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Pranav's two-start pitchers, fantasy baseball streamers and starts for Week 9 of 2025 (May 26 to June 1). His top waiver wire SPs with two starts coming up.
Hey, RotoBallers! We're back with another two-start pitchers - fantasy baseball waiver wire streamers and starts article for Week 9 of 2025, from May 26 to June 1. Every MLB team has more than six games on the schedule this week, setting us up with a good variety of two-start pitchers.
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 26 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 are not listed as they should be avoided.
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Two-Start Pitchers - Over 50% Rostered
- Kevin Gausman (@ TEX, vs. ATH)
- Joe Ryan (@ TB, @ SEA)
- Hunter Brown (vs. ATH, vs. TB)
- Jacob deGrom (vs. TOR, vs. STL)
- Spencer Strider (@ PHI, vs. BOS)
- Clay Holmes (vs. CHW, vs. COL)
- Ranger Suarez (vs. ATL, vs. MIL)
Best Available Two-Start Pitcher Streamers
Ryan Weathers (33% Rostered), Miami Marlins
Scheduled Starts: @ SD, vs. SF
Ryan Weathers made his season debut under two weeks ago, but he has already had to face the league's top-scoring offense twice. Across 10 innings in two starts against the Chicago Cubs, Weathers allowed just two runs, seven hits, and one walk with nine strikeouts.
This stellar start to the season comes after a similarly impressive start to the 2024 season, as Weathers held a 3.55 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, 22.5% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate through his first 13 starts before a finger injury sidelined him until September.
This season, he's mostly worked with three pitches: his fastball (46% usage), changeup (29% usage), and sweeper (19% usage).
Weathers' 97 mph fastball gets 17 inches of induced vertical break and 10 inches of arm-side induced horizontal break. In 2024, his fastball had a 95.9 mph velocity with 15 inches of induced vertical break and 12 inches of induced horizontal break. It's early, but a 12.7% SwStr rate, 32.4% CSW rate, and 73.2% strike rate are encouraging.
His secondaries have also played well. His changeup holds a 15.2% SwStr rate, 26.1% CSW rate, and 65.2% strike rate. His sweeper has also performed well, with a 13.8% SwStr rate, 34.5% CSW rate, and 65.5% strike rate.
While San Francisco's top-10 scoring offense poses a threat, the upside with Weathers is too high to leave him alone this week.
Ryan Weathers, 98mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/HzPd8rpVI5
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 20, 2025
Riskier Two-Start Streamer Picks
Taj Bradley (47% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: vs. MIN, @ HOU
Taj Bradley hasn't made the leap many expected this year. Through 10 starts, he has a 4.61 ERA, 4.65 FIP, 1.31 WHIP, a career-low 20.3% strikeout rate, and a career-high 10.2% walk rate.
A Houston offense ranked 12th in scoring this month is threatening enough to an already unstable pitcher like Bradley.
JP Sears (37% Rostered), Athletics
Scheduled Starts: @ HOU, @ TOR
2025 has settled into another middling year for JP Sears, as he holds a 4.00 ERA, 4.65 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 18.7% strikeout rate, and 4.4% walk rate.
While two starts outside of Sutter Health Park against subpar offenses is a situation where an Athletics pitcher can be streamed more easily, Toronto and Houston are red-hot this month, ranking eighth and 12th in runs scored since May 1, respectively. A Sears stream doesn't look like a good idea this week.
Gavin Williams (35% Rostered), Cleveland Guardians
Scheduled Starts: vs. LAD, vs. LAA
Gavin Williams appeared as a two-start streaming option last week, but his second start against a daunting Detroit Tigers offense was pushed into the next week. His start against Detroit presented great risk last week, leading us to mark him as a risky stream. His new matchups look even worse.
His recent quality start against the Twins adds to a string of good recent results. In his last four starts, Williams holds a 2.25 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 33.7% strikeout rate, and 14% walk rate. His walk rate in his past two starts is 7.1%, showing some much-needed improvement in the command department.
Williams is now a pitcher of safe streaming quality in most situations, but you can't chance it against a Dodgers offense ranked second in scoring this season.
Gavin Williams, 97mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/IYxagHJaiE
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 21, 2025
Tomoyuki Sugano (35% Rostered), Baltimore Orioles
Scheduled Starts: vs. STL, vs. CHW
Tomoyuki Sugano has been one of the few bright spots in a terrible season for the Baltimore Orioles, as the NPB veteran holds a 3.07 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 13.8% strikeout rate, and 4.3% walk rate through 10 starts.
The 4.81 FIP and 13.8% strikeout rate -- backed up by an 8.7% SwStr rate, 87.5% left-on-base rate, and 24.8% CSW rate -- make it difficult to confidently stream the 35-year-old against a St. Louis lineup ranked in the top 10 in scoring and among the top five offenses with the least strikeouts.
Hayden Birdsong (33% Rostered), San Francisco Giants
Scheduled Starts: @ DET, @ MIA
After starting the season in the bullpen, Hayden Birdsong rejoined the rotation for a start against Kansas City, allowing five hits and no earned runs across five innings.
Birdsong pitched to good results as a multi-inning reliever, with a 2.31 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 1.29 WHIP, 24.8% strikeout rate, and 9.9% walk rate in 23 1/3 innings.
The 23-year-old may need time to ramp back up as a full-time starter, but the main concern this week is his matchups. A Detroit Tigers offense ranked fourth in scoring this season is too intimidating an opponent for anyone to consider Birdsong this week.
Jameson Taillon (30% Rostered), Chicago Cubs
Scheduled Starts: vs. COL, vs. CIN
Jameson Taillon has had a less impressive year than past seasons, as he holds a 4.13 ERA, 5.37 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 19.1% strikeout rate, and 5.2% walk rate through 10 starts.
The advanced numbers don't look great, with a 4.30 xERA, 12.1% barrel rate, 82.5% left-on-base rate, .225 BABIP, and 9.8% SwStr rate suggesting Taillon doesn't have better days ahead.
While getting a Colorado offense outside of Coors Field is a boon for Taillon, a Cincinnati offense tied for ninth in scoring this season is too difficult a matchup to ride with Taillon this week.
Bowden Francis (29% Rostered), Toronto Blue Jays
Scheduled Starts: @ TEX, vs. ATH
After a stellar end to the 2024 season, Bowden Francis has taken a big step back to start the 2025 season. In 10 starts, Francis holds a 5.54 ERA, 6.49 FIP, 1.41 WHIP, 18.3% strikeout rate, and 7.3% walk rate.
An Athletics offense ranked 13th in scoring this season is probably enough to leave Francis alone this week.
Andrew Heaney (27% Rostered), Pittsburgh Pirates
Scheduled Starts: @ ARZ, @ SD
Andrew Heaney's hot start to the season has somewhat cooled down. Through 10 starts, he now has a 2.91 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 18.3% strikeout rate, and 9.2% walk rate.
His first start on the road against an Arizona offense ranked fifth in scoring this season poses too much risk to stream him comfortably.
Erick Fedde (20% Rostered), St. Louis Cardinals
Scheduled Starts: @ BAL, @ TEX
Erick Fedde has had an unusual season. Through 10 starts, the 32-year-old has a 3.77 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 14.4% strikeout rate, and 10.6% walk rate. A 7.9% SwStr rate, 24.3% CSW rate, and 5.07 xFIP don't bode well for future outings.
While he gets two easy matchups, Fedde doesn't have the strikeout upside to warrant a safe streaming label.
Michael Lorenzen (17% Rostered), Kansas City Royals
Scheduled Starts: vs. CIN, vs. DET
Michael Lorenzen has had a pleasant season, with a 3.77 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 20.6% strikeout rate, and 6.6% walk rate through 10 starts.
That said, expecting success in a week with starts against two top-10 scoring offenses is a hard ask for any pitcher. Let Lorenzen sit this one out in fantasy baseball this week.
Zack Littell (13% Rostered), Tampa Bay Rays
Scheduled Starts: vs. MIN, @ HOU
Zack Littell has had a terrible season for Tampa Bay, with a 4.25 ERA, 5.42 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 15.9% strikeout rate, and 4.2% walk rate through 10 starts. While he has somewhat advantageous matchups, he's not a good option this week.
Mitchell Parker (13% Rostered), Washington Nationals
Scheduled Starts: @ SEA, @ ARZ
Mitchell Parker has had a rough start to the year, with a 4.39 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 15.1% strikeout rate, and 10.1% walk rate through 10 starts. There's no reason to stream this version of Mitchell Parker against two top-10 scoring offenses.
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