Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers: Leahy, Matthews, and Friday Waiver Wire Targets

Most of our short streaming days come when there are fewer teams in action, leaving some of our best target teams out of action. Today, we have to stretch to find streamers because our best targets, like the Mets and Red Sox, are facing pitchers who are owned in most fantasy leagues. Finding quality streamers is a two-way dance, and Friday brings the problem of too many good pitchers taking the mound.

Let's look at four starting pitchers in action on Friday 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.

Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players who are being added to fantasy leagues most often!

Kyle Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves

Atlanta has kept popping up on our streaming list recently due to circumstance, as they aren't one of our top targets but have just been facing pitchers that fit the streaming criteria. The Braves have been better over the full season but have struggled hard since the beginning of June, blowing a big lead in the division and seeing their offensive numbers drop precipitously. We'll keep targeting Atlanta on the right days until they show a turnaround in their performance.

Leahy has been a very average pitcher this season, sitting right around that middle mark in most areas. He is a below-average strikeout pitcher, something that has been true most of his career, and though it hasn't hurt him too bad, it does keep his fantasy value down just a bit. Leahy is the perfect type of pitcher to consider as a streamer when the matchup is right but probably won't ever be a fantasy fixture unless he pumps up that K rate.

Leahy is a low-to-mid-level streamer. The Braves present a good matchup right now, but they could start hitting better any time given their previous numbers. Leahy's own work leaves him fine to consider but without a big ceiling.

Zack Littell, Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees

Littell is scheduled to enter as a bulk reliever after opener Carson Palmquist starts the game, making Littell the de facto starter in this one. I've written before about how openers have very little fantasy value, but the guys who enter after the opener have the advantage of not needing to go five innings to pick up a win and facing the top of the order one fewer time than if he were to start, so Littell gets a little advantage here. Even so, Littell has been a below-average pitcher this season, giving up way too many home runs (one every 3.9 innings) and not striking batters out (14.1% K rate).

The Yankees have better numbers over the full season, but they have been a clear bottom-10 offense over the past 30 days. While New York leads the league in home runs, Aaron Judge hasn't played since May 31 and Giancarlo Stanton since April 24, keeping away two of their best power hitters. The Yanks are still hitting homers, but they are failing elsewhere, leaving this team vulnerable to opposing pitchers right now.

Littell is a low-level streamer. The matchup is good based on recent numbers, but the Yankees have more talent than many of our target teams. Littell's own struggles also limit his fantasy value, leaving him below a level that warrants inclusion in your lineup.

Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels

Matthews left his last start after suffering a cut on his foot, but he is ready to go for this one. Matthews has been better than average with both walks and strikeouts in his career, but he has generally given up too many hits, runs, and home runs, helping lead to a 5.41 career ERA. He has been better in those areas this season aside from the homers, where he has allowed one every 4.7 innings, and Matthews also has a slightly below-average strikeout rate, dropping his ceiling just a bit.

The Angels are a very middling offensive team in 2026; it's astounding how average they have been in pretty much every box stat. That makes them a fringe target team at best, but they do one thing that pumps up their value for our purposes: Los Angeles has struck out more than any other team this season. They have held that distinction most of the season, and though Pittsburgh has caught up to them, the Angels are still one of the most K-happy teams around. That sets a high ceiling on any given day.

Matthews is a low-to-mid-level streamer. The matchup is more middling than good, and Matthews has plenty of struggles to go with his strong points. Getting back his best strikeout stuff would increase his fantasy value.

JP Sears, San Diego Padres vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto has shown a decent hit tool, sitting around average in categories like hits and batting average. They have shown a serious lack of power, though, ranking in the bottom five in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. While they don't strike out, the Blue Jays also don't draw many walks, ranking 29th in BBs, ahead of only the Giants (who are far below the rest of the league). Toronto is another team that isn't a great target but is fine on the right days.

Sears has spent most of this season in the minor leagues, where he has struggled mightily with an ERA near 8.00 in over 60 innings. He has made three starts for the Padres, two of which were fine, but Sears gave up eight hits and seven runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs on June 30, making his overall numbers look poor. In his career, Sears has been very good with walks and a little below average with strikeouts, helping lead to middling numbers overall. It's fair to expect something similar in any given start.

Sears is a low-to-mid-level streamer. The matchup is just OK, and we could say the same about Sears. Maybe he should be a notch lower due to his struggles in the minors, but Sears has shown to be middling in his career.

Friday's Streamer Rankings

1. Kyle Leahy, STL
2. Zebby Matthews, MIN
3. JP Sears, SD
4. Zack Littell, WSH