Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Pitchers to Add for Thursday

Let's go over some fantasy baseball waiver wire/streaming options for Thursday! We will look at pitchers only in this article.

Check back in a bit for a writeup on waiver wire/streaming hitters.

Fantasy baseball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

JR Ritchie - Atlanta Braves

Ritchie has been added in 6.81% of fantasy baseball leagues today, and sits at 11.11% overall.

He is someone we have discussed in prospect stories this year, and he's being called up to start today against the Nationals, which is a favorable matchup.

Ritchie is the No. 79 prospect in baseball. The 22-year-old was the No. 35 overall pick in 2022. Across 52 minor league appearances since, Ritchie has a 2.61 earned run average over 244 2/3 innings. He's struck out 263 batters along the way, while having a 1.03 WHIP against him.

Ritchie has proved all he needs to in the minor leagues, so Atlanta is going to give him a crack at the big leagues now. The matchup is great, so it eases some of the concerns for a pitcher in his MLB debut. 

Temper expectations a bit, but I really like trying Ritchie in deeper leagues. He could be considered in standard leagues too. Watch his stats today, and be ready to add/hold him in more leagues if he looks good and holds his rotation spot.

Davis Martin - Chicago White Sox

Martin is up 3.3%, which brings his overall mark to 46.44%.

Martin will be taking on the Diamondbacks this afternoon. It's not a great matchup, but Martin is on the rise for how he's pitched so far.

In four starts, Martin has earned a 3-1 record and has a 2.16 ERA over 25 innings. He's allowed six runs on 19 hits and six walks, while punching out 19 batters. Martin hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start, and he's worked at least five innings, and seven frames in two straight.

Martin is likely going to regress at some point, but I'm fine streaming him while he's excelling. He's a good deep-league option for the day, and he could be considered in standard leagues. Martin isn't a must-start pitcher in standard leagues though, because the matchup is his toughest of the season.

Christian Scott - New York Mets

Scott has been picked up in 5.38% of leagues today. He's rostered in 16.81% of leagues overall.

Scott hasn't pitched in the big leagues since having Tommy John surgery during the summer of 2024. In three Triple-A starts this year, Scott has a 5.27 ERA over 13 2/3 innings pitched.

He's replacing David Peterson in the rotation, and if Scott pitches well, he'll stick. Scott had a 4.56 ERA over nine starts in the big leagues in 2024. He'll have to pitch at least close to that level to stick in the MLB for the long haul.

Scott will face the Twins on Thursday evening. It's an OK matchup on paper, but with how he's pitched at Triple-A so far, I only like trying Scott in deeper leagues today.

Brandon Sproat - Milwaukee Brewers

Sproat is owned in 13.39% of leagues after being added in 3.39% of leagues today.

Sproat will face the Tigers today, which is an OK matchup on paper. However, he will be facing Tarik Skubal, so he'll have to pitch super well to outduel the Cy Young winner.

Sproat was tagged for seven runs in his first outing of the season, then four runs in a bulk relief appearance in his second appearance. In two appearances since, Sproat has flashed some upside. He combined for 10 1/3 innings in those outings (including a 6 2/3-inning start last time out), allowing two runs on eight hits and four walks, while striking out nine.

I get wanting to stream him as he's trending up, but his opposition today holds him back quite a bit. Only consider Sproat in deeper leagues today, unless you're truly desperate for fantasy pitching.

Michael Soroka - Arizona Diamondbacks

Soroka is up to 81% owned as he prepares for his next start. He was barely rostered to open the regular season.

Soroka will be on the mound opposite Davis in the D-Backs, White Sox game today. Soroka has one of the best matchups possible against Chicago.

Across four starts so far, Soroka is 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA. He's allowed seven runs on 18 hits and six walks over 22 2/3 innings. Soroka has struck out 28 batters.

He's looked good early on and has a matchup today that should lead to at least average fantasy results. Fire up Soroka in all deeper leagues, and most standard leagues as well.

Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants

Walker is trending back up after going from over 75% owned at the start of the season to below 50%. He's climbed to 49.86% rostered today. 

There was a question on who the Giants' closer was earlier this year, but Walker seems to be re-emerging as the go-to guy. He had just one save across his first nine outings, and wasn't even pitching in save situations most times.

His past two times out, he worked the ninth inning, and he earned saves in both games - he got them against the mighty Dodgers as well. He allowed one baserunner in those games combined, while striking out two.

Walker is trending back up, and with the Giants winning more of late, Walker is worth adding back in some standard leagues. He needs to be rostered again in deeper leagues, and those desperate for standard league relief help should consider Walker too.