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.
Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 36-29
My pick yesterday: Braxton Garrett vs. KCR
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 33-32
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Andrew Abbott vs. MIL
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
Kevin Gausman vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace, even against the Astros.
Joe Musgrove vs. SEA – He’s still missing his slider, but the rest is great.
Logan Gilbert @ SDP – Ignore the weirdness against the Yankees.
Mitch Keller vs. OAK – He’s had some turbulence lately, but it’s Oakland.
James Paxton @ CLE – The fastball returned and Paxton is looking legit.
Freddy Peralta vs. BAL – He’s been shaky, but the underlying ability is still very much there. The fastball should dominate again soon.
Zach Eflin vs. MIN – He’s been great for the Rays, though the ceiling is a little more limited.
Jesús Luzardo vs. KCR – The WHIP has been destructive, but it’s the Royals.
Bryce Elder vs. NYM – It’s been a stupid good run for Elder and no one is benching him.
Probable Starts
Shane Bieber vs. BOS – He’s struggled without his premium slider but he shouldn’t be as poor as he has been.
Tony Gonsolin @ CIN – The Dodgers defense has done wonders for Gonsolin as the splitter is still earning plenty of outs.
Lucas Giolito @ NYY – A tough call here, but I’m letting Giolito fly against the Yankees. The foundation is still good, just not elite.
Questionable Starts
Louie Varland @ TBR – It’s not a great streaming day and the Rays are scary, but Varland’s skills are impressive and after taking down the Astros, this looks a bit more appealing.
Hunter Brown @ TOR – I dig what Brown is doing, but it’s the Jays.
Kyle Gibson @ MIL – Despite a wonderful matchup, Gibson is going to do whatever he wants.
Dane Dunning vs. STL – The Cardinals have been struggling and Dunning is on a bit of a Vargas Rule.
Clarke Schmidt vs. CHW – I’m skeptical of his recent success, but the White Sox are worse against breaker-focused RHP. This could work.
Taijuan Walker vs. DET – It’s the Tigers, but it’s also the volatility of Walker, who lacks punch in his arsenal.
James Kaprielian @ PIT – If Kap is able to get his heater and slider in the zone, he could surprise against the Pirates.
Zack Greinke @ MIA – Greinke could go five with a solid ERA and WHIP. It’s the Greinke way.
Tommy Henry @ WSN – The Nationals aren’t scary and Henry came through last time out.
Do Not Starts
Hayden Wesneski @ LAA – Let’s give Hayden some time before we jump back in.
Tyler Anderson vs. CHC – The Cubs are dangerous and Anderson hasn’t been the man we saw last season.
Luke Weaver vs. LAD – Maybe the cutter and change allow him to squeak by…?
Carlos Carrasco @ ATL – Atlanta thump paired with Carrasco’s diminished 2023 arsenal equates to an easy bench.
Matthew Liberatore @ TEX – You really don’t want to poke the Rangers right now.
Dinelson Lamet vs. SFG – He’s not the pitcher of old + it’s Coors.
Jake Irvin vs. ARI – Irvin doesn’t have anything you’re chasing.
Sean Manaea @ COL – It’s Coors and despite the new slider last time, Manaea is way too risky on what’s likely to be a short leash. He’ll likely have an Opener, at least.
Tigers Bullpen @ PHI – This could be Garrett Hill or Tyler Alexander getting the bulk innings…or neither.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler vs. DET – He’s had his ups and downs, but it’s the Tigers and Wheeler’s heater is still elite.
Corbin Burnes vs. BAL – Aces gonna hopefully ace if he gets his secondaries working.
Max Scherzer @ ATL – Atlanta is tough, but Scherzer has dominated regardless of opposition.
George Kirby @ SDP – There’s a temptation to raise him above Scherzer, but the Padres are a solid crew.
Probable Starts
Jon Gray vs. STL – Maybe Gray belongs in the top tier as the Cardinals are struggling, though his four-seamer isn’t the elite pitch I want it to be. Still, he’s cruising right now.
Edward Cabrera vs. KCR – As long as he tosses enough strikes, Cabrera will come out on top against the Royals.
Tanner Bibee vs. BOS – There’s still growth to be had with Bibee as he’s figuring out how to command his full repertoire with consistency.
Pablo López @ TBR – The changeup has been a little off but I imagine it’ll come back as his velocity and sweeper are still great. He’s not a 4.54 ERA pitcher, y’all.
Charlie Morton vs. NYM – He’s a premium Cherry Bomb and I think you have to do it against the Mets.
Logan Webb @ COL – It’s Coors, but Webb has been killing it. I wonder if we’ll see the slider step up or if the changeup will do all the work once again.
Chris Bassitt vs. HOU – Kitchen sink guys are generally less prone to the blowup start against tougher opponents. Start Bassitt.
Michael Wacha vs. SEA – He’s the biggest point of contention in the second tier and given how well Wacha has been with his command, I think we go for it.
Questionable Starts
Lance Lynn @ NYY – I was tempted to put him in tier two, but I worry that his great stretch was feasting on weak teams after his last outing against the Angels. High risk/reward here, though if Aaron Judge is sitting, it may make for a higher floor.
Dean Kremer @ MIL – I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Kremer fan, but he’s able to six frames for a solid Win chance while the Brewers aren’t a team to fear.
Hogan Harris @ PIT – A sneaky stream here, especially if the Athletics elect to use an opener. He’s a craft lefty who could come through against a mediocre offense.
Jhony Brito vs. CHW – He’s back in the majors with Nestor Cortes on the mend and may be able to go five for the Win for the Yankees.
Roansy Contreras vs. OAK – I’m not a believer in Contreras, but the Athletics makes believers in many.
Jack Flaherty @ TEX – It’s the Rangers. If it were an easier opponent, Flaherty would be in tier two.
Zach Davies @ WSN – There’s a chance he has his changeup, but it hasn’t been there as of late. Could be a sneaky stream as well.
Do Not Starts
Reese Olson @ PHI – I was impressed by his slider movement, vicious changeup, and a fastball that can survive inside the zone. That said, it was just one outing and we may see a massive drop off in command. The floor is too low for me.
Jameson Taillon @ LAA – Taillon had better form with his secondaries last time out, but we need to see consistency before we lean on this.
Jaime Barría vs. CHC – There’s a chance the slider and change are enough, but the ceiling is too low against a strong Cubs offense.
Jordan Lyles @ MIA – Lyles hasn’t come through often this year and maybe the Marlins are what he needs after a strong outing last time out.
Noah Syndergaard @ CIN – Thor isn’t what he used to be and Cincy is rough.
Kutter Crawford @ CLE – The Guardians aren’t great, is Crawford better?
Connor Seabold vs. SFG – It’s Coors.
Brandon Williamson vs. LAD – The cutter has a chance of messing up the Dodgers and that’s the best I’ve got. You don’t want to do this.
Ronel Blanco @ TOR – He’s not a bad option for the Astros overall, certainly not against the Jays.
Patrick Corbin vs. ARI – Hey Corbin. Hope you’re doing okay.
Yonny Chirinos vs. MIN – Chirinos isn’t fantasy relevant. You know this.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)