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):
Remember, these offensive rankings are based on each offense's Process+ so far this year and how we project their lineups moving forward. It means you're going to see a little different offensive rankings than you may see elsewhere and there will always be some surprises. This is based on skills, not purely results!
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.
Note: If no pitcher under 20% rostered would have qualified for a "Streaming Win," no loss is granted.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 44-16
My Pick yesterday: Win - Ryan Weathers @ SDP
My Pick today: Cade Horton vs. COL
My Pick tomorrow: Landen Roupp @ DET
My Pick day after tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
My picks for the day after tomorrow are located at the bottom of this article for PL Pro members.
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 42-18
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Loss - Chad Patrick vs. BOS
PL Bot's Pick today: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick day after tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Picks are located at the bottom of this article for PL Pro members.
Tuesday 5/27 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan @ TBR - Aces gonna ace.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. TOR - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ DET - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Brown vs. ATH - Aces gonna- wait. Do y'all want me to give him the "AGA" tag? He showed us the floor last time out...
Carlos Rodón @ LAA - Rodón is everything you've wanted him to be and more.
Corbin Burnes vs. PIT - It's the Pirates.
Jack Flaherty vs. SFG - It's the Giants. I'm not worried about Flaherty.
Probably Starts
Spencer Strider @ PHI - He's not in the auto-start tier after displaying questionable four-seamers last time out. If it's not the same velocity, it's not as overwhelming, nor does it help the slider thrive. Show us the dude we want to see.
Cade Horton vs. COL - This is such a lovely moment to stream Horton.
Tylor Megill vs. CHW - It's the CrySox.
Ranger Suárez vs. ATL - Suárez is in a groove and I'm fine with this one.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. STL - Sugano sure looks like a reliable "Toby" these days.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer @ KCR - He's heading home to face his former club and he could have a little extra adrenaline here. Can you get your slider back in that process, too? That would be swell.
Dustin May @ CLE - May finally woke his cutter up and he'll desperately need it against the LHB-focused Guardians. I'm afraid May's repertoire isn't suited well enough for them.
Taj Bradley vs. MIN - He's a "HIPSTER" and I don't want to deal with it in Tampa.
Tanner Bibee vs. LAD - Bibee had success last time out...but not with the cutter. Now it's the Dodgers and I'm just hoping he shows the skills to trust him in the following outing.
Logan Evans vs. WSN - It's the Nationals, maybe this can work?
Max Meyer @ SDP - Meyer was better in his last outing and not enough for me to risk a night with the Padres.
Bowden Francis @ TEX - The four-seamer is still a solid offering, it's a matter of having enough around it to get through six frames.
Do Not Starts
Andre Pallante @ BAL - The cut-fastball's velocity is over 95mph, but is that enough to generate fantasy value?
Aaron Civale vs. BOS - I don't trust Civale yet after failing to impress with his breakers in his "Still ILL" outing.
Mitchell Parker @ SEA - It's at "@TEA", though their offense is improved + Parker isn't in the groove we're looking for.
JP Sears @ HOU - Sears has struggled for two in a row and I wish he was set to face more LHB than Houston has to offer.
Tyler Anderson vs. NYY - Maybe the changeup is magical and can take down one of the best offenses around? Doubtful, I know.
Mike Burrows @ ARI - It's start #2 for Burrows, who has a touch of intrigue. Obviously not enough to chase against the Sneks.
Stephen Kolek vs. MIA - It's the Marlins and Kolek and throw effective strikes around the edges.
Daniel Lynch IV vs. CIN - I'm generally a fan of pitchers strolling down the "Reds Carpet", but Lynch has done little to show that he can take advantage of the situation.
Jonathan Cannon @ NYM - Looks like Cannon is healthy enough to start, but not in my leagues.
Cooper Criswell @ MIL - We've seen Crisell find five frames in the past.
Germán Márquez @ CHC - Uhhhh, no.
Wednesday 5/28 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler vs. ATL - Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ ARI - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Greene @ KCR - Let's see the slider go 65%+ strikes, okay?
Pablo López @ TBR - He's so close to "AGA" status.
Freddy Peralta vs. BOS - He's your typical "Cherry Bomb" though the Sawx have looked rough lately.
Matthew Boyd vs. COL - The gift that is "Rockie Road".
George Kirby vs. WSN - Kirby got his "Still ILL" outing out of the way and now we roll.
Probably Starts
Griffin Canning vs. CHW - It's the CrySox and Canning has been pitching oh-so-well.
Zac Gallen vs. PIT - I know, Gallen has been all kinds of weird. But it's the Pirates.
Drew Rasmussen vs. MIN - Rasmussen has righted the ship and is completing six frames. I know!
Jackson Jobe vs. SFG - Jobe is getting better and the Giants are not a major obstacle.
Clarke Schmidt @ LAA - It's a solid Win chance against a RHB lineup that plays into Schmidt's strengths.
Noah Cameron vs. CIN - Now that he has a few starts under his belt, it's time to waltz down the "Reds Carpet". I hope he's still at 92 mph, he's far better there than the 90 mph we saw earlier this year.
Questionable Starts
Landen Roupp @ DET - The Tigers aren't the ideal matchup and Roupp is still ironing out the kinks. Hopefully the changeup and cutter take another step forward.
Tyler Mahle vs. TOR - He's been on a "Vargas Rule", though the contact-heavy Jays may give him some trouble.
Shane Smith @ NYM - I dig Smith, I don't dig facing the Mets.
Cade Povich vs. STL - If Povich has his curveball and four-seamer separation, this can work against the Cards.
Brayan Bello @ MIL - No, I don't like it. And yet, we'd be lying if we didn't recognize that Bello has the tools to have a stellar evening in Milwaukee.
Sandy Alcantara @ SDP - Maybe this is Alcantara's day we take off the "TIARA" like we did with Gausman. One can only hope.
Do Not Starts
Miles Mikolas @ BAL - The defense has supported Mikolas more than expected and it could carry him to another QS.
Luis Severino @ HOU - I could be too low on this given the RHB nature of the Astros and his new love for the cutter. Severino hasn't returned a whole lot upside, though.
Kyle Hart vs. MIA - Hart is getting another chance and the Marlins are not a strong offense against LHB. This could be a surprise "Gold Star" candidate...or a whole lot of nothing.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ PHI - We saw AJSS' floor last time out as his schedule turns over into the gauntlet. The whole arsenal is too lacking without stellar command.
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. ATH - The strikeouts could flow, but the innings are not.
Trevor Williams @ SEA - #NeverTrevor.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. NYY - It's the Yankees.
Slade Cecconi vs. LAD - It's the Dodgers. He's kinda interesting though...? Nah.
Clayton Kershaw @ CLE - This is not the "TATIAGA" you remember.
Eric Lauer @ TEX - Is he even going to go five frames?
Tanner Gordon @ CHC - Is he even going to survive?
Thursday 5/29 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 from everyone else, and I thought this was a good compromise.
