Saturday’s Must-Start Fantasy Baseball SP Streamers: A Day of Strong Options

We're now more than two weeks into the MLB season. We still can't believe everything we see, but numbers will start becoming more reliable the further we get. It's often said that we can't trust anything until we hit Memorial Day, but for those playing fantasy baseball, we don't have time to wait and see; it's happening around us as we speak.

Let's look at five starting pitchers in action on Saturday who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups. Most stats are from MLB.com, as are the probable starters. The full streamer rankings are listed at the bottom.

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Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are a bit of a tough team to determine as a fantasy target because they have the makings of a successful team but have been struggling early in the season. Chicago was shut out yesterday against these same Pirates, the fifth time in 13 games that they scored three runs or fewer. They might not be a season-long target, but the Cubs are vulnerable early.

Ashcraft has been average with walks and above average with strikeouts in his short career while doing well limiting hitters. He has given up 71 hits and just three homers in 81 2/3 innings between last year and this, fitting in nicely among Pittsburgh's strong pitching staff. Ashcraft might be owned in a lot more fantasy leagues soon.

Ashcraft is a mid-level streamer. There's a little risk against a team that is expected to hit better, but the Cubs have been subpar so far, and given Ashcraft's work so far, there's intrigue here.

Chris Bassitt, Baltimore Orioles vs. San Francisco Giants

Bassitt has been a successful pitcher throughout his career, but his start to 2026 has been brutal: two starts (both losses), 6 1/3 innings, 12 hits, 10 runs, six walks, and just three strikeouts. His career numbers are average or better in regards to both K rate and BB rate, and given his track record, things will probably balance out, but it has been a stretch to forget so far.

The Giants have hit the fewest home runs and drawn the fewest walks of any team, two things that can add up to a lot of runs if a team does both well. They have been a below-average offensive team this year after ranking in the bottom 10 in many areas in 2025, so San Francisco continues to stand out as a favorite target for opposing pitchers.

Bassitt is a low-to-mid-level streamer. I'm willing to overlook his horrid start, even though it lowers his fantasy value a bit. With a good matchup, this could be the start of Bassitt's turnaround.

German Marquez, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies

Colorado's season-long numbers are at least middling, but that includes close to half their games at Coors Field. They are a much more enticing streaming target when playing on the road and have been quiet the past two days against San Diego, scoring just one run in the first nine innings on Thursday (and two more in extra innings) before plating just two more last night. I'll be targeting the Rockies until they show improved offense over an extended period.

Marquez spent his whole career in Colorado before this season, and his numbers reflect that grim reality (for a pitcher), as he has allowed more than a hit per inning and owns a career ERA over 4.60. His walk and strikeout rates are both average, so there are positives, but Marquez has been hit hard so far this year, giving up 14 hits and two home runs in just eight innings.

Marquez is a low-level streamer with a little upside. I'm still trying to gauge what he will be without pitching half his games at Coors Field, but based on the early results, I'm still in look-and-see mode. The matchup is the real star here.

Kodai Senga, New York Mets vs. Athletics

Senga is owned in just over 50% of fantasy leagues, making him more of a fringe streaming option who might not qualify for this list much longer. He's a well-above-average strikeout pitcher who walks too many guys, and that has worked out, particularly since he doesn't get hit much. Senga's ERA is just above 3.00 in nearly 300 career innings.

The Athletics might have some of the same Colorado effect, as their home field (a minor league park in Sacramento) played as a major hitter's park last season. The A's also strike out a lot, setting a big ceiling and solid floor for opposing starters most games. This is a team we will look to go after on the road for the time being.

Senga is a mid-to-high-level streamer. He has big-time upside due to his strikeout work and ability to prevent runs, and he has found the same success early in 2026.

Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox

Chicago has been historically bad over the past three seasons or so, and while they aren't at the bottom of the barrel yet, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them fall to that level as the season stretches out. The White Sox got shut out in Kansas City yesterday after winning 2-0 the day before, and they remain a team that could score zero runs (or close to it) on any given day.

Wacha has been an above-average pitcher most of his career. His strikeouts were down last season, but he was otherwise in line with his career numbers. Wacha has started off very well this year, throwing 13 innings and giving up six hits, one run, and four walks with 10 strikeouts. Even approaching 35 years old, Wacha is showing that he's a strong starting pitcher, both in real life and fantasy baseball.

Wacha is a mid-to-high-level streamer here. The matchup couldn't be much better, and other than his strikeouts being just average, Wacha doesn't have many holes to his game.

Saturday's Streamer Rankings

1. Kodai Senga, NYM
2. Michael Wacha, KC
3. Braxton Ashcraft, PIT
4. Chris Bassitt, BAL
5. German Marquez, SD