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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 30. Let's get to it.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:- Nick Mariano's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups (Premium)
- Start/Sit recommendations - All Pitcher Matchups for Week Ahead
- Fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings (top 80 players)
- FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Outfield fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- 1B/3B fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- 2B/SS fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Hitter streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Two-start pitcher streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
- Cut List - Players To Consider Dropping for Week 5
Agenda
- Prospect Fever
- Weather and Updates
- Wednesday's Picks
1. Prospect Fever
The No. 2 prospect in Pittsburgh's organization and the No. 40 overall prospect in baseball entering 2018, per MLB.com, Austin Meadows is off to a good start in his first 36 at-bats (.417/.405/.778 with three homers, six RBI and three steals). The former first-rounder probably would've made his MLB debut last year if not for injuries.
The 23-year-old has a contact-oriented approach and advanced approach at the plate, and the power will likely improve as he gets more experience. The problem will be consistent playing time, although he's been seeing consistent action recently with lefty outfielder Gregory Polanco in a big rut. If Meadows can stay off the disabled list, he could gain more traction in mixed leagues throughout the summer months.
2. Weather and Updates - Wednesday, May 30
There is a chance of thunderstorms at Progressive Field for the White Sox and Indians, at PNC Park for Cubs at Pirates, at SunTrust Park for Mets-Braves and in Detroit for the Angels and Tigers on Wednesday, so those games could be in jeopardy of a delay or cancellation.
There's also a slight chance of rain at Camden Yards for the Nationals and Orioles, but probably not enough to threaten the ballgame.
3. Streamer Picks
Pitchers to Use
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez seems the safest on Wednesday at home against the Blue Jays. He allowed three earned runs against them in 6 2/3 innings on the road in a win on April 25 and is coming off a seven-K performance in his last start against the Braves.
E-Rod has allowed three earned runs or less in all but one of his five May starts and has struck out 14 hitters in his last 11 2/3 frames for a career-high 10.9 K/9 at the moment. The Blue Jays sport a .227 average against southpaws this year and have struck out 144 times, seventh most in the majors. Rodriguez has a decent shot at a win facing off against Sam Gaviglio, too.
You can't really go wrong with either pitcher in the Wednesday Marlins-Padres tilt -- either Jose Urena of the Fish or lefty Clayton Richard for the Friars. Urena is looking for his first win of 2017 but has gone at least six innings in five of his last six outings. Aside from one start in May, Urena has fanned at least five batters in four outings, and the Padres aren't exactly lumberjacks with the wood.
Richard has gone at least six innings in his last four starts and has fared much better against teams not in the National League West this year. The Marlins have an OPS of just .683 (ranked 26th) against left-handers.
Other Targets: Junior Guerra
Pitchers to Exploit
It's a no-brainer to stream against Mets lefty Jason Vargas everytime he takes the bump. He'll see a spot start against the Braves in place of Noah Syndergaard on hump day. The veteran southpaw has been downright atrocious in five games started in 2018, going 1-3 with a 10.62 ERA and 2.16 WHIP.
Vargas allowed five earned runs in just three frames against the Brewers on Saturday and has given up six long balls in 20 1/3 innings. He's also not gone past five innings all year. Oh, and the Braves have a league-best .852 OPS against lefties.
Pitchers who lacks swing-and-miss stuff and must rely on control and weak contact to get by often don't fare too well at Coors Field. Enter Derek Holland on the road in Colorado. The crafty lefty has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts. However, he did give up four earned runs in six innings against these same Rockies at home on May 18.
In his only career appearance at Coors Field, Holland lasted just four innings, giving up six earned runs (two homers) for a 13.50 ERA. The Rockies are also decent against left-handers this year with a .757 OPS and an MLB-best 26 home runs.
Other Targets: Sam Gaviglio, Joe Musgrove, David Hess, Brad Keller, Nathan Eovaldi
Homers on the Wire
While he's slashing just .237/.308/.558 on the season, Christian Villanueva has been one of SD's few bright spots in the early going in 2018 with 14 home runs and 31 RBI in 156 at-bats. He's also hitting a cool .270 with five home runs and 11 RBI in the last 14 days.
Jose Urena may be a tough opponent on Wednesday, but Villanueva actually has hit for more power (eight HRs and 16 RBI) at pitcher-friendly Petco Park this season. The starter at the hot corner could be a successful contrarian play for power in DFS games.
Other Targets: Brandon Nimmo, Devin Mesoraco, Gorkys Hernandez, Ronald Guzman, Max Muncy, Amed Rosario, Mark Reynolds
Steals on the Wire
If you're looking for swipes, Seattle may be the place for you on Wednesday, as Jarrod Dyson and Ben Gamel have combined to steal seven bases in the last two weeks. Dyson is hitting under .200 on the season, though, and is facing a southpaw, so Gamel may be the better bet. Gamel is quietly hitting .375 (15-for-40) with a dinger, three RBI and three swipes in the last 14 days. He has benefitted from the injury to Dee Gordon in the outfield.
Other Targets: Travis Jankowski, Chris Owings, Austin Meadows, Ian Desmond, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Fowler
Skill Positions
Talk about a benefit from a change of scenery. Devin Mesoraco has hit .261 with five home runs and 10 RBI in his first 15 games since being traded from the Reds to the Mets in the Matt Harvey deal. The backstop has been even better in the last 14 days, going 11-for-33 (.333) with four of his homers and nine RBI.
The return of Kevin Plawecki (hand) will eat into Mesoraco's playing time some, but expect the Metropolitans to continue to ride the hot hand of Mesoraco while he's playing well.
