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! If you have questions about these offense rankings, reach out to Kyle Bland (@blandalytics).
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: 75-38
My Pick yesterday: Win - Joey Cantillo vs. BAL
My Pick today: Michael Soroka vs. CIN
My Pick tomorrow: Ryan Gusto vs. ATH
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: 73-40
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Eduardo Rodriguez vs. HOU
PL Bot's Pick today: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick day Sunday: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Picks are located at the bottom of this article for PL Pro members.
Wednesday 7/23 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tyler Glasnow vs. MIN - We know he should have the "AGA" tag. Please let me give it to you.
Max Fried @ TOR - Aces gonna ace.
Spencer Strider vs. SFG - It's the Giants and Strider has dominated with the slider.
Nick Lodolo @ WSN - Lodolo is in a groove and should feast here.
Seth Lugo @ CHC - It's the Cubs, though I'd favor Lugo's reliability this season.
Dylan Cease @ MIA - He just showed us his ceiling, albeit it was domination of just one side of the plate (LHB).
Probably Starts
Luis Castillo vs. MIL - Castillo takes advantage of his home park and has performed well lately.
Sean Manaea vs. LAA - Manaea should be stretched out to 75-80 pitches now and has looked incredible.
Jesús Luzardo vs. BOS - I know he's super volatile, but it's the Red Sox away from Fenway.
Michael Soroka vs. CIN - Soroka is solid and it's the "Reds Carpet".
Lucas Giolito @ PHI - Giolito got bamboozled last time and I think we take the chance against the Phils.
Quinn Priester @ SEA - After displaying the best command of his season against the Dodgers, it's hard to deny a start "@TEA".
Zach Eflin @ CLE - He's back! And it's a good matchup.
Questionable Starts
Colin Rea vs. KCR - Rea is a decent streamer against meh offenses.
Slade Cecconi vs. BAL - Alright Slade Brigade, are you scared after his weird 8+ inning start last time out?
Brandon Pfaadt vs. HOU - He'll need the sweeper to be as good as ever against the RHB-heavy Astros.
Taj Bradley vs. CHW - You never know with Taj, even against the White Sox.
Brandon Walter @ ARI - Walter is a step up from Gordon, but the Sneks are still a threatening team.
Justin Verlander @ ATL - Verlander's last two starts have come with 95 mph heaters and far better command than before. This could work out, leading to a pair of starts against the Pirates. I'm tempted to jump in here before the rush.
JP Sears @ TEX - It's against Texas and the change has improved over the season.
Do Not Starts
Troy Melton @ PIT - We don't start MLB debuts! But yes, he's worth the spec add.
Patrick Corbin vs. ATH - Welp, looks like Eovaldi is getting more rest. Good luck Corbin, the Athletics away from "Sacré Verde" gives him a chance.
Sandy Alcantara vs. SDP - I haven't seen the changeup and fastball dominate like the old days yet.
Chris Paddack @ LAD - Paddack is better than the ratios will tell you. And it's the Dodgers.
Chris Bassitt vs. NYY - It's the Yankees and Bassitt isn't worth the risk.
Bailey Falter vs. DET - He's not on the Rays yet. TRADE HIM ALREADY!
Jonathan Cannon @ TBR - We were able to blast the overture last time, but 1812 only arrives every so often. Uh, just once. OR AT 6:12 PM. Fiiiiine.
Andre Pallante @ COL - Pallante just isn't worth it.
Tanner Gordon vs. STL - At least it's the Cardinals?
Brock Burke @ NYM - This looks like a bullpen game. Exactly what I was hoping for on the day I'm heading to the stadium.
Thursday 7/24 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Sonny Gray vs. SDP - I know it was absurdly Gray in his last outing, but you gotta stay strong. He's been too good and it was one of those days.
Probably Starts
Yu Darvish @ STL - Darvish hasn't been the Darvish of old yet and it's frustrating. At the same time, he's wearing a "TIARA" that should come off shortly and there's no better time than in cushy St. Louis where he can commit a "Cardinal Sin".
Reese Olson vs. TOR - I'm a little scared of this one, but at least it's not in Toronto. The slider and changeup are looking solid and here's to fewer four-seamers in favor of the secondaries to LHB.
Questionable Starts
Yusei Kikuchi vs. SEA - Kikuchi does what he does. Last time out was one of the best commanded games he's had, but we know how fleeting that can be.
Ryan Gusto vs. ATH - Gusto has elements that can turn this into a strikeout fiesta and I'm giving him the edge over Morton given the Win chance against the Athletics away from "Sacré Verde".
Charlie Morton @ CLE - Despite a poor line last time out, his signature curveball was still cooking. I can see it working out this time, even against the LHB-focused lineup. Don't love it, though.
Do Not Starts
Eric Lauer @ DET - Is Lauer actually this good with his heater to RHB? It still blows my mind. The Tigers make this an easy pass, though there's a chance for 7+ strikeouts.
Logan Allen vs. BAL - Allen has had some success and those in need of a QS could try Allen. I don't think the ceiling is worth the play.
Luis Severino @ HOU - Severino is better away from "Sacré Verde", and the RHB-focused lineup theoretically plays to his strengths. That said, he's been detrimental to your teams this year. I'd pass.
Logan Evans @ LAA - We haven't seen Evans take a step forward yet and it's the hot Angels lineup.
Friday 7/25 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.
