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: 91-69
My pick yesterday: Cal Quantrill @ SFG
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 81-79
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Edward Cabrera @ MIL
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
Spencer Strider @ PHI – He’s SP #1 and he gets the top spot even with the tough matchup.
Luis Castillo vs. LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Zac Gallen @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Blake Snell @ LAD – Aces gonna ace, which means you start Snell even against the Dodgers. The Astros didn’t slow him down, after all.
Probably Starts
Yusei Kikuchi vs. TEX – I regret not putting Kikuchi in the auto-start tier for The List on Monday with this game against the Rangers being the only difficult one of his remaining schedule.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. CIN – He’s a Holly with a lovely matchup. All clear here.
Logan Allen @ SFG – He’s a Toby and the Giants are as ideal as matchups get.
Hunter Brown vs. OAK – Brown has been a Cherry Bomb and I’m skeptical of his production after this start, but this is Oakland. The odds are in your favor.
Clarke Schmidt @ BOS –The Red Sox are strong in Fenway, yet Schmidt has been gold across the last two months.
Questionable Starts
Connor Phillips @ DET – I was tempted to slot him into the second tier, but that would be unwise after only one start in the majors. He throws hard with a strong slider and gets a weak Tigers lineup. When everyone is focused on another sport, it’s arms like these who can turn the tide as you stay focused.
Taj Bradley @ MIN – Like it or not, Bradley is a Cherry Bomb and we just don’t know what his control will be on a given night.
Mike Clevinger vs. KCR – He’s also a Cherry Bomb and I personally don’t believe his repertoire is all that great. If he has his cutter and slider cooking, that’s another story, but it’s rare to see.
Braxton Garrett @ MIL – Braxton’s cutter command was much better last time and he could be getting back into form. The Brewers have their moments, though.
Jordan Montgomery @ TOR – I don’t like seeing The Bear struggle to have both his changeup and curve on a given night and Toronto is a dangerous crew. With a limited ceiling it may be best to skip over this one.
Kyle Harrison vs. CLE – He’s a young Cherry Bomb slinger from the left side who can soar when his four-seamer and curve find the zone enough, but he carries as much of a Shag Rug as anyone.
Kyle Gibson vs. STL – We have absolutely no idea when Gibson shows up or not. Best of luck y’all with the Cherry Bomb poster boy.
Ryan Pepiot vs. SDP – He’s on a good run and the Padres are the final hurdle before a trio of phenomenal matchups. I hope the changeup and slider are at their peaks here.
Tanner Houck vs. NYY – With an elite slider and nothing else, trust Houck breaks the Huascar Rule and Ynoa better than that. He’s at the very bottom of this tier since the Yankees are just that blegh these days and maybe his splitter shows up.
Do Not Starts
Alec Marsh (Opener) @ CHW – There’s strikeout potential here for Marsh and I still don’t want to chase it at all. The floor is too low.
Chase Silseth @ SEA – I’m thrilled to see that he’s okay and able to pitch again. That said, it’s the Mariners, he’s dependent on his slider and splitter showing up, he may be on a pitch count, and I imagine there’s some rust to shake off.
Colin Rea (Opener) vs. MIA – He’s had some success here and there, I just don’t trust the arsenal a whole lot. There’s an argument to be made about slotting him at the end of the Questionable Start tier, but I think the ceilings for Marsh and Silseth are better and Rea is all kinds of mediocre.
Jameson Taillon @ COL – Taillon was incredible with his four-seamer command in the upper half + secondaries landing effectively in the zone underneath and while I don’t like starting him in Coors, I’ll be watching intently here, hoping to see Taillon in a place where we want to start him in the following outing against his alma mater, the Pirates.
Joey Lucchesi vs. ARI – Keep an eye on Lucchesi. I don’t like the Churve a whole lot (it’s a curveball thrown with a circle change-grip. I know, it’s weird and you can check twitter for an explanation on how he throws it), but he has his moments with it. It’s a great schedule ahead and if he’s spotting sinkers on top of it, this may be worth your time.
Dallas Keuchel vs. TBR – Keuchel isn’t as horrific as he used to be and executed his classic Neckbeard approach last time out, earning 6/13 slider whiffs. That was the peak, though, and I have zero expectations it’ll stick.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. ATL – It’s unfortunate he gets Atlanta here, but with Michael Lorenzen possibly heading to the pen, it means he won’t have to face them a second time…and may mean you hold onto him after all. Just put him on your bench here.
Paul Blackburn @ HOU – It’s the Astros. Nope.
UPDATE: Jackson Rutledge @ PIT – He throws 95/96 mph sinkers with a solid slider. Maybe the four-seamer and changeup do more, but with everything we talk about with MLB debuts, this ain’t it. 20% strikeout rate with a sub 10% SwStr in Triple-A this year. Yikes.
Drew Rom @ BAL – It’s a 90/91 mph fastball that just isn’t good enough.
Ty Blach vs. CHC – We’re back in Coors and it didn’t even work in San Francisco.
Thaddeus Ward @ PIT – I wonder if he’ll be a different arm now that he’s starting, but hot dang don’t dive in head first. Wait and see at the very least.
Quinn Priester vs. WSN – I have yet to see a Priester start that gets me excited to watch more of him. I hope that changes.
UPDATE: Angels Bullpen @ SEA – It’s not Silseth after all and the Angels are going with a bullpen game.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Kevin Gausman vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Merrill Kelly @ NYM – Kelly isn’t sitting on your bench, y’all.
Kyle Bradish vs. TBR – Neither is Bradish.
Kodai Senga vs. ARI – …Or Senga. The cutter has been the rock for his entire season and saved him numerous times when the forkball isn’t there, though it is a dangerous game I suspect won’t hold up in 2024. For this month? Who cares, you do it.
Eury Pérez @ MIL – Pérez is all kinds of fun, but the Shag Rug is still here where it isn’t with the others in the tier.
Probably Starts
Kenta Maeda @ CHW – Maeda is better than he was a month ago, but there is still some risk here if the splitter isn’t great with his slider not earning whiffs. Arguably in the top tier, but there is a distinction I wanted to make.
Logan Webb @ COL – Webb has been solid and Coors isn’t as scary as it once was. You’re gonna have some tough choices with Webb in the final weeks.
Mitch Keller vs. WSN – He was on top of the world, then faced Atlanta. He should get back up.
Michael King @ BOS – King has been blistering and was able to survive against the Astros. We ride the hot hand and hope the sinkers + sweepers with some lovely changeups hold up against a Boston lineup that wallops starters in Fenway.
Reese Olson vs. CIN – I dig this one for Olson, who has a strong slider and is able to get his fastball inside enough to generate outs. The Reds are not intimidating on the road (or even at home…?) and if the changeup gets whiffs, this will be pretty.
Aaron Civale @ BAL – We saw twelve strikeouts with a pristine approach, then we saw the normal Civale against the Mariners. Let’s hope it’s more of the former in Waltimore. The park puts him over the edge to let him fly here.
Questionable Starts
Adrian Houser vs. MIA – Y’all know I can’t stand starting Houser, but I recognize this can be six innings of whatever-ball.
Do Not Starts
Josiah Gray @ PIT – I don’t love Josiah’s approach at all, but I recognize that if he has his slider and curve working against a weak Pirates crew, there is value to be had. It’s a more tangible ceiling than the others down here.
Nathan Eovaldi @ TOR – He’ll likely be on a limited pitch count, his velocity wasn’t 95/96 but 94+ in his last start, and it’s Toronto. This ain’t it.
Garrett Whitlock vs. NYY – Oh snap! I’m stoked to see Whitlock back in the rotation, but he isn’t stretched out. I sure hope to be wrong and will be watching this one closely – he could be a lovely sleeper pick this off-season as I expect him to be a staple of that rotation in 2024. H*ck, if this is now a six-man rotation, he would get the White Sox and inside Waltimore for his final two starts. I wonder if we’ll see enough here to go after both of those (I really just need to see 60 pitches here to feel good about that. Maaaaybe 55.)
Chase Anderson vs. SFG – He couldn’t handle the Giants outside of Coors, but at least he gets another shot. There’s a chance, however small.
Ben Lively @ DET – Even against the Tigers, I don’t see this going well unless Raggedy Anne decides to go 40-50% sliders again. Now that would be lovely.
José Ureña vs. MIN – Remember kids, If you start José, Ureña boatload of trouble.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
Ok boss…
Kelly and Senga are autos. Sooooo, who wins?