April 8 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Streamers: Shane Baz, Clay Holmes, Jameson Taillon and More
Five starting pitchers in action on Tuesday who have good matchups and are widely available in fantasy leagues.
March Madness is over, and though the NBA playoffs will start in earnest within a few weeks, Major League Baseball gets a time here when there isn't much else going on until the NFL Draft gets underway.
It's a good chance to check in on the first 10 games or so that each team has played to see where baseball stands early. There's still a lot that needs to happen, but your early look at the MLB season is coming to form.
Some of it is familiar; the White Sox are 2-7. There are just as many surprises, though, like the Atlanta Braves bringing up the rear at 1-8. Take into account what we've seen so far but remember that it is just a small sample in what is going to be a long, long summer.
Let's look at five starting pitchers in action on Tuesday who have good matchups and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from MLB.com, as are the probable starters.
Shane Baz, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels
Baz is owned in about 50% of leagues, and that number is going to rise. Pick him up now: he's a must-start player today and someone to keep on your roster, especially because his next start will probably come against the hapless Braves. In his first start, Baz struck out 10 Pirates in six innings.
The Angels are just as lowly as Pittsburgh. They are short on both good and great hitters, and top guy Mike Trout is hitting under .200. LA is a team to target every day that you can.
Baz is a high-level streamer. He's also a guy to keep on your roster. Go out and pick up Baz now and be happy for the early-season gift.
Kyle Hendricks, Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays
Hendricks is at the end of his career. He could have retired this offseason after his contract with the Cubs expired, but he was signed early in free agency by an Angels team that surely could have found another use for $2.5 million way back in November. Hendricks is good with walks but below average with strikeouts.
The Rays are in the bottom 10 in runs scored, but they have been closer to an average offense. They don't hit home runs, but the Rays also don't strike out, giving a low ceiling to opponents.
Hendricks is a low-level streamer. He's below a serviceable level for the most part, and the matchup here isn't a great one; Hendricks is a guy to skip.
Clay Holmes, New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins
Holmes is another guy owned in about half of leagues. He has started two games after not doing so since 2018. Holmes has been OK, striking out 10 in 9.1 innings while walking six and giving up five runs (three earned). He has also given up 11 hits, a number that needs to come down if he wants success.
Miami is short on power, ranking in the bottom 10 in runs, home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS early in the season. They are also in the top 10 in most batter strikeouts. The Marlins are likely to be a common target this season.
Holmes is a mid-level streamer. He's fine, and the matchup is good, so Holmes is a decent guy to consider putting in your lineup; it's streaming at its finest.
Ben Lively, Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox
Lively was a below-average pitcher and spent several seasons playing in Korea through 2023. Then he joined the Guardians last year and put together his best season. Cleveland has a way of doing that with guys. He's no more than a middling pitcher, but Lively is on the streaming radar.
The White Sox have picked up in 2025 where they left off in 2024: losing games and sitting near the bottom in most offensive categories. Chicago is going to be another one of our favorite targets all season.
Lively is a low- to mid-level streamer. He's a below-average strikeout guy, so he has a little bit lower ceiling, and he's mostly here because of the matchup.
Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers
Texas was shut out by the Cubs yesterday, when starter Justin Steele went seven innings and struck out eight. That makes six out of 11 games in which the Rangers scored three or fewer runs. This is a continuation of 2024's struggles.
Taillon was listed here before his last start against the A's, when he went six innings with seven strikeouts and two runs allowed. He had a tougher start against the Diamondbacks his first time out, but this will be another easier opponent.
Taillon is a low- to mid-level streamer. He has fallen to a below-average strikeout level the past few seasons, though he is still good enough in that area to fake it. The matchup makes him worth considering.
Tuesday's Streamer Rankings
- Shane Baz, TB
- Clay Holmes, NYM
- Jameson Taillon, CHC
- Ben Lively, CLE
- Kyle Hendricks, LAA
