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: 12-14
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Mike Burrows vs. STL
My Pick today: Max Meyer vs. STL
My Pick tomorrow: Mick Abel @ NYM
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: 15-10
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Bailey Ober vs. CIN
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.
Reid Detmers vs. TOR – Detmers has been earning all the strikeouts and has his old changeup. I’m not in love with this, but it’s hard to say no.
Questionable Starts
Spencer Arrighetti @ CLE – I wanted to put him in the second tier, but we’ve seen the Pasta Pirate have volatile command in the past and it’s a 50/50 if he’ll have his curveball to handle LHB for the second straight start.
Rhett Lowder @ TBR – Lowder is a boring Toby in a good matchup away from Cincy. That’s fine with me.
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.
Bryce Elder @ WSN – The Nationals are sure to send a ton of LHB against Elder, which is not ideal for a sinker/slider arm.
Jack Flaherty @ BOS – Flaherty performed well last time and his velocity is higher at the moment. Still awfully risky, especially in Fenway.
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.
Jose Quintana vs. LAD – It’s Coors and the Dodgers. Oh no.
Tuesday 4/21 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Nolan McLean vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. PHI – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns @ TBR – Burns could easily force me to give him the AGA tag.
Parker Messick vs. HOU – How could you not start Messick after the start he’s had?
Probably Starts
Kris Bubic vs. BAL – We didn’t get prime Bubic last time out, though I’m not ready to jump off the train.
Merrill Kelly vs. CHW – He’s back and it’s the White Sox.
Jesús Luzardo @ CHC – Luzardo has had it rough to kick off the year and I’m not going to pull him. His stuff is as good as it’s ever been, and the poor luck is sure to its course.
Steven Matz vs. CIN – It’s the Reds Carpet and Matz is a lovely Toby.
Mick Abel @ NYM – I’m getting hyped about Abel and he’ll face a defeated Mets crew.
Connelly Early vs. NYY – I love Early. I also know this will be an emotional outing against the Yankees. I’m willing to favor his skills.
Questionable Starts
Luis Castillo vs. ATH – It’s in @TEA and yet, I remember how badly it went last time out.
Shane Baz @ KCR – Baz is starting to look like an arm you question if the ceiling is worthwhile. It’ll start with four-seamer dominance and I’m not sure we’ll get it.
Kyle Harrison @ DET – Harrison has been pushed back plenty after his last outing and I’d prefer to play it safe if I could.
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).
Dustin May @ MIA – It’s the Marlins and May does enough to get through six frames.
Carmen Mlodzinski @ TEX – If he has an opener, there’s hope for value here for a cheap win in a pitcher’s park.
Foster Griffin vs. ATL – He’s been surprisingly decent as a SWATCH with the potential for a blowup inning.
Landen Roupp vs. LAD – Roupp is looking much better, but it’s the Dodgers. If it were a good matchup, he’d be in the second tier.
Randy Vásquez @ COL – Same with Vásquez. Stupid Coors.
Jacob Lopez @ SEA – Lopez has the gift of @TEA, but we have yet to see him have a stellar K/BB like we experienced in the summer of 2025. Maybe this is the one?
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.
Chris Paddack vs. STL – It’s the Cardinals and Paddack has had some success this year. The floor is a bit too low for my taste, though.
Do Not Starts
Luis Gil @ BOS – I don’t trust his efficiency to make it through five strong frames in the tough Fenway environment.
Keider Montero vs. MIL – Montero is fine. Not enough for 12-teamers to start him.
Chase Dollander vs. SDP – Dollander is looking great…when he’s outside of Coors.
Patrick Corbin @ LAA – Corbin just pitched a gem and it’s possible he can repeat it.
Sean Burke @ ARI – My excitement for Burke has fallen fast. I need much more than 94 mph.
Kumar Rocker vs. PIT – I’m still waiting for a start that gets me interested in Rocker.
Ryan Weiss @ CLE – Weiss has yet to display good enough control to produce across six frames.
Wednesday 4/22 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)
