If you like post-hype fantasy baseball sleepers, Monday was your kind of day. Especially on the pitcher’s mound.

Can we interest you in Lance McCullers Jr.? Did Mike Soroka catch your eye? Could Kyle Harrison finally be ready for his close up?

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Post-hype SPs to consider streaming

Kyle Harrison, Brewers

Let’s start with Harrison, who was a top-30 prospect a few years back. He’s still just 24. The Red Sox considered him a key part of the Rafael Devers trade/salary dump last summer, or so it seemed. Harrison spent most of his summer with Triple-A Worcester, muddling through a 3.93 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.

But ears perked up when Harrison was traded to Milwaukee in the offseason. The Brewers have an outstanding track record with player development and identifying under-appreciated assets in other organizations. Harrison earned a rotation spot during a solid spring, where he had 20 strikeouts against four walks over 14 innings.

His Monday debut against Tampa Bay was a success — four hits, one run, one walk, eight strikeouts, 16 swinging strikes. Harrison allowed a leadoff homer to Yandy Diaz but otherwise was not in trouble. His fastball checked in at 95.1 mph, a notable jump from his early career. He also was effective with his retooled change, giving Harrison a logical path to retiring right-handed hitters.

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Armed with bumped velocity and a new pitch, Harrison looks like a plausible-upside case for mixed leagues. He’s pushed to 28% rostered in Yahoo, so there’s time to climb on board. He pitches at Kansas City on the weekend.

Lance McCullers Jr., Astros

While Harrison’s case needs some imagination, we have proof of concept with McCullers. He was an All-Star back in 2017 and received downballot Cy Young votes five years ago. He’s been a fantasy asset before. It’s just a matter of him staying healthy.

McCullers didn’t pitch at all in 2023 or 2024, and he was hit hard in 16 appearances last year (6.51 ERA, 1.80 WHIP). So it makes sense that he was completely off the radar during draft season. But McCullers answered the bell in his 2026 debut, holding the Red Sox to one run over seven innings. He scattered four hits, walked one, struck out nine.

McCullers doesn’t hold the velocity from his salad days, but his 92.4 mph readout Monday was a notable tick up from last year’s 91.6 mark. Stopping a deep Boston lineup also impresses me. I understand why McCullers still lags at 9% rostered in Yahoo leagues, but I’ll scout his upcoming Athletics start with interest.

Mike Soroka, Diamondbacks

While McCullers is looking to rebound from arm injuries in his past, Soroka’s rehab story has a different slant. It was a pair of Achilles tears that cost Soroka two full seasons, 2021 and 2022. His amazing 2019 debut season — when he was second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and sixth in the Cy Young ranks — feels like 20 years ago. Soroka is now with the Diamondbacks, his fifth team. He’s won just eight games since 2019.

But you couldn’t watch Soroka on Monday and not be impressed. He kept the Tigers off the scoreboard over five smooth innings, with 10 strikeouts. He walked just one, allowed four hits. And I don’t know if the guns are hot this month, but he was another pitcher showing increased velocity in his debut turn.

Soroka was such an easy watch in his Atlanta days, using impeccable control to get positive results. He was the hardest starting pitcher to homer off in 2019. You revel at watching a craftsman at work, and he felt like the latest Atlanta pitcher to steal our hearts.

Soroka is still just 28. Arizona has a competitive club and an outstanding defense. The next two turns aren’t easy — Soroka draws the Braves and Phillies — but he’s earned the right to at least be a proactive streamer. He currently is rostered in just 7% of Yahoo leagues.

Bonus hitter

Jake Burger, Rangers

Keeping comebacks in the theme of the day, I want to give you one hitter to consider. Jake Burger is doing good things in the cleanup spot for Texas. He homered in his first two games of the year, and knocked in two more runs Monday. That’s a tidy .471/.500/.882 start.

Injuries cost Burger about a third of the season last year, but keep in mind the 63-homer guy we saw in 2023 and 2024. This is merely his age-30 season. Given how depressed the first base position appears in 2026, I’m mildly surprised Burger is still available in about 70% of Yahoo leagues. Keep an open mind here.