Welcome to my first weekly in-season fantasy baseball article covering advanced stats and upcoming matchups for hitters, including potential waiver wire pickups. When considering upcoming lineup decisions, we’ll want to consider hitter skills, opposing pitcher matchups and the hitting environment.

One way to quantify opposing pitcher matchups involves examining several advanced stats. 

When combining several advanced stats from the 2025 season, we weighted different metrics to create an adjusted score. Keep in mind that we’re still in the trial phase because we might be able to simplify to K-BB% or another advanced metric to identify tough or favorable upcoming matchups down the line. The lower the adjusted score indicates the hitting matchup should be more favorable against those team pitchers.

The five worst team pitchers were the Rockies, Nationals, Angels, White Sox and Cardinals in 2025, as seen below:

On the flip side, the toughest opposing pitchers to face were on the Astros, Padres, Rays, Brewers and Dodgers. Most of those teams had strong advanced metrics (a medium to darker red — see chart below), besides the Phillies and their batting average on balls in play (BABIP) in 2025. The Astros face the Red Sox (3) and Athletics (3) this week. The Padres match up against the Giants (3) and Red Sox (3). Tampa Bay continues its road tour to play three at the Brewers and three against the Twins.

Besides the Brewers facing the Rays, they face the Royals for three. Meanwhile, the Dodgers face the Guardians (3) and Nationals (3).

Some pitchers have changed teams (Dylan Cease), with a few being injured like Blake Snell and Ryan Pepiot, so the 2025 data may be slightly skewed:

With that out of the way, let’s start off with a few hitter matchups to monitor this week. Additionally, we’ll highlight a few hitters to consider adding off the waiver wire based on their matchups, skills and playing time. 

Three Hitter Matchups to Monitor

Kerry Carpenter (65% rostered) vs. ARI (3) and STL (3)

The lefty masher for the Tigers projects to face all right-handed starting pitchers in Week 2. Kerry Carpenter has been batting leadoff for the Tigers to begin the 2026 season. The Tigers’ hitters face the Diamondbacks’ (No. 25 matchup-adjusted score) and Cardinals’ pitchers (No. 26). That suggests Tigers’ hitters should feast against most of their opposing pitcher matchups.

Most of the Diamondbacks and Cardinals pitchers don’t tend to elicit tons of whiffs, which should bode well for Carpenter. He has a 75% career contact rate, near the league average. However, Carpenter does damage with a career 12.4% barrel rate. Carpenter has hit 90% of his home runs against right-handed pitchers with a 136 wRC+ throughout his career. He should take advantage of these weaker matchups in Week 2. 

Diamondbacks (3 vs. DET, 4 vs. ATL) Playing 7 Games, and Braves (3 vs. ATH, 4 at ARI) Playing 7 Games

The Diamondbacks project to face five out of seven right-handed pitchers in Week 2, potentially favorable for Pavin Smith (0%) and Alek Thomas (1%) as strong-side platoon options. Smith had elbow soreness and missed Opening Day, but played in the second game of the season. Historically, Smith has strong plate discipline with high contact rates (79.6% in career), but that fell to 70.9% in 2025. Nonetheless, Smith still remains an on-base monster with a career 11% walk rate and .360 OBP in 2025.   

Most of the Braves’ lineup is steady. We don’t have a large enough sample to consider Mike Yastrzemski (4%) or Dominic Smith (0%) to stream them against right-handed pitchers. The Braves hitters project to face five out of seven right-handed pitchers in Week 2. There’s a chance Smith loses playing time (if he had it at all) as a strong-side platoon if the Braves give Drake Baldwin days off to play DH. But still, Smith and Yastrzemski could be deep-league options to stream in Week 2. 

Mets (3 at STL, 4 at SF) Playing 7 Games, and Giants (3 at SD, 4 vs. NYM) Playing 7 Games 

Mets hitters project to face six out of seven right-handed pitchers in Week 2, including some volatile options later in the week like Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser and Landon Roupp. Earlier in the week, the Mets take on the Cardinals — who have one of the worst starting rotations — and will face Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore. 

The Cardinals pitch to contact, ranking second in contact rate. Meanwhile, the Mets will likely avoid Logan Webb, yet Giants’ pitchers are allowing the 13th-highest contact rate in 2025. That said, Mets’ hitters who could benefit include Brett Baty (13%) and Carson Benge (39%), who project as strong-side platoon options. Baty showed better bat speed (74.9 mph) and a high-end fast swing rate (63.6%), aligning with a career-high barrel rate (12.8%). We could see Baty hit a couple of home runs in Week 2.

Benge already teased us with one barrel, one home run and a stolen base on Opening Day. In the minors in 2025, Benge boasted a 92.1 mph average exit velocity and 10.7% barrel per plate appearance rate. Benge hit the ball hard while making contact (80.9%) at an above-average rate. 

Benge has been one of the top adds in Yahoo leagues after his Opening Day performance. Add and stream him in medium and deep formats, but he may earn more relevance in shallower leagues. 

Currently, the Giants don’t have any projected platoons and they used the same lineup for most of the first week. There’s deep-league appeal for Jung Hoo Lee (16%), Harrison Bader (5%) and Casey Schmitt (1%), especially considering the early week matchups against Germán Márquez, Walker Buehler and Nick Pivetta. Márquez had buzzy Spring Training data with a 21.6% K-BB%, but there’s still some volatility in the profile. Maybe there will be more exciting options on the Giants besides the top half of their lineup, but volume should be favorable for them in Week 2. Schmitt could be a deep-league addition for volume.

Hitter Waiver Wire Pickups

Caleb Durbin, 2B/3B, BOS (33% rostered)

Theoretically, Caleb Durbin faces two of the most challenging pitcher matchups based on the 2025 data, but the Padres (Dylan Cease) and Astros (Framber Valdez) lost two significant pieces of their rotations. That’s who the Red Sox will face in Week 2 (3 at HOU, 3 vs. SD). Strong plate discipline from Durbin with a career 88.2% contact rate gives him a high floor, though power remains a major question mark (4% barrel rate, 67.9 mph bat speed).

Durbin might be more of a compiler who projects for double-digit home runs and potentially 20 stolen bases. He lacks the upside to be a weekly winner in shallower formats, but is set to make an impact this week. 

Nolan Schanuel, 1B, LAA (21%)

One of my bold predictions involved Nolan Schanuel hitting 20 home runs. That might not seem like a high amount, but Schanuel hasn’t hit more than 15 since his final collegiate season in 2023 with 19 at Florida Atlantic University. We saw Schanuel show a slight increase in bat speed from 65.2 mph in 2024 to 67.5 mph in 2025. On pulled batted balls, Schanuel had a 68.9 mph bat speed and 6.8% barrel per plate appearance rate in 2025, with a notable jump in pulled bat speed from 2024 (66.8 mph).

We could see Schanuel pull the ball more and take a slight step forward in bat speed. However, it’s worth highlighting that Schanuel faces two of the tougher pitching matchups against the Cubs (3 at CHC) and Mariners (3 vs. SEA) in Week 2. Both the Cubs (No. 12) and Mariners (No. 8) ranked in the top 12 in team pitcher-adjusted score. Still, it’s hard to ignore Schanuel, who hits toward the top of the Angels lineup every day, especially at a top-heavy first base position. 

Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B/SS, CHW (14%)

The White Sox face the Marlins (3 at MIA) and Blue Jays (3 vs. TOR) in Week 2. That includes Chris Paddack, Janson Junk and Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins, none of whom currently scare us as fantasy managers. The Blue Jays project to have Cease, Eric Lauer and Cody Ponce later in the week against White Sox hitters, so it might be a mixed bag, especially if Ponce surpasses the sleeper hype. 

Chase Meidroth has been a plate discipline machine (88.4% contact rate) in 2025 and throughout the minor leagues. Meidroth had a brutal 1.6% barrel rate and 67.4 mph bat speed in 2025. If we’re investing in a hitter that plays in one of the worst lineups, they should be toward the top, with Meidroth serving as the leadoff hitter. Target Meidroth for batting average with the additional chances for runs and stolen bases. 

Dominic Canzone, OF, SEA (16%)

Dominic Canzone was one of a few hitters who hit two home runs on Opening Day. The Mariners faced the Guardians, who projected to have three out of four starting pitchers throwing from the right side, making Canzone a strong-side platoon option. They will face the Yankees (3 vs. NYY) and Angels (3 at LAA) in Week 2, including three lefties in six games.

We might see Canzone be one of the top waiver-wire additions turn into one of the most dropped players after Week 2 if the hot start doesn’t continue.

Canzone pulled the ball more (40.1%) in 2025 compared to 2024 (35%). That coincided with improved barrel rates (14.5% vs. 11.1%) and bat speed (74.5 mph vs. 73.1 mph) over the past two seasons. For context, Canzone’s pulled bat speed increased to 74.5 mph (2025) compared to 72.8 mph (2024) with the barrel rate jumping to 17.2% (2025) from 12.1% (2024). He remains a fan favorite and a consistent strong-side platoon option toward the bottom third of the Mariners’ lineup. As such, Canzone might be more of a long-term addition instead of a strong Week 2 option.

Deep Leagues: Brady House, 3B, WSH (6%)

As a former Nationals’ first-round pick, Brady House spent four seasons in the minors before logging 274 major league plate appearances in 2025. House projects to play every day as the Nationals’ third baseman, but they face the Phillies (3 at PHI) and Dodgers (3 vs. LAD), meaning he potentially faces two of the better starting rotations. Still, House may find success against Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter and Roki Sasaki, the latter of whom we have concerns about heading into the 2026 season based on skills and track record.

Unfortunately, House struggles with plate discipline, evidenced by a 71.3% contact rate in 2025, similar to his minor league sample (72-73%). House’s launch angle can be an issue with a 47.3% groundball rate, negatively impacting his 4.3% barrel rate. That aligned with House’s mediocre 93.7 mph average exit velocity on flyballs and line drives (FB/LD), ranking 162nd out of 327 qualified hitters (150 batted ball events). 

The projections show House having a season-long line similar to Jake Cronenworth without the positional flexibility to provide a reasonable expectation in 2026. Unless House shows significant gains in power, he might be a noisy hitter streamer to add, though every day playing in deeper leagues can be valuable.

The Los Angeles Lakers won’t have Luka Doncic when they face the Washington Wizards on Monday. Doncic will serve a one-game suspension after he picked up his 16th technical foul of the season. The Lakers are closing in on the Pacific Division title while the Wizards are headed for the NBA Draft lottery. The Lakers are heavily favored with a -15.5 spread and a -1400 moneyline, indicating an 89.4% implied probability of winning.

How to watch Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Date: Monday, March 30

• Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles

• TV Channel: SN-LA, MNMT

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team Records

• Washington Wizards: 17-57 (No. 5 in Southeast Division)

• Los Angeles Lakers: 48-26 (No. 1 in Pacific Division)

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -15.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers -1400 / Washington Wizards +800

• Over/Under: 235.5

The New York Mets (2-1), tied for second in the NL East, face the St. Louis Cardinals (2-1), also tied for second in the NL Central. The Mets are favored with a moneyline of -155, giving them a 57.8% implied win probability. Clay Holmes starts for the Mets, while Kyle Leahy takes the mound for the Cardinals.

How to Watch New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals

• Date: Monday, March 30

• Time: 7:45 PM ET / 4:45 PM PT

• Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

• TV Channel: SNY, Cardinals.TV

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team Records

• New York Mets: 2-1 (#3 in NL East)

• St. Louis Cardinals: 2-1 (#3 in NL Central)

Odds (via BetMGM)

• Spread: St. Louis Cardinals -1.5

• Moneyline: St. Louis Cardinals +125 / New York Mets -155

• Over/Under: 9.0

Starting Pitchers

• New York Mets: Clay Holmes (2025 stats: 12-8, ERA: 3.53, K: 129, WHIP: 1.30, BB: 66)

• St. Louis Cardinals: Kyle Leahy (2025 stats: 4-2, ERA: 3.07, K: 80, WHIP: 1.23, BB: 28)

Weather: 83°F at first pitch

As P!NK said back in the day, “let’s get this party started.” It’s time to buckle in for 26 weeks of two-start pitchers, where the sum total of countless decisions will determine the eventual winner of many fantasy baseball leagues.

Early in the season, the true talent of the pitcher should weigh heavily in these decisions. After all, although we think that we know which offenses we want to target and avoid, we can’t be sure of how each team is going to fare. With most rotations at full health as we start the season, the two-start options are better than usual, which means that managers should stream their hearts out. But wise managers will set expectations at five quality innings, as many pitchers aren’t fully stretched out.

Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season

Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference)

Cody Ponce, Blue Jays, 51% (vs. COL, @ CWS): The Blue Jays have set up Ponce to have a successful return to the majors, as his initial two opponents ranked 29th and 27th respectively in runs scored last season. The right-hander had a successful spring (12:4 K:BB ratio, 0.66 ERA) and is a fine streamer in shallow leagues, while we watch his early results to determine his long-term usefulness.

Ryan Weathers, Yankees, 28% (@ SEA, vs. MIA): Based on Weathers’ past (career 4.93 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), there isn’t much reason to pick him up. But the left-hander showed a vastly improved arsenal during spring training, which could be the result of joining a new coaching staff in a winning organization. His matchups are favorable, as his first start will come at a pitcher-friendly park and his second opponent has a poor lineup. This is the time of year to take chances on pitchers like Weathers, who may take a massive leap.

Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates, 50% (@ CIN, vs. BAL): A popular sleeper during draft season, Ashcraft will try to deliver on the expectations he created when he posted a 2.71 ERA (2.86 FIP) during 69.2 innings as a rookie in 2025. His groundball lean makes him well-suited to thrive at Great American Ball Park, which is a venue that accentuates home runs more than overall scoring. And although Baltimore has a strong lineup, at least the second start will take place at his pitcher-friendly home park in Pittsburgh.

Clay Holmes, Mets, 40% (@ STL, @ SF): Already an expert at inducing ground balls, Holmes showed some improvements to his arsenal during spring training. His past results and a pair of advantageous matchups give the right-hander a high floor, which makes him rosterable while we evaluate his new ceiling.

Kyle Harrison, Brewers, 23% (vs. TB, @ KC): Harrison was completely off the radar at the start of spring training before the combination of his success (20:4 K:BB ratio) and injuries to other starters allowed him to crack the rotation on a club that is known for having success with pitchers. His matchups are identical to that of Twins SP Mick Abel, and they are both boom-or-bust options in 12-team leagues.

Chris Bassitt, Orioles, 36% (vs. TEX, @ PIT): The definition of an innings eater, Bassitt joined the Orioles after posting mediocre ratios (3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) with the Blue Jays last year. The fact that he has made 30 starts in four straight seasons does more to excite MLB front offices than fantasy managers. Still, matchups against the teams that finished 22nd and 30th in runs scored last year give him enough appeal to crack the lineup in 15-team leagues.

Simeon Woods Richardson, Twins, 1% (@ KC, vs. TB): Woods Richardson showed notable improvement late in 2025, when he produced a 2.33 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB ratio in five September starts. The late-season surge, combined with reasonable matchups, are enough reason to give the right-hander a chance in 12-team leagues.

Jacob Lopez, Athletics, 8% (@ ATL, vs. HOU): Lopez was a boom-or bust option last year, striking out at least eight batters in eight of his 22 outings but also allowing but enduring some disastrous outings that sunk his fantasy teams. His matchups this week are challenging, which pushes him down this list.

Parker Messick, Guardians, 22% (@ LAD, vs. CHC): I have been vocal that I love Messick’s skill set and am excited about his long-term future now that he has secured a spot in the rotation. I had hoped to put him atop this list but was stopped in my tracks when I saw that his opening start comes at a homer-happy venue against arguably the best lineup in baseball — the Dodgers. Messick’s second matchup is also against a 2025 postseason team, making him a boom-or-bust option this week.

Jack Leiter, Rangers, 43% (@ BAL, vs. CIN): Leiter was solid, but not spectacular (3.86 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) during his first full season in the majors. As he tries to take a step forward in Year 2, his schedule opens with matchups against a pair of quality lineups. I have a hunch that I will recommend Leiter a few times this year, but for now I would rather grab one of the spring training success stories, such as Abel or Harrison.

Justin Verlander, Tigers, 14% (@ ARI, vs. STL): Although the return of Verlander to Detroit is one of baseball’s best stories, fantasy managers will need to see that he is better than the veteran who posted a WHIP above 1.35 in each of the past two seasons. His opening matchups are reasonable enough to get Verlander into the lineup in 15-team leagues, but that’s as far as it goes for now.

Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, 1% (vs. NYM, @ DET): Leahy showed enough potential out of the bullpen last year (3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) that the rebuilding Cardinals are willing to give him a look as a starter while some younger players work on their craft in Triple-A. For now, he should remain on the bench or waiver wire in mixed leagues, especially when he has a pair of matchups against strong teams.

One-Start Streamers

In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in brackets.

• Max Scherzer vs. COL (Tuesday, 14%)

• Eric Lauer @ CWS (Saturday, 24%)

• Andrew Painter vs. WSH (Tuesday, 30%)

• Shane Smith @ MIA (Wednesday, 24%)

• Tyler Mahle vs. NYM (Friday, 9%)

• Chad Patrick @ KC (Friday, 19%)

• Matthew Liberatore vs. NYM (Wednesday, 23%)

• Grant Holmes @ ARI (Friday, 22%)

• Michael Wacha vs. MIL (Friday, 29%)

• Mike Burrows vs. BOS (Wednesday, 39%)

• Slade Cecconi vs. CHC (Saturday, 7%)

• Joey Cantillo vs. CHC (Friday, 25%)

• Luis Severino @ ATL (Wednesday, 17%)

• Brandon Sproat @ KC (Saturday, 29%)

Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups

Toronto Blue Jays (vs. COL, @ CWS): There is no doubt that Toronto has the best matchups for the first half of the week, as they will play three games against the hapless Rockies and one contest against a White Sox team that isn’t much better. Nathan Lukes (1%) is the top man to add, as he should start the three contests against righties. Andrés Giménez (23%) is off to a hot start and can be considered by those who need steals, while Alejandro Kirk (49%) is a reasonable option at catcher.

Atlanta Braves (vs. ATH, @ ARI): Atlanta will spend three games facing an Athletics staff that added very little after finishing 27th in ERA last year before opening a series with an Arizona team that lacks reliable relief options. Six Atlanta hitters are rostered in at over 90% of leagues, but those in deep formats should consider Mike Yastrzemski (4%) for the three games against right-handed starters.

It took only a few days, but Major League Baseball has its first ABS system-related ejection.

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was thrown out of their 8-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon after he erupted over an automated ball-strike system challenge that was made in the final inning of the contest at Camden Yards.

Twins first baseman Josh Bell initially drew a walk, which would have made him the game-tying run with just one out in the ninth inning of the contest. But Orioles closer Ryan Helsley called for the challenge, which quickly determined that his last pitch was in fact a strike, though just barely.

So just like that, as it was already a full count, Bell was instead called out. 

But Shelton erupted after the challenge was allowed to go through, and he came out screaming at the umpires. That led to a pretty quick ejection.

“I don’t think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough,” Shelton said, via The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Meyer. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But I didn’t feel he did. I feel it’s gotta be something that’s [within] three seconds, and I didn’t think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was.”

MLB rules state that challenges need to be made “immediately” by either the batter, pitcher or catcher, and the challenge is made by tapping the player’s hat or helmet. Umpires can decline a challenge if it is “not requested in a timely manner” or if umpires determine “that the player’s decision to challenge was aided” by anyone else.

Helsley thought he got his challenge off in time, but did think that home plate umpire Laz Diaz missed him initially. 

“I understood where [Shelton] was coming from, because I felt like the umpire didn’t see me right away and so I was kind of confused,” he said, via The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich. “Laz behind me kind of took up for him. He was like, ‘He did it right away,’ which I know we’re probably going to go through some growing pains since it’s so new and I think we saw that today. 

“And I can respect Shelton for trying to not get him to do it there, because it did seem like it was a little long in the moment.”

Shelton is in his first season with the Twins this spring. He was hired to replace Rocco Baldelli in October after a six-year run as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ manager. The loss on Sunday dropped the Twins to 1-2 on the season. They’ll open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals next on Monday.

While Shelton was the first to be thrown out of a game due to an ABS challenge, he surely won’t be the last — especially as the league gets used to the new system and how to define what constitutes an “immediate” challenge.