Finding the right weekend streamer can swing a fantasy baseball matchup, especially this time of year when rotations are unsettled and hot streaks start to matter more. On a recent FantasyPros MLB podcast, Joey P and Chris Welsh highlighted several under-rostered names they believe fantasy baseball managers should be targeting right now, ranging from intriguing pitchers to multi-position bats riding hot stretches. Here are six fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and streamers to consider adding now.
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice
- Best Fantasy Baseball Rankings
- Best Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Tools
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Polarizing Fantasy Baseball Players: Buy, Sell or Hold?
The conversation focused less on long-term projections and more on practical weekend lineup decisions. If you need help filling innings or plugging injury holes, there were a few names the hosts felt strongly about.
Grayson Rodriguez (SP – LAA) Ready to Return
One of the biggest names discussed was Grayson Rodriguez, who appears set to return this weekend against the Dodgers after an impressive rehab outing where he struck out 11 batters.
Joey P acknowledged the matchup is far from ideal, especially against a dangerous Dodgers lineup, but the upside was too enticing to ignore. The thinking here is straightforward: if Rodriguez is healthy and missing bats immediately, fantasy managers may not want to wait another week before activating him.
There is obvious risk attached to throwing him directly into a difficult matchup, but Rodriguez was framed as the type of arm worth betting on because of his strikeout ceiling. For fantasy players sitting on him through the injury absence, the recommendation leaned toward activating him immediately rather than easing him back onto benches.
Nick Martinez (SP – CIN) Quietly Becoming Reliable
One of Welsh’s favorite streaming options was Nick Martinez, who continues to fly under the radar despite excellent ratios so far this season.
Martinez entered the weekend carrying a 1.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while consistently limiting damage in his appearances. Welsh pointed out that Martinez has not allowed more than two earned runs in any outing this season, which gives him a stable fantasy floor even without elite strikeout numbers.
The concern, naturally, is the modest strikeout rate. Pitchers operating below a 20 percent strikeout rate usually have very little margin for error. Still, Martinez has survived by limiting barrels and suppressing hard contact.
Against a Marlins lineup that relies heavily on quality contact, Welsh viewed Martinez as a particularly strong matchup-based streamer for the weekend.
Luis Garcia (1B/2B – HOU) Riding a Hot Bat
At the hitter position, Joey P highlighted Luis Garcia as a useful waiver addition for fantasy managers needing middle infield help.
Garcia qualifies at both first and second base in many formats, which already boosts his utility in deeper leagues. More importantly, he entered the weekend swinging one of the hotter bats available on waivers.
Over his previous six games, Garcia was hitting .400 with two home runs while showing improved plate discipline with two walks against just two strikeouts.
The appeal here is less about season-long upside and more about riding a productive stretch while fantasy managers search for offense. Joey P repeatedly emphasized the importance of chasing hot streaks in baseball, especially for short-term lineup decisions.
Ezequiel Duran (3B – TEX) Multi-Position Value With Momentum
Welsh countered with Ezequiel Duran as one of his favorite under-rostered hitters heading into the weekend.
Duran entered the conversation batting .300 during the month of May while carrying an active four-game hitting streak. He had also started to contribute modest power and speed production with three home runs and four steals on the season.
The matchup played a major role in the recommendation. Welsh specifically targeted Duran because of an upcoming matchup against a struggling opposing starter, viewing it as an ideal spot to capitalize on his recent offensive surge.
Another important detail was Duran’s positional flexibility. For fantasy managers juggling injuries or platoon spots, having eligibility across multiple infield positions adds extra appeal in daily lineup leagues.
Brayan Bello (SP – BOS) Finally Showing Signs of Life
The hosts also revisited Brayan Bello, a pitcher they admitted they had criticized heavily in the past.
Still, recent performance forced them to acknowledge improvement.
Across his previous two starts, Bello had posted a 2.51 ERA with nearly a strikeout per inning while limiting baserunners effectively.
The matchup against Atlanta was admittedly difficult, but the recommendation was framed through the lens of desperation streaming. If fantasy managers recently lost starting pitching depth and simply need competent innings, Bello was presented as a viable temporary option while searching for more stable long-term solutions.
Logan Henderson (SP – MIL) Emerging Strikeout Upside
Welsh closed by highlighting Logan Henderson as one of the more interesting low-rostered pitching streamers available.
The standout numbers were impossible to ignore:
- 32 percent strikeout rate
- 4 percent walk rate
- Strong recent outings against both the Nationals and Yankees
Welsh specifically noted Henderson’s ability to miss bats while still maintaining control, a combination that immediately raises fantasy intrigue.
Even though some hard contact concerns remain, Henderson’s strikeout upside separated him from many of the safer but lower-ceiling streaming options discussed earlier in the episode.
For fantasy managers chasing strikeouts late in the week, Henderson may have offered the most upside of the group.
Fantasy Baseball Takeaways
- Grayson Rodriguez is worth activating immediately if you need strikeout upside despite the difficult matchup.
- Nick Martinez continues to outperform expectations thanks to elite run prevention and weak contact suppression.
- Luis Garcia is a strong short-term waiver bat because of his recent hot streak and multi-position eligibility.
- Ezequiel Duran offers sneaky value in daily leagues because of his flexibility and recent production surge.
- Brayan Bello has shown enough improvement recently to justify desperation streaming consideration.
- Logan Henderson may have the highest strikeout ceiling among this weekend’s low-rostered pitching options.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio