There is always a lot that goes into setting your lineup on a weekly basis and this week is no different. Or is it? With this week the long and winding road that is the MLB regular season comes to a close. Each week there are matchups and situations to exploit from the hitting perspective, so with that being said, let us take a look at 5 hitters to stream for the current week of fantasy baseball.
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Five Hitters to Stream This Week
Brendan Rodgers, 2B, Colorado Rockies
This is not the first time Brendan Rodgers has appeared as one of my hitters my stream. It is for good reason though as the Rockies finish the season off with seven games at home. After a delayed start to the season, Rodgers is looking to finish the season off on a high note. And that production can carry through to your fantasy team.
To say that it is a tale of two Rodgers would be an understatement. In composite, Rodgers looks pretty good, but there is a clear divide when he is at home compared to on the road. In 16 games at home, Rodgers is hitting .302 compared to just .198 on the road. Over the past 14 days, Rodgers has also been coming on strong in general. In that stretch, he is hitting .333 with two home runs ad six RBI.
Jason Heyward, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
The first season in Los Angeles for Jason Heyward has turned out to be one of his best seasons in a while. With semi-regular playing time, Heyward is hitting .268 with 15 home runs, 40 RBI, and 55 runs scored.
Hitting with the platoon advantage, Heyward is batting .280 against right-handed pitching with 13 of his home runs and 38 RBI. Six of the Dodgers’ seven games come under those circumstances this week so the veteran should see plenty of playing time. And did we mention that four of those games come in Coors Field?
Chris Taylor, 2B/SS/3B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Let’s just close out the season strong while sticking with a theme here. When looking for hitters to stream, roster management truly comes into play here. And from that perspective, Chris Taylor is a valuable commodity as he is eligible from just about everywhere.
As the Dodgers look to head into the playoffs strong and healthy, players like Taylor are likely to be busy this week. Over the past 14 days, Taylor is hitting .273 with six RBI and five runs scored and he is a proven veteran contributor.
Parker Meadows, OF, Detroit Tigers
Depending on your objective in the last week, looking for hitters to stream could mean a very specific category. As the season is winding down, some veterans are throttling things down while dealing with nagging injuries while young players look to prove themselves heading into 2024.
When it comes to Parker Meadows, he falls into the latter category. A .222 batting average in the last 14 days is not going to generate much buzz, but he does have nine runs scored in that stretch. What we are after here are stolen bases, and Meadows has five in the last two weeks. That puts him tied for fourth overall and it certainly matters if you trying to move up the standings.
Nelson Velazquez, OF, Kansas City Royals
Let’s stay in the outfield with our hitters to stream, but now hunt for power. As the Royals play out the string, Nelson Velazquez has gotten a chance to show what he can do in the middle of Kansas City’s lineup.
You are going to have to live with his .229 average in the last 14 days, but the five home runs over that stretch could very well be worth it. Velazquez also has 10 RBI and nine runs scored and that production could make the difference. So far this season, Velazquez has a crazy 20.8% barrel rate to go along with a 48.5% hard-hit rate. Metrics like that are hard to ignore, even if it is just temporary.