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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

Ryan Leonard

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Friday
Carter Hart

Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Brayden Point

Questionable for Saturday
Victor Hedman

Expected to Return Saturday
Byron Buxton

Twins Not Planning to Trade Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton
Patrick Williams

Dalen Terry Available Versus Pacers
Coby White

Returns With Minutes Restriction Friday
Ayo Dosunmu

Out Friday Against Pacers
Zach Collins

Available for Season Debut Friday
Robert Williams III

Donovan Clingan Out, Robert Williams III in for Portland Friday
Evan Mobley

Ready to Play Friday
Kristaps Porzingis

Coming Off the Bench Friday
Spencer Jones

Available Against Hawks
OG Anunoby

Returns to Knicks LIneup Friday
Tre Mann

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Available Friday
LaMelo Ball

Upgraded to Available
Brandon Miller

Returns to Action Friday
Steven Adams

Alperen Sengun Out Friday, Steven Adams Starting
Ozzy Wiesblatt

to Miss 8-10 Weeks With Upper-Body Injury
Jalen Johnson

Returning To Atlanta's Lineup On Friday
Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Out With Illness Friday
Evander Kane

Doubtful for Friday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Questionable For Friday Night
Conor Garland

Back From Two-Game Absence Friday
Tyler Herro

Sitting Out Of Friday's Game
Thomas Harley

Could Be an Option Next Week
Daniel Gafford

Out For Friday Night's Game
Mikael Granlund

Returning From 10-Game Absence Friday
P.J. Washington

Won't Suit Up Friday Night
John Carlson

Misses Second Consecutive Game Friday
Rome Odunze

has Fractured Foot, Labeled Week-to-Week
Brandon Miller

Trending Toward A Return To The Court
Paul George

Avoids Injury Report On Friday
Sauce Gardner

Ruled Out for Sunday
Petr Yan

Looks To Reclaim Bantamweight Belt
Merab Dvalishvili

Set For His Fourth Title Defense
Joshua Van

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Aaron Jones Sr.

Cleared to Play in Week 14
Chris Olave

Listed as Questionable for Week 14
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fifth Title Defense At UFC 323
Tatsuro Taira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Alvin Kamara

Ruled Out for Sunday
Brandon Moreno

Searches For His Third Win In A Row
Rome Odunze

Ruled Out for Week 14
Payton Talbott

A Favorite At UFC 323
Henry Cejudo

Set For His Retirement Fight
Drake London

Ruled Out vs Seattle
Jan Blachowicz

Set To Open Up UFC 323 Main Card
Lamar Jackson

Will Play on Sunday
Bogdan Guskov

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
CFB

Emmett Johnson Leaving Nebraska for 2026 NFL Draft
Dalton Kincaid

to be Questionable for Week 14
Tee Higgins

Clears Concussion Protocol, is a Full-Go for Sunday
CFB

Jam Miller Unlikely to Play in SEC Title Game
CFB

Penn State Expected to Hire Matt Campbell from Iowa State
Mike Evans

Not Quite Ready to Return This Week
Jayden Daniels

Will Start Against Vikings
Lamar Jackson

Returns to Practice, on Track to Play on Sunday
Kyler Murray

Won't Return This Year, Cardinals Non-Committal on his Future
Trey Benson

Out in Week 14; Could he Miss the Rest of the Season?
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
CeeDee Lamb

in the League's Concussion Protocol
Brian Branch

Out with Torn Achilles
Detroit Lions

Brian Branch Feared to Have Suffered an Achilles Injury
CFB

Arkansas Targeting Ron Roberts for Defensive Coordinator Job
Jayden Daniels

Tracking Towards a Week 14 Return
Justin Herbert

Trending in the Right Direction to Play Monday Night
Mathew Barzal

Leads Islanders Past Avalanche
Elias Lindholm

Posts Hat Trick of Assists Thursday
Leon Draisaitl

Notches Season-High Four Points in Thursday's Win
Connor McDavid

Nets 13th Career Hat Trick
Teuvo Teravainen

Expected to Be Fine After Thursday's Exit
Shane Pinto

Exits Loss With Injury
Joseph Woll

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Jhostynxon Garcia

Pirates Acquire Jhostynxon Garcia From Red Sox
Cody Bellinger

Yankees Pushing Hard to Re-Sign Cody Bellinger
CFB

Penn State Eyeing Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell For Coaching Vacancy
Alex Bregman

Cubs Have Renewed Interest in Alex Bregman
Kirill Marchenko

Returns From Four-Game Absence
Carter Verhaeghe

Ready to Return Thursday
Scott Wedgewood

Skips Thursday's Game
CFB

Billy Napier Finalizing Deal to Become James Madison's New Head Coach
CFB

Buster Faulkner Set to Become Florida's New Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Joe Sloan Expected to be Kentucky's New Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Lane Kiffin Working to Keep Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker at LSU
CFB

Brian Daboll a Candidate for Penn State Head-Coaching Job?
Kyle Tucker

Visits With Blue Jays
Emilio Pagán

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal
Cedric Mullins

Rays Agree on One-Year Deal
Freddy Peralta

Brewers Considering Trading Freddy Peralta
Kyle Schwarber

Reds Serious About Adding Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?
CFB

Brent Key Signing Five-Year Deal to Remain at Georgia Tech
CFB

Brian Hartline Expected to Land USF Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Collin Klein Expected to be Top Target for Kansas State if Head-Coach Job Opens
CFB

Chris Klieman Considering Stepping Down at Kansas State
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job

RANKINGS

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