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: 81-39
My Pick yesterday: Win - Justin Verlander vs. PIT
My Pick today: Zebby Matthews vs. BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Kumar Rocker @ SEA
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.
In addition, PL Pro Members have access to my 14-Day Sit/Start SP Grid, ranking all expected starters into the four tiers across the next fourteen days. You can find it on the PL Pro Hub Page.
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 79-40
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Loss - Michael Soroka @ 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 7/30 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo @ ATL - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb vs. PIT - It has been a rough month without his sweeper and cutter, but it's the Pirates.
Nathan Eovaldi @ LAA - Eovaldi is dope and makes up feel dope. Yes, even against the hot Angels crew.
Shota Imanaga @ MIL - Imanaga had a disaster last time out that is a clear outlier. Until there is another one. YOU STOP THAT.
MacKenzie Gore @ HOU - Gore hasn't had the greatest curve and changeup command to RHB lately, and yet he's still found a way to produce.
Probably Starts
Freddy Peralta vs. CHC - Peralta has had an underrated season (by me), but it's the Cubs.
Zebby Matthews vs. BOS - Matthews was pushed up to Wednesday and is a clear play against the Sawx away from Fenway after Zebby's display over the weekend. UPDATED.
Will Warren vs. TBR - Warren's sweeper returned last time out. Now let's see the changeup, please.
Ryne Nelson @ DET - Nelson's four-seamer is still incredibly hard to hit. If he gets the pitch up, he'll come through even if there isn't development across his arsenal.
Brayan Bello @ MIN - I've enjoyed watching Bello improve his zone rate and attack batters with his sinker and cutter. Is the sweeper and changeup good enough to be more than a "Toby"?
Chris Paddack vs. ARI - Ayyyyy, he's on the Tigers now! A better Win chance and in a decent home park against a dampened Arizona offense. Who knows, maybe Geno is gone before this one too?
Questionable Starts
José Soriano vs. TEX - Here's to hoping the sinker is earning enough strikes. It really is as simple as that.
Clay Holmes @ SDP - Hey Mets, are you going to limit "The Adobe" or not? Either way, he hasn't been elite and the Padres are tougher to deal with these days.
Yu Darvish vs. NYM - We're still waiting for Darvish to click. I believe he will, but the Mets are rough, making this hard one to trust.
José Berríos @ BAL - He's "The Great Undulator". You can't just say that every time. Sure I can.
Adrian Houser vs. PHI - I'm not sure I should have him outside the bottom tier, but I understand if you want to keep applying the "Vargas Rule".
Do Not Starts
Jeffrey Springs vs. SEA - He's had more sunshine and rainbows that I expected this season, rooted in a near 25% SwStr changeup. That's really all he has, though, and it's "Sacré Verde".
Zack Littell @ NYY - Littell's run is likely over and I wouldn't risk a date against the Yankees, even without Judge present.
Mike Burrows @ SFG - You may think this is too harsh on Burrows, but the slider isn't great and he needs his best command to make it worthwhile, even against the Giants.
Joey Wentz @ KCR - He'll be stretched out to five innings here and gets to pitch in a great park. THERE'S A CHANCE.
Ryan Gusto vs. WSN - We just saw Gusto get obliterated, but his four-seamer did play well. It's possible these left-handers can't deal with it.
Dean Kremer vs. TOR - Kremer is the Dean "Werewolf", which gives him a shot against any team, including the Jays. That floor is awfully scary, though.
Miles Mikolas vs. MIA - He'll throw a lot of strikes over the plate and the Marlins aren't a team to fear. But then again, it's Mikolas. He just sat 2-3 ticks harder, Nick. I still can't do it. I'M SORRY.
Bailey Ober vs. BOS - We expect Ober to return from the IL in a very clear "Still ILL", even if it's the Sawx away from Fenway. UPDATE: It's Zebby now. Ober could be Friday.
Shohei Ohtani @ CIN - He's not stretched out to five frames yet and it's unclear if there is a significant follower to consider.
Taijuan Walker @ CHW - I know it's against the CrySox, but it's Taijuan. You knwo we can't.
Cal Quantrill @ STL - Yes, there are moments with Cal. I'm not interested.
Kyle Freeland @ CLE - Freeland was great at the beginning of the year away from Coors...
Kolby Allard vs. COL - It's not Messick after all, but DRALLA. He's still around apparently and not even against "Rockie Road" will I chance it.
Nick Martinez vs. LAD - It's the Dodgers and Martinez doesn't have a high enough ceiling.
Dallas Keuchel vs. ATL - Wait, seriously?! I thought Bananza was the only DK we'd see this month. Angel Zerpa is opening and we may not see Keuchel ultimately in this bullpen game.
Thursday 7/31 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
George Kirby vs. TEX - I love his new embrace of four-seamers nibbling the edges and low secondaries. He may get his former "AGA" back if he keeps it up.
Andrew Abbott vs. ATL - Abbott returned to form last time and Atlanta is missing Acuña again.
Probably Starts
NONE - I don't change my rankings just to satisfy these tiers. You deserve better than that,
Questionable Starts
Ryan Pepiot @ NYY - Not a great matchup and I'd rather not chance it with Pepiot lacking consistentcy in feel start-to-start. But at least Judge isn't in the lineup?
Kumar Rocker @ SEA - Hey. I know you elected to feature your cutter as your #4 pitch last time out. It didn't work. Please don't do that again.
Do Not Starts
Marcus Stroman vs. TBR - The Yankees haven't acquired another arm yet, which makes this likely to be Stroman's final start. For real this time. We're hoping for five frames of 3 ER or fewer with a Win. That's it.
Carlos Carrasco @ CIN - He's back! Atlanta needs arms and maybe Cookie can replicate Stroman's goals for Atlanta in GABP.
Friday 8/1 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.
In addition, PL Pro Members have access to my Sit/Start SP Grid, ranking all expected starters into the four tiers across the next fourteen days. You can find it on the PL Pro Hub Page.
