Need some advice on which pitcher to target for Saturday’s fantasy baseball slate? Whether you need a waiver pickup or you’re playing a DFS contest, here are three pitchers who could make or break your lineups as viable streaming alternatives for Saturday.
Is Aaron Nola a Viable Fantasy Streamer Against the Rangers?
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola had a woeful season in 2025, as injuries limited him to just 17 regular-season starts while he delivered a career-worst 6.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. However, Nola is betting on himself to make a comeback in 2026, and there were some encouraging signs in spring training after his fastball velocity was reportedly up to 92.9 mph, following a 2025 campaign in which he averaged a subpar 91.4 mph.
Nola has had some good results against some of the Texas Rangers hitters he’ll be facing Saturday, such as Jake Burger and Brandon Nimmo. This game could very well confirm whether the struggles in 2025 were a fluke or if they’re a sign of the start of a downfall for the 32-year-old veteran.
Why Eury Perez is a Strong Upside Pick Against the Rockies
Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Perez was unable to build off the strong numbers he posted as a rookie in 2023, when he had a 3.15 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 19 starts, and he notched a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts last season. However, his WHIP was down considerably all the way to 1.05, and he also posted a lower FIP (3.66 vs. 4.10 in 2023) and higher average velocity (97.9 mph), so this is one of the cases where the ERA doesn’t really tell the whole story.
Perez pitched to a 3.38 ERA with 11 strikeouts and three walks in 8.0 innings over four starts in spring training, and he could be a strong upside pick in most fantasy formats for this Saturday slate due to his favorable matchup. He’ll be taking on the Colorado Rockies, who were one of the worst teams in the majors in 2025 and were limited to just one unearned run by Sandy Alcantara on Friday, at home.
Should You Stream Chad Patrick Against the White Sox?
While advising to start a pitcher in a hitter’s park is not always the best advice, there are some exceptions, and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick could earn that nod here. The Brewers have a solid reputation for developing arms at a high rate, and facing the Chicago White Sox is as good a matchup as there is out there.
Chicago struck out 20 times against Milwaukee’s pitching staff on Thursday, so this is clearly a pick based more on the matchup than on the venue. Patrick struck out 127 across 119.2 innings in 2025, so he could be in line for a strong outing against a lineup that projects as one of the worst in the American League again in 2026.
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