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: 68-50
My pick yesterday: José Quintana @ KCR
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 59-59
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: José Quintana @ KCR
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. TBR – Aces gonna ace. He’s too good.
Shane McClanahan @ NYY – Aces gonna ace. Don’t let the last two outings make you think otherwise.
Zack Wheeler @ MIA – He’s been just as good as Cole over the last month and change.
Joe Ryan @ STL – Ryan has been shaky and the secondaries haven’t come through. Still, I think he’s better than his recent performance and the four-seamer will overwhelm. The strikeout potential is too high.
Logan Webb vs. ARI – Webb is solid as a rock. That changeup is insane.
Kodai Senga @ KCR – The spice strikeouts flow and it’s the Royals.
Joe Musgrove @ COL – It’s Coors and yet we still start Musgrove.
Probably Starts
Logan Gilbert vs. BOS – Gilbert isn’t locked in with the four-seamer (1/50 whiffs last start?!) and that feels so dang weird. It can’t last, right?
Eduardo Rodriguez @ PIT – Yeaaaaah Eduardo isn’t making this start. (Update: WELL I GUESS HE IS) He’s likely to be dealt before the 6 pm ET today and it could be someone like Alex Faedo taking his spot. Faedo would be at the bottom of questionable with this matchup (maybe the slider is there?). Could also be a bullpen game. Wherever Eduardo does get traded to, he’ll likely be in this tier save for facing a tough squad. If it’s the Dodgers, that’s Oakland and SIGN ME UP. Houston would be CLE/NYY, and Baltimore would be @TOR. Only Baltimore would be a questionable start.
Tony Gonsolin vs. OAK – It’s Oakland. I consider him a Toby and this is why you have him.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. BAL – The new curve is solid and even facing a dangerous Orioles crew, I think you go with Kikuchi.
Jack Flaherty vs. MIN – He’s fine. I don’t love it, but I think Flaherty is good enough to start over benching. This may be the start that has me say “okay fine, let’s move on Flaherty.” He needs more fastball strikes and the slider to flirt with its former 18-20% SwStr rate self.
Tanner Bibee @ HOU – I could have Bibee over Flaherty, but the Astros are plenty dangerous and Bibee has only had one outing where I saw everything properly come together.
Grayson Rodriguez @ TOR – Do you want this higher? In the third tier? It’s hard to tell as Grayson has been electric at times and certainly better with his change and breakers in his last two outings, but we don’t know how sticky that is yet + the Jays are hot. Be careful if you’re in a precarious situation.
Questionable Starts
Jon Gray vs. CHW – Gray’s slider is cooking, but is the fastball in a good enough spot? This could be the outing where things start becoming wonderful again for Gray.
Kutter Crawford @ SEA – Crawford’s four-seamer is a strong offering and the kutter hasn’t been so bad, making a start against Seattle appealing. I still wish he would lean more on developing his breakers, though.
Dylan Cease @ TEX – Cease is opponent agnostic, which means it depends moreso on his slider and four-seamer command than the strength of the lineup he faces. That said, he’ll be punished more than usual in Texas.
Lucas Giolito @ ATL – It’s Atlanta and it’s also the sturdy Giolito. Tough call all around here, it might end up being a slightly below-average start and we move on.
MacKenzie Gore vs. MIL – Some may want to push Gore higher as the Brewers are a poor offense, but Gore is as Cherry Bomb as it gets.
Wade Miley @ WSN – It’s a Still ILL though I can still see Miley churning five frames with ease.
Braxton Garrett vs. PHI – His slider was better last time out, but the cutter and sinker have work to do. Hopefully they improve here.
Brandon Williamson @ CHC – I like the four-seamer and cutter approach, especially with the new velocity. He still has a little command polish left + he’s missing a proper whiff pitch as his #3, but this may be enough for now.
Ronel Blanco vs. CLE – I love Blanco’s slider, but he may not go long and the Guardians don’t strike out. In addition, this could be another starter the Astros acquire today instead as they’ve pushed back Cristian Javier a day to Wednesday.
UPDATE: Cole Ragans vs. NYM – I’m possibly over-extending here (even if I’m saying he’s at the bottom of the “hey, I’m not going to start these guys unless I have to” tier), but Ragans sat 97/98 mph last time he started with a lovely BSB approach and now he’s firmly entering the Royals rotation. I’m stoked to see what he does…but he may need some time.
UPDATE: Dane Dunning vs. CHW – Gray is throwing a bullpen today with hopes to start over the weekend. That pushes up Dunning to today in a decent matchup if you’re gunning for a Win.
Do Not Starts
Drew Smyly vs. CIN – Smyly was better in his last start with his sinker and slider, though the curve is still the one that isn’t quite what I want it to be yet.
Hogan Harris @ LAD – There’s a chance the crafty lefty figures out how to go 5+ frames against the Dodgers. The reward isn’t worth it though.
Kyle Freeland vs. SDP – It’s Coors and it’s Freeland. Noooope.
Osvaldo Bido vs. DET – I’d have him higher if I believed the Pirates would let Bido go 5+ frames without question.
Alec Marsh vs. NYM – His four-seamer is not good enough. This has a higher chance of hurting than help.
Yonny Chirinos vs. LAA – Despite the possible Win chance, I think Chirinos is detrimental to fantasy managers with his repertoire. Also, he may not start this one if Atlanta gets an arm before the deadline.
TBD Diamondbacks SP @ SFG – The Diamondbacks are looking for one more starter and have an open spot with Drey Jameson and Tommy Henry on the mend. If needed, it’s a bullpen game or maybe a surprise callup that I wouldn’t chase.
UPDATE: Slade Cecconi @ SFG – I wonder what we’ll see from Slade in his MLB debut. He’s 94/95 mph on his heater as he hopes to pull off the BSB. I have my doubts that he’ll wow us, but maybe a comfortable start against the Giants’ offense in Oracle Park can bring out the best in him
UPDATE: Dakota Hudson vs. MIN – With Flaherty heading to Baltimore, Hudson is in fact getting the pearl on Wednesday and I wouldn’t touch this.
UPDATE: Nick Martinez (Bullpen) @ COL – Musgrove was scratched with shoulder soreness and Martinez has been named the starter. I know, this is what I’ve wanted for so long and yet it isn’t. Martinez has pitched routinely in relief and tossed a frame just two nights ago. It’s a bullpen game. It’s also Coors.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Kevin Gausman vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace.
Shohei Ohtani vs. SEA – Aces gonna ace, especially with that fastball acting as well as it does.
Max Scherzer vs. CHW – Aces gonna ace as Scherzer debuts for the Rangers. He’s been more volatile than I realized across the full year, but still feels very much like a fantasy ace and we expect no less.
Julio Urías vs. OAK – Urías against the Athletics is as good as you could hope for.
Probably Starts
Sonny Gray @ STL – Yeah, this is fine. Sonny will likely be a little volatile, but the Cardinals do not scare us in the slightest.
Mitch Keller @ MIL – He pitched much better once he got his feet under him last time out and I think that carries over into this start against the Brewers.
Cristian Javier @ NYY – It feels weird placing Javier here, but with the Yankees striking out left and right, I see Javier overwhelming in the Bronx.
Questionable Starts
JP Sears @ LAD – Sears just conquered the unconquerable in Coors and is armed with a legit slider to pair with his already exceptional four-seamer. That said, it’s another challenge facing the Dodgers, but it’s hard not to want to take the chance.
Brady Singer vs. NYM – Despite two fantastic starts in a row (and possibly the best slider precision I’ve ever seen), Singer is still a Cherry Bomb. Up to you if you want to chase it.
Michael Lorenzen @ MIA – This is okay. The Marlins improved at the deadline and Lorenzen has been only good against poor offenses. I also don’t know how the adrenaline that comes with pitching for a new team will affect him.
Jack Flaherty @ TOR – Flaherty is pitching for a new crew and it could amp him up to be at his best, even when facing the Jays. I’m a little higher on him than I expected based on that notion, but then again, the rest of this tier isn’t too exciting.
Bryan Woo @ LAA – The Angels became a better offense and Woo’s four-seamer has not been the pitch we want it to be.
Johnny Cueto vs. PHI – He could be solid if the four-seamer gets spotted upstairs again. That said, the Phils are a solid crew who could mess up Cueto.
Jameson Taillon vs. CIN – Taillon has been able to squeeze the most out of his stuff as of late and while I don’t recommend starting him, I can see it coming out another time in Wrigley against a hot-and-cold Reds crew.
Clarke Schmidt vs. HOU – I don’t love the ceiling of Schmidt and the Astros are at full strength. Be careful here.
Adrian Houser vs. PIT – He chucks heaters and the Pirates aren’t great. Really don’t like it, but I get how it could work.
Do Not Starts
Brandon Pfaadt @ SFG – I was tempted to put him in the third tier, but Pfaadt’s four-seamer shouldn’t get seven whiffs again and the secondaries are inconsistent.
Carlos Carrasco @ KCR – Despite facing the Royals, you don’t want to go after Carrasco.
Luke Weaver @ CHC – Weaver may be shifting to the Canibal McSanchez with higher velocity and I want to see more success first.
Matthew Liberatore vs. MIN – Liberatore is back and hasn’t gotten his velocity back up to 94/95 mph while the slider is still missing.
Touki Toussaint @ TEX – The lean on the curve is interesting, but it’s the Rangers and this could be a disaster.
Sean Manaea (Opener) vs. ARI – He tossed seven pitches for a save on Tuesday night and is likely limited to just a few frames in relief here.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)