Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting Pitchers and Closers to Add Thursday

Let's open Thursday by checking out another round of fantasy baseball waiver wire options!

We will look into pitchers here, with some starting pitcher streamers and relief pitchers to discuss. There are only five MLB games scheduled, but there's still four starting pitchers to discuss. Check back in a bit for an article on waiver wire hitting options.

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

Brandon Pfaadt - Arizona Diamondbacks

Pfaadt is up 3.05% so far today, and that brings his overall mark to 25.76%.

Pfaadt will get the nod against the Cardinals, who are an OK matchup on paper. He faced them on July 18 and got the win after tossing 5 1/3 innings - he allowed two runs on six hits and no walks, while striking out three.

Pfaadt is 4-1 and also has two holds across 17 total appearances and seven starts this season. Over 59 innings pitched, he's allowed 33 runs (30 earned for a 4.49 earned run average) on 59 hits and 18 walks, while also striking out 44.

There's some OK numbers in there, but nothing too great. Pfaadt is a good streaming option today after shutting down the Cardinals in his last start. Give him some looks in deeper leagues, and consider him today in standard leagues (with so few teams in action).

Michael McGreevy - St. Louis Cardinals

McGreevy has been added in 2.18% of leagues, and he now sits at 58.08% overall.

Pfaadt will face McGreevy, who pitched a day earlier last week, but still faced Arizona, which is another so-so matchup on paper. McGreevy worked 6 1/3 innings in his last start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk - he struck out five and left with a no decision.

Over 19 starts this season, McGreevy is 4-7, but with a strong 2.92 ERA. In 108 innings, he's allowed 36 runs (35 earned) on 95 knocks and 24 walks, while striking out 71.

What he lacks in strikeout numbers he makes up for with a low ERA and WHIP. He fared pretty well against the D-Backs in his last start, so he's another who could be streamed in any fantasy leagues today. I like him more than Pfaadt, so take McGreevy as your first choice in standard leagues, so far.

Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds

Pagan has been picked up in 1.32% of leagues - he sits at 60.71% overall.

He has two saves in a row, so he's on the rise as a fantasy relief option. He's allowed two runs over six appearances this month, but also has three saves and no blown saves.

Pagan has only pitched in 21 games thanks to a long stint on the injured list. He's 2-1 with nine saves and three blown saves. Pagan has surrendered 12 runs on 17 hits and eight walks over 19 1/3 innings, so the 5.59 ERA he owns isn't appealing. With 19 strikeouts and pretty strong numbers otherwise, he's a better option.

Pagan is worth adding in any deeper leagues he's still available in. I don't love the idea of adding him in standard leagues, but those desperate for relief help should heavily consider adding him. Maybe the Reds will get hot, or at least play in a bunch of close games to boost Pagan's fantasy value for a while.

Shane Bieber - Toronto Blue Jays

Bieber is owned in 50% of leagues as he prepares for a start later today.

In another game today, Bieber and the Blue Jays will take on the Rays. Tampa Bay isn't a very good matchup, but Bieber is a veteran who could deliver big in any start.

He's pitched in five games after starting the season on the IL. Bieber is 1-1 with a 5.70 ERA over 23 2/3 innings so far, but seven of the 15 runs he allowed came in a single start. Bieber has 19 strikeouts to his name, and six of those came in a six-inning shutout his last time out.

So Bieber is on the rise, and on a day short of MLB action, he's a very good streaming option for the day. I like him in deeper leagues, and could justify standard league starts too. If he pitches well, he's worth holding, because he could be trending up as he settles back in.

Ian Seymour - Tampa Bay Rays

Seymour is rostered in 43% of leagues as he prepares for his start today.

Seymour will oppose Bieber and the Blue Jays. Toronto has some big names in its lineup, but it's not a bad team to stream against. Seymour has appeared in four games against Toronto this season, but all as a reliever.

Seymour has made seven starts (and some bulk relief outings) across his 34 total appearances this season. He's 6-2 with a 4.79 ERA, allowing 39 runs (36 earned) on 53 hits and 26 walks, while striking out 79 batters over 67 2/3 innings. 

He's pitched a bit better as a starter/long reliever, and really has only had one bad appearance in that role, so he's trending up as a fantasy asset. Seymour is a solid option for the day, but I like him best in deeper leagues. 

Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates

Soto is sitting at 51% owned at the moment. After mostly trending down over the past month, he is back on the rise, but just a bit.

He got a save on Wednesday, and that was his 13th of the season. He has two saves and a win this month, while also blowing one save.

Soto is 5-2 with the 13 saves, five blown saves and seven holds over 42 appearances this season. He owns a 3.89 ERA over 41 2/3 innings, surrendering 20 runs (18 earned) on 27 hits and 18 walks - he's struck out 47.

Soto appears to be the top option for saves in Pittsburgh, but he's not fully locked into the role, so that's why his own percentage isn't any higher. He's a solid deep-league fantasy asset, and is worth tracking in standard leagues in case he gets some more saves going forward.