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!
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.
And of course, there are my streaming picks of the day. 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" 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.
(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, 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.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 50-18
My Pick yesterday: Win - Cade Horton @ WSN
My Pick today: Kyle Harrison vs. SDP
My Pick tomorrow: Colin Rea @ WSN
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: 49-19
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Cade Horton @ WSN
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.
Wednesday 6/4 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale vs. ARI - Aces gonna ace.
MacKenzie Gore vs. CHC - Gore's heater has been so dang good.
Nick Pivetta @ SFG - It's the Giants and Pivetta hasn't gotten the HR bug...yet.
Matthew Boyd @ WSN - A LHP against the Nats is what you want. Hopefully his LHB matchups bring out an improved slider.
Andrew Abbott vs. MIL - He's been too dang good to bench against the Brewers, even in GABP. Where HRs are more likely. And Abbott's best skill thus far has been limiting HRs. And it could be the regression day. Nick, this doesn't sound like an auto-start. Naaah, I'm just messing around. This is too big brain, just start him.
Probably Starts
Shane Baz vs. TEX - I'm buying that Baz made a tweak in his last two starts to help batters struggle to discern the four-seamer vs. curveball. He still needs a stronger third pitch than the changeup or slider (definitely better than the slider), and the Rangers make for a great floor as he hopefully takes a step forward.
Noah Cameron @ STL - This may be the final time we see Cameron in the rotation until another spot opens up with Cole Ragans set to return this week. The secondaries have performed well and he should give another outing for 5+ productive frames, if not a Quality Start.
Clarke Schmidt vs. CLE - I'm a little worried about Schmidt facing a slew of LHB, forcing cutters and curves to avoid the heart of the plate. It's a great Win chance, though, and likely worth your time.
Kyle Harrison vs. SDP - I adore Harrison's new and improved four-seamer with elite "HAVAA" that he can command frequently at the top of the zone. Here's to a start so good, he forces the Giants to keep him in the rotation once Verlander is ready.
Lucas Giolito vs. LAA - I'm a bit scared of this one in Fenway + the Angels thump with three HRs in the first frame on Monday night. Trout returning to that lineup isn't fun and the RHB-focus puts more pressure on Giolito to figure out his 89 mph slider.
Zebby Matthews @ ATH - Matthews had a terrible first frame before six frames of dominance and I see a legit "Holly" in his future. But this is "Sacré Verde"...
Mick Abel @ TOR - Abel was stunning in his MLB debut with 97 mph heaters and a pair of whiffable secondaries. This may be a spot start against the Jays, though if it's that good, maybe the Phillies find a way to work him into the rotation frequently.
Questionable Starts
Sawyer Gipson-Long @ CHW - It's the White Sox and also a "Still ILL". He might be on a limited pitch count. I hope that his sinker earns enough strikes that he can get efficient outs to survive five. It's possible there's an opener as well to open the door for a vulture Win.
Merrill Kelly @ ATL - I dig Kelly and hate this matchup.
Cade Povich @ SEA - Povich has had his curve and heater working better as of late and "@TEA" should help him have a chance for six innings of relevance.
José Soriano @ BOS - It's incredibly risky, though Soriano with curves for strikes and well spotted sinkers works anywhere.
José Berríos vs. PHI - Say my name.
Tony Gonsolin vs. NYM - His schedule is tough even past this start with two games against the Friars ahead, though that doesn't quite matter for this one. I don't love Gonsolin's pitch mix and this is only of consideration if you're Win hunting.
Griffin Canning @ LAD - I want to brush aside his last outing against the White Sox due to the horrid weather that affected everyone, but this is the Dodgers. Then again, he did survive against the Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Yankees, so maybe we should just start him and hope for the best.
Do Not Starts
Emerson Hancock vs. BAL - There are moments when Hancock can earn whiffs and soar with his changeup. It's possible he can do that here "@TEA", though there isn't much else in the tank. He's a "Toby" at best with a low floor.
Kumar Rocker @ TBR - Rocker is set to return to the rotation and he put us through the ringer start-to-start before. The floor is lava without a major expectation for the ceiling. If you're desperate for strikeouts, he's the hail mary play. Thing is, even if he does exceptionally well, I'll likely not be able to trust it.
Cal Quantrill vs. COL - It's a great matchup n all, but it's Quantrill. Do you really want to rely on Quantrill?
Ryan Gusto @ PIT - Gusto can have success with his four-seamer upstairs, but he's struggled even when executing the pitch in the past. I don't want to risk it, even against the Pirates.
Miles Mikolas vs. KCR - This is a QS/Win play, hoping the defense scoops up the fastballs and sliders in play. Good luck.
Kyle Freeland @ MIA - It's not in Coors and we've seen LHP succeed against the Marlins. This is your sneaky play that I wouldn't risk in 12-teamers.
Quinn Priester (Opener) @ CIN - The slider can be good and that's about it. No thanks. DL Hall is apparently opening after throwing 33 pitches a week ago.
Luis L. Ortiz @ NYY - The whiffs are there, the command is not. This looks like a sub five inning game.
Mike Burrows vs. HOU - There is a chance this actually works if Burrows can execute his whole approach in pitcher-friendly PNC Park. Not worth the risk, of course.
Sean Newcomb vs. MIN - Wait, he's on the Athletics now?!
Jared Shuster vs. DET - I'm not sure how long he goes (bullpen game?) and this is not worth your time.
Thursday 6/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Max Fried vs. CLE - Aces gonna ace.
Bryan Woo vs. BAL - Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray vs. SDP - Aces gonna ace. Please don't make me regret this.
Framber Valdez @ PIT - Valdez is on his patented hot stretch and it's the Pirates.
Dylan Cease @ SFG - Cease is on his patented cold stretch and it's the Giants. Wait what. Don't worry, you just start him and don't think about it.
Jesús Luzardo @ TOR - I know Luzardo just got banged up for 12 ER. I watched it. You still do this.
Probably Starts
Cole Ragans @ STL - It's a "Still ILL" but it's Ragans and I DON'T CARE I'M DOING IT.
Ryan Pepiot vs. TEX - Pepiot has shifted his slider to act more like a cutter and I'm so here for it.
Casey Mize @ CHW - It's the White Sox and I'm hoping Mize's worse fastball last time out was a product of a "Still ILL" situation.
Zach Eflin @ SEA - Here's to benefiting from "@TEA" while Eflin is healthy and pitching for what should be a winning team.
Matthew Liberatore vs. KCR - Liberatore has proven himself to be a "Holly" and gets a good matchup.
Bailey Ober @ ATH - I don't love pitching in "Sacré Verde", though Ober has been a solid "Holly". For the most part.
Questionable Starts
Grant Holmes vs. ARI - Holmes still needs to improve on his four-seamer command on the edges and nail down the cutter or curve as proper support for the stellar slider.
Jack Leiter @ TBR - Leiter hasn't displayed a consistent skill of locating heaters and sliders, while we want more from his change, sinker, and curve. Please go ham here and make us fall for you again.
Colin Rea @ WSN - This may be the last one with Rea on your squads and I'm a little scared at how much better the Nationals are against RHB than LHB.
David Peterson @ LAD - It's the Dodgers.
Brandon Pfaadt @ ATL - Pfaadt is fresh off a bamboozlin' where he desperately needed his curve to LHB. It's disappeared over the last three weeks and all my love for him has dissipated.
Landon Knack vs. NYM - I like his kick-change, I don't like his slider falling to the wayside and the having to face the Mets' lineup.
Do Not Starts
Mitch Keller vs. HOU - Keller has a lower ERA than expected simply because he's cut his HR rate in half. Somehow. The WHIP hurts plenty + the strikeouts aren't there. QS/Points leagues could move him into the very bottom of the third tier, but I'd still be heavily cautious.
Jake Irvin vs. CHC - It's the Cubs and Irvin isn't doing what we want.
Chris Bassitt vs. PHI - Bassitt doesn't have his curve cooking and that's a problem.
Jeffrey Springs vs. MIN - It could sunshine and rainbows if the changeup is cooking and his fastball avoids the heart of the plate. Unlikely, though. Note: He could be going Thursday instead of Wednesday.
Sean Burke vs. DET - I'm still waiting for Burke to click like we saw in September last year.
Slade Cecconi @ NYY - It's the Yankees and Slade hasn't found his ceiling yet.
Friday 6/6 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.
