RADIO
Mike's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 6 of 2026 (May 4 - May 10). These are his top free-agent pitchers to add and stream.
Welcome, everyone, to our starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 6 of the 2026 season (May 4 - May 10). 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.
It's time to start churning the bottom of your roster and adding some players who can help your squads. Maybe it's time to cut bait with the fifth or sixth starter in your rotation. If so, maybe you can find some help in this weekly article here at RotoBaller.
There is always help on the waiver wire. This week, it is another mix of young guys getting runway and boring veterans who could help you. 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!
Noah Schultz, Chicago White Sox (45% rostered)
I am somewhat surprised more fantasy players have not rushed out and added Schultz yet. He has gone at least five innings in three of four MLB starts and has had games of six and eight strikeouts. Thus far, he has two wins, a 2.53 ERA, a tidy 1.03 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 21 innings.
Below, you see the summary of Schultz's short career. He is limiting hard contact while also averaging 95.6 MPH on his fastball. To be successful long-term, Schultz will likely need to use an offspeed pitch, like his change-up, to mix in more with his three variations of fastballs.
Foster Griffin, Washington Nationals (41% rostered)
Griffin has been one of the better free-agent additions this season. The lefty has three wins in six starts, with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings. What is even more impressive is that he throws seven different pitches, using the cutter the most.
He went six innings on Saturday and did not earn a win, but continued with his ratio help so far: no earned runs, a 1.17 WHIP. Griffin is worth investigating, provided you keep your expectations realistic.
Nick Martinez, Tampa Bay Rays (33% rostered)
Martinez seems to be available on the waiver wire in most leagues much of the time, but he is making a claim this year to be rostered far more often. The veteran has two wins, a 1.70 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. He will not help you much in strikeouts, as he has only 24 in 37 innings this year.
Below, you can see a microcosm of his game. Martinez has not given up more than two runs in any start this season, and he is limiting hard contact. His average exit velocity this year is 86.3 MPH, good for the 84th percentile, and he limits walks. A great piece for the back end of your rotation.
Rhett Lowder, Cincinnati Reds (32% rostered)
I am fully aware that Lowder imploded on Saturday, but this could present a nice buying opportunity for you. He pitched less than two innings and surrendered eight runs. Before that blemish, Lowder had gone at least five innings in all six of his previous starts.
Now his ERA sits at 5.09, but before yesterday, it was 3.18, and he looked to be a mainstay in the Cincinnati rotation. Lowder does have some upside as a young starter, and if you like to chase that upside rather than taking a boring veteran, Lowder could be a nice piece for you.
Steven Matz, Tampa Bay Rays (31% rostered)
Matz looks at home in the Tampa Bay rotation this year. Last week, he fired seven strong innings against the Cleveland Guardians, surrendering only two runs while grabbing the win. That is four wins now for the veteran lefty, who also holds a 4.31 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 31 innings.
His next start is today against the San Francisco Giants, so he continues to have appeal to me as a streamer in deep leagues.
Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered in less than 30% on Yahoo!
Max Meyer, Miami Marlins (25% rostered)
Meyer looks to be getting stronger as the season builds up. He went seven innings on Saturday, earning a win and striking out seven hitters, allowing only two baserunners all day. Meyer now has two wins, an impressive 2.68 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 37 innings.
The ratio help is great, but there is also a strikeout upside here; he has struck out at least five hitters in six of his seven starts in 2026. Now is the time to add Meyer before your opposition gets wise to him.
Colin Rea, Chicago Cubs (17% rostered)
Rea is another solid veteran who is often available on the waiver wire in most leagues. Rea has served many roles in his career, but right now, he is the replacement for Cade Horton for the Chicago Cubs. The veteran has won four of his five starts since rejoining the rotation.
Rea should continue in that role, and even though his ratio numbers are mediocre (4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP), he is earning wins and is not a zero in strikeouts either, with 30 in 32 innings. Rea could fill a hole for you if you need rotation help.
Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox (14% rostered)
Burke has settled in thus far as one of the White Sox's better pitchers this season, and he has done that largely in a bulk role. Last weekend, he went seven-plus innings, surrendered nothing, and struck out four hitters. Saturday, he whiffed eight hitters in six innings.
You can see his game results below. His strikeout totals have been low; his highest total has been seven. Yet he has done a nice job limiting hard contact with a 4% barrel rate to go with a stingy 5.3% walk rate. Burke is a nice addition to the back end of your rotation.
Kumar Rocker, Texas Rangers (14% rostered)
Is Rocker finally coming into his own and ready to stick long-term in the Texas rotation? I think he may be showing that he can. He has gone at least five innings in four of his five starts, and three games with at least five strikeouts.
Personally, I love pitchers who get groundball outs, and Rocker is among the best at it this year: a 56.1% groundball percentage, which puts him in the 91st percentile in the major leagues. Rocker has a win, a 3.38 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 26 innings. Consider him this weekend.
Connor Prielipp, Minnesota Twins (14% rostered)
Prielipp has looked the part in three starts for the Twins. He has gone five innings each in the last two starts, earning a win and notching nine strikeouts in the process. The lefty has taken the spot of the injured Mick Abel, but it looks like he could stick in the big league rotation even after his return.
Other Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Options
Every week, we will give you four or five other lower-rostered pitchers you could also consider adding from the waiver wire in your league.
- Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (15% rostered)
- Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals (6% rostered)
- Janson Junk, Miami Marlins (5% rostered)
- Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies (4% rostered)
- Griffin Canning, San Diego Padres (2% 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!
