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Andy looks at four sneaky fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for starting pitchers in Week 15 (2025) on hot streaks, and sees if they can sustain their success.
We are almost at the All-Star break! Through the first half of the season, we have seen many starting pitchers emerge as must-start players who were left on the waiver wire after the draft. For example, Kris Bubic and Matthew Boyd sit inside the top 25 starting pitchers in standard rotisserie scoring.
There are still many intriguing starting pitchers on the waiver wire who are available in nearly half of all leagues and who could become must-start options in the second half.
Who should fantasy managers be targeting this week? Let's dive in!
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Jose Soriano, Los Angeles Angels
40% Rostered
Jose Soriano has been a difficult pitcher to trust throughout the first half. At times, Soriano has looked like a potent breakout; however, a dominant outing was followed by a rough outing, which likely affected your ratios.
On June 4, Soriano allowed seven runs and eight hits across 3 2/3 innings. However, over his next three starts, Soriano would log 20 2/3 innings to the tune of a 0.87 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. During this stretch, the right-hander posted two double-digit strikeout outings, compiling 28 over this stretch.
However, on June 27, this progress would be wiped away by an eight-run explosion against the Washington Nationals. To follow a pattern, Soriano then enjoyed a dominant outing on July 3 when he held the Braves to just three hits and no runs across seven innings.
What should fantasy managers do with Soriano?
The 26-year-old is on pace to smash his previous career-high in innings (113), which he set last season. This season, Soriano has already logged 104 innings and holds an overall 3.72 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. He has tallied strikeouts at a modest 20.5% rate while posting a relatively high 10.5% walk rate.
Soriano leans heavily on his sinker as he has thrown it over 50.2% of the time this season. His second-most frequently used pitch is his knuckle curve, which he threw 26.6% of the time.
In June, his sinker was very effective, generating a solid .319 xwOBA with a 25.0% whiff rate and a 20.7% put-away rate. His knuckle-curve has been his primary whiff pitch, boasting a 53.1% rate in June and a 41.5% rate in May. However, unlike his sinker, this pitch has allowed loud contact, generating a high .397 xwOBA in June.
He occasionally mixes in a four-seamer, slider, and split-finger, but all those pitchers are deployed 8.0% or less.
Overall, Soriano sits with a 3.98 xERA and a .259 xBA, which are both just below the average marks. While he has shown solid strikeout upside, his inconsistency will remain his Achilles' heel. He is worth keeping on your bench in tougher matchups but should be deployed in all leagues in favorable settings.
José Soriano balled out in the Bronx tonight! pic.twitter.com/OXmdZcTtTZ
— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) June 17, 2025
Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks
43% Rostered
Ryne Nelson was a popular streaming option last week, and he did not disappoint. The 27-year-old started the week by tossing 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Giants and cooled the week by logging seven innings of one-run ball en route to picking up the victory over the Royals. During these 13 2/3 innings, Nelson struck out 12 hitters and did not allow a walk.
The 27-year-old has appeared in 19 games this season but has only been deployed as a starter in nine of them. However, since June 1, every appearance Nelson has made has been as a starting pitcher.
Nelson began his stretch as a full-time starter in a rough way, allowing seven runs across three innings of work against the Cincinnati Reds. However, since this outing, Nelson has been one of the most effective pitchers in the game, tossing 29 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.53 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. During this stretch, Nelson has allowed just six free passes and struck out 26 batters.
Is this breakout for real?
The former second-round pick is a primary fastball pitcher, with an emphasis on primary. In June, Nelson deployed his four-seamer 67.4% of the time, mixed in a slider 12.6% of the time and a curveball 10.6% of the time.
Last month, his four-seamer generated a strong .277 wOBA but is due for some regression given the .327 xwOBA under the hood. It has also posted a .317 SLG, nearly 80 points lower than the .408 xSLG under the hood. However, his slider is actually due for some positive regression, which can help offset this.
In June, his slider boasted an elite .277 xwOBA, much lower than the .369 wOBA.
Nelson could even find more success deploying his curveball less in July, as this pitch generated a high .365 xwOBA last month.
While Nelson is not a target for strikeouts, he possesses a strong fastball and slider, which should continue to lead to his success. Expect some regression, but he should remain a viable SP4/SP5 going forward.
Ryne Nelson has quietly been the Diamondbacks’ best starting pitcher over the past calendar year
21 GS
8-2 W-L
3.07 ERA (leads team)
0.98 WHIP (leads team)
23.86% K% (leads team)
2.1 fWAR (T-team lead)Arizona has needed all the help they can get, and Nelson’s done just that pic.twitter.com/KOjgmM8eH3
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 5, 2025
Joe Boyle, Tampa Bay Rays
15% Rostered
After posting a 6.42 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP last season in Oakland, did anyone believe Joe Boyle would be a "sneaky" starting pitcher in 2025? Well, if any team could get him back on track, it would be the Tampa Bay Rays.
Boyle was shipped to Tampa Bay in the offseason in the deal that sent Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics.
Boyle was competing for a role in the rotation but was eventually optioned to Triple-A Durham to open the season. At Triple-A, Boyle looked like a completely different pitcher, boasting some of the highest marks in the minor leagues.
Through 73 total innings, the right-hander has held a 1.85 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He has struck out 96 hitters and walked only 31.
Boyle was given a spot-start in April and seemed to carry this success over as he threw five no-hit innings against the Atlanta Braves. In this outing, he struck out seven while allowing just two walks.
After a dominant May and June in the minor leagues, Boyle finally got the call to return to Tampa Bay. However, it was not to be a starter.
On Sunday, Boyle was the "bulk" option behind right-handed starter Drew Rasmussen. In this game, Boyle tossed five innings of relief. He allowed one run (unearned) with just two hits and a walk. He struck out seven.
While Boyle does not appear to be a starting pitcher for now, the Rays have emphasized that Rasmussen will be on a strict innings limit, which should open the door for Boyle to take over in the second half.
Should fantasy managers add him to their rosters before this move even happens?
While the sample size in the majors (this season) is small, the changes Boyle has enacted do look quite promising. Boyle typically relies on his four-seamer and slider, but instead of his curveball being his No. 3 pitch like it was in 2023 and 2024, this season, he has developed a split-finger.
This pitch has added another high-upside whiff pitch to his arsenal. Through 10 innings, it has posted an impressive 46.2% hit rate with a .101 xwOBA while being deployed 17.8% of the time. His slider has also been just as effective, carrying a .165 xwOBA with a 50.0% whiff rate.
While his four-seamer is due for regression (.120 wOBA - .343 xwOBA), his secondary pitches have the potential to rack up strikeouts. While he does not have the best role for fantasy this week, if he continues to shine in long relief, he will join the rotation soon enough.
He is a strong stash option in all 12-team leagues entering the All-Star break.
Joe Boyle made his return to MLB today and kept his ERA at a perfect 0.00 with 5.0 Ip today
The stuff is bonkers! pic.twitter.com/xnQUCwYUXJ
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) July 6, 2025
Kumar Rocker, Texas Rangers
20% Rostered
Rounding out this list is Kumar Rocker, who recently "graduated" from being just a prospect as he now sits with 56 2/3 career innings in the major leagues.
Rocker made his MLB debut last season and logged just 11 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.86 ERA. In spring training, he proved enough to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
However, his first true look at the majors did not go as planned. During his first 20 innings of the season, Rocker posted a high 8.10 ERA with a 1.75 WHIP. During this stretch, he struck out 16 hitters and served up eight walks.
He was eventually placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury and did not return to the majors until June 5. In his return, Rocker has another rough showing, allowing six hits and five runs across 3 1/3 innings.
Shortly after, the Rangers opted to send him back to Triple-A Round Rock to find his footing. He got the call back to the big leagues on June 15 and has looked quite solid in his return.
Through 21 2/3 innings (four starts), the right-hander has held a solid 2.49 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. During this stretch, Rocker struck out 20 hitters and served up just seven free passes.
Should fantasy managers be targeting Rocker on the waiver wire?
Unlike Boyle and Nelson, Rocker does not have the most promising metrics under the hood. In June, the 25-year-old relied on three pitchers more than 20% of the time (his cutter, sinker, and four-seamer), and none were overly impressive. His cutter was the lone bright spot, carrying a .283 xwOBA. However, the .354 xwOBA and .420 xwOBA held by the sinker and four-seamer are not promising.
In his first start in July, both pitches continued to struggle, generating a hefty .959 xSLG and a .508 xSLG, respectively.
Overall, Rocker sits in the fifth percentile in xERA and xBA among qualified pitchers. It is best to leave Rocker on the waiver wire until he further develops other pitches in his arsenal.
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