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: 67-29
My Pick yesterday: Loss - Richard Fitts vs. CIN (Rain shortened! Would have been Edward Cabrera)
My Pick today: Mick Abel vs. SDP
My Pick tomorrow: Cade Horton 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: 66-30
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Loss - Colton Gordon @ COL
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 7/2 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Logan Gilbert vs. KCR - Aces gonna ace...is what I WANT to say after this one.
Hunter Brown @ COL - Okay, aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. CLE - He's taking steps toward his destiny. I AM AN AGA.
MacKenzie Gore vs. DET - Please have your curve and change for strikes to RHB. K thx.
Jacob Misiorowski @ NYM - There's no way you're benching Jay Mis after his first three outings.
Sonny Gray @ PIT - He just pitched the game of his life. There's no chance he has the same absurd precision again, right?
Ryan Pepiot vs. ATH - It's all about getting support for the four-seamer and changeup and the harder slider looks to be just that. Ignore the castatrophy we just saw.
Will Warren @ TOR - Warren is succeeding mostly with his fastballs at the moment. That's great, but can you get the sweeper and changeup good again, too?
Dylan Cease @ PHI - Look. Cease is a textbook "Cherry Bomb". Sure, it's been more bomb as of late, but fortune hasn't been on his side. Start him and trust this to get better.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. SDP - He's cruising.
Freddy Peralta @ NYM - You know the deal.
Nick Pivetta @ PHI - He's an auto start given his absurd strikeout ability lately and the Phillies are not a top tier offense at the moment.
Probably Starts
Merrill Kelly vs. SFG - He's on a roll in a great team situation.
Noah Cameron @ SEA - Cameron hasn't performed solely against elite offenses. This isn't one of them.
Jack Flaherty @ WSN - The curve returned all the whiffs last time out and I believe my fears of his tipping are behind him.
Clay Holmes vs. MIL - "The Adobe" has allowed more people free passes into his home that usual in his last two and I'm not concerned. It was far more competitive last time out.
Clayton Kershaw vs. CHW - His slider is killing it and it's the White Sox...who aren't so bad right now? Kinda?
Yusei Kikuchi @ ATL - He's been striking out a ton lately and it's hard to deny him the start here.
Questionable Starts
Tanner Bibee @ CHC - Bibee is moving in the right direction and I wish this weren't the Cubs.
Landen Roupp @ ARI - Roupp has settled in a bit with his changeup and I hope we get his curve missing a ton of bats once again. The Sneks make it a tough call.
Mick Abel vs. SDP - We haven't seen Abel for a while after his last start never happened due to a rain delay. The matchup is good, but I'm unsure if his breakers are now better than they were nearly two weeks ago.
Brayan Bello vs. CIN - It's the "Reds Carpet", though Fenway isn't fun and Bello's sinker/change consistency is even less fun.
Didier Fuentes vs. LAA - Despite getting shelled in his last outing, the potential for a blistering outing is still there with his incredibly flat four-seamer at 95+ mph. If he locates it well, he'll obliterate the RHB-heavy Angels.
José Berríos vs. NYY - He is "The Great Undulator", which means he can come through even against the Yankees.
Do Not Starts
Mitch Keller vs. STL - If you need six innings, sure. The ceiling is limited, though.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ TEX - Sugano's approach to LHB is solid and it is the Rangers, but I've heavily disliked his attack to RHB as of late. It's not worth it.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ MIA - SWR has moments and I could be overrating the quality of the Marlins' lineup.
Mitch Spence @ TBR - Spence's cutter and slider are a lovely pair, though the ceiling is capped and we haven't seen him fully thrive yet.
Nick Martinez @ BOS - He's fresh off a bid for a no-hitter and I'm worried he'll show a hangover after the long effort + it's Fenway + that was a clear peak performance.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. BAL - It's his second rehab start after going under 50 pitches last time out. There's a chance he can be efficient enough to go five frames, though I wouldn't expect more than 65, let alone 60.
Blade Tidwell vs. MIL - He's back in the Mets rotation with Canning's injury and I'm happy he gets a chance to properly develop at the big league level. I don't expect the array of secondaries to be there to complement the four-seamer yet.
Janson Junk vs. MIN - Despite the name, he's not as filthy as we want him to do. The Twins are tougher than they used to be, too.
Sean Burke @ LAD - The Dodgers, y'all.
Austin Gomber vs. HOU - Coors is undefeated.
Trevor Williams @ DET - #NeverTrevor.
Detroit Tigers Bullpen vs. WSN - Sawyer Gipson-Long is headed to the IL with a neck strain, making this a bullpen game.
Thursday 7/3 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo vs. KCR - Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray @ ARI - This is it, Ray. Get your "AGA" back.
Seth Lugo @ SEA - He's been cooking and it's "@TEA".
Clarke Schmidt @ TOR - Schmidt's cutter has been too good to pass up here.
Probably Starts
David Peterson vs. MIL - A borderline Tier 2/3 play, but the Brewers don't scare me. Please limit the walks this time, David.
Questionable Starts
Cade Horton vs. CLE - My faith in Horton has dwindled as his cut-fastball hasn't been spotted well as of late, nor are the breakers forcing batters to quiver in their cleats.
Dustin May vs. CHW - It's the White Sox and the Dodgers...don't mess this up, May.
Eury Pérez vs. MIN - I see Pérez a start or two away from becoming HIM, but even after Cabrera stomped them, I'm scared of this offense.
José Soriano @ ATL - Soriano had three phenomenal outings until last week's stumble. Hopefully he gets back on the horse with high CSW curveballs and well-spotted sinkers.
David Festa @ MIA - He was able to get all three pitches around the zone last time and it's the Marlins. I still fear his "Shag Rug", though.
Brandon Walter @ COL - Gordon just got messed up in Coors, Walter's approach isn't vastly different and may have the same faults.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. SFG - Is the cutter enough to steer the ship against LHB? At least this is the Giants.
Dietrich Enns @ WSN - Enns had a shocking return to the bigs, though I'm worried his fastball/change attack won't work against the LHB-heavy lineup.
Do Not Starts
Luis L. Ortiz @ CHC - He's as volatile an arm as you will find. Good luck.
Jose Quintana @ NYM - Quintana wasn't at his best last time and it's the Mets.
Chris Bassitt vs. NYY - It's the Yankees + Bassitt has hurt you more than helped.
Jake Irvin vs. DET - Irvin isn't in one of his patented grooves.
Bryce Elder vs. LAA - He's been horrific, though the Angels are RHB-focused and that plays into Elder's sinker/slider skillset. Just an idea.
Aaron Civale @ LAD - Oh no.
Kyle Freeland vs. HOU - Oh noooooooo.
Friday 7/4 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.
