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: 71-33
My Pick yesterday: Win - Brandon Walter vs. CLE
My Pick today: Michael Soroka @ STL
My Pick tomorrow: Shane Smith vs. CLE
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: 68-36
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Brandon Walter 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 7/10 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo @ NYY - Aces gonna ace.
Spencer Strider @ ATH - I'm actually not in love with this one, but if you have Strider, you're doing it. "Sacré Verde" is a little scary + the four-seamer isn't the pitch of old.
Nick Lodolo vs. MIA - Lodolo has been far more consistent this year and it's the Marlins.
Probably Starts
Michael Soroka @ STL - Soroka had a bit of a "Careful, Icarus" against the Red Sox and the curve is alive and well.
David Peterson @ BAL - Peterson's WHIP is a bit frustrating, though the Win chance across six frames outwighs the risks.
Questionable Starts
Eduardo Rodriguez @ SDP - Last time out wasn't fun for Erod, but the Padres aren't a fearsome lineup and the changeup is still working.
Logan Allen @ CHW - Allen gets the CrySox. Sure, I guess this is alright.
Chris Paddack vs. CHC - It's the Cubs. Paddack needs to make sure the breakers don't burn him and the split-change is working well.
Charlie Morton vs. NYM - His elbow tendonitis is bothersome and it's the Mets. Morton did come through despite the injury last week, though.
Do Not Starts
JP Sears vs. ATL - It's possible this is without Acuña, though I don't like trusting Sears, even after his last outing was a success.
Colin Rea @ MIN - Rea has come through against weak lineups lately and the Twins are a bit too threatening for this one.
Patrick Corbin @ LAA - Corbin has the potential for a "PQS" if you're into that.
Taj Bradley @ BOS - It's awfully risky, but maybe we get the best version of this "PEAS".
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. NYM - The attack to RHB scares me and the Mets are not a team to take lightly.
Walker Buehler vs. TBR - You can't trust Buehler at all. He's still in the process of rebuilding who he is as a pitcher. But maybe the makeover is complete! Sure. Anything is possible.
Cal Quantrill @ CIN - He is the UnQuantrillfiable. Please don't.
Miles Mikolas vs. WSN - Watch Mikolas flutter sliders over the plate and get away with it.
Marcus Stroman vs. SEA - Stroman has a chance for a five-inning Win with questionable ratios and few strikeouts. Ooof.
Justin Hagenman @ BAL - He's not the type of arm you should chase.
Jonathan Cannon vs. CLE - I don't expect to blast the Overture here.
Jack Kochanowicz vs. TEX - He's the Jack of No Trade right now. I hope he finds that sinker feel again.
Randy Vásquez vs. ARI - It's the Sneks and Vásquez is just so blegh.
Friday 7/11 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. SEA - Aces gonna ace.
Ranger Suárez @ SDP - He sure looks like an ace right now.
Carlos Rodón vs. CHC - Aces gonna have a tough matchup.
Chase Burns vs. COL - It's "Rockie Road" and the perfect moment for Burns to ignite.
Logan Webb vs. LAD - This is scary given Webb's struggles to nail down his sweeper and cutter lately. However, the Dodgers are colder than usual and it's still Webb. You can't sit.
Probably Starts
Grant Holmes @ STL - The strikeouts are flowing and here's to the cutter being the proper support to let him throw less of his oh-so-hittable four-seamer.
Gavin Williams @ CHW - He had all the strikes last time out and I have no idea if the command sticks (get the heater up dangit!). But hey! The White Sox! The upside is massive.
Edward Cabrera @ BAL - Please just show me the same approach and feel for two straight games.
Ryne Nelson @ LAA - Nelson's four-seamer is absurdly good and I'd love to see a secondary step up to be the true friend it needs.
Matthew Liberatore vs. ATL - Liberatore's second half is daunting with signs of regression on the horizon. However, if the slider he had last game is here to stay, we're all good. In the short term, Liberatore is in a good enough rhythm to start against Atlanta.
Luis Castillo @ DET - He's away from "@TEA" and you may want to bench him for it. This is awfully debatable given the lack of routine whiffs on his changeup and slider.
Questionable Starts
Dustin May @ SFG - May just had his best outing and fortunately the Giants won't protest if he has the same feel. That start was an outlier, for now.
Shane Smith vs. CLE - Smith has been on a downward trend and I'm worried his kick-change won't be consistent enough against Cleveland's slew of LHB.
Michael Wacha vs. NYM - Wacha has been a bit of a WHIP killer, but the ERA and Win potential is present.
Joe Boyle (Rasmussen Opener) @ BOS - With Ras limited to two frames or so, Boyle has a strong Win chance. That said, I'm skeptical he's fixed his control issues and Fenway. It messes with guys.
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. TEX - He's 50/50 on or off. Good luck.
Dean Kremer vs. MIA - He's had more success across the last six weeks than usual and if you're desperate for a Win, there's a chance here.
Do Not Starts
Kodai Senga @ KCR - It's a "Still ILL" and we're unclear to the leash in this one.
Quinn Priester vs. WSN - Priester's best pitch is his slider, which is nullified by the LHB-heavy Nationals' lineup.
Jack Leiter @ HOU - We haven't seen Leiter at his peak yet and it's unwise to expect it here.
Hunter Dobbins vs. TBR - Dobbins is back and there's some hope here. That said, it's Fenway and Boston has made it hard for him to find a rhythm.
Tyler Anderson vs. ARI - The changeup is always there, but what about the rest of it? And against the Sneks?!
Max Scherzer @ ATH - He's been pulled early due to lingering pain in his thumb and it's hard to expect a healthy one here, let alone the difficulty of pitching in "Sacré Verde".
Mike Burrows @ MIN - Burrows can do fun things against LHB at times when he's four-seamer up, changeup down. I don't like his breakers for RHB, though, and the changeup isn't consistent yet.
Mitchell Parker @ MIL - Parker is the Ultimate "Werewolf". I'm just a villager! I swear! SUUUUUURE.
Luis Severino vs. TOR - Sevy is in "Sacré Verde" against a scary offense. Nooooope.
Travis Adams vs. PIT - He's not an exciting name to chase, but at least it's the Pirates?
Chris Flexen @ NYY - Let me tell ya, Flexen. You don't want to go to the NYC beaches. They aren't so bad. Yeaaaaaaah.
Germán Márquez @ CIN - At least it's outside of Coors?
Omar Cruz vs. PHI - This isn't the fun new starter you want to chase.
Saturday 7/12 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.
