Both the Rockies and Athletics have been outscored by over 100 runs each. The Rockies’ run differential sits at -182, and the Athletics own a -123 differential. While the Rockies would normally be a great target for streaming, most of their upcoming games are in Colorado, one of the league’s best hitters’ parks. Still, there are plenty of teams to target with our pitching streamers for the upcoming week. Monday has a thinner slate of games than the rest of the week, and no streamers I would recommend confidently, so Monday has been left off this list.
Take a look at some of my favorite targets for the week ahead.
Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 25% Rostered)
Jameson Taillon (SP – ChC)
Next Start: Thursday, 6/12 vs PIT
Jameson Taillon continues to be undervalued and underrostered in many leagues. Taillon is tied for third in quality starts with eight, including six in his last seven. He has been absolutely on fire, winning four of his last six games. His next matchup should keep this train rolling.
The Pirates may not have the worst run differential in the league, but they arguably have the worst offense. They are the only team to rank among the worst ten in all of run differential, strikeouts, strikeout rate, groundball rate, and home runs. They also have the fifth-worst team batting average, and the fourth-worst when facing right-handed pitching.
This is a great matchup for fantasy baseball managers to exploit. Taillon has improved his strikeout rate and walk rate from last season. And while his low BABIP suggests regression may come, it should be mitigated as his HR/9 and HR/FB rates come down to career and league norms. Taillon also has a lower-than-usual groundball rate, which should improve considering adjustments made to his arsenal.
Taillon has used his cutter significantly less than last season, making his curveball his third-most-used pitch. This has been a very effective adjustment. His curveball has been mostly used against lefty batters, and it is elite. It has a .094 batting average against and a four-degree launch angle, and as he throws it more, that groundball rate should continue to climb. Plus, he should get more strikeouts like this:
Jameson Taillon, Painted 81mph Curveball. 🖌️🎨
And is Fired up! pic.twitter.com/HiD1uuuMMt
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2025
Fantasy managers should make Taillon one of the top pitching streamers for this matchup.
Michael Wacha (SP – KC)
Next Start: Friday, 6/13 vs ATH
Similar to Taillon, Michael Wacha should be far more rostered in shallow and deep leagues alike. Wacha owns a spectacular 2.88 ERA and five quality starts. Those quality starts have all come in his last seven appearances, so he is on a roll that should continue against the Athletics.
The Athletics own the league’s second-worst run differential and the sixth-worst groundball rate. The Royals have been excellent at limiting runs, allowing the third fewest in baseball. And while Wacha may not strike many batters out, he has posted a groundball rate hovering around league average this season, which plays into a major weakness for the Athletics.
Wacha should be able to exploit this groundball issue, considering three of his pitches possess single-digit launch angles, including his slider, sinker, and curveball. He also tosses a wicked changeup that has a .167 BAA and a 29% whiff rate. I mean, just look at this thing:
Michael Wacha, K'ing the Side in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/zVYJMnLuS6
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 31, 2025
Wacha is a must-add wherever he is available, and is one of the top pitching streamers for the upcoming slate of games.
Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-24% Rostered)
Tomoyuki Sugano (SP – BAL)
Next Start: Sunday, 6/8 at ATH
If you have any adds left for this week, Tomoyuki Sugano should be a major target. He pitched a one-run, seven-inning gem against Seattle in his last start, and he has six quality starts in his last nine games. Sugano has been a bright spot for a disappointing Orioles team, and should see some success in his next start against the Athletics.
The A’s may not be the worst offense in baseball, but they have some weaknesses that pitchers like Wacha and Sugano can target. Sugano’s 44% GB rate is better than league average, but not as good as it was when he pitched in Japan. There are differences in the ball and in strategy in Japan, but his history shows he could induce more grounders. This could be the game where that happens.
Sugano has an absurd splitter that he has leaned on for outs, especially groundouts. It has a 59% GB and an eight-degree launch angle. His cutter and curveball have also been effective at inducing grounders with 44% and 42% GB rates, respectively. Sugano just needs his defense to continue to turn them into outs, considering his strikeout-per-nine rate is so low at 5 K/9. Batters have not just had a hard time getting good contact on his splitter; they have had a tough time getting any contact at all. It has a .169 BAA, a 27% whiff rate, and a 21% putaway rate. Here is a look at it in action:
Tomoyuki Sugano, Wicked 88mph Splitter. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/yIzURbC1f2
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2025
Sugano should be targeted not just as one of the pitching streamers for this weekend, but going forward as well.
Jose Soriano (SP – LAA)
Next Start: Tuesday, 6/10 vs ATH
Jose Soriano has impressed this season, after a surprisingly successful 2024 campaign mostly as a starter. Soriano has started 12 games this season, earning a quality start in six. He has a 4-5 record with a 3.41 ERA, nearly identical to his ERA from last season.
We are picking on the Athletics this week, and Soriano may have the best matchup of all against them. He owns the league’s best groundball rate among qualified starters at 66%. This plays directly into the A’s weakness. And while the Angels may not have scored as many runs as the Athletics, they have done a better job at limiting runs. Inducing a ton of grounders has helped Soriano to four scoreless outings, and 10 outings of three earned runs or fewer.
Soriano owns four pitches with groundball rates over 40%, including his sinker, splitter, knuckle curve, and slider. His sinker and splitter have launch angles of -9 and -5 degree,s respectively. Batters have found it especially hard to get a hold of his knuckle curve and splitter. Soriano’s knuckle curve has a .188 BAA, a 35% whiff rate, and a 19% putaway rate. His splitter has a .182 BAA and a 35% whiff rate. Take a look at some of these pitches from earlier this season:
José Soriano, Wicked Breaking Balls. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/WIXSIfmjgh
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 5, 2025
He is a bit of an off-the-radar name for fantasy managers to target, but he should be on the radar as one of the top pitching streamers for the coming week.
Bailey Falter (SP – PIT)
Next Start: Wednesday, 6/11 vs MIA
Bailey Falter has a great matchup coming up against the Marlins. Falter owns a 4-3 record on the year, with a 3-0 record in his last six starts. He also has four quality starts in his last six appearances and six quality starts on the year. Pittsburgh’s offense has been awful, which could put Falter at risk of a loss or missing out on a win. So he is a better option in leagues that count quality starts in addition to, or in place of, wins.
Miami owns the fourth-worst run differential in baseball at -82, compared to Pittsburgh’s fifth-worst run differential at -61. So although both teams struggle to put up more runs than their opponents, the Pirates are a bit better at doing so than the Marlins. Miami also possesses the league’s ninth-highest groundball rate and the fourth-fewest home runs.
While Falter has a below-average groundball rate, he should at least be able to avoid some homers in this one, considering he has been great at it so far this season. It is a facet of his game that he has improved for three straight seasons. This improvement has clearly and positively impacted his ERA, which sits at 3.14. Falter will likely experience some regression, with a low BABIP and HR/FB rate propping up the ERA, but he should be able to avoid it in this one, considering the matchup.
Falter has an interesting pitch mix that has led to success this season. His fastball, sinker, slider, and splitter all have BAAs of .225 or better. His slider and curveball have 26% and 25% whiff rates, respectively, with his slider also posting a 20% putaway rate. And Falter’s splitter has a 50% putaway rate, a pitch he has used exclusively against righty hitters.
While Falter may not make a great option beyond this game, he is one of the best pitching streamers for the coming week and should be a primary target for managers in need of solid innings.
Backup Plan Streamers
- ChC Cade Horton at DET – Sunday 6/8
- HOU Ryan Gusto vs CWS – Tuesday 6/10
- MIA Edward Cabrera at PIT – Wednesday 6/11
- HOU Colton Gordon vs CWS – Thursday 6/12
- ATL Bryce Elder vs COL – Friday 6/13
Desperation Streamers
- ATH JP Sears at LAA – Wednesday 6/11
- WAS Mitchell Parker vs MIA – Friday 6/13
- ChC Cade Horton vs PIT – Friday 6/13
