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, there are my streaming picks of the day, and please keep in mind that I am forced to pick a streamer every day. Those highlighted in Green are in the second tier and I’d roll with them everywhere. The most common are those in Yellow in the third tier and should be decent if you’re searching for something on a given day. Finally, those are Red are those I really don’t want to start (they are labeled as “Do Not Start”, after all) but have no other choice. Don’t stream these guys until you are truly desperate. A streaming pick is 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: 87-72
Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- Look at you, still in the running to win your fantasy leagues. Hopefully you’re in luck and have Robbie Ray, Carlos Rodón, or Freddy Peralta to propel you early this week as they are all must starts on Monday.
- Sean Manaea could be seen as one as well, though he hasn’t quite overwhelmed as I would have expected given his 93/94 mph sinker. The Mariners pose a smaller threat than most, though, and Manaea could dominate here.
- Triston McKenzie may be a shock in the second tier, but with the BSB approach he’s taken lately, the Royals aren’t enough to fear.
- It’s a battle of John Means and Ranger Suárez in Philly and I’d be fine starting both in this one. Means has a touch more upside while Suárez is a little safer with ratios.
- Brady Singer will be coming off the IL for the Royals and I’d feel fine starting him against Cleveland. This could be a four-inning start, though, given the injury return + a short seven-inning affair.
- The streaming pick of the day is Erick Fedde as he faces the Marlins. It’s the only team I’m okay starting Fedde against as he’s taken them down multiple times this season.
- In the final tier, it’s unfortunate that we can’t trust Vladimir Gutiérrez, but his fastball command has pulled him down massively across the past few weeks. I have little faith this will work out.
- Shane Baz is getting the call to the majors, but the Jays are tough and it’s unlikely he goes deep in this one.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- The aces are here to help win your league. Alek Manoah is coming off a ridiculous outing against the Rays and could replicate it if his slider is just as filthy.
- Despite Julio Urías getting a date in Coors, I’m starting him everywhere. His ability speaks to surviving and he could tally yet another Win to his near 20-Win season.
- It’s bad luck for Joe Musgrove once again as he has to face the Giants, but his curveball + slider approach is too good for us not to let him fly. He can do this.
- Trevor Rogers hasn’t been his first-half self over the past two months, though his ceiling is worth your time against the Nationals. Let’s hope he calibrates for a solid final two weeks.
- It would seem like Tyler Mahle should be in the top tier…except he’s pitching in Cincinnati. His Home/Road splits are as poor as anyone in the league and it brings a haze over his night against the Pirates.
- Tuesday night’s Red Sox vs. Mets matchup should be beneficial for both starters. Marcus Stroman’s slider and cutter have been fantastic lately, while Eduardo Rodriguez’s four-seamer should be enough to hold off the Mets.
- In the third tier, our streaming pick of the day is Josh Rogers against the Marlins. His slider performed well last time out against Miami and he could do more of the same as that offense is as streamable as it gets.
- Another option to consider is Griffin Jax against the Cubs. Jax’s slider has the potential to push up the strikeout numbers, but be warned: there’s a reason why both Jax and Rogers are in the third tier, not the second. These are not locks. Jax has struggled a bit lately and even an easier opponent could still present danger.
- In the final tier, Drew Rasmussen has been productive over the last month despite featuring a shallow repertoire propelled by a 96+ mph heater. The Rays have been capping him at five frames and even with a solid outing against the Jays last week, I don’t think the reward is worth the risk of throwing him into the fire a second time.
- Daniel Lynch and Alec Mills are both interesting options if you’re chasing something early in the week. Lynch hasn’t come together as I hoped and is safe to avoid, but he’s still getting slider whiffs and his best self would be incredibly helpful for your teams. Meanwhile, Mills is as middling as you’ll find and it’s possible he helps your ratios against the Twins.
- No, I don’t want to start Antonio Senzatela. He gets the Dodgers and it’s Coors. I know his ridiculous stretch right now is helping teams but I just can’t buy into it. You understand.
Photo by Tom Hagerty | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)