After Thursday’s three-game slate, Friday’s action in MLB features a fully loaded 15-game slate.
With start times ranging between 1:05 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. ET, there is essentially a whole day of baseball. Here are three pitchers worth considering as streaming alternatives.
Why You Should Stream Cade Horton Against the Guardians
Horton was one of the best pitchers in the majors during the second half of the 2025 MLB season after posting a 1.03 ERA across 12 starts after the All-Star break. He backed that up in his first start of 2026, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 6.1 innings in a 10-2 rout of the Washington Nationals.
He is good, and it shouldn’t take long before he establishes himself as the Chicago Cubs’ No. 1 pitcher in the rotation, even after Justin Steele returns to the mound. Horton might be pitching on the road here, but the Cleveland Guardians have struggled offensively to open the season.
Cleveland has tied for the eighth-fewest runs with 22 across seven games, averaging 3.14 per game. Plus, the Guardians have a collective .574 OPS, which ranks 27th in the majors. If you’re not starting Horton yet, you should add him to your lineup before it’s too late.
Why You Should Start Will Warren Against the Marlins
Warren only lasted 4.1 innings in his season opener against the San Francisco Giants, but his numbers were decent, allowing one run while striking out three and walking two. There’s room for improvement, but the matchup against the Miami Marlins is a favorable one for the right-hander.
Warren posted a 4.44 ERA across 33 starts in 2025, so he’s not going to dominate every time he’s on the mound. He should be a decent pickup for your lineup if you are in need of a pitcher and the elite options are out of your budget.
Miami has a collective .786 OPS, which ranks fifth in the majors, but the Marlins opened the season with back-to-back series at home against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. This will be their first real test of the season.
Why You Could Take a Chance on Reid Detmers Against the Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have one of the best offenses in the American League, but the team is struggling at the plate right now. Through six games, Seattle has posted a .687 OPS, good for 14th in the majors.
T-Mobile Park is a pitcher’s paradise, so it’s not uncommon for non-ace pitchers to deliver competent outings here. There will be better options on the board for this slate, but if those are taken, you could do worse than starting Detmers, who struck out nine in his 2026 debut against the Houston Astros in a pitcher-friendly environment.
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