Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 9/19 & 9/20

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: 95-71

My pick yesterday: Cal Quantrill @ KCR

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 83-83

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: JP Sears vs. SEA

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 @ OAK – Aces gonna ace.

Blake Snell vs. COL – Aces gonna ace. The Cy Young is his to lose now.

Zac Gallen vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.

Spencer Strider vs. PHI – Aces gonna ace, but he gets the only non-poor offenses…which happens to be elite.

Yusei Kikuchi @ NYY – Kikuchi wasn’t as stellar last time out, but it was the Rangers and his skills were still there. Enjoy his lovely schedule now.

 

Probably Starts

 

Ryan Pepiot (Opener) vs. DET – I love this matchup and dig his changeup + slider as he faces a poor offense. Great Win chance here.

Kenta Maeda @ CIN – Maeda’s slider and splitter have improved as of late + the Reds aren’t as scary in Cincy as they once were.

Logan Allen @ KCR – He’s a Toby against a middling offense…though they have been crushing LHP as of late (Top tier of Hitter Performance in the last 14 days). I’m not going to overreact to that.

Taj Bradley vs. LAA – I know, Bradley is a Cherry Bomb and opponent doesn’t matter a whole lot as it’s all about if he’s going to throw enough strikes or not. However, the ceiling is much higher than usual with the Angels’ propensity to strikeout + the Rays granting a solid Win chance.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Hunter Brown vs. BAL – He’s a Cherry Bomb and it’s a tough call against the Orioles, even after taking care of business against the Orioles.

Clarke Schmidt vs. TOR – It’s been a fun ride with Schmidt over the last two months, but he struggled in Fenway and the Jays are not a team to mess with.

Braxton Garrett vs. NYM – He looked better last time out and it’s the Mets. I’m not in love with Garrett like we were in June, but there’s a solid chance at six frames here.

Javier Assad vs. PIT – His cutter has been gone for two starts now and that makes me worried. Assad did get Coors last time, but if the cutter was back in form, I wouldn’t care about the box score and feel more confident here.

Alex Cobb @ ARI – Will his splitter show up? Is his hip injury limiting him a ton? It gets ultra dicey in this third tier after Assad and Cobb would normally be at the very bottom. We just have so many ehhhhhhh options for Tuesday.

Adrian Houser @ STL – There’s always a chance with Houser. He just pumps heaters in there after all and lets the BABIP gods have their way.

Tanner Houck @ TEX – Houck has a great slider and I worry there isn’t enough in the rest of his arsenal. Plus the Rangers, of course.

Drew Rom vs. MIL – He dominated with his four-seamer despite its 91 mph velocity last time out and it’s…weird. But hey, maybe it works again?

Kyle Gibson @ HOU – Ah yes, the weirdest Cherry Bomb of them all, who somehow does better against strong offenses.

Cristopher Sánchez @ ATL – It’s Atlanta and yet Sánchez just dominated them with his changeup. Highly unlikely it repeats, but at least we recognize the chance.

Nathan Eovaldi vs. BOS – I’m worried it’ll be a limited pitch count again + his velocity is terrible. This is not the guy we want.

Patrick Sandoval @ TBR – His slider and change are still not both there on a given night. It’s MADDENING. I hope he can do it.

Bailey Falter @ CHC – He may have an opener and there is a chance he separates out his heaters and secondaries well.

Joey Lucchesi @ MIA – I don’t believe in the Churve and his 17 (!) balls in play off sinkers last time out that mostly found gloves. In addition, the Marlins just swept Atlanta and look menacing at the moment.

UPDATE: Colin Rea (Opener) @ STL – He’s getting an opener and may be able to maneuver his way through the fifth for a Win.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Paul Blackburn vs. SEA – There’s a chance this works and I was tempted to thrust him into the third tier, but the ceiling doesn’t match the risk.

Alec Marsh (Opener) vs. CLE – This is a desperate strikeout play if you really need it with his new sweeper. Not for me, though, especially with a low pitch count likely coming as well.

José Ureña @ WSN – Remember kids, If you start José, Ureña boatload of trouble.

Ben Lively (Opener) vs. MIN – One day he’ll go super slider heavy again.

Connor Seabold @ SDP – Absolutely not.

Ryan Feltner @ SDP – It’s incredible to see him back on the mound after fracturing his skull from a comebacker and let’s all celebrate that.

Jackson Rutledge vs. CHW – He was rough in his MLB debut and I expect no different here.

Alex Faedo (Opener) @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers + Faedo is awfully inconsistent + how many pitches will he actually go?

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Kevin Gausman @ NYY – Aces gonna ace.

George Kirby @ OAK – Here’s the easy one for Kirby, he should take full advantage.

Kodai Senga @ MIA – Senga has been your stud since June.

Logan Webb @ ARI – Boy do I hope that new slider is still there.

Merrill Kelly vs. SFG – The Giants are as favorable of a matchup you’ll find.

Bobby Miller vs. DET – Miller is one of the safer plays here with the Dodgers behind him.

Justin Steele vs. PIT – Steele’s command has been wonky for a bit and got properly punished for it last time out. Jameson Taillon is getting skipped this series and it’s unclear when he’ll return to the rotation.

Hunter Greene vs. MIN – He’s had some Cherry Bomb tendencies, but the skills are there with great fastball and slider separation.

Eury Pérez vs. NYM – There are still some growing pains with Eury as his breakers failed him in his last outing.

 

Probably Starts

 

Seth Lugo vs. COL – He’s been making a play for Spider-Man and this start should help the cause.

Lucas Giolito @ KCR – The skills are there as his changeup usage has been above 40% in four of his last five starts.

Aaron Civale vs. LAA – It’s the Angels and Civale has been cruising. Gotta love the Canibal McSanchez approach with curveballs landing low.

Bailey Ober @ CIN – I liked Bailey’s four-seamer last time out and maybe the heavy emphasis on curveballs does him wonders as the slider and changeup haven’t been great in the second half.

Kyle Bradish @ HOU – It’s the Astros, but Bradish has been phenomenal. It’s your call.

Michael King vs. TOR – King has been a fantastic development over the last month, though this is a challenge against the Jays. We start him and hope he perseveres.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Brayan Bello @ TEX – Bello was at his absolute peak in his last outing and I don’t expect it to be a plateau as his slider and four-seamer didn’t take steps foward.

Wade Miley @ STL – Sure, he’s a low-end Toby against a mediocre squad.

Reid Detmers @ TBR – I was hoping he’d get the Tigers over the weekend and now with the Rays, I’m much more reluctant to give this a whirl. I wonder if the changeup will make a major appearance again.

Aaron Nola @ ATL – Nola has been a Cherry Bomb and it’s Atlanta.

Cristian Javier vs. BAL – That’s a Cherry Bomb.

Zack Thompson vs. MIL – Thompson has some sneaky upside with a solid three pitch mix, but he has the Shag Rug and hasn’t found his groove yet.

Bryce Elder vs. PHI – Elder whipped out a deep repertoire in his last outing and may be able to do it again, even against the Phils. I’m mostly avoiding this, though.

Jon Gray vs. BOS – Gray’s last two starts have come with far worse command and when things go south for Gray, they usually stay there for a bit.

Josiah Gray vs. CHW – I wish I had more to latch onto inside Josiah’s repertoire.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Reese Olson @ LAD – I dig Olson against weak teams. The Dodgers are not that.

Jesse Scholtens @ WSN – At least he has a chance against a mediocre team?

Chase Anderson @ SDP – Absolutely not.

Joey Estes vs. SEA – From a quick glance of his last Triple-A start on Statcast, the stuff isn’t awfully exciting. However, his approach was sound and relied heavily on command to make it work. Not the guy I want to go for with a 93/94 mph heater, but at least he elevates for whiffs, lands low fastballs to set up his changeup and slider, and has more of a floor than other hurlers making their MLB debut. Don’t do this, of course – who knows how long they’ll even let him go for?

Quinn Priester @ CHC – When has this worked.

Zack Greinke vs. CLE – Greinke does what Greinke does.

 

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