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.
And of course, there are my streaming picks of the day. 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.
(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):
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 PLV, 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: 23-7
My Pick yesterday: Jake Irvin vs. NYM
My Pick today: Michael Wacha vs. HOU
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 23-7
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Justin Verlander vs. TEX
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.
Saturday 4/25 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Max Fried vs. TOR - Aces gonna ace. Postponed.
Hunter Greene @ COL - Aces gonna ace. The Rockies are such a rough offense that it's actually okay to start guys in Coors. Wild, eh?
Dylan Cease vs. TBR - Aces gonna ace.
Sonny Gray vs. MIL - He's in a good groove.
Framber Valdez @ KCR - Framber, you're fine, right? Please make everything fine.
Luis Castillo vs. MIA - Castillo is in the gully and far from his peak, but it's the Marlins.
Probably Starts
Jesús Luzardo @ CHC - He's killing it, but so are the Cubs batters. Let's hope he doesn't make the same mistakes he did against the Giants.
Roki Sasaki vs. PIT - Alright Sasaki, this is the start when it all works, right?
Ryan Pepiot @ SDP - I imagine Pepiot jades some, but you know he had a solid "PQS" last time out against the Yankees, right? The stuff is still legit.
Robbie Ray vs. TEX - I've gotten a lot of comments about my "love" for Ray and his walk rates and the lack of dominance thus far. I get it! He's been off his game in April and it can be hard to understand why I'd like a guy who is clearly not keeping guys off the basepaths. Thing is, have you noticed his approach? It's ultra fastball heavy and it's abnormal for a pitcher with an elite slider, who has also flexed a legit curve + developing changeup. I don't believe what we've seen the last few weeks is what we'll get from Ray. Will it start in this one against Texas? Maybe, maybe not. I'm going to keep going to the well believing the water will be clean with every pull.
Jackson Jobe vs. BAL - Jobe has displayed a good floor despite going through his developmental phase on the bump. That's a dangerous statement to say after what happened to Dustin. IT'S TRUE.
Tyler Mahle @ SFG - Mahle has been rocking his four-seamer upstairs with decent enough splitters to back it up. Let's hope Junior (he's a discount Joe Ryan, J.R.) keeps it going in a good matchup.
Jeffrey Springs vs. CHW - This hasn't been sunshine and rainbows, but the CrySox should get his pride back.
Grant Holmes @ ARI - The Real Estate Broker hasn't converted the whiffs we've expected on his slider and curve and it's no joy heading to Arizona. That said, he's improving and the skills are there.
Clay Holmes @ WSN - The Adobe is a bit of a "HIPSTER" and the Nats are not a scary crew(s) at the moment.
Yusei Kikuchi @ MIN - I'm not buying into Kikuchi and yet he keeps getting a lovely schedule.
Questionable Starts
Kevin Gausman @ NYY - The splitter kinda returned last time out...? Eight whiffs! And it's the Yankees. Postponed.
Walker Buehler @ CLE - Buehler had a much better outing against the CrySox, but the Guardians will be tougher with their LHB-heavy lineup. Buehler's sweeper has been his most consistent pitch...to RHB. I wonder how this plays out.
Merrill Kelly vs. ATL - Kelly is a "Toby" in a questionable matchup.
Michael Wacha vs. HOU - Wacha is a "Toby" in a questionable matchup. Sometimes it's that simple.
Casey Mize vs. BAL - I'm not sold on Mize's breakers, making him too much of a two-pitch arm in my book.
Tanner Houck @ CLE - Houck just performed well in a cushy matchup and this will be far tougher with a ton of LHB.
Do Not Starts
Ben Lively vs. BOS - Lively has it in him to find a Win or QS, but at what cost.
Ben Brown vs. PHI - I just don't dig the two-pitch mix. It doesn't speak to longevity, nor a high floor.
Logan Allen vs. BOS - Allen has been oddly decent...? I still don't like this.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. LAA - He could have an opener again and he's the most restricted of all Twins arms.
Mitch Keller @ LAD - Oh wow.
Quinn Priester @ STL - Priester isn't in a place that I trust the sinker to generate outs over the plate and dominate with secondaries.
Brandon Young @ DET - The Orioles are looking for a savior in their rotation. It's highly unlikely to be Young, but there's a chance.
Charlie Morton @ DET - Morton is...Morton.
Connor Gillispie @ SEA - It's @TEA! And it doesn't matter. Probably.
Jonathan Cannon @ ATH - Cannon hasn't played the 1812 Overture yet.
Antonio Senzatela vs. CIN - Senz-A does what Senz-A does.
Brad Lord vs. NYM - He's not Royal.
Sunday 4/26 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. BAL - Aces gonna ace.
Tyler Glasnow vs. PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. TOR - Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan vs. LAA - Aces gonna ace.
Spencer Schwellenbach @ ARI - Another major test for Mr. Crescendo. He hasn't dominated for a few now and we want those breakers to earn whiffs again.
Bryce Miller vs. MIA - You couldn't ask for a better situation for Bryce.
Hunter Brown @ KCR - He's hurling 97+ mph heaters.
Max Meyer @ SEA - He's in @TEA after earning 14 strikeouts, y'all.
Probably Starts
Gavin Williams vs. BOS - He's fresh off his best performance with strikes galore with his curve and sweeper + the cutter showed up. FINALLY.
Kris Bubic vs. HOU - Bubic is kinda better against RHB as he hasn't displayed great breaker command to LHB.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. ATL - His LHB package is improved this season and I'm game against Atlanta.
Tylor Megill @ WSN - He's not an efficient pitcher but it's a good matchup.
José Soriano @ MIN - It's the Twins.
Aaron Nola @ CHC - The velocity has been down and the Cubs are scary. I completely get it if you want this in the next tier down.
Chris Bassitt @ NYY - Same goes for Bassitt against the Yankees. He's had such a good year though (save for his curve gone in his last start).
Questionable Starts
Nick Lodolo @ COL - Coors isn't fun...or is it? That offense really isn't good.
Kevin Gausman @ NYY - The splitter kinda returned last time out...? Eight whiffs! But it's the Yankees.
Mitchell Parker vs. NYM - He's on a roll and the Mets aren't too dangerous.
Jordan Hicks vs. TEX - Alright Hicks. I imagine some would rather Quintana or Fedde, but I'm a believer in that velocity. Just figure out the sweeper or splitter for strikes and don't chuck the fastball down the pipe. It's time to win back the confidence of fantasy managers everywhere.
Jose Quintana @ STL - He's on a mini "Vargas Rule" run since joining the Brewers, even if I'm seeing more "Koufax" influence than I'd like.
Erick Fedde vs. MIL - Fedde is making a play for "Spider-Man" this year and this shouldn't deter most of you.
Osvaldo Bido vs. CHW - It's the CrySox. Just throw strikes.
Brayan Bello @ CLE - Bello has one outing under his belt after returning last week and he's not polished quite yet. Maybe today's the day.
Clarke Schmidt vs. TOR - He could get locked in here against the Jays. We haven't seen it yet.
Jameson Taillon vs. PHI - Despite a gauntlet of opponents, Taillon has produced. What's one more against the Phils?
Jack Leiter @ SFG - This feels like a "Still ILL" after getting sidelined with a blister.
Do Not Starts
Dean Kremer @ DET - There's always a chance with Kremer. As of now, he's just a "Werewolf".
Davis Martin @ ATH - I wish there were a higher ceiling to chase.
Randy Vásquez vs. TBR - Maybe you'll get a "PQS" and nothing else?
Zack Littell @ SDP - There's no reason to jump for this ceiling.
Ryan Feltner vs. CIN - It's Coors, even if Feltner has had surprisingly decent starts.
Bailey Falter @ LAD - The Dodgers, y'all.
Monday 4/27 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.
Jobe and Williams delayed… I have both… fun times.
How the heck am I supposed to trust Soriano after his last start?
Yeah, it’s always tough, right? Every pitcher has bad days, and “trust” is a term that can mean many things for different people.
In short, you shouldn’t make a rash decision on Soriano after one game.
You’re so stubborn with Hicks bruhh. He just isn’t good. He throws hard, cute. Your commitment to trying to make him a thing is clinically insane. It’s worrisome. It’s quite frankly bothersome.
Hey! Everything alright? Seems a bit hyperbolic about the assessment of a single player.
You’re not supposed to trust Soriano after his last start. He’s the same dude he’s always been. Fantastic tools, poor execution. He needs to get on a different team, with a different coaching staff. The “Probably” is more about trusting the Twins to be bad, which they probably will. which. Not sure how that could be confusing.
As for Hicks, he’s in the second to last tier. Makes all the sense in the would. The good Hicks COULD come out to play, but it’s questionable. It’s annoying when frustrated sports fanatics show up and spout off, instead of students and lovers of the game commenting. It’s like someone farted in the produce section.
CHECK THE WEATHER FOR YOUR STARTS ON SUNDAY. IT’S GOING TO BE BRUTALLY COLD, ALL DAY, ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND FOR A BUNCH OF STREAMERS, SPECIFICALLY. YOU DON’T WANT TO START GUYS IN 20-30 DEGREE WEATHER! THEY CAN’T EVEN FEEL THE BALL!