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.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 32-11
My Pick yesterday: José Soriano vs TOR
My Pick today: Jordan Hicks @ MIN
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 31-12
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Dean Kremer vs. MIN
PL Bot's Pick today: Get our Daily & Weekly PLV Projections with PL Bot via PL Pro here. If you already have PL Pro, they are included at the bottom of this article.
Friday 5/9 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. TEX - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Brown vs. CIN - Hosting the Reds is a gift.
Aaron Nola @ CLE - Nola's command and velocity are peaking.
Luis Castillo vs. TOR - The fastballs are making me worried, but it's "@TEA" against a meh offense.
Probably Starts
Kevin Gausman @ SEA - The splitter returned in his last game (YES) and all I can do is hope that he's made a tweak. I'm thrilled we get to spin that wheel while heading to "@TEA", too.
Jameson Taillon @ NYM - Taillon has been on such a fun run and he loves pitching in Citi Field.
Max Meyer @ CHW - He has been terrible. I know. At yet, pitchers are finicky and we know the ceiling. He gets the White Sox and I'm rolling with it.
Questionable Starts
Tomoyuki Sugano @ LAA - Sugano's command has improved massively and the Angels are not scary. He's trending in the right direction and this may be the start you want to jump in for.
Clay Holmes vs. CHC - "The Adobe" still frustrates me with his inability to showcase precision across his arsenal in a given game, but his stuff is still solid and he's likely not coming off your rosters all year. Too bad it's the Cubs here.
Jordan Hicks @ MIN - Hicks. Buddy. Can you please sit 97 mph and actually command the sinker? And not have terrible splitters and sweepers?
Nick Martinez @ HOU - Martinez is one of those arms who I feel has better command and stuff than the results often say. It looks nice and pristine, but he's more hittable than I'd like. THAT SAID, if the slider (better than the cutter last time out!) and change are on, this should be fine against the Astros.
Gavin Williams vs. PHI - If you've moved on from this "HIPSTER" I totally get it. I'm a believer in the next four months of Gavin, who has the pieces and could be a stud in a heartbeat. The four-seamer is legit and he just needs consistent strikes with another pitch.
Mitchell Parker vs. STL - Parker has displayed his floor and is still capable of going six strong against the Cardinals.
Erick Fedde @ WSN - You are a 15-teamer "Toby", right?
Will Warren @ ATH - I don't like starting guys in Sacré Verde (The sacred green + Sacramento = Sacré Verde) and Warren is in the development period of figuring out his arsenal.
Jose Quintana @ TBR - Quintana does enough to give himself a chance at a Quality Start and gets a good matchup.
Do Not Starts
Chris Paddack vs SFG - Ryan is still recovering from his illness, pushing Paddack up a day. This could work against the lowly Giants offense, and yet I don't have much interest chasing the low ceiling.
Michael Lorenzen vs. BOS - Lorenzen has a chance for a Quality Start, but the ceiling has been notoriously low.
Roki Sasaki @ ARI - It's just not worth it until Sasaki displays a legit third pitch.
Bryce Elder @ PIT - At least it's the Pirates and there could be a Win?
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. LAD - It's the Dodgers. It's so dang risky, even if he's somehow found strikeouts at times this year.
Zack Littell vs. MIL - He could go "Dancing With The Disco" for minimal reward.
Hunter Dobbins @ KCR - Ehhhh, I'm not the biggest Dobbins fan.
Bailey Falter vs. ATL - I'm curious if Falter can sustain the 93 mph heater we saw last time.
Randy Vásquez @ COL - It's Coors and Vásquez's approach is to worship "Koufax".
Bryse Wilson vs. MIA - Not even the Marlins can convince me to do this.
Kyle Hendricks vs. BAL - Here's to hoping the changeup(s) work out.
Patrick Corbin @ DET - Corbin is doing everything he can to survive 5+ frames, but even when he's doing what he wants it's likely not enough against the roaring Tigers.
Osvaldo Bido vs. NYY - It's New York in Sacré Verde + Bido has feral command.
Antonio Senzatela vs. SDP - Senz-A does what Senz-A does.
Saturday 5/10 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cole Ragans vs. BOS - Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom @ DET - Aces gonna ace.
Garrett Crochet @ KCR - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ MIN - Here it is. Your final boss for "AGA". Don't let us down.
Joe Ryan vs. SFG - Aces gonna ace...but he's been scratched twice now due to illness. This is a "Still ILL" but the actual literal version for once. Only reason he's behind Webb.
Jack Flaherty vs. TEX - Believe in the curve and slider.
Carlos Rodón @ ATH - Even going into "Sacré Verde", Rodón has been too good.
Probably Starts
Shane Smith vs. MIA - It's the Marlins and Smith finally displayed stamina through 91 pitches in his last one. Awwww yeah.
Bowden Francis @ SEA - It's "@TEA", even if the Mariners are better than usual and all my fears about Francis are coming alive. The four-seamer should cook.
Ranger Suárez @ CLE - But he just got crushed in his return! He sure did. He also sat 92 mph and had far better command of his arsenal than the line suggests.
Tanner Bibee vs. PHI - Hoooo boy. Good luck everyone. If you want to bench, I completely understand. I'm still giving him the "TIARA" and expect Bibee to figure this out in time. I'm not ready to believe he's suddenly broken for a full season.
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. CIN - McCullers was highly inefficient in his return to the mound after three years. Not much of a surprise given the emotions there. He also was closer to the zone than the line suggests and with an ideal matchup in Houston hosting the Reds.
Questionable Starts
AJ Smith-Shawver @ PIT - But he's pitched well! It was weird. He got the Reds (see above) and I don't like his command at all. That splitter is all kinds of strange as his #2 pitch and the Pirates are not as weak as you think. But hey, I get it if you want to start him anyway!
Taj Bradley vs. MIL - He's too volatile start-to-start without a clear path for getting better. He's a "HIPSTER".
Tylor Megill vs. CHC - The command of his slider and four-seamer are waning a touch and it's the Cubs. There is a much more realistic shot at his ceiling than those above, but all of these can be tough days at the park.
Brady Singer @ HOU - Singer is back to his ole sinker/slider game without whiffs on the slider as of late. Surely the RHB-exclusive Astros can get the slider back on track, right?
Corbin Burnes vs. LAD - Is he actually okay? Why does this have to be the Dodgers?
Dustin May @ ARI - Alright May, you took a step forward last time, even if the result wasn't pristine. Now that the sinker and sweeper are earning strikes, can we figure out the four-seamer and cutter?
Edward Cabrera @ CHW - It's the White Sox and it could be the perfect canvas for Cabrera to feature incessant sliders to RHB.
Do Not Starts
Tobias Myers @ TBR - I'm not sold Myers has nailed down an approach that works for him reliably yet.
Andre Pallante @ WSN - He'll likely throw enough strikes to give him a chance for six frames with his great defense against a poor offense.
Cade Horton @ NYM - It's an MLB debut. We don't start those. But what do you think about Horton long-term? Here's a one-minute breakdown to help. I also went over Horton in this week's article of The List.
JP Sears vs. NYY - It's the Yankees and Sears throws a whole lot of hittable pitches.
Andrew Heaney vs. ATL - Heaney has turned back into a pumpkin and we don't know when the magic will return.
Trevor Williams vs. STL - #NeverTrevor.
Logan Evans vs. TOR - Evans isn't terrible and pitching "@TEA" is always good, though it's not enough to ignore the "Shag Rug".
Jack Kochanowicz vs. BAL - He's become The Jack of No Trade.
Stephen Kolek @ COL - Kolek did wonders for the Padres in his first start, granting innings when they needed them. I'm not in love with his arsenal for fantasy, but there could be five frames for a Win.
Bradley Blalock vs. SDP - BB doesn't do much to betray his name.
Kyle Gibson @ LAA - I don't care if it's the Angels, Gibson isn't music to our ears.
Sunday 5/11 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.
