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: 82-44
My Pick yesterday: Loss - Michael Soroka vs. CIN
My Pick today: Emmet Sheehan vs. STL
My Pick tomorrow: Tyler Anderson vs TBR
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: 82-44
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Justin Verlander @ PIT
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 8/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Garrett Crochet vs. KCR - Aces gonna ace.
Bryan Woo vs. CHW - Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. CIN - Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ PIT - His sweeper has been better lately and it's the Pirates.
MacKenzie Gore vs. ATH - As long as he throws strikes, he should be fine.
Freddy Peralta @ ATL - Peralta has been generally great and Atlanta's offense is deflated.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. NYY - Eovaldi is too dang good too pass up, even against the Yankees.
Probably Starts
Yu Darvish @ ARI - Darvish looked like the man he's supposed to be in his last start and the Sneks have lost their venom.
Will Warren @ TEX - It's the Rangers and Warren's sweeper was better last time out.
Emmet Sheehan vs. STL - Sheehan's skills are fantastic and I'm thrilled to see him getting regular starts in the rotation.
Ryan Pepiot @ LAA - He allowed a pair of three-run HRs last time out, don't let those two terrible pitches against the Yankees prevent you from starting him.
Zebby Matthews @ DET - Zebby's skills are great and despite ups-and-downs, I'm rolling with his high velocity and multiple whiff pitches along with good control.
Ryne Nelson vs. SDP - The four-seamer is still elite, though the Padres are a tough hand.
José Soriano vs. TBR - Here's to the sinker coming through.
Chris Paddack vs. MIN - It's his second start for the Tigers and already time for a revenge game. He looked solid last time out and I wouldn't be too scared of this.
Questionable Starts
Joey Wentz vs. MIL - Wentz has had his cutter and curve working and added half a foot of extension this year. Here's to him making it work once again.
Mike Burrows vs. SFG - Burrows has had some success and hey, it's the Giants!
Clay Holmes vs. CLE - He's supposed to be limited, while the starts at a regular leash haven't been worthwhile.
Davis Martin @ SEA - It's a lovely situation, here's to Martin taking full advantage of it.
Luis Severino @ WSN - At least he's away from "Sacré Verde". I worry about his LHB approach against the Nats.
José Berríos @ COL - He's "The Great Undulator" in a volatile park.
Dean Kremer @ PHI - Kremer has his moments n all and I'd hate to lean into it.
Do Not Starts
Zack Littell @ CHC - This "Vargas Rule" isn't worth starting against the Cubs.
Logan Allen @ NYM - He's been worthwhile at times, but it's the Mets.
Cal Quantrill vs. HOU - You can't lean into Quantrill.
Miles Mikolas @ LAD - Or Mikolas against the Dodgers.
Taijuan Walker vs. BAL - Or Taijuan. Please not Taijuan.
Ryan Bergert @ BOS - I'm excited to see how Bergert develops as a routine starter. He's a "Young Gun".
Anthony Molina vs. TOR - Absolutely not.
Houston Bullpen @ MIA - Arrighetti's return was pushed to Wednesday and this looks like a reliever game.
Wednesday 8/6 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan @ DET - Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray @ PIT - Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby vs. CHW - Bring it on home, Kirby. You got this.
Ranger Suárez vs. BAL - Suárez is back to his dominant ways.
Carlos Rodón @ TEX - Rodón hasn't been as sharp lately, but it's the Rangers and this looks more like a rough patch than a dramatic decline.
Nick Pivetta @ ARI - He's been far too good to pass up.
Andrew Abbott @ CHC - It's a tough matchup n all, yet you aren't denying Abbott a start at this point.
Spencer Strider vs. MIL - Strider still scares me a little, but not enough to bench him.
Probably Starts
Trevor Rogers @ PHI - Rogers is cruising, I just wish this weren't the Phillies.
Jack Flaherty vs. MIN - Flaherty is well over 93 mph and has feel for both brakers.
David Peterson vs. CLE - Peterson gets a solid matchup for another good Win chance.
Cade Horton vs. CIN - It's a stroll down the "Reds Carpet" for a solid streamer.
Questionable Starts
Gavin Williams @ NYM - Gavin has looked better lately, but can it be trusted against the Mets? PLEASE.
Shane Baz @ LAA - It's right there for Baz to dominate, but the curveball hasn't been right for a bit. It's a hard sell against the Angels.
Kevin Gausman @ COL - It's Coors and Gausman is a "HIPSTER".
Michael Wacha @ BOS - He's a streamer and Fenway makes this a difficult call.
Tyler Anderson vs. TBR - Anderson has a great changeup and the Rays aren't too scary.
Jose Quintana @ ATL - Quintana has been decent and Atlanta without Riley or Acuña are easier to digest.
Janson Junk vs. HOU - Maybe the JunkBaller has enough command to dominate righty-on-righty.
Do Not Starts
Shohei Ohtani vs. STL - He's still not stretched out enough.
Andrew Heaney vs. SFG - Even in good matchups, we don't know which Heaney we'll see.
Matthew Liberatore @ LAD - He's been questionable as of late and the Dodgers are still not a team I want to face, even if they've been cold.
Jeffrey Springs @ WSN - I don't trust Springs against a LHB-focused team where his changeup is less effective.
Dustin May vs. KCR - It's his debut for the Red Sox...in Fenway. Yeesh.
Jack Leiter vs. NYY - I'm still hoping he can find a rhythm locating his four-seamer and slider to both LHB and RHB.
Cade Cavalli vs. ATH - Cavalli is throwing harder and set to make his second start of his career, with his debut coming in 2022. It's a wide mix without a definitive out pitch that has me hesitant to chase as a spec add, even if he's up to 97/98 mph on the heater - its poor shape has me a little skeptical. The cutter has turned into a legit strike pitch to RHB with the curve as his premier breaker to both handed batters. The changeup feel is highly suspect, though I do appreciate the sinker being utilizied inside to RHB. Here's to hoping he wows us in his second "MLB Debut".
Spencer Arrighetti @ MIA - It's a very clear "Still ILL" with "The Pasta Pirate" sitting over two ticks down in his last rehab start.
Jonathan Cannon @ SEA - The matchup is great, but the Cannons are not ready. We need more time, sir!
Anthony DeSclafani vs. SDP - Maybe he can go "Dancing With The Disco". Isn't that just dancing by himself? Is that such a bad thing?! He hasn't done it yet and it's wise to wait until we see it first.
Kyle Freeland vs. TOR - Oh this looks rough.
Thursday 8/7 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.
