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 first full week of September.

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Top Hitter Streamers for Week 23

Yasiel Puig (LAD, OF) - 53% Fleaflicker

Puig is back with the Dodgers, starting in right field on Friday night against the Padres. He batted a robust .348/.400/.594 with four homers and 12 RBI in 69 AB in Triple-A after managing just a .260/.320/.386 line with seven homers in 303 plate appearances in the majors.

The Dodgers are scheduled to face Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Robbie Ray, Jose Fernandez, Tom Koehler and Jake Esch this upcoming week. There are a mix of righties and lefties in there, and Greinke and Fernandez never offer enticing match-ups. However, for his career, Puig is batting .291 with 38 HR in 1,122 AB vs. righties and .279 with 15 HR in 377 AB vs. lefties. He has proven that there is no match-up too daunting when he is at his best. Owners in deep mixed and NL-Only leagues desperate for a boost into the playoffs could take a flier on Puig, especially if he shows signs of promise over the weekend.

Yoan Moncada (BOS, 2B) - 40% Fleaflicker

By the time this article is published, Moncada will have made his highly-anticipated Major League debut. The current No. 1 prospect was promoted for Friday’s game less than two years after gobbling up a $31.5 million signing bonus from the Red Sox. He was hitting .294 with 15 HR in 405 AB at the time of the call-up.

A switch-hitter, Moncada had far more success against righties (.305/.399/.567 with nine homers in 141 AB) than lefties (.167/.302/.389 with two homers in 36 AB) in Double-A. Still, he did manage a .797 OPS vs. left-handed pitching in High-A earlier in the season.

In Moncada’s first full week, the Sox will face Edwin Jackson, Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart, Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ and R.A. Dickey— all righties. Moncada’s playing time is not guaranteed considering Boston’s infield depth, but they wouldn’t be promoting the top prospect in baseball without the intention of using him. The 21-year-old is the type of player who could potentially contribute right off the bat.

Michael Conforto (NYM, OF) - 26% Fleaflicker

Conforto was recalled prior to Thursday’s game, and ripped an opposite-field double in his first at-bat. The 23-year-old was sent down after batting .148 through May and June, recalled after the All-Star break, and demoted again in early August after going 10-for-50. However, he did slash .270/.335/.506 with nine homers in 174 AB as a 22-year-old rookie last year. His greatest struggles have always come against southpaws.

The Mets will see lefty Brandon Finnegan on Wednesday, but also draw five righties — Robert Stephenson (.757 OPS vs. left-handed hitters), Homer Bailey (.968), Julio Teheran (.711), Matt Wisler (.772) and Mike Foltynewicz (.797) — over the course of the week.

There’s no guarantee Conforto can get his head right and find some success over the last month of the season, and it remains to be seen how often he can even get in the lineup with Jay Bruce now in the picture. Still, a week of favorable match-ups could get him back on track, and the 23-year-old’s upside likely makes him more appealing than anybody else who would be on the waiver wire in deep mixed or NL-Only leagues.

Josh Bell (PIT, 1B/OF) - 17% Fleaflicker

So Bell’s not technically a September call-up. He rejoined the big league club on Aug. 20 and has gone 9-for-35 (.273) with one homer, and four RBI through his first 12 games back. Despite being a switch-hitter, Bell is undoubtedly better from the left side of the plate. He is 11-for-31 with two homers vs. righties and just four at-bats against lefties, and his minor league numbers reflect this trend, as well.

This upcoming week, the Pirates will host the Cardinals and Reds. Those teams are slated to send out Adam Wainwright, Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes, Anthony DeSclafani, Dan Straily, Robert Stephenson and Homer Bailey. All seven are righties, and Weaver, Reyes and Stephenson have each thrown fewer than 40 career innings. Bell has taken over as Pittsburgh’s everyday first baseman and is in a good position to bolster his stat line over the next two series against division rivals.

Hunter Renfroe (SD, OF) - 3% Fleaflicker

Renfroe was named the MVP of the Pacific Coast League after slashing .306/.336/.558 with 29 HR, 94 R and 104 RBI this season. He absolutely crushed lefties to the tune of a .347 AVG and 11 HR, but also hit .290 with 18 HR in 376 AB vs. righties.

The Padres are out of playoff contention and have nothing to lose by giving their young stars an opportunity to get acclimated to major league pitching. Renfroe could find a permanent home in right field if he were to get the call, and could have an immediate impact. However, the El Paso Chihuahuas — San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate — are in the playoffs in the PCL, so it remains to be seen whether or not Renfroe — and teammate Manuel Margot — will join the Padres for the stretch run.

 

 

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