SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 5/24 & 5/25

With the 2021 season, I’m changing how I’m doing my starting pitcher streamers and daily matchup rankings

Instead of being featured in the SP Roundup, I’ll be highlighting my SP streamer picks for today and tomorrow inside this article, while also introducing four tiers and adding notes to each table.

The four tiers are as follows:

 

Auto-Start – Just do it. Don’t overthink this, start the man.

Probably Start – I’m likely starting these arms, though I recognize there is more risk than we’d like there to be. Either it’s a tough matchup for a good pitcher or a weak lineup for a volatile arm.

Questionable Start – There are situations where I’d take the chance, either with strong enough upside on the ability side, or a poor offense that a pitcher could take advantage of.

Do Not Start – The reward is not worth the risk. Don’t do it.

 

Obviously, there will be circumstances where pitchers should move between teams for your situation specifically and these new tiers should act as a little more help than the straight table from last year.

Please keep in mind that streaming is far from a perfect play. In fact, if they work out over half the time, I’d consider it a success. These matchup rankings & streamer picks are going to be wildly different than the actual results through the year, so please, have sympathy before the scathing comments and tweets. I’m only trying to help!

Make sure to read the notes if you’re wondering why I’m favoring certain pitchers over others – I won’t get to everyone and hopefully I answer what questions you will have.

There is a second table for tomorrow’s starting pitcher matchups as well, helping everyone get a jump on their nightly pickups. Please note that these matchups are subject to change, though, and there will be times when I have the incorrect pitcher going. I thank you for your future understanding.

Finally, I have highlighted in Green my streaming pick of the day – Yellow if I wouldn’t actually want to stream them (I have to pick one every day!) . These are defined as “rostered in 20% or fewer leagues,” which really emphasizes the point that I’d be happy if over 50% of these worked. I could do the whole sub 30/40% rostered, but there’s no fun in that. You can use the rankings to realize who would be those picks, instead.

 

2021 Streamer Record: 33-16

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s a short Monday with a confident Tier 1. John Means struggled last time out and some may have hesitation against the Twins, but don’t overthink this. He’s still phenomenal.
• Blake Snell hasn’t been consistent enough to earn his AGA label, but after steamrolling the Rockies + getting the Brewers now, I don’t see a scenario where you hold him on the bench.

 

• It hasn’t been the smoothest season for Frankie Montas thus far as I wait for his slider and splitter to look like their 2019 selves once again. The Mariners are a gift and could help Montas get the confidence back in those pitches.
• Yusei Kikuchi is on the other side and while he gets a tougher matchup, he’s in a better place than Montas with a fantastic heater + a cutter and slider that each earn strikes. Let him loose.

 

• Spencer Turnbull gets the bump to the second tier after throwing a no-hitter and featuring a heavy four-seamer/slider approach. With Franmil Reyes on the IL, Cleveland is even weaker than before, opening up another solid play for Turnbull.
• With Turnbull now out of the running, the streaming pick turns to David Peterson as he hosts Rockie Road. I’d also consider Austin Gomber on the other side as both of these offenses will struggle to put runs on the board.

 

• The final tier today is better than most, with a couple of deep options. Matt Shoemaker could have his slider/splitter against the Orioles, while Sam Hentges‘ stuff could develop against the Tigers – he is a southpaw, after all.
• Finally, you don’t want to start pitchers in Dunedin and Ross Stripling vs. Ryan Yarbrough could turn into a slugfest. I wouldn’t put myself in the middle of that game.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• Hey look at that, Jacob deGrom is returning and gets a gift in Rockie Road. The only concern here is the workload – he tossed just three frames in his rehab start and it’s unclear how long he’ll be able to go for. You have to imagine he’ll be able to carve at least five innings here, though.
• I may be a little aggressive in ranking Corbin Burnes at #3 despite a date with the Padres, but his quality of inning has been stellar through the year, even with his brief hiccup as of late.

 

• Yes, I’ve elevated Tyler Mahle into “Auto-Start” territory. His last start was a blip, not the beginning of a trend and the Nationals aren’t a team to fear.
• Sandy Alcantara came back from his disaster outing to flat-out dominate, giving us little reason to question him against the Phillies.

 

• In the second tier, Aaron Civale gets the nod as he squares off against the Tigers – arguably a start that would push him into the top tier. It’s close as Civale hasn’t expressed quite the same ceiling as the top ten options, though this should be a successful outing.
• Andrew Heaney has made himself known as a Cherry Bomb, though this start should be on the sweeter side as he’s been granted the gift of Texas.

 

• We’ve been waiting for Jose Berrios to take that next step for ages, and his stuff has been hinting at better days as of late. He has done little to prove that he’s a lock for overwhelming success, but this outing against the Orioles looks to be in his favor.
• Rich Hill has been performing like the Hill of old and with a start against the Royals, he should be a benefactor for those fortunate to pick him up.

 

• In Tier 3, Corey Kluber resides despite tossing a no-hitter last time out. Generally we see a slight no-hitter hangover + the Rangers are far weaker than the Blue Jays inside the Bronx. I imagine most are still starting Kluber, though I recognize the lower floor here.
• Tarik Skubal is today’s streaming of pick of the day as he’s lucky to face Cleveland without Franmil Reyes. With his slider working wonders recently, I’m hoping he can continue the trend moving forward.

 

• After teasing us last week Vince Velasquez is getting another shot against the Marlins, though this time comes with more innings concerns as he missed his previous outing with finger numbness. This is close to Tier 4 despite the matchup.
• We’ve been waiting for Garrett Richards to get his old slider back after finally displaying the ability to throw fastballs over the plate. Atlanta makes for a small margin of error, though, creating a volatile outing in Boston.

 

• You may not know Miguel Yajure as he doesn’t feature elite velocity or electric stuff, but I dig his command and approach. There may be something here as a Toby, though it isn’t worth it against the Cubs.
• Some may want to start Kyle Freeland or Jake Arrieta based on their strong matchups and there’s a chance they’re able to succeed because of it. Personally, they don’t have a high enough ceiling for me to spin the wheel and risk disaster.

 

Photo by Tom Hagerty | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)