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: 11-4
My Pick yesterday: Zack Littell vs. LAA
My Pick today: Reese Olson @ MIN
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 11-4
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Zack Littell vs. LAA
PL Bot's Pick today: Get our Daily & Weekly PLV Projections with PL Bot via PL Pro here.
Note: Names below in Italics are my streaming picks of the day.
Friday 4/11 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom @ SEA - Aces gonna ace. IN SEATTLE.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. CHC - Aces gonna aces. It's the toughest matchup, but AGA n all.
Tanner Bibee vs. KCR - It hasn't been the greatest start to the season, but it's been a strange pair of outings. All is fine.
Aaron Nola @ STL - Nola's velocity has been down. It's also the Cardinals.
Bryce Miller vs. TEX - He's in Seattle. Nope, don't care about the first two games.
Probably Starts
Nick Pivetta vs. COL - It's "Rockie Road". Gotta love it.
Reese Olson @ MIN - This is a lovely matchup and we dig Olson.
Robbie Ray @ NYY - The Yankees are not a fun matchup, though I trust Ray.
Kris Bubic @ CLE - Bubic is looking fantastic and southpaws are better at nullifying the amplified LHB homerun rates.
Brady Singer vs. PIT - Singer is a "Toby" hoping to be a "Holly" against a poor lineup.
Bowden Francis @ BAL - He keeps doing it so we keep doing it.
Taj Bradley vs. ATL - It's up to you. I'm leaning go for it, but the cutter command was not nearly as good last time out.
Questionable Starts
Mitchell Parker @ MIA - He's a "Toby" against a poor squad.
Ronel Blanco vs. LAA - The Angels are rough, but Blanco has been anything but smooth out of the gate.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. MIL - He's fresh off a massive strikeout performance that I don't think was super real.
Jack Kochanowicz @ HOU - The Jack of One Trade has added a slider and four-seamer and could give you another QS. However, the Astros aren't the greatest matchup.
Matthew Boyd @ LAD - It's the Dodgers. Sigh.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. TOR - Sugano could be a QS arm with his kitchen-sink approach. Sadly, it's too reliant on command for me to jump in regularly.
Do Not Starts
Bryce Edler @ TBR - We've seen Elder muscle through 5+ frames with his slider putting his arsenal on his back. I know Atlanta hasn't gotten the Wins we expected, but they'll come.
David Festa vs. DET - Festa is returning for at least one start and I think it's too risky to throw him out there right away. Poor performance so far, even if PLV loves his sinker and changeup. That slider needs to get down.
Sean Newcomb @ CHW - Yes, the White Sox n all, but this battle of the pink laundry has Newcomb on the bump and I don't see success coming his way.
Davis Martin vs. BOS - Martin has yet to show off a full arsenal worthy of your attention.
JP Sears vs. NYM - There's always a chance Sears finds strikeouts. It's too volatile without enough reward.
Edward Cabrera vs. WSN - He's back from the IL and this is an easy "Still ILL" compounded with his general volatility.
Marcus Stroman vs. SFG - Will he go five frames for a chance at a Win? Probably not, right?
Bailey Falter @ CIN - One day we can truly get behind Falter. ONE DAY.
Griffin Canning @ ATH - He's the same pitcher we saw last year and it's in Sacremento.
Andre Pallante vs. PHI - This could be a quiet five frames but is that really worth your time and anxiety?
Germán Márquez @ SDP - COL story, Bro. He's not in Coors. YOU GET THE POINT.
Jose Quintana @ ARI - He's back! And likely limited and not at his peak.
Saturday 4/12 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo vs. TEX - It's in Seattle.
Sandy Alcantara vs. WSN - HE'S BACK.
Cristopher Sánchez @ STL - Please show me the same slider from last game.
Corbin Burnes vs. MIL - Hey, it's your old squad! Maybe they can tell you how to get your cutter back to normal.
Drew Rasmussen vs. ATL - He's just too dang unhittable.
Probably Starts
Richard Fitts @ CHW - It's funny how I'm not a big Fitts guy anymore and I just keep ranking him high. The White Sox, y'all!
David Peterson @ ATH - Sacramento doesn't scare me (wild, I know) and Peterson's velocity should be better in warmer weather.
Jackson Jobe @ MIN - Jobe has dropped on The List, but it's the Twins. He should improve over time.
Roki Sasaki vs. CHC - Sasaki needs a bridge pitch to turn into an ace. In the meantime, can you try to get 55%+ strikes on the splitter? K thx.
Questionable Starts
Kumar Rocker @ SEA - Y'all may want him in the second tier and I completely get it. @TEA is a great matchup! Rocker is all kinds of strange with his approach, from switching between sliders and curves, sinkers and four-seamers, and still inefficient against LHB. I don't know what we're going to get.
Jordan Hicks @ NYY - Hicks >>> Warren in general, and after some thought, I elected favoring Hicks over Warren despite the tougher opponent.
Will Warren vs. SFG - I initially had him in the higher tier, but I'm not confident he'll be the "Toby" we want him to be. It hasn't come out yet.
Kyle Hart vs. COL - It's "Rockie Road". Hart got bamboozled last time out, but this is a lot easier.
Trevor Williams @ MIA - #NeverTrevor.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ TBR - Another great matchup for AJSS as he's trying to develop as fast as he can. This could be the one, they say. Who? You know, they.
José Berríos @ BAL - YOU NEVER KNOW.
Cade Povich vs. TOR - Povich doesn't have a leader pitch nor sparkling command to drive the kitchen-sink approach. Hopefully it comes together well enough for a solid six frames.
Andrew Abbott vs. PIT - I'm not thrilled about starting Abbott in his season debut, but it's the Pirates, even at home. Not a bad spec add with a higher floor than usual given the matchup.
Martín Pérez vs. BOS - He's had great command lately and looks to be in a groove. At least it's not in Fenway.
Andrew Heaney @ CIN - Heaney was his best self against the Yankees, maybe it sticks in Cincy?
Mitch Spence vs. NYM - This could be J.T. Ginn instead of Spence, but assuming it's Spence, I'm happy he's back in the rotation and concerned he won't go long.
Chase Dollander @ SDP - It's not in Coors! But it's against the Padres. And his secondaries are not polish. And it's empty velocity.
Do Not Starts
Chris Paddack vs. DET - He was better last time out and it's the Tigers...? I wish he had a better #3 pitch and 94/95 mph velocity.
Michael Lorenzen @ CLE - Sure, he can go six frames for a "PQS" if not slightly better.
Tyler Anderson @ HOU - I hate the matchup, but this is another desperate QS player.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. KCR - Ortiz doesn't have enough firepower to justify the questionable command.
Chad Patrick @ ARI - Two first names. And not much of an arsenal or volume ceiling.
Miles Mikolas vs. PHI - Just throw sliders. No more four-seamers. I BEG YOU.
Ryan Gusto vs. LAA - He's making his MLB debut with "The Pasta Pirate" on the IL with a thumb injury. Wait and see, though I'm not optimistic.
Ben Brown @ LAD - No third pitch, a short leash, and the Dodgers. Oh dear.
Sunday 4/13 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
New for PL Pro members - I am making the streaming table for an extra day out (no write-ups as these pitchers change often). 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.
