MacKenzie Gore and Shane Baz are Graduating from Streaming Pitchers to Keepers

Early in the season, I rely a lot on last year's numbers in determining who to target with opposing pitchers in fantasy. Things change year to year, but the worst teams often slowly improve, leaving them vulnerable for multiple seasons.

With each team getting close to 15 games in 2025, we can start to look at what's happening and how things have shifted in terms of the teams to go after. While some things have stayed the same (the Pirates and White Sox being targets), others are new to the party (Atlanta continuing to flail).

Let's look at six starting pitchers in action on Sunday who have good matchups and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from MLB.com (and correct before the results of Saturday's games), as are the probable starters. The full streamer rankings are listed at the bottom.

MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals @ Miami Marlins

I'm just going to start with Gore quickly because he's owned in over 80% of leagues. Gore is a keeper, though, and should be on a roster in every league. The matchup here is pristine, and his next start is against the Rockies (though that game will take place at Coors Field).

Gore has excelled this year against tough competition: the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. In 17 innings, he has allowed just five runs and three walks with 25 strikeouts. Pick up Gore if he is available in your league and plan to keep him for the long haul.

Shane Baz, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Atlanta Braves

Baz is another highly owned guy. He's still available in about 40% of leagues, and he has pitched at a high level when on the mound. That has been a problem, as injury has derailed the beginning of Baz's career; he has an above-average strikeout rate, though, and is average with walks, helping lead to a 3.19 ERA in 132.2 innings.

The Braves are in or near the bottom 10 essentially across the board offensively. It's a major disappointment for a team that is supposed to compete with the best in baseball. Until we see a shift in performance, Atlanta is going to be a target team.

Baz is a high-level streamer. His own work gives him a high ceiling, and Atlanta presents a surprisingly good matchup.

Kyle Hendricks, Los Angeles Angels @ Houston Astros

This is pretty much the exact opposite of the Baz section: this is a case of a low-level pitcher against a middling matchup in Houston. The Astros are feeling the effects of losing Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman. Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes, and outfielder Jake Meyers have all started strong, but Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker are each hitting around .200 with just one home run apiece.

Hendricks has started the season well after looking cooked in 2024. I still lean toward him being a poor fantasy pitcher, but Hendricks has given up just two runs in 11 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. It at least makes him a little intriguing, even if it doesn't last.

Hendricks is a low-level streamer. Again, I don't like his outlook moving forward, and Houston has enough to get out of this slump, even if the numbers point to them being a target.

Ben Lively, Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals

The Royals are another team that wasn't a target coming into the season but who have performed like a bottom-10 team early. With less than 20 games played, it's easier to trust what we know over a longer period. It's about adapting, though, so we have to take everything into account. KC is tied for the fewest home runs so far (six), has the second-lowest slugging percentage, and has the fourth-lowest OPS.

Lively is a slightly below-average pitcher, sitting right near the middle in walks but several percentage points lower than average with strikeouts. Lively is a fine pitcher to consider on the right days, but don't expect a high-level performance.

Lively is a low-level streamer. The matchup is more OK than truly good (maybe), and Lively has a cap on his ceiling. You can find a better way to use your innings this early in the season.

Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins

The Twins are another nominee for the most disappointing team to start the season. They are 4-11, ahead of just the Rockies. Offensively, Minnesota is sitting in the bottom 10 in most box stats, not a surprise given their record so far.

Mize is better than average with walks but a little worse with strikeouts. That profile has been flipped to start the season, and it has led to sparkling results for Mize: one run allowed in 11.2 innings with 12 strikeouts and six walks. His 2-0 record is nice also.

Mize is a mid-level streamer. The matchup is good (though the Twins weren't a target to start the season), but Mize also has a ceiling based on his career strikeout work.

Carmen Mlodzinski, Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cincinnati Reds

I pegged Cincinnati as a team that could play its way off the target list with a good early-season performance. They have shown flashes, but the Reds' season-long numbers are back in the bottom 10, as they were last year. I'll be keeping an eye on Cincinnati, but they are a group to target right now.

Mlodzinski, mostly a reliever over the past two seasons, is in the rotation to start things off. He has been a good strikeout pitcher but also walked too many guys, something that is true both in 2025 and over his career. Mlodzinski has been hit hard this year, giving up 12 hits and five runs in 8.2 innings.

Mlodzinski is another low-level streamer. He just hasn't shown enough to really be a guy to trust, and I'm a little skeptical of the Reds being a great target, so I'm staying away from Mlodzinski.

Sunday's Streamer Rankings

1. MacKenzie Gore, WSH
2. Shane Baz, TB
3. Casey Mize, DET
4. Ben Lively, CLE
5. Kyle Hendricks, LAA
6. Carmen Mlodzinski, PIT