Is Hayden Wesneski a Waiver Wire Pitcher Worth Holding Onto After His Hot Start?

After looking at some waiver wire hitters already, it's time to dive into some pitchers at the start of a new fantasy baseball week.

We'll pull some waiver pitchers off several sites' waiver lists, and look at some guys who have performed well of late.

Check out the top fantasy baseball waiver wire options everyday on FantasySP. 

Should You Add Hayden Wesneski?

At first glance, Wesneski doesn't have the best numbers for the season, but looking at things on a start-by-start basis shows pretty solid results.

Wesneski has made three starts for the Astros in the early going, posting a 1-1 record and 4.00 earned run average. He's allowed eight runs on 10 hits and three walks, while striking out 21 batters over 18 innings. Wesneski has allowed five home runs already, which is definitely a concern.

His first start was against the Giants. Wesneski lost that game after allowing three runs on two hits and three walks, while striking out six batters.

He then worked seven innings and took a no decision against Seattle. Wesneski allowed two runs on three hits, while punching out five and walking none.

Wesneski tossed six innings and struck out 10 Angels in his most recent start. He surrendered three runs on five hits and no walks.

There's enough fantasy value there to roster Wesneski in a lot of deeper leagues. He's got good enough strikeout numbers to also be considered in some standard leagues as a streamer against weaker-hitting teams.

Wesneski is scheduled to face a tough Padres' lineup next, but has a bit more favorable test against the Royals after that. The tough matchup against San Diego might keep Wesneski out of standard leagues, but I'd also be willing to give him a chance if you're in a pinch. The start against the Royals is likely one that Wesneski can be deployed in all leagues, granted he looks at least somewhat good against the Padres.

He's a pitcher to keep tabs on, as this season could be his first one as a full-time starter at the big league level. Wesneski could be a keeper in all fantasy leagues if he keeps pitching at his current level.

Should You Add Landen Roupp?

Roupp has sneaky good numbers across two starts so far. He's a streaming option on Monday, although he faces a tough Phillies' lineup.

He is 0-1, but with a 3.60 ERA so far. Roupp has allowed four runs on 11 hits and four walks over his first 10 innings, while striking out 12 batters.

Roupp struck out eight Astros in his first start of the season. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks. Roupp was better against the Reds in his last start, allowing a run on seven hits, while striking out four and walking none over six frames.

Roupp is probably going to be a better deep-league option all season, but he'll be streamable in standard leagues against weaker-hitting teams. I wouldn't test Roupp against the Phillies on Monday, but a second start this week against the Angels might be a chance to deploy the Giants' starter.

Should You Add J.T. Ginn?

Ginn was called up recently and made his first MLB start of the year for the Athletics. He performed well and now is being targeted ahead of his next outing.

Ginn shut down the Mets, allowing a run on four hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six batters along the way.

Ginn got six starts across eight MLB appearances a season ago and had up-and-down results. He went 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA - Ginn struck out 29 batters across 34 innings, while allowing 16 runs on 36 hits and nine walks.

He's a better deep-league asset at this point, but in the right matchups, Ginn could already be a standard league streaming option. He's likely to face the Brewers this week, which sets up as a decent fantasy opportunity for him.

Ginn is definitely a deep-league streaming option in that game, and if he succeeds, he'll be added/held in those leagues, while then being a better standard league streamer for his next start.

Should You Add Quinn Priester?

Priester was recently traded to the Brewers. He made his first start of this MLB season against the Rockies, in Colorado last Thursday.

He worked five innings in that contest, allowing a run on six hits and two walks, while striking out four. The lone run he allowed came on a leadoff homer in the first inning.

Priester had made 15 starts across 21 MLB appearances over the past two seasons, with Pittsburgh and Boston. He has a career 6.23 ERA, with 69 strikeouts over 99 2/3 innings.

Those numbers might not look the best, but the Brewers have shown the ability to turn middling pitchers into good fantasy assets in a hurry. Starting in Colorado isn't easy, but Priester was really good at limiting runs despite having some runners on base.

I think he's an intriguing long-term fantasy asset, and is definitely worth an add already in some deeper leagues. Priester will need to post a couple good starts before we can talk about him as a standard league option, I think.

He's got starts scheduled against the Tigers and probably Giants coming up. I don't love either of those matchups, meaning he should top out as a deep-league streaming option for those starts. If he delivers in those games though, he will be added in more deep leagues, and become a standard league streaming option for the starts after that.

Should You Add Chris Bassitt?

Bassit was coming off a down 2024 season, and many fantasy owners wrote him off, but he's looked good in the early going this season.

In his first three starts, Bassitt is 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA. He's allowed two runs on 17 hits and three walks over 18 1/3 innings, while also registering 21 strikeouts.

He's made starts against the Orioles, Mets and Red Sox, so it's not like he's facing weak-hitting lineups either. Bassitt struck out seven over six innings against Baltimore, allowing a run on eight hits and two walks.

The veteran struck out nine Mets over 6 2/3 scoreless innings - he gave up four hits and no walks in that outing. Bassitt punched out five Boston hitters in his most recent start - he allowed a run on five hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings.

Bassitt posted a 4.16 ERA across 31 starts a season ago. He went 10-14 and struck out 168 batters over 171 innings. It was a drastic step back from a great fantasy season in 2023 (16-8 record, 3.60 ERA, 186 strikeouts over 200 innings).

He's got a career 3.55 ERA and averages 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. We're going to see some regression in his ERA as the season moves along, and probably will see a decrease in strikeouts. At the same time, regression in several stats won't make Bassit that much worse of a fantasy asset.

He's off to a good start and looking like he's on his way to a bounceback season. I'm surprised he isn't rostered in all leagues already, but the few of you who can add him probably should.

Bassitt is a veteran starter you can trust, regardless of the lineup he's facing. I'm not calling him a must-start pitcher each start, but he's also way more than a streamer. Scoop him up before it's too late.