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Shaun looks at four sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 25 (2025) on hot streaks, and sees if they can sustain their success.
Streaming pitchers becomes increasingly important in the final weeks of the fantasy season, especially for managers trying to squeeze out every possible edge in ERA, WHIP, and wins. With playoff matchups and championship runs on the line, finding the right arms in favorable situations can make the difference between advancing or heading home early.
This week offers several intriguing streaming options across both leagues. A mix of veterans and rookies are lined up for exploitable matchups, giving fantasy managers a chance to grab undervalued starters who can provide stability or upside. Many of these arms are still widely available in standard formats, making them realistic targets for those in need of immediate help.
Below, we’ll highlight four pitchers -- Jeffrey Springs, Ryan Weathers, Andrew Alvarez, and Shane Smith -- who stand out as potential streaming plays. Each brings something different to the table, whether it’s a steady track record, contact management, or a sneaky matchup advantage. Let’s break down why each deserves a look and how they can help your roster this week.
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Jeffrey Springs, Athletics
35% Rostered
Jeffrey Springs enters the week as one of the more intriguing two-start streaming options for fantasy managers. While his opening matchup against the Red Sox isn’t exactly favorable, the second start against the Pirates lines up as a strong play in most formats. That Sunday outing alone makes Springs worth consideration, especially for teams looking to gain an edge in ratios and potentially secure a win to close out the week.
Springs has quietly provided stability for much of the season. Outside of his most recent start, which also came against Boston, he has been serviceable, limiting damage across challenging matchups. Over 17 innings against the Cardinals, Rangers, and Mariners, Springs allowed just six earned runs, keeping his team in games while showcasing his ability to work deep enough to qualify for wins. That steadiness is valuable in the current streaming landscape, where consistency often outweighs volatility.
The real prize for fantasy managers is his matchup with the Pirates, one of the league’s weakest run-producing lineups. Pittsburgh has struggled to generate consistent offense all season, ranking near the bottom of most major statistical categories. Springs’ profile sets him up well to take advantage of that weakness, and he has a legitimate chance to deliver a quality start and possibly grab a win in the process.
One thing to keep in mind is his strikeout profile. Springs’ 19.6% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career, so managers chasing Ks may want to temper expectations. However, he has already logged a career-high 162 innings, showing that he can handle a heavier workload while maintaining a useful ERA and WHIP. If you need stability, ratio protection, and a favorable Sunday matchup, Springs is worth rolling out this week.
Fantasy Take: Must add ahead of Sunday's matchup
Ryan Weathers, Miami Marlins
12% Rostered
Ryan Weathers lines up as a sneaky streaming play this week, with his next start coming Wednesday against the Rockies in Coors Field. Rostered in just 12% of fantasy leagues, Weathers is widely available and offers strong appeal for managers chasing a late-season boost. While pitching at altitude is usually intimidating, this year’s Rockies lineup has been one of the least productive in baseball, making the matchup far less daunting than it appears on paper.
The 25-year-old Marlins left-hander has battled adversity this season, missing nearly three months with a left lat strain that placed him on the 60-day injured list in June. His return on September 11, however, couldn’t have gone much better. Weathers tossed five shutout innings against the Nationals, striking out four without showing any signs of rust. The sharp outing was a reminder that he can deliver quality innings when healthy, and it sets him up well for another favorable matchup.
What makes Weathers intriguing is the underlying profile supporting his recent success. He’s keeping hitters off balance with a 22.3% strikeout rate and a manageable 6.6% walk rate, while limiting hard contact to a modest 35.7%. His average exit velocity allowed is just 87.3 mph, a sign that opponents aren’t squaring him up consistently. Those traits give him the ability to suppress damage, even in hitter-friendly environments like Coors.
Welcome back, Ryan Weathers pic.twitter.com/nuznfAxAvl
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) September 11, 2025
While Weathers may not pile up double-digit strikeouts, his ability to induce weak contact, throw strikes, and work efficiently makes him a viable fantasy streamer. Against a struggling Rockies offense, he has a legitimate path to delivering strong ratios and possibly grabbing a win. For managers looking for an under-the-radar option in the season’s final stretch, Weathers deserves strong consideration.
Fantasy Take: Must add ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Rockies
Andrew Alvarez, Washington Nationals
5% Rostered
Andrew Alvarez has made an immediate impact since his September 1 call-up, emerging as a potential late-season streamer for fantasy managers. While he doesn’t bring the eye-popping strikeout upside of elite arms, the rookie left-hander has shown remarkable poise and effectiveness by limiting damage and keeping hitters off balance.
Through his first outings, Alvarez owns a modest 17.7% strikeout rate and 9.7% walk rate, but he has excelled at run prevention thanks to an exceptional ability to manage contact. Opponents have produced just a 1.6% home run rate and a .125 batting average against him, with an average exit velocity of 86.8 mph. Those metrics underscore how difficult it’s been to square him up.
Alvarez has leaned on a three-pitch mix of fastball, curveball, and slider to generate weak contact. His fastball velocity sits around 91 mph, which doesn’t jump off the page, but his pitch sequencing and command have been sharp. The results speak for themselves: a 2.2% barrel rate, a strong 35.6% hard-hit rate allowed, and a 57.8% ground-ball rate. Those numbers highlight his ability to force hitters into less-than-ideal swings and keep the ball on the ground, where his defense can do the work.
His underlying metrics support the success as well. Alvarez carries a .202 expected batting average (xBA) against, suggesting his results aren’t just smoke and mirrors. By living in the zone, changing speeds, and working the edges, he has been able to neutralize opposing lineups without needing overpowering stuff.
Alvarez draws the Mets on Friday, a team that ranks 11th in the league with 4.69 runs per game. While the lineup is capable of putting up offense in spurts, Alvarez’s ability to induce weak contact and avoid barrels gives him a realistic chance to limit damage. For fantasy managers in deeper leagues, he remains a sneaky streaming option with the potential to turn in another quality outing.
Fantasy Take: Grab Alvarez ahead of his start on Friday
Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox
28% Rostered
Shane Smith continues to establish himself as a viable streaming option down the stretch, giving the White Sox steady innings and fantasy managers a reliable spot starter. The rookie owns a 3.78 ERA heading into his matchup with the last-place Orioles, and the numbers suggest he’s capable of keeping that success going. With Chicago’s offense beginning to show signs of life in recent weeks, Smith may even find himself in a position to pick up a win.
What stands out most about Smith’s profile is his ability to limit damage. He has held opponents to just a .212 batting average against, supported by a 2.9% home run rate and 89.9 mph average exit velocity. His 22.1% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate aren’t elite, but they’re perfectly serviceable for a streaming arm and allow him to remain competitive across formats. He’s shown the poise to pitch around traffic, keeping hitters from squaring him up consistently.
BAL (Dean Kremer) @ CWS (Shane Smith) 7:40 EST
Kremer 2025 stats:
28 games (27 starts)
158.1 IP
4.43 ERA
4.00 FIP
4.18 xFIP
7.50 K/9
2.33 BB/9
2.4 fWARSmith 2025 stats:
26 starts
131.0 IP
3.78 ERA
4.36 FIP
4.46 xFIP
8.38 K/9
3.64 BB/9
1.6 fWAR pic.twitter.com/bldPaIygVB— Jackson Scudder (@jscud23) September 16, 2025
Smith’s fastball has been particularly effective, ranking in the 97th percentile for Run Value at +20. While he throws the four-seamer about 45% of the time, he also does an excellent job mixing in his secondary pitches. His changeup (18%), curveball (14%), slider (12%), and sinker (11%) all see regular usage, giving hitters multiple looks and preventing them from sitting on one pitch. That balanced approach has been a key factor in his ability to succeed as a rookie.
Facing the Orioles, Smith draws a lineup that has struggled to find consistency and sits at the bottom of the standings. Given his ability to limit barrels and generate weak contact, Smith is well-positioned to deliver another solid outing. For managers looking for a late-season streamer with both ratio protection and win potential, Smith is an arm worth rolling out this week.
Fantasy Take: Roster immediately
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