Although this week’s two-start pitcher list lacks a headliner, there are five options who can be added in most fantasy baseball formats. But the strength of this week’s article is in the one-start pitcher group, where there is a seemingly endless list of hurlers who are off to solid starts and have favorable upcoming matchups. On the hitting side, the top waiver wire options on the Astros and Tigers combine to cover most positions, which should help managers who are looking for a short-term solution.
Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)
Michael Wacha, Royals, 38% (@ CLE, vs. CWS): After missing his start last week due to an illness, Wacha was bumped up from his next scheduled turn and will start today. The fact that his start date was moved up is a positive sign that he is feeling fine, and he looked great when he posted a 7:1 K:BB ratio over six scoreless innings in his initial 2026 outing. The veteran has been an effective ratios stabilizer in each of the past four seasons.
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Noah Cameron, Royals, 38% (@ CLE, vs. CWS): Many managers avoided Cameron during draft season, noting that he outpitched his peripherals when he logged a 2.99 ERA and a 4.09 FIP last year. He took advantage of a favorable matchup against the Twins in his initial 2026 start (5 IP, 1 ER, 5 SO) and heads into the second full week of the season with two more advantageous divisional matchups. It’s time to take advantage of a weak AL Central division by putting Cameron into your lineup.
Taj Bradley, Twins, 28% (vs. DET, @ TOR): Coming off a down year, Bradley gave us plenty of reasons for optimism in his 2026 debut. Not only did he strike out nine batters, but his fastball velocity was up by more than a mile per hour. He followed up that outing by holding the Royals scoreless for six innings, albeit with just three strikeouts. The fact that his schedule consists of two 2025 postseason teams is a reason for pause, but I would still take the plunge in every points league and 12-team category formats.
Casey Mize, Tigers, 48% (@ MIN, vs. MIA): Mize put his spring struggles behind him when he struck out nine batters over six innings of one-run ball in his 2026 debut. One strong start wouldn’t normally be enough to get the right-hander into lineups, but his favorable matchups should do the trick. On paper, the Twins and Marlins have two of baseball’s weakest lineups, which gives Mize a reasonable floor. He can be considered in 12-team leagues.
Max Scherzer, Blue Jays, 33% (vs. LAD, vs. MIN): Scherzer followed up a dominant spring by holding the Rockies to one run over six innings in his initial 2026 start. There are concerns that a homer-prone 41-year-old won’t be able to hold up over a full season, but those concerns shouldn’t impact his usefulness for an April two-start week. The matchup against the Dodgers is problematic enough to knock Scherzer from must-start status, but he still warrants use in 12-team leagues for the pair of home outings.
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Jansen Junk, Marlins, 3% (vs. CIN, @ DET): Junk is back on the fantasy radar thanks to showing improved velocity this season. His initial start was decent, as he logged a 5:1 K:BB but failed to finish the fifth inning. He was respectable (4.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) in 110 innings last season, and his 3.23 FIP showed that he may have deserved a better fate. A two-start week is a good opportunity to pick up the 30-year-old and find out if his improvements are sustainable.
Dean Kremer, Orioles, 1% (@ CWS, vs. SF): The Orioles solved their rotation jam by optioning Kremer to Triple-A for the first time since 2022, before an injury to Zach Elfin put him back into the rotation. The right-hander is consistent, but not spectacular, having posted an ERA between 4.10-4.19 and a WHIP between 1.21-1.31 in each of the past three seasons. His matchups are better than average, which makes Kremer a viable option in 15-team leagues.
Brayan Bello, Red Sox, 23% (vs. MIL, @ STL): There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about Bello. His strikeout rate dropped sharply last season, and his 4.11 FIP showed that his 3.35 ERA was undeserved. His initial 2026 start was an ugly one that included six runs (five earned) and a 2:3 K:BB ratio across 4.2 innings. I would leave Bello on waivers in mixed leagues.
Adrian Houser, Giants, 4% (vs. PHI, @ BAL): Houser’s first start perfectly represented his status as low-ceiling groundball pitcher, as he allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits and four strikeouts across 5.1 innings. The right-hander should spend most of the season anchored to the waiver wire, only to be activated when he draws a favorable matchup. This week’s opponents are too challenging to make him worth the risk.
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One-Start Streamers
In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.
Parker Messick @ ATL (Saturday, 43%)
Clay Holmes vs. ATH (Friday, 51%)
Ryan Weathers vs. ATH (Thursday, 27%)
Grant Holmes @ LAA (Wednesday, 17%)
Matthew Liberatore @ WSH (Tuesday, 21%)
Chad Patrick vs. WSH (Friday, 19%)
Eric Lauer vs. MIN (Friday, 40%)
Randy Vasquez vs. COL (Thursday, 36%)
Reynaldo Lopez @ LAA (Tuesday, 30%)
Braxton Ashcraft @ CHC (Saturday, 49%)
Joey Cantillo vs. KC (Wednesday, 22%)
Carmen Mlodzinski @ CHC (Friday, 5%)
Simeon Woods Richardson @ TOR (Friday, 4%)
Michael McGreevy @ WSH (Wednesday, 12%)
Max Meyer vs. CIN (Thursday, 12%)
Seth Lugo vs. CWS (Thursday, 30%)
Sean Burke vs. BAL (Wednesday, 3%)
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Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups
Houston Astros (@ COL): The Astros will take their turn at Coors Field against baseball’s worst pitching staff, which makes them the top offense to target. Unfortunately, the pickings are slim, as six Houston hitters are already rostered in most leagues. A multi-position asset with great contact skills, Carlos Correa (52%) is easily the top Astro to add. In deeper formats, outfielder Cam Smith (19%) can also be considered.
Detroit Tigers (@ MIN): While the Astros are likely to lead the scoring period in runs per game, the Tigers are the best volume play for their four-game series against a Twins that has few reliable starters and an unsettled bullpen. With all four games coming against righties, left-handed hitter Colt Keith (23%) should hit near the top of the lineup and score plenty of runs. And those who are disappointed in their catcher can add Dillon Dingler (25%), who is off to a decent start and should start three of the contests.
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