Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 7/22 & 7/23

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.

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. Close calls are decided by Twitch chat.

 

Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 63-44

My pick yesterday: Clarke Schmidt vs. KCR

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 55-52

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. HOU

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

 

Gerrit Cole vs. KCR – Aces gonna ace. Here’s to a dominant second half.

Shane McClanahan vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace. Think he goes 50%+ changeup CSW again?

Kevin Gausman @ SEA – Aces gonna ace. He’s expected to start as he returns from side soreness. Not a Still ILL.

Logan Webb @ WSN – He’s on the verge of the AGA label and gets the Nationals. One or two more starts, right?

Max Scherzer @ BOS – Aces gonna ace. He’s still around and that’s a lovely thing.

Zack Wheeler @ CLE – Hey Wheeler, can you offer a steak dinner to your defense if they come through?

James Paxton vs. NYM – Paxton allowed a grand slam in his last start, but had solid command otherwise. Let him cook.

Reid Detmers vs. PIT – I know he’s had two clunkers, but that was the Dodgers and Astros. This is the Pirates and it’s so worth it.

Dylan Cease @ MIN – The four-seamer gained some extra hop last time out and was even better than his elite slider. You have to roll with that.

Sonny Gray vs. CHW – Sonny has been turbulent all season, but this matchup is too juicy for his breaker-heavy approach.

Logan Gilbert vs. TOR – It’s the Jays and I’m still waiting for Gilbert to explode with his four-seamer and splitter again.

 

Probably Starts

 

Tanner Bibee vs. PHI – I have my concerns about Bibee through the second half, but we’re not sitting him here. All of these probably start options are suspect on Saturday, for those wondering about the top spot for Bibee.

Cristian Javier @ OAK – Yes it’s Oakland, it’s also Javier, who hasn’t returned a major fastball whiff game in a while + his slider has failed to land for strikes often.

Bobby Miller @ TEX – It’s Texas, though they’ve slowed down a little and Miller was fantastic because some knee discomfort ended his outing early. If we see the same curve we saw last time, he should thrive here. I completely understand if you’d rather not do this one and play it safe.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Matt Manning vs. SDP – Do I believe in Manning? Not really, but the Padres are not the offense we thought they’d be and Manning has gone shutout in each of his last two games.

Miles Mikolas @ CHC – I really hate endorsing Mikolas, but it’s the Cubs and he could survive six frames.

Grayson Rodriguez @ TBR – It was an electric first frame for Grayson and yet, even with the 100 mph velocity that we shouldnt’ see again, he returned just 4/45 whiffs on his four-seamer for the start. There’s still work to be done, especially with nailing the BSB with his changeup and breakers, the latter of which took a major backseat on Monday.

Brady Singer @ NYY – He’s a Cherry Bomb facing a mediocre lineup. That’s a gamble you’d at least consider.

Dane Dunning vs. LAD – Dunning is what I call a “TEES” and is in all likelihood faltering here against the Dodgers. Nothing in his arsenal is elite to suggest sustainability.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Josiah Gray vs. SFG – I really suggest not starting Josiah in your leagues, though he has the best chance of the lot to go six innings as the Nationals will let him cook for as long as he wants.

Osvaldo Bido @ LAA – If he’s able to earn strikes with both breakers and fastballs, then it could come through. It’s a major dart throw.

Brandon Williamson vs. ARI – There’s an outside chance this works with Williamson with cutters and four-seamers and yet, I don’t want to.

Drew Smyly (Opener) vs. STL – The curve isn’t doing what it needs to do and hasn’t for a while.

UPDATE: Jackson Wolf @ DET – The Padres are calling the southpaw up from Double-A to make his MLB debut. He did just fan eleven two starts ago and who knows, maybe this is a sneaky stream against a poor Tigers lineup. My understanding from the very limited notes I could find (no Triple-A starts = no Savant) is that he doesn’t carry an overpowering heater and I watched him toss from a lower arm angle. We’ll see what we get, though lower arm angles generally equate to variable command.

Paul Blackburn vs. HOU – Paulie Punchouts isn’t in a groove and the Astros are scary.

Allan Winans @ MIL – Atlanta is calling up Winans for a spot start and you likely have no idea who he is. When he’s at his best, Winans throws his 89 mph heaters about 25% of the time, leaning heavily on a changeup he keeps down incredibly well and pairing it with a solid curveball. My head says “obviously don’t start this, he’s a changeup guy in an MLB debut where command is worse” but my heart thinks there’s an actual chance this works out against Milwaukee.

Adrian Houser vs. ATL – He chucks heaters and hopes for the best. Please don’t, this offense is so good.

Ryan Weathers @ DET – He’s above Gilbert since it’s the Tigers and the Padres have let him stay stretched out, mostly.

Chase Anderson @ MIA – It looks like it’s Chase today and at least he has a chance to go 5+ frames…?

Tyler Gilbert @ CIN – Absolutely not.

UPDATE: Johnny Cueto vs. COL – It looks like it’s Cueto and I have no faith that he’ll be able to produce in his very clear Still ILL outing. The Marlins didn’t want to push him into the rotation like this.

TBD Marlins SP vs. COL – Roster Resource has surprised a lot of us with Eury Pérez filling in this spot, as he’d be eligible to return on Saturday, yet I’ve seen zero confirmation or even a whisper about it. I have no expectation for Pérez to return this early and imagine it’ll be a bullpen game instead.

UPDATE: Brandon Pfaadt @ CIN – The dude has been called up from the majors three times this year. His opponents have been – TEX, TBR, @CIN. Life isn’t fair.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Joe Musgrove @ DET – Aces gonna ace. Against the Tigers!

Jesús Luzardo vs. COL – He gets Rockie Road and that’s so lovely after last week’s hiccup.

Aaron Nola @ CLE – He’s been fantastic in two of his last three. Please find some stability…

Bailey Ober vs. CHW – Oberizzi has been as consistent as anyone as he goes six frames with a WHIP better than 1.20 and generally 1-2 ER.

Lucas Giolito @ MIN – It was a disaster last time that was all kinds of weird and not a sign of trying times ahead.

Hunter Brown @ OAK – Brown has been figuring out his arsenal and the Athletics makes for the best training grounds.

Jordan Montgomery @ CHC – The Bear has been steadily solid over the last two months.

 

Probably Starts

 

Taj Bradley vs. BAL – He’s fresh off a nine-strikeout game and you’re running with this.

Mitch Keller @ LAA – Keller has been…weird as of late and I really hope the command comes back here and he isn’t forced to go 33% sweepers.

Tarik Skubal vs. SDP – It was a horrific outing last week, yet the skills were great. This start screams redemption.

Tyler Wells @ TBR – Wells struggled last start and now he gets the Rays. It does feel like the wheels may be coming off on what has been a shocking season, but we have to hold steady for now.

Bryan Woo vs. TOR – Woo’s four-seamer was laced last time out and the sinker command wasn’t as great. We saw Bryce come through against the Jays and I think Woo can do the same.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Bryce Elder @ MIL – The Vargas Rule has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stream Elder against a mediocre Brewers lineup.

Luis Severino vs. KCR – It doesn’t feel safe starting Severino, but he did just earn nine whiffs on sliders + cutters last time out and this is the Royals.

MacKenzie Gore vs. SFG – He’s a Cherry Bomb through and through.

Tyler Anderson vs. PIT – Here’s a deep streaming option with a decent chance at stealing a Win.

Nick Pivetta (Opener) vs. NYM – He just earned double-digit strikeouts with some of the best slider command I’ve ever seen from him. So you’re saying it was likely a fluke. I don’t want to be right.

Jameson Taillon vs. STL – He just cruised through the Yankees and maybe he can repeat it against the Cardinals. I’m not confident he’s going to be able to squeeze everything out of his arsenal, though.

Luis Medina vs. HOU – It’s an odd moment for Medina, who has been able to earn plenty of whiffs off his breakers across his last two starts – first just his slider, then the curve & slider combined last time out. I wonder if there’s a strikeout ceiling play here.

Carlos Carrasco @ BOS – The velocity is there and he was able to get some changeup and slider whiffs last time, albeit against the White Sox. I don’t think the reward is worth the chase, but if you’re in dire need of six innings, Carrasco has a shot.

Emmet Sheehan @ TEX – If Sheehan can whip out a strong slider or changeup, the fastball could do the rest…but it’s the Rangers. Likely best to bench.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Alek Manoah @ SEA – His start against the Padres was far more indicative of his skill set than the results against the Tigers. I’m avoiding everywhere.

Luke Weaver vs. ARI – He had increased velocity last time, maybe there’s something there…?

Jordan Lyles @ NYY – I really don’t like any of this tier (typical, but even moreso today), which means Lyles’ opportunity to go six frames + facing a weak Yankee lineup outlines a higher ranking than usual.

Chris Flexen @ MIA – Huh, I guess he’s getting a chance to start proper again for the Rockies. He went 4.1 IP in his tune up with Colorado last week in Triple-A, maybe this is a sneaky stream…

Anthony DeSclafani @ WSN – I don’t think he goes very long as he was ousted without going three innings last time out + his stuff isn’t great.

Peyton Battenfield vs. PHI – He’s back! And I imagine not going very long.

Martín Pérez vs. LAD – There’s a chance, but Pérez hasn’t been locked in for a bit and it’s the Dodgers. AVOID.

Julio Teheran vs. ATL – lol.

TBD Diamondbacks SP @ CIN – No idea who this is and it could just be a bullpen game or Tyler Gilbert, neither of which you want.

 

 

Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)