Week 20 of 2025 brings a well-defined waiver wire chorus for fantasy baseball rosters. Michael Wacha leads the shallow-league pool in Royals country, offering steady five-inning starts and a reliable path to wins without unsettling strikeout tallies. Cade Horton has seized his Cubs window with four straight quality frames and strong walk control, while Spencer Arrighetti anchors the Astros’ post-IL recovery, supported by a favorable xERA trend. Logan Henderson’s Brewers return and Nick Martinez’s bullpen-to-rotation versatility add depth, with Luis Severino re-emerging for the Athletics and providing a usable floor in multiple formats.

On the middle-to-deeper end, Slade Cecconi’s consistent, low-walk, five-innings-propensity profile makes him a smart pickup; Emmet Sheehan leverages a Dodgers rotation seat with improved miss rates; Jacob Lopez shows late-season swing-and-miss upside for the Athletics; and Justin Verlander, quietly, has posted a sub-1.00 WHIP over recent series and lands Washington and Tampa Bay in Week 20. Shane Smith’s White Sox continue to offer a usable floor, while Cristian Javier anchors the “other” bucket with solid strike-zone management.

Further down, Carson Whisenhunt, Cade Cavalli, Carlos Carrasco, and Hurston Waldrep are highlighted as longer-shot but intriguing targets in deeper leagues. Overall, active rosters should chase upside in Arrighetti, Horton, Sheehan, and Verlander while rotating in Wacha, Cecconi, and Severino for weekly streamability.

On a rainy Friday in Chicago, the Cleveland Guardians face the struggling White Sox in the first game of a day/night doubleheader. The Guardians, currently at 43-48, are coming off a sweep of the Houston Astros, hoping to maintain their momentum after a ten-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the White Sox sit at 31-62 and have lost three of their last four games. Logan Allen will take the mound for Cleveland, while Shane Smith starts for Chicago.

In terms of betting, the Guardians are favored at -128 on the moneyline, with a spread of -1.5 runs. The total is set at 8.0 runs, reflecting a cautious expectation for scoring. Cleveland has fared well against Chicago, winning nine of their last ten encounters. Recent trends suggest the OVER has hit only once in the last six meetings between these two teams, making the under a potential consideration for cautious bettors.

The Chicago White Sox (28-56) face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers (53-32) in a series opener at Dodger Stadium. Shane Smith is set to pitch for the White Sox, while the Dodgers counter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers return home after a strong six-game road trip, winning five of six games against the Rockies and Royals, and are well positioned at the top of the National League West.

In contrast, the White Sox are coming off a mixed homestand, where they lost two of three to the Diamondbacks but managed to take two of three against the Giants. They ended their homestand on a positive note with a victory against the Giants.

The game promises to be exciting with the Dodgers favored significantly in the betting odds. The latest lines show the White Sox at +261 and the Dodgers at -329, with a game total set at 8.0 runs. Recent trends indicate the Dodgers have won 13 of their last 20 home games, while the White Sox have benefited from a strong road performance lately.

Week 12 of the 2025 MLB season presents an opportunity for fantasy baseball managers to enhance their pitching rosters through key waiver wire targets. Among the prime candidates are veterans and emerging talents alike, rostered in under 50% of Yahoo! leagues.

Clayton Kershaw, at 38 years old, is regaining form with a recent win over the Cardinals, boasting seven strikeouts. Meanwhile, Mick Abel, stepping in for the injured Aaron Nola, has been impressive with a 2.35 ERA in his first three starts. Other noteworthy options include Shane Smith from the White Sox, Max Scherzer with Toronto, and rookie Cade Horton from the Cubs, all showing potential for impactful performances.

For deeper leagues, Edward Cabrera of the Marlins remains a trade candidate despite a recent setback, while Adrian Houser has impressed with increased velocity this season. Charlie Morton is making a case for streaming with a high strikeout rate, and Colton Gordon is quietly becoming a reliable asset for those in search of depth.

As fantasy baseball gears up for Week 9, savvy managers are scouring the waiver wire for emerging starting pitcher talent. Will Warren of the New York Yankees has gained traction, boasting impressive strikeout numbers and a solid ERA. Cleveland's Gavin Williams is another promising option, demonstrating recent growth in strikeouts with a revamped pitch mix. Jeffrey Springs of the Athletics offers reliability though with fewer strikeouts, while Mitch Keller from Pittsburgh has shown consistency on the mound. In deeper leagues, players like Shane Smith, Ryan Weathers, and Noah Cameron are worth considering for their strong starts and potential in the rotation.