Whether it’s because of an injury or poor performance, there are always opportunities to stream players off the waiver wire. The best players to stream are those who are under-owned and face appealing match-ups for the upcoming week.

Here are five players who are readily available in Fleaflicker leagues and have attractive match-ups during the second week of August.

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Top Hitter Streamers for Week 19

Max Kepler (MIN, OF) - 61% Fleaflicker

Kepler has hit a Major League-leading 12 HR since July 1. He is 8-for-16 with four homers, eight runs and 10 RBI through the first four days of August. Most importantly, he is slashing .286/.374/.650 with 13 HR and 38 RBI in just 140 AB against right-handed pitching.

This upcoming week, the Twins will draw five right-handers— Collin McHugh (5.44 road ERA, .818 OPS vs. LHH), Mike Fiers (5.83 road ERA, .750 OPS vs. LHH), Doug Fister (.854 OPS vs. LHH), Yordano Ventura (4.91 road ERA, .776 OPS vs. LHH) and Edinson Volquez (6.51 road ERA, .771 OPS vs. LHH).

Kepler has jumped up above 60% ownership, but that number is only going to increase, so grab him while you can— even if it’s just for the week.

 

Yasmani Grandal (LAD, C) - 47% Fleaflicker

Grandal was given the day off on July 7, batting just .183 on the season at the time. He returned the following day and went 5-for-5 with three homers, and his been on a tear ever since. He is batting .355 with seven homers over those 18 games played, and .226/.339/.464 with 16 HR and 46 RBI on the year. The 27-year-old backstop is a switch hitter, with 14 HR in 208 AB vs. RHP and a .858 OPS in 40 AB vs. LHP.

This week, he will see five righties in Zach Eflin (.831 OPS vs. LHH), Vince Velasquez (.780), Jeremy Hellickson (.801), Ivan Nova (.865) and Gerrit Cole (.749). The Dodgers will also draw lefty Jeff Locke, who has allowed an .877 OPS and 11 HR to right-handed hitters.

Grandal should be able to continue this hot streak as August progresses, and can provide value at the catcher spot in all leagues.

 

Danny Valencia (OAK, 1B/3B/OF) - 40% Fleaflicker

Valencia continues to be criminally under-owned. Among third basemen, he is 10th in OPS (.845) and 14th in HR (14). The 31-year-old is batting .344 with two homers, six runs and five RBI over his last 10 games, and .370/.440/.654 with six homers in 81 AB vs. LHP on the season.

In Week 19, the A’s will face three lefties— Wade Miley (.826 OPS vs. RHH), James Paxton (.768) and Wade LeBlanc (.794). Of the four remaining righties, two of them — Kevin Gausman (.893) and Yovani Gallardo (.791) — struggle against right-handed hitters.

Although he has been more sparsely used in the lineup as the A's evaluate their future talent, Valencia is still probably worth a permanent spot in deep mixed leagues due to his talent. He can be especially valuable as a streamer this week.

 

Michael Conforto (NYM, OF) - 30% Fleaflicker

Yoenis Cespedes is officially on the disabled list, opening up additional playing time for Conforto, Alejandro De Aza and Brandon Nimmo. Conforto has, by far, the greatest upside of the three, having hit .270 with nine homers in 174 AB as a rookie last year. This year, he has struggled to consistently produce— particularly against lefties. Still, he has 10 HR to go along with a .809 OPS against righties, and has shown a little bit of life early this month with three doubles in his first two games.

This upcoming week, the Mets will host the Diamondbacks and Padres. Those teams are expected to send out Zack Greinke, Robbie Ray, Braden Shipley, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart and Luis Perdomo. Ray is a lefty, and Clemens, Cosart and Perdomo have all inexplicably fared better against lefties than righties, but no one outside Greinke offers up a particularly tough match-up. In fact, Shipley owns a 1.046 OPS vs. left-handed hitters.

Another cold stretch might find Conforto back down in the minors, making him a boom-or-bust candidate to stream. This week could be an excellent chance for him to start turning around his sophomore campaign and his talent is worth the risk.

 

Hyun Soo Kim (BAL, OF) - 4% Fleaflicker

Kim has played the entirety of the 2016 season in a platoon role in left field. He is hitless in 11 AB vs. lefties, but owns a .358/.430/.491 line with four homers, 19 R and 12 RBI in 165 AB against righties. He doesn’t produce much in terms of counting stats, but his AVG (.335) and OBP (.418) are both in the top five among all hitters with at least 150 AB.

Awaiting the Orioles are match-ups with Kendall Graveman (.853 OPS vs. LHH), Jesse Hahn (1.069), Dillon Overton (1.477), Sonny Gray (.762), Matt Cain (.941), Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto (.668). A meeting with Bumgarner is obviously not favorable for a lefty, but Kim can feast on the other six arms— even a struggling Cueto (4.34 ERA over his last seven starts).

Kim might not be a viable long-term option in mixed leagues given his inconsistent playing time all season, but he can be used as a streamer every week in which he gets to face a bunch of righties.

 

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