SP Streamers for today's, tomorrow's and the day after tomorrow's games for fantasy baseball.
Every day of the 2025 baseball season, I'll be looking at today's 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 Playback.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 Playback 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:
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 and I'm starting them in the majority of situations.
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 that day's streaming pick in the second tier and I'd roll with them everywhere. Those in Yellow are 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 according to Fantasy Pros. This 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 those picks would be 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, granted by our PLV powered Projections (in alphabetical order by tier):
I'm sure it'll change through the year + there are differences to be made about teams vs. LHP or RHP, but it works as a general table that y'all should keep in mind.
To spice up these streaming recommendations, I've included our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, and I'll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.
These projections are different from your typical projections as they incorporate our pitch quantifier, assessing pitcher and hitter skills at a much more granular level than your standard box score.
To get access to PL Bot's picks each day, sign up for PL Pro here.
The streaming record is determined by "Was this a productive game for 12-teamers if I started them?" Roughly a "PQS" with a Win and a strikeout per inning with a sub 1.20 WHIP, with a minimum of 5 IP. Close calls are decided by Playback chat.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 2-0
My Pick yesterday: Jeffrey Springs @ SEA
My Pick today:
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 2-0
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Jeffrey Springs @ SEA
PL Bot's Pick today: Get our Daily & Weekly PLV Projections with PL Bot via PL Pro here.
Saturday 3/29 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan @ STL - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. MIL - Aces gonna ace and hopefully not continue his trend of being mid for his first few starts.
Bryce Miller vs. ATH - He's hurling baseballs in Seattle. That's lovely.
Spencer Schwellenbach @ SDP - It's Mr. Crescendo and I'm excited to watch the start of what should be a super fun sophomore campaign.
Shota Imanaga @ ARI - The Sneks are not a fun crew to face, though Imanaga should be solid.
Roki Sasaki vs. DET - I wonder how long he'll go and if he has more than four-seamers (without whiffs) and splitters.
Seth Lugo vs. CLE - Lugo is a "Holly". We start those.
Gavin Williams @ KCR - Hey, you're gonna show us that cutter, right? Cool.
Probably Starts
Jesús Luzardo @ WSN - He's a "Cherry Bomb" and I really hope not a "HIPSTER".
Nick Lodolo vs. SFG - Lodolo is healthy and I'm excited to see him with his GLORIOUS NEW CAMERA ANGLE. Finally.
Max Scherzer vs. BAL - Scherzer has been solid this spring, though the thumb injury may limit him in this one.
José Soriano @ CHW - It's a great matchup and he'll come through as long as the sinker and curve earn strikes.
Questionable Starts
Walker Buehler @ TEX - What are we gonna get y'all? Likely fewer four-seamers than last year and he displayed in the spring,
Tyler Mahle vs. BOS - I'm wondering if I actually like Mahle or not. He's at 92/93 mph so far with a decent splitter and slider, but is that enough?
Reese Olson @ LAD - I like Olson for the season, I hate this start against the Dodgers.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. NYM - "The Pasta Pirate" is terrifying me with poor command throughout the spring and depressed velocity (younger arms are usually throwing at their season velocity in the spring - look at Sean Burke!).
Osvaldo Bido @ SEA - It's Seattle, it's also a question of Bido throwing enough fastballs for strikes.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. CHC - I really hate leaning on Pfaadt regularly and the Cubs are a tough offense.
Justin Verlander @ CIN - Is Cincy that scary? Is Verlander good enough to power through 5+ frames?
Nestor Cortes @ NYY - It's a wild reunion for Cortes - his first start out of the Bronx is in the Bronx - and this could be adrenaline-fueled in the wrong way. I'm curious if the changeup to RHB appears, though.
Dean Kremer @ TOR - Kremer is so dang volatile. Good luck.
Erick Fedde vs. MIN - Fedde may actually be a "Toby" after abandoning the four-seamer this spring.
Do Not Starts
Jake Irvin vs. PHI - Is the curveball there? Is that enough?
Zack Littell vs. COL - It's not quite "Rockie Road" yet without Colorado playing in Coors before this game and I highly question if Littell has the quality or length in this one.
Jonathan Cannon vs. LAA - He has moments, this is likely not one of them.
Griffin Canning @ HOU - Despite some hype from Mets fans, Canning is still the same SL/CH focus arm heading into a tough Houston matchup.
Bailey Falter @ MIA - It looks like it could work, but I really don't want to trust Falter. Until he's traded to the Rays. Maaaaaybe.
Antonio Senzatela @ TBR - Senz-A. Welcome back. Yes, I know this is a sneaky start for some of you. I will never get behind this.
Valente Bellozo vs. PIT - He's had random days pulling of the "Cannibal McSanchez", so that's cool...?
Randy Vásquez vs. ATL - He won the job and has to deal with one of the best offenses. Fun.
Sunday 3/30 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom vs. BOS - Aces gonna ace. I can't wait.
Bryan Woo vs. ATH - Woo in Seattle is so good.
Robbie Ray @ CIN - We're going to watch Ray's new changeup with Cincy's new camera angle. YES.
Bailey Ober @ STL - His velocity has been down and his heater isn't locating well. I'm likely looking too much into this.
Aaron Nola @ WSN - Nola's velocity has been down but his curve is rocking and he'll figure it out.
Tanner Bibee @ KCR - Bibee had food poisoning and I just hope he's all good as if nothing happened.
Probably Starts
Max Meyer vs. PIT - Meyer is a new pitcher this year and the Pirates are not a new offense.
Nick Martinez vs. SFG - Martinez's wide arsenal against a middling Giants lineup works for me.
Taj Bradley vs. COL - That offense isn't strong (with some scary moments) and I'd favor this start even with Bradley's command questions.
Nick Pivetta vs. ATL - Not a good matchup, though the April weather in San Diego should help reduce Pivetta's HR affinities.
Richard Fitts @ TEX - HERE WE GO. I don't love that he faces the Rangers, but I'm going for it. 96 mph velocity with legit extension + vert and a large arsenal is such a cool thing.
Questionable Starts
Michael Wacha vs. CLE - If Wacha has his changeup cooking, this should be fine. Not the greatest ceiling, though.
Jack Kochanowicz @ CHW - The Jack of One Trade should find a QS against the White Sox. He's not going to butter your bread, though.
JP Sears @ SEA - It's Seattle. It's also a volatile Sears.
Davis Martin vs. LAA - I don't love what he does and the low Win chance just isn't worth it to me.
Matthew Boyd @ ARI - I dig Boyd for the year, I hate facing the Sneks.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ TOR - I'm not sure what we'll get from Sugano. There is QS upside in there, but will it come out today?
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. CHC - Erod will benefit from the Diamondbacks' defense, though the Cubs are solid and he's not exciting. He's a QS flyer.
Chris Bassitt vs. BAL - Bassitt is just so boring. This could be 5-6 IP of decency. That's a "Toby'.
Andrew Heaney @ MIA - He's the same Heaney and it's the Marlins. meh.
Do Not Starts
Mitchell Parker vs. PHI - Parker could go six frames, but it's the Phillies.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ SDP - This is too risky of an offense to start AJSS, whose ability is still unclear after his spring.
Andre Pallante vs. MIN - His velocity came back a little in the spring, but the cut-fastball is still down in movement. He could skirt through five leaning on the Twins' lack of offense, but I'd hate to do that.
Ryan Feltner @ TBR - Feltner isn't the worst and the Rays aren't so strong. Is the reward worth it?
Marcus Stroman vs. MIL - Stroman may not even go a full four frames.
Aaron Civale @ NYY - Civale hasn't looked great in the spring and the Yankees are a terrifying offense.
Monday 3/31 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
New this year for PL Pro members - I am making the streaming table for an extra day out. I wanted to add a bonus for those who support us without taking anything away to everyone else and I thought this was a good compromise.
