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.
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. Close calls are decided by Twitch chat.
Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 43-34
My pick yesterday: Griffin Canning @ KCR
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 41-36
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Jake Irvin vs. MIA
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
Zack Wheeler @ OAK – Aces gonna ace against the lowly Athletics.
Freddy Peralta vs. PIT – It seems high given his struggles, but Peralta’s fortune should turn around against a poor offense + the other arms aren’t locks.
James Paxton vs. NYY – Paxton has been too good to pass up.
Bryce Miller vs. CHW – I don’t buy the downturn and he performed well against the Marlins.
Jesús Luzardo @ WSN – Luzardo has been awfully unlucky, though he did have a few mistake sliders punished last time out.
Logan Webb @ LAD – The slider isn’t what we want it to be, but he can go seven frames on his sinker and change, even while facing the Dodgers.
Probably Starts
Charlie Morton vs. COL – It’s a lovely matchup, though Morton oscillates a little more than we want between starts based on the curve leading the way and the four-seamer/cutter being a bit unreliable.
Tony Gonsolin vs. SFG – He’s commanding his splitter incredibly well + the addition of the curve is helping him get through frames.
Louie Varland vs. DET – Varland is finally removed from his horrific schedule and I love this matchup. The skills are legit with his four-seamer + cutter & slider.
Tanner Bibee @ ARI – Bibee isn’t in the greatest groove with his repertoire, but there’s enough there to make this worthwhile against the Diamondbacks.
Joe Musgrove vs. TBR – He’s dealing with elbow pain and gets a strong Rays offense.
Jon Gray vs. TOR – Gray has been stupid good, but this is a strong Jays offense and he’s dealing with a blister that has forced him to rest longer than we’d like. I worry that this gap between starts has taken him out of his rhythm.
Chris Bassitt @ TEX – Bassitt is a little shaky and it’s the Rangers. I’m still doing it (he’s overcome tough offenses before), but I understand your hesitation.
Luis Severino @ BOS – The last three outings have been rough, though I was satisfied with his four-seamer in his last outing. The Red Sox aren’t scary (save for Devers) and he could come through here in a big way.
UPDATE: Brayan Bello vs. NYY – Pick your favorite for the BOS/NYY doubleheader matchup. I’m going with Bello as I think his stuff speaks to more overall dominance than Schmidt.
UPDATE: Clarke Schmidt @ BOS – However, Schmidt has the easier matchup against the Sawx. Up to you.
Questionable Starts
Lance Lynn @ SEA – He’s a Cherry Bomb against a middling offense.
Tyler Anderson @ KCR – If you can’t get Varland, consider Anderson as a stream against the Royals. He pitched far better than the line suggested last time out and the Royals pack little punch.
Luis L. Ortiz @ MIL – I’m not a fan of trusting Ortiz to have his command, though the Brewers open the door for more outs than usual.
Zach Davies vs. CLE – If the changeup is there, Davies could make it work against the Guardians. Don’t forget, Davies still needs to earn called strikes with the sinker even if he does have his changeup.
Dean Kremer @ CHC – He’s volatile and I don’t love the underlying skills of Kremer. You could steal a Win here, though.
Jameson Taillon vs. BAL – Taillon is now at 90+ pitches and has the ability to return a quality start. I don’t think he carries anything super exceptional in his arsenal, though, and it makes me hesitant to lean it too hard.
Carlos Carrasco vs. STL – Maybe the St. Louis offense is just that cold.
Do Not Starts
Ronel Blanco vs. CIN – The Astros are letting him start again and while I see a world where Blanco can pull this off, I’d rather not chance it. The Reds are a solid offense on the road.
Hogan Harris vs. PHI – Harris was more kitchen sink in his last start (sweet!) but it’s still not a high upside arsenal. Win chance is also low given the Phils.
Matthew Liberatore @ NYM – I don’t Liberatore does enough (where’s the slider?), especially with his velocity dropping last time out.
Patrick Corbin vs. MIA – Even against the Marlins, you don’t want to do this.
Zack Greinke vs. LAA – Greinke does what Greinke does.
Luke Weaver @ HOU – It’s too risky, though I won’t rule out a small chance Weaver can pull it out with his change and cutter.
Chase Anderson @ ATL – Chase has had these weird outings here and there.
Yonny Chirinos @ SDP – It’s the Padres and Chirinos’ slider and sinker are not good pitches.
Tyler Alexander @ MIN – T-Lex is not the man you want.
UPDATE: TBD Red Sox SP – Paxton was pushed back a day, making way for a bullpen game in Fenway.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Corbin Burnes vs. ARI – He’s in a groove now and that’s a great thing.
Pablo López vs. BOS – The skills are still very much there. Don’t let the ERA that is sure to decline turn you away.
James Paxton @ MIN – He’s dominated in the heavy majority of his starts and it’s the Twins.
Max Scherzer @ HOU – Despite the matchup, you have to start Scherzer. Start your studs.
Hunter Brown vs. NYM – Brown has moments of volatility as he figures out his arsenal. We still start him here.
Merrill Kelly @ MIL – He’s on a magical run and the Brewers aren’t scary.
Michael Wacha @ SFG – Eight straight fantastic starts, why stop now?
Probably Starts
José Berríos @ MIA – He got roughed up last time out but it’s Miami.
Jack Flaherty @ WSN – Flaherty is in a decent place and the Nationals give little fear.
Questionable Starts
Andrew Heaney @ CHW – He’s too volatile with his command, though the White Sox make for a decent strikeout stream.
Reese Olson vs. KCR – I think he has a solid repertoire and could come through against a poor Royals lineup.
Drew Smyly @ PIT – If he gets his curveball down, he could make this worthwhile against the Pirates.
Do Not Starts
Josiah Gray vs. STL – I don’t think he offers enough with his repertoire, even if he tried going sinker-heavy last time out.
Anthony DeSclafani vs. SDP – The fastball command is not good and the Padres are heating up.
Brandon Williamson vs. COL – There’s a chance this works as he gets Rockie Road, but the ceiling is too limited to risk the floor.
Osvaldo Bido vs. CHC – I don’t think he does a whole lot with his repertoire to make this worthwhile.
Jordan Lyles @ DET – The matchup is good, Lyles is not.
Austin Gomber @ CIN – Never Gomber.
Jesse Scholtens vs. TEX – It’s the Rangers and you know to avoid this.
Bryan Hoeing vs. TOR – This could be a bullpen game and if isn’t, it’s the Jays.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
Berrios got roughed up last time out? He carried a no hitter into the 8th inning, what is going on here lately ?!