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Pranav's 2 start pitchers streamers, fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, sleepers, starts for Week 26 of 2025 (September 22 to September 28). 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 26 of 2025, from September 22 to September 28. We're in the homestretch, and the right two-start pitcher could take you to a championship win.
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 25 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
- Lucas Giolito (@ TOR, vs. DET)
- Luis Gil (vs. CHW, vs. BAL)
- Kevin Gausman (vs. BOS, vs. TB)
- Gavin Williams (vs. DET, vs. TEX)
- Jack Flaherty (@ CLE, @ BOS)
- Cole Ragans (@ LAA, @ ATH)
- Bryce Miller (vs. COL, vs. LAD)
- Merrill Kelly (vs. MIN, @ CLE)
- Chris Sale (vs. WAS, vs. PIT)
- David Peterson (@ CHC, @ MIA)
- MacKenzie Gore (@ ATL, vs. CHW)
- Cade Horton (vs. NYM, vs. STL)
- Brady Singer (vs. PIT, @ MIL)
- Freddy Peralta (@ SD, vs. CIN)
- Brandon Pfaadt (vs. LAD, @ SD)
- Nick Pivetta (vs. MIL, vs. ARZ)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Justin Verlander (42% Rostered), San Francisco Giants
Scheduled Starts: vs. STL, vs. COL
Verlander has appeared on this list numerous times this season, but for a variety of reasons, he's never received the safe streaming label. This changes this week, as the red-hot Verlander gets the week of his dreams.
Verlander has turned back the clock as of late, with a 2.35 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 1.12 WHIP, 23.9% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate in his last 10 starts. He's done very well in limiting hard contact, with a 4.9% barrel rate and 34.8% hard-hit rate in that span.
His season numbers have greatly improved, with Verlander now carrying a 3.75 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.34 WHIP, 20.7% strikeout rate, and 8% walk rate through 27 starts.
His .280 BABIP, 78.9% left-on-base rate, and 4% HR/FB ratio during this hot stretch show he's got a couple more balls than usual to land his way. But with two home starts this week in one of the least homer-friendly parks in baseball, there shouldn't be too much concern in that department.
In terms of matchup strength, Verlander gets the easiest week of his season. He'll start his week against a Cardinals offense ranked last in scoring since the All-Star break. After that, he'll close the season against an abysmal Colorado Rockies offense (.593 OPS in away games). This week is a cakewalk for Verlander.
Justin Verlander, Nasty 84mph Slider...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/m4SmEG3Chd
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 13, 2025
Ian Seymour (21% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: @ BAL, @ TOR
Seymour added to a great rookie season with seven shutout innings (four hits and one walk allowed) against a Blue Jays offense ranked fourth in scoring this season. Seymour now holds a 2.54 ERA, 2.75 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 27% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate through 49 2/3 innings as a starter and reliever.
Seymour has pitched especially well since joining Tampa Bay's rotation, with a 1.37 ERA, 1.86 FIP, 0.95 WHIP, 27.1% strikeout rate, and 6.5% walk rate through 26 1/3 innings (four starts and one four-inning relief appearance).
A .257 BABIP, 0% HR/FB ratio, and 50% left-on-base rate since he joined the rotation evens itself out, especially considering he hasn't allowed a home run in the homer-friendly George M. Steinbrenner Field.
His high strikeout floor is backed up by a 13.5% SwStr rate and 29.2% CSW rate on the season and a solid arsenal. His arsenal is primarily comprised of a changeup (33% usage), four-seam fastball (31% usage), cutter (21% usage), and sweeper (8% usage), with a curveball and sinker in the mix as well.
His changeup has excelled, with a 1.6 run value per 100 (ranked 17th out of 117 pitchers with above 200 changeups thrown), 65.9% strike rate, 18.9% SwStr rate, and .238 xwOBA. His fastball has fared about as well, with a 1.5 run value per 100 (ranked 39th out of 346 pitchers with above 200 fastballs thrown) and .245 xwOBA.
His cutter and sweeper have played decently well, as hitters maintain a .274 xwOBA against his cutter, and his sweeper manages a 34.8% CSW rate.
While Seymour stymied the Blue Jays in his most recent start, a clean start the second time around isn't guaranteed. Still, the rookie should clean up well this week with a start against a Baltimore offense ranked 28th in scoring this month.
Ian Seymour's 3Ks in the 5th.
8Ks thru 5 pic.twitter.com/LfpsHI731K
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 26, 2025
Riskier Two-Start Pitcher Streamer Picks
Shane Smith (20% Rostered), Chicago White Sox
Scheduled Starts: @ NYY, @ WAS
A great option in the opening months of this season, Smith's year has taken a turn for the worse. In his past 14 starts, Smith has put up a 5.78 ERA, 5.16 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 22.6% strikeout rate, and 9.4% walk rate.
Through 27 starts this season, Smith holds a 4.06 ERA, 4.23 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 22.5% strikeout rate, and 9.4% walk rate. But for what it's worth, Smith's season numbers were mostly tarnished by a stretch of four starts in June/July, before he was sent to the injured list for a month.
Since returning in August, he's put up a 3.70 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 24.4% strikeout rate, and 8.6% walk rate. While he still isn't a competitive or ideal option in many weeks, his high strikeout floor makes him an option in the right situation.
Unfortunately, his first start against a Yankees offense leading the league in scoring would have disqualified any pitcher. Don't look for Smith to close out the fantasy baseball season.
Cristian Javier (17% Rostered), Houston Astros
Scheduled Starts: @ ATH, @ LAA
The Houston Astros are at risk of falling out of the playoff picture in the final week of play; Javier has been doing Houston no favors since his season debut in August.
Through seven starts, Javier holds a 4.45 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 22.1% strikeout rate, and 10.3% walk rate. An 11.3% SwStr rate and 27.5% CSW might pull you across the finish line if you are desperately in need of strikeouts, but there are still likely better options on your waiver wire.
His high walk rate and 50.5% fly ball rate likely won't play well in hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park against an Athletics offense ranked seventh in scoring this month. An Angels offense ranked 25th in scoring this season shouldn't be an issue, but you can't bet on Javier delivering a clean start this week.
Michael McGreevy (13% Rostered), St. Louis Cardinals
Scheduled Starts: @ SF, @ CHC
McGreevy has turned in some impressive starts this season, but the 25-year-old has had more than enough bumps on the road to make him mostly irrelevant in fantasy baseball conversations. Still, he's managed a 4.08 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 14.9% strikeout rate, and 4.2% walk rate through 86 innings.
Of course, that 14.9% strikeout rate is the fatal flaw. While limiting runs is obviously the primary goal for major-league pitchers, you need a bit more to be competitive in fantasy baseball. With an 8.9% SwStr rate and 25.1% CSW rate this season, McGreevy is automatically out of contention in most weeks.
While pitcher-friendly Oracle Park is a boon, you'd rather not have him face a San Francisco offense that is ranked fourth in scoring this month. The Cubbies have gone cold, but Chicago is still ranked eighth in scoring this season. It would be wise to look the other way this week.
Ryan Weathers (11% Rostered), Miami Marlins
Scheduled Starts: @ PHI, vs. NYM
Weathers has shown promise this season, but his season has been destroyed by injuries. Weathers made his season debut late as he was still recovering from an injury he sustained in 2024, and made five starts before a lat strain sent him back to the IL.
He made his return to the mound about 10 days ago, making two starts in the period since. He shut out the Nationals in his first start, with five hits and four strikeouts in five innings pitched. He allowed three runs and eight hits with two strikeouts through four innings in his following start at Coors Field.
There have been some encouraging numbers (13.4% SwStr rate, 28.7% CSW rate, 3.25 xERA), but he hasn't given us a long enough stretch of games to be confident in anything.
Weathers will end his season with starts against two NL East juggernauts. Both offenses rank in the top 10 in scoring this season and this month. The Phillies are particularly intimidating, as they have led the National League in scoring in September. Weathers isn't your best bet this week.
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