Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Kody Clemens among top hitters to stream in Week 16 based on matchups and advanced stats

We’re almost to the MLB All-Star Break, which means it’s crunch time for our fantasy baseball teams. Some of the hitters that were recommendations to add and stream have turned into reliable players to keep on rosters in most leagues. That’s typically the goal of finding hitters to stream, where we want them to turn into regular pieces.

Here's a look at pitcher matchups from best to worst for this week.Corbin YoungLast week, we were able to target Marlins, Athletics and Rockies hitters because of their hitter-friendly matchups and ballparks. Though we don’t have that type of boom week, the Dodgers face the Rockies and Diamondbacks — two of the worst pitching staffs. Not that we needed it, but stock up for Dodgers hitters in Week 16.

>The Mets project to have mediocre matchups, though the best matchups come late in the week against Red Sox starters Ranger Suárez and Payton Tolle. Meanwhile, the Giants could have sneaky hitters to stream, since they face the Blue Jays and Rockies pitchers. We’ll dive into the Week 16 matchups to monitor before highlighting several hitters to add and stream in various league formats.

Notable Team Matchups in Week 16Diamondbacks (4 at SD, 3 at LAD

The Diamondbacks project to face seven right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. It’s more favorable earlier in the week, facing Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, Michael King and Griffin Canning. However, the Diamondbacks will face Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Emmet Sheehan in the latter part of the week. Max Kepler and Pavin Smith might be the biggest beneficiaries as the main strong-side platoon options, though Kepler recently came back from his suspension and Smith hasn’t been productive in a smaller sample.

• >Braves (1 vs. NYM, 3 at PIT, 3 at STL)

The Braves project to face six right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. Paul Skenes and Freddy Peralta are the best starting pitchers on the schedule, though both have been struggling in some regard. Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski should benefit from a righty-heavy slate for the Braves.

• >Rockies (3 at LAD, 4 at SF)

It’s a weird week for Rockies hitters, with three left-handed starting pitchers on the schedule. Though we liked Mickey Moniak last week, be careful about him and Troy Johnston in Week 16, as their primary strong-side platoon options.

• >Royals (1 vs. PHI, 3 at NYM, 3 at BAL)

The Royals project to face four right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. Since the Royals don’t have many hitters in a strong-side platoon roles, it’s just a note for them in a seven game week.

• >Brewers (5 at STL, 3 at PIT)

The Brewers will have a doubleheader on Tuesday against the Cardinals, giving them eight games this week. It’s probably a first, but we have the Brewers projected to face eight right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. The Cardinals have regularly been one of the teams to target for opposing hitters. Fire up Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell in most formats, with David Hamilton being a deep-league streamer for steals in a strong-side platoon role.

• >Mets (1 at ATL, 3 vs. KC, 3 vs. BOS)

There are five right-handed starting pitchers projected to face the Mets in Week 16. The only two lefties come in their final series against the Red Sox, including Suàrez and Tolle. It looks like favorable matchups against Reynaldo López and Royals pitchers in the first four games.

• >Yankees (4 at TB, 3 at WSH)

Five right-handed starting pitchers are on the schedule for the Yankees. The two lefties projected are Shane McClanahan and Ian Seymour. Ryan McMahon returned from the injured list, meaning he might be a sneaky deep-league pickup as the strong-side platoon option.

• >Phillies (1 at KC, 3 at CIN, 3 at DET)

The Phillies project to face four right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Justin Crawford project as the only strong-side platoon options that could be affected, though they both bat in the bottom third of the lineup.

• >Padres (4 vs. ARI, 3 vs. TOR)

The Padres will face seven right-handed starting pitchers in Week 16. Gavin Sheets is the only hitter who tends to be platooned against righties for the Padres. Sheets has 14 home runs and a 122 wRC+, making him a sneaky deep-league option.

• >Giants (3 vs. TOR, 4 vs. COL)

Kyle Freeland is the only left-handed starting pitcher on the schedule for the Giants. It’s a bit tougher in the early parts of the week against Kevin Gausman, Spencer Miles and Dylan Cease. The Giants don’t really have any strong-side platoon hitters besides catcher Drew Cavanaugh.

• >Cardinals (5 vs. MIL, 3 vs. ATL)

There will be four left-handed starting pitchers projected to face the Cardinals in Week 16. That includes Shane Drohan, Robert Gasse, Kyle Harrison and Martín Pérez. Catcher Jimmy Crooks might be the only hitter who will lose playing time as a strong-side platoon option.

• >Rays (4 vs. NYY, 3 vs. SEA)

Seven right-handed starting pitchers are on the schedule for the Rays. Both the Yankees and Mariners have above-average pitching staffs. Cedric Mullins is the biggest beneficiary, as the primary strong-side platoon option. Though Richie Pallacios and Hunter Feduccia have been platooned against righties, their playing time has been more sporadic.

Shallow/Medium League Hitter Pickups (Under 50% Rostered)Esmerlyn Valdez, 1B/OF, Pirates (50% Rostered)It’s on me for not mentioning Valdez earlier. He has seen sporadic playing time since he was called up, but we’ve seen him in the lineup more often over the past week. Valdez’s .421 BABIP is fueling his .310 batting average, though the home runs have drawn us in.

Here's a look at the Pirates slugger's bat speed so far in 2026.Corbin YoungThat’s evident by Valdez’s six home runs in 78 plate appearances, aligning with a whopping 28.6% HR/F rate. Thankfully, he possesses near-elite power skills, with a 75 mph bat speed and a 15.4% barrel rate per plate appearance. He was known for his 60-grade raw power as a prospect, but the 30-grade hit tool and 63.4% contact rate raised concerns.

>Scoop up and stream Valdez for power in Week 16.

Kody Clemens, 1B/2B/OF, Twins (37% Rostered)Since June 1, Clemens has been productive, with 10 home runs, one stolen base and a .261 batting average. He continues to hit the ball hard, given his 9.5% barrel rate per plate appearance. Although the Twins’ lineup has been somewhat underwhelming, Clemens bats toward the top third of the lineup. That suggests Clemens should benefit from volume and potential power, since they face the Guardians and Angels, with both teams having questionable pitchers.

Masyn Winn, SS, Cardinals (35% Rostered)Volume should be favorable for Winn in Week 16 with eight games on the schedule. Winn has three home runs, two steals and a .279 batting average since June 1. He needs volume because he profiles as a compiler with a 2.4% barrel rate per plate appearance. After Winn pulled the ball into the air (21.1%) last season, Winn’s pulled air rate fell to 12.8%. The tools don’t wow us, but Winn looks like a favorable option in rotisserie leagues without the head-to-head component.

>Add and stream Winn if you need a steady contributor.

Caleb Durbin, 2B/3B, Red Sox (40% Rostered)In June, Durbin has been one of the more productive players. That’s evident by his seven home runs, five steals and a .290 batting average since June 1. Durbin started pulling the ball 52.9% of the time, with four barrels since June out of seven total throughout the season. It looks like a notable change in Durbin’s profile to potentially tap into his pull-side power this season.

>Add and stream Durbin if you haven’t already.

Deep-League Hitter Pickups (10% Rostered or Lower)Cedric Mullins, OF, Rays (8% Rostered)The Rays have all right-handed starting pitchers on the schedule. That will favor Mullins, who is performing better since June 1. He has seven home runs, four stolen bases and .267 batting average since the beginning of that month. Most of the underlying metrics for Mullins looks similar to previous seasons.

>Target Mullins for volume as a strong-side platoon option if your team needs batting average, power and speed.

Garrett Mitchell, OF, Brewers (14% Rostered)The Brewers play eight games this week, all of which come against right-handed starting pitchers. Mitchell hits in the middle of the Brewers’ lineup, as a strong-side platoon option, which will benefit him this week. He continues to produce well with five home runs and a .319 batting average, fueled by his .410 BABIP since June 1. Mitchell hits the ball hard, with a 8.6% barrel rate per plate appearance and walks 12.1% of the time, so he will be a source of batting average, home runs and OBP as a hitter to add and stream in Week 16.

Ty France, 1B, Padres (2% Rostered)The Padres’ offense has been underwhelming, with a 89 wRC+, ranking 28th out of 30 teams. France has been regularly hitting in the middle of the Padres’ lineup. He is pulling the ball into the air more often this season, with a 17.6% pulled-air rate. That coincides with France hitting more barrels, given his 7% barrel rate per plate appearance, two points higher than his career norm.

Taylor Walls, SS, Rays (1% Rostered)Defense has typically been Walls’ calling card. However, he has been a decent source of stolen bases and batting average since June. Walls has seven stolen bases and a .267 batting average since June 1. If you’re looking for an underrated middle infielder for batting average and steals, Walls is your guy.