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 fantasy baseball streaming pitchers, every week, who are on most waiver wires. I will use the FantasyPros streaming pitchers tool to find league roster percentage information.

Let’s take a look at last week’s picks:

Shane Smith (@KC): 5.0 Innings, 5 Strikeouts, 2 Earned Runs, 5 Hits, 3 Walks (Loss)
Hayden Wesneski (@MIL): 4.0 Innings, 3 Strikeouts, 4 Earned Runs, 5 Hits, 2 Walks (Loss)
Gunnar Hoglund (vs. SEA): 5.1 Innings, 3 Strikeouts, 2 Earned Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Walk (No Decision)
Tomoyuki Sugano (@LAA): 7.1 Innings, 5 Strikeouts, 1 Earned Run, 3 Hits, 0 Walks (Win)
Bryce Elder (@PIT): 6.0 Innings, 8 Strikeouts, 3 Earned Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Walks (Loss)

Total: 27.2 Innings, 24 Strikeouts, 12 Earned Runs, 23 Hits, 6 Walks (1-3)

Gems from Tomoyuki Sugano and Bryce Elder bring the week together. Hayden Wesneski’s start was the only bad outing. I am happy with the results of last week’s picks.

Without further delay, below are my picks for pitchers to stream during Week 8, from Monday, May 12th to Sunday, May 18th.

Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers

Monday, May 12

David Peterson (SP – NYM) vs. PIT | 13% Rostered

David Peterson against the Pirates makes for the quintessential streamer. The Mets starter has a 3.05 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.5 K/9 this season, yet has not been exceptional enough to be picked up in most leagues. The tale of Peterson’s 2025 has been good but not great. Baseball can be weird, but Peterson has the potential to finally show some greatness against the 13-26 Pirates.

Alternative: Colin Rea (SP – CHC) vs. MIA | 8% Rostered

Tuesday, May 13

Brayan Bello (SP – BOS) @ DET | 19% Rostered

Let me preface this Brayan Bello selection by emphasizing how limited streaming options appear on Tuesday. The pitchers slated to pitch on Tuesday, who are available in most leagues, do not seem like sensible streamers.

With this in mind, if you have to pick a starter on Tuesday, I suggest Bello. He has made four starts this season, earning a 2.01 ERA (5.52 xERA) and 1.34 WHIP. Bello’s advanced stats are concerning, and so are his 13 strikeouts across 22.1 innings. Select Bello if you must, but I highly recommend claiming a starter from another day this week.

Alternative: Simeon Woods Richardson (SP – MIN) @ BAL | 2% Rostered

Wednesday, May 14

Michael Lorenzen (SP – KC) vs. HOU | 7% Rostered

Michael Lorenzen is far and away my favorite streamer this week. He will bring his 3.57 ERA and 1.26 WHIP to the Astros, who have a low .683 team OPS. Even better, Lorenzen is carrying momentum into his next start. The starter held the Red Sox to seven scoreless innings on May 9th, allowing just three hits and striking out seven. I suggest grabbing Lorenzen off the waiver wire.

Alternative: Randy Vasquez (SP – SD) vs. LAA | 2% Rostered

Thursday, May 15

AJ Smith-Shawver (SP – ATL) vs. WSH | 20% Rostered

If you are in a deep league, there is a very good chance AJ Smith-Shawver was already added to a team. If not, he should be a great streaming option against the Nationals. The 22-year-old has momentum going for him right now.

Smith-Shawver is amid a three-game terror where he has thrown 18.1 innings and allowed only four runs, striking out 17. Target Smith-Shawver against the Nationals.

Alternative: Lance McCullers Jr. (SP – HOU) @ TEX | 12% Rostered

Friday, May 16

Tobias Myers (SP – MIL) vs. MIN | 3% Rostered

Tobias Myers shined on May 5th, tossing 5.1 innings of one-run baseball against the Astros, allowing six hits and striking out two. Myers does not generate many whiffs, but he demonstrated excellent control by throwing nearly 75% strikes. Trust Myers as a high-floor, low-ceiling streamer as he faces the Twins, who rank in the bottom 10 of team hitting stats.

Alternative: Stephen Kolek (SP – SD) vs. SEA | 5% Rostered

Saturday, May 17

Clarke Schmidt (SP – NYY) vs. NYM | 11% Rostered

Clarke Schmidt against the Mets is someone to consider streaming. He may allow a few runs, but his 8.9 career K/9 suggests he will get a healthy amount of strikeouts as well. Schmidt, backed by the Yankees and their 22-16 record, should benefit from a potential win.

I’m not confident in Schmidt to maintain low ERA and WHIP ratios, but he is a good option if you want to try to collect a win and strikeouts.

Alternative: Ben Casparius (SP – LAD) vs. LAA | 10% Rostered

Sunday, May 18

Chad Patrick (SP – MIL) vs. MIN | 3% Rostered

Chad Patrick had an impressive start against the Astros, almost going seven scoreless before allowing a three-run shot with one out remaining in the seventh. Despite his final inning, Patrick had a wonderful start that reflected the potential he has flashed all season. The 26-year-old is an enticing option against the Twins, whose OPS of .679 is the 10th-worst in the league.

Alternative: Colin Rea (SP – CHC) vs. CWS | 8% Rostered