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: 49-39
My pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. NYY
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 46-42
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Miles Mikolas vs HOU
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
Max Scherzer vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Joe Musgrove @ PIT – I really hope the slider returns soon as it’s lost horizontal movement this season. A revenge game against Pittsburgh may be what he needs.
Shane Bieber @ KCR – Bieber had his best start of the year last time out, featuring both sliders and curveballs for plenty of whiffs. Kansas City provides the perfect next step for him to solidify his skills.
Jesús Luzardo @ BOS – Luzardo has eradicated much of his misfortune, though the Red Sox are the toughest matchup of this tier.
Brayan Bello vs. MIA – I wonder if the new cutter Bello introduced last start will stick around for another game.
Probably Starts
Jon Gray vs. DET – I don’t feel comfortable about Gray’s outlook at the moment, though there’s a chance he jumps back into place with his slider and fastball command against the lowly Tigers. Except a few more changeups as well against their left-handers.
Chris Bassitt vs. SFG – Bassitt’s magical kitchen sink arsenal hasn’t come through for him nearly as often as we’ve seen in the past, and yet we’re going to keep starting him. He should help far more than hurt your squads.
J.P. France @ STL – He’s a solid Toby for a winning club against a cold offense.
Clarke Schmidt @ OAK – Schmidt doesn’t have a putaway offering, but his curve and slider are good enough and the Athletics are…bad enough.
Taijuan Walker @ CHC – Walker is such a wild card with his repertoire on a given night. The Cubs make this seemingly worthwhile, though I still have my hesitation. Is the splitter that good? Will we see a fastball comfortably above 93 mph?
Lance Lynn @ LAA – Hoooo boy. The secondaries didn’t soar like they did against the White and yet he was one poor cutter away from a stellar line. My breath has been held all week.
Kyle Hendricks vs. PHI – The sinker and changeup command are there. Maybe we’ll see the curveball return as well?
Patrick Sandoval vs. CHW – It’s unnerving to roster The Irish Panda these days, but the White Sox enable SwStr-focused pitchers to be their best selves.
Questionable Starts
NONE – With Jimmy Hat getting pushed, there isn’t an arm that fits into this tier. That’s just how it is.
James Kaprielian vs. NYY – Jimmy Hat reduced his velocity a tinge for the sake of control and it looks like it’s working after two starts. There’s a decent chance here against the laboring Yankee offense.
Do Not Starts
UPDATE: Hogan Harris vs. NYY – I could have been a simple man and stuck him into the third tier, but the ceiling isn’t high enough to justify it. Just let him sit on the wire.
Emmet Sheehan @ COL – It’s Coors.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. SDP – There’s a chance Ortiz slings fastballs into the zone and induces enough whiffs on his slider. Sure don’t want to chase it, though.
Reese Olson @ TEX – I legit dig what Olson is doing as his slider was filthy in his last outing. It’s far too risky against the Rangers, but take note of his performance – he gets the Athletics next and as long as this isn’t a massive implosion, we’ll likely stream Olson then.
UPDATE: Brandon Pfaadt vs. TBR – He’s returning to the majors and we need to wait and see if the four-seamer is elite again. And, you know, it’s the Rays.
Tommy Henry vs. TBR – The slider is cool, the matchup against the Rays is not.
Adrian Houser @ NYM – How long will he go? Are the Mets actually that bad right now?
Yonny Chirinos @ ARI – Chirinos’ two-pitch approach (okay, maybe three when the splitter is there) carries nothing of exception.
UPDATE: Cody Bradford vs. DET – Gray got pushed to deal with the Astros and Bradford isn’t a streaming option I want to chase.
Zack Greinke vs. CLE – Greinke does what Greinke does.
Adam Wainwright vs. HOU – Absolutely not.
Chase Anderson vs. LAD – It’s Coors and the Dodgers.
Ross Stripling @ TOR – He’s not stretched out + the Jays + is he actually productive?
UPDATE: Keaton Winn @ TOR – He’s an interesting arm for the Giants, but this is a clear avoid against the Jays. We’ll talk later.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Shane McClanahan @ SEA – He’s healthy and pitching. Good enough for us.
Pablo López @ BAL – He’s far better than the ratios will tell you.
Bobby Miller @ KCR – Germán just tossed a perfect game after two duds. Just saying.
Justin Steele vs. CLE – His four-seamer has been incredible. Go for it.
Freddy Peralta @ PIT – The four-seamer hasn’t putaway batters as it has lost some rise this season. It feels surmountable, but that could be the answer to the poor ratios this year.
James Paxton @ TOR – If Paxton is healthy, you’re starting him, even against the Jays.
José Berríos vs. BOS – He’s on too good of a run to hold back now.
Probably Starts
Bryce Miller vs. TBR – I’m going to do it, though I understand the lack of faith in Bryce’s secondaries may bring some caution against the Rays.
Questionable Starts
Luis Severino @ STL – Even after shutting out the Rangers for six frames, it wasn’t a start that we can get behind. He’s in a rough spot at the moment and I’m scared to throw him out there against all but the worst offenses.
Dean Kremer vs. MIN – He’s done well with the cutter and four-seamer and the Twins are middling…?
Osvaldo Bido vs. MIL – I don’t have massive adoration for Bido’s repertoire, but the heaters and slider can earn enough strikes to take down the Brewers.
Michael Soroka vs. MIA – He’s supposed to return to the bigs and face the Marlins, where we have no idea how he’ll look. I think you’re okay going for it given the opposing lineup and an arsenal that speaks to going deep into games, but you may want to wait and see.
Jon Gray vs. HOU – Gray doesn’t have his fastball command isn’t getting slider whiffs like before + Houston.
Cal Quantrill @ CHC – He’s returning to the Cleveland rotation and gets the Cubs. Even in a Still ILL, it’ll likely be the same Quantrill with sinkers earning grounders and cutters getting strikes. Good luck.
Alex Cobb @ NYM – He’s had the splitter working in his rehab starts, but it’s the Mets and I’m not sure how long he’ll go in this Still ILL.
Griffin Canning vs. ARI – Canning just survived Coors and is feeling his secondaries. That said, Arizona can put up numbers in a heartbeat and it may not be worth the risk.
Seth Lugo @ CIN – With Darvish getting pushed, Lugo is starting in Cincy and that’s far from a safe matchup. Let’s hope he can keep the ball in the yard.
Luis Medina vs. CHW – If you’re in dire need of a quality start, there’s a chance Medina finds a way through six against the White Sox.
Do Not Starts
Tommy Henry @ LAA – I like where his slider is at the moment, but that’s not enough to start him against the Angels.
Tanner Banks @ OAK – There isn’t enough here with Banks as I don’t even know if he’ll be able to go five frames. But hey, the Athletics!
Ronel Blanco @ TEX – Blanco could be a solid streamer this season, just not against the Rangers. Expect a ton of sliders once again.
Bryan Hoeing @ ATL – Hoeing is sinker focused, opening the door for a ton of grounders finding gloves. I hate making that gamble.
Carlos Carrasco vs. SFG – Carrasco hasn’t been fantasy relevant for a bit.
Josiah Gray @ PHI – This has all the potential to destroy your weekend without enough of a ceiling. I don’t think the sinker is the answer.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. WSN – I may be too low on Sánchez here, but he doesn’t do a whole lot with his repertoire from the left side and may exit this one before the end of the fifth.
Matthew Liberatore vs. NYY – His velocity is down, the slider is gone, and he’s not stretched out.
Michael Lorenzen @ COL – It’s Coors.
Austin Gomber vs. DET – It’s also Coors.
Jordan Lyles vs. LAD – It’s the league’s worst ERA leader.
Graham Ashcraft vs. SDP – It’s THE GREAT DESTROYER.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)