Top-5 MLB Pitching Prospects To Stash For Fantasy Baseball Redraft Leagues - Week 1 (2025)

Welcome back to our top starting pitcher fantasy baseball prospects to stash for Week 1 of the 2025 MLB season. Even though the regular season is just about to kick off, there is no better time to look ahead to the Week 1 waiver wire and identify high-upside stashes.

Last season, we saw several prospect pitchers become league-winners as soon as they reached the major leagues, like Paul Skenes and Spencer Schwellenbach. This is why it is critical to be over-aggressive on the waiver wire, especially early in the season, as it could pay off in the final months of the season.

Below are the top pitching prospects to stash leading up to Week 1 of the 2025 MLB season.

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Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Currently At Triple-A, 20% rostered

Bubba Chandler will likely be the top name on this list for the foreseeable future. The southpaw is viewed as one of the best prospects in the sport, sitting as the top prospect in the Pittsburgh system and No. 93 overall in the sport on MLB.com.

Even though Chandler will open the season in the minor leagues, he could be on the verge of a promotion as soon as the regular season begins. Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones (elbow) will be shut down for six weeks and is in danger of missing a majority of the regular season.

While Carmen Mlodzinski will open the campaign as the No. 5 starter, given his modest career 2.91 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and lack of experience as a starting pitcher (only five starts in 75 games), Chandler could be getting the call quite soon.

Last summer, Chandler posted a stellar 1.83 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP across his first 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A. During this stint, he tallied 54 punchouts and served up just 15 free passes.

Even though fellow prospect Thomas Harrington may get the call slightly before Chandler, Chandler carries a much higher upside and is worth holding in all standard formats.

Top @Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler picks up his fourth strikeout of the day on a 100 MPH pitch 🔥 #SpringBreakout pic.twitter.com/18Odh7YPkK

— MLB (@MLB) March 14, 2025

Brandon Sproat, SP, New York Mets

Currently At Triple-A, 5% rostered

Even though Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) will open the season on the IL, the Mets decided to send their top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat to minor-league camp.

The Florida product made his professional debut last summer and quickly progressed through the minor leagues. Last season, he began the campaign at High-A and eventually finished the season with Triple-A.

Across 87 1/3 innings split between Low and Double-A, the right-hander held an impressive 2.05 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a stellar 31:110 BB:K. However, once he moved up to Triple-A, he took a step back as he posted a high 7.53 ERA with a 1.64 WHIP across 28 2/3 innings.

Sproat could be on the fast track to the major leagues if he takes the next step at Triple-A.

Zebby Matthews, SP, Minnesota Twins

Currently At Triple-A
5% rostered

Zebby Matthews was one of the most impressive pitchers in spring training. Across nine 1/3 innings, the Western Carolina product did not allow a run and posted a near-perfect 0.54 WHIP. He tallied 12 punchouts and served up just one walk.

Unlike the previous names on this list, Matthews made his MLB debut last summer. The right-hander stumbled through his first 37 2/3 MLB frames as he posted a 6.69 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. However, he showed strong command of his pitches, allowing walks at a 6.3 percent rate.

As he progressed through the minor leagues, his control was his major selling point, and seeing him continue to show strong command in the majors is a great sign. Last summer, Matthews logged 97 total innings across High, Double, and Triple-A and just seven walks while striking out 114 batters.

If Simeon Woods Richardson or Chris Paddack were to struggle, expect Matthews to be the one to get the call, not his teammate David Festa, who posted a hefty 11.91 ERA during camp.

Zebby Matthews is a strong buy in dynasty leagues.

Don't let the lackluster MLB debut scare you off.pic.twitter.com/lTdNtkF8Eu

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) March 25, 2025

Quinn Mathews, St. Louis Cardinals

Currently At Triple-A
7% rostered

The 24-year-old southpaw was one of the biggest risers on prospect boards last summer. Quinn Mathews opened the campaign at Low-A and eventually finished at Triple-A.

Through 126 2/3 innings at Low, High, and Double-A, Mathews posted a solid 2.27 ERA with a stellar 0.85 WHIP. He tallied an incredible 180 punchouts while only allowing seven home runs and 35 walks.

However, similar to Sproat, Mathews hit a bit of a bump in the road at Triple-A as he posted a 6.48 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP across 16 2/3 innings. Even though the Stanford product was not in the running for a spot on the Opening Day roster, he was in conversation.

If he can take the next step at Triple-A, he could be in the mix for an early promotion and would be a must-start option as soon as he reaches St. Louis.

Michael McGreevy, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Currently At Triple-A
3% rostered

I also want to mention another St. Louis pitcher, Michael McGreevy. McGreevy was St. Louis's best pitcher during spring training. Across 16 2/3 innings, the right-hander posted a stellar 1.08 ERA with a 0.60 WHIP. He tallied 12 punchouts and did not allow a walk.

Even though he performed quite well, the Cardinals decided for him to continue his development in the minor leagues, as Matthew Liberatore was given the final spot in the rotation. However, McGreevy was very productive during his taste of the majors last season and could be in the mix for an early promotion as well.

Last summer, the former 18th overall pick posted an impressive 1.96 ERA with a 0.78 WHIP across 23 innings. Even though he did not flash high strikeout upside (20.9 percent strikeout rate), he showed elite command with a 2.3 percent walk rate and generated a stellar 64.6 ground-ball rate.

The 24-year-old is a name to monitor in deeper formats. While Mathews carries the higher upside given his strikeout potential, McGreevy could very well produce a higher floor given his ability to generate groundballs along with his strong command.

Chase Dollander, SP, Colorado Rockies

Currently At Triple-A
2% rostered

The former ninth overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft was surprisingly given a legitimate chance to win a starting job in spring training. Even though Chase Dollander fell short in camp, he could be one of the most coveted prospects once he reaches the major leagues.

Last summer, the Tennessee product made his professional debut and was dominant at both High and Double-A. In High-A, he posted a 2.83 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP across 70 frames. He tallied 110 punchouts. At Double-A, he posted a slightly improved 2.25 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP across 48 frames.

Given Colorado's lack of proven options, they will likely give Dollander an extended look in the majors after he has had a brief taste of Triple-A.

For now, he is worth stashing in deeper leagues. However, if he shows similar production at Triple-A, he will enter must-stash territory.

Chase Dollander vs. Jacob deGrom. pic.twitter.com/EzXiMeoYPc

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 13, 2025

Other Prospects To Consider Stashing

• David Festa MIN
• Jackson Ferris LAD
• Cade Horton CHC
• Noah Schultz CWS
• Yilber Diaz ARI

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