With Week 1 in the books, we have learned enough to start reacting a bit, mostly in terms of pitcher schedules for streaming and some playing time nuggets. We also have an idea of team philosophy.
Some teams have been very aggressive on the base paths early on. Could this be game plans or more a product of the team being played? There is a lot left to figure out, but until then, let’s talk streaming for Week 2.
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Runs & Stolen Bases
Tommy Pham made the list last week in this category, and we are running it back. Pham is still underappreciated. He is leading off full-time. You can hardly ever find a leadoff hitter readily available on the waiver wire.
We have now seen a willingness to run from both Pham and the Pirates. He continues to lead off and has stolen a couple of bases in the opening series. The combination of leading off and his ability to get on base will lend itself to stealing bases and scoring runs. Pham is a multi-category target.
RBI
Jeimer Candelario (1B, 3B – CIN)
With a few injuries piling up, this has opened the door for Jeimer Candelario to run with an everyday job. We know what he is. He makes a good amount of contact and has been hitting toward the middle of the order.
Both will play into the ability to knock in runs. Not to mention it is a seven-game week for him with three being in Cincinnati and four in Milwaukee. The parks do not get much better, let alone the overall matchups along the way.
Home Runs
Initially, Kyle Manzardo was viewed as a platoon bat, so he was very schedule-dependent. But then we saw him start Opening Day versus a left-handed pitcher and proceeded to have a huge game.
Manzardo has a six-game week and should be in the lineup for most of them. He will likely bat between third and fifth, based on matchups. The pedigree is there and we know he can crush baseballs. Take a shot at the playing time and skill set here. The home runs will come.
Batting Average
The big question for Sal Frelick was playing time. Having faced two lefties and starting against both while batting fifth, you have to like how the playing time looks. Now he enters the week and gets seven games at home, which could lead to a strong week of production overall. Especially if he is still batting toward the middle of the lineup.
The power is a question mark, but Frelick can run and is very well known for the ability to put the bat on the ball. The hit tool should carry him, and that should lead to a good batting average along the way.
Wins
You need to find starters with a good offense behind them and two decent matchups to have your best shot at wins off the waiver wire. Cade Povich checks these boxes. Having shown the ability to pitch well in the past and deep enough into games, this should lead to a couple of strong chances for wins.
It never hurts to have the Orioles’ offense behind you as well as the good defense they also provide. The Boston matchup (at home) is a bit of a concern, but playing at Kansas City is good enough to warrant any risk with Boston to start the week.
Saves
As of writing this, Jose Alvarado has not recorded a save. That could very well change, but with the usage they showed us in game one of the season, there is a very good chance Alvarado is firmly in the mix for saves and could even lead the team in saves. He may be used in high-leverage situations, but that will still lead to saves on one of the best teams in the league.
Strikeouts
There are so many solid two-start streamers in Week 2. However, my pick is Ben Brown. He gets to take on the Athletics on the road and the Padres at home. Brown has the stuff to get strikeouts and should be able to get through both of these lineups without too much trouble.
As a starter in 2024, Brown posted a 3.23 ERA, 3.45 FIP and 3.90 xFIP. This came with a 0.97 WHIP and a solid 19.1% K-BB%. We know the stuff is good. It can be off at times, but given the matchups and strikeout ability, there is a lot to like with Brown this week with two starts.
ERA & WHIP
For strictly streaming ratios, I tend to favor relievers. Luke Weaver is the set-up man for the Yankees, but could easily get vaulted into a high-leverage situation and scalp a save or win in the process.
With this role, he has shown the ability to provide elite ratios while also giving you strikeouts. If you get three appearances in a six-game week, you can match the strikeouts you’d get from a lesser starter from Weaver while also securing very strong ratios along the way.
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