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: 12-12
My Pick yesterday: Win – Dean Kremer @ CLE
My Pick today: Mike Burrows vs. STL
My Pick tomorrow: Max Meyer vs. STL
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: 14-10
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Max Scherzer @ ARI
Sunday 4/19 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryan Woo vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Jacob Misiorowski @ MIA – He feels like he’s close to AGA, doesn’t he?
Trevor Rogers @ CLE – An easy choice here. He pitched far better than his last start’s line.
Robbie Ray @ WSN – He’s a pretty safe play.
MacKenzie Gore @ SEA – It’s a fantasy matchup for Gore.
Garrett Crochet vs. DET – Aces gonna NOT GIVE UP SO MANY RUNS. It’s really weird not to have him at SP #1 and yet, I have to bank in that start somehow.
Cole Ragans @ NYY – It’s the Yankees, but obviously Aces Gonna Ace.
Kevin Gausman @ ARI – Gausman is Gausman.
Michael King @ LAA – King’s command isn’t quite where we want it to be, but he’s still a clear play.
Eury Pérez vs. MIL – His command hasn’t developed as much as I thought it would by now, but the stuff is just so good and Milwaukee is a weak lineup at the moment.
Framber Valdez @ BOS – Valdez’s curveball wasn’t there last time and it’s Fenway. And still, his ceiling is too high.
Shane McClanahan @ PIT – We haven’t seen peak McShane yet and the changeup has abandoned him in his last two. I don’t expect a low changeup strike rate to last + it’s the Pirates.
Probably Starts
Jeffrey Springs vs. CHW – He’s been Sunshine and Rainbows this season. Sacré Verde did make his fastball worse last time out, though, and it’s possible even against the CrySox, a worse fastball ruins this one.
Ryne Nelson vs. TOR – Nelson’s floor is higher than most with his elite four-seamer and his secondaries create an ajar door of upside.
Joey Cantillo vs. BAL – The four-seamer scares me, the changeup excites me.
Ryan Weathers vs. KCR – His stuff is still great, even at the lower fastball velocity, and he’s not going to allow four HRs per game.
Reid Detmers vs. SDP – The four-seamer/slider was amplified by a return to his former changeup, and I can’t suggest benching after a stellar performance against the Yankees last time out.
Andrew Painter vs. ATL – Painter is a low-end Holly for a good squad.
Mike Burrows vs. STL – Come on Nick. He honestly pitched well save for two terrible fastball calls and execution to Naylor (5 of his 6 ER), and Koufax did the rest. It was the return of Burrows’ 2025 changeup and paired with his slider, I see a solid start against the Cardinals ahead.
Questionable Starts
Bailey Ober vs. CIN – Ober located much better last time out and now gets Reds Carpet. And yet, he’s still sub-90 mph. I’m slightly tempted. That’s the best I can do.
Javier Assad vs. NYM – It was so bad last time out. The Mets offense is horrific. Immovable object, unstoppable force. I’ll side with Assad slightly.
Brady Singer @ MIN – He’s a QS option, but we saw last time how that’s usually not worth the gamble.
Mitch Keller vs. TBR – He’s like Singer but a little worse.
Noah Schultz @ ATH – We followed the PILOT rule for his debut, and we usually see a drop in jitters for the second outing. That said, Sacré Verde isn’t the best place to get “comfortable”.
Do Not Starts
Matthew Liberatore @ HOU – Liberatore hasn’t shown the feel for his arsenal to trust him here.
Grant Holmes @ PHI – The slider can get whiffs, but that’s about it. He doesn’t go long and the ratios are a huge risk. Only consider him if you’re desperate for strikeouts.
Roki Sasaki @ COL – It’s Coors and Sasaki isn’t showing me more than an above-average gyro slider.
Tobias Myers @ CHC – We’re not sure why David Peterson was scratched (apparently not an injury?) and it’s possible he’s going to be the bulk for Myers here, consider Tobias isn’t stretched out yet. Either way, no interest.
Michael Lorenzen vs. LAD – He’s Strong Bad. In Coors. Against the Dodgers.
Miles Mikolas (Opener) vs. SFG – Never walk Miles in Mikolas’ shoes. Don’t even put them on. You know, stop looking at them. Run away.
Monday 4/20 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Dylan Cease @ LAA – You know what you signed up for.
Kyle Bradish @ KCR – Bradish is better than what you’ve gotten thus far. Pretty wild to see him throw a 98.9 mph sinker last time out and at least we know that’s in there.
Sonny Gray vs. DET – Just like Cease but with a worse ceiling.
Probably Starts
Emerson Hancock vs. ATH – Hancock has been fantastic and I’m a believer that he is a four-seamer command arm now.
Aaron Nola @ CHC – Nola is a low-end Holly at this point. I understand wanting to bench him, but I’d let him fly if I have him.
Seth Lugo vs. BAL – It’s a Vargas Rule for Lugo.
Max Meyer vs. STL – Meyer has his breakers cooking, but the rest is in question. I’m leaning start as I’m itching to perform a Cardinal Sin.
Questionable Starts
Rhett Lowder @ TBR – Lowder is a boring Toby in a good matchup away from Cincy. That’s fine with me.
Reynaldo López @ WSN – He’s a Vargas Rule against a weak offense. I don’t buy into the idea of his fastball range making all the difference, especially without consistent strikes from his secondaries (lovely exception last time out).
Jesse Scholtens vs. CIN – It’s the Reds Carpet and could come with an opener once again to open the chance for a vulture win.
J.T. Ginn @ SEA – It’s @TEA and Ginn has proven capable of finding quick outs.
Michael McGreevy @ MIA – This is a ratio/QS play if you need one. Do not expect strikeouts, even against the Marlins.
Jack Flaherty @ BOS – Flaherty performed well last time and his velocity is higher at the moment. Still awfully risky, especially in Fenway.
Jack Kochanowicz vs. TOR – This is an improved version of Jackie K. and I’m not sure how afraid we should be of the Blue Jays.
Do Not Starts
Slade Cecconi vs. HOU – Unless you need innings, I fail to see a reason to go after this outing.
Colin Rea vs. PHI – Rea could have an opener and open the door for a vulture win, though I don’t love throwing him to the Phillies.
Justin Wrobleski @ COL – It’s Coors and Wrobo Cop isn’t impressing me enough to chance it.
Jake Irvin vs. ATL – Irvin has been…okay? He has more extension this year and a slightly better fastball, and I need more to trust he’ll succeed for an extended amount of time.
Colton Gordon @ CLE – Gordon couldn’t take down Rockie Road.
Jose Quintana vs. LAD – It’s Coors and the Dodgers. Oh no.
Tuesday 4/21 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)
