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: 113-63
My Pick yesterday: Win - Zebby Matthews @ TEX
My Pick today: Stephen Kolek @ LAA
My Pick tomorrow: Cade Povich 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: 116-60
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Zebby Matthews @ TEX
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.
Wednesday 9/24 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Garrett Crochet @ TOR - Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ CIN - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Greene vs. PIT - Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. CHW - Aces gonna ace.
Blake Snell @ ARI - Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom vs. MIN - Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Brown @ ATH - Aces gonna ace.
Jesús Luzardo vs. MIA - I know about his volatility, but it's the Marlins.
Luis Castillo vs. COL - Take it home, Castillo. "Rockie Road" is quite the gift.
Sonny Gray @ SFG - He's been Sonny more than Gray.
Probably Starts
Shane Baz @ BAL - It feels weird to place Baz here and I don't like this PS tier as much as others this week. Baz velocity returned and pitching in Camden should make this a relatively safe outing.
Tanner Bibee vs. DET - It sure looks like Bibee has found his form with his cutter and change in the final weeks of the season. Can you do it one more time for us, Bibee?
Jack Flaherty @ CLE - Flaherty's fastball and breakers are still working well. There is a little more risk potential than you'd like, but the odds are in Flaherty's favor.
Max Scherzer vs. BOS - Scherzer had a silly, ridiculous, dumb bamboozlin' of a first inning. His stuff is still there, though, and I'm hand-waving that outing. He should be good here.
Matthew Boyd vs. NYM - Boyd hasn't been getting the same results, though he's still very capable. It's been a season of strong performances and I'm banking on the track record over the recent bumps in the road.
Stephen Kolek @ LAA - I don't quite buy into his whole schtick, but he's in a rhythm at the moment and the Angels offense... is not.
Tyler Wells vs. TBR - Wells has only been solid since returning from TJS and hosting the Rays in Camden is a solid play in my book.
Questionable Starts
Bryce Elder vs. WSN - Elder's recent stretch is kinda ridiculous. Maybe he deserves a slot in the second tier, though I just can't put my fantasy season at risk for Elder.
Dylan Cease vs. MIL - It doesn't seem right that it's been so tough this season, and we know he's capable of double-digit strikeouts. It just hasn't worked out nearly enough to trust in the final week.
Ryan Weathers @ PHI - He's still on a limited pitch count and it's the Phillies.
J.T. Ginn vs. HOU - I like his command and it's not a bad matchup against a RHB-lineup. "Sacré Verde" scares me, while the ceiling/floor balance isn't enough in his favor.
Jonah Tong @ CHC - It's the Cubs + Tong has shown both sides of the coin.
Ryne Nelson vs. LAD - Why does it have to be the Dodgers?
Yusei Kikuchi vs. KCR - I'm not expecting much from Kikuchi. He's a strikeout play if that's what you're looking for.
Taj Bradley @ TEX - Even in Texas, Bradley is simply too chaotic for me to put him any higher.
Do Not Starts
Chad Patrick @ SDP - He’ll likely have a shorter leash than most and the tough matchup makes him stay on the wire.
Andrew Alvarez @ ATL - He's a step above the ones below in the tier, but that isn't saying much.
JT Brubaker vs. STL - He'll step in with Robbie Ray shutdown for the season. I have no interest in Coffee Cakes with a questionable leash and below-average ability.
Tyler Alexander @ NYY - This doesn't look like a long outing for the short-armed T-Lex.
Tanner Gordon @ SEA - It's the Colorado starter. He's done okay! And it's not in Coors! And in "@TEA"! YOU CAN'T.
Thursday 9/25 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ ARI - Aces gonna ace.
Carlos Rodón vs. CHW - Aces gonna ace.
Shane Bieber vs. BOS - He's looked like an ace this year.
Nick Lodolo vs. PIT - Lodolo has been pitching great and he finally gets to face a non-elite offense.
Shota Imanaga vs. NYM - Aces gonna ace... but it's the Mets.
Nolan McLean @ CHC - He's been unstoppable, though the Cubs could be that team.
Probably Starts
Joe Ryan @ TEX - He should be in the top tier, though I recognize that Ryan hasn't been himself as of late. I imagine you're starting him anyway, but there are scenarios where you can play it safe.
Drew Rasmussen @ BAL - It hasn't been prime Rasmussen in the slightest, but this is the situation you've been waiting for.
Framber Valdez @ ATH - He's been rough. This is the do-or-die moment for the Astros. Valdez's curveball has to return and I'm going to bet on him stepping up to the occasion.
Parker Messick vs. DET - The Tigers are worse against LHP and Messick has done enough to warrant a start.
Cade Povich vs. TBR - He's a "Toby" against a below-average offense in a decent park. That checks out.
Questionable Starts
Brayan Bello @ TOR - Bello has to endure the Jays. Not ideal, but those in need of a QS will likely go for it.
Taijuan Walker vs. MIA - If this is actually Taijuan and not a piggy-back, yes, it's a decent Win chance. Y'all know I don't trust the fella, though.
Tyler Mahle vs. MIN - Mahle is stretched out enough to go five full against a poor Twins lineup, though his ceiling isn't too high.
Zac Gallen vs. LAD - Gallen has improved his odds of a sizeable contract in the off-season with his performance in the second half, but this is the Dodgers.
Emerson Hancock vs. COL - Woo is getting skipped after all, allowing Hancock a start in one of the best matchups possible "@TEA". Here's another sneaky play you'll likely be able to pick up for a Quality Start and good win chance.
Do Not Starts
Janson Junk @ PHI - He's fresh off 7+ frames and you're kinda tempted. I'm skeptical of the JunkBaller and the Phillies make it a tough bet to make.
Davis Martin @ NYY - Martin is awfully boring and it's the Yankees. There is a shot at six frames here.
Michael Lorenzen @ LAA - Lorenzen also went 7+ frames in his last outing, expressing the slim chance he carries each time he takes the mound of granting trusting managers a quality start.
Luis Severino vs. HOU - Sevy may benefit from facing mostly RHB, though he really doesn't like "Sacré Verde". Not that any pitchers actually like it, of course.
Braxton Ashcraft @ CIN - I worry how long he'll go and if he'll actually take advantage of the time he does get.
Keider Montero @ CLE - Montero has displayed some production in the past. It's too low of a ceiling to justify the floor with minimal volume.
Mitch Farris vs. KCR - You don't want to spin the Farris wheel.
Bradley Blalock @ SEA - It's the Colorado SP.
Friday 9/26 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
New for PL Pro members - I am making the streaming table for an extra day out. 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.
