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!
There is a second table (and now third for PL Pro members) 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 for my streaming record, I am forced to pick a streamer every day even if they are in the bottom tier. 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 Do Not Start pitchers unless 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 and it applies to a smaller audience.
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.
(Opener) - Outlines that a pitcher is being opened for that day & the pitcher listed will follow the opener.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 57-24
My Pick yesterday: Win - Lucas Giolito @ SEA
My Pick today: Michael Soroka vs. COL
My Pick tomorrow: Mitchell Parker vs. COL
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: 57-24
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Lucas Giolito @ SEA
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 6/17 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Robbie Ray vs. CLE - Aces gonna ace.
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. NYM - He sure looked like an ace last time out, but the secondaries aren't as dominant as last season. Weird, I know.
Jesús Luzardo @ MIA - Y'all saw his dominance against the Cubs and now its revenge.
Bryan Woo vs. BOS - Woo lost his "AGA" tag and here's to taking the first step forward toward redemption.
Seth Lugo @ TEX - The Rangers aren't a team to fear.
Probably Starts
Andrew Abbott vs. MIN - He just went the distance over 110 pitches and maybe this is a little too big brain, but we generally see a hangover after a peak usage game like that. Otherwise, he'd be at the bottom of tier one because why else would you sit a guy after such a great outing? Skubal wasn't fatigued. That's the best pitch in baseball.
Casey Mize vs. PIT - Mize got his mojo back in his last start and this is the Pirates. Sweet.
Michael Soroka vs. COL - It's "Rockie Road" and Soroka should throw his curveball incessantly.
Shane Smith vs. STL - He continues to succeed and while I wish I could latch onto his slider or changeup command more (despite the stuff of the latter!), I love the four-seamer velocity holding these days.
Will Warren vs. LAA - His stuff is legit and it's a matter of time before he takes off with his command. He should feast on a RHB-focused lineup with his sweeper.
David Peterson @ ATL - Peterson has made it work with his extension and improved feel for all his pitches. Atlanta is still a strong offense (despite how cold they can get), and I'm starting Peterson regardless.
Matthew Liberatore @ CHW - It's the White Sox, even if I'm a little worried about Liberatore's downward trend.
Jack Leiter vs. KCR - It's a good matchup, though it's a bit of a gamble. I sure hope that Leiter has the slider down and four-seamer up + some sort of supporting cast with changeups and sinkers as well.
Questionable Starts
Ben Brown vs. MIL - It's a hittable heater and whiff-heavy curve. You know the drill. Maybe the fastball can be 96/97 mph?
David Festa @ CIN - I'm not leaning into Festa until I see a string of starts with good pitch separation.
Walker Buehler @ SEA - At least he's adapting his arsenal and it's "@TEA".
Do Not Starts
Zack Littell vs. BAL - It's absolutely possible this works. I think you can try something better.
Slade Cecconi @ SFG - Cecconi just had the "Reds Carpet" and now the Giants are a little tougher with Devers.
Chad Patrick @ CHC - Patrick is kinda cool, but it's the Cubs.
Dean Kremer @ TBR - We could see Dean "Werewolf" and that would be fun.
Brandon Pfaadt @ TOR - The Jays are a tough crew and Pfaadt isn't the arm we saw in April with curves and changeups working against LHB.
Bailey Falter @ DET - Please trade him to the Rays. K thx. I wonder if we see the stellar curve again.
JP Sears vs. HOU - I don't love pitching in "Sacré Verde" and I'm curious if Sears can pull off the same approach he had in his last start.
Chris Bassitt vs. ARI - It's the Sneks and Bassitt has been detrimental.
Jason Alexander @ ATH - He's getting the start for the Astros with McCullers' injury and he's a sinkerballer with actual sink + a changeup that has had whiff success. Make a joke. I'm not sure what there is to joke about with a name like his. COME ON. The man has assuredly been through enough.
Matt Sauer vs. SDP - I initially thought we'd see Justin Wrobleski here, but I guess we're getting Sauer again. Hey Roberts, be kind to the fella and don't hang him out to dry again.
Kyle Hendricks @ NYY - No.
Cal Quantrill vs. PHI - Nah.
Randy Vásquez @ LAD - Nope.
Antonio Senzatela @ WSN - NOOOOOOOOOPE.
Wednesday 6/18 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Garrett Crochet @ SEA - Aces gonna ace.
Chris Sale vs. NYM - Aces gonna ace.
Framber Valdez @ ATH - He's been on such a stupid good run that we ignore "Sacré Verde".
Kris Bubic @ TEX - He was bamboozled by the Yankees. We move past it.
Sonny Gray @ CHW - This should be Sonny and not Gray against the CrySox.
Ranger Suárez @ MIA - Suárez has been in the groove we know and love.
Probably Starts
Jameson Taillon vs. MIL - He's been on such a good run and I'm sure he'll enjoy taking down his "younger brother" making his second career start.
Luis Castillo vs. BOS - It's "@TEA" and without Devers.
Nick Lodolo vs. MIN - I'm still a fan of Lodolo and this matchup doesn't worry me.
Questionable Starts
Mitchell Parker vs. COL - Parker didn't come through against Miami, but it's "Rockie Road"! I can't resist.
Jacob Misiorowski @ CHC - It was all kinds of fun watching the debut, though he won't have adrenaline (good or bad) and pitching Wrigley is far tougher.
Bailey Ober @ CIN - I've been heavily discouraged by Ober and his admission of hip + knee injuries that he's pitching through.
Ryan Yarbrough vs. LAA - We've seen it work mutliple times with the "Fratty Pirate". Maybe there's some more magic left?
Taj Bradley vs. BAL - You never know and I really hate taking the chance, but I recognize some may want to roll the dice for strikeouts.
Andrew Heaney @ DET - Heaney is a weird one and I'd prefer not to chance it, even if the Tigers are weaker these days.
Do Not Starts
Logan Allen @ SFG - The Giants have Devers on their squad and you shouldn't overrate his last game against the "Reds Carpet".
Sean Burke vs. STL - It's not the worst matchup, but I'm not sold on Burke's progress.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ TOR - The Jays are fantastic against LHB, though Erod did have a great changeup last time out. Ehhhh, I'd rather not.
Patrick Corbin vs. KCR - Corbin has yet to allow more than 3 ER all season. THERE'S A CHANCE.
Luis Severino vs. HOU - It's in "Sacré Verde" and Severino has been more harmful than helpful this season.
Emmet Sheehan vs. SDP - He's back! I'm excited to see what we get in this clear "Still ILL". I wonder how long he'll go...
Justin Verlander vs. CLE - Verlander is returning from the IL and boy do I hope we see 95 mph heaters upstairs and power sliders down.
Trevor Rogers @ TBR - With Povich dealing with a hip injury, Rogers is taking his spot for his second outing in an Orioles uniform. I hope the changeup and slider are better than what we saw in Fenway, even if the line was a pretty one.
Paul Blackburn @ ATL - Oh, you're returning, eh?
Germán Márquez @ WSN - At least it's not in Coors! And the curveball has been okay!
Jack Kochanowicz @ NYY - Oh dear.
Stephen Kolek @ LAD - Yikes.
Eric Lauer vs. ARI - You're not going to go long.
Freddy Tarnok vs. PHI - This isn't an actual start, right?
Thursday 6/19 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.
