Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 8/4 & 8/5

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: 69-51

My pick yesterday: JP Sears @ LAD

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 61-59

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Brandon Pfaadt @ SFG

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 @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.

Aaron Nola vs. KCR – He didn’t come through last time but this is the Royals. The Royals!

James Paxton vs. TOR – If Paxton comes through here, he gets the AGA tag.

 

Probably Starts

 

Bailey Ober vs. ARI – Sure, he stumbled last time out, but the Bailey Special is sure to return.

Bobby Miller @ SDP – Miller is finding his groove and the Padres are…something.

Reid Detmers vs. SEA – Detmers has had a rough month, though it’s come against elite offenses. A matchup against Seattle is everything he needs with their affinity for whiffs.

Jordan Montgomery vs. MIA – The Bear is making his debut for the Rangers, though the Marlins offense isn’t the pushover they used to be.

Yu Darvish vs. LAD – He had it fixed, then lost it, then went a different route in his last outing. The Dodgers are not a fun team to face and I’m a little scared here.

Hunter Brown @ NYY – Brown is slowing developing a BSB approach and with the low morale of the Yankees, he looks primed to take advantage.

Dean Kremer vs. NYM – We’ve seen better starts from Kremer and there’s little wind left in the Mets’ sails.

Jesús Luzardo @ TEX – Texas is terrifying. And yet, I still want to trust Luzardo here – that last outing was not the man he is and he’s been so good for a while. Totally understand if you’d rather not take the chance.

Merrill Kelly @ MIN – Kelly didn’t have his command in his second start back from the IL and I expect a different performance here.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Max Fried @ CHC – It’s a Still ILL, though it comes with the Atlanta offense behind him, making for a higher Win chance than you normally see in a return from the IL. He tossed 80 pitches last time out, though I imagine Atlanta will be cautious and not push Fried plenty. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense is red hot and it’s a riskier play than I’d like. If you want to go with Fried, I don’t blame you in the slightest. I need to follow Still ILL rules.

Colin Rea vs. PIT – I kinda dig this start against the weak Pirates offense as Rea spotted his slider beautifully last time out and if that continues, he’ll coast to another day of production.

Logan Allen vs. CHW – The velocity is down and I’m not loving his overall feel. That said, it’s the White Sox and Allen could cruise through six.

Graham Ashcraft vs. WSN – I don’t like Ashcraft, but I also recognize he has a decent shot of the Nationals’ poor lineup floundering as Graham chucks cutters and sliders for strikes into the zone.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Zack Littell @ DET – He came through last time out and is trying his best at a BSB. The Tigers do have a touch of life in their offense right now, but Littell may come through with a Win here if you’re in dire need of one.

Reese Olson vs. TBR – There’s some upside here, but Olson is a Young Gun as he has failed to routinely earn whiffs on the change. The slider is great, though.

Mike Clevinger @ CLE – Sure, it could work, but what’s the ceiling? He doesn’t miss a whole lot of bats and the WHIP is usually enormous.

Kyle Hendricks vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta. Stay away.

David Peterson @ BAL – Peterson doesn’t have his old slider and Orioles magic is real.

Alek Manoah @ BOS – Hey, I’ll never say never with Manoah, but that doesn’t mean it’s now.

Adam Wainwright vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and at least the Cardinals will give Wainwright every chance to come through.

Quinn Priester @ MIL – He has yet to have that start to make us legit consider Priester, but at least it’s the Brewers? Maybe this is it.

Jordan Lyles @ PHI – This ain’t it.

Patrick Corbin @ CIN – In Cincy?! Ho boy.

Luis Severino vs. HOU – It’s interesting how I still feel in my gut that Severino will have that one outing this year that will change everything and yet…absolutely not here.

Chris Flexen @ STL – I don’t expect this to be a proper outing for Flexen.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Corbin Burnes vs. PIT – This should be the start that Burnes gets his AGA label back. Just get the cutter down and earning whiffs, okay?

Justin Verlander @ NYY – Kinda funny to see him still pitch in New York after getting traded. This has all the makings of an adrenaline fueled, playoff-esque start that will massively help your fantasy teams. It’s Verlander pitching for a team he loves in a competitive situation.

George Kirby @ LAA – The Angels are a stronger crew than they used to be, but Kirby has his four-seamer and slider cooking.

Andrew Abbott vs. WSN – Abbott took a stumble last time out, but he should rebound here. I really hope that sweeper becomes the pitch it should be.

Kenta Maeda vs. ARI – His splitter has been fantastic and all I want is the slider to earn whiffs as well to show he can survive the nights when the splitter is off.

Blake Snell vs. LAD – It’s been a ridiculous run for Snell, which has been fantastic despite a 10%+ walk rate. The Dodgers are a team that could exploit that, but you have to let it ride.

 

Probably Starts

 

Cristopher Sánchez vs. KCR – He’s at the very least a Vargas Rule, though I think we’re seeing a run through the end of the year reminiscent of 2021 Ranger Suárez. The schedule is sooooo good.

Steven Matz vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Matz has done a fantastic job getting his sinker upstairs. Just get the changeup down, please. What about the curveball? Ehhh, just get some strikes and we’re good.

Aaron Civale @ DET – It’s Civale’s debut for the Rays after getting his fastball velocity back to normal last time out. You have to think he’ll enjoy the improved offense behind him and keep the velocity up with the added adrenaline.

Tarik Skubal vs. TBR – Skubal stumbled against the Marlins, though I think his fastball command will be back to normal here. Did you realize it holds an 18% SwStr rate this year?

 

Questionable Starts

 

José Berríos @ BOS – Berríos has been a steady arm for you, though heading to Fenway is a terrifying proposition these days.

Nick Pivetta vs. TOR – Speaking of Fenway, Pivetta will host the Jays and despite featuring the best slider command we’ve seen from him in a long time (ever?), it’s still the Jays and Pivetta has a long track record of volatility.

Paul Blackburn vs. SFG – This may be me wishcasting Blackburn to keep up his heavy slider usage. At the same time, the Giants are one of the worst offenses around and pitching in O.Co is always a blast.

Ross Stripling @ OAK – Stripling doesn’t have his old changeup, but he could still go 5-6 frames in a wonderful matchup in Oakland for a winning team.

Kyle Gibson vs. NYM – You never know what you’re going to get from Gibson, even if he’s on a hot stretch.

Jon Gray vs. MIA – Gray was struck by a comebacker and the Rangers took his time for another start. His slider was looking great last time out and if the four-seamer precision returns, it could be a lovely August run.

Tyler Anderson vs. SEA – The changeup is looking good and the Mariners will feed into his desire for swings out of the zone. The only question is if he can execute it enough.

Bryce Elder @ CHC – Elder came through against the Brewers, but this is the red hot Cubs. Be careful here.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Noah Syndergaard vs. CHW – Thor came through in his first start for the Guardians…without a strikeout. This isn’t it.

Ryne Nelson @ MIN – I don’t buy the current success of Nelson. Sorry. This is a trap, but if you want to Vargas Rule it, go ahead. I just don’t see an exceptional offering here.

Tylor Megill @ BAL – The Mets are bringing Megill back into the rotation and while the fastball velocity is coming closer to what we saw at the start of 2022, I haven’t seen fantastic command or slider/change improvements in his Triple-A outings.

Nestor Cortes vs. HOU – I’m thrilled to see Cortes finally ready to return to the majors. Not for this start, of course, as the Astros are as mighty as any and it’s a Still ILL. 

Alec Marsh @ PHI – Marsh’s fastball is worrisome and the slider isn’t enough for me to buy in.

Luis L. Ortiz @ MIL – Hey, he’s back! He’s likely taking Rich Hill’s spot in the rotation. I wonder how long the Pirates will let him go and if he’s changed in any way since we last saw him starting.

Ryan Yarbrough @ SDP – It’s the Fratty Pirate’s debut for the Dodgers, their consolation prize for missing Eduardo at the deadline. Maybe the defense helps him and he can sneak a Win here, but the Padres demolish left-handers.

Trevor Williams @ CIN – #NeverTrevor.

Michael Kopech @ CLE – Kopech’s velocity fell to just 93 mph last time out. Oh dear.

Ty Blach @ STL – Blach is not a pitcher you want to consider starting.

Ryan Weathers @ TEX – Weathers is not a strong arm and Texas is rough.

Hayden Wesneski vs. ATL – With Stroman on the IL, Wesneski enters the rotation. I’m curious what we get in the long term, and facing Atlanta makes this an obvious avoid.

 

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