5 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitching Targets to Consider on Thursday

Let's open the day by looking at some fantasy baseball pitching waiver wire and streaming options.

Check back in a bit for a waiver wire article on hitters!

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Keider Montero - Detroit Tigers

Montero sits at 45.58% rostered right now as he prepares to make a start.

He will be facing the Guardians, who are a pretty solid team to stream against. Cleveland has been a touch better of late, but on a shorter day of MLB games, Montero is definitely worth considering.

Over 29 starts and 25 appearances, Montero has a 3.38 earned run average and 86 strikeouts over 122 1/3 innings. He's been up and down of late, swapping great and rough starts over his past three outings.

The matchup is solid, and against Cleveland earlier this season, he allowed three runs on two hits and four walks across five innings. Montero is an OK option for the day, but someone to only really trust in deeper leagues, not all leagues, even if he's an option in those.

Justin Martinez - Arizona Diamondbacks

Martinez is nearing a return from a long absence, so he's getting picked up in a few leagues. He went from about 2.5% to 9.26% today.

He has not pitched since June 9 of last summer. Martinez has been out because of Tommy John surgery, but should be activated soon. He might immediately go into a big role for the bullpen, and could even earn some saves, which is more why he's on the rise.

Over 91 MLB games since 2023, Martinez is 6-8 with a 3.77 ERA. He's picked up 14 saves and pitched 98 innings, striking out 127 batters along the way.

Even if he's not closing games, Martinez has a little fantasy value to take advantage of. If he's earning holds or saves, his value goes up and he could be a really good deep-league option, and maybe even sneak into standard leagues, so keep close tabs on him.

Walbert Urena - Los Angeles Angels 

Urena is owned in 60% of leagues right now as he prepares to make a start.

He'll get the ball against the Rangers, who are a decent target. Urena has pitched pretty well this season, so he's a decent option against most teams at this point.

He's made 19 starts and 21 appearances this season. Urena is 7-8, but with a 2.83 ERA over 101 2/3 innings. He has 97 strikeouts in his first taste of the big leagues.

Urena is an underrated fantasy arm, and is worth more ownership. I like him in all deep leagues at this point, plus in a good amount of standard leagues. Definitely consider Urena today, especially if you are looking for a streaming starting pitcher.

Tyler Phillips - Miami Marlins

Phillips sits at 8.8% rostered as he gets ready for a Thursday start.

Phillips will be starting against the Pirates, who are another decent team to try streaming pitchers against. Phillips has also pitched pretty well in 2026.

He has made 29 appearances this season, including 13 starts. He's 3-5 with a 3.47 ERA over 93 1/3 innings. Phillips has 70 strikeouts to his name.

His fantasy ceiling is capped a bit because he doesn't last super long in his outings, but with good pitching and a solid matchup, Phillips is another decent option today. I like him best in deeper leagues, and think he's better skipped in standard leagues.

Ben Joyce - Los Angeles Angels

Joyce has been steadily added over the past few days, and right now, he's at 9.26%.

He returned to the big league mound earlier this month - he had been out the rest of the year with a shoulder injury. Joyce has gotten in four games since, and he's pitched well and is now earning big chances.

Joyce got a save on Wednesday - that was his first of the year. He has a hold as well, and has one strikeout in every outing. Joyce has only allowed two baserunners, a hit and a walk.

He's pitched very well so far, and now with a save to his name, he's on the rise as a fantasy asset. Joyce is worth adding in some deeper leagues. If he keeps earning save chances, expect his own percentage to keep going up, and he could eventually be worth adding in standard leagues, so keep close tabs on him.