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Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for September 4

Brad Johnson's fantasy baseball daily streaming picks for September 4. Pitcher and hitter streamers for MLB DFS games, and head-to-head (H2H) waiver wire targets.

Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories.

Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Monday, September 4.

Let's get to it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Agenda

  1. The Final Month
  2. Today's Weather and Updates
  3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. The Final Month

With one month left on the fantasy baseball calendar, let's look back at some of the standout performances from last September. There's only so much ground you can make up in one-sixth of a season. You'll need to honestly assess which categories are and are not assailable.

Top Performances From September 2016 Top Performances From September 2016
Stat Player Count Stat Player Count
Runs Curtis Granderson 25 Wins Jon Lester 5
Byron Buxton 24 Max Scherzer 5
Ender Inciarte 24 Saves Mark Melancon 10
RBI Kendrys Morales 30 (six others) 8
Justin Upton 28 K Justin Verlander 56
HR Justin Upton 13 Chris Sale 48
(three others) 11 Max Scherzer 46
SB Trea Turner 15 ERA Jon Lester 1.48
Dee Gordon 15 Johnny Cueto 1.78
Jonathan Villar 12 Justin Verlander 1.82
AVG Joey Votto 0.389 WHIP Jharel Cotton 0.82
Yadier Molina 0.388 Jon Lester 0.82
Freddie Freeman 0.367 Ubaldo Jimenez 0.83

 

If you're trying to catch lightning in a barrel, you should expect no more than 20 runs, 25 RBI, 10 home runs, 10 steals, and a .350 average from any individual - and not all from the same guy. For steals, it certainly helps to already own one of the few rabbits. Power is probably the most difficult category to predictably outperform the crowd. Grab a leadoff for runs, a cleanup hitter for RBI, or a Votto for batting average.

On the pitching side, my advice is to already own a top five pitcher. If you need the luck of a leprechaun, hopefully you're chasing WHIP. That's the only category with weird results.

 

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Sunny San Diego may actually be rainy today. It's only a 30 percent chance for wet skies. Tomorrow features a bunch of sun for Labor Day. Every team will play. Enjoy.

 

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Monday, September 4

Pitchers to Use

Jake Junis is by far the most interesting arm available. He'll face a gutted Tigers offense. They're without Victor Martinez (injury), Miguel Cabrera (suspended), and Justin Upton (traded). Junis has fantasy average numbers including a 4.41 ERA, 8.10 K/9, and a 1.29 WHIP through 63.1 innings. He's 6-2 on the year. Junis is quite likely to earn a victory opposite an untouted rookie making his debut.

The Mets and Phillies feature two of the most exploitable offenses. Mark Leiter is starting for Philadelphia. His 3.88 ERA and major league blood lines have led to a jolt in ownership. Be careful. Most of his success can be traced back to what looks like a lucky soft contact rate. He still profiles as a long reliever. His opponent, Rafael Montero, is coming off the best outing of his career. He tossed 8.1 innings of shutout baseball against the Reds. Montero has a 2.77 ERA over his last 26 innings, although his command remains below average. Both Leiter and Montero are risky plays.

Other Targets: Chad Kuhl

 

Pitchers to Exploit

Scouts view Tigers right-hander Artie Lewicki as a swing-starter. He features a 92 to 94 mph fastball and an adequate slider. His curve and change are described as fringy. Lewicki posted strong numbers in five Triple-A starts (2.03 ERA, 9.58 K/9, 2.03 BB/9). He avoids walks and will probably discover that major league hitters feast on middling stuff in the strike zone.

Other Targets: Homer Bailey, James Shields, Matt Moore, Chad Bettis, Chris Smith, Marco Gonzales

 

Homers on the Wire

Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is scheduled to return tomorrow. He's technically over 50 percent owned (56 percent to be precise), but I expect that rate to fall once he's forced off the disabled list. Herrera will likely insert into the top of the order in some combination with Nick Williams, Rhys Hoskins, and Cesar Hernandez. That's a productive-looking top four batters. Now all Philly needs is to get something out of Tommy Joseph and Maikel Franco. Freddy Galvis seems like the obvious fifth hitter.

Lonnie Chisenhall looked like one of the breakout stars of 2017 before missing a second chunk of the season to injury. He's back and hopefully ready to reprise his role as a slugger. A matchup against homer prone James Shields at Guaranteed HR-Rate Park is a plus.

Other Targets: Scott Schebler, Keon Broxton, Neil Walker, Brandon Moss, Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith, Brandon Crawford, Jed Lowrie, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Matt Joyce, Chad Pinder, Marcus Semien, Stephen Piscotty, J.D. Davis, Jayson Werth, Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, Enrique Hernandez

 

Steals on the Wire

The Angels suddenly have a crowded lineup. Brandon Phillips isn't a big base running threat these days, but he'll take advantage of lax defense (10 steals). Cameron Maybin and Ben Revere are better bets to steal a base, but they have to compete with each other, C.J. Cron, and Albert Pujols for playing time. Only two can be in the lineup at the same time unless one of Mike Trout, Justin Upton, or Kole Calhoun are getting an off day.

Other Targets: Denard Span, Kolten Wong

 

Skill Positions

Chris Iannetta is hitting .328/.414/.557 in a small sample against left-handed pitchers. Rich Hill isn't the typical southpaw, but it's still a decent spot to give Iannetta a whirl. Kurt Suzuki and Robinson Chirinos are alternatives. They're on opposite sides of the Andrew Cashner-R.A. Dickey brawl of mediocrity.

 

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joel Embiid

Considered Questionable Tuesday
De'Aaron Fox

Ready to Rock Monday
Zion Williamson

Returns to Starting Lineup Monday
Ajay Mitchell

Active Against Hawks
Ousmane Dieng

Jaylin Williams, Ousmane Dieng Remain Out Monday
Isaiah Joe

Available for Monday's Action
Zach Collins

Sidelined Monday
Tyler Kolek

Active Against Pelicans
Davante Adams

Officially Out on Monday Night
Miles McBride

Cleared to Return Monday
Drake London

Active Against Rams
Josh Giddey

Good to Go Monday
Collin Murray-Boyles

Ready to Face Magic
Ziaire Williams

Active Against Warriors
Goga Bitadze

Active on Monday
Jimmy Butler III

Cleared for Action Monday
Bam Adebayo

Back for Heat Monday
Jalen Suggs

Remains Sidelined on Monday
Sion James

Upgraded to Available
Gary Trent Jr.

Available Versus Hornets
Aaron Gordon

and Christian Braun Could Return on Road Trip
Jake DeBrusk

to Miss Monday's Game as Healthy Scratch
Shane Pinto

Available Monday
Pius Suter

to Miss at Least Four Weeks
Pyotr Kochetkov

Likely Done for the Season
Josh Morrissey

Expected to Play Monday
Jay Huff

Available Versus Rockets
Karel Vejmelka

Moved to Injured Reserve
Rasmus Dahlin

Expected to Rejoin Sabres Lineup Monday
T.J. McConnell

Available on Monday
Yegor Chinakhov

Penguins Acquire Yegor Chinakhov From Blue Jackets
Justin Herbert

Won't Face Broncos in Week 18
Marcus Mariota

Considered "a Stretch" to Play in Week 18
Geno Smith

Dealing With Significant Ankle Injury
Dak Prescott

Will Play in Week 18
Lamar Jackson

Week 18 Status "to be Determined"
Joe Mixon

Won't Return This Season
T.J. Watt

a Long Shot to Play in Week 18?
CFB

Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
Joe Burrow

Will Play in Week 18 Against the Browns
CFB

Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
CFB

Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal
Luther Burden III

Set to Undergo Additional Testing on Quad Injury
Kirill Marchenko

Scores Twice in Sunday's Win
Justin Brazeau

Pots First Career Hat Trick Sunday
Juraj Slafkovsky

Collects Season-High Three Points in Sunday's Loss
Eeli Tolvanen

Continues Scoring Surge With Three-Point Effort
Jack Eichel

to Remain Out Monday
Adam Fox

Nearing Return, Considered Day-to-Day
Josh Morrissey

Considered Day-to-Day After Missing Practice
D'Andre Swift

Finds End Zone Twice in Sunday Night Loss
Luther Burden III

Posts Season-High 138 Yards, Touchdown in Loss
Christian McCaffrey

Racks Up 181 Total Yards, Touchdown in Win Over Bears
Brock Purdy

Delivers Second Straight Five-Touchdown Performance
Parker Washington

Leads Jaguars in Targets, Receptions, and Receiving Yards
Wan'Dale Robinson

Posts Season-High 11 Receptions in Week 17
Josh Allen

Seen Limping From X-Ray Room, Says Foot Injury Didn't Affect Him
Geno Smith

Diagnosed With High-Ankle Sprain
Trey McBride

Sets All-Time Tight End Receptions Record
Geno Smith

Exits Early With Ankle Injury
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns to Practice
Linus Ullmark

Takes Leave of Absence
Travis Sanheim

Good to Go Against Kraken
Nick Foligno

Set to Return Sunday
William Nylander

Out Against Red Wings
Jared McCann

Available Sunday
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP