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: 84-68
My pick yesterday: Peter Lambert @ ARI
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 77-75
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Jesse Scholtens @ KCR
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
Gerrit Cole vs. DET – Aces gonna ace.
Brandon Woodruff @ PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Clayton Kershaw @ MIA – It’s TATIAGA against the Marlins, though he’s a little more limited than the rest.
Zach Eflin vs. BOS – He’s been so solid.
Sonny Gray @ CLE – Gray is still one of the AL ERA leaders. Incredible.
Chris Bassitt @ OAK – It’s Oakland and you pretty much start Bassitt without thought.
Tanner Bibee vs. MIN – Bibee is a little weird to me, but yeah, you’re starting him.
Probably Starts
José Quintana @ WSN – I don’t see a reason to deny Quintana – I guess the Nats are better against LHP?
Kyle Hendricks vs. SFG – He’s making a play for Spider-Man. Sidenote: I saw Across the Spider-Verse on the plane home from LA and that was stupid good. Jeeeeeeez.
Jesús Luzardo vs. LAD – Luzardo is coming through lately but it’s the Dodgers. Up to you, I’m going for it.
Bryce Miller @ CIN – It’s not fun pitching in Cincy, though Bryce’s ceiling outweighs the floor.
Dean Kremer @ LAA – As long as the four-seamer isn’t atrocious, Kremer should come through here.
Dylan Cease @ KCR – It may be time to move on from Cease in some situations, but this matchup is too juicy to pass up.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. COL – He’s our streaming pick of the day, facing a weak Rockie Road lineup and tossing enough sweepers and four-seamers for strikes.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer vs. CHW – He’s dealing with arm fatigue and the sinker command hasn’t matched his stellar slider.
Michael Soroka? vs. STL – Is this actually happening? If it is, I can see Soroka cruising for 6+ for a fantastic Win opportunity.
Framber Valdez @ TEX – It’s Texas and for some reason, Valdez has moved away from cutters and curves.
Andre Jackson vs. MIL – Andre has come through lately and the Brewers don’t make for a massive threat. Not the highest ceiling, though.
Kutter Crawford @ TBR – Crawford is fine. Not really something to be excited about, but it’s fine.
Nathan Eovaldi? vs. HOU – Is he actually returning from the IL? What will the velocity be? How limited will he be? Can he stave off the Astros? That’s a Still ILL, alright.
Reid Detmers vs. BAL – Detmers isn’t the man he once was, but maaaaaybe it’s back and the Orioles’ offense can be cold at times.
Michael Lorenzen @ SDP – Ugggggh, I’d avoid in most cases. There’s a PQS chance, though.
Do Not Starts
UPDATE: Alex Faedo @ NYY – It’s a great slider and nothing else. It’s too risky and he doesn’t go deep into games. If you’re in dire need for strikeouts, I get it.
Kyle Freeland @ ARI – At least he’s on the road against a middling offense, right?
Joey Wentz @ NYY – Wentz has these moments of bliss and the Yanks could give him one.
Patrick Corbin vs. NYM – Corbin has the chance for six frames and that’s at least something.
Connor Phillips vs. SEA – He’s making him MLB debut as a “pound the zone with 95 mph fastballs” arm and a sweeper. This is all kinds of risky.
Pedro Avila vs. PHI – There’s some promise in here. The rhythm and leash isn’t there, sadly.
Sean Manaea (Opener) @ CHC – I can’t stand how the Giants use their pitchers.
Zach Neal vs. TOR – Maybe he makes it through 5/6 frames. I guess.
UPDATE: Ken Waldichuk vs. TOR – It’s Waldi instead and the floor is too dang low to chase here.
Miles Mikolas @ ATL – This is a nightmare waiting for you to fall asleep and accidentally leave Mikolas in your lineup.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Spencer Strider vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Tyler Glasnow vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Freddy Peralta @ PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan @ CLE – I know you’re not an ace, but no, you’re not lost His four-seamer is stupid right now and it’s not a tough matchup. Just get that slider over the plate…
Zack Wheeler @ SDP – Aces gonna ace but it’s San Diego.
Max Scherzer vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace but it’s Houston.
Probably Starts
Mitch Keller vs. MIL – He’s on a fantastic run and we ain’t stopping now.
Lance Lynn @ MIA – This is a pretty clear one even if he hasn’t been at his peak.
Hyun Jin Ryu @ OAK – It’s a Toby against Oakland, y’all.
Clarke Schmidt vs. DET – He’s barely the streamer at 20% rostered and against the Tigers, this is relatively safe.
Jordan Wicks vs. SFG – His changeup is filthy, the Giants are terrible, and the cutter + sinker should do the rest.
Logan Gilbert @ CIN – It’s Cincy, but they haven’t been as strong as you’d expect and Gilbert had his four-seamer back last time out.
Gavin Williams vs. MIN – As long as his knee is okay, we’re going with this. The Twins did just score 20 (as if they’d do it again), but I think we’re still good here.
Justin Verlander @ TEX – It’s the Rangers and that’s all kinds of annoying.
Michael Wacha vs. PHI – It’s a difficult matchup and he’s had some issues with his command. I’m still doing it, but the floor is worse than ideal.
Matt Manning @ NYY – Manning is doing a Michael Lorenzen version of the Vargas Rule with a lovely schedule the rest of the way, chucking sliders casually over the plate with a decent fastball
James Paxton @ TBR – His four-seamer has been declining and I’m scared of this one against the Rays. That said, the Rays aren’t that intimidating these days and he can still pull it off. I’m worried.
Questionable Starts
Kyle Gibson @ LAA – He’s a Cherry Bomb, even against the Angels. He finds a way to fail against the poor offenses…
Zach Davies vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road, which is such a gift these days. Davies will be allowed to take advantage if he has decent enough stuff.
Chris Flexen @ ARI – Hey, I think there’s a decent chance for Flexen here. I know, it seems wild but it could happen. His cutter is looking great.
Patrick Sandoval vs. BAL – I hate how Sandoval seemingly can’t figure out how to have both his changeup and slider working on the same day.
Do Not Starts
Touki Toussaint @ KCR – He’s a deep strikeout play against a weak team, but I haven’t seen him truly embrace the curveball quite yet. Just 25% in his last start needs to be 40%+ in my view.
JP Sears vs. TOR – Sears has his moments, it’s unlikely this is one of them.
Jordan Lyles vs. CHW – Lyles just tossed eight innings for his one start of the month (he’s a Werewolf, after all). Don’t expect it.
Carlos Carrasco @ WSN – I know it’s the Nats, but Carrasco ain’t it.
Joan Adon vs. NYM – He just doesn’t have enough in the tank to trust.
Edward Cabrera vs. LAD – It’s a clear Still ILL for a guy with a history of command issues.
Dakota Hudson @ ATL – It’s Atlanta but at least Hudson has a chance to squeak by if the grounders find gloves.
Lyon Richardson vs. SEA – Is he going to go five?
Tristan Beck @ CHC – Is he going to go five?
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)