SP Streamers for today's, tomorrow's and the day after tomorrow's games for fantasy baseball. Note: All-star break! Friday's Games are added.
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: 71-35
My Pick yesterday: Loss - Shane Smith vs. CLE
My Pick today: Emmet Sheehan @ SFG
My Pick tomorrow: Joey Cantillo @ CHW
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: 69-37
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Dean Kremer vs. MIA
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.
Saturday 7/12 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler @ SDP - Aces gonna ace.
Garrett Crochet vs. TBR - Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom @ HOU - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. CHC - Aces gonna ace.
Framber Valdez vs. TEX - Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby @ DET - Alright Kirby. You're away from "@TEA" and facing a decent offense. It's time to prove yourself by executing the "BSB" with low sliders. YOU GOT THIS.
Probably Starts
Emmet Sheehan (Ohtani Opener) @ SFG - We're expecting Sheehan after Ohtani opens and it's a great Win chance against a mediocre Giants crew.
Brandon Woodruff vs. WSN - Woodruff looked too dang good against the Marlins to sit against the Nats. Expect the heater at 94 mph.
Brady Singer vs. COL - "Rockie Road" is susceptible to down-and-away sliders and Singer has it working well.
Trevor Rogers vs. MIA - Rogers has featured better command than expected across all three of his pitches and now gets a good matchup.
Casey Mize vs. SEA - Mize has been a solid arm across the year, though the upside is limited.
Shane Baz @ BOS - Baz's new cutter gets me amped and the Sawx aren't as fearsome as they used to be. Fenway is annoying, though.
Tanner Bibee @ CHW - Bibee has been rough. At least it's the White Sox and hopefully he finds confidence entering the break.
Questionable Starts
Zac Gallen @ LAA - Gallen has had two great outings with a new backstop and it's possible the curve and four-seamer are killing it here. The RHB-heavy lineup may not suit him well, though.
Yu Darvish vs. PHI - I'm not sure if Darvish will be stretched out further than the ~70 pitches of his season debut. This may be the last outing of restrictions, though, and I love what I saw in his first start.
Matthew Boyd @ NYY - Boyd is an All-Star after a monstrous first half, though HRs may bite him here in Yankee Stadium.
Kevin Gausman @ ATH - He's a "HIPSTER". You don't know what you're going to get. Good luck.
Landen Roupp vs. LAD - Roupp is more consistent than expected with room to grow, and the Dodgers bats are colder than usual.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. ARI - Kikuchi's strikeout surge waned last time out with more chaos than usual. The Sneks make his odds even worse.
Janson Junk @ BAL - Junk's four-seamer has good vert and the breaking ball command has been far better than expected. I'm not completely sold here, but the Orioles aren't terrifying.
Frankie Montas Jr. @ KCR - The splitter and slider were better in his last start. It's possible he carries them into a comfortable park in Kansas City and leaves with a cheap Win.
Jacob Lopez vs. TOR - He's a "HIPSTER" rooted in command. He faltered last time out and faces a hot Jays crew that feasts on LHP.
Do Not Starts
Sean Burke vs. CLE - Burke has displayed skills that can be polished over time. It's unwise to expect shimmer here.
Michael Lorenzen vs. NYM - Lorenzen just pitched the gem of his season and it will be tough to replicate against the Mets.
Shinnosuke Ogasawara @ MIL - Ogasawara has a chance as a crafty southpaw and I need to see it first.
Erick Fedde vs. ATL - Don't Trust The Feddes. The Cardinals may not in the near future, too.
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.
Travis Adams vs. PIT - He's not an exciting name to chase, but at least it's the Pirates?
Nathan Wiles @ STL - It's possible we see Wiles get the start for Atlanta and he's not the youngin' to chase.
Bradley Blalock @ CIN - Oh snap, you're back? That's cool. Kinda. Yeah, it's cool. I wish you the best, but BB doesn't foreshadow success, K?
Sunday 7/13 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ SFG - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Brown vs. TEX - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ DET - He's not there yet and he needs to. He should, right?
Robbie Ray vs. LAD - Aces gonna ace, even against the Dodgers. That's why he has the "AGA" tag.
Cristopher Sánchez @ SDP - Sánchez has been great and it's the Padres.
Freddy Peralta vs. WSN - You know the deal. Please throw enough strikes.
Sonny Gray vs. ATL - He's been more Sonny than Grat.
Nick Pivetta vs. PHI - Pivetta is having himself a first half of his dreams.
Nathan Eovaldi @ HOU - Eovaldi is back to normal. You start the man.
Probably Starts
Ryan Pepiot @ BOS - Pepiot's four-seamer was off last game and I'm expecting it to return with the new emphasis on cutters. I just wish it wasn't Fenway.
Shota Imanaga @ NYY - Imanaga's splitters weren't as low as we normally see last time out and it's the Yankees.
Jack Flaherty vs. SEA - Flaherty's breakers are still legit and you should hand-wave the ERA over his last few weeks.
Eury Pérez @ BAL - Pérez's four-seamer is back to domination and it's all about figuring out his breakers around them. The Orioles aren't scary enough to hold back.
Noah Cameron vs. NYM - Cameron has displayed fantastic command with his secondaries to work around a poor heater. We keep rolling with this, even against the Mets.
Merrill Kelly @ LAA - Kelly is the solid "Holly" you want on your teams.
Will Warren vs. CHC - It's the Cubs and that has me a little nervous here with Warren, who hasn't had the breaking ball whiffs as of late. They should return, but it could be rough if he has to rely solely on heaters.
Joey Cantillo @ CHW - Cantillo is stretched out and has his changeup cooking. He could be the talk of the town after this start against the CrySox.
Questionable Starts
Brayan Bello vs. TBR - Despite his recent success, I'm not convinced that Bello has a consistent approach we'll see moving forward.
Nick Martinez vs. COL - He just got trounced but this is "Rockie Road". We know Martinez has it in him.
Mitch Keller @ MIN - Keller is a "Vargas Rule" and I hope he continues favoring his slider.
José Soriano vs. ARI - He's a "HISPTER". Here's to the sinker returning enough strikes with the curve to make this worthwhile.
José Berríos @ ATH - It's no fun starting in "Sacré Verde", but he is "The Great Undulator". You never know.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. PIT - It's the Pirates and SWR could have five productive innings in this.
Clay Holmes @ KCR - It's unclear how the Mets are going to use "The Adobe". If he's piggy-backing with Manaea, then will he be second? How long will it be?
Do Not Starts
Jeffrey Springs vs. TOR - It's tough to tell when it'll be sunshine and rainbows and I'd avoid the Jays whenever possible.
Brandon Young vs. MIA - Young has a good heater and changeup and it's possible he comes through against the Marlins. Don't love it, though.
Jake Irvin @ MIL - Irvin has his moments with his curveball. He sure did not in his last one.
Aaron Civale vs. CLE - Civale is still searching for consistency in his arsenal.
Davis Daniel @ STL - It may be Daniel taking the pearl for Atlanta and they'll be thrilled if he goes five frames of 3 ER or fewer. Two first names, after all.
Austin Gomber @ CIN - Gomber has some flashes, but rarely for a full start.
Friday 7/18 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.
