It’s that time of year again. The 2025 MLB regular season kicks off domestically on March 27, meaning fantasy baseball is back in full swing. However, for those who are dealing with injuries or looking to make a move, it means finalizing a plan for Week 1. Here’s a look at five pitchers trending up on the waiver wire heading into the first week of 2025.
Best Week 1 pitchers to target
- RP Tyler Holton (Tigers)
- RP Luke Jackson (Rangers)
- SP Jesus Luzardo (Phillies)
- SP Cade Povich (Orioles)
- SP AJ Smith-Shawver (Braves)
This is the weird part of the year. The regular season is just beginning, many fantasy players have just drafted their squads, and one shouldn’t overreact to anything. However, those with holes in their pitching staffs — especially ones with IL players — might want to look into some of these names.
The other thing, at least for leagues that set weekly lineups, is that virtually all pitchers will likely go around twice during Week 1. At least, for leagues that’ll count the first 10 days as one long week. So, the game of trying to find pitchers who will start twice won’t be as relevant.
Out of the five listed above, Jesus Luzardo is easily the most tempting. Yes, Luzardo gave up 13 home runs, including five home runs, in the spring. Yes, that’s concerning. On the other hand. Luzardo also struck out 16 over 12.1 IP and one would like to think the move to cold weather will, for now, alleviate some concerns about the long ball.
Luzardo will get the Nationals this weekend, which will be somewhat of a friendly matchup.
As for other starting pitchers, look for Cade Povich and AJ Smith-Shawver.
Povich is a deeper play, given he’s only owned in roughly 2% of Yahoo! leagues. However, as noted back in March, I like Povich’s fantasy potential in 2025. The left-hander has a sharp four-seamer with carry, coupled with a hook for a curveball and other decent secondary offerings. He was a strikeout machine in the Minors who struggled early in his MLB career. But, rounded nicely into form in September and this spring.
He’ll have to pitch well to keep his rotation spot, especially with Kyle Gibson looming around. Gibson signed a one-year deal with the O’s in March.
Smith-Shawver, meanwhile, will not face the Dodgers early next week. Instead, the righty gets the final game of the Braves’ series against the Padres, giving Smith-Shawver another crack at San Diego after struggling against them in the NL Wild Card series. The 22-year-old struck out 20 over 16 innings and has mixed-league viability with Atlanta.
Now, for the relievers.
It’s the third straight season where the Tigers will open up with a different closer. In 2023, Alex Lange officially took over the role. But one year later, Jason Foley got the save chance and never ceded the closer role from that point onward. However, Foley did have his problems at points and after a tough spring, was demoted on March 25.
As to who will take over for Foley, it’s very much an unknown until a save chance arises. The Tigers have plenty of depth in their bullpen, as Tommy Kahnle, Beau Brieske, and Will Vest may be in the conversation. Kahnle, who signed with the Tigers this past winter, had the best spring, as the other two posted ERAs north of 5.00.
Then, there’s Tyler Holton. A.J. Hinch used Holton in a lot of different ways last season, between high-leverage, middle of the game, or as an opener. But given the Tigers have a full rotation to begin 2025, opening games may not be in Holton’s immediate future.
Lastly, Luke Jackson. Jackson picked up the save for the Rangers during their exhibition game on March 24. Texas’ ninth-inning situation has been an ongoing storyline this spring. The Rangers didn’t sign an established closer this past winter after losing Kirby Yates. Instead, Texas added several arms, including Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, and the aforementioned Jackson.
Jackson has some closing experience, as he grabbed 18 saves at Atlanta’s primary closer in 2019.
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Note: To be eligible for this list, a player must be available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues.