Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Best Pitching Adds for Thursday

Let's open Thursday by checking out some fantasy baseball waiver wire options, looking at pitchers first.

Check back later for an article on waiver wire hitters.

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

Eduardo Rodriguez - Arizona Diamondbacks

Rodriguez is on the rise as he prepares to make a start on Thursday. He is up 4.34% so far and sits at 67.34% overall now.

Rodriguez will get a matchup against the Rockies today, which is a fantastic matchup. Even better, the game is in Arizona and not Colorado.

He's made nine starts this season, and he sits with a 4-1 record and 2.53 earned run average so far. He has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) on 45 hits and 22 walks, while striking out 39 over 53 1/3 innings. 

Rodriguez faced Colorado last week, allowing three runs on nine hits and no walks, while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings. That game was in Colorado, so I expect better out of Rodriguez this time around.

I like Rodriguez in all deeper leagues for sure, and he's a pretty solid standard league streaming option as well. Consider Rodriguez in all leagues in this stellar matchup today.

Cade Cavalli - Washington Nationals

Cavalli has been picked up in 3.21% of leagues, which brings his overall mark to 28.96%.

He'll be starting against the Mets on Thursday afternoon. That's a pretty favorable matchup on paper.

Cavalli has been a so-so fantasy asset this season over 10 starts. He's 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA over 46 2/3 innings. Cavalli has allowed 28 runs (21 earned) on 54 hits and 18 walks, while striking out 52 batters.

He's faced the Mets already, tossing six innings against them on April 29. Cavalli got a win after allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out 10.

I expect solid results from Cavalli this time around. He's a good deep-league streaming asset, and could also be considered in some standard leagues, although he's more of a lottery ticket because of his ERA and prior results this season.

Casey Mize - Detroit Tigers

Mize has been added in 2.42% of leagues and sits at 75.33% overall now.

He will be starting against the Guardians on Thursday afternoon. That's a pretty solid matchup on paper, but Mize is more rising because of what he's done this season so far.

Across seven starts, he's just 2-2, but he has a 2.43 ERA over 37 innings pitched. Mize has allowed 10 runs on 28 hits and 11 walks, while striking out 39 batters.

This will be his first start against Cleveland in 2026. Mize has pitched well enough to try in all deeper leagues, and a good amount of standard leagues too. Give him consideration at least.

Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox

Taylor has been added in 4.13% of leagues and is rostered in 17.51% overall.

Taylor is a reliever for Chicago, and he earned his first save a couple days ago. He has a 1-0 record, the save, a blown save and two holds so far.

He has pitched in 19 games, covering 25 1/3 innings. Taylor has allowed eight runs (five earned) on 21 hits and eight walks, while striking out 38 batters.

Taylor was a decent fantasy asset even before earning a save. The save came after Seranthony Dominguez blew a save a couple days prior, so there's a chance that Taylor eventually overtakes Dominguez.

For now, Taylor can be added in some deeper fantasy leagues. Keep tabs on him and be ready to add him if he's earning the save chances in Chicago. The White Sox are winning enough for now to at least own a go-to closer in deeper fantasy leagues.

Trevor McDonald - San Francisco Giants

McDonald sits at 34% rostered right now. He's a starting pitcher, but not pitching on Thursday.

He will be starting on Friday, and doing so against the White Sox, who are a good matchup. McDonald is being added a day early, and rightfully so with how he's looked so far this season.

McDonald has made three starts, and is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA so far. He's pitched 19 innings, allowing just five runs on 16 hits and three walks. McDonald has struck out 17 batters so far.

McDonald will be a very good deep-league streaming asset for Friday, and with how he's pitched, I wouldn't mind trying him in standard leagues too. Beat the rush to grab him on Friday and just stash him on Thursday, which is a lighter day of MLB action anyways.