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: 9-10
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Mike Burrows @ SEA
My Pick today: Ryan Weathers vs. LAA
My Pick tomorrow: Spencer Arrighetti vs. COL
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: 11-8
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Matthew Liberatore vs. CLE
Tuesday 4/14 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo @ SDP – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans @ DET – Aces gonna ace. He’s okay, right?
Trevor Rogers vs. ARI – He’s a steady Holly. You’re not benching this.
Jacob Misiorowski vs. TOR – The strikeouts are flowing. The efficiency…not as much.
Framber Valdez vs. KCR – Let’s forget about his last outing. It happens.
Sonny Gray @ MIN – He’s more likely to be Sonny than Gray.
Kevin Gausman @ MIL – It’s Gausman.
Robbie Ray @ CIN – It’s Ray. These fellas are what they are.
Shane McClanahan @ CHW – Treat him like a hard-throwing SWATCH and you’ll be happy.
Michael King vs. SEA – King’s command is generally better than last year, but it’s not quite the guy we want him to be.
MacKenzie Gore @ ATH – Gore has looked great, though I hate Sacré Verde.
Probably Starts
Nolan McLean @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers and a test for McLean to get his AGA title. Good luck.
Ryan Weathers vs. LAA – Weathers took his foot slightly off the gas pedal to hold off on his max-effort heater and it improved his command.
Joey Cantillo @ STL – Cantillo’s command is always in question, though the changeup is sure to return strikeouts in a good matchup.
Aaron Nola vs. CHC – I wish it weren’t the Cubs and I generally trust Nola as a Holly.
Questionable Starts
Jeffrey Springs vs. TEX – Springs has been all sunshine and rainbows with his increased vert four-seamer, but this one is in Sacré Verde.
Mick Abel vs. BOS – We got a better look at the true talent of Abel in his last start and I simply want to see him take another step forward before putting him in the next tier.
Max Meyer @ ATL – His slider and sweeper are cool, but his heaters make for an unstable foundation.
Reynaldo López vs. MIA – I’m not the biggest ReyLó believer, but I understand treating this like a Vargas Rule against a poor lineup.
Mitch Keller vs. WSN – Ehhhhh, if you need a QS, I get it. It’s a low ceiling/poor floor.
Colton Gordon vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road. It’s also an unclear pitch count and ability.
Brady Singer vs. SFG – Singer isn’t the prettiest, but like Keller, there’s a QS shot in here.
Merrill Kelly @ BAL – He’s back! And it’s a Still ILL.
Reid Detmers @ NYY – Detmers’ fun start to the year hit a wall in his last start. The Yankees do not look like a rebound outing.
Do Not Starts
Noah Schultz vs. TBR – I’M SO EXCITED. An obvious spec-add, but I follow the PILOT rule: Prospect’s Initial Line Often Terrible. Wait and see and we’ll go from there. Sorry for being a Debut Downer. I highly doubt the White Sox are calling him up without keeping him around.
Michael McGreevy vs. CLE – Despite some success here and there, the massive velocity drop for McGreevy is too scary, especially without strikeout upside.
Colin Rea (Opener) @ PHI – There’s a shot he pulls it off – he’s done it before – but the skills are so blegh. The upside? He’ll have an opener, granting a higher chance of a Win.
Michael Lorenzen @ HOU – I won’t start this nickname, but considering his muscles and his poor fantasy relevance, I kinda want to call him a Homestar Runner character.
Miles Mikolas @ PIT – It’s Mikolas.
Wednesday 4/15 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Shohei Ohtani vs. NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ PHI – IM AN AGA. If he pulls this one off, then yeah, he might be.
Kyle Bradish vs. ARI – Alright Bradish, give us that start we want to see.
Dylan Cease @ MIL – You know what you signed up for.
Jesús Luzardo vs. CHC – We’ve seen more volatility from Luzardo than we’d like this early in the season, and yet, you still should start the fella.
Probably Starts
Connelly Early @ MIN – It’s going to be a high of 65 in Minnesota tomorrow. This is your time, Early. Show em what you got.
Emerson Hancock @ SDP – Hancock has looked great with his new four-seamer and I’m believing in his new feel.
Randy Vásquez vs. SEA – Vásquez’s velocity returned once he was removed from the cold Boston breeze and I’m expecting a comfortable outing in San Diego.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. COL – It’s so weird to have what looks to be a Still ILL this favorable in my rankings, but the Pasta Pirate not only gets Rockie Road, he also just went 82 pitches across six frames in Triple-A. He can handle it.
Questionable Starts
Seth Lugo @ DET – I don’t love it and yet, he’s a Vargas Rule at the moment.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ BAL – Same with Erod. The changeup has been working, but, you know, Erod.
Sean Burke vs. TBR – I’ve been more impressed with Burke as of late and I’m curious if he can keep it going in a solid matchup.
Slade Cecconi @ STL – He has a great leash, but hasn’t found the feel for his arsenal I was hoping to see.
Rhett Lowder vs. SFG – Lowder’s command was terrible in his last start after a history of far better precision. I think he’ll be just fine here, though the ceiling/floor balance isn’t stellar.
Dustin May vs. CLE – We saw a better version of May last time out and I hope he can take down LHB once again.
Bryce Elder vs. MIA – At least Elder will get more RHB this time around.
Chad Patrick vs. TOR – How long will he go? At least the Jays offense has hidden their fangs this April. Birds don’t have fangs. Not the ones you know.
Tyler Mahle @ CIN – Mahle will get a good schedule at some point. I promise. He may be good enough to survive on his old stomping grounds, though.
Clay Holmes @ LAD – Is he okay to start? Will they limit him? Would he produce against the Dodgers even if he were fully healthy?
Jack Flaherty vs. KCR – I’m not seeing a version of Flaherty we can trust. He’ll at least have a decent leash and return double-digit whiffs.
Luis Gil vs. LAA – His first outing of the season failed to excite us. If he can get more of his pitches over the plate, it’s possible he produces over five against a middling Angels squad.
Do Not Starts
J.T. Ginn vs. TEX – He did well against the Mets…in four frames. Now it’s Sacré Verde and I wonder what his pitch count will be.
Jack Kochanowicz @ NYY – Jackie K has flashed better stuff this year with a new arm angle, but it’s the Yankees and he walked four with just two punchouts last time. We’re not ready to chance it.
Carmen Mlodzinski vs. WSN – Maybe this is too low, but I fail to get excited for a 94/95 mph fastball with mediocre movement + a curve and slider that Mlodzinski fails to locate.
Jake Irvin @ PIT – It’s a good situation at PNC Park, but Irvin is, uh, Irvin.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. BOS – SWR is still sitting 92 mph or under. Nooooope.
Kumar Rocker @ ATH – He’s slider-city these days. That’s fine, but he needs a lot more than that.
Chris Paddack @ ATL – The floor is too dang low.
Jose Quintana @ HOU – He’s off the IL and doesn’t have to endure Coors! And obviously I’m not in.
Jesse Scholtens @ CHW – I don’t know how long he even goes here for the Rays.
Thursday 4/16 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)
