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: 71-53
My pick yesterday: Cole Ragans @ BOS
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 64-60
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Gavin Williams vs. TOR
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
Max Scherzer @ OAK – Aces gonna ace. And it’s Oakland?!
Zack Wheeler vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace. No reason to expect a regression now.
Framber Valdez @ BAL – He’s off the no-hitter, which sometimes has a bit of a hangover effect, but Valdez didn’t over-extend his pitch count last time with a Maddux. All good here.
Julio Urías @ ARI – He’s in a good place, though the Dodgers may still take it slow with him – he was limited to a five-inning cap last time out.
Lucas Giolito vs. SFG – It’s San Francisco and those of you who are afraid should remember he faced Atlanta in the morning. Okay, that last bit was tongue-in-cheek, but his command was far better than the line suggested.
Zach Eflin vs. STL – Eflin is all good after his injury scare and is a clear start.
Sonny Gray @ DET – Gray is in a good place and the Tigers aren’t scary. You’re starting him.
Probably Starts
Yusei Kikuchi @ CLE – I dig what Kikuchi is doing with his breakers and the Guardians aren’t the scariest of offenses, even if they don’t strikeout a ton.
Logan Gilbert vs. SDP – I debated Gilbert vs. Erod a lot on stream on Monday and landed on Gilbert after a 6.00+ PLV game with his slider. Yes, that’s absurd and I hope the whiffs return for the slide piece next time out.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. MIN – Erod should be a solid play here against the Twins as his command has been solid as of late.
Clarke Schmidt @ CHW – He’s a Toby against a rough offense. That’s a streaming option, alright.
Kutter Crawford vs. KCR – Kutter is doing better with his kutter and this makes for a solid Win chance against a mediocre Royals lineup.
Brady Singer @ BOS – Singer is as good as I’ve ever seen him with his slider precision and the Red Sox are slowing down offensively. I worry his Cherry Bomb nature with rear its ugly head, but I think we take the chance here.
Questionable Starts
Wade Miley vs. COL – I imagine some want Miley higher, but he was limited to roughly 60 pitches last time out and banking on 80 pitches here doesn’t seem wise. Could be a five and dive for a Win, but six frames seems greedy.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. HOU – I like where Grayson is these days, but it’s the Astros. If he gets the changeup and breaker down, he’ll still come through, but we’ll see.
Tanner Bibee vs. TOR – Bibee is back-and-forth with his command and while I generally dig him, this is a bit scary with the Jays. I trust Grayson a touch more with his recent advancements.
JP Sears vs. TEX – Sears has been so fun to watch, but the sweeper wasn’t as good last time and this is the Rangers. There’s a chance he has what you want, but it’s likely a bench.
Jameson Taillon @ NYM – Do you want to Vargas Rule Taillon? He’s squeezing everything out of his repertoire right now.
Yonny Chirinos @ PIT – I really don’t like starting Chirinos, but he had his best splitter last time, the Pirates are weak, and there’s a solid Win chance here. Let’s hope he goes at least five.
Do Not Starts
Nick Martinez @ SEA – OH SNAP IT MIGHT BE HAPPENING. He’s not properly stretched out, sadly, but hot dang if he goes over 70 pitches, I’ll be stoked. He deserves to start again.
Josiah Gray @ PHI – I don’t trust what Gray is doing with his cutter/sinker.
Mitch Keller vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta and Keller is not at his best.
Braxton Garrett @ CIN – Maybe Garrett has his slider working again, but the cutter and sinker still need work. And it’s Cincy.
Miles Mikolas @ TBR – He’s back from the suspension and it’s the Rays. No thanks.
UPDATE: Ranger Suárez vs. WSN – He’s not the arm you want him to be right now. We hold off until he finds his rhythm once again.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. LAD – Pfaadt could come through here, but it’s the Dodgers and the floor is so low. Maybe the sweeper works again. Maybe.
Touki Toussaint vs. NYY – Touki has an outside shot to make this work and I hate it.
Luke Weaver vs. MIA – I dig that Weaver is trying something new, but it hasn’t come through for him yet.
Kyle Freeland @ MIL – At least it’s outside Coors?
Alex Wood @ LAA – Wood hasn’t come through with any consistency, nor for six frames in ages.
UPDATE: Trevor Williams @ PHI – Doubleheader time because of yesterday’s rainout. #NeverTrevor.
Carlos Carrasco vs. CHC – Carrasco is in a terrible place and the Cubs are killing it offensively.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Kevin Gausman @ CLE – Aces gonna ace. Don’t let his last start convince you otherwise.
Shohei Ohtani vs. SFG – He’s endured random injuries here and there (lots of cramping) and he’s due for that incredible outing.
Max Fried @ PIT – He’ll be limited to about 80 pitches, but who cares.
Tyler Glasnow??? vs. STL – Is Glasnow actually starting? He’s seeing a team specialist for his back and if he makes the start, we’re all for it.
Yu Darvish @ SEA – He’s been a stud in four of his last five games.
Bailey Ober @ DET – The Bailey Special is back on the menu.
Jordan Montgomery @ OAK – It’s a fantastic Win chance for a steady arm.
Probably Starts
Bobby Miller @ ARI – It hasn’t been the prettiest of stretches for Miller and if you need the Quality Start, go with Lorenzen instead.
Michael Lorenzen vs. WSN – He’s a ‘Vargas Rule” as he continues to face weak teams.
Bryan Woo vs. SDP – He had his fastballs back on track last time out and the Padres are worse against RHP. Maybe he learned the slider that Gilbert/Kirby/Bryce all displayed in their last starts…
Nick Pivetta vs. KCR – Despite a tough game against the Jays, Pivetta still had the skill of locating sliders down-and-gloveside. Expect a rebound game here.
Kyle Hendricks @ NYM – His command is still solid and his last clunker came against Atlanta. Brush that off.
Questionable Starts
Merrill Kelly vs. LAD – I’d have Kelly higher, but the Dodgers are such a stupid good offense.
Jack Flaherty vs. HOU – I dug Flaherty against the Jays, but I imagine the adrenaline will be a little lower in this one against the Astros. In addition, I don’t think he’ll be as precise with his command – that was one gorgeous display of paint.
Graham Ashcraft vs. MIA – Ashcraft’s sinker helped last time out and the slider is grading out well. The cutter on the other hand…
Cristian Javier @ BAL – If Javier gets breaking balls for strikes, he’ll unlock his former ace ability. That’s a major IF though, as he’s failed to do it for a long time now.
Adrian Houser vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road for a pitcher who chucks fastballs and relies on BABIP to guide him. It could work.
MacKenzie Gore @ PHI – He’s a Cherry Bomb and if you’re in dire need of punchouts, Gore could be an answer.
Do Not Starts
Mike Clevinger vs. NYY – I won’t overlook the chance Clevinger comes through, but that’s more rooted in the Yankees being the Yankees. Clev isn’t a guy I want to trust in any aspect.
Logan Allen vs. TOR – Gavin was able to take down the Jays, but I have far less faith in Allen, especially with his velocity drop in the second half.
Johnny Cueto @ CIN – Cueto has a chance as his command has been solid since he returned to the rotation. His stuff is a bit suspect, though.
Alex Faedo vs. MIN – If Faedo has his best slider, he could find himself in a pile of strikeouts. It doesn’t happen too often, though.
Chris Flexen @ MIL – The Rockies are leaning on Flexen in their rotation and out of Coors, there’s an opportunity for at least five innings here.
Dakota Hudson @ TBR – He always has an outside shot at a Quality Start, but at what cost.
Jordan Lyles @ BOS – Lyles will be able to throw as many pitches as he wants. That doesn’t mean they’ll be good pitches, though.
Tristan Beck @ LAA – Beck is…okay. The Giants seem inclined to stretch him out, though, and he could go five here. I really don’t like it, though.
David Peterson vs. CHC – He’s not stretched out, the Cubs are strong, and Peterson isn’t at his peak.
Luis Severino @ CHW – His secondaries are just so dang bad these days. I really hope we get something encouraging here.
Freddy Tarnok vs. TEX – It’s Texas and Tarnok isn’t stretched out.
Quinn Priester vs. ATL – Priester has been horrific and it’s Atlanta. Ho boy.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)