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, with a minimum of 5 IP. Close calls are decided by Playback chat.
Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 77-63
My pick yesterday: Cole Ragans @ OAK
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 72-68
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: José Quintana @ ATL
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
Tyler Glasnow vs. COL – Aces gonna ace. Feels weird putting him over Cole, but this looks to be pure dominance.
Gerrit Cole vs. WSN – Cole has been weird with his slider and the Yankee Win chance isn’t what it used to be.
Pablo López vs. TEX – It’s Texas, but he’s an ace now. You don’t bench AGA.
Probably Starts
Justin Steele @ PIT – I’ve been a little weirded out by Steele lately, but it’s the Pirates. You go for it.
Merrill Kelly vs. CIN – Kelly has had some mishaps and we’re still going to start him because we don’t overreact.
J.P. France vs. BOS – France is a Toby for a winning team, arguably a Holly, even with a higher-than-ideal WHIP.
José Berríos @ BAL – Berríos is opponent agnostic. Go for it.
Questionable Starts
Brandon Williamson @ ARI – This is one weird tier for Thursday. I don’t like the matchup at all, but all of the guys below are gonna give y’all the eyebrow raise. Williamson is our reluctant streamer of the day as the changeup has been solid and his increased velocity is sticking.
Andrew Heaney @ MIN – He’s a Cherry Bomb but at least it’s not the Dodgers or Astros.
Gavin Williams vs. LAD – Williams has shown the stupid good ceiling, that’s worth something, right?
Brayan Bello @ HOU – It’s the Astros and if Bello had a legit third pitch, I’d maybe consider this.
UPDATE: Kyle Gibson vs. TOR – The Orioles are likely moving their rotation up a day with Flaherty getting scratched on Wednesday, which puts Gibson against the mighty Jays instead of Rockie Road. He’s a Cherry Bomb through and through, even against the tough ones.
Ryan Pepiot @ CLE – Ah, now we get to the fun of this tier that I think has a better chance than the legit “Do Not Start” options. Pepiot is likely getting the ball on Thursday for the Dodgers and flexed a changeup he can actually throw for strikes with a strong breaker in his relief appearance over the weekend. This could work.
Jesse Scholtens vs. OAK – He executed the BSB while in Coors. The five walks weren’t nearly as wild as the results suggest + this is Oakland. Welcome to your ultra-sneaky streamer.
Ken Waldichuk @ CHW – He punched out seven last time out and it’s the White Sox. He’s awfully volatile and likely not worth it, but there are worse strikeout plays.
Patrick Corbin @ NYY – I led with Corbin in the SP Roundup after he executed the best BSB I’ve seen from him since…2019? He also gets paired with the demoralized Yankees and it could mean six innings of production. I know, it’s a weird tier.
UPDATE: Jhony Brito (Opener) vs. WSN – It was originally Cole, but with Michael King getting announced as the opener, the assumption is Brito goes against the Nats and Cole gets the Rays. As for Brito, he has a chance to go five frames in relief and possibly steal a Win. Not a high upside play.
Do Not Starts
Peter Lambert @ TBR – Sorry Lambert, even without Franco, the Rays are still a good offense.
Andre Jackson vs. CHC – I don’t know how long he goes and it’s the Cubs.
UPDATE: Erasmo Ramírez vs. COL – It appears that Glasnow is going against the Yankees over the weekend now, which means we’ll likely get a bullpen game for the Rays, with Erasmo going 3+ to kick it off.
TBD Orioles SP vs. TOR – With Flaherty getting scratched and Kremer moving up a day, it’s unknown how the Orioles are handling Thursday’s game.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Spencer Strider @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole @ TBR – Aces gonna ace. For real this time.
Brandon Woodruff vs. SDP – He took a step back last time out but the four-seamer is still golden.
Zach Eflin vs. NYY – Eflin has been money.
Yu Darvish @ MIL – Darvish introduced curveballs last time and I absolutely dig it.
Bryce Miller vs. KCR – The Royals are weird. Miller’s slider is weird. Let’s get weird.
Kodai Senga vs. LAA – Let’s be honest, you’re not benching Senga these days. He’s been too dang good.
Lance Lynn @ BOS – That same goes for Lynn and Bassitt. He’s been too dang good.
Chris Bassitt vs. CLE – Read above.
Probably Starts
Dylan Cease vs. OAK – It feels like a top tier outing, but Cease just hasn’t been that guy this year.
Framber Valdez @ DET – It’s been a horrible run and yet we all know this shouldn’t last. Plus, it’s the Tigers. Felines always get us out of a rut, right?
Kyle Hendricks @ PIT – He’s been such a steady play and it’s the Pirates.
Brady Singer @ SEA – The slider is still legit.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. STL – Sanchez didn’t have his changeup last time out and the slider + sinker stepped up.
Logan Webb vs. ATL – Webb has been phenomenal, but it’s Atlanta. Go with your gut.
Sonny Gray vs. TEX – The same goes for Gray facing Texas. It’s a dangerous proposition.
Braxton Garrett vs. WSN – Garrett’s cutter and slider were far better last time out than his previous month or two. I’m encouraged enough to give this one a shot.
Cole Irvin vs. COL – Irvin has been a serviceable Toby and now hosts Rockie Road in Walltimore.
Dane Dunning @ MIN – Dunning didn’t have the strikeout barrage last time out, but I’m not ready to give up on his sliders and cutters just yet.
Tanner Bibee @ TOR – I have my hesitations, though I’m not sure what to make of Toronto. I also understand you’re not ready to bench Bibee and I’d ride him until he hits a wall, at the very least.
Questionable Starts
JP Sears @ CHW – There’s a solid strikeout chance here as Sears is finally past his gauntlet of terrible matchups.
Mitch Keller vs. CHC – Keller just had a double-digit strikeout game with stellar cutters and sweepers. I sure hope those return.
Tyler Anderson @ NYM – Tyler’s changeup is still on point and the Mets aren’t a team to fear.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. CIN – Pfaadt has shockingly come through with his four-seamer/sweeper combo and even if I’m still skeptical, it’s worth the gamble in many leagues here.
Do Not Starts
Miles Mikolas @ PHI – I just don’t trust Mikolas at all these days. If you’re in dire need of a Quality Start, I understand. I guess.
Kutter Crawford vs. LAD – Crawford isn’t pitching poorly, but the Dodgers are too elite.
Joan Adon @ MIA – I really don’t like Adon’s arsenal.
Matt Manning vs. HOU – It’s the Astros + Manning has had his best stuff just once this season and it was over a month ago.
Kyle Freeland @ BAL – At least there’s an opportunity for Freeland to survive here.
Brett Kennedy @ ARI – He barely made it through five last time out. I have no interest here.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)