RADIO
Mike's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 1 of 2026 (March 30 - April 5). These are his top free-agent pitchers to add and stream.
Welcome, everyone, to our starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 1 of the 2026 season (March 30 - April 5). In this weekly piece, we search for starting pitchers rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues. For deeper leagues, we try to find pitchers rostered in less than 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
I am returning to my role here at RotoBaller, covering the waiver wire. Yes, we know it is week one, but additions made now can help you chase down those ever-elusive championships we all seek among friends for perennial bragging rights.
Let's see what is on the waiver wire this week. Several of the players here are young guys getting robust chances, with much potential. Be proactive and add them. At the end of the article, you will see players rostered in less than 15% of leagues who could help your squad.
Featured Promo: Save 50% the regular price with discount code SPRING, for a limited time. Exclusive access to our Team Sync platform, DFS cheat sheets, Lineup Optimizers, betting/prop picks, and exclusive content from Nick Mariano and Eric Cross! GAIN ACCESS NOW
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered between 30-50% on Yahoo!
Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels (46% rostered)
I have been writing about Soriano all winter. He is well known for his preposterus 66% ground-ball rate over the years. What intrigues me is his potential for more strikeouts. Yes, it is only one start in 2026, but you can see that he used the sinker less and the knuckle curve and four-seamer more.
In his first 2026 start, Soriano went six full innings and struck out seven, earning a win and allowing no runs despite four walks. Look for continued good results from this sleeper this season.
Jack Leiter, Texas Rangers (40% rostered)
Leiter was on my preseason lists as a sleeper this winter. He earned the fourth starter job in Texas this spring, and he should be able to hold the job. He was pretty good in the second half last season, and if he keeps those gains, he could be a great pick this season. See the box below.
Leiter will start Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and follow that up with a home start against the Cincinnati Reds. Leiter is a great streaming option this week.
David Peterson, New York Mets (32% rostered)
Peterson seems to often be a forgotten man in the New York Mets rotation, and I think he should be on your radar as a streamer. The lefty went 9-6 with a 4.22 ERA, a high 1.37 WHIP, and 150 strikeouts in 168 innings in 2025.
This year, Peterson has a rotation job to start the season. He is in the second spot in the rotation and seems assured of a spot. You can see the chart below, and note the incredible ground-ball rate he has mustered over the last few years.
Peterson is a great streaming option with the potential to garner a 4.00 ERA and maybe 10-12 wins with about 8.00 K/9. That's a guy who could really help the back end of your rotation in 2026. In his season debut on Saturday, Peterson logged 5 1/3 shutout frames against the Pirates.
Matthew Liberatore, St. Louis Cardinals (31% rostered)
Liberatore started grandly in 2025, but struggled down the stretch with the Cardinals. This year, he is the de facto ace for a rebuilding team. His first 2026 start went five innings, and while nabbing only two strikeouts, he kept hitters off-balance, allowing only one run on a homer.
This winter, Liberatore sharpened his arsenal and worked through mechanical issues to improve his consistency. In the first half of last year, Liberatore won six games with a usable 4.13 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts in 100 innings.
He struggled in the second half, but finished strongly, going 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 20 September innings. Liberatore regained some juice on the fastball, ramped up his curveball usage while reducing the slider. Hopes remain high that he can step up in 2026.
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered in less than 30% on Yahoo!
Brandon Sproat, Milwaukee Brewers (28% rostered)
Sproat was looking like he would be a depth piece in a potentially stacked New York Mets' rotation. This winter, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Freddy Peralta deal. Sproat could find a long-term home as the Brew Crew's number three starter.
His season begins with a home start against the Chicago White Sox, before a second start next weekend against the Kansas City Royals. Sproat could shine this season and get a few wins with a usable 4.00 ERA and a strikeout per inning. I am high on him in 2026 as he should have a runway.
He has elite velocity at 99 MPH and could be one to watch in 2026.
Mick Abel, Minnesota Twins (25% rostered)
Abel became a kind of darling of the pundits this winter, and he followed up with a strong Spring Training. He started five Spring Training games and notched a 2.05 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 22 innings.
Abel made the rotation as the fifth starter, and his season will start Monday against the Kansas City Royals and a second start next weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays. Projection systems do not love Abel, but he has a job, and I am willing to speculate on him rather than find a boring veteran.
Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (20% rostered)
If you read my articles, you know that I have written about Cavalli this winter as someone that I have been selecting later in drafts. He only pitched into the fourth inning on Opening Day, but he did earn five strikeouts while surrendering two earned runs.
Cavalli made 10 starts last season and went 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA, a high 1.48 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 48 innings. See the Statcast data below. The fastball velocity was there; the ground-ball rate was excellent at 55%, and he limits barrels.
Cavalli should be on your radar despite how lousy the Nationals might be this season. He is their ace and, with health, could surpass projections this season. Cavalli is at least worth a stream this coming week, even though he gets the Los Angeles Dodgers next weekend. I like his long-term potential.
Kyle Harrison, Milwaukee Brewers (16% rostered)
Harrison has been traded twice in the last year, from the San Francisco Giants to the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers since June 2025. Yet the young lefty is only 24, and he looks to have a lock on a rotation spot in 2026 for the Brew Crew.
Harrison works in a slurve and changeup with a four-seamer, which he uses almost 60% of the time. Harrison worked on improving his pitch mix over the winter and could be primed for a breakout season with a great opportunity in Milwaukee.
Other Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Options
Every week, we will give you four or five other lower-rostered pitchers that you could also consider adding from the waiver wire in your league.
- Luis Severino, Athletics (14% rostered)
- Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers (12% rostered)
- Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals (12% rostered)
- Max Meyer, Miami Marlins (11% rostered)
Happy hunting for starting pitchers this weekend! If you have questions, you can always message me on X @mdrc0508. You can even tell me you hate these picks. Remember that fantasy baseball is supposed to be fun above everything. Enjoy it!
More Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
