Fantasy Baseball Pitching Streamers: Grab the Tong(s)

As the real and fantasy baseball seasons wind down, fantasy managers have to be extra careful with which players they drop and add. Without the option to trade, fantasy managers are limited to the waiver wire. This article is here to help you find the best pitching streamers that may be available on waivers in your league. Finding the right streamer could win your week, which could mean winning your fantasy league’s championship.

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Take a look at some of my favorite targets for the week ahead.

Pitching Streamers Available in Some Leagues (Over 25% Rostered)

Lucas Giolito (SP – BOS)

Next Start: Thursday, 9/18 vs ATH

Lucas Giolito remains far too available in fantasy leagues, especially after turning in five quality starts in his last eight outings. He is 4-1 during that span, and has an opportunity to add to it against a struggling Athletics offense.

The A’s own the sixth-worst run differential in the league, which is an improvement from earlier in the season. Still, they do not put up a ton of runs, and Giolito has given up just three earned runs in his last 19 IP. The Athletics also rank seventh-worst in groundball rate and have the 10th-most strikeouts in baseball. They also have the sixth most strikeouts against right-handed pitching. Giolito’s typically high strikeout rate is down this season, likely a result of his internal brace procedure and finding his command as he gets healthy again. This outing should give him a chance to improve his K/9 rate before the end of the season.

Giolito possesses a few filthy pitches, including a slider, changeup, and curveball that all have batting averages against of .236 or better. Those pitches have 36%, 26%, and 20% whiff rates, respectively, with his slider being his best out pitch. It has a 21% putaway rate. The A’s strike out, and strike out a bunch specifically against RHP. That is certainly a pitch Giolito will rely on in this game. Take a look at it here:

Lucas Giolito, Painted 85mph Slider. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/bpSR05Q0jC

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 21, 2025

If Giolito is available in your league, he should be added as one of the top pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Cam Schlitter (SP – NYY)

Next Start: Sunday, 9/21 at BAL

Cam Schlitter may have been dropped in leagues after giving up four earned runs in 1.2 IP against Toronto. If that is the case, scoop him up. Prior to that, he tossed three quality starts, where he gave up just one earned run across 18.2 innings. He also faces a much easier opponent in Baltimore, which should right the ship for Schlitter.

Baltimore has been disappointing this season, and not much has changed in the last few weeks. They have the eighth-worst run differential in the league, the seventh-most strikeouts, and the third-highest strikeout rate. This is great for Schlitter, who has some great stuff that has led to a 10.1 K/9 rate. Baltimore has had a rough go against RHP as well. They have the seventh-worst AVG, the eighth-most strikeouts, and the seventh-fewest walks against them. That should help Schlitter, who has been worse than league average at giving up walks.

Schlitter’s most effective pitches this season have been his fastball and cutter. They have .202 and .214 BAAs and 26% and 27% whiff rates, respectively. His curveball and sinker have higher putaway rates as they are his primary out pitches. But Schlitter’s fastball is ridiculous – it averages 98 MPH, but he can hit triple digits. Imagine trying to hit this gas:

Cam Schlittler, 101mph ⛽️

Throwing the Schlitt out of the ball. pic.twitter.com/OTGBmwi8fd

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 25, 2025

Schlitter has been excellent recently and should be a top target for anyone looking for pitching streamers for the coming match.

Widely Available Pitching Streamers (0%-24% Rostered)

Sean Burke (SP – CWS)

Next Start: Monday, 9/15 vs BAL

Sean Burke carries a some risk, but the Monday slate is thin for streamers, and Baltimore is a great matchup for him. This game gives him a chance to bounce back a bit and get back on track after giving up at least two earned runs in his last five starts.

As mentioned, Baltimore has not been very good this season. They have had a hard time against righties as well. That advantage tips the scales for Burke. Burke was a high strikeout pitcher for most of his time in the minors and flashed that in a short stint last season. Even if he gives up some runs against the O’s, the strikeouts will make him worth the add.

Burke has a great curveball, which he mostly uses to get lefty batters out. It has a .222 BAA and a 26% whiff rate. But his fastball is his best pitch, with a .239 BAA, a 24% whiff rate, and a 21% putaway rate. Here he is striking out batters with his curveball and fastball:

Sean Burke's 3Ks in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/BeJpFtwzR1

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 9, 2025

Burke should be on your radar as one of the top pitching streamers for the week. Keep the risk for runs in mind, though.

Jose Quintana (SP – MIL)

Next Start: Tuesday, 9/16 vs LAA

We may have started to see some cracks in Jose Quintana’s armor in recent games. He has allowed five earned runs and six earned runs in two of his last three starts. On the other hand, he has four quality starts in his last six games. Facing the Angels could lead to more positive fantasy production for the veteran.

The Angels have the league’s third-worst run differential, the most strikeouts, and the highest strikeout rate. This is great news for Quintana, who has the second-lowest K/9 rate of his career. That should climb up after this start. The Angels have also been putrid against lefty pitchers. Their .231 AVG vs LHP is sixth-worst in baseball, and they have the fewest walks against them.

Quintana likely will rely on his curveball and slurve, which have been his best pitches this season. His curveball features a .211 BAA and a 20% whiff rate, while his slurve owns a .103 BAA and a 33% whiff rate. He should be tossing a bunch of these and getting similar results:

José Quintana's 2Ks in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/31uGlSTqnu

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 17, 2025

Quintana has shown some signs of regression, but could put it off to another week, considering his opponent. He should be in consideration for anyone in need of pitching streamers.

Martin Perez (SP – CWS)

Next Start: Wednesday, 9/17 vs BAL

We are picking on Baltimore again, this time with Martin Perez as the opposing pitcher. Perez has been great this season in limited action. He had a long layoff between April and August. Since his return, he has made five starts. While he has not won one of those, he has two quality starts.

Baltimore’s offense not only performs dreadfully against righty pitchers, but lefties as well. Against LHP, the O’s have the seventh-worst AVG, the sixth-most strikeouts, and the ninth-fewest walks. This is right in Perez’s wheelhouse. His 7.6 K/9 rate is his best since 2022. His walk rate is a bit high, so some positive regression could be on the way.

So far this season, in a small sample, Perez features four pitches with BAAs under .200. His changeup, though, is arguably his best pitch this season. It has a 32% whiff rate and a 20% putaway rate. Perez has also used his sinker and cutter as out pitches as well. He should be able to manage a nice start against Baltimore with these weapons.

Trust Perez in this one and make him one of your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Jonah Tong (SP – NYM)

Next Start: Friday, 9/19 vs WAS

Jonah Tong was walloped in his most recent start against the Rangers. Prior to that outing, he looked great, just missing out on a quality start. He faces Washington in his next outing, which should get him back to winning ways.

Washington has turned into perhaps the third-worst offense in baseball behind Pittsburgh and Colorado. Washington’s offense features the league’s second-worst run differential. They also have the second-worst GB% and the sixth-fewest homers in the league. Tong needs a reset and should get it against the Nats. He has been an elite groundball pitcher throughout the minors, and featured high strikeout totals in the minors as well. He also managed homers well in the minors, so he just needs to get back on track after what likely is just an aberration.

Interestingly, Tong’s fastball has his highest putaway rate, at 27%. His changeup may be his best pitch, though, with a .091 BAA and a 28% whiff rate. He also misses a ton of bats with his curveball – it has a 44% whiff rate. One reason why his changeup has been so effective is because of the “vulcan” grip that creates some ridiculous spin and movement:

Jonah Tong's Vulcan Change grip pic.twitter.com/MqlR3msqoU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 6, 2025

Ignore the ugly outing and make Tong one of your top pitching streamers for the week ahead.

Brandon Sproat (SP – NYM)

Next Start: Saturday, 9/20 vs WAS

Fellow young Mets starter Brandon Sproat also faces the Nats over the weekend. He made his debut against the Reds, tossing a six-inning quality start. He walked four and struck out seven, giving up three earned runs in the outing.

The Nationals’ offense has not looked great, which is great news for Sproat. The Nationals’ biggest weaknesses against RHP are home runs and walks. They are fourth-worst in both categories. In the minors, Sproat was a high groundball, low home run pitcher, which has translated well this season.

Sproat has a six-pitch arsenal that worked well in his first outing. His breaking balls, in particular, were incredible. Sproat’s sweeper, curveball, and slider had 25%, 20%, and 50% whiff rates, respectively. Here he is striking out batters with each of those three pitches:

Brandon Sproat's 3Ks in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/mfTExhxT7n

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 7, 2025

Sproat has a shot at another great outing and should be added as one of the top pitching streamers wherever available.

Backup Plan Streamers

• STL Michael McGreevy vs CIN – Tuesday 9/16
• STL Andre Pallante vs CIN – Wednesday 9/17
• ChC Colin Rea at CIN – Thursday 9/18
• TB Adrian Houser vs BOS – Friday 9/19
• ATH Luis Morales at PIT – Saturday 9/20
• ATH Jeffrey Springs at PIT – Sunday 9/20

Desperation Streamers

• CWS Shane Smith vs BAL – Tuesday 9/16
• ChC Jameson Taillon at PIT – Tuesday 9/16
• NYY Will Warren at BAL – Friday 9/19
• ATH Luis Severino at PIT – Friday 9/19
• PIT Mike Burrows vs ATH – Saturday 9/20
• TEX Patrick Corbin vs MIA – Saturday 9/20