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Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming and waiver wire advice. Use this column to address your neediest categories on Cinco de Mayo.
Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, May 5th.
Let's get to it.
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Agenda
- So, About Reyes
- Today's Weather and Updates
- Tomorrow's Picks
1. So, About Reyes
For the last few days, I've been telling you to pick up Jose Reyes on a permanent basis. He had a big two-hit, five-RBI day on Wednesday. He also did this... Woof.
You should still grab shares of Reyes wherever possible. Even if he occasionally loses focus.
2. Today's Weather and Updates
The game at Detroit has already been postponed today. Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Atlanta may follow suit. You were warned! Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New York (Mets) may be in trouble tomorrow. Prioritize the dry venues.
3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, May 5th
Pitchers to Use
I've always run alongside the Mike Foltynewicz bandwagon. If anything is even a little bit off, he's a terrible pitcher. He's also quite good when his repertoire and command are in sync. He's tossed three straight solid outings after a couple clunkers to start the season. Over 20 innings, he has 19 strikeouts and four earned runs allowed. The Cardinals offense isn't firing on all cylinders.
Eduardo Rodriguez is an extreme fly ball pitcher with a plus changeup. His approach is perfectly tailored to the new league wide hitting trends. Unfortunately, he's remained homer prone. Watch out for ground ball hitters on the Twins. They'll produce the best results versus E-Rod.
Another young pitcher, Andrew Triggs, is opposed by the Tigers. Their one-half lineup makes for a soft matchup, and he should receive run support too. Triggs is a command and control ground ball pitcher. Despite a pitch-to-contact mentality, he does have some swing-and-miss weapons - most notably a slider and a cutter.
Other Targets: Miguel Gonzalez
Pitchers to Exploit
Something might be wrong with Kenta Maeda. That's the rumor going around the dark web (aka Twitter). Despite bad results and way too many home runs allowed, he still has healthy strikeout, walk, and swinging strike rates. Maybe the Padres get him back on track. Maeda is opposed by Jhoulys Chacin. Auto-exploit.
Matt Cain has actually pitched reasonably decently. I'm not a believer. I'll admit that he's not the worst starting pitcher in the majors - that might be his opponent Bronson Arroyo. The game is at Great American Ballpark. I'm setting the line at +/- 5.5 home runs - if rain doesn't wipe it out.
Tyler Anderson was great last year. Whoever has shown up wearing his uniform this season is a scrub. He thrived by limited hard contact and inducing ground balls. This year, it's all hard contact and line drives. His changeup remains a weapon. The Rockies are back at Coors Field.
Other Targets: Tom Koehler, Rafael Montero, Phil Hughes, Josh Tomlin, Jason Hammel, Jordan Zimmermann, Yovani Gallardo
Homers on the Wire
Yonder Alonso homered against a lefty yesterday. He's officially an every day weapon. He remains just six percent owned despite top 100 production. He'll give you everything except steals. Teammate Matt Joyce is also available against Zimmermann.
Brandon Drury will have the platoon advantage at Coors Field. 'Nuf said.
Andrew Toles is still clinging to the Dodgers leadoff spot. His BABIP is finally starting to creep north. A .268/.310/.476 line still isn't very interesting, but the club probably thinks he can add 30 more points to his batting average. Speed is Toles' louder tool, but he doesn't actually steal bases. And he has enough power to play as a streamer. Cody Bellinger's status has upgraded with news that Adrian Gonzalez is playing through two injuries. AGon may be headed to the disabled list when Joc Pederson returns.
Ryan Schimpf is binging on home runs - four in his last seven games. He's the purest power streamer on the waiver wire. You'll either get your homer or be left empty handed. Yangervis Solarte is much more even keeled.
Scott Schebler should be more widely owned. He's buffed his fly ball rate while maintaining hard contact. He's well on his way to a 30 home run season. Cain is a fully exploitable opponent.
Other Targets: Josh Reddick, Yuli Gurriel, Nori Aoki, Marwin Gonzalez, Brandon Moss, Mitch Moreland, Rickie Weeks, Domingo Santana, Josh Bell, Matt Davidson, Christian Arroyo, Zack Cozart
Steals on the Wire
Hernan Perez remains just 40 percent owned. He's batting third or cleanup in Ryan Braun's absence. Pirates starter Chad Kuhl is prone to bad innings and inconsistent command.
Delino DeShields is batting leadoff. If you need to make up some ground in stolen bases, hang onto him through the middle of next week. He has some great stolen base matchups soon.
I've listed Erick Aybar and Manuel Margot, but it should be noted that Maeda has yet to allow a stolen base this season.
Other Targets: Michael Taylor, Tyler Saladino
Skill Positions
Austin Hedges could prey upon homer prone Maeda. Or strike out a bunch. Jett Bandy is slowly gaining playing time over Manny Pina. It's still nearly split down the middle.
Nick Ahmed hits relatively well against left-handed pitching. He'll face a struggling southpaw at Coors Field on Friday.
