Setting your lineup each week really is a multi-step process. First, it is time to review your existing roster, and then it is time to compare your internal options with the external options on the waiver wire. We spend so much time looking at pitching matchups, and there is nothing wrong with that considering I wrote a whole article about Two Start pitchers, but let us give some respect to the bats as well. There are both good and bad matchups for hitters along with situations to exploit and advantages to find. With that being said, let us take a look at 5 hitters to stream for the coming week of fantasy baseball.
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2023 Hitting Streamers: Five Hitters to Stream
Trent Grisham, OF, San Diego Padres
It is a good week for Grisham this week with favorable matchups against the Pirates and Reds. Over the last seven days, entering action on Friday, Grisham did hit .350 with four runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base as the outfielder continues to get regular playing time in San Diego’s outfield. Pittsburgh is already starting to show some cracks after a hot start and the probable starters for Cincinnati will not generate much fear despite the Reds’ incredible hot streak.
The Padres’ lineup continues to underperform so this does represent a potential buying opportunity in a lineup that should start to heat up to their capabilities.
Tony Kemp, 2B/OF, Oakland A’s
Things have been pretty rough for the Yankees’ pitching staff as of late, and Kemp gets to face them for three games to begin the week. The veteran bounces all over the order for Oakland, but lately has found himself hitting leadoff. Over the last seven days, Kemp is hitting .438 with six runs scored for an A’s team that suddenly has become competitive.
For the season, Kemp is hitting just .182, but he does a good job of putting the bat on the ball as evidenced by his 11.2% walk rate along with an 11.2% strikeout rate. Kemp’s .197 BABIP should mean that better luck is around the corner, but I do like a player who can run and puts the bat on the ball.
Jose Caballero, 2B/SS, Seattle Mariners
Caballero has been struggling over the last seven days hitting .222, but the week gets off to a good start for him at home against Washington. The fact that Caballero can cover both middle infield positions is helpful from a roster construction standpoint and is also something to keep an eye on this week.
In 47 games this year, Caballero has 11 stolen bases and this season has proven that you can never have enough. Despite that he is hitting .235, Caballero also becomes quite attractive in OBP leagues as his 13.9% walk rate brings that up to .377.
Mitch Garver, UT, Texas Rangers
It appears that in the majority of leagues, they still have not caught up to the fact that Garver returned to action a few weeks ago. At this point, he is available in 70% of Fantrax leagues, and that is likely because eight games at catcher still leaves him two games shy in the majority of leagues to claim that important eligibility aside from the utility spot. In leagues with more generous rules, then certainly run Garver out at the catcher spot.
In 19 games so far this season, Garver is hitting .254 with three home runs and 13 RBI and there is no doubt that he is better than the majority of bats available on the waiver wire with catcher eligibility. While it is a small sample size, Garver has a 15.9% barrel rate along with a 45.5% hard-hit rate which should lead to more production at the plate. Additionally, the fact that Texas is playing seven games this week also helps.
Billy McKinney, OF, New York Yankees
Who would have thought this a few months ago, but these are the 2023 Yankees. McKinney has done a great job of taking advantage of his opportunity, and as New York struggles to find both health and production in their lineup, the outfielder continues to earn playing time and at-bats.
Over the last seven days, McKinney is hitting .333 with two home runs and four RBI which brings his average up to .320 on the season with four home runs 52 plate appearances over 15 games. At this point, nothing should impact McKinney’s playing time, and starting the week off facing Oakland should be a plus for his production.