The opening day for MLB teams is rapidly approaching, although with the start of the season taking place mid-week, there are no two-start starting pitching options to discuss in our initial weekly report on Fantasy Baseball 2026Two-Start Pitchers and Streaming Starters. Check back next week to discover which arms will be toeing the rubber for dual appearances in Week 2 of the Fantasy Baseball season.

This week, we do have a limited selection of starters that qualify as streaming candidates, and those are profiled for your edification immediately below. Please remember that spring training results are not always indicative of how a pitcher is going to perform once the results count in the standings, as there may be late season or surgical recovery involved, or the hurler may be working on a new pitch or different mechanics during the pre-season games. Nevertheless, the streaming options discussed below are owned in less than 50% of the leagues that have drafted to date.

Please realize that these articles feature most recent rotation information available when the article is written, but that circumstances do change due to weather conditions, injuries and general craziness with managers. If a pitcher listed below as having a start ends up sitting on the bench in the upcoming week, apologies but this article is meant to provide analysis, it is up to the manager to set the lineups or rotations.

 

Potential Streaming Options for Week 1

There is no promise that each game day will provide a streaming option. First of all, the pitcher must be available in at least 50% of leagues to be a viable candidate to snag off the wire. Plus, some days the matchups and/or venues just do not figure as positive enough factors to favor plugging the arm into your rotation, even for one start. That all being said, here are this week’s best Fantasy Baseball 2026 Streaming Starters candidates for the coming slate of contests:

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Cade Cavalli Washington Nationals @ Chicago Cubs

Drawing the Opening Day start, the 27-year-old righthander had been sidelined with injuries for three years prior to rejoining the National starting staff for 10 starts at the end of the 2025 season. He did rack up 40 Ks over his 48.2 IP last season, and his fastball velocity was up a tad, clocking in at 97 MPH. Be advised, he was significantly more effective dealing from the home mound last season than when he ascended the hill in foreign parks.

Jose Soriano Los Angeles Angels @ Houston Astros

Another 27-year-old being handed the ball to face an opponent in their home park on Opening Day, the Halos’ hard-throwing righty has the added value for those opting to use him in their rotations of being much more of a road warrior SP over the past two seasons than a pitcher that enjoys dealing from the home rubber. His control is suspect, having posted a less-than-endearing 4.15 BB/9 over his 169.0 IP through the 2025 season. He does provide good K numbers, with his 8.1 K/9 ratio.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Luis Severino Sacramento Athletics @ Toronto Blue Jays

Although a day later than the two Opening Day starters profiled immediately above, the Athletics’ veteran SP is making his second consecutive start on Opening Day, and is making this appearance away from the less-than-ideal home park the Athletics are using for the nonce until their new ballpark is completed, which given his home/road splits in 2025 is a positive circumstance. His strikeout rate has been declining over the past several seasons, so do not expect more than below-average K production if you plug him into your rotation for this trip to toe the rubber.

Kyle Freeland Colorado Rockies @ Miami Marlins

It has been difficult to recommend using a Rockie SP over the recent couple of seasons, but at least the veteran southpaw is opening the campaign away from Coors Field, where in a turn of events he struggled more than while pitching on the road, as Freeland had been one of the Colorado hurlers who fared better while on the hill in Denver in prior seasons. He is making his fifth Opening Day appearance for Colorado, a record. Note, also, that his 17 losses in 2015 let the majors, as well, and you are therefore cautioned that although he is available to use for streaming purposes, it is not necessarily anticipated that his results will be extraordinarily noteworthy; he is simply available on most league’s waiver wires.

 

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Michael McGreevy St. Louis Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Rays

Although not an Opening Day starter, the young righty has been having a superb spring which he will hope to carry forward into the regular season: 13.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.13 WHIP with an 11:2 K/BB ratio. He demonstrates good control, but little hope for K production at anything better than below-average rates. Over his 95.2 IP last season, he was significantly better as a road performer than when he was atop the hill in St. Louis, so this road start plays to his strong suit in that facet of his game.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Max Meyer Miami Marlins vs Colorado Rockies

The 27-year-old righthander has demonstrated noteworthy success while on the mound in Grapefruit League action, posting a 0.00 ERA and a 12:1 K/BB ratio. Granted, this is over merely 7.0 IP, but does give hope that his breakout season is at hand. The control he has shown so far in Florida during the preseason has been impressive, going along with his previously demonstrated ability to miss bats. Pitching at home against the visiting Rockies is an additional plus mark on his 2026 opening ledger, potentially.

Dustin May St. Louis Cardinals @ Tampa Bay Rays

The righthander’s 2025 season can best be described as lackluster, with a 4.96 ERA and 1.42 WHIP accumulated over 132.1 IP with the Boston Red Sox, then the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cardinals are hoping that was the outlier and that now healthy, the 28-year-old can bounce back to form and slot into their rotation as a regular SP with average K potential. He has been overall effective if not exciting this spring, allowing just two earned tallies over his 11.2 IP.

Eric Lauer Toronto Blue Jays vs Sacramento Athletics

The veteran southpaw has apparently inherited a rotation spot for Toronto, due to the injuries suffered by Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios. The fact that the Blue Jays open with seven consecutive contests on their schedule also factors into the possibility that Lauer will be seeing time atop the hill to open the season. He served well for his team in 2025, appearing in 28 games and starting 15 of those, while compiling an impressive set of ratio stats: 3.18 ERA and 1.11. The 102:26 K/BB ratio over his 104.2 IP speaks to his ability to handle himself efficiently on the mound. He should be readily available to snatch up off the wire in your league, given his low ownership percentage.

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