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: 13-14
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Kyle Harrison @ DET
My Pick today: Peter Lambert @ CLE
My Pick tomorrow: Brandon Sproat @ DET
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: 15-12
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Jacob Lopez @ SEA
Wednesday 4/22 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Shohei Ohtani @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert vs. ATH – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried @ BOS – Aces gonna ace.
José Soriano vs. TOR – I mean, how can you stop now? Even if regression is coming.
Probably Starts
Braxton Ashcraft @ TEX – Ashcraft is cruising and leaning more into his elite curveball. I sure hope it sticks again.
Michael Wacha vs. BAL – Wacha has been a lovely Vargas Rule thus far and the Orioles aren’t scary enough to stop rolling with it.
Clay Holmes vs. MIN – I was impressed with The Adobe putting the walls back together after leaving with a hamstring scare in his previous outing, then throwing a strong outing against the Dodgers. The Twins should be fine.
Jack Leiter vs. PIT – It’s the Pirates + he’s at home. It’s pure southern comfort for a fella who had to deal with the Dodgers and Sacré Verde. Just throw strikes.
Matthew Boyd vs. PHI – I may be too high here for this Still ILL, and yet, Boyd wasn’t on the IL for long and he tossed a pair of twenty whiff games to kick off the season.
Questionable Starts
Peter Lambert @ CLE – This is a wild one. Lambert returned from TJS and got a start for the Astros last week to earn himself a Golden Goal whilst featuring a beautiful BSB to LHB with a 95 mph four-seamer (a tick harder than pre-TJS) and an elite changeup. Now he gets all the LHB. I’m so tempted.
Nick Martinez vs. CIN – It’s the Reds Carpet and Martinez’s changeup has been solid lately. It’s also a bit of a revenge game, if that matters to you.
Janson Junk vs. STL – Junk isn’t locating what he throws effectively, despite his stuff looking better than ever. If he can get the heater upstairs consistently, then it’ll set up everything else appropriately. I’m still waiting to see it, though the Cardinals make for a good launching pad.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. CHW – It’s the White Sox and Erod is a back-end Toby.
Ranger Suarez vs. NYY – Suarez is getting more into rhythm, but not at a point that I’m blindly starting him against the elite Yankee offense.
Tanner Bibee vs. HOU – I have no idea what Bibee will do each start. I hope the cutter and four-seamer are good enough for their RHB.
Chad Patrick @ DET – I’m happy Patrick was able to go over six frames last time out and I still question if he’s good enough to warrant holding in 12-teamers.
Casey Mize vs. MIL – Mize is…eh. I understand he has a long leash, but I’m not seeing anything particularly interesting in his arsenal.
Kyle Leahy @ MIA – Is this the start where it all comes together for Leahy? It looks like an awesome opportunity, but we’ve yet to see him put it all together.
Connor Prielipp vs. NYM – I know, I know, I should follow the “PILOT Rule”. And yet…Prielipp is at 80+ pitches. His arsenal is great. The Mets are in shambles. LET ME HAVE FUN.
Do Not Starts
Didier Fuentes @ WSH – Oh come on Nick, Prielipp and not Fuentes?! Yes. For a few reasons. 1) Fuentes’ arsenal is more limited. 2) The Nationals are LHB-focused, creating a tougher challenge for Fuentes’ four-seamer/slider combo. 3) There is no three (shoutout Grey Albright). Still spec-add Fuentes and hope he makes me look stupid. I’ll be rooting with you.
Brandon Williamson @ TBR – Williamson has the talent, just not the consistency. If you’re chasing a Quality Start, this may be your best option among the bottom tier.
Eric Lauer @ LAA – Lauer had his one excellent game and hasn’t found a rhythm since.
Anthony Kay @ ARI – Kay was used as a follower in his last outing and was so terribly inefficient that he looked like a normal reliever. His arsenal is fantastic, his execution is not.
Aaron Civale @ SEA – Civale had himself some productive starts and you could convince yourself this will work in “@SEA”, but let’s do ourselves a favor and not chance it.
Chris Bassitt @ KCR – I simply don’t think Bassitt is anything more than a possible 15-team streamer. It’s a grind each time.
Zack Littell vs. ATL – Littell showed us how we shouldn’t trust him last time out. Listen to him.
Walker Buehler @ COL – It’s Coors. And it’s Buehler.
Tyler Mahle vs. LAD – Okay Mahle. This is your final tune-up. Just sit 93/94 mph and make us feel great about rostering you for next week’s start against the Marlins.
Taijuan Walker (Opener) @ CHC – Walker is still here. With an opener. For now. Painter likely gets demoted instead when Wheeler arrives later this week, but there’s a chance. Regardless, Walker isn’t worth your time, especially against the Cubs.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. SDP – As much as I want to be the cheerleader Sugano deserves, it’s Coors n all.
Thursday 4/23 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Tyler Glasnow @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Cristopher Sánchez @ CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Cam Schlittler @ BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Probably Starts
Michael Soroka vs. CHW – He’s cooking with his curve and it’s the CrySox.
Bubba Chandler @ TEX – I initially had him in the top tier, but I understand that he hasn’t had that start yet. It could very well be this one.
Edward Cabrera vs. PHI – ECab and Webb get tougher opponents, though I fear the Phils a little less than the Dodgers. Cabrera has yet to put it all together, though the change and sinker are still solid.
Logan Webb vs. LAD – Webb isn’t as bad as he’s been. And it’s also the Dodgers.
Questionable Starts
Brandon Sproat @ DET – I’m torn between which is the best streaming option of the three and I’m going to lean on Sproat’s improved performances since he struggled in his first two of the season.
Davis Martin @ ARI – He doesn’t have as high of a ceiling as Sproat, but has strung together a few good outings and the Sneks are lacking venom.
Christian Scott vs. MIN – He’s one of four prospect arms worthy of your attention who are getting the call this week. Scott is returning from TJS after debuting in 2024 and he’s since added a slider along the same horizontal plane as his fastball and sweeper. I question if he can feature enough of his arsenal low to amplify his four-seamer upstairs, but the Twins aren’t too scary and he’s stretched out in the minors at 82 pitches in his final rehab start. A decent spec-add as the Mets are searching for answers.
Do Not Starts
Brayan Bello vs. NYY – He’s already pretty blegh and it’s the Yankees in Fenway.
Cade Cavalli vs. ATL – I’m not seeing a legit ceiling here.
Martín Perez @ WSH – He was pushed back for Fuentes’ debut and despite the success last start, this has all the likelihood of being a whole lot of nothing.
Matt Waldron @ COL – It’s Coors. Thinner air = less knuckle movement. I think. I’m pretty sure. Whatever, he’s not great outside of Coors, either.
Ryan Feltner vs. SDP – It’s Coors.
Friday 4/24 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)
