2 Start Pitchers: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers for Week 18 (2025)

July 28, 2025

Pranav's 2 start pitchers streamers, fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups, sleepers, starts for Week 18 of 2025 (July 28 to August 3). His top SP matchups with two starts.

Hi, RotoBallers! Welcome back to another Two-Start Pitchers - Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Streamers and Starts article for Week 18 of 2025, from July 28 to August 3. This is the last week before the trade deadline reshapes the fantasy baseball landscape, so it is the perfect time to grab a two-start streamer at good value.

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 31 pitchers who are 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.

Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered

• Max Fried (vs. TB, @ MIA)
• Drew Rasmussen (@ NYY, vs. LAD)
• Chris Bassitt (@ BAL, vs. KC)
• Casey Mize (vs. ARZ, @ PHI)
• Framber Valdez (vs. WAS, @ BOS)
• Luis Castillo (@ ATH, vs. TEX)
• Jacob deGrom (@ LAA, @ SEA)
• Cristopher Sanchez (@ CHW, vs. DET)
• Matthew Boyd (@ MIL, vs. BAL)
• Chase Burns (vs. LAD, vs. ATL)
• Mitch Keller (@ SF, @ COL)
• Dylan Cease (vs. NYM, vs. STL)

Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers

Edward Cabrera (41% Rostered), Miami Marlins

Scheduled Starts: @ STL, vs. NYY

Edward Cabrera has put it all together, with a 3.48 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 24.9% strikeout rate, and 8.1% walk rate through 17 starts. A deeper look should excite you, as Cabrera sports a 12.3% SwStr rate, 30.9% CSW rate, 49% ground ball rate, and a .302 BABIP that should even out to his benefit.

He's long been a tantalizing talent, but his inconsistency and poor command (15.2% walk rate through 17 starts in 2023) were thought to have doomed him to eternal irrelevancy in fantasy baseball. But, he's gotten his fantastic arsenal under control this season, with a 101 Location+ grade this season.

His five-pitch arsenal is jaw-droppingly good. A 94 mph changeup is his most-used offering (24% usage) and has induced a 65% ground ball rate. Not too far behind is his curveball (23% usage), with an elite 17.7% SwStr rate, 43.4% CSW rate, and .185 xwOBA. Not too far behind his curveball is a 96.6 mph sinker (22% usage) with 18 inches of induced horizontal break.

His slider (17% usage) has also wowed, with a 20.2% SwStr rate and 36.8% CSW rate. His 96.8 mph fastball is his least-used pitch this season (14% usage, down from 27% in 2024), with a 43.3% flyball rate and .453 xwOBA; but, the fastball was only used 7% of the time in his latest start.

A St. Louis offense ranked 27th in scoring since July 1 is not likely to be too much trouble, but an imposing Yankees offense leading the American League in scoring is of concern.

However, the middling Marlins have reason to send Cabrera out of Miami for a nice haul. Should a trade happen, Cabrera will avoid an imposing Yankees offense and is likely to get an easier matchup this week.

He's not completely without risk -- and you may decide that he might need to ride the pine if he doesn't get traded -- but he is still one of your best options this week.

Edward Cabrera, Devastating 96mph Changeup. 😲 pic.twitter.com/p0uhhBg54U

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 2, 2025

Patrick Corbin (18% Rostered), Texas Rangers

Scheduled Starts: @ LAA, @ SEA

Patrick Corbin's season has ticked back up, with a 2.54 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 23.9% strikeout rate, and 5.1% walk rate in his last five starts. He's improved his season numbers to a 3.78 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 20% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate.

His advanced numbers now look fairly decent, with an 11.7% SwStr rate, 28.8% CSW rate, and .297 BABIP.

His matchups this week are somewhat advantageous. While the Los Angeles Angels are hot, they're still ranked just 17th in scoring this season. The Mariners would be a threat, but he'll get them in the pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park (Mariners have a .674 home OPS).

Never make it a habit to stream Patrick Corbin, but the hot hand should be in the clear this week.

Patrick Corbin, Painting. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/N70fUQ0N4T

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 24, 2025

Riskier Two-Start Pitcher Streamer Picks

Zach Eflin (46% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles

Scheduled Starts: vs. TOR, @ CHC

Luckily, as he was sidelined for a month, Zach Eflin came back into the fold with a solid five-inning start where he allowed two runs with five strikeouts. He's improved his season statline, as he now holds a 5.78 ERA, 5.42 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, 16.4% strikeout rate, and 4.2% walk rate through 13 starts.

A terrible stretch of three games prior to his injury makes his season look a lot worse, but his 26.2% CSW rate is low -- even for a pitcher who hasn't ever really missed bats. Still, a .315 BABIP, 25.8% HR/FB ratio, and 71.4% left-on-base rate are likely to move towards average, in the benefit of Eflin.

Regardless, you don't want to take anyone with Eflin's struggles against two top-10 offenses (by runs scored).

Joe Boyle (15% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays

Scheduled Starts: @ NYY, vs. LAD

Joe Boyle is back in the majors, and he's had a stellar return. The hard-throwing 25-year-old holds a 1.42 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 0.63 WHIP, 25.7% strikeout rate, and 8.6% walk rate through 19 innings (one start, four bulk relief appearances).

He'll join the rotation this week, immediately stepping into one of the worst two-start weeks imaginable.

Boyle will first go to Yankee Stadium to face off against a New York Yankees offense leading the American League in scoring this season. Next, he'll get a Los Angeles Dodgers offense leading the entire league in scoring this season. It wouldn't be fair to give Boyle a test run this week.

JP Sears (15% Rostered), Athletics

Scheduled Starts: vs. SEA, vs. ARZ

JP Sears is having another tough year, with a 4.98 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, 20.1% strikeout rate, and 5.8% walk rate through 21 starts this season.

Two starts in Sutter Health Park are always going to make someone a somewhat risky stream. Taking him against a Seattle offense on the road (Seattle sports a .786 away OPS this season) and an Arizona offense ranked fourth in scoring this season is a bad idea.

Frankie Montas (14% Rostered), New York Mets

Scheduled Starts: @ SD, vs. SF

Sidelined for the first half of the season, Frankie Montas has had a tough return to the mound for the Mets. Through five starts, he holds a 4.62 ERA, 4.55 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate.

He'll get an easier week, as he'll face off against two offenses ranked among the 10 lowest-scoring lineups in the league this season. While he's got a better shot than usual at a good week, the risk is far too high to stream Montas this week.

Justin Verlander (13% Rostered), San Francisco Giants

Scheduled Starts: vs. PIT, @ NYM

Justin Verlander has had his moments this year, but his 2025 season has disappointed. Through 17 starts, he holds a 4.70 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 18.6% strikeout rate, and 8.8% walk rate.

A Pittsburgh offense ranked last in scoring this season should be an easy start for the 42-year-old. However, you might be pushing it if you stream Verlander against a star-studded New York Mets lineup ranked 14th in scoring this season.

Eduardo Rodriguez (12% Rostered), Arizona Diamondbacks

Scheduled Starts: @ DET, @ ATH

Despite his 5.50 ERA, Eduardo Rodriguez has been of service as a two-start streamer in weeks past. However, his high strikeout ceiling will be of no use if he can't stop a Detroit offense ranked sixth in scoring this season and an Athletics offense ranked seventh in scoring this month.

Simeon Woods Richardson (12% Rostered), Minnesota Twins

Scheduled Starts: vs. BOS, @ CLE

Simeon Woods Richardson has done a solid job since rejoining the rotation in June, with a 3.29 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 18.1% strikeout rate, and 11.9% walk rate in eight starts.

There aren't too many pitchers you can take against a healthy Boston lineup ranked fifth in scoring this season. Avoid Woods Richardson.

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