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Mike's starting pitcher (SP) fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 10 of 2026 (June 1 - June 7). These are his top free-agent pitchers to add and stream.
Welcome, everyone, to our starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups for Week 10 of the 2026 season (June 1 - June 7). 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.
Many fantasy players whom I talk to weekly are in need of starting pitching help. Pitcher injuries and ineffectiveness have plagued just about every roster in 2026. Are you among them? If so, this piece might be for you.
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.
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Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Shallow Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered between 30-50% on Yahoo
Ben Brown, Chicago Cubs (42% rostered)
Despite the Cubs being on a roller coaster this season, Brown has quietly stood his ground and done his job. He has gone at least five innings in two consecutive starts as the team stretches him out as a starter. In those two games, he has 13 strikeouts in 11 innings.
On Saturday, Brown was dominant, going seven strong innings, notching six strikeouts, and only surrendering one run. Brown is becoming their best starter.
Look at his Statcast data below. A 26.4% K% to go with a 53.4% groundball percentage? I am in on that. The Cubs have very little choice but to keep him in the rotation; his 2.01 ERA and 0.99 WHIP bolster that case well. Add Brown this weekend.
Shane Baz, Baltimore Orioles (42% rostered)
I feel your eyeroll. I really do, and I cringed putting Baz in here. But he has a compelling case for being rostered: three straight quality starts, delivering a win, 19 strikeouts in 20 innings, and a tidy 2.25 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Baz had nine strikeouts on Monday.
Yes, there was much helium here, but it looks like he might be on to something here. A start against the meek Boston Red Sox awaits him next week. I am willing to take that risk.
Jared Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates (40% rostered)
This is a speculative play, but I am rooting for Jones to make it all the way back as he returns from Tommy John surgery. I liked what we saw in his five rehab starts: a 2.89 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 18 innings.
One word of caution: the Pirates may slow-play this and not allow him to go more than 75-80 pitches at a time. However, Jones is worth rostering in most formats right now.
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (39% rostered)
Insert another eyeroll here. I do not blame you if you stop reading right here. But did you see his last line? Detmers went eight innings against Texas and struck out 14 hitters. I know he is a risk, but it is tough to deny his strikeout numbers: 75 in 63 innings.
Detmers followed that gem up with five innings of three-run baseball and earned another seven strikeouts on Saturday night. He is worth rostering as the calendar ticks into May.
When you look at his Statcast, it belies his actual 4.57 ERA. His xERA is 2.87. His K% is 28.3%. The walk percentage is very good at 7.2%. Three of his last four outings have been usable from a fantasy perspective. Are you willing to take this chance? Many will not, having been burned before.
Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals (33% rostered)
Fantasy players have seeimgnly been split on what to do with Cavalli, but I think you should roster him. Cavalli got his third win on Tuesday against the Guardians, striking out seven while surrendering a run over six innings. He's figuring it out.
Check out his May below. Not only does he have 30 strikeouts in five starts, but the ERA and WHIP are usable ratios that help your fantasy team. Roster Cavalli and at least play his good matchups.
Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves (32% rostered)
Holmes has now made 10 starts for Atlanta and has won three games, pitching to a usable 3.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts in 52 innings. In his first start this past week, he went five innings and notched 10 strikeouts, a season high.
Holmes was not great on Friday night, surrendering three earned runs while striking out five against Cincinnati. Still, he is a good pitcher to roster moving forward. I like the changes he has made this season, and he looks rosterable in most leagues.
Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Deeper Leagues
Recommendations for leagues of any size rostered in less than 30% on Yahoo
Troy Melton, Detroit Tigers (20% rostered)
Melton made his season debut last Sunday and pitched into the sixth inning, winning the game and tallying three strikeouts. The Tigers seem primed to keep him in the rotation based on their needs, so rostering Melton now would be a good idea if you need starting pitching help.
Stephen Kolek, Kansas City Royals (23% rostered)
Kolek has been magnificent to start the season: three wins in four starts, a 2.77 ERA, and a 0.85 WHIP. He will not generate many whiffs, but he has pitched at least six innings in three of those starts. In his start last weekend, he pitched a complete game shutout over Seattle.
I do not expect Kolek to pitch complete games too often, but if you are looking for a spot starter at the back end of your rotation, he merits consideration.
Walbert Urena, Los Angeles Angels (16% rostered)
If you have not seen Urena pitch, I strongly recommend that you change that soon. In seven starts, Urena has two wins, a 2.58 ERA, a slightly high 1.38 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts in 38 innings. He has gone at least five innings in six of those seven starts.
On Friday, Urena gave the Halos six strong innings, adding five more strikeouts to his ledger while not factoring into the decision. The potential is there for a good starter moving forward.
He is electric, drawing comparisons to his teammate Jose Soriano, but that 13.1% walk rate is a huge issue; he had three more walks on Friday. There is quite a bit to like here, but be wary of the potential ratio damage you could inflict on your team with a bad Urena outing. Still, he is intriguing.
Kai-Wei Teng, Houston Astros (12% rostered)
Teng looked the part of a dominant starting pitcher last week against the Chicago Cubs. He covered six innings, earning the win, while striking out six hitters. A true test awaited this week with the Milwaukee Brewers. Teng went five innings with seven strikeouts while giving up three earned runs.
I am willing to take this risk to add what looks to be a quality starting pitcher. Teng has three wins, a 2.57 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 42 innings. He will be a top addition this weekend.
Anthony Kay, Chicago White Sox (8% rostered)
I am desperate for starting pitching on my Tout Wars team, and I picked up Kay two weeks ago. Kay has gone at least five innings in five straight starts, striking out at least five in four of those. He has four wins in nine starts for a surging White Sox team, and a 3.96 ERA and 1.39 WHIP.
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. League context matters, obviously.
- Lucas Giolito, San Diego Padres (15% rostered)
- Andre Pallante, St. Louis Cardinals (10% rostered)
- David Sandlin, Chicago White Sox (5% rostered)
- Slade Cecconi, Cleveland Guardians (5% rostered)
- Coleman Crow, Milwaukee Brewers (4% 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
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