Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 8/11 & 8/12

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 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.

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 Playback chat.

 

Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 72-55

My pick yesterday: Zack Littell vs. STL

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 66-61

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Matthew Liberatore @ TBR

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

 

Luis Castillo vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace. It’s Baltimore, but Castillo’s skills are too good.

Corbin Burnes @ CHW – It’s a fantastic matchup that makes a case for the #1 spot, but Burnes has fanned just 16 in his last three games as the cutter isn’t the ZOMG pitch it was in previous seasons. Hopefully it is here.

Blake Snell @ ARI – Aces gonna ace and yet, he’s walked so many and hasn’t found a consistent rhythm. It’s weird – he’s managed to produce regardless, which means we start him hoping for more than his floor.

Jesús Luzardo vs. NYY – Luzardo is a budding ace and had the skills against the Rangers. The Yankees are far easier to deal with.

Justin Verlander vs. LAA – You’re obviously starting Verlander here, though the strikeouts may not be there.

Tarik Skubal @ BOS – His four-seamer is too dang good to bench, especially with Boston sitting in the bottom five of wRC+ in the last two weeks.

 

Probably Starts

 

Lance Lynn vs. COL – The Dodgers have Lynn throwing more four-seamers and fewer cutters, he’s in front of a better defense with a high Win chance against Rockie Road. Yes. PLEASE.

Andrew Abbott @ PIT – He’s struggled lately and I’m still throwing him out there against the Pirates. He’s not as bad as his last outing.

Nestor Cortes @ MIA – This may be a bit high given his limited pitch count of his last start, but the skills are too lovely to pass on against a middling Marlins team.

José Berríos vs. CHC – The Cubs are more dangerous than usual, though Berríos has been awfully steady.

Kyle Gibson @ SEA – It’s weird to put Gibson so high, but his SwStr rates have been fantastic and the Mariners feed into what Gibson does with breakers and changeups.

Cristopher Sánchez vs. MIN – Even with the disappointing outing, Sánchez’s pitches looked just like they normally do. Keep riding this.

Charlie Morton @ NYM – He’s a Cherry Bomb, but the strikeouts and Wins make it generally worthwhile to still start Morton. Frustrating, I know.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Jon Gray @ SFG – I’m going a little out on a limb here with this ranking. I’ve talked about Gray’s general volatility and his tendency to ramp back up to stardom over time. His slider is excellent and his four-seamer locations need to be improved slightly for him to start another brilliant stretch. This matchup in San Francisco is everything you want it to be.

Aaron Civale vs. CLE – He didn’t come through in his first start for the Rays, but we’re still throwing him out there. He’s a Toby against a mediocre offense with a good Win chance.

Johan Oviedo vs. CIN – It’s a decent matchup and even with my disdain for his heater, he’s come through more often than not.

Paul Blackburn @ WSN – Blackburn’s changeup and slider are looking lovely and the Nationals aren’t a team to fear…even if they refuse to strikeout.

Joan Adon vs. OAK – He flirted with perfection in his last outing and the Athletics are no strangers to floundering. Still, be careful as I don’t think Adon pitched that well.

Reid Detmers @ HOU – It’s too risky of a start as Detmers hasn’t been locked in for about a month now. Houston is scary, y’all.

Chris Sale vs. DET – I’d have Sale higher, but it’s a Still ILL and he’ll likely be heavily limited in his first start back. I’m keeping him on the IL in leagues where I’m not forced to activate him right away.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Michael Kopech vs. MIL – Kopech’s fastball was 93 mph, then 95 in his last one and I can’t get behind him. The Win chance is middling, the stuff isn’t exciting, and the Brewers are heating up. It’s not the right side of the Cherry Bomb.

Ross Stripling (Opener) vs. TEX – Strip is pitching better, but you avoid the Rangers.

UPDATE: Randy Vasquez vs. MIA – With Nestor pushed to Saturday, Randy goes today. I don’t like this at all, but I think the matchup is slightly better for Vásquez over Nelson.

Ryne Nelson vs. SDP – I don’t have faith in Nelson’s secondaries.

Austin Gomber @ LAD – I looked at the rest of these arms and realized none of them are anything you’d actually consider. So fine, let’s go with the guy who has allowed 2 ER or fewer in seven of his last eight.

Xzavion Curry @ TBR – He’s not going to go 90% strikes on his slider again.

Adam Wainwright @ KCR – Wainwright’s mediocrity > Kansas City’s mediocrity.

Tylor Megill vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta and Megill isn’t doing anything special.

Dallas Keuchel @ PHI – Dallas. Please.

Javier Assad @ TOR – Assad shouldn’t go very long here.

Angel Zerpa (Opener) vs. STL – He’s getting a start after tossing an out on Tuesday in relief and I have zero expectations for this.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Spencer Strider @ NYM – Aces gonna ace. Last start was weird.

Tyler Glasnow vs. CLE – If he’s starting, you start him. He may be limited a bit as a precaution, though all signs point to a proper start as of Friday.

Brandon Woodruff @ CHW – He’s two games away from the AGA label as he returned from the IL last week with a near 90 pitch count.

Pablo López @ PHI – One more game from the AGA label…

Sandy Alcantara vs. NYY – He’s been much better over the last month and even his previous outing against Texas came with a solid WHIP, plenty of strikeouts, and only two HRs as the blemish. He’s there.

George Kirby vs. BAL – Please tell me the slider is back for more.

Zac Gallen vs. SDP – Gallen may seem low after finally clicking into place with his four-seamer and curve, but I want to see it for one more time (or twice) before thrusting him back up the ranks.

 

Probably Starts

 

Nestor Cortes @ MIA – This may be a bit high given his limited pitch count of his last start, but the skills are too lovely to pass on against a middling Marlins team.

Cole Ragans vs. STL – GET. ON. BOARD. If you need convincing, I implore you to watch my favorite video of the year. Yes, that’s all of his last outing.

Brayan Bello vs. DET – It’s Detroit and this feels like a safe start for Bello, even if the cutter/slider and four-seamer aren’t ready to come out of the oven.

Gavin Williams @ TBR – I would be a little hesitant, but the man just fanned twelve Blue Jays batters and the Rays have been a little more volatile than usual. That said, I did watch all of this one for YouTube as well and you can tell how I’m not as enthused by Williams as I am Ragans. The four-seamer is a great pitch when elevated, but his overall command is spotty. I don’t love the feeling of questioning if he’ll be able to locate each pitch he throws.

Steven Matz @ KCR – The Royals have been better lately and don’t strikeout as much as you’d want. Matz has been a solid Holly, though, and I trust the fastball up + change down, with the curve-earning strikes.

Chris Bassitt vs. CHC – The Cubs are dangerous and yet we start Bassitt. Just do it.

Justin Steele @ TOR – Steele vs. Bassitt is a bit of the Spider-Man meme to me, and I’m more concerned about Steele’s recent trend than the steady nature of Bassitt.

Brandon Williamson @ PIT – Williamson had himself a game earlier this week, showcasing a solid changeup on top of decent four-seamer and cutter command. Pittsburgh has its moment, but I think I go with this, taking the chance that Williamson made a sustainable tweak for the future.

Tony Gonsolin vs. COL – Gonsolin is still a Toby and carries a fantastic Win chance against the poor Rockie Road offense.

Andrew Heaney @ SFG – I debated this one and settled on the solid Win Chance + pitching in San Francisco mixed with better-than-expected results from Heaney lately to push him into the second tier.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Taijuan Walker vs. MIN – Many are treating Walker like a Vargas Rule and I completely get that. On the other hand, Walker’s skills have been declining as of late and it may be smart to get off before the inevitable crash.

Luis Medina @ WSN – He was terrible last time out and the Nationals don’t strike out, but Medina did cruise in his four starts prior. I think it’s a good enough matchup to take a shot that he regains the skills over the idea his flash in the pan is over.

Michael Soroka @ NYM – Soroka is getting a spot start for the doubleheader after fanning eight with a strong slider in his last Triple-A start. His fastball was a bit off, though, while the velocity dipped 1-2 ticks. The Win chance is good enough to elevate him in this tier, but it’s not as good as it looks on paper against the demoralized Mets.

Cole Irvin @ SEA – Irvin has a solid Win chance for those who need six frames here. Otherwise…meh. This isn’t a high-ceiling start.

Jesse Scholtens vs. MIL – Scholtens has had back-to-back six inning games and the Brewers are meh (they’ve been better recently up to average instead of poor). Don’t like this much, but I get it if you need a dart throw.

Kodai Senga vs. ATL – Senga has been great, but the Atlanta offense has a 150 wrc+ across the last two weeks. It’s TERRIFYING.

J.P. France vs. LAA – France rejoins the Astros rotation as they move to a six-man situation and there’s a shot he pulls this off against the Angels.

José Quintana vs. ATL – Like we brought up with Senga, Atlanta is phenomenal. If Quintana has his command, he can navigate the lineup, but it doesn’t come with the same strikeout upside as Senga.

Tyler Anderson @ HOU – Anderson’s changeup has been cooking, but the Astros make the floor awfully low.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Alex Cobb vs. TEX – He’s had his splitter working just once since his return from the IL and it’s the Rangers. No thanks.

Jake Irvin vs. OAK – It’s Oakland and yet, Irvin’s secondaries are too lacking, even if his four-seamer’s average velocity exceeded 96 mph last time out.

Matt Manning @ BOS – He’s not what you want him to be as the velocity dropped to 92/93 mph instead of 95 mph without slider whiffs backing him up. I know Boston isn’t looking hot right now, but Manning’s ability supersedes that.

Luis L. Ortiz vs. CIN – Is he actually starting? We’ve seen him hinted at before only to not make the start. And if he does, how long does he go? And will he have good enough fastball and slider command?

Rich Hill @ ARI – This likely won’t last very long.

Peter Lambert @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers, even if Lambert chopped up his opponent last time out.

 

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