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: 58-44
My pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. MIN
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 54-48
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. MIN
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
Shane McClanahan @ TEX – It’s the toughest matchup and we don’t care.
Jesús Luzardo @ STL – Love this matchup for Luzardo against the Cardinals
Logan Webb @ CIN – He’s on a roll and even in Cincy, I’m favoring Webb.
Logan Gilbert vs. MIN – The fastball and splitter are weird and I imagine they get sorted out.
Sonny Gray @ SEA – He’s on the upswing and gets a delicious matchup against the swing-heavy Mariners.
Tyler Wells vs. LAD – I know it’s the Dodgers, but if Wells starts, you start him.
Probably Starts
Emmet Sheehan @ BAL – I see Sheehan as a touch above a Toby and Camden makes for a good situation.
Domingo Germán @ LAA – His curve is elite and if you roster Domingo, he gets the nod with Trout out of the lineup.
Questionable Starts
Griffin Canning vs. NYY – I went back and forth with Canning and ultimately decided he’s not worth the gamble after the long break + a rough night against the Dodgers. There’s a chance this is Patrick Sandoval instead with Canning going on Tuesday. Keep an eye on it.
UPDATE: Grayson Rodriguez vs. LAD – The Orioles are calling him up and I’m awfully curious what he looks like. I don’t suggest running him out there the first time – he clearly had nerves in his first trip to the bigs + the Dodgers are rough – but we’re absolutely stashing him.
MacKenzie Gore @ CHC – Same as Canning goes for Gore, but his volatility makes for too much of a risk to slot him into the second tier. Very close, though.
Miles Mikolas vs. MIA – Mikolas’ last outing was cut short by rain and I wonder if it means he’ll be slightly limited here going on short rest.
UPDATE: Luis Severino @ LAA – He’s been horrific the last month, but he has a TIARA on. Maybe tonight’s the night?
Nick Pivetta @ OAK – I don’t like it (even against the Athletics), but he always had a chance to fan seven or more.
Matt Manning @ KCR – He’s fresh off 6+ no-hit frames and yet I don’t believe in it, even against the Royals.
Jameson Taillon vs. WSN – His command was far better last time out, I want to see him replicate it before trusting him, even with a start against the Nationals.
UPDATE: Drew Smyly vs. WSN – I don’t like starting Smyly until the curveball has returned.
Paul Blackburn vs. BOS – Blackburn is a decent play for 5-6 innings on a given night, though I’d prefer to pass wherever possible.
Do Not Starts
Quinn Priester vs. CLE – It’s an MLB debut and we don’t start those regardless. There’s some debate about what his actual repertoire is, but according to Savant across his last three Triple-A outings, he throws sinkers in the low 90s with a focus on a slider or curve. I don’t think it’s exceptional enough to chase, but if you want to spec add him and make a decision after this game, by all means.
Brandon Williamson vs. SFG – He’s a discount Wade Miley and that’s not someone I chase after.
Dane Dunning vs. TBR – It’s the Rays.
Hunter Gaddis @ PIT – It’s Gaddis. We think.
UPDATE: Xzavion Curry @ PIT – Looks like it’s Curry and you absolutely don’t want to chase this.
Jordan Lyles vs. DET – It’s Lyles, yes, even against the Tigers.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Aaron Nola vs. MIL – He’s not at ace level and has been volatile, but the matchup is too good.
Joe Musgrove @ TOR – AGA, but it’s the Jays.
Lucas Giolito @ NYM – He’s been on a tear and the Mets aren’t too dangerous.
Mitch Keller vs. CLE – I’m not sure what direction Keller is heading, but he hasn’t fallen off yet.
Bailey Ober @ SEA – He’s been as steady as they come.
Bryan Woo vs. MIN – I’m excited to see if his new sinker emphasis and command stick around.
Tarik Skubal @ KCR – He’s getting stretched out and the Royals are a fun team to pitch against.
Tyler Wells vs. LAD – I know it’s the Dodgers, but if Wells starts, you start him.
Probably Starts
Jordan Montgomery vs. MIA – I wonder if the Cardinals will limit The Bear a touch after the hamstring scare last week.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. TBR – His velocity is still down and it’s the Rays, but he’s not on the IL…?
Logan Allen @ PIT – Allen is returning to the bigs and gets a gift of a matchup against the Pirates.
Bryce Elder vs. ARI – Elder hasn’t quite hit the wall yet (it was the Rays!), so we start him against the Diamondbacks
Domingo Germán @ LAA – His curve is elite and if you roster Domingo, he gets the nod with Trout out of the lineup.
Questionable Starts
Carlos Carrasco vs. CHW – I want to believe Carrasco is turning a corner, but we need more starts first.
Taj Bradley @ TEX – Bradley is volatile and the Rangers are dangerous.
Hunter Brown @ COL – Hunter has been volatile as well and it’s, well, Coors.
Alek Manoah vs. SDP – I don’t trust the first start back from Manoah and the Padres can mess him up.
Edward Cabrera @ STL – Cabrera is back from the IL in a clear Still ILL scenario.
Patrick Sandoval vs. NYY – He’s a Cherry Bomb that hasn’t been all too sweet.
Anthony DeSclafani @ CIN – I don’t trust Tony Disco’s fastball command, but there’s a chance this works, even in his former stomping ground.
Jameson Taillon vs. WSN – His command was far better last time out, I want to see him replicate it before trusting him, even with a start against the Nationals.
Luis Medina vs. BOS – The slider was filthy last time out, can he replicate it?
Trevor Williams @ CHC – There’s an outside chance Williams goes six frames of production here.
Do Not Starts
Daniel Lynch vs. DET – Lynch hasn’t locked down an approach that works yet.
Julio Teheran @ PHI – Absolutely not.
Michael Grove @ BAL – If Grove can survive with his heaters and nail his slider, this could work. Those are huge IFs, of course.
Luke Weaver vs. SFG – Weaver hasn’t been it for a long time.
Zach Davies @ ATL – It’s Atlanta and Davies is rough.
Noah Davis vs. HOU – It’s Coors and Houston.
Chris Murphy @ OAK – Murphy will not pitch a whole lot and it’s not something to put your hat on.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)