Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers: Waiver Wire Targets (2025)

Finding good starting pitchers can be a weekly struggle. I aim to solve this headache during this season by finding the best pitchers, every week, who are on most waiver wires. I will use the FantasyPros streaming pitchers tool to find league roster percentage information.

First, let’s take a look at last week’s picks:

Ryan Pepiot (vs. HOU): 6.0 Innings, 4 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 8 Hits, 1 Walk (No Decision)
Mitchell Parker (vs. ATL): 5.1 Innings, 4 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Walk (Win)
Logan Evans (vs. CWS): 6.0 Innings, 7 Strikeouts, 4 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Walk (No Decision)
Clarke Schmidt (@COL): 4.2 Innings, 8 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 6 Hits, 2 Walks (Loss)

Total: 22 Innings, 23 Strikeouts, 13 Earned Runs, 26 Hits, 5 Walks (1-1)

This week accomplished the highest strikeout percentage we have seen all year. However, the ERA and WHIP among these starters were not great. We targeted strikeouts last week, and we got them. For this upcoming week, I plan to gather a more balanced lineup of starters with less strikeout emphasis.

Without further delay, below are my picks for pitchers to stream during Week 9, from Monday, May 26, to Sunday, June 1.

Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers

Monday, May 26

Michael Lorenzen (SP – KC) vs. CIN | 10% Rostered

Michael Lorenzen falls into an awkward role as a pitcher who is too good to be waiver wire fodder, but not quite good enough to make the rotation of most fantasy teams. He should be streamed when he has easy matchups and avoided when he has matchups that look tough. Lorenzen faces the Reds, who are just below .500 at the time of writing. The Reds have been very mediocre, especially in hitting stats. The offense has 457 strikeouts, the fourth most in baseball. I trust Lorenzen to put together a solid start against Cincinnati.

Alternative: Ryan Yarbrough (SP – NYY) @LAA | 1% Rostered

Tuesday, May 27

Tomoyuki Sugano (SP – BAL) vs. STL | 26% Rostered

Tomoyuki Sugano is rostered in about a quarter of leagues, so there is a solid chance he is unavailable as a streamer. If Sugano is not taken, he should be a great option against the Cardinals. What Sugano lacks in strikeouts, he makes up for in ratios. The Japanese star has a minuscule 4.9 K/9 but carries a sparkling 3.07 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Sugano is a high-floor, low-ceiling starter this week.

Alternative: Chris Paddack (SP – MIN) @TB | 11% Rostered

Wednesday, May 28

Clarke Schmidt (SP – NYY) @LAA | 20% Rostered

Clarke Schmidt against the Angels is an optimal matchup. Schmidt has been getting scooped off waivers for good reason. After suffering a rocky first and second start of the season, Schmidt has had a 3.64 ERA in his most recent five starts – and notched three quality starts of those five. Also, for leagues where wins are counted, Schmidt offers great win potential as a member of the Yankees rotation. Grab Schmidt while you still can.

Alternative: Noah Cameron (SP – KC) vs. CIN | 8% Rostered

Thursday, May 29

Jeffrey Springs (SP – ATH) @TOR | 14% Rostered

Only four MLB games are being played on Thursday, and Jeffrey Springs, Ryan Gusto, and Emerson Hancock are the only starters likely on waivers. By default, Springs against the Blue Jays is the best option. Even if Springs had more competition among streamers for this day, he would be a compelling choice. He is coming off back-to-back dominant starts, allowing merely one run each to the Giants and Dodgers. He threw a combined 13.2 innings with nine strikeouts, allowing eight hits and two walks. I like Springs in Toronto.

Alternative: Emerson Hancock (SP – SEA) vs. WSH | 1% Rostered

Friday, May 30

David Peterson (SP – NYM) vs. COL | 18% Rostered

David Peterson versus the Rockies may be the best streaming option of the week. The best part is that the Mets are at home, so Peterson’s pitches do not have to be threatened by the dangerous mile-high elevation of Coors Field. Peterson should not be threatened by his opponent, either. I would only be wasting your time explaining how bad the Rockies have been this season. Peterson is a pitcher with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, facing the worst team in baseball. If he is available on waivers, streaming him should be a no-brainer.

Alternative: Jose Soriano (SP – LAA) @CLE | 12% Rostered

Saturday, May 31

Ben Brown (SP – CHC) vs. CIN | 10% Rostered

Ben Brown is our strikeout pitcher of the week. The starter’s 11.3 K/9 ratio is elite. If Brown’s 5.44 ERA and 1.55 WHIP were as good as his strikeouts, he would be one of the best pitchers in the world. Sadly, we live in the real world, where Brown is a risky stream for pitching ratios. If you are comfortable risking your ratios, Brown is a wonderful source of strikeouts, especially because he plays the Reds, who strike out the fourth-most in baseball.

Alternative: Davis Martin (SP – CWS) @BAL | 2% Rostered

Sunday, June 1

Ryan Weathers (SP – MIA) vs. SF | 10% Rostered

Ryan Weathers is finally healthy. The oft-injured 25-year-old is an interesting stream versus the Giants and an enticing long-term stash in deeper leagues. Weathers was good in an 86.2-inning sample last season, tossing a 3.63 ERA and 1.18 WHIP for the Marlins in the best season of his career. Weathers has developed into a solid starter and has already shown his talent this season after making his debut by playing the Cubs two times in a row. Despite the difficult competition, the former first-round pick allowed only two runs to the Cubs across both starts, striking out nine in 10 innings. If Weathers can do well against the Cubs, he should accomplish another good start against the Giants.

Alternative: Tomoyuki Sugano (SP – BAL) vs. CWS | 26% Rostered