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: 96-51
My Pick yesterday: Win - Emmet Sheehan vs. CIN
My Pick today: Kyle Bradish vs. BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Colin Rea @ SFG
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: 94-53
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Emmet Sheehan vs. CIN
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.
Tuesday 8/26 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Hunter Brown vs. COL - Aces gonna ace.
Matthew Boyd @ SFG - You don't need me.
Jacob Misiorowski vs. ARI - Despite the short leash, he needs to be started.
Probably Starts
Dylan Cease @ SEA - It's too high a ceiling to deny.
Hurston Waldrep @ MIA - Waldrep has been crushing and the Marlins are ready to be feasted upon.
Clayton Kershaw vs. CIN - It's the "Reds Carpet", making this a solid floor (no better way to liven a floor than a red carpet) despite all my concerns of Kershaw ROS.
Jesús Luzardo @ NYM - He's a "Cherry Bomb" and maybe axing the changeup was the right thing to do.
Lucas Giolito @ BAL - Giolito is a low-end "Holly" and that makes a start against the Orioles fine in my book.
Questionable Starts
Luis Gil vs. WSN - Gil is still working on his command and will need the changeup to come alive against the LHB-focused Nationals.
Sandy Alcantara vs. ATL - Alcantara now has two starts under his belt where he led with the changeup, catalyzing fastball success. It's still a bit risky, but we're going with it.
MacKenzie Gore @ NYY - He's been up-and-down over the last few weeks and now has to face the Yankees. Yikes. This has a wide range of outcomes.
Yusei Kikuchi @ TEX - He's a "HIPSTER" and you don't know what you're going to get each start. After all, it was curveballs more than any other pitch in his last one.
Luis Castillo vs. SDP - I'm down on Castillo, though this is in his lovely home park.
Shane Baz @ CLE - Baz was demolished at home and could have some respite on the road.
Sean Manaea vs. PHI - The fastball + sweeper combo isn't overwhelming batters like 2024's second half and it may be a problem with his third time through the lineup penalty.
Mitch Keller @ STL - I generally want to start arms in St. Louis, but Keller is so...blegh.
Charlie Morton @ ATH - It's in "Sacré Verde" but the strikeouts have been flowing like laminar.
Kyle Bradish vs. BOS - I'm stoked to watch the TJS return of Bradish, who has displayed the legit slider in the minors and the 94 mph cutter (the four-seamer has negative horizontal movement, y'all. IT'S A CUTTER). With the Sawx away from Fenway and a pitch count well above 80, I'm awfully tempted to break the rule of "Still ILL". At any rate, he should be rostered everywhere for starts after this one.
Parker Messick vs. TBR - Messick is getting another outing and we've seen fastball/change approaches work more than ever. I sure don't love it, but fine, it could work.
Do Not Starts
Chris Bassitt vs. MIN - I'm not buying into another ten-strikeout game from Bassitt. He's been heavily sporadic with his curveball feel all season.
Brandon Pfaadt @ MIL - Pfaadt's low changeup and sinker in his last outing was impressive and not something I'm ready to buy into.
Justin Verlander vs. CHC - Verlander hasn't overwhelmed consistently and it's the Cubs. That slider has look meh recently.
Nick Martinez @ LAD - This isn't a favorable matchup at all, but Martinez has had some rare surprises for us.
Bailey Ober @ TOR - At least it's a slew of RHB that requires less of his breakers. I really wish he didn't fall under 90 mph in his last outing.
Martín Pérez vs. KCR - I dig that Pérez is starting again and he's already displayed the ability to quietly go 5+ frames.
Michael Lorenzen @ CHW - Lorenzen has a shot for a QS on every night he pitches. Sure don't like it, though.
Andre Pallante vs. PIT - The matchup is the best of the lot down here, but hot dang do I not want to do this.
Patrick Corbin vs. LAA - Here's to hoping Corbin has a dash of magic saved for his left arm.
Osvaldo Bido vs. DET - We thought it was Estes, it looks like it's Bido. The command is way too chaotic to start him, let alone a low chance at 5+ frames.
Tanner Gordon @ HOU - It's the Colorado SP.
Wednesday 8/27 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Framber Valdez vs. COL - He lost his "AGA" tag, but it's "Rockie Road", y'all.
Bryan Woo vs. SDP - Aces gonna ace.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. LAA - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. WSN - Fried rebounded last start and gets a great matchup to continue forward.
Sonny Gray vs. PIT - He should be Sonny.
Shohei Ohtani vs. CIN - IT'S TIME. This is the "Reds Carpet" + He's gone 75+ pitches and would have gone further that 67 in his last one if not for a liner to the thigh.
Probably Starts
Drew Rasmussen @ CLE - He's not limited to sub five frames anymore.
Brayan Bello @ BAL - Bello has been killing it for a while.
Colin Rea @ SFG - Rea has been a steady "Toby" against mid teams for a while.
Yu Darvish @ SEA - It's "@TEA" and Darvish should be better than his initial weeks.
Joey Wentz @ MIA - Wentz just got rattled by the Mets, but the Marlins are far simpler.
Ryne Nelson @ MIL - Nelson has a tough matchup, though I love the embrace of the slider in his last two starts.
Nolan McLean vs. PHI - The Phillies are another challenge for McLean and I'm here for it.
Ryan Bergert @ CHW - The White Sox are heating up, but Bergert's fastball + breakers are doing some legit work.
Questionable Starts
Quinn Priester vs. ARI - I may be too low here, though Priester just doesn't add up to me and looked rough last time out.
Braxton Ashcraft @ STL - Is this Bubba Chandler getting more than Ashcraft? I don't think we would have seen Braxton in the fifth if not for "Rockie Road" and his suprising efficiency last time out. I'd rather have Bubba, assuming he's the piggy-back.
Nick Lodolo @ LAD - Lodolo is coming off the IL and faces the Dodgers. CRUEL.
Tyler Anderson @ TEX - Anderson may be worthwhile is he has his changeup on point. It's a gamble.
Zebby Matthews @ TOR - Zebby had a mix of looking great and poor against the White Sox and now faces a strong offense.
Eric Lauer vs. MIN - Lauer has found a way to succeed with his four-seamer and cutter to RHB. I wonder if we'll see more of that here.
Taijuan Walker @ NYM - Walker has been an absurd "Vargas Rule", but he can't survive this...right?
Casey Mize @ ATH - Mize was terrible in his last outing and now it's "Sacré Verde".
Luis Morales vs. DET - Morales is kinda interesting with his 97 mph and flat attack, but it's a leap to assume he'll execute well enough against the Tigers.
Do Not Starts
Slade Cecconi vs. TBR - I'm not a part of the Slade Brigade, though there is an outside chance he has another magical start in him.
Cade Cavalli @ NYY - The 85+ mph hook is an absolute beauty but it's the Yankees and the rest of the arsenal needs work, even with its velocity.
Ryan Gusto vs. ATL - Gusto is settling into the rotation spot and we need to see him excel first before instilling trust.
Carson Whisenhunt vs. CHC - He's another lefty with a changeup, though he's not doing enough with it yet + it's the Cubs.
Aaron Civale vs. KCR - The ceiling is too low for a terrible floor.
Roansy Contreras vs. BOS - Oh wow, you're starting, eh?
Chase Dollander @ HOU - It's the Colorado SP.
Thursday 8/28 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.
