Rankings of the SP Streamers for today’s, tomorrow’s, and the day after tomorrow’s games for fantasy baseball.
Every day of the 2026 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 twitch.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 Twitch 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 Twitch 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 2026 Streamer Record: 9-7
My Pick yesterday: Win – Landen Roupp @ BAL
My Pick today: Janson Junk @ DET
My Pick tomorrow: Max Scherzer vs. MIN
PL Pro Members have access to my 14-Day Sit/Start SP Grid, which ranks all expected starters into four tiers over the next 14 days. Here is an example from last season.
PL Bot’s 2026 Streamer Record: 10-6
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Chad Patrick vs. WSN
Saturday 4/11 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Max Fried @ TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ BAL – Webb is Webb.
Joe Ryan @ TOR – Ryan is Ryan. You don’t need me.
Probably Starts
Edward Cabrera vs. PIT – Hey, are we going to stop throwing so many four-seamers over sinkers?
Kodai Senga vs. ATH – Senga is throwing harder (a little less hard last time, but still good!) and the Athletics are not in Sacré Verde.
Kyle Harrison vs. WSN – Harrison didn’t have the changeup feel in his last start, but will get more LHB against the Nats and as long as the four-seamer stays upstairs consistently, this should be fine.
Parker Messick @ ATL – We’ve seen Messick already survive against a pair of good offenses, why stop now against Atlanta? His BSB of heaters and changes was classic Messick in his last start.
Janson Junk @ DET – The stuff is still great and the final tweak is four-seamer location. He rarely landed it upstairs in his last start, leading to a game without a single fastball whiff. I’d be shocked if that continued.
Ranger Suarez @ STL – It’s a make-or-break start for managers holding Suarez, and I’m expecting this to give us some hope he’s finding his form.
Luis Castillo vs. HOU – I’m not a big Castillo fan, but he’s @TEA and the Astros’ RHB lineup should help.
Michael Wacha vs. CHW – It’s the White Sox for this Toby. Sign me up.
Brandon Williamson vs. LAA – Williamson was more himself last time out and it’s the Angels, who should can a slew of changeups and cutters. I dig that for this ‘Toby”.
Questionable Starts
Emmet Sheehan vs. TEX – Alright Sheehan, are you going to hit 96 mph for the first time this season after sitting just under that last year?
Lance McCullers Jr. Jr. @ SEA – He’s the poster child of HIPSTER and if there’s a place to let it ride, it’s @TEA.
Eric Lauer vs. MIN – Lauer was sick in his last start and I failed y’all by not taking that into account during his roundup blurb. It’s the Twins and even if I’m trying to set our expectations far lower than 17 whiffs, he still has a decent chance of production.
Jack Leiter @ LAD – 35 whiffs in his first two starts, but he’s not in Texas and it’s the Dodgers + the command is still highly suspect.
Braxton Ashcraft @ CHC – It’s the Cubs and Ashcraft’s arsenal and command are still giving me pause. It’s not quite there.
Kyle Leahy vs. BOS – Is this the start where we finally get interested in Leahy? At least it’s in St. Louis.
Foster Griffin @ MIL – Griffin looked like a SWATCH with two changeups (standard and splitter) and could be a Cameron-lite moving forward.
Casey Mize vs. MIA – It’s the Marlins and hopefully it’ll be 50 degrees out for Mize.
Do Not Starts
Germán Márquez vs. COL – I’m so tempted to put him in the bottom of Questionable as Rockie Road is traditionally susceptible to RHP throwing breakers down-and-away.
Jacob Lopez @ NYM – We’re waiting for Lopez to have one of his classic high strikeout/low walk games we saw last summer.
Chris Bassitt vs. SFG – He just isn’t a stable Toby for 12-teamers.
Nick Martinez vs. NYY – It looks like Rasmussen is going Sunday, and Martinez, despite having a good changeup last game, is not a guy you want to trust against the Pinstripes.
Brandon Pfaadt @ PHI – Pfaadt is taking the right approach to LHB, but it just isn’t good enough. Yet. Maybe in time, maybe he won’t get it when Kelly returns…
Taijuan Walker vs. ARI – Oh, you’re still here.
Erick Fedde @ KCR – Don’t trust em. You know the drill.
Martín Pérez vs. CLE – Is Altanta even letting him go five?
George Klassen @ CIN – If he has any sort of command on his flat high-octane heaters and 90 mph gyro slider, this could work. Unwise to expect that.
Ryan Feltner @ SDP – It’s away from Coors and maybe I’m too low on Feltner. But you can’t risk it, right?
Sunday 4/12 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. MIA – Aces gonna ace
Nick Pivetta vs. COL – Aces gonna ace
Chris Sale vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace
Cam Schlittler @ TBR – He’s so close to AGA.
Logan Gilbert vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace
Jacob deGrom @ LAD – Aces gonna ace. The knee is okay, right?
Sandy Alcantara @ DET – The last two games were against the weakest of offenses. PL Bot says the Tigers are a tough squad (I’m not sure I buy it). Here’s to Sandy not caring.
Freddy Peralta vs. ATH – Aces gonna ace.
Noah Cameron vs. CHW – He’s cooking and it’s the White Sox.
Brandon Woodruff vs. WSN – It looks like Woodruff, though he may be a little limited, still.
Andrew Abbott vs. LAA – Abbott isn’t the most pristine, but I don’t see why you’d hold him back.
Probably Starts
José Soriano @ CIN – He’s at hot as any arm, and as a groundball arm, the risk in Cincy is limited.
Bubba Chandler @ CHC – Bubba has walked many in his first two games. It’s early jitters and not what we should expect. He’ll get a wrangle on the heater, don’t you worry.
Max Scherzer vs. MIN – He had forearm tendonitis last start and if the Jays are letting him go against the Twins, then you are too.
Drew Rasmussen vs. NYY – He was pushed back on paternity leave (confirmed for Sunday now!) and I wish it weren’t the Yankees.
Brayan Bello @ STL – 35 whiffs in his first two starts, but terrible results. Good news? Balmy St. Louis awaits.
Taj Bradley @ TOR – He’s been on a torrent to begin the year, though I’m not as encouraged as others. Treat it like a Vargas Rule as I hope he actually has better command this year.
Andrew Painter vs. ARI – Now that we’ve got that Shag Rug start out of the way, expect Painter to rebound here.
Jameson Taillon vs. PIT – He’s a Toby with a good matchup. We like those.
Questionable Starts
Tanner Bibee @ ATL – I’m tempted to put him in the second tier, but I’m not sure Bibee is at the level of consistency with his four-seamer and cutter to confidently start him.
Zac Gallen @ PHI – Gallen’s curve hasn’t been the destroyer of worlds. Yet.
Adrian Houser @ BAL – Here’s your deep streaming play. Houser does what Houser does – fastballs that tunnel off each other at 95 mph + a good slider – and the Orioles are not firing on all cylinders offensively.
Cade Povich vs. SFG – He has the leash to go six frames, but will he have the command against a mediocre lineup?
Zack Littell @ MIL – We saw Littell have success in his last start, even if it came with a worse arsenal than last season. I don’t like it, but I get that it could work/
Cody Bolton @ SEA – I’m still unclear with what we’ll get from Bolton after seeing him in Coors last time, but it’s @TEA and he seems decent enough that it could be okay.
Do Not Starts
Andre Pallante vs. BOS – I don’t like what Pallante does. His cut-fastball is too hittable and the command is mid.
Roki Sasaki vs. TEX – I’m still waiting for Sasaki to show me something to latch onto.
Aaron Civale @ NYM – The Mets are laboring offensively and I could be underrating this one, as Civale has the leash to go six frames. That said, his mix is well below average.
Kyle Freeland @ SDP – He’s away from Coors and in PetCo Park, which can return wild pitch movements early in the season…
Jonathan Cannon @ KCR – No, we are not preparing the artillery for an 1812 overture.
Monday 4/13 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
PL Pro members get an extra day of full SP Streaming rankings for the day after tomorrow.
PL Pro Members have access to my 14-Day Sit/Start SP Grid, which ranks all expected starters into four tiers over the next 14 days. Here is an example from last season.
Photos Courtesy of IconSportswire | Adapted by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)
