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: 98-74
My pick yesterday: Kutter Crawford vs. CHW
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 86-85
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Jordan Lyles @ HOU
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
Blake Snell @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
UPDATE: Merrill Kelly @ NYY – If this game is actually played (the weather is terrible in New York right now), Kelly is a clear start against a middling Yankee squad.
Justin Verlander @ SEA – I can’t say I love this start for Verlander, but you’re not benching him here.
Logan Webb vs. SDP – Webb has two tough matchups to conclude his 2023 and if he has the vertical slider on point, he’ll continue to polish his fantastic 2023 campaign.
Probably Starts
Clarke Schmidt vs. ARI – He’s still massively under-rostered (29% Yahoo, 12% ESPN) and after enduring tough offenses, I’d fly with Schmidt against the Sneks. Sidenote: With literally zero SP options now who are under 20% rostered, I’m selecting Schmidt as the streamer as he is the lowest rostered of all SPs going today. That makes sense, right?
Questionable Starts
Jon Gray @ LAA – Ehhhhh, he’s been on the decline for three straight now and even against the Angels, I really would avoid this. Both of these arms are highly questionable and are hail mary dart throws.
Patrick Sandoval vs. TEX – We just saw Sandoval have his secondaries cooking, but do you really want to take the chance against the Rangers?
Do Not Starts
UPDATE: None – Yup. There’s a part of me that thinks Sandoval could be in this tier, but I’m not going to change it just to satisfy the tiers. It’s really close, though.
Ryne Nelson @ NYY – With just four games, Nelson gets the streaming nod and it’s debatedly a Questionable Start. The Yankees have been known to flounder against RHP breakers and if Nelson is able to have his best slider or cutter here, this could still work.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Kevin Gausman vs. NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Kyle Bradish vs. WSN – He’s been throwing like an ace for 18 starts now. It’s incredible.
Zach Eflin @ BOS – Eflin recovered his cutter and even in Fenway, you’re doing this.
Hunter Greene @ CLE – It’s the Hunter you want.
Seth Lugo @ SFG – This is as safe of a start as you’ll find outside of ace-like arms.
Bailey Ober vs. OAK – You’re awfully safe with Ober going 5-6 frames of production against Oakland.
Michael King @ TOR – After fanning thirteen, can you really sit King against the Jays?
Probably Starts
George Kirby vs. HOU – I want to put Kirby in the top tier, but we all know he isn’t a strikeout machine and the Astros could wallop him.
Bobby Miller @ COL – It’s Coors, but Miller has been solid enough for a winning squad.
Questionable Starts
Aaron Nola vs. PIT – It feels so wrong to have Nola here, but he’s a Cherry Bomb now and that’s just the way it is.
Lucas Giolito vs. CIN – I love Giolito’s changeup right now and I can’t shake the feeling that Giolito has had horrible luck instead of simply pitching terribly. Cherry Bomb central.
Reese Olson vs. KCR – Does he belong in the second tier? I’m leaning no, despite making him our streaming pick of the day. Kansas City has been hot and Olson’s changeup & four-seamer make me worried each start. It is a good slider + sinker to right-handers, though.
Cristian Javier @ SEA – He was the best we’ve seen him in his last start and it’s unlikely he’ll have the same ability for the second straight start…or maybe he’s made an actual change.
Braxton Garrett @ NYM – I dig where Braxton is at with his repertoire and it’s enough to go after against the Mets in situations where you need a Toby. Not the highest ceiling, though.
Ryan Pepiot @ COL – We dig Pepiot and the Rockies in Coors are not as scary as they used to be.
Adrian Houser vs. STL – Now is where the third tier truly falls off. All of these have a shot of being worthwhile, but it’s all a dart throw at this point, and obviously it starts with the king of the darts, Mr. Houser. Good luck.
Bryce Elder vs. CHC – It’s a winning squad and we’ve seen Elder come through with sinkers and sliders. It is the Cubs though…
Mitch Keller @ PHI – Keller has been solid when not facing Atlanta, but how much worse are the Phillies?
Paul Blackburn @ MIN – Blackburn has tricks up his sleeve and the Twins are a volatile offense that could roll over here.
Justin Steele @ ATL – I’m terrified of this and was tempted to put him in in the bottom tier. He looks fatigued to me + it’s Atlanta. Yikes.
Joey Lucchesi vs. MIA – We’ve seen Lucchesi come through with his sinker recently and maybe he churns more outs as he lives along the edges.
Tanner Houck vs. TBR – His slider is great, the other stuff isn’t. If he’s able to toss enough strikes with his splitter and sinker without damage, he can survive. Not a fun bet to make against the strong Rays crew.
Zack Thompson @ MIL – His repertoire is a discount Kershaw and the Brewers have been strong at home. I’m still waiting for a start that gets him locked into a groove.
Reid Detmers vs. TEX – There’s a new changeup in Detmers’ arsenal and I wonder if that can pull him across 5-6 frames without destruction. His declining velocity is awfully scary, though.
Zach Davies @ CHW – He’s moved away from his changeup lately (weird) and I don’t like the rest of his arsenal. Then again, it’s the White Sox and the Sneks will push Davies as much as they can.
Kyle Harrison vs. SDP – Harrison has strikeout upside when he throws enough strikes with fastballs and curveballs, but the Padres are excellent against LHP and Harrison’s control has been very inconsistent.
Do Not Starts
Josiah Gray @ BAL – Sorry Josiah, I really don’t like that you’ve moved away from breakers. The ceiling just isn’t there to chase here against the Orioles.
José Ureña vs. ARI – Remember kids, If you start José, Ureña boatload of trouble.
Zack Greinke @ DET – Greinke does what Greinke does.
Ryan Feltner vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers in Coors.
Chase Anderson vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers in Coors.
Martín Pérez @ LAA – This is likely a bullpen game, not a proper start.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
Nick has been wrong on B Garrett thew entire second half. Kinda baffles.