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Pranav's two-start pitchers, fantasy baseball streamers and starts for Week 5 of 2025 (April 28 to May 4). His top waiver wire SPs with two starts coming up.
Hey RotoBallers! We're back with a new two-start pitchers - fantasy baseball waiver wire streamers and starts article for Week 5 of 2025, from April 28 to May 4. Several teams have seven games on the slate, so we are looking at a wide variety of two-start pitchers this week.
Each week of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, this fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column will identify starting pitchers in line to make two starts in the upcoming week. It will look at fantasy baseball streamers ahead of the Sunday night waiver wire run for leagues with weekly transactions.
There are 32 pitchers currently scheduled to make two starts during this period. We will examine the ideal options that have roster rates under 50 percent. Pitchers with roster rates over 50 percent will also be listed. The other two-start pitchers are available, but they should be avoided.
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Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered
- Garrett Crochet (@ TOR, vs. MIN)
- Taj Bradley (vs. KC, @ NYY)
- Bowden Francis (vs. BOS, vs. CLE)
- Tanner Bibee (vs. MIN, @ TOR)
- Jack Flaherty (@ HOU, @ LAA)
- Cole Ragans (@ TB, @ BAL)
- Bailey Ober (@ CLE, @ BOS)
- Jacob deGrom (vs. ATH, vs. SEA)
- Shota Imanaga (@ PIT, @ MIL)
- Brady Singer (vs. STL, vs. WAS)
- Freddy Peralta (@ CHW, vs. CHC)
- Logan Webb (@ SD, vs. COL)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Gavin Williams (41% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: vs. MIN, @ TOR
A risky streamer last week with New York and Boston on the slate, Gavin Williams moves one day down to another two-start week. It should be easier this time around.
Williams had his best start of the season against a Yankees offense ranked second in scoring in 2025, as he allowed two runs, seven hits, and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. This start has mostly bettered his previously abysmal statline, with Williams now holding a 4.15 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 23.9 percent strikeout rate, and 11 percent walk rate through five starts.
Despite his struggles, he still holds a 96.8 mph fastball, a 14.7 percent SwStr rate, and a seven-inch extension. A slight velocity uptick and the reintroduction of his cutter in his start against the Yankees are the only metrics that differentiated that start from his other recent performances.
If having that fourth pitch back in the mix was all he needed to get him through a start against one of the league's best lineups, Williams may be set for smooth sailing from here on out. This isn't to assert that he's got it all figured out again, but with starts this week against two offenses ranked among the worst eight teams in runs scored, it surely doesn't look like a rough week of sailing.
Gavin Williams, 3Ks in the 6th. pic.twitter.com/eQ8VmiX8Py
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 21, 2025
Reese Olson (27% Rostered), Detroit Tigers
Scheduled Starts: @ HOU, @ LAA
Reese Olson is coming off one of the best starts by a pitcher this season, as he blanked the Padres across 7 1/3 IP, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
On the season, Olson now holds a 3.29 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 21.9 percent strikeout rate, and 9.6 percent walk rate through five starts. This follows up a solid sophomore season from the 25-year-old, as he held a 3.53 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 21.7 percent strikeout rate, and 7.1 percent walk rate through 22 starts in 2024.
Olson has made a few changes since that solid 2024 season. This season, he has opted for his unimpressive fastball less and less (14.9 iVB, .377 xwOBA), as its usage has decreased from 24 percent in 2024 to just 13 percent in his start against the Padres.
At this point in the season, Los Angeles has sunk into the bottom 10 in runs scored, and Houston hasn't clawed its way out of the bottom five scoring offenses. Olson should be in for a good two-start week.
Reese Olson, 84mph Slider and 88mph Changeup, Overlay pic.twitter.com/zHV1Q1gZ7x
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2025
Riskier Two-Start Streamer Picks
Andrew Heaney (45% Rostered), Pittsburgh Pirates
Scheduled Starts: vs. CHC, vs. SD
While Paul Skenes is undoubtedly the best pitcher on the Pirates' pitching staff, Andrew Heaney is surprisingly not too far behind.. Through five starts, Heaney holds a 1.72 ERA, 2.23 FIP, 0.77 WHIP, 26.3 percent strikeout rate, and 5.1 percent walk rate.
While his 90 mph fastball may not look intimidating, it has performed incredibly well, with a .140 BAA, .220 wOBA, and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate on 42 percent usage. But with a .305 xwOBA and 51.7 percent hard-hit rate on his fastball, his overreliance on the pitch likely means those sparkling numbers take a turn sometime soon.
Heaney's run is unsustainable, but I wouldn't want him against a Cubs offense that is pacing the league in scoring this season either way.
David Peterson (33% Rostered), New York Mets
Scheduled Starts: vs. ARZ, @ STL
David Peterson is having another good season, with a 3.29 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.43 WHIP, 23.5 percent strikeout rate, and 7.6 percent walk rate. This season's relatively impressive numbers are especially confounding, considering his 8.1 percent SwStr rate, 51.9 percent hard-hit rate, and 82.8 percent opponent contact rate.
There are several indications that Peterson will take a step back sometime soon. It could be a bad week, as he'll have to take on two top-10 scoring offenses.
Eduardo Rodriguez (23% Rostered), Arizona Diamondbacks
Scheduled Starts: @ NYM, @ PHI
Eduardo Rodriguez is having another confusing season for fantasy baseball managers, as he's kept a 4.40 ERA, 2.75 FIP, 1.29 WHIP, 27.6 percent strikeout rate, and 5.7 percent walk rate through five starts.
The 32-year-old's high strikeout numbers come with relatively mediocre strikeout rates of 11.6 percent SwStr and 28.1 percent CSW. While a decrease in his strikeout rate should come, his run-prevention issues may settle down. A .346 BABIP, 20 percent HR/FB ratio, and 61 percent left-on-base rate all point to his 4.40 ERA getting a bit closer to his 2.75 FIP.
Rodriguez is a tantalizing two-start streaming option, but a pair of NL East contenders is a tough ask this week.
JP Sears (17% Rostered), Athletics
Scheduled Starts: @ TEX, @ MIA
JP Sears has been among the overperformers for the Athletics with a 3.21 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 19.8 percent strikeout rate, and 5.2 percent walk rate through five starts. An 83.9 percent left-on-base rate and 9.7 percent SwStr rate spell danger, but Sears still has a chance this week.
Two road starts should help keep Sears afloat in the run-prevention department, but he is not nearly strong enough in other areas to give the full stamp of approval. Look for Sears only if you have no better options.
Nick Martinez (15% Rostered), Cincinnati Reds
Scheduled Starts: vs. STL, vs. WAS
Nick Martinez is not off to a great start this season, with a 5.40 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.39 WHIP, 20 percent strikeout rate, and 7.8 percent walk rate through five starts.
Two starts in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park against two offenses in the better half of the league for scoring do not set up Martinez for success. Consider other options this week.
Griffin Canning (14% Rostered), New York Mets
Scheduled Starts: @ WAS, @ STL
Griffin Canning has been among the best surprises of the 2025 season, as he currently holds a 3.12 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 1.38 WHIP, 23.4 percent strikeout rate, and 9.9 percent walk rate through five starts.
While his 1.38 WHIP, 9.9 percent walk rate, 81.3 percent left-on-base rate, and 47.3 percent hard-hit rate point to a slight step back, Canning has done enough to regain footing in fantasy baseball long-term.
He'll get the same opponents as Martinez, but the Mets will get them on the road. While Canning has a good shot at keeping the good times going, you want to see more before you pull the trigger in a tougher week.
Tomoyuki Sugano (9% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles
Scheduled Starts: vs. NYY, vs. KC
The Orioles have had serious issues with their pitching this season, but Tomoyuki Sugano has surprisingly kept them afloat. Through five starts, he holds a 3.54 ERA, 5.81 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, an eight percent strikeout rate, and a four percent walk rate.
Considering how poor his basic statline looks outside his 3.54 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, there's no need to undermine Sugano further with more concerning advanced statistics. There's a good chance the other shoe drops against a Yankees offense ranked second in scoring this season.
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