Is Shane Smith a Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitcher Worth Picking Up?

After checking out some fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters, let's take a look at some pitching options.

More waiver wire options can be found on FantasySP.

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Should You Add Jose Soriano?

Soriano is part of our streaming options for Thursday, April 10, meaning he's being added for his start. I want to look at him for the long term though.

Soriano will be making his third start of the season on Thursday, taking on the Rays. Tampa Bay is a pretty favorable matchup for an opposing starting pitcher.

In his first two starts, Soriano is 1-1 with a 3.65 earned run average. He's allowed five runs on seven hits and five walks, while striking out 14. Soriano was great against the White Sox, working seven scoreless innings, with four baserunners allowed and five punchouts. He was rocked for five runs on five hits and three walks, but did strike out nine against the Guardians.

Those inconsistent results show Soriano is a better streaming option in standard leagues than a season-long keeper. His next start is likely to come against the Rangers, which is not as favorable as facing the Rays.

Soriano is still someone I'd want to roster and hold all season in deeper fantasy setups. In 22 games and 20 starts in 2024, he went 6-7, but with a 3.42 ERA. He struck out 97 batters over 113 innings.

So until he proves he can deliver good fantasy results against all teams, he's a better deep-league option, but can be streamed against weaker-hitting teams.

Should You Add Zack Littell?

Littell is also a streaming option on Thursday, but let's take a look to see if he could be a fantasy asset for longer than a start.

His start against the Angels sets Littell up for success. In his first two starts, he's 0-2, but with a 4.15 ERA. He's allowed six runs on 10 hits and two walks, while punching out 10.

Littell allowed a run on four hits and no walks, while striking out seven over six innings against Colorado in his first start. He then gave up five runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out three over five frames against the Rangers.

Again, inconsistent results like this are going to hold a fantasy pitcher back from being rostered in more leagues. He's another deep-league option, who can be streamed in standard leagues when the matchups are favorable.

Littell is in his third season with Tampa Bay, and coming off one of the best seasons in his career in 2024. Across 29 starts, he posted a 3.63 ERA, with an 8-10 record and 141 strikeouts over 156 1/3 innings pitched.

Those are solid numbers, but still not enough to utilize him consistently in standard leagues. Keep streaming him against weaker-hitting teams until Littell shows us he can deliver against offenses of all calibers.

Should You Add Shane Smith?

Smith has been fantastic across his two starts in the early going this season. 

He's failed to earn a decision despite having a 1.54 ERA. Smith has allowed two runs on four hits and five walks over 11 2/3 innings. He's also struck out nine batters.

The 25-year-old first-time major leaguer allowed two runs on two hits and four walks across 5 2/3 innings in his first start against the Twins - he struck out three in that game. Smith struck out six over six scoreless innings in his last start - he surrendered two hits and one walk.

Smith's first crack at the big leagues is getting off to an incredibly good start. In time, teams will adjust and Smith's numbers will regress a bit. But it's hard to ignore what the youngster has done so far, and until that regression comes, Smith is a good fantasy asset.

Smith is a better deep-league fantasy asset right now, but the way he's pitching, giving him standard league streaming starts isn't that crazy either. He's lined up to face Boston in his next start, so that will probably keep him out of most standard leagues.

Still, Smith is a pitcher to keep close tabs on. If he pitches well in his next start, his own percentage is going to skyrocket. I think the only reason it isn't already is because he's pitching for the White Sox, who are the worst team in the league by a good bit.

Should You Add Tyler Mahle?

Mahle has been great in his first three starts, and he's getting fantasy attention now.

He's 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA across 13 2/3 innings so far. Mahle has allowed two runs on five hits and seven walks, while also striking out 12 batters.

Mahle worked just 1 2/3 innings in his first start, but allowed just one run on two hits and four walks, while striking out three against Boston. In his next start against Tampa Bay, he worked five scoreless frames, allowing two walks and one hit, while punching out five. Mahle had four strikeouts and a run allowed on two hits and one walk over seven frames against the Cubs in his most recent start.

His walk numbers in the first game, and low inning total in that one, are really making Mahle's numbers look weaker than they really are. He has been fantastic in the early going, and he's definitely on people's fantasy radars now.

Mahle has had MLB success in the past, but it came a couple years ago, so some are skeptical that he can keep pitching this well. With a career 4.26 ERA, Mahle is bound to see this season's numbers regress at some point, but he could still be a good asset in a bunch of fantasy leagues.

Mahle is someone who could be picked up in deeper redraft leagues already - he absolutely needs to at least be streamed in those leagues for his next probable start against the Angels. That matchup could also make Mahle a streamer for standard leagues too.

As the season progresses, Mahle is likely to be a deep-league option who can be streamed in standard leagues against weaker-hitting teams, but when he's hot like this, he needs to be deployed. Take advantage of things before that regression does come.

Should You Add Tyler Alexander?

Alexander has been thrust into the Brewers' starting rotation with all the injuries the team has been dealing with, and the lefty has taken advantage of the opportunity.

In two starts and four appearances so far this season, Alexander has a 1-0 record, 2.84 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings. He's allowed four runs on eight hits and seven walks.

His first start came against a weak-hitting Reds' lineup, and Alexander tossed 5 2/3 hitless innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He punched out three over 3 2/3 innings in his most recent start in Colorado - he allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.

His time in the Brewers' rotation is likely to end at some point, but he might get one more turn through the rotation. His next start would be against the Tigers, who are a bit tougher matchup on paper. 

All things considered, Alexander is just an option in deep leagues, and the leagues would need to be pretty deep to help me justify adding Alexander right now. He'll likely fall back into a long relief role when Milwaukee's rotation is healthier, and then Alexander's fantasy value is going to dry up considerably. 

For as long as he's making starts though, he's a streaming option in deeper leagues.