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: 59-24
My Pick yesterday: Win - Mitchell Parker vs. COL
My Pick today: Chris Paddack @ CIN
My Pick tomorrow: Cade Horton vs. MIL
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: 58-25
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Loss - Justin Verlander vs. CLE
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.
Thursday 6/19 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ DET - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb vs. CLE - Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. SDP - Aces gonna ace.
Carlos Rodón vs. LAA - Aces gonna ace.
Cristopher Sánchez @ MIA - It's the Marlins as a LHP.
Drew Rasmussen vs. BAL - Rasmussen is a high floor, low strikeout arm.
Spencer Strider vs. NYM - Strider is a low(er) floor, high strikeout arm. Also, I'm not as sold as others that he's "BACK" after taking down "Rockie Road". The slider is still down in velo and 96 mph is great, but not 97+ mph.
Probably Starts
Freddy Peralta @ CHC - He's a "Cherry Bomb", though the risk is a little higher against the Cubs.
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.
Clay Holmes @ ATL - It's not a fun matchup, but "The Adobe" has been a comfortable home all year.
Michael Wacha @ TEX - I wouldn't be scared of the Rangers and Wacha's changeup is legit.
Chris Paddack @ CIN - Paddack had a shockingly terrible day at the park for the second time this year and after he bounced back for an incredible stretch after his first disaster, I'm expecting another game of redemption here. The skills are still there.
Questionable Starts
Gavin Williams @ SFG - Williams massively reduced his velocity and extension in his last start and I don't know why. Maybe it was a tough day, maybe it's an injury, or maybe he elected to slow everything down in his mechanics. I'm not sure and hopefully it's all forgotten about after this one.
Kevin Gausman vs. ARI - Gausman's splitter movement is back, but the command has lost its way. The Sneks make this a tougher play.
Trevor Williams vs. COL - #NeverTrevor. It's "Rockie Road", but the hashtag stays.
Erick Fedde @ CHW - He's a decent streamer against weak teams. Ayyyy, it's the CrySox!
Tyler Anderson @ NYY - The Yankees have been, uh, terrible.
Charlie Morton @ TBR - He's been better since returning to the rotation, but we all know how low the floor is.
Nick Martinez vs. MIN - Like Fedde, Martinez is a decent streamer against weak teams. The Twins are in the middle tier, though.
Keider Montero vs. PIT - Montero is terrible and the Pirates are a streamable team. The ceiling isn't very high, though.
Jacob Lopez vs. HOU - If you're dire for strikeouts, Lopez has a shot. I don't love starting him in "Sacré Verde" with the "Shag Rug" very present.
Colton Gordon @ ATH - Gordon has done shockingly well, but this matchup is not in his favor.
Andrew Heaney @ DET - Heaney is a weird one and I'd prefer not to chance it, even if the Tigers are weaker these days.
Edward Cabrera vs. PHI - This looks terrible and yet, if Cabrera throws strikes, he should succeed. But he's getting pulled so early. Okay, that's annoying and shouldn't last, right?
Do Not Starts
Michael McGreevy @ CHW - He's the extra man for the doubleheader and I even have a temptation to push him into the third tier, but he didn't know he was going to pitch this game until yesterday and that can mess up a fella.
Chase Dollander @ WSN - At least he's not in Coors? The Nationals are better against RHB, though.
Ryne Nelson @ TOR - I'm waiting for Nelson to have that start where his four-seamer cooks and he has a secondary pitch he can trust for strikes (and hopefully whiffs).
Sean Burke vs. STL - It's not the worst matchup, but I'm not sold on Burke's progress.
Ryan Bergert @ LAD - I dig the high heater and slider combo. It's unrefined and he needs a third pitch + the Dodgers are terrifying.
Mike Vasil vs. STL - Naaaaah. I wonder how long he even goes.
Shawn Armstrong vs. KCR - This is a bullpen game. Don't do this.
Friday 6/20 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler vs. NYM - Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom vs. KCR - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. BAL - Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan vs. MIL - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Brown @ LAA - He's facing LHB, which means the curve won't be as present. Is there a non-fastball for whiffs vs. RHB? That would be dope.
Sonny Gray vs. CIN - This should be Sonny and not Gray as he walks down the "Reds Carpet". It's nice to be on the other side if it these days, I'm sure.
Jack Flaherty @ TBR - Flaherty just slipped on the "Reds Carpet" and we should expect a bounce back.
Nick Pivetta vs. KCR - This is a lovely matchup with San Diego still under 70 degrees and not letting the ball fly out of the park.
George Kirby @ CHC - Kirby has been executing the "BSB" well and I think it's time to trust him against a tough squad like the Cubs.
Probably Starts
MacKenzie Gore @ LAD - This is the final test for "AGA". Good luck. The curve will need to better than his last outing.
Cade Horton vs. SEA - I'm excited to watch Horton develop this year with his cut-fastball and legit breakers. The Mariners aren't enough of an obstacle to bench Horton.
Shane Baz vs. DET - Baz has leaned into a cutter and I love the pitcher he's turning into.
Hayden Birdsong vs. BOS - The Sawx are without Devers and away from Fenway.
Jacob Misiorowski @ MIN - It was all kinds of fun watching the debut, though he won't have adrenaline (good or bad). At least it's Minnesota and not Wrigley after the rainouts.
Questionable Starts
Clayton Kershaw vs. WSN - The Nats are worse against LHB and Kershaw had better command last time. Still, the stuff isn't absurd and his precision wanes far more often these days.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ NYY - It's the Yankees...but then again, it's the Yankees. Sugano is great against LHB and still needs to tweak a few things against RHB.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. HOU - He just punched out a ton of batters, but can he keep the WHIP down? Will he throw enough upper-half four-seamers in the zone?
Tanner Bibee @ ATH - I haven't seen a dominant performance from Bibee this year paired with legit feel for his secondaries and a true OUT pitch and now it's "Sacré Verde" with a mound that can mess up pitcher's command. Fun. That said, Bibee is wearing the "TIARA" and could take it off here.
Zac Gallen @ COL - Gallen has succeeded in Coors plenty of times. It's awfully risky given Gallen's lines of late, of course.
Brady Singer @ STL - Singer's slider has struggled to earn whiffs and I'm skeptical he can produce regularly without it.
Bryce Elder @ MIA - Yes, he completely failed in a golden matchup against "Rockie Road". He also fanned 12 batters before and can take down the Marlins with his slider and sinker.
Hunter Dobbins @ SFG - He's a kitchen sink arm with 95+ velocity and nothing that stands out massively. Dobbins has found himself in many emotional games lately (2x Yankees, now facing Devers) and the "Shag Rug" is very present.
Jeffrey Springs vs. CLE - The changeup is looking good, the slider to LHB and four-seamer locations are not. The Guardians like to platoon, which could enable the changeup and create sunshine and rainbows.
Do Not Starts
Adrian Houser vs. STL - He's a decent play for QS leagues, but there isn't much else to chase here.
Mike Burrows vs. TEX - The changeup can be filthy + Burrows has the skill for locating his 95/96 mph four-seamer upstairs. He needs more from his breakers, though, and I think it's best not to chase this until he showcases more.
Michael Lorenzen @ SDP - This is a desperate Quality Start play.
Spencer Turnbull vs. CHW - Hey, it's Turnbull! It's possible he can get into the same command rhythm of last year with his cut-fastball and sweeper. Let's see it play out across more than two innings before jumping in.
Justin Hageman (Opener) @ PHI - Hageman should get the bulk and went 3.1 frames of four strikeouts in his sole game this year. No, I don't buy this at all but at least he has a better Win chance than the bottom two.
Janson Junk vs. ATL - I don't love what he does, but maybe he can do it.
Austin Gomber vs. ARI - It was a fun "Still ILL" and now he's in Coors against the Sneks.
Saturday 6/21 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.
