Every day of the 2022 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today and tomorrow’s slate of scheduled starting pitchers and ranking their matchups for your fantasy baseball streams.
There’s a lot that goes into this and you can hang out with me on Twitch.tv/pitcherlist to talk about the specific ranks as I make them every weekday morning from 10am – 12pm ET. If you have questions about these ranks, please ask during the morning Twitch AMA. Those are my office hours as I generally don’t answer comments on the site.
There are four tiers to these rankings with 12-teamers in mind (Updated 9/10):
Auto-Start – Just do it. Don’t overthink this, start the man. This includes “if I have them rostered, I’m starting them” pitchers.
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-not-elite pitcher or a weak lineup for a volatile arm. These pitchers have a 50% or greater chance of performing well in my view.
Questionable Start – Think of this tier as “I don’t want to start these pitchers in a vacuum, but you could do worse.” Streamers found in this tier are not pitchers I’m targeting and are only if you are in dire need of one. To play it safe with streaming, just start the Probably Start streamers.
Do Not Start – The reward is not worth the risk. Don’t do it. Seriously, these pitchers have a very slim chance of success or sometimes none at all.
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 throughout 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. Those in Yellow in the third tier and should be okay if you’re searching for something on a given day, but I don’t recommend streaming unless you’re in need. 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.
(Opener) – Outlines that a pitcher is being opened for that day & the pitcher listed will follow the opener.
As I do my rankings, I thought it would be helpful to showcase a table of how we’re ranking offenses:
I’m sure it’ll change through the year + there are differences to be made about teams vs. LHP or RHP, but it’s a great general table that y’all should keep in mind.
Alright, let’s get to it.
2022 Streamer Record: 90-67
Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- At the top sits TATIAGA, as Corbin Burnes has been a little shaky over the last month and Max Scherzer may be limited in his first start back from the IL.
It’s unclear if Cristian Javier is starting on Monday for the Astros– it seems Luis Garcia may be heading to the bullpen for Houston with Hunter Brown, though Garcia would be in line for the start otherwise. He would be at the top of the QS tier given his recent escapades.
- The bottom of the top tier features Kyle Wright, who hasn’t been sharp over his last two (I wasn’t impressed by his stuff last time out). He’s still a start against Natty Lite, but it may not carry the same ceiling we’ve seen.
- Sonny Gray is also here as he’s earned 15 strikeouts over his last two games. I don’t love this outing against the Guardians, though he’s a clear start.
- The streaming pick of the day is Wade Miley after getting slotted to face the Marlins. He’s proven to be a strong Toby and we start Tobys against Miami.
- Miley is alone in the second tier with Merrill Kelly residing in the third as he gets the Dodgers. I’d be awfully cautious here – the Dodgers are no joke and Kelly isn’t an elite arm.
- I wonder how long the Orioles will allow Tyler Wells to go in his start against the Tigers. There’s a chance he goes five strong, but then again, he doesn’t carry a massive ceiling even when he’s stretched out.
- I don’t like the other options as well, with the volatile José Suarez, mediocre Cal Quantrill, and the Astros-facing Drew Rasmussen.
- The bottom tier brings no respite. Don’t trust Chad Kuhl for a moment inside Coors, while Jakob Junis has an awfully hard challenge ahead of him in Colorado.
- Updates: Well, in fact, it is Luis Garcia and not Cristian Javier. As mentioned, he’s at the top of the third tier given his inconsistencies as of late.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- The top tier has some questions, particularly Shane McClanahan and Carlos Rodón. McShane was phenomenal against the Jays in his return, but the Astros are the Astros…I’m leaning on the skills more than the team.
- As for Carlos Rodón, he was removed early in his last start with a cracked nail and blister, but he’s expected to make his start…in Coors. I’m confident his heater will still work per usual despite the conditions and would rather have him over the recent challenges of Charlie Morton and Pablo López.
- The second tier has Nick Lodolo and Carlos Carrasco at the top, a pair of arms who could arguably be in the top tier. Lodolo is a strikeout machine, but the Red Sox may give him a bit of a struggle, while Carrasco isn’t facing the Marlins or Pirates this time around.
- At the bottom of the tier, Adam Wainwright and Austin Voth have their question marks. I can’t help but wonder if fatigue is affecting Wainwright as he’s slowed down across the last month, but if you have him rostered, I think you’re still letting him fly.
- As for Austin Voth, he’s our streaming pick of the day against the Tigers because, well, it’s the Tigers. That said, Voth isn’t a blind start and has been a touch out of rhythm lately. Still, he’s worth the stream if you’re able to snag him.
- Other considerations for Tuesday’s SPotD can be found in the third tier with Adrian Sampson and Brayan Bello. I don’t have much adoration for Sampson’s schtick, but the Marlins make for a solid spin of the wheel. Bello has a tougher time inside Cincy and comes with a bit of volatility, but may reward trusting managers.
- No, I don’t like starting Dylan Bundy or Kyle Gibson in my leagues, but I do recognize that this could work, at least moreso than those in the bottom tier.
- There is a case to be made for some of these bottom tier arms, though. Michael Grove made it work in his spot start last week and are the Diamondbacks that much of a threat? Don’t expect more than five frames and who knows how consistent he actually is.
- There’s the fireballer Luis Ortiz making his second start of his career, but it’s against the Yankees. Watch this closely as he could be a wonderful stream against the Cubs on Sunday.
- Joey Wentz made things work last time out and now gets the Orioles, and hey, it’s Drey Jameson who was marvelous in his MLB debut. Now he gets the Dodgers, though, and we can’t trust a one start sample.
- The days of trusting Mike Clevinger are in the past, don’t let the name lure you in against the Cardinals.
- And lastly, Aaron Civale is coming back from the IL, but he’s a Still ILL here. Maybe next time against the Rangers.
Featured Image by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)