So much for a quiet start to the season in terms of weather. Rain plagued the Midwest and East, forcing postponements while leaving holes in fantasy lineups. If you were victimized by Mother Nature, this is the last chance of this fantasy period to make up ground. As usual, there are a nice inventory of bats, albeit with the mandatory warning to make sure batters are in the Sunday lineup. Fantasy teams yearning for a late-week boost will likely be disappointed, especially those needing strikeouts. The pitching available for streaming isn't especially enticing.
Good luck, here are some names to consider.
Pitching
Pitchers to stream
Kyle Gibson (R), rostered in 28 percent of ESPN leagues, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles: Despite rolling out one of the weaker lineups in the league, the Orioles make decent contact. That's OK, because Gibson isn't known for piling up the strikeouts. He's in play for a win while not being a huge risk to ratios.
Mike Leake (R), 13 percent, Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels: Speaking of strikeouts, the Angels are the hardest team to fan in MLB. That said, they're middle of the pack in terms of run production, with below-average power. Like Gibson, Leake is best deployed by those in need of another win while protecting ratios.
Jaime Barria (R), fewer than 1 percent, Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners: Leake's mound foe is Barria, making just his second start of the year. Like the other arms discussed, Barria isn't dominant, but he is at home, facing an offense in a rut since their early-season mashing.
Tyler Chatwood (R), fewer than 1 percent, Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: On paper, a less patient club should be a nice draw for control-challenged hurler. That's the scenario here and why Chatwood is highlighted. That said, his level of wildness can transcend even the most anxious of teams, so there's some risk. On another day, he wouldn't be measured, but on a slate devoid of options when they're needed the most, put Chatwood in the "break glass in case of emergency" class.
Bullpen: The news out of the north side of Chicago is discouraging for those stashing Brandon Morrow as the oft-injured closer has been shut down with elbow discomfort. The beneficiary is Pedro Strop, available in a generous 75 percent of ESPN leagues.
Hitting
Catcher -- Welington Castillo (R), 8 percent, Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (LHP Daniel Norris): Castillo was slated to bat seventh against Norris on Saturday, but the game was washed out. The White Sox could pivot to James McCann. Either way, the Pale Hose backstop is in play, with both enjoying the platoon advantage on Norris. The oft-injured southpaw is trying to resurrect a once-promising career, though he's off to a rough start, surrendering three homers in 8⅓ relief innings to open the 2019 campaign.
First Base -- C.J. Cron (R), 35 percent, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles (RHP Dylan Bundy): If there's one pitcher in dire need of a chance in scenery, it's Bundy. Look what getting out of Camden yards did for Kevin Gausman. Bundy has already authored seven homers in just 17⅓ frames, six coming from a righty swinger.
Second Base -- David Fletcher (R), 2 percent, Los Angeles Angels vs. Seattle Mariners (RHP Mike Leake): The Angels profile as a team to run more as the season progresses. Fletcher is by no means a burner, but he's capable of accruing double digits in bags swiped. The Mariners aren't especially adept at controlling the running game.
Third Base -- Michael Chavis (R), 4 percent, Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (RHP Tyler Glasnow): Admittedly, this isn't a favorable matchup for the recently promoted Chavis. In fact, if Glasnow is on, Chavis could be overmatched. That said, he's a name you want, especially with Boston playing seven home games next week. A third baseman by trade, Chavis has been playing some at the keystone in preparation for this chance. With Dustin Pedroia, Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt sidelined, Chavis could get an extended look. Scouts think his powerful bat is ready.
Shortstop -- Garrett Hampson (R), 11 percent, Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies (RHP Jerad Eickhoff): Eickhoff has been tabbed to take the spot Nick Pivetta vacated. Including a solid four-inning, six-strikeout relief stint for the Phillies last week, Eickhoff has thrown just 9⅓ big league innings since 2017. Hampson's early-season malaise has dropped him in the order, but he's still a threat to run against a battery susceptible to steals.
Corner Infield -- Christian Walker (R), 3 percent, Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs (RHP Tyler Chatwood): Walker has received some play in this space, largely due to his power potential. However, he's a sneaky runner on a club looking to make things happen, sporting a perfect 3-for-3 mark on pilfers.
Middle Infield -- Daniel Robertson (R), 1 percent, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox (LHP David Price): Price seems to have found his sea legs, but even when in a groove, he's prone to the long ball. Robertson has yet to go deep this season, though for his career he totes a playable 111 wRC+ versus lefty pitching.
Outfield -- Dwight Smith Jr. (L), 20 percent, Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins (RHP Kyle Gibson): Smith is doing what many thought, or maybe hoped, Cedric Mullins would do, bopping three homers with three steals in the early going.
Outfield -- Alex Verdugo (L), 13 percent, Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Brandon Woodruff): Call it a hunch, as the Dodgers don't have a set lineup, but being a Sunday matinee, there's a good chance Verdugo is in there. The 23-year-old outfielder has earned more playing time, posting a tidy 1.056 after making the Opening Day roster.
Outfield -- Clint Frazier (R), 11 percent, New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals (RHP Jorge Lopez): Frazier is making a great case for staying in the lineup once Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton return, likely at the expense of Brett Gardner. The slugging outfielder has the opposite field power so useful in Yankee Stadium.