Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 5/25 & 5/26

Here are today’s daily SP Streamer rankings.

Every day of the 2023 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today 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 Twitch.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 Twitch 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.

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,” which 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 would be those picks, 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 (in Alphabetical order):

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.

Alright, let’s get to it.

 

This year, with our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, I’ll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.

To get access to PL Bot’s picks each day, sign up for PL Pro here.

 

Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 28-25

My pick yesterday: Brandon Bielak @ MIL

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 26-27

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Ken Waldichuk @ SEA

Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign Up for PL Pro here.

 

With the new formatting for the notes, I’ve made the streaming pick of the day Underlined and Italicized.

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Logan Gilbert vs. OAK – With his new splitter and a reliable slider, I’m starting to buy into the high strikeout rate from Gilbert + Oakland is glorious.

Logan Webb @ MIL – Webb has a new slider and it could spell the return of a 25% strikeout rate. Update: The Giants are electing to have an opener to make for a shorter Webb start as he’s feeling some back pain. Still all for it. Update UPDATE: Webb has now been pushed back to Saturday. I don’t want to start whoever is replacing him today.

Aaron Nola @ ATL – Nola did wonderful things last time out and now gets a proper challenge with Atlanta. You start him and don’t look back.

Lucas Giolito @ DET – I have my questions about the arsenal, but don’t overthink it against the Tigers.

 

Probable Starts

 

JP Sears @ SEA – The whiffs are there and despite the 100th percentile flyball rate (which generally leads to a higher HR rate than others), I’m rolling with Sears.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Zach Eflin vs. TOR – The past few starts are the best I’ve ever seen Eflin with his new cutter, but the Jays are oh-so-scary. Is it enough to risk it? This was the toughest call of these ranks.

Blake Snell @ WSN – Look, I don’t know when Snell will kick in, but if you want to chance it here, the Nationals are one of the better floors you’ll get.

Kyle Gibson @ NYY – Gibson does whatever Gibson wants on a given day. He’s the prototypical Cherry Bomb.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Braxton Garrett @ COL – I’ve been encouraged by Garrett’s new cutter reliance, but Coors is undefeated. It’s too risky.

Alek Manoah @ TBR – He had a good line against the Orioles and yet, didn’t take any tangible steps forward in his repertoire. I’d sit this out against a strong offense.

Miles Mikolas @ CIN – Mikolas has a low ceiling and heads to one of the worst parks to pitch a baseball.

Kyle Freeland vs. MIA – Freeland has had his moments and Hey, it’s the Marlins! and yet…I don’t want this at all.

Clarke Schmidt vs. BAL – I have my concerns that his repertoire simply doesn’t do enough to warrant a spot on fantasy teams. The floor/ceiling balance isn’t there.

Alex Faedo vs. CHW – If the slider is working, there’s a chance Faedo can make this work against an offense that struggles against right-handers.

Carlos Carrasco @ CHC – I have no idea what we’re gonna get from Carrasco and the Cubs are solid.

Jameson Taillon vs. NYM – Same for Taillon, really. He’s been struggling to find any sort of rhythm this year and the Mets are dangerous.

Update: Kyle Hendricks vs. NYM – The Cubs are activating Hendricks and it’s a very clear Still ILL situation.

Bryse Wilson? vs. SFG – There’s a chance this is Julio Teheran instead and even typing that sentence made me take another step away from my computer.

Luke Weaver vs. STL – Weaver gets his “revenge” game and is not equipped to come out ahead.

Jake Irvin vs. SDP – The ceiling is far too low.

Dylan Dodd vs. PHI – We haven’t seen him click into place since his fantastic spring and the Phils aren’t the kind of team to welcome Dodd’s ascension with a steering hand.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Kevin Gausman @ MIN – AGA. Don’t you dare bench Gausman.

George Kirby vs. PIT – The Pirates are a poor offensive squad and Kirby should take advantage.

Hunter Brown @ OAK – He’s been locked in and pitching against Oakland is a gift.

Mitch Keller @ SEA – The command is as good as we’ve ever seen it from Keller. You start the man.

Chris Sale @ ARI – Sale is looking fantastic with his heater and slider (hopefully the change comes back too?) and the Diamondbacks don’t scare me.

Freddy Peralta vs. SFG – We haven’t had that Peralta game for a bit and the Giants may give us the start we’re looking for.

Justin Steele vs. CIN – Steele starting to get a few more slider whiffs and if he can keep those up with his four-seamer command, his breakout campaign will last a little longer.

Max Scherzer @ COL – It’s Coors, but can we really sit Mad Max? This is the hardest ranking for me on Friday.

Joe Musgrove @ NYY – His slider hasn’t been there lately, but I’m going to wager that either he’ll get it back or his curve is good enough to make this worthwhile.

Lance Lynn @ DET – He’s 2-for-2 on his redemption tour against poor lineups and Detroit should be more of the same.

Reid Detmers vs. MIA – How is Detmers an auto-start?! Because he just struck out 12 with a great WHIP and now faces the Marlins without Jazz in the lineup. High floor high ceiling = start him.

 

Probable Starts

 

Jon Gray @ BAL – Like bacon egg and cheese, he’s been on a roll…but so has the Orioles offense. We go with it since Gray is sporting a better slider and 95/96 mph heaters, but it’s not an auto-start.

Shane Bieber vs. STL – Bieber’s slider has come and gone throughout the year and the floor is lower than we want it to be. Sidenote: There’s confusion if it’s Tanner Bibee or Bieber as nothing has been announced and they pitched on the same day due to a doubleheader. MLB says Bieber on their website and I’m going with that. Bibee would be in the same spot.

Jesús Luzardo @ LAA – His poor luck has to come to a close eventually, right? I dig the command and stuff.

Hunter Greene @ CHC – He’s a home run threat, but the strikeout upside is too good to pass up.

Matthew Liberatore @ CLE – I’m rolling with this against the Guardians. Liberatore’s curve and four-seamer should be good enough to hold off a weak lineup. They already have, after all.

Alex Wood @ MIL – Wood hasn’t come through quite yet, but the Brewers are meh and Wood has a good enough sinker and slider to produce.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Patrick Corbin @ KCR – Look, it’s been four straight 6+ IP and 2 ER games for Corbin as he’s lowered the walk rates and now he gets the Royals. I’m still not doing it, but hey, maybe it’s an actual Vargas Rule?

Louie Varland vs. TOR – I dig Varland plenty and I feel bad for his horrid schedule, including this game against the Jays. It’s just too dang risky.

Jared Shuster vs. PHI – He showed up with a ton of slider whiffs in his last start and there’s a chance he takes another step against the Phils. Definitely don’t like this, though.

Grayson Rodriguez vs. TEX – Ugggggh, is this the start when Grayson unlocks his secondaries? Probably not.

Brandon Pfaadt vs. BOS – If Pfaadt has four-seamer/slider command, it’s good enough to make it work, I just hate that his heater isn’t the whiff pitch I thought it was going to be.

 

Do Not Starts

 

James Kaprielian vs. HOU – If Kap has his four-seamer cooking in the zone with his slider, there’s a chance this works.

Taijuan Walker @ ATL – He’s splitter focused and the splitter isn’t that great + Atlanta is really good.

Noah Syndergaard @ TBR – It’s the Rays and Thor’s ceiling/floor is all out of whack.

Cooper Criswell? vs. LAD – Is it going to be Cooper? Does it really matter?

Joey Wentz vs. CHW – He got the Nationals and burned anyone trying for a desperate stream. Fool me once…

Jordan Lyles vs. WSN – Lyles has been detrimental far more than helpful this season.

Connor Seabold vs. NYM – It’s in Coors and does that actually change anything?

Ryan Weber? vs. SDP – I have no idea what the Yankees are doing for Friday’s game and I’d just avoid all of it.

 

Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)