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: 14-5
My Pick yesterday: Grant Holmes @ TOR
My Pick today: Jake Irvin @ PIT
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 14-5
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Jameson Taillon vs. SDP
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.
Tuesday 4/15 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Max Fried vs. KCR - Aces gonna ace.
Spencer Schwellenbach @ TOR - Almost aces gonna likely get crowned as an AGA.
Jack Flaherty @ MIL - He's looking like the guy we loved in the first half of last year.
Hunter Brown @ STL - Here's to hoping we see 97+ mph velocity.
Shota Imanaga @ SDP - Not a fun matchup, but we start Imanaga regularly.
Luis Castillo @ CIN - He's a "Holly" we're rolling with in his old home park.
Jesús Luzardo vs. SFG - Luzardo has cruised against tough matchups, surely he doesn't waver here...right?
Bailey Ober vs. NYM - Ober has been a little dicey but we're holding on until he gives us a major trend.
Ryan Pepiot vs. BOS - Pepiot has acted a little like a "HIPSTER", though the skills are better than ever.
Probably Starts
Jeffrey Springs @ CHW - It's the White Sox and this should be sunshine and rainbows.
Nick Lodolo vs. SEA - Lodolo is looking like his best self.
Tylor Megill @ MIN - Please continue with the same slider down and four-seamer up. PLEASE.
Merrill Kelly @ MIA - This is a clear stream if you can do it.
Kevin Gausman vs. ATL - He just dominated with his four-seamer and while I don't expect it to continue, Atlanta has been floundering at the plate. Let's hope Gausman can continue.
Justin Verlander @ PHI - The slider and four-seamer are coming in hot and he's fresh off a 20 whiff game. It's Philly, but hot dang I'm so intrigued.
Jake Irvin @ PIT - Shocking, right? Irvin's curve was on point last time out and pitching in PNC park is a lovely thing. I'm going for it.
Yusei Kikuchi @ TEX - I fluctuated between Tier 2 and Tier 3 for Kikuchi and ultimately landed here. If you still have him, you're starting this "HIPSTER".
Questionable Starts
Mitch Keller vs. WSN - Sure, whatever Keller.
Tyler Mahle vs. LAA - I still can't figure out Mahle and need a few more starts to understand what he actually brings to the table. My gut is that he doesn't have an arsenal to speaks to a Top 40 SP ceiling, which makes rostering him generally too risky for 12-teamers.
Walker Buehler @ TBR - I've been out on Buehler, but his last start was a bit better than the others. Still low velocity and much more growth needed, and I understand the optimism that it could be the first step of many.
Michael Wacha @ NYY - I know. The Yankees aren't that elite, y'all.
Erick Fedde vs. HOU - Fedde is a "Toby".
Quinn Priester vs. DET - Priester could get his footing in a good matchup.
Landon Knack vs. COL - It was terrible the first time out, but this is "Rockie Road" and the Dodgers could let him go five.
Charlie Morton vs. CLE - Oh dear. If you must.
Do Not Starts
Sean Burke vs. ATH - It's just not worth it right now.
Randy Vásquez vs. CHC - Watch him go 5+ IP of boring ratio ball. Ugh.
Logan Allen @ BAL - There's nothing to get excited about here.
Connor Gillispie vs. ARI - Absolutely not.
Ryan Feltner @ LAD - Noooope.
Wednesday 4/16 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Aaron Nola vs. SFG - Weird to see Nola at the top given the ink I've spilled on him this year, but it's a great matchup and high floor.
Spencer Strider @ TOR - He's back! And I don't care, you start him. Have fun.
Bryce Miller @ CIN - He's not "@TEA" but in Cincy and that has made a boatload of difference for Miller in the past. Hopefully we can eradicate that narrative this year.
Probably Starts
Brandon Pfaadt @ MIA - I love Pfaadt's embrace of the curve and change to LHB and this is great matchup.
Robbie Ray @ PHI - He's not getting the best schedule luck and it's a little annoying. At least it won't be miserable weather this time out.
Gavin Williams @ BAL - We're still rolling with Gavin in hopes my concerns about the lack of bridge pitch are unfounded. Or maybe just throw the dang cutter, you know?
Nick Martinez vs. SEA - He's a "Toby" and the Mariners are a good matchup, even in GABP.
Mitchell Parker @ PIT - This has "Toby" with a great matchup written all over it.
Reese Olson @ MIL - Alright Olson. Pitchers have a bit of a benefit in Milwaukee and we need your slider and change on point. You got this.
Nick Pivetta vs. CHC - He demolished "Rockie Road" but the Cubs are a different story.
Chris Bassitt vs. ATL - Bassitt is working the kitchen sink well, even if the velocity is slightly down. There is some caution that Atlanta's offense is waking up after what we saw Monday night.
José Soriano @ TEX - Soriano is embracing sliders to RHB and I sure hope that's a trend that sticks.
Questionable Starts
Ronel Blanco @ STL - Blanco is throwing more curveballs now instead of sliders and that's kinda strange given how the slider was the pitch for him for ages. Welp, it's the Cardinals and this should be a cheap Win.
Osvaldo Bido @ CHW - It's the White Sox. Just throw strikes, Bido.
Matthew Boyd @ SDP - I don't like the matchup but Boyd can go six strong.
Max Meyer vs. ARI - You may disagree with the tier given his success thus far, but the velocity is back to 2024 levels and I question if the new sweeper and sinker are enough to distance Meyer from last year's disaster. Oh, and the Sneks n all.
Kris Bubic @ NYY - Why does it have to be Yankee Stadium?
Bobby Miller vs. COL - HE'S BACK. And he's been atrocious in the minors. But it's "Rockie Road"! Yeah, I know. I'm also hoping there's more adrenaline in this one to whip him into shape. Here's to hoping something clicks.
David Festa vs. NYM - Festa's slider is still a work in progress and the Mets have thump. Be careful, he's not a finished product.
Jose Quintana vs. DET - I'm glad he had "Koufax" on his side for his season debut. Don't let it blind you into think he's back to his peak, though.
Dean Kremer vs. CLE - The 15-teamer "HIPSTER" (Boomer HIPSTER? Williamsburg Deadhead? I dunno) is back at it. Who knows.
Do Not Starts
Sean Newcomb @ TBR - Nah y'all.
Zack Littell vs. BOS - This matchup has all the makings of a slugfest.
Griffin Canning @ MIN - He's the same guy from last year.
Bailey Falter vs. WSN - Falter is doing little to get us excited.
Clarke Schmidt vs. KCR - This seems awfully low, but he tossed just 61 pitches in his last rehab start. Likely rushed due to Stroman's injury, I'm expecting four frames, five at most, and that's disregarding quality.
Steven Matz vs. HOU - The Cardinals are giving him a start to grant some rest to their rotation. Don't expect much here.
Germán Márquez @ LAD - It's the Dodgers. And, you know, Germán.
Jonathan Cannon vs. ATH - He hasn't had that start yet and he may not for a while.
Patrick Corbin vs. LAA - The Rangers have elected to give deGrom some extra rest and pushing him back to...a start against the Dodgers on Saturday. THANKS OBAMA BUSH TEXAS.
Thursday 4/17 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.
