X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Sneaky Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups, Buys: Week 9 - Hot Pitchers To Sustain Success In 2025?

Grant Holmes - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Andy looks at five sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 9 (2025) on hot streaks, and sees if they can sustain their success.

As we approach the end of the second month of the fantasy baseball season, we have seen several under-the-radar starting pitchers provide elite fantasy value. Currently, both Hunter Brown and Nathan Eovaldi, who were taken outside of the top 100 picks, have been the fourth- and sixth-most-valuable pitchers in standard 5x5 leagues, respectively.

In this piece, we will take a look at five pitchers who are widely available in all formats and have begun to flash high upside. While they may not be SP1s/SP2s, they could be valuable back-end starters going forward.

Who should fantasy managers be targeting this week? Let's dive in!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Nick Martinez, Cincinnati Reds

38% Rostered

The 34-year-old enjoyed a strong campaign in 2024 and has continued to impress in 2025. Last season, Martinez posted a career-best 3.10 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP across 142 1/3 innings. He tallied 116 punchouts and showed elite command, allowing just 18 walks.

Entering draft season, Martinez was often referred to as a late-round option to boost your WHIP, and he continues to hold that title. Through 64 2/3 innings, the right-hander has posted a strong 1.11 WHIP (12th best in the NL) with a 3.48 ERA. He has struck out batters at a low 17.6% rate (22nd percentile) but has continued to show strong command, allowing walks at an elite 5.1% rate.

Sitting at just under the 40% rostership mark, should fantasy managers place a hefty FAAB bid on the 34-year-old?

Martinez deploys four pitches more than 15% of the time, but relies on his fastball the most, sitting at a 22.6% usage rate. In comparison to last season, this pitch has generated a nearly identical wOBA (.277 wOBA, .268 wOBA) but has seen the whiff rate drop slightly, by six percentage points (21.2% - 15.0% whiff rate).

In addition, his changeup (second-most-used pitch) has remained a strong putaway pitch, generating an elite .218 xwOBA (.200 xwOBA in 2024).

In general, Martinez has generated an elite 5.6% barrel rate and a 35.0% hard-hit rate, which places him in the 80th and 79th percentile, respectively.

While he is not a target for strikeouts, he should remain a strong option to boost your ratios. Over his last six outings, Martinez has logged 38 innings to the tune of a 2.13 ERA and a stellar 0.92 WHIP.

 

Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves

35% Rostered

Grant Holmes made his MLB debut last season and was deployed primarily out of the bullpen, logging 68 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.56 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. He appeared in 26 games and started just seven of them. However, with Spencer Strider (elbow) missing the start of the campaign, Holmes was given a spot in the rotation to open the 2025 campaign.

In April (and two starts in March), Holmes showed potential at times but was hard to trust, as he posted a 4.50 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP. During this stretch, Holmes logged 28 innings and allowed five long balls and posted an underwhelming 26:17 K:BB.

However, since May 1, the right-hander has begun to turn the corner and has begun to establish himself as a viable fantasy target. Over his last 30 2/3 innings (five starts), Holmes has posted a much-improved 2.93 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP. This month, Holmes struck out 29 batters and served up just nine free passes.

While he still sits in the 24th percentile in walk rate, seeing him show gradual improvement is a promising sign, suggesting he is beginning to take the next step in his development.

Holmes relies primarily on two pitches, his fastball and slider (combined 71.7% usage rate). His fastball has not been successful, generating a high .300 xBA and a .619 xSLG. His slider is also due for some regression, as its .229 xBA and .372 xSLG are significantly higher than the .149 BA and .207 SLG it currently holds.

Seeing Holmes improve his control is positive, but his underwhelming metrics do not make him a must-start option. He is worth rostering in 12-team leagues but should only be deployed in favorable matchups.

 

Zack Littell, Tampa Bay Rays

15% Rostered

Zack Littell is one of the least-rostered players on this list. Similar to Holmes, Littell had a disappointing start to the season, which likely resulted in many fantasy managers cutting ties with the southpaw. During his first 34 innings, Littell posted a high 5.03 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out just 22 batters and allowed eight free passes.

However, since May 1, Littell has logged 31 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.84 ERA with an impressive 0.92 WHIP. While his strikeout numbers have remained pedestrian (20 punchouts in this stretch), he has shown elite command, allowing just two total walks in the month.

One major change Littell has implemented is increasing the usage of his fastball. In April, his fastball was his third-most-used pitch, but in May, he has deployed it 29.6% of the time, just under one point less than his primary slider (30.7%). In May, his fastball has generated a strong .275 xwOBA and has helped balance his slider and split-finger.

While he has found some short-term success, it is not sustainable. Currently, Littell sits in the 22nd and 20th percentile in xERA and xBA, respectively, and has allowed barrels at a high 13.7% rate.

Don't let Littell's impressive May fool you. His primary pitch, his slider, has still generated a hefty .632 xSLG, and his general metrics also suggest he is due for massive regression in June.

 

Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins

5% Rostered

Edward Cabrera has shown incredible upside at times, but he has never been able to sustain it. Through eight starts this season, Cabrera has tallied at least seven punchouts three times, but has fallen under the five-punchout mark three times as well.

In his most recent outing, Cabrera raised eyebrows, tallying a season-high 10 punchouts across 5 2/3 shutout innings. In this outing, Cabrera allowed just three hits and two walks. Since May 1 (four starts), Cabrera has provided solid fantasy value, posting a 2.53 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP. During this stretch, the right-hander has struck out 23 batters in 21 1/3 innings while allowing just five walks.

During his first 18 2/3 innings, Cabrera allowed a hefty 11 walks with a 7.23 ERA. Is Cabrera finally turning the corner?

In May, Cabrera saw his sinker usage jump nearly 11 percentage points compared to April. This month, his sinker has become his most-used pitch, even though it has not found much success. This pitch has generated a high .462 xSLG with a low 4.5% putaway rate. However, this pitch has allowed his changeup and curveball to find more success, especially from a whiff perspective.

This month, his curveball has generated an impressive 45.5% whiff rate, a significant jump from the 28.6% whiff rate it posted in April. His changeup has found similar success, posting an elite 30.3% whiff rate, a 10-point jump from April. His slider has remained his fourth-most-used pitch but has been very effective when used, generating a massive 57.1% whiff rate with a 47.1% putaway rate.

While fantasy managers should not run to the waiver wire to grab Cabrera, if he can continue to improve his sinker while mixing his strong secondary options, he could become an intriguing streaming option going forward.

 

Shane Smith, Chicago White Sox

26% Rostered

The final pitcher we will take a look at in this piece is White Sox rookie Shane Smith. Smith has remained quite under-rostered through the early part of the campaign, primarily due to pitching on one of the worst teams in the sport.

Through his first 53 1/3 MLB innings, Smith has posted an impressive 2.36 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. He has struck out 49 batters and allowed walks at a solid 8.1% walk rate (53rd percentile). He took a slight step back on Wednesday, as he tossed just 3 2/3 innings with three runs, two hits, and five walks.

Smith has relied primarily on three pitches: his fastball, changeup, and slider, which he has deployed in total 84.4% of the time.

His fastball has been very impressive, generating a strong .232 xBA with a .364 xSLG. These numbers are slightly higher than the .182 BA and .247 SLG it currently holds, but fantasy managers should not expect much regression there.

His changeup has been his primary whiff pitch, generating them at a strong 37.5% rate. Similar to the fastball, Smith should see some regression with this pitch as well, as the .295 xwOBA is just over 100 points higher than the .193 wOBA it has held. However, his slider is the opposite and should take a light step forward, given the elite .286 xwOBA it carries.

Through his first 10 starts, Smith has only allowed three or more runs twice. Overall, he sits just above the average marks (60th and 58th percentiles) in xERA and xBA, which suggests he should remain a viable SP4/SP5 going forward. He has done well in limiting hard contact (evident in his 82nd percentile barrel rate) and has continued to show solid strikeout upside.

If needing a back-end starter, fantasy managers should target Smith in standard formats.



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!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Shemar Stewart

Considering Going Back to College?
Jahmyr Gibbs

Lions Want Jahmyr Gibbs "More Involved" in Passing Game
Jordan Addison

Could be Facing Three-Game Suspension
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Kyle Filipowski

Records 35-Point Double-Double Against Spurs
Kel'el Ware

Dominates Against Celtics
Kon Knueppel

Gets Going Monday
Matas Buzelis

Puts Up 28 Points in Win Over Pacers
Reed Sheppard

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
Paul George

Undergoes Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Oneil Cruz

Ties Home Run Derby Distance Record
Cal Raleigh

Wins 2025 Home Run Derby
Najee Harris

Likely to Miss Time at Start of Training Camp
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Collin Morikawa

Misses The Cut at Genesis Scottish Open
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied For 13th at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Brooks Koepka

Finishes Tied For 32nd at LIV Andalucia
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For 34th at Genesis Scottish Open
Jason Day

Misses The Cut at John Deere Classic
Ludvig Aberg

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Cam Taylor-Britt

has Benefited From Addition of Al Golden
Rome Odunze

Could Take Off in Year 2
RJ Harvey

to Get "Significant" Work in Broncos' Passing Game
Jackson Powers-Johnson

More Comfortable Heading into Year 2
Luke McCaffrey

In Line for Larger Role?
Braelon Allen

Jets Viewing Braelon Allen as Long-Term Starter?
Joel Embiid

Participating in Partial Basketball Activities
Victor Wembanyama

Officially Cleared to Return After Blood-Clot Recovery
Mike Williams

Heading to PUP List
Garrett Wilson

Lands Historic Deal
Colston Loveland

Shoulder "Good" After Surgery
New York Jets

Jets Pushing Sauce Gardner to Strive for Perfection
Xavier Worthy

Chiefs to Open Up Offense in 2025
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Stefon Diggs

Likely to Begin Camp Working on the Side
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Xavier Legette

Should be More Productive
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Cole Bishop

has Good Shot to Win a Starting Job
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Nate Wiggins

Ravens Think Nate Wiggins has Star Potential
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Kel'el Ware

Collects 21 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Cam Spencer

Contract Being Restructured
Drew Timme

Scores 30 Points in Summer League Loss to Wizards
Quinshon Judkins

More Details Emerge on Quinshon Judkins' Arrest
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Alexandre Sarr

Logs Impressive Outing in Summer League Action on Sunday
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Kaden Elliss

Could be Atlanta's Most Impactful Pass-Rusher
Kyle Filipowski

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss to Warriors
Cody Williams

Collects 22 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF