Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5 (2024)

With most pitchers getting into their fourth and fifth starts this week teams are letting them go a little deeper into games. That can be good or bad. Let’s dive into my top fantasy baseball streaming pitchers to target on your waiver wire for each day of Week 5. And sync your league and check out our streaming pitcher planner to see who’s available specific to your league.

Streaming Pitchers: Week 5

(We used the average of ESPN, Yahoo and CBS for roster percentage)

Monday, April 22

Keaton Winn (SF) vs. NYM | 27%

Keaton Winn lost his first three games of the season but finally got a win in his last start against the Marlins. His fastball has been his best pitch and he is getting over 30% whiff rate with it. The Mets are not terrible offensively. They are batting just above the league average but they are ranked towards the bottom in hard-hit percentage. Winn could get six innings here with maybe seven strikeouts.

Other Option: Jose Quintana (NYM) at SF | 28%

Tuesday, April 23

Wade Miley (MIL) at PIT | 17%

This will be the third start for Wade Miley since coming off the injured list (IL). He worked up to 66 pitches in his last start. As long as he can command his pitches, he could get 80+ pitches in this start. Let’s state the obvious, Miley won’t get you strikeouts. This start will be mainly about getting a possible win. He could see five or six innings. The Pirates have a 24% strikeout rate, so maybe we can get lucky with the strikeouts. The Pirates are just above the league average in batting average but well below the league average in slugging percentage. Miley should limit any damage and help his team secure the win.

Other Option: Erick Fedde (CHW) at MIN | 25%

Wednesday, April 24

Clarke Schmidt (NYY) vs. OAK | 34%

Clarke Schmidt struggled with walks in his two previous starts before Friday’s start against Tampa Bay. He didn’t walk any and struck out seven in 5.1 innings. Oakland ranks near the bottom in BB% and has the third-worst overall batting average. The Yankees should give Schmidt the run support needed for the win. Schmidt should easily go five innings with at least 6-8 strikeouts. Oakland also has the third-highest strikeout rate in the majors.

Other Option: Sean Manaea (NYM) at SF | 38%

Thursday, April 25

DL Hall (MIL) at PIT | 28%

I don’t like the games available on Thursdays so far this season. Perhaps Graham Ashcraft could be a better option, but since the game is in Cincy, I was scared away from that commitment. After the Pirates’ hot start, they have dropped their last four games. Their hitting is average and they have a mid-20% strikeout rate. Hall needs to pitch effectively, which hasn’t come easy for him this season. I believe this former top prospect can find it against Pittsburgh and go five innings. The strikeouts are questionable. Anything over four strikeouts would be considered a win in my book.

Other Option: Graham Ashcraft (CIN) vs. PHI | 30%

Friday, April 26

Javier Assad (CHC) at BOS | 45%

Perhaps Javier Assad isn’t available in your league. If he is, though, pick him up, and not just for this start. Assad has 18 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. He’s limiting teams to below a .200 batting average against. Boston has the fourth-worst strikeout rate and one of the lowest walk rates this season. They are also hitting well below the league average and have under a .300 on-base percentage. I see Assad with a solid start here.

Other Option: Gavin Stone (LAD) at TOR | 34%

Saturday, April 27

Michael Lorenzen (TEX) vs. CIN | 27%

Michael Lorenzen got a win in his first start this season. He did walk five in five innings pitched, so that wasn’t great, but I’ll give him a pass since it was his first start. The Reds have a good lineup but are below league average in batting average and on-base percentage. They also have a high team strikeout rate. If this were Lorenzen’s first start back I would be more hesitant. Since it’s not, I will trust he worked out the hiccups from his first start and pitch the Rangers to a win.

Other Option: Adrian Houser (NYM) vs. STL | 9%

Sunday, April 28

Keaton Winn (SF) vs. PIT | 27%

I hate picking the same pitcher twice in a week but, hopefully, this shows why Winn should be rostered. Assuming Winn doesn’t get blown up by the Mets earlier in the week, you can start him against Pittsburgh. I do feel like I am picking on Pittsburgh this week. Not intentional but I’ll go with it this week. They have a higher strikeout rate and a league average for batting average. Winn should keep the Giants in a position to win the game and could put up a nice stat line here.

Other Option: Jose Quintana (NYM) vs. STL | 28%