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: 80-63
My pick yesterday: Clarke Schmidt @ TBR
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 73-70
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: JP Sears @ CWS
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. KCR – Aces gonna ace.
Justin Verlander @ DET – It’s the Tigers and this is incredibly safe.
Aaron Nola vs. STL – Let’s hope Nola doesn’t get punished on his non-four-seamers and curves.
Jesús Luzardo vs. WSN – Luzardo stepped back up against the Padres and the Nationals are an easier time.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Grayson has looked fantastic since returning to the majors.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. CLE – He finally had a rough day at the park, but his slider command is still legit.
Jordan Montgomery @ MIN – JorMont is an obvious start against the Twins with his curve and changeup on point.
UPDATE: Bobby Miller @ BOS – It appears the Dodgers are going with Bobby for a two-start week after all. He’s solid enough that you’re starting him here, even in Fenway.
Probably Starts
Michael Wacha @ MIL – I was tempted to put him in the top tier after a pair of starts with great command.
Graham Ashcraft @ ARI – Ashcraft has been spotting sinkers well and he’s been finally getting whiffs on the cutter.
Carlos Rodón @ TBR – We’re still waiting for Rodón to have that game akin to his previous two seasons, though he showcased the ability to survive six frames last time out and he could take another step forward here.
Javier Assad @ PIT – That’s two solid performances and the Pirates aren’t any better. The sinker inside + cutter away is working wonders.
Questionable Starts
Bailey Ober vs. TEX – It’s the Rangers, be careful.
Bailey Falter vs. CHC – He’s our streaming pick as I’ve dug Falter’s pitch separation and improved fastball velocity.
Zack Littell vs. NYY – Is it finally time for Littell to secure a Win? As long as he gets his four-seamer up and use his slider well, he should be able to survive at least five, if not six.
Mike Clevinger vs. OAK – It’s a lovely matchup, though Clevinger didn’t come through in his first cushy matchup of the week.
Paul Blackburn @ CHW – The Win chance is weird, though the Athletics just trounced Cease on Friday night. You could find six frames here and Win on a desperate Sunday.
Emmet Sheehan @ BOS – Pitching for the Dodgers is a very good thing and I hope Sheehan is able to find his sliders and changeups for strikes. The fastball is normally good enough to secure effective strikes and the Red Sox aren’t too scary.
Griffin Canning @ NYM – Canning is re-entering the rotation and still has legit strikeout potential. Keep in mind, he’s not fully stretched out yet.
Adrian Houser vs. SDP – I recognize that Houser has the chance to chuck six innings with okay ratios. Y’all know I don’t like it, but it can happen.
Do Not Starts
Slade Cecconi vs. CIN – I really dont’ buy what Slade did in his last start, but at least it’s not in Cincy.
Ty Blach @ BAL – I’ve seen some decent starts from Blach and this one is away from Coors in Walltimore. There’s a chance.
Alec Marsh @ SEA – Marsh has some moments of bliss, though the fastball is inconsistent and the breakers don’t consistently dominate.
David Peterson vs. LAA – Peterson is stretched out now and the Angels offense is rouuuuugh.
Trevor Williams @ MIA – Williams has a long enough leash to go over 90 pitches (if not 100) and if he’s getting his pitches down, they can found gloves.
Noah Syndergaard @ TOR – Thor is so not the guy we want him to be with little upside. But maybe it’s a Quality Start?
Jared Shuster @ SFG – Shuster is returning to the bigs after an uninspiring final outing in the minors. It is the Giants though…
Alex Faedo vs. HOU – If the slider is legit, he just needs to find a way to avoid balls in play with his fastball and slider.
Tanner Houck vs. LAD – I’ve curious about what we’ll see from Houck for the rest of the year, but this is the Dodgers.
Drew Rom @ PHI – I wasn’t impressed with Drew in his MLB debut and I wouldn’t take a chance here.
Jakob Junis vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta + Junis won’t go long.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Kevin Gausman vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Blake Snell @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Clayton Kershaw vs. ARI – It’s TATIAGA.
Kenta Maeda vs. CLE – Maeda hasn’t had his best slider, but I’m not going to do anything rash yet.
Andrew Abbott @ SFG – Abbott is solid and it’s the Giants.
Zac Gallen @ LAD – Gallen is an ace, but I hate that he has to take on the Dodgers.
Probably Starts
Lucas Giolito @ PHI – He looked fantastic last time out.
Bryan Woo vs. OAK – It’s the Athletics and Woo should be good to go at least five here.
Jon Gray @ NYM – Gray’s slider is elite and the four-seamer has been good enough to make this worthwhile.
Chris Sale vs. HOU – It’s Houston and yet Sale spotted his sliders and ramped up the velocity last time out. I say go for it.
Questionable Starts
Taijuan Walker vs. LAA – Walker isn’t inspiring a ton of hope with just 91/92 mph heaters, but the Angels are so poor of an offense right now.
Jack Flaherty vs. CHW – It’s good to see Flaherty start and he should be able to take down the White Sox, but we’re not quite sure where he’s at.
Johan Oviedo @ KCR – He’s a Cherry Bomb through and through.
Cristian Javier @ BOS – Uggggh. I’m still waiting for the slider to earn strikes and the four-seamer to dominate at the top of the zone. Maybe this is the one?
Reese Olson vs. NYY – The Yankees are not a good offense and Olson can have some success when the slider is cooking. Just get the changeups down and fastballs armside.
Wade Miley @ CHC – Meh. He has a low ceiling as a proper ‘Toby”, but he could go a comfortable 5-6 frames.
Jameson Taillon vs. MIL – I’m not loving how Taillon has to squeeze everything out of his arsenal to make himself fantasy relevant.
Luis Severino @ DET – It’s the Tigers and there’s some hope Severino has some magic in him left.
Do Not Starts
Kyle Harrison vs. CIN – I don’t trust he’ll go a full five innings + the command is terrible. You could do worse if you’re desperate for strikeouts.
Xzavion Curry @ MIN – I don’t think his slider is nearly as great as the strike rates have been and the fastball is poor.
Bryce Elder @ COL – It’s Coors and Elder could steal a Win. Those ratios may hate you for it though.
Adrían Martínez @ SEA – If he’s able to go five frames Martínez may be able to eek out production with his changeup.
Zack Greinke vs. PIT – Greinke does what Greinke does.
Josiah Gray @ TOR – Josiah struggles too much to find strikes across his repertoire, where no pitch is elite.
Michael Kopech @ BAL – Kopech’s fastball has fallen off a cliff.
Tylor Megill vs. TEX – We saw 96 mph + legit sliders last time out and sadly the Rangers are too good to risk this.
Austin Gomber vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta + Coors.
Adam Wainwright vs. SDP – It’s Waino. I really hope he gets Win #199.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
I think Snell is pitching today- and Lugo Tuesday. Best fantasy baseball site. Thank you for all of the hard work
Uh.. pretty sure the matchups are off on this one. Grayson and Bobby are going 8/28 against CHW and ARI, and Luzardo isn’t going until 8/30 against TB.