On The Wire - Adam Howe and Kevin Hasting continue their 2026 fantasy baseball draft preview series by shifting focus to pitching volume categories — Wins and Strikeouts.
The discussion centers on why fantasy managers must actively chase volume, how innings pitched drive both categories, and which late-round starters and speculative arms can help managers compete without paying early-round pitching prices. The hosts also explore streaming strategy, team context, bullpen support, and how draft construction impacts in-season flexibility.
Below is a breakdown of the episode with estimated timestamps and players discussed.
00:00 – 09:00 | Intro + Draft Season Philosophy
Topics
Draft season approach and league activity
Why Wins remain a category you must intentionally target
Relationship between innings pitched, team quality, and fantasy success
Players Mentioned
Tarik Skubal
Paul Skenes
Garrett Crochet
09:00 – 22:00 | Why Volume Matters for Wins & Strikeouts
Topics
Correlation between workload and strikeouts
Importance of pitching deep into games
Team offense and bullpen effects on wins
Drafting SP tiers vs elite aces
Players Mentioned
Yusei Kikuchi
José Soriano
Reid Detmers
Luis Severino
Mitch Keller
Brandon Pfaadt
22:00 – 38:00 | Mid-Round Targets for Strikeout Volume
Topics
Targeting pitchers projected for stable rotation roles
Using projections vs role certainty
Drafting innings over pure ratios in this build
Players Mentioned
David Peterson
Clay Holmes
Will Warren
38:00 – 52:00 | Late-Round Wins & Strikeout Targets
Topics
Endgame starters who stick in rotations
Opportunity-driven pitching value
Accepting ratio risk when chasing volume
Players Mentioned
Will Warren
David Peterson
Cade Cavalli
52:00 – 1:05:00 | Streaming Strategy & Roster Management
Topics
Streaming pitchers to capture breakout arms early
Building ratio cushions to allow aggressive streaming
Managing roster churn early in season
Players Mentioned
Justin Verlander
Seth Lugo
Michael Wacha
1:05:00 – 1:11:29 | Final Targets + Draft Takeaways
Topics
Early-season matchup plays
Why reserve-round pitchers matter
Maximizing roster flexibility for volume accumulation
Players Mentioned
Cade Cavalli
Justin Verlander
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