2 Start Pitchers: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 21 (2025)

August 17, 2025

Pranav's 2 start pitchers streamers, fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, sleepers, starts for Week 21 of 2025 (August 18 to August 24). His top SP matchups with two starts.

Hello, RotoBallers! Welcome back to another Two-Start Pitchers - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts article for Week 21 of 2025, from August 18 to August 24. While rotations have settled down a bit, aftershocks from the trade deadline complicate the streaming landscape.

Every week of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, this fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column will identify starting pitchers in line to make two starts in the upcoming week. It will look at fantasy baseball streamers ahead of the Sunday night waiver wire run for leagues with weekly transactions.

There are 34 pitchers currently scheduled for two starts in this period. We will examine the best options with roster rates under 50 percent. Pitchers with roster rates over 50 percent will also be listed. The other two-start pitchers are available, but they are not listed, as they should be avoided.

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Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered

• Trevor Rogers (@ BOS, vs. HOU)
• Carlos Rodon (@ TB, vs. BOS)
• Gavin Williams (@ ARZ, @ TEX)
• Jack Flaherty (vs. HOU, vs. KC)
• Michael Wacha (vs. TEX, @ DET)
• Seth Lugo (vs. TEX, @ DET)
• Joe Ryan (vs. ATH, @ CHW)
• Jacob Lopez (@ MIN, @ SEA)
• Hunter Brown (@ DET, @ BAL)
• Logan Gilbert (@ PHI, vs. ATH)
• Merrill Kelly (@ KC, vs. CLE)
• Spencer Strider (vs. CHW, vs. NYM)
• Eury Perez (vs. STL, vs. TOR)
• David Peterson (@ WAS, @ ATL)
• Cade Horton (vs. MIL, @ LAA)
• Freddy Peralta (@ CHC, vs. SF)
• Brandon Woodruff (@ CHC, vs. SF)
• Paul Skenes (vs. TOR, vs. COL)
• Zac Gallen (vs. CLE, vs. CIN)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (@ COL, @ SD)
• Nick Pivetta (vs. SF, vs. LAD)
• Robbie Ray (@ SD, @ MIL)

Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers

Spencer Arrighetti (28% Rostered), Houston Astros

Scheduled Starts: @ DET, @ BAL

Spencer Arrighetti hasn't had the sophomore season we'd hoped for, having made just four starts this season due to a thumb fracture he sustained in April. In the small sample of games he's started this season, Arrighetti holds a 6.38 ERA, 4.91 FIP, 1.47 WHIP, 19% strikeout rate, and 13.1% walk rate.

While gruesome, his poor performance on paper this season is inflated mostly by a terrible start in his return from injury against a then-streaking Miami offense (five runs and 11 hits allowed in 3 2/3 innings).

The 25-year-old has still got gobs of potential, with a 13.6 SwStr rate, 30.2% CSW rate, and 31% whiff rate this season roughly mirroring his numbers in the corresponding metrics from 2024.

His arsenal is worth the fanfare, as he combines a stellar six-pitch arsenal with 7.3 inches of extension. A 93.3 mph fastball with 15 inches of induced vertical break and 13.5 inches (arm side) of induced horizontal break, playing to a 13.7% SwStr rate and .201 xwOBA this season on 42% usage.

His secondaries are generally strong pitches, but some haven't played as well this season. His curveball sports a .346 xwOBA this season, but held a 16.9% SwStr rate and .180 xwOBA last season. His sweeper also has underperformed despite a similar shape, as it has dipped from an 18% SwStr in 2024 to a 13.5% SwStr rate in 2025.

While the Tigers still rank eighth in scoring this season, they rank just 19th in scoring since the All-Star break. On the flip side, Baltimore ranks 19th in scoring this season and eighth in scoring since the All-Star break.

Neither matchup is ideal, but you may have to stomach the moderate risk that comes with Arrighetti in a week light on options. Bet on the arsenal if you feel inclined to stream somebody this week.

Spencer Arrighetti, Filthy 82mph Sweeper (home plate view). 😷 pic.twitter.com/qUvF1FlYZE

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 29, 2025

Matthew Liberatore (21% Rostered), St. Louis Cardinals

Scheduled Starts: @ MIA, @ TB

Matthew Liberatore's season started out strong, but it has fizzled out a bit lately. Through 22 starts this season, he now holds a 4.08 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.29 WHIP, 17.6% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate.

The 25-year-old has struggled to miss bats, as he holds a 9.7% SwStr rate and 26.1% CSW rate this season.

Other areas are looking up, with a .305 BABIP and 68.7% left-on-base rate likely to even out in Liberatore's favor. He should be a solid roster add for those who are looking to anchor the WHIP category.

Liberatore's matchups make him well worth considering, as he'll get a Miami offense ranked 17th in scoring this season and a Tampa Bay offense ranked 25th in scoring since the All-Star break. The ceiling is not as high as other picks this week, but the floor should be high enough for those in need of a stream.

Matthew Liberatore, Pretty 77mph Curveball. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/qE5nMRsqtC

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 27, 2025

Riskier Two-Start Pitcher Streamer Picks

Jack Leiter (33% Rostered), Texas Rangers

Scheduled Starts: @ KC, vs. CLE

It's been a rocky season for Jack Leiter, but altogether, his statistical profile looks alright. Through 21 starts, he holds a 3.94 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 1.34 WHIP, 21.1% strikeout rate, and 11.9% walk rate.

Despite the prodigious 97 mph fastball, Leiter possesses only an 11.8% SwStr rate and 26.2% CSW rate. Coupled with his abysmal walk rate, Leiter's stuff has given fantasy baseball managers much more trouble than expected.

He's also gotten fairly lucky this season, with a .260 BABIP, 15.2% HR/FB% ratio, and 76.4% left-on-base rate. If anything, the rest of Leiter's season may end up disappointing fantasy baseball managers.

He seems to have gotten two of the week's easiest matchups. First, he'll go to Kauffman Stadium to take on a Kansas City offense ranked 28th in scoring this season. Then, he'll get a Cleveland offense ranked 26th in scoring this season. However, Kansas City and Cleveland rank sixth and seventh in scoring, respectively, since the All-Star break.

Jameson Taillon (31% Rostered), Chicago Cubs

Scheduled Starts: vs. MIL, @ LAA

Sidelined since June 29 because of a calf strain, Jameson Taillon gets a two-start week in his return to the mound. After an incredible 2024 season, Taillon had his fair share of struggles early this season. Through 17 starts, he holds a 4.44 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 19.1% strikeout rate, and 5.2% walk rate.

At this stage of his career, he won't be one to miss bats. But his 10.2% SwStr rate and 29.2% CSW rate stand as marked improvements compared to his 2024 season.

Unfortunately, he'll get his first start against a Milwaukee Brewers offense now leading the league in scoring this season. The Los Angeles Angels are not chumps either, as they rank 13th in scoring since the All-Star break and 15th in runs scored this season. It probably won't be a good week for Taillon.

Dustin May (27% Rostered), Boston Red Sox

Scheduled Starts: vs. BAL, @ NYY

Boston's big deadline move, Dustin May, has had an up-and-down year for the Los Angeles Dodgers and now the Boston Red Sox. Through 113 2/3 innings, he holds a 4.67 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 22% strikeout rate, and 8% walk rate.

There's certainly room to grow, as his 9.4% SwStr rate and 28.1% CSW rate have surprisingly kept up his above-average strikeout rate. He's also had a bit of bad luck, as he holds a .294 BABIP, 22.2% HR/FB% ratio, and 71.1% left-on-base rate this season.

While he'll get run support aplenty from a Boston offense co-leading the American League in scoring this season, it might not be enough to outgun a Yankees offense running right along with the Red Sox atop the American League. The Orioles have also woken up, ranking eighth in scoring since the All-Star break.

May has the potential to put together good starts for this Boston team, but it isn't reasonable to expect a clean week.

Nestor Cortes (23% Rostered), San Diego Padres

Scheduled Starts: vs. SF, vs. LAD

Nestor Cortes was sidelined for nearly four months because of an injury, and then was quickly sent away by Milwaukee to San Diego. He's only made four starts this season, with a 5.71 ERA, 7.90 FIP, 1.56 WHIP, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 13.9% walk rate.

While the Dodgers have gone cold, they're still the Dodgers. Don't play with fire.

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