This Week’s Fantasy Pitchers & Hitting Picks

Two-Start Pitchers to Target

This week’s rotation pool is notably thin, making the top two options worth scrambling for. The list is one of the weakest seen all season, so fantasy managers should act quickly before the rotation depth improves. Below are the graded two‑start arms based on performance trends and favorable matchups.

• Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, 22% rostered – slated for @ LAA and vs. CIN. He posted a 0.47 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in his final four starts of the first half, but underlying stats (16:7 K:BB, .188 BABIP) suggest luck drove much of that success. The Angels rank in the top five for strikeouts and the Reds sit in the bottom ten for OPS versus righties, giving Leahy a decent weekly window.
• Reynaldo López, Braves, 26% – faces SD then @ BAL. After a 5‑IP, 4‑ER stumble, López still carries a 3.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 15:4 K:BB ratio in four outings since returning to Atlanta. Velocity spikes have sparked his improvement, and the Padres sit 29th in OPS vs. righties, making him the week’s most reliable option.
• Tyler Mahle, Giants, 4% – scheduled for @ KC and vs. LAA. Mahle earned a solid one‑run, seven‑inning win over Colorado, but his season ratios remain poor (5.31 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) with a 4:3 K:BB clip. Both opponents are among the worst in the American League, so Mahle is only a deep‑format play.
• Erick Fedde, White Sox, 4% – slated for @ TEX and vs. HOU. Fedde’s 4.15 ERA looks modest next to a 5.22 FIP, yet his 1.42 WHIP and 60:35 K:BB mark him as below average. He’s 5‑1 with a 2.27 ERA since June, though that run came with a .295 BABIP, indicating limited sustainability.
• Ronel Blanco, Astros, 6% – scheduled for vs. MIA and @ CWS. Blanco returns from Tommy John surgery, bringing a 3.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 8.9 K/9 over 38 starts in 2024‑25. His rehab stint showed a 1.06 ERA and WHIP, but the high‑risk nature of his return warrants caution.
• Janson Junk, Marlins, 5% – slated for @ HOU and vs. SD. Junk posted a one‑earned‑run, five‑inning effort on July 9 with five strikeouts and four walks, his highest single‑start walk total in six years. Despite a second favorable matchup against the Padres, he remains a points‑league speculative.
• Jeffrey Springs, Athletics, 11% – slated for @ ARI and @ MIN. Springs struggles on the road this season (5.19 ERA) and faces a potent Diamondbacks lineup that excels versus lefties, while the Twins have been weak in those matchups. He’s a points‑league filler only.
• Slade Cecconi, Guardians, 8% – slated for vs. MIN and @ TB. Cecconi’s June dominance (1.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) was buoyed by a .232 BABIP, and his 20:9 K:BB ratio isn’t sustainable. July saw eight runs in 8.2 innings, and both the Twins and Rays rank top ten in OPS versus righties, making him a risky pick.

One-Start Streamers to Watch

When the stream‑in pool is shallow, a single high‑percentage arm can dictate lineup changes. Walbert Ureña, currently slated against STL on Tuesday and owned by 29% of Yahoo rosters, stands out as the week’s marquee streamer. His recent performance trends suggest a potential breakout if the Cardinals’ run‑support materializes.

Hitting Matchups to Exploit

The Rays face Toronto’s sputtering rotation for four straight games, creating a clear streaming opportunity. With Dylan Cease’s recent volatility, Cedric Mullins (5% rostered) should occupy cleanup duties, while Chandler Simpson (54%) offers steals in shallow leagues. Richie Palacios (1%) can be added in deep formats for extra offensive depth.

Washington’s offense lines up against the league’s weakest pitching staff, setting up a high‑scoring showdown with Colorado. Fantasy managers should load up on the Nationals’ core: Curtis Mead (46%), Dylan Crews (31%), Nasim Nuñez (25%) and Keibert Ruiz (9%) for maximum point production over the next few days.

These hitting streams combine elite offensive conditions with realistic roster percentages, giving you a balanced play‑book for the week’s fantasy slate.