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: 26-7
My Pick yesterday: Nick Martinez vs. STL
My Pick today: Jack Kochanowicz @ SEA
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 26-7
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: JP Sears 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.
Tuesday 4/29 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler vs. WSN - Aces gonna ace.
Garrett Crochet @ TOR - Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom vs. ATH - Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ PIT - Aces goo--Oh right. Not quite there despite his prophetic name granted at birth, but it's the Pirates.
Freddy Peralta @ CHW - This is super obvious.
Logan Webb @ SDP - Webb has found a rhythm with his sweeper and change.
Carlos Rodón @ BAL - Rodón's changeup is working like a charm.
Bryce Miller vs. LAA - Okay Bryce. It's @TEA. It's a RHB-heavy crew. THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
Nick Pivetta vs. SFG - Pivetta has been cruising and no one is benching him now.
Probably Starts
Tanner Bibee vs. MIN - It's pretty clear you're going to start him, though I recognize that Bibee has not been at his peak.
MacKenzie Gore @ PHI - Gore has been on more than off and performed at his best against strong teams. Let's hope for a replication of opening day.
Bowden Francis vs. BOS - Is this the start that everyone starts believing Francis isn't that great? I hope not. Seriously, I want every pitcher to be dope!
Reese Olson @ HOU - Olson's changeup and slider were both filthy for the first time all year.
David Peterson vs. ARI - Peterson's extension + pair of whiffable secondaries makes me inclined to let him ride. We haven't seen both the change and slider dominate in a game thus far, though.
Questionable Starts
Sandy Alcantara @ LAD - Yikes. Sandy has been rough since his paternity leave and it's the Dodgers.
Jack Kochanowicz @ SEA - Sometimes decency is all we want in this world.
Ryan Gusto vs. DET - His four-seamer is a fun offering upstairs, but does he have enough in the utility belt to support it for 5+ frames?
Brady Singer vs. STL - Singer isn't showcasing a super wide arsenal these days and it's GABP, but this should be fine.
Andrew Heaney vs. CHC - Heaney has been a "Vargas Rule" and this will be a true test to see how much we believe in that term.
Taj Bradley vs. KCR - Bradley's command is not fun to endure throughout a fantasy season.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ NYM - We know the rare ceiling. This is really a shot at a QS or Win.
Michael Lorenzen @ TBR - Please go six frames.
Do Not Starts
Chris Paddack @ CLE - This may be worthy of the third tier with a LHB-heavy lineup that serves his split-change well. I still question if the ceiling is worth the jump. You say that a lot. It's a good phrase!
Miles Mikolas @ CIN - Mikolas could spin sliders a ton and find a way through six.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ COL - AJSS is returning and they're throwing him into Coors. The command is the real issue and I'm skeptical he'll make us confident for multiple starts.
Matt Sauer? vs. MIA - How long is he going? Does it matter? For those who have seen that it could be Ben Casparius, note that he tossed over 50 pitches in relief of Glasnow on Sunday. That's heavily unlikely.
Hogan Harris (Opener) @ TEX - We've seen Hogan have a kitchen-sink of pitches to be a deep-league streamer. That's the best I can do.
Kyle Gibson vs. NYY - This floor is so low.
Bryse Wilson (Opener) vs. MIL - Absolutely not.
Germán Márquez vs. ATL - COL story, bro.
Wednesday 4/30 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Michael King vs. SFG - Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans @ TBR - Aces gonna ace. If he makes this start, we assume he's fine.
Pablo López @ CLE - He's back on the rubber. We start him.
Drew Rasmussen vs. KCR - Rasmussen is too dang good.
Corbin Burnes @ NYM - Despite all my doom and gloom, we still roll with Burnes as a SP #2/3 type.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. ATH - Eovaldi is feeling his full arsenal.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. WSN - If his forearm injury isn't serious enough to prevent him from starting, then we're rolling him out there.
Chris Sale @ COL - It's Coors, but that's not so terrible, right? At least he went five full last start with 1 ER (first time under 2 ER!).
Probably Starts
Matthew Boyd @ PIT - Boyd finally gets a good matchup after six starts of 2x Sneks, 2x Padres, 2x Dodgers. Bonkers, I know. If you can still grab him, now's the time.
Tyler Anderson @ SEA - Pretty easy streaming choice here. Anderson is the king of streamers and few better than a day "@TEA".
Jake Irvin @ PHI - Irvin's curve is cooking. We start Irvin when he's on rolls like these.
Kodai Senga vs. ARI - Senga's arsenal isn't flooring me at the moment, but he's a clear "Holly". We go with this.
Jackson Jobe @ HOU - I'm just glad he's making another start.
Landen Roupp @ SDP - Okay Roupp, here's the most important start of your season. You just got punched in the mouth, how do you respond?
Andrew Abbott vs. STL - Abbott's velocity is down 1-2 ticks, while the changeup feel has been in-and-out. Fortunately, it's the Cards and as long as the balls stay in the yard, he should be fine.
Shane Smith vs. MIL - Smith doesn't have the stamina we want to see yet, but the stuff is too fun. Unlikely we get a full six, sadly.
Tobias Myers @ CHW - The "STILL ILL" is out of the way and the CrySox should help him establish the "Toby" lifestyle once again.
Questionable Starts
Hayden Wesneski vs. DET - I'm not too impressed with Wesneski's arsenal outside of the sweeper. I wish there was more (maybe the extension goes to seven feet?) and here's a shot against the Tigers.
Luis Severino @ TEX - Severino is Severino. Hopefully the cutter and sweeper work well to play off the pair of fastballs.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. MIN - I have no idea what we're gonna get. The four-seamer has promise but held a 50% strike rate when he had 20 whiffs across all his pitches. He displayed a legit changeup out of nowhere. WHO ARE YOU?!
Tony Gonsolin vs. MIA - He's returning to the rotation and gets the easiest reintroduction to the majors. There will be adrenline here, which could help or hurt Gonsolin. Not a bad play as a spec add to let him ride and hopefully keep holding after. He'd get the Marlins a second time, after all.
Do Not Starts
Lucas Giolito @ TOR - I'm more excited about Giolito's debut than I am Gonsolin's, but he's in a far worse situation and hasn't been promising in his rehab starts. That said, grab him, see how this goes, and take it from there. There is legit Top 50 SP upside here given Giolito's track record of a workhorse + his increased velocity in spring '24 before going under the knife. Doesn't hurt that the Red Sox are more capable of winning games than his previous squads.
Cade Povich vs. NYY - Povich returned with a vengeance after what looked like his worst outing of his short career, but this is the Yankees. Here's to hoping the adjustments with two strikes are here to stay.
Emerson Hancock vs. LAA - Hancock gets a good matchup, but the ceiling is too dang low for a guy who hasn't commanded his offerings effectively. Just get that sinker inside and lean on the slider + changeup often.
Carlos Carrasco @ BAL - Maybe there's a cheap Win?
Steven Matz @ CIN - Matz hasn't started since the 16th and I'm not banking on him going long, nor doing so with quality in GABP.
Chase Dollander vs. ATL - He throws hard. That's it. It's Coors + Atlanta.
Casey Lawrence vs. BOS - Even in "@TEA", we don't.
Carmen Mlodzinski vs. CHC - Wait, you're not Bubba.
Cal Quantrill @ LAD - Yeah. No.
Thursday 5/1 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.
