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: 68-30
My Pick yesterday: Win - Cade Horton vs. CLE
My Pick today: Michael Soroka vs. BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Justin Wrobleski (Ohtani Opener) vs. HOU
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: 66-32
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Loss - David Festa @ MIA
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.
Friday 7/4 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo vs. PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Jesús Luzardo vs. CIN - It's the "Reds Carpet" for Luzardo. Yes please.
Spencer Strider vs. BAL - I'm worried about Strider, but the Orioles are struggling. Here's to the vert getting back to normal.
Andrew Abbott @ PHI - Abbott has been too good to stop starting him now.
Probably Starts
Lucas Giolito @ WSN - Giolito has been on a solid run and the LHB bats should play into his changeup well, instead of forcing more sliders in a RHB lineup.
Kris Bubic @ ARI - Bubic has been stellar, though the Sneks are strong even without Carroll.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. KCR - It's the Royals and Eduardo has been making it work. Please have the changeup back, okay?
Questionable Starts
Michael Soroka vs. BOS - Soroka didn't have his curveball at all last start and I sure hope he does here. The Red Sox are susceptible if can find it.
Kumar Rocker @ SDP - Rocker's lean into cutters is fantastic. I just wish he had another offering he can pair effectively. The fastballs are not what they used to be and his curve/slider command goes in and out.
Quinn Priester @ MIA - Priester has had a stretch of solid performances and now gets the Marlins. Normally he just has a slider with terrible sinkers and cutters over the plate, but he did flex a strong curve to support his main breaker last time out.
Chris Paddack vs. TBR - Paddack has had a strange set of games lately and I wonder if he get the vert back on his heater after he gained velocity to 95 mph last time.
Zack Littell @ MIN - Littell has been everyone's favorite "Vargas Rule". I'm terrified of the inevitable wall.
Ben Casparius vs. HOU - It was a terrible performance last time out and don't let that convince you he's incapable of securing a Win. It looks as though Casparius is getting a proper start, which is bittersweet. It lowers his chance for a Win, but it's a proper step toward larger fantasy relevance with increased expected volume.
Sandy Alcantara vs. MIL - I can't lean into Alcantara until the fastball command to RHB is there + his changeup is the proper weapon it used to be.
JP Sears vs. SFG - It's the Giants, even if I really dislike leaning into Sears on a regular basis.
Do Not Starts
Reese Olson @ CLE - Oh dang, he's ACTUALLY returning from the IL! It's a "Still ILL" and I hope he gives us plenty to be excited about.
Charlie Morton @ ATL - Morton was delayed due to elbow tendonitis and this has all the signs of not going well.
Adrian Houser @ COL - He's a QS darling, but it's still Coors.
Colin Rea vs. STL - Maybe I'm too low on Rea, but I don't love Rea's stuff and his hot stretch has cooled off considerably in the summer days. Funny how that works.
Slade Cecconi vs. DET - The Slade Bridgade will hate me for it, but I don't think he does anything special. The Tigers make this an easy bench.
Justin Verlander @ ATH - It's "Sacré Verde" and I haven't seen the great version of Verlander post IL stint.
Randy Vásquez vs. TEX - Vásquez throws strikes and it's the Rangers. That could work...?
Eric Lauer vs. LAA - Lauer has been able to get more whiffs on his four-seamer than you'd think against RHB, which could make this a surprise K game against the RHB-Angels lineup. Or an absolute bust.
Bailey Falter @ SEA - It's a good situation n all, but Falter is not consistent enough to trust here.
Marcus Stroman @ NYM - Stroman won't go long and his stuff is not what you want it to be.
Lance McCullers Jr. @ LAD - A volatile pitcher against the Dodgers?! I get it only if you're only looking for strikeout potential, but hot dang.
Miles Mikolas @ CHC - Mikolas won't let you salvage anything if he does poorly, which is a high probability against the Cubs.
Kyle Hendricks @ TOR - Hendricks ain't it. You know this.
Justin Hagenman vs. NYY - It's the Yankees and Hagenman is not an arm to stream against poor offenses yet.
Antonio Senzatela vs. CHW - Even against the CrySox, it's still Senz-A. Sigh.
Saturday 7/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Logan Webb @ ATH - Aces gonna ace.
Carlos Rodón @ NYM - Aces gonna ace.
Ranger Suárez vs. CIN - He's been an ace for two months and gets the "Reds Carpet".
Framber Valdez @ LAD - Aces gonna ace...even against the Dodgers.
Probably Starts
Luis Castillo vs. PIT - I'm not the biggest Castillo acolyte, though it's the Pirates. They've been better as an offense. It's also at "@TEA". Okay fine.
Casey Mize @ CLE - I'm liking the breaking ball approach of Mize and his fastball/splitter is still a strong combo.
Ryne Nelson vs. KCR - Nelson's four-seamer is incredible. There's a part of me that wants him to throw his worse pitches more often (cutter and slider) a little more just to help amplify the four-seamer even more. He doesn't throw nearly as many non-competitive secondaries as you'd think.
Nick Lodolo @ PHI - Lodolo has had a rough schedule across the last six weeks and he's only had a pair of disappointing outings in that time. I see a strong second half ahead, especially now that he's had the first healthy season of his career, which has allowed him to find a baseline and build upon it.
Questionable Starts
Matthew Liberatore @ CHC - I'm concerned that Liberatore's arsenal will degrade across the season with fatigue in his first full year on the bump, with his arsenal lacking a single electric offering. This house can crumble easily. In the short term, it's the Cubs here and that's a tough matchup.
Chad Patrick @ MIA - It's the Marlins and it's a good strikeout play. The Ratios are always a question, though, and his volume varies start-to-start.
Justin Wrobleski (Ohtani Opener) vs. HOU - Ohtani is now opening for Wrobo instead of Casparius, which raises the Win chance for Wrobleski. However, I'm not sold that Wrobo is dominant against a RHB-crew and I'd consider this a Win play with a bit of risk in the ratio department.
Michael Wacha @ ARI - Wacha's WHIP has hurt a fair amount this year and the Sneks are a tough offense to endure. Hopefully the changeup is at its best.
Max Scherzer vs. LAA - Scherzer showcased some great sliders and cutters last time out. He could unleash them against the RHB-heavy angels, though there's risk of his thumb injury propping up again - it cut his last start an inning short against the Yankees.
Jack Leiter @ SDP - Leiter gets a decent matchup, but we don't know what this "PEAS" will do. I sure hope I can remove that label soon.
Do Not Starts
Mitchell Parker vs. BOS - I'm tempted to give this a go given Boston's poor offensive performance away from Fenway, but that would require faith in Parker nailing the "BSB" with his heater and curveball. He's only done that once.
Dean Kremer @ ATL - Kremer has been better than I give him credit as of late...and yet I think it's so flukey. I can't do it, but if you're looking for a (Project) Hail Mary, this could be it.
Logan Allen vs. DET - He has his moments, but the floor has a much higher chance of appearing than the ceiling.
Taj Bradley @ MIN - He's a "PEAS" without a beacon guiding him toward improvement.
Stephen Kolek vs. TEX - Kolek throws strikes and sometimes that's all you need to do against the Rangers.
Luis Severino vs. SFG - It's in "Sacré Verde" and Severino can't be trusted. But at least it's the Giants.
Walker Buehler @ WSN - Buehler is still figuring things out. I wonder if he can go "Dancing With The Disco".
Mike Burrows @ SEA - Burrows has some moments of success when he can go "BSB" with four-seamers and changeups, though it's not consistent and his breakers are suspect.
Jordan Wicks vs. STL - Taillon was placed on the IL with a strained calf muscle and the Cubs called up Wicks to replace him. I have low expectations for Wicks out of the gate, though I'm curious if his changeup feel is there with a great "iVB" four-seamer and decent enough breakers.
Hurston Waldrep vs. BAL - It's not an MLB debut, but it might as well be as Waldrep makes his season debut for Atlanta. His four-seamer shape is terrible, the slider doesn't get enough whiffs, and his best pitch is a splitter. You know how I feel about splitters being the best pitch, let alone for a rookie.
Connor Gillispie vs. TBR - Oh hey, it's Connor! You had some moments, right?
Cal Quantrill vs. MIL - He is the UnQuantrillfiable. But mostly quantified as not fantasy relevant.
Frankie Montas Jr. vs. NYY - It's the Yankees and Montas isn't looking stupid good.
Germán Márquez vs. CHW - He's had a sub 3.00 ERA across his last eight games, believe it or not. Coors is undefeated. But the CrySox are Unundefeated. They've won more games this year. Sure, whatever.
Jack Kochanowicz @ TOR - The Jack of No Trade is here. I hope to see the sinker dominate once again.
Jonathan Cannon @ COL - Do not prepare the cannons.
Sunday 7/6 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.
