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: 41-32
My pick yesterday: Jameson Taillon vs. PIT
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 38-35
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Hogan Harris vs. TBR
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
UPDATE: Spencer Strider @ DET – His start was pushed to today after the rainout. Make sure he’s in your lineup.
Luis Castillo vs. MIA – His four-seamer has held a 21%+ SwStr rate this year. Incredible.
Gerrit Cole @ NYM – The Mets are without Alonso and even without his best slider (get that thing down!), Cole has a lovely floor.
Clayton Kershaw vs. CHW – The White Sox are a little better against southpaws, but it’s TATIAGA.
Tyler Glasnow @ OAK – It looks as juicy as anything, but Glasnow doesn’t go deep into games and if he doesn’t throw strikes, it doesn’t matter who he faces.
Framber Valdez vs. WSN – The Nationals are better against left-handers but Valdez has been fantastic save for a tough matchup last time out.
Justin Verlander vs. NYY – Judge is on the mend and Verlander’s command has been much better as of late – yes, including his Atlanta outing.
Probably Starts
Michael Wacha vs. CLE – It’s been seven starts of bliss for Wacha with one of the best changeups in the game. The Guardians aren’t a reason to stop.
Bailey Ober vs. MIL – It’s the Brewers and Ober is precise with his four-seamer. Could be 5-6 frames of easy livin’.
Garrett Whitlock vs. COL – I’m amazed he’s still under 20% rostered as Whitlock was magnificent against the Yankees, armed with a stupid good slider. I understand we haven’t seen him replicate it a ton quite yet, but it’s the guy we anticipated for 2023 before his injuries. Go get him, the schedule is fantastic up ahead.
Eury Pérez @ SEA – Despite the rumors of Pérez getting demoted once Trevor Rogers returns, he’s still pitching now.
José Berríos @ BAL – The reduction of four-seamers in favor of sinkers has worked wonders for Berríos, turning him into The Great Fundulator.
Merrill Kelly vs. PHI – Kelly had his first stumble in ages last time out and I’m not ready to give up on his phenomenal 2023 campaign just yet, even against the Phils.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ DET – The Tigers aren’t a strong team and I imagine with his first start out of the way that AJSS will take a step forward with his command.
Questionable Starts
Jordan Montgomery vs. SFG – He’s a Toby and a start against the Giants lines up well with this tier.
Drew Smyly vs. PIT – The curveball has been hung a bit more than we like as of late, but I imagine Smyly can make the adjustment and produce against the Pirates.
Ranger Suárez @ ARI – His command has been far better as of late, though the Diamondbacks have a spark that may mess up Suárez here.
Andrew Heaney vs. LAA – If Heaney can get his secondaries down, he can survive the Angels crew.
Anthony DeSclafani @ STL – I don’t like where Tony Disco is at, but the Cardinals have been incredibly cold as of late.
Do Not Starts
Aaron Civale @ SDP – The Padres are heating up and Civale doesn’t have the highest ceiling.
Reid Detmers @ TEX – The Rangers are worse against LHP, but Detmers hasn’t put it all together yet, making a super low floor here.
Ben Lively @ KCR – Lively hasn’t had the slider back, but hey, maybe it returns on Wednesday?
Colin Rea @ MIN – Rea has had some magic but I really don’t like the stuff he brings to the table.
UPDATE: Reese Olson vs. ATL – His start rained out yesterday and I think there’s a shot he can make it work against Atlanta. Too risky to chase right now, though.
Mike Clevinger @ LAD – Clevinger doesn’t have the elite stuff he once had + it’s the Dodgers.
Kyle Bradish vs. TOR – Bradish is struggling to make it work and the Jays are rough.
Michael Lorenzen vs. ATL – Lorenzen is a decent play against mediocre teams. Atlanta is not a mediocre team.
UPDATE: Dylan Dodd @ DET – He’s getting the pearl in today’s doubleheader and there’s a chance he has his great slider down-and-in.
Daniel Lynch vs. CIN – I was surprised to see Lynch go fastball/changeup and neglect the slider in his last outing. I’m a little curious to see what happens, but the Reds are kinda good on the road.
Josiah Gray @ HOU – Josiah doesn’t have an approach that works and the Astros pack a punch.
Luis Medina vs. TBR – Maaaaaybe he can return a PQS. I doubt it.
Austin Gomber @ BOS – Never Gomber.
Osvaldo Bido @ CHC – He’s getting the call for the Pirates and walks far too many batters to have any faith in this. You wait and see.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cristian Javier vs. WSN – It’s too good of a matchup, even if he hasn’t been able to return a 60% strike rate on his slider in five starts. It’ll come back.
Yu Darvish vs. CLE – Darvish does what he does, though the floor is higher than others with a date against the Guardians.
Shohei Ohtani @ TEX – It’s Ohtani, but it’s also one of the better offenses in the majors.
Aaron Nola @ ARI – If he doesn’t throw his sinker, this can be brilliant.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. LAA – He stumbled last time and we’re not letting that get to our heads.
Marcus Stroman vs. PIT – How can you deny Stroman a start against the Pirates?
Sonny Gray vs. DET – Gray looked much better last time out and the Tigers are a luscious day at the park.
Taj Bradley @ OAK – It’s Oakland and as long as Bradley throws strikes, he’ll soar.
Probably Starts
Tyler Wells vs. TOR – Wells is on such a good run that I can’t deny him against the Jays…even if it is the Jays.
Dylan Cease @ LAD – Cease hasn’t gotten his slider back on track in full and the Dodgers are no fun. Still, I think you go for it.
Rich Hill @ CHC – He’s performed well when matched up against mediocre offenses this year and the Cubs are struggling.
AJ Smith-Shawver vs. COL – Atlanta pushed him back to Thursday and gets Rockie Road. I wonder if the command will be better than his premier start and the Rockies are a nice cushion if he falls.
Questionable Starts
Yusei Kikuchi @ BAL – The curve and slider are working inside the zone, though the biggest knock on Kikuchi over the years has been his consistency. Let’s hope he can replicate it.
Logan Allen @ SDP – The Padres are heating up and this will require Allen to have precision with his slider and fastball.
Do Not Starts
MacKenzie Gore @ HOU – Despite the fastball that should be dominant, Gore doesn’t have an approach for it that works while the Astros are a solid crew, even without Alvarez.
Michael Grove vs. CHW – It may seem a little high, but I think his slider can mess up the White Sox + if he elevates his four-seamer, he could soar through five frames.
Kyle Freeland @ ATL – Freeland has somehow made it work a fair number of times this season.
Paul Blackburn vs. TBR – The Rays are too scary, though Blackburn could be a Toby at the end of the day.
Matthew Boyd @ MIN – He’s not getting slider whiffs and the four-seamer’s precision was a fleeting moment.
Ryne Nelson vs. PHI – The secondaries need to do more before I lean on Nelson.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)