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: 6-2
My Pick yesterday: Charlie Morton vs. BOS
My Pick today: Tylor Megill vs. TOR
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 6-2
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Charlie Morton vs. BOS
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 4/4 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. MIA - He's on the path to AGA in a great matchup.
Jack Flaherty vs. CHW - The White Sox y'all.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ PHI - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried @ PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. SDP - You Are An AGA, right?
Seth Lugo vs. BAL - Sure, he's a "Holly".
Probably Starts
Gavin Williams @ LAA - It's a great matchup Gavin, please don't let us down. SHOW US THE CUTTER.
Kevin Gausman @ NYM - This and the other arms below are mostly "Toby" plays so fine, go with Gausman.
Tylor Megill vs. TOR - Megill looked so good in his last start and I'm being aggressive here to showcase how he should be picked up just for the chance he keeps it going. If he does, this may be the breakout pick of the year. No joke. It's a big IF? Kinda, yeah.
José Soriano vs. CLE - He's solid with sinker/curve and don't expect the world.
Nick Martinez @ MIL - I dig Martinez's schtick and it's good to pitch in Milwaukee for strikeouts. 12% increase!
Justin Verlander vs. SEA - Verlander isn't the greatest, but this is a lovely situation.
Max Meyer @ ATL - Should Meyer be higher? Maybe? I see this as the test for Meyer against a solid offense that hasn't fired on all cylinders yet. Hopefully the non-sliders step up to demand just as much success as the signature breaker.
Questionable Starts
Brandon Pfaadt @ WSN - I'm so curious if the curveball returns to face LHB. 3/9 whiffs last time out and if that is a true solution for LHB, then I can finally get on board.
Tyler Mahle vs. TBR - Mahle's first outing was an obvious fluke of a day. He struggled to locate the heaters as he normally does and the secondaries were blegh (even if they are usually blegh), but it was 93 mph and I'm willing to give him a first-start-back pass against a mediocre Rays offense. Let's see how this goes.
Jesús Luzardo vs. LAD - We saw Luzardo feature a new sweeper and strike out a ton in his first start against the Nationals. This is the Dodgers. Good luck.
Dean Kremer @ KCR - Kremer's skills have been on the good side of the pendulum in late spring and even in his first start. This could work...?
Erick Fedde @ BOS - Fedde is a "Toby" heading to one of the worst pitcher parks.
Zack Littell @ TEX - Littell went "Dacing With The Disco" once again and had fantastic precision last time. I don't believe he'll do that often.
Jake Irvin vs. ARI - Maybe the curve is back in full?
Walker Buehler vs. STL - His last start was so bad. He looks as lost as ever and is sitting 93 mph. Even against the Cards, he's in hitter-friendly Fenway and I've already dropped him. I sure hope he shows us something different here.
Mitch Keller vs. NYY - This has all the signs of a disaster, but at least Keller can go 5/6 innings with a wide arsenal and throw strikes...? Yeah, you're not doing this.
Do Not Starts
Osvaldo Bido @ COL - It's Coors for a guy without good command.
Jonathan Cannon @ DET - If you're desperate for a QS, there could be one here. That's all.
Randy Vásquez @ CHC - Vásquez earned the fifth spot and I hate this matchup against the Cubs. He could find outs and a Win out of nothing and but the ceiling isn't worth the jump.
Ryan Feltner vs. ATH - Feltner is in Coors. Noooope.
Luis F. Castillo @ SFG - Nope, not that Luis Castillo for the Mariners. I know. At least he should go longer than T-Lex.
Tyler Alexander vs. CIN - T-Lex has arms like his leash. Super short.
Saturday 4/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom vs. TBR - Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray vs. SEA - This should be lovely. Please have the changeup working.
Tanner Bibee @ LAA - He should be all good now and it's the Angels.
Bryce Miller @ SFG - He's away from home and I'm sure we won't see more sinkers than four-seamers to RHB...right?
Bailey Ober vs. HOU - Hey Ober, if you're not recovered from your illness, please don't heroball this. If he's starting, I'm going to assume he's okay. But he pitched last time. I know, I know, but it's public now.
Probably Starts
Reese Olson vs. CHW - It's the White Sox.
Spencer Arrighetti @ MIN - Arrighetti's velocity is back to normal and it's the Twins.
Richard Fitts vs. STL - I wasn't thrilled at the data from his first outing but it's the Cardinals. Let's hope everything looks better across the board.
Taj Bradley @ TEX - He looked great in his first outing as the cutter command is coming together.
Aaron Nola vs. LAD - It's the Dodgers. We've seen Nola come through...but it's the Dodgers.
Brady Singer @ MIL - I love Singer's approach with four-seamers now and pitching in Milwaukee is actually kinda good...?
Roki Sasaki @ PHI - I dropped down Sasaki with concerns of his leash and lack of third option against a good Philly team. He still has the upside to demolish with the splitter, though, and I think you're starting him in most cases.
AJ Smith-Shawver vs. MIA - I'd love to see AJSS get me hyped. The biggest concern is his overall command and if it's shaky, it'll come through, even against the Marlins.
Nick Pivetta @ CHC - Pivetta is heading to a HR supressing park and this should be cool. Why can't it be a worse team than the Cubs offense?
Questionable Starts
Michael Wacha vs. BAL - Wacha's changeup is still solid and he's getting more vert on the heater. Now just throw it for strikes and don't get burned by the longball, k thx.
Jack Kochanowicz vs. CLE - He's no longer the Jack of One Trade with a slider and four-seamer working into the mix. He has so many QS on his resume and this could be another, even if the strikeouts aren't there.
Matthew Boyd vs. SDP - I did Boyd this year and at least it's in Wigley. Too bad he has to get the Friars.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ WSN - He's always a decent play for a QS or a Win.
Chris Bassitt @ NYM - He looks like the old Bassitt and treat him like a "Toby".
Davis Martin @ DET - The kick-change isn't that great right now but his slider is kinda working? It's the Tigers, it could be fine.
Griffin Canning vs. TOR - I don't like it at all but maybe it works.
Do Not Starts
JP Sears @ COL - It's Coors.
Marcus Stroman @ PIT - If you're desperate for a Win, it could be there. It could easily be another sub 5 IP performance, sadly.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ KCR - I hope I can feel better about his future outings. For now, it's not worth the risk.
Mitchell Parker vs. ARI - Parker is battling to be a "Toby" and in the meantime, we bench him against the Sneks.
Andre Pallante @ BOS - Pallante showed not diminished but improved velocity in his first outing and sadly, he has to deal with Fenway now. Bummer.
Germán Márquez vs. ATH - It's Coors. I was born in it.
Bailey Falter vs. NYY - Falter isn't terrible, but hot dang, don't do this against the pinstripes.
Cal Quantrill @ ATL - Nope.
Elvin Rodríguez vs. CIN - Nooooope.
Sunday 4/6 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
New 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.
