We’re only into Week 3 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, but injuries have already wreaked havoc. Justin Steele, Pablo Lopez, and Spencer Arrighetti are just some of the pitchers who went on the IL this past week. This means many fantasy players likely have holes to fill. Here’s a look at fantasy baseball pitchers to consider targeting heading into Week 3.

Best Week 3 pitchers to target

• SP Max Meyer (Marlins)
• SP Andre Pallante (Cardinals)
• SP Eduardo Rodriguez (Diamondbacks)
• SP Jose Soriano (Angels)
• SP Brandon Woodruff (Brewers)

I’ll start by going over Week 2’s list briefly. Kris Bubic, after another strong out on April 11, is gone in roughly 75% of Yahoo! leagues. He was a nice find for those who snatched him up. Matthew Boyd pitched very well for five innings against the Dodgers, while Chris Bassitt struck out five over 5.2 IP on a cold, rainy day in Boston on April 10.

All in all, a solid week for those who listened. Now, back to Week 3.

Brandon Woodruff, highlighted in our first-half IL stash list, has been cleared for a rehab assignment. He’ll likely need the full 30 days allotted for rehabbing pitchers but for those who have the space, get him.

Next up is Max Meyer, an interesting name for the Marlins. Meyer’s a former first-round pick with a wicked slider, a pitch that sits in the high-80s to low-90s with above-average downward drop (see below). It’s a hook against right-handed hitters but also a pretty decent offering against lefties, as well.

Opposing hitters are hitting .097 off it with a 44.2% Whiff% rate thus far.

Meyer has been increasing the usage of his two-seamer, up from 1.9% (2024) to 13.9% (2025). Which, gives Meyer a weapon to run in on righties but also could lead to fewer strikeouts and more sawed-off contact. But, he’s a more complete pitcher.

Andre Pallante is next up. Pallante is inducing ground balls at a rapid pace of 69.6% this season, limiting barreled-up contact to the tune of a 2.20 ERA.

Pallante’s four-seamer is one of the most interesting ones in baseball: it’s more of a cutter that breaks in on opposing hitters, coming from an over-the-top, yet deceptive delivery. And, he gets downward action on both his slider and curve.

He’s not a strikeout pitcher whatsoever. But, Pallante deserves more than the 4% action he’s getting in Yahoo! leagues.

It’s too early to play the spot-start stream play (in most cases) — but Eduardo Rodriguez is too tempting. Rodriguez is scheduled to face the Marlins this coming week, giving him a chance to build off his early success thus far.

Rodriguez has been a fairly reliable strikeout pitcher, as he posted 20 over his first 16.2 IP. His signature cutter has been getting hit when left in the zone (.571 AVG). But, the four-seamer and changeup both have 20+% Whiff% rates and sub-.200 batting averages.

The Diamondbacks lefty, right now, looks more like a permanent option than just a spot starter.

Lastly, it’s time to have that talk about Jose Soriano. There was a lot to like about Jose Soriano heading into 2025. He posted a 3.42 ERA last season, he gets chases, and he throws hard. However, Soriano struck out just 97 over 113 innings, as he leans heavily on a true sinker.

This season, his WHIP is 1.00 after three starts and Soriano struck out 18 over 20 frames, en route to a 2.70 ERA.

Soriano’s had a good arsenal and he’s made some tweaks, including throwing his very good slider, in 2025. While it’s hard to call Soriano an elite option, he needs to be considered in mixed leagues.

Check out more of our fantasy coverage.