As the fantasy baseball calendar pushes into the critical stretch of September, the margin for error has vanished. For managers fighting for playoff positioning or battling in the final weeks of head-to-head matchups, the waiver wire represents the final frontier for roster reinforcement. In Week 25—the period spanning September 7 through September 13—the need for high-upside streaming options has reached a fever pitch.
CBS Sports fantasy expert Scott White has identified 10 strategic streaming targets for the upcoming scoring period. With the primary constraint that each pitcher must be rostered in 80% or fewer of CBS Sports leagues, these recommendations offer a blend of high-ceiling prospects and veteran stability designed to help managers bridge the gap in counting stats like strikeouts and wins.
The Art and Science of the September Stream
Streaming starting pitchers is an inherently high-variance strategy. It requires a delicate balance of evaluating matchups, monitoring pitch counts, and acknowledging the volatility of late-season bullpen usage. While top-tier aces are locked into starting rotations, the back-end of a fantasy roster in September is often fluid, subject to the whims of managerial decisions and injury reports.
For the fantasy manager, the goal is simple: maximize "quality starts" or high-strikeout performances without blowing up the team’s collective Earned Run Average (ERA) or WHIP. As Scott White notes, while the top selections on his list—led by Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter—warrant full-throated endorsements, the remainder of the list serves as a tactical exercise in risk mitigation.
Spotlight on the Leaders: Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter
Leading the charge for Week 25 are Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter, two arms that have captured the attention of savvy fantasy managers.
Jacob Lopez: The Rising Floor
Lopez has emerged as a reliable commodity in recent weeks. His ability to limit base runners and maintain a competitive strikeout rate makes him the primary target for managers needing immediate production. In a landscape where many streaming options are "one-and-done" gambles, Lopez provides a level of predictability that is rare for a sub-80% rostered player.
Andrew Painter: The High-Upside Prospect
Painter represents the archetype of the high-ceiling prospect. Having navigated the developmental hurdles of the minor leagues, his transition to the major league rotation has been met with excitement. For managers chasing strikeouts, Painter offers the raw "stuff" necessary to swing a matchup. However, the risk with younger pitchers in September often involves innings limits or "shut-down" scenarios, necessitating constant monitoring of team announcements.
The Strategy of the Scoring Period: Sept 7–13
The upcoming week presents a unique scheduling landscape. As teams look toward the postseason, rotation adjustments are frequent. Managers must prioritize pitchers who are confirmed for two-start weeks or those facing bottom-tier offenses.
Identifying the Matchups
The criteria for success in Week 25 aren’t just about the pitcher’s talent; it is about the environment. A pitcher with mediocre metrics can become an elite play when facing an offense with a high strikeout rate or one that struggles against a particular pitch mix. Scott White’s recommendations take into account the "strength of schedule," filtering for arms that have the highest probability of avoiding "blow-up" games.
Roster Management Constraints
The 80% roster threshold is a crucial metric in the fantasy industry. It ensures that these players are attainable for a broad swath of the fantasy population. When a player is rostered in 95% of leagues, they are essentially locked assets; at 80%, they represent the "best of the rest"—players who may have been dropped due to a single bad outing or a previous injury scare, but who possess the underlying metrics to justify a roster spot.
Chronology: How We Arrived at Week 25
The 2026 season has been defined by a heightened reliance on pitching depth. Early-season injuries to marquee starters forced managers to lean into the waiver wire earlier than in previous years.
- April–May: The "Draft-and-Forget" era. Most managers held onto their initial rotation picks, hoping for a return to form.
- June–July: The "Churn" period. As ERA spikes became common, the streaming market became a weekly ritual.
- August: The "Prospect Wave." Teams called up their top minor league arms, changing the landscape of the waiver wire entirely.
- September: The "Crunch Time." With the fantasy playoffs arriving, the focus shifts to schedule optimization and maximizing total volume.
This week’s recommendations reflect the culmination of these trends. Managers are no longer looking for long-term projects; they are looking for immediate returns.
Supporting Data: The Case for Targeted Streaming
When evaluating potential streamers, managers should look beyond the basic ERA/WHIP. Advanced metrics like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and SIERA (Skill-Interactive ERA) provide a clearer picture of whether a pitcher’s recent success is sustainable.
For instance, a pitcher with a high K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) and a low walk rate is generally a safer bet than one who relies on defensive positioning and batted-ball luck. White’s selections for Week 25 prioritize those with strong K-BB ratios, indicating that the pitcher maintains control over their own destiny, regardless of the quality of their team’s defense.
Official Responses and Managerial Context
The climate of MLB rotations in September is dictated by more than just player performance. "Official responses" often come in the form of injury updates or declarations regarding workload management.
Teams currently on the bubble for playoff contention are less likely to pull a starting pitcher early, even if they are struggling, to save their bullpen. Conversely, teams that are mathematically eliminated may experiment with "opener" strategies or shortened outings for younger pitchers. Fantasy managers must be diligent, cross-referencing White’s recommendations with daily lineup news and beat reporter updates to ensure their chosen streamer is actually slated for a full start.
Implications for Your Fantasy Team
The implications of a successful streaming strategy in Week 25 cannot be overstated. A single dominant performance from a waiver-wire pickup can be the difference between advancing to the championship round and ending the season in the consolation bracket.
Building for the Finals
If you successfully navigate Week 25, the strategy for the final weeks remains consistent: prioritize volume and high-strikeout potential. Do not fall in love with your streamers. The beauty of the waiver wire is its disposability. If a pitcher fails to deliver on a Tuesday, they should be back on the wire by Wednesday to make room for a fresh arm with a better matchup for the weekend series.
Managing the Waiver Budget
For leagues that use FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget), this is the time to spend. Hoarding budget for the end of the season serves no purpose if you are eliminated before you can use it. If an arm like Painter or Lopez is available, do not hesitate to allocate significant funds to secure them.
Conclusion
Streaming is a game of calculated risk. It requires the courage to trust your research and the flexibility to pivot when the circumstances change. Scott White’s 10-player list serves as an invaluable roadmap for the final stretch of the 2026 season. By focusing on players like Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter, and by carefully evaluating the matchups for the remainder of the list, fantasy managers can gain the upper hand.
As we move through Week 25, remember that your roster is a living, breathing entity. Stay active, stay informed, and do not be afraid to make the tough decisions required to bring home a championship trophy. The waiver wire is not just a place to find replacements; it is where leagues are won.
