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: 48-36
My pick yesterday: Reese Olson vs. MIN
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 43-41
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Adam Wainwright vs. CHC
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
Gerrit Cole vs. TEX – I know, it’s the Rangers, but Cole found his slider last time and is still a fantasy ace. Start your studs.
Zack Wheeler vs. NYM – Wheeler hasn’t had his slider down, but the ceiling of 7+ shutout frames is too good.
Corbin Burnes @ CLE – Aces gonna ace. That first frame was absurd against the Diamondbacks and won’t be repeated.
Dylan Cease vs. BOS – The slider is legit back and this could be another night of Cease domination.
Tyler Glasnow vs. KCR – He hasn’t been the Glasnow you wanted the last two starts, but baseball rarely stays the same.
George Kirby @ BAL – You’re not sitting Kirby.
Marcus Stroman @ STL – Neither Stroman. The ceiling isn’t as high for him or Kirby but these are rocks in your lineups.
Bailey Ober @ DET – Ober’s command has been there, even if the stuff isn’t electric.
Eury Pérez vs. PIT – I can see Pérez climbing in due time, the track record of precision isn’t there yet.
Hunter Brown @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers, though I still love what Brown brings to the table.
Probably Starts
Charlie Morton @ CIN – Despite the recent dominance, Morton’s innate volatility mixed with a super hot Reds team is scary.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. OAK – Kikuchi has been killing it with his breaking balls and now faces the lowly Athletics.
Seth Lugo vs. WSN – Lugo is picking up where he left and makes for a solid stream against the Nationals with a strong Win chance.
Tony Gonsolin vs. HOU – As long as the splitter and breakers are decently located, he can get through the Astros.
Nathan Eovaldi @ NYY – The velocity drop is terrifying but the fact that he hasn’t hit the IL yet suggest there’s a chance he’s okay. I’m shocked he’s actually starting and Evan Grant outlined why he is.
Johan Oviedo @ MIA – He’s a bit of a Cherry Bomb, though Oviedo has been able to get his pitches inside the zone more often than not + the Marlins aren’t scary…each with the batting champ.
Aaron Civale vs. MIL – I see a Toby against a weak offense and I start em.
Questionable Starts
Kyle Bradish vs. SEA – The Mariners chase a lot and Bradish thrives when his breakers get swings out of the zone.
Kutter Crawford @ CHW – We saw a much better Crawford in his second outing and I’m wondering if the slider will come alive against the White Sox. It grades highly with PLV and
Michael Lorenzen vs. MIN – Nick, isn’t this a weak team for a Toby? Minnesota is 12th in wRC+ the last two weeks. It’s not as solid as I once thought. Still a good play for a Sunday though.
MacKenzie Gore @ SDP – I sincerely hope Gore can execute the BSB, but I still have my doubts that there’s intent in what he’s been doing.
Do Not Starts
Anthony DeSclafani vs. ARI – I want to buy more into Tony Disco, but the fastball command isn’t there and the Diamondbacks can put up a crooked number quickly.
Ryne Nelson @ SFG – The secondaries aren’t there. Don’t risk this.
Carlos Carrasco @ PHI – Carrasco isn’t the guy he used to be.
Matthew Liberatore vs. CHC – His velocity is down and the slider is gone. Wait, aren’t those the two things we liked about Liberatore. Yuuuup.
Tyler Anderson @ COL – It’s Coors.
Daniel Lynch @ TBR – Is he actually an effective fastball/changeup guy? I doubt it.
Luis Medina @ TOR – There’s a dark horse chance for a PQS and I don’t want to chase it.
Ben Lively vs. ATL – The slider was there briefly and has disappeared since.
UPDATE: Levi Stoudt vs. ATL – Lively was placed on the IL and you don’t want to start Levi.
Austin Gomber vs. LAA – It’s also Coors.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Spencer Strider vs. MIN – Obviously.
Luis Castillo vs. WSN – There’s a temptation to swap him with Strider, but he was a bit rough against the Yankees.
Justin Verlander vs. MIL – This should be all kinds of fine.
Probably Starts
Sonny Gray @ ATL – I was tempted to place him in the third tier, though I recognize you’re starting Sonny even with the matchup. He was better last time out, but the WHIP is still an issue as he’s not the same guy from April.
Questionable Starts
Jaime Barría vs. CHW – I see a RHP with a strong breaking ball facing the White Sox. That makes for a very interesting stream.
Andrew Heaney vs. DET – Let’s hope the BSB is in order for Heaney and even with the juicy matchup, he’s still very much a Cherry Bomb.
Michael Kopech @ LAA – It was a horrific time on the bump last time out for Kopech and the Angels just put up 13 in one inning.
Matthew Boyd @ TEX – If Boyd can nail the BSB once again and keep his heaters upstairs, there’s a legit chance.
Trevor Williams @ SEA – I recognize that Williams just spotted his change and slider beautifully and the Mariners give in to pitches off the plate constantly.
Do Not Starts
Cole Irvin vs. CIN – He’ll land on being a Toby and the Reds are not a team you start against at the moment, even in Camden.
Colin Rea @ NYM – There’s a chance. That’s all I’ll give him.
Brandon Williamson @ BAL – If the cutters are great, I won’t rule out a decent game outing. He’s not the answer to your problems, sadly.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)