The fantasy baseball season is underway, and so is the roster crunch. Chances are, you have already banished some of your (hopefully late-drafted) players to the waiver wire. Take advantage of early-season roster flexibility to find some hidden gems.
I will be here every week this season to give you suggestions on what pitchers you should stream to win your matchups. In case you do not know, “streaming” pitchers is the practice of picking up waiver wire starting pitchers for an individual star against a favorable opponent. Streamed pitchers are usually dropped after a good start, but that does not always have to be the case, especially in March and April. These first articles will have a special focus on pitchers who have favorable matchups as well as favorable skillsets that could help your team all year, not just for a game.
I will be using the FantasyPros streaming pitchers rankings to help determine my picks. Feel free to sync your league and take a look at your own to find high-potential starters available on your waivers.
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Lineup Assistant
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Week 2 Streaming Targets
Monday, April 6
Casey Mize (SP — DET) @MIN | 26% Rostered
We are starting the week off strong with Mize. His season debut was against the Diamondbacks. He tallied nine strikeouts in six innings, allowing only one run on four hits and two walks. The 28-year-old appears to be building on a decent 2025 campaign, during which he posted a 3.87 ERA in 149.0 innings.
Mize’s splitter may carry him to success in 2026. It was extremely effective in a very small sample size in the last game compared to its use last season. It had an extra inch of downwards vertical movement compared to last year, which gave batters a lot of trouble. His splitter fanned out six Diamondbacks.
Mize has the potential to take a step forward in 2026. Look for this to continue against the Minnesota Twins, who rank last in baseball with a .192 team batting average.
Alternative: Jameson Taillon (SP — CHC) @TB | 5% Rostered
Tuesday, April 7
Noah Cameron (SP — KC) @CLE | 23% Rostered
The 26-year-old starter had an excellent rookie season. He tossed 138.1 innings to a 2.99 ERA, earning fourth place in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Cameron somehow flew under the radar in drafts. Now is the time to make up for that.
Cameron has an increased strikeout potential this season after having a 7.4 K/9 ratio in 2025. Three of the lefty’s five strikeouts against the Twins in his season debut came from his cutter. He had only six strikeouts from his cutter in all of 2025. This increase can be attributed to a three-inch gain in total movement on his cutter. Like any pitcher, this is a small sample size. Unlike many pitchers, Cameron gets to use his improved arsenal on the Cleveland Guardians, who are batting .198 as a team.
Alternative: Cade Cavalli (SP — WSH) vs. STL | 5% Rostered
Wednesday, April 8
Reid Detmers (SP — LAA) vs. ATL | 10% Rostered
Remember when this guy threw a no-hitter? Detmers’ career has crashed since reaching such a historic high during his rookie year. Both health and performance have held the 26-year-old lefty back from greatness. While Detmers is not reaching greatness right now, he has certainly been good. Detmers struck out nine Astros in his season debut (while allowing three runs over 4.2 innings), and then struck out four Mariners over 6.2 scoreless innings in his next start. 13 strikeouts in 11.1 innings is enticing.
Detmers has been throwing most of his pitches, including his four-seamer and slider, about two miles per hour slower than in 2025. This has likely contributed to Detmers better controlling the zone and lowering his walk rate from 9.4 percent to 8.5 percent so far this season. Detmers is a high-strikeout option, but the Braves have struck out the second fewest in the Majors so far. Regardless, Detmers is worth a speculative stream.
Alternative: Will Warren (SP — NYY) vs. ATH | 17% Rostered
Thursday, April 9
Rhett Lowder (SP — CIN) @MIA | 7% Rostered
The 2023 draft pick is already looking impressive. He has only allowed two runs across 11 innings in his starts against the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. The 24-year-old rookie offers a detailed four-pitch arsenal of a sinker, slider, four-seamer, and a changeup.
So far, Lowder has shown great use of all four of these pitches, throwing the sinker, slider, and four-seamer about equally, with the changeup close behind. Lowder’s trust in all four pitches makes him a great weapon compared to starters who rely on just one or two pitches in big situations. Trust Lowder against the Miami Marlins despite their hot start.
Alternative: Max Meyer (SP — MIA) vs. CIN | 6% Rostered
Friday, April 10
Bryce Elder (SP — ATL) vs. CLE | 10% Rostered
He’s done it again. Back in 2023, Bryce Elder took over the MLB with a scorching-hot start. He truly looked unhittable. Until he was very hittable. After earning an All-Star nod, Elder had a 4.64 ERA for the rest of the season, ending the year with a 3.81 ERA. In the two years since then, Elder has had an ERA of 6.52 and 5.30. It has not been pretty.
Elder is yet to allow a run in 13 innings this season, striking out just as many. He has faced the Athletics and the Diamondbacks. What is behind this performance? Elder has added close to three inches of movement to his slider and an inch to his sinker. Sure enough, his slider has caused eight strikeouts, and his sinker has caused four. You can count on Elder’s new slider against the Guardians, who are struggling to get things going on offense.
Alternative: Landen Roupp (SP — SF) @BAL | 7% Rostered
Saturday, April 11
Kyle Harrison (SP — MIL) vs. WSH | 15% Rostered
The southpaw made his MLB debut in 2023. In 2026, Harrison is somehow only 24. Since being promoted, Harrison has not had many ups and has had a lot of downs. His full rookie season in 2024 was cut short by injury. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2025, then to the Milwaukee Brewers. The former top left-handed pitching prospect is now, finally, getting a chance to shine.
In a small sample size of two starts (10.1 innings), Harrison has allowed a modest three runs, with 14 strikeouts. These ample strikeouts reflect Harrison’s strikeout potential as someone with a career minor league 13.7 K/9 ratio. Harrison relies on his mid-90s four-seamer over half the time, while also using a slurve, changeup, and a sinker. Harrison’s changeup in particular has a lot of movement, but his fastball is his primary strikeout pitch. Consider streaming Harrison against the currently 3-6 Washington Nationals for strikeouts.
Alternative: Eric Lauer (SP — TOR) vs. MIN | 21% Rostered
Sunday, April 12
Taj Bradley (SP — MIN) @TOR | 16% Rostered
Has Taj Bradley finally figured it out? Bradley has featured enticing promise throughout his fantasy career, but has yet to find consistency. The 25-year-old has a high-90s fastball, and he is elite at striking batters out with it. Strikeouts have never been the issue for Bradley, but everything else has been.
The righty is red-hot to start the season. He has struck out 12 across 10.1 innings, allowing only one run. The flamethrowing starter could finally have it all together. Consider giving him a shot at the end of this week against the Blue Jays, who are an easier opponent due to some unfortunate injuries.
Alternative: Noah Cameron (SP — KC) vs. CWS | 23% Rostered
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