and slow starts... Some players can never turn their seasons around after either being injured to begin the year or getting off to an atrocious start. Sometimes it's both.
Mets outfielder Michael Conforto was a revelation last year and was set to be an early-round pick in fantasy drafts in 2018 before he injured his shoulder and required serious surgery. It's looking like he returned way too early after getting out to a .235/.350/.374 slash line, but he's hitting .333 with three of his four homers and seven RBI since May 7.
It may be a sign that he's getting closer to 100 percent healthy, and the window to buy low on him may be closing quickly. He's owned in less than 50 percent of leagues currently, so you might be able to scoop him up off the waiver wire. Conforto, if he can get back to his 2017 form (27 dingers, 68 RBI in 109 games), would be a huge asset to have in the second half of the season.
2. Weather and Updates for Wednesday
The weather forecast for games on Wednesday looks to be pretty clear. There could be a little precipitation in Minnesota and Texas, but it's unlikely we'll see any weather delays or cancellations.
3. Streamer Picks
Pitchers to Use
You'll need to ignore Alex Cobb's 6.56 overall ERA, 1-5 record and career 13.50 ERA in two starts against the White Sox. The 30-year-old sinkerballer picked up his first win against the Red Sox on May 18 by allowing three earned runs in 6 1/3 frames.
Cobb was atrocious to begin the year (17 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings in April), but it might've been due to the fact he was rusty after a late start after signing late in spring training. He's been much better in May, though, and has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his four starts this month.
Homers continue to be a problem for him, however, as he's allowed seven long balls in his seven starts to date this season. If he can keep the ball down and induce more ground balls, Cobb should have some success against the ChiSox for a second straight quality outing.
Kyle Gibson was roughed up in his last outing on May 18 by the Brewers, allowing five runs over 5 1/3 innings, but he'll look to bounce back against the lowly Tigers. Even with the bad outing, Gibson is still sporting an ERA under 4.00 with an attractive 9.9 K/9.
Before his last ugly outing, Gibson hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since April 11 against Houston. The right-hander has only given up four home runs all season, too, which should help him dominate the rebuilding Tigers lineup on Wednesday.
Other Targets: Tyson Ross, Dan Straily, Chad Kuhl
Pitchers to Exploit
Adam Plutko will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make his second career start. He was a surprise against Toronto on May 3 in the second game of a doubleheader, going 7 1/3 innings with three earned runs and six strikeouts, although he did allow three home runs in the winning effort. It won't be nearly as easy against the Cubbies on the road at Wrigley Field.
Doug Fister (1-4) doesn't miss many bats (6.6 K/9) and has allowed six long balls in his eight starts this year. That's not a good combination when facing a Yankees squad that leads baseball in home runs (72) and OPS (.812). The veteran sinkerballer tossed seven scoreless innings against the White Sox his last time out, but he also hasn't won a start since March 30.
Other Targets: Jeff Samardzija, Homer Bailey, Aaron Sanchez
Homers on the Wire
In the last two weeks, Jesus Aguilar of the Brewers and Adam Duvall of the Reds have combined to slug nine home runs and drive in 18 runs. Aguilar is taking full advantage of the injury to Eric Thames in Milwaukee and has a slash line of .321/.382/.585 in 106 at-bats. Although he's hit only one homer at a home this year, he's batting over .300 there and will face a struggling Zack Godley.
Duvall is more of an all-or-nothing DFS gamble, as he's hitting just .188 on the season, but he does have nine dingers and 24 RBI. He'll take his hacks Wednesday at the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark against Chad Kuhl, who has surrendered nine home runs in nine starts in 2018.
Other Targets: Mark Reynolds, Max Muncy, Tyler O'Neill, Aaron Hicks, Ryon Healy
Steals on the Wire
Travis Jankowski continues to see more run while his bat is hot (.357 average, five steals in last 14 days) in San Diego and is a flier in redraft leagues if you need speed. He'll be facing Nats right-handed spot starter Erick Fedde on Wednesday, which makes the speedy Jankowski even a little bit more intriguing.
Other Targets: Jarrod Dyson, Jurickson Profar, Gerardo Parra, Marcus Semien
Skill Positions
Phillies backstop Jorge Alfaro is batting .323 with one of his four home runs on the year in the last two weeks and will be facing Luiz Gohara in his first start of the season. Give the youngster a try.
