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: 72-53
My pick yesterday: Clarke Schmidt @ CHW
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 64-61
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. TEX
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
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
UPDATE: Emerson Hancock vs. SDP – We don’t start pitchers in MLB debuts and from what I’ve read about Hancock (he’s only pitched in Double-A), he’s not an overpowering fastball arm, with his best pitch being a changeup. Those are the two phrases I generally avoid with pitching prospects. THAT SAID, he’s absolutely worth the spec add because what the h*ck do I know, I haven’t even watched the guy, nor gotten any Statcast data yet.
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.
UPDATE: Tampa Bay Rays Bullpen – I have this above Priester because whoever you pitch here (Jalen Beeks?) won’t be as harmful as Priester against Atlanta. Yeah.
Quinn Priester vs. ATL – Priester has been horrific and it’s Atlanta. Ho boy.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
James Paxton vs. KCR – He hasn’t earned his AGA label yet, but that was the Jays last time. The Royals – save for Bobby – are a team to destroy.
Aaron Nola vs. WSN – Nola has had the weirdest season. Don’t through the cutter, throw the sinker inside to RHB, and go heavy four-seamer and curve. You got this.
Kenta Maeda @ DET – The splitter has been so dang good as Maeda has soared since returning from the IL.
Clayton Kershaw vs. COL – I’m breaking Still ILL rules, especially when we’ve only seen one rehab start from Kershaw thus far. I’m wagering a five-inning cap, but that should be enough to secure the Win + production across the board. The floor seems awfully high against Rockie Road, too. What do you have to lose? He said, before destruction.
Probably Starts
Bryce Elder @ PIT – Many are running away from Elder now, while I don’t think anything is new since the ASB. He was a Vargas Rule, hit the wall, and now is a Toby who you stream against poor offenses as Elder has a lovely Win chance. That means starting him against the Brewers, benching against the Cubs, and starting against the Pirates. IT’S EASY YA’LL. He said, AGAIN, before destruction.
Hunter Brown @ BAL – I dig what Brown is doing, though we’re not entirely sure if he’s in rhythm yet with the BSB. It’s the same park factor as pitching in Houston (left field is MASSIVELY different, but overall it’s the same) and the Baltimore offense is above-average but not elite. Totally understand if you’d rather wait one more start before leaning on Hunter’s approach as he hasn’t been the most consistent arm out there.
Questionable Starts
Dean Kremer vs. HOU – I trust Brown’s upside more and Houston is a tougher lineup to deal with, but if Kremer gets that cutter down and elevates effectively with his four-seamer, he could make this one work. I’d avoid this in most cases.
Zack Littell vs. STL – I don’t hate this nearly as much as you may think. There’s a chance he goes fewer than five frames, but the Cardinals are sputtering, Littell has a solid BSB working, and there’s a decent shot at a Win with Liberatore on the other side. I’m not circling this stream, but it’s a sneaky one for those in need.
Do Not Starts
Alek Manoah @ CLE – The slider command was as good as I’ve seen from Manoah in a long time…which makes me skeptical he can do it again and regain the skills with his fastball at the same time. Throw in a Guardians team that makes a lot of contact and you have a highly suspect streaming option.
Reese Olson vs. MIN – I haven’t seen Olson feature the changeup that once got me so excited, while the fastballs aren’t doing enough to generate quality strikes and outs. I do feel there will be a day it all comes together again, which has him above the atrocities below, for what it’s worth.
Patrick Corbin @ PHI – At least he has gone six frames of okayness?
Matthew Liberatore @ TBR – Liberatore’s velocity is down, the slider is blegh, and it’s Tampa. Absolutely not.
Alec Marsh @ BOS – There was that wonderful eleven strikeout game and sadly, it was far from exciting when we watched it closely. That ceiling is such a rarity.
Noah Syndergaard vs. TOR – He doesn’t strikeout batters and when the Jays make contact, it hurts.
Ty Blach @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers. It’s also Blach. It’s a terrible idea.
Bailey Falter vs. ATL – Atlanta is arguably worse than Coors right now.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)