If you’re anything like me, half of your team is on the injured list, and the other half might as well be, the sorry lot that they are. When hope seems lost, there is, of course, only one place to turn. Join me on a trip to the waiver wire, and together we’ll build our own Frankenstein’s monster of a roster.
To qualify for the Stream Team (patent pending), a player must be available in over half of all leagues. The goal here is to find players to help your team, no matter which position needs a little love. My focus is on next week rather than the long-term, though I will often try to highlight players who have at least a chance of contributing further into the future.
The Stream Team – Week 15
| Player | Team | Position Eligibility | Total Games | Weekly Matchups (July 6 – July 12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Cantillo | CLE | SP | 2 | 2 Starts @MIN and @MIA |
| Grant Taylor | CWS | RP | 6 | 3 vs. BOS, 3 vs. ATH |
| Elias Díaz | TEX | C | 6 | 3 vs. LAA, 3 vs. HOU |
| Kody Clemens | MIN | 1B / 2B / OF | 6 | 3 vs. CLE, 3 vs. LAA |
| Tommy Edman | LAD | 2B / 3B / OF | 6 | 3 vs. COL, 3 vs. ARI |
| Josh Jung | TEX | 3B | 6 | 3 vs. LAA, 3 vs. HOU |
| Nicky Lopez | TEX | 2B, 3B, SS | 6 | 3 vs. LAA, 3 vs. HOU |
| Garrett Mitchell | MIL | OF | 8 | 5 @STL, 3 @PIT |
| Josh Lowe | STL | OF | 6 | 3 @ATL, 3 @CHC |
SP – Joey Cantillo (CLE) – Cantillo has a two-start week lined up against the Twins and Marlins.
Cantillo was a bit shaky in his most recent start, but the two prior were fantastic. He notched nine strikeouts against the Astros and Mariners, across eight and six innings, respectively. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 13th. His ERA on the season is still a little high at 3.86, but he seems to have turned a corner after a rocky stretch. His fastball velocity is up, and his curveball is yielding excellent results. He’s up to 59th on the List, and figures to climb even higher in short order.
Cantillo is rostered in 46% of Yahoo leagues.
RP – Grant Taylor (CWS) – Taylor isn’t Chicago’s full-time closer just yet, but he’s certainly the best arm in their bullpen. He tallied his third save of the season on Saturday and appears to be taking over the job from Seranthony Domínguez. Despite a few blow-up appearances, Taylor holds a respectable 2.96 ERA going into next week. He’ll face the Red Sox and A’s at home in Chicago, and neither lineup has been particularly potent.
Taylor is rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues.
C – Elias Díaz (TEX) – The Rangers have an excellent schedule next week, playing two teams with ERAs above 4.50: the Angels and Astros. Diaz is swinging a hot bat, with two HR and a 1.090 OPS over the last week. Diaz only recently came into the starting catcher job, beginning his season in the crowded Royals catching corps. He’s looked good since arriving in Arlington, posting an .837 OPS with 4 HR in 31 games. He’ll start nearly every day, splitting both catching and DH duties with Kyle Higashioka.
Dalton Rushing (LAD) is worth a look as well, but I thought I’d highlight Diaz as he’s flying further under the radar. Rushing is hitting well, too, and the Dodgers also have great matchups against the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
Diaz is rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues. Rushing is rostered in 18%.
1B – Kody Clemens (MIN) – Clemens is still substantially under-rostered. He’s batting third every day, and has an .811 OPS on the season with 16 HR and 6 SB. The Twins have a mixed bag of matchups, visiting the Guardians and then the Angels, but Clemens has been red-hot, with 4 HR in the past week. The only nitpick on his performance this season is his .248 average, though he’s batting .270 over the last 30 days. This looks like the perfect time to get in on the action.
Clemens is rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues.
2B – Tommy Edman (LAD) – Edman is back on the stream team after posting another excellent week: batting .316 with a HR and SB. In 15 games this season, he’s posting a .967 OPS, and looks to be working his way to the top of the order, batting leadoff in Shohei Ohtani’s absence on Saturday. The Dodgers are blessed with three games against the Rockies and three against the Diamondbacks, including Brandon Pfaadt (5.40 ERA) and Zac Gallen (6.36 ERA). I’m hoping to see a few more home runs out of Edman, but he’ll provide plenty of runs and RBIs even if his bat quiets next week.
Edman is rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues.
3B – Josh Jung (TEX) – Jung is in a bit of a slump, but the Rangers’ schedule should make up for it: the Angels and Astros have team ERAs of 4.64 and 4.78, respectively. Jung is having a strong season overall, with 9 HR and an .811 OPS. He only managed two HR in the past month, but still produced a .276 average. He’s batting second every day, and even if the power doesn’t materialize next week, Jung should provide enough average and runs to make an impact.
Jung is rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues.
SS – Nicky Lopez (TEX) – Corey Seager is on the IL for the third time this season, and Lopez has a clear path to remaining a fixture in the Rangers’ lineup. Texas has one of the best schedules going into next week, and Lopez is another solid bat who is available practically everywhere. He’s batting .317 with 1 HR and 4 SB in 36 games this season.
Masyn Winn (STL) and Javier Sanoja (MIA) are two good options in shallower leagues. They both face elite pitching staffs next week, so Lopez gets the nod for his availability and schedule.
Lopez is rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues. Winn and Sanoja are rostered in 34% and 25% of leagues, respectively.
OF – Garrett Mitchell (MIL) – The Brewers have eight games next week, thanks to a doubleheader with the Cardinals. They’ll round out the week with three games against the top of the Pirates’ rotation. Mitchell has been phenomenal, with 5 HR and a 1.021 OPS in the past month. He’s your classic, streaky, high-strikeout-rate slugger, and he’s in the midst of a particularly toasty hot streak. Hopefully, he can keep things going through the All-Star Break and provide a nice shot in the arm to your team’s home run totals.
Mitchell is rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues.
OF – Josh Lowe (LAA) – Lowe spent most of June in Triple-A, and he hit the ground running since rejoining the Halos on June 24th. He has 2 HR and 1 SB with a 1.060 OPS in nine games since his promotion. Lowe will square off against the Rangers and Twins. He’s working his way to the top of the lineup, batting fifth in his most recent game.
Lowe is rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues.
