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: 4-5
My Pick yesterday: Win – Joe Boyle @ MIN
My Pick today: Steven Matz @ MIN
My Pick tomorrow: Kyle Harrison @KCR
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: 6-3
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Reid Detmers vs. SEA
Saturday 4/4 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tyler Glasnow @ WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ CLE – The velocity is there and the LHB-heavy cleveland lineup should fall to his sweeper and heater.
Probably Starts
Shane Baz @ PIT – Baz is looking great + PNC Park.
Ryan Weathers vs. MIA – Weathers’ stuff is legit. Are the Marlins actually kinda good…?
Connelly Early vs. SDP – I’m loving what Early is putting down. I wish it wasn’t in Fenway and against a weaker offense.
Jesús Luzardo @ COL – It’s Coors. It’s also Luzardo.
Clay Holmes @ SFG – It’s the Giants and “the Adobe” should be a relatively safe play.
Questionable Starts
Steven Matz @ MIN – I’m a believer in Matz as a Toby type and the Twins are such a good team to stream against.
Mick Abel vs. TBR – Don’t consider Abel’s 2026 debut a true showcase of his talent. It was in relief, his first game as a member of the team out of camp, and now he gets the pearl from the start against a mediocre squad.
Rhett Lowder @ TEX – I dig what Lowder puts down – a good changeup for LHB, an above-average slider to RHB, and solid command with four-seamers and sinkers – and Arlington is a great place to pitch.
Emerson Hancock @ LAA – Hancock has dropped his arm angle significantly, granting a flatter attack-angle that allowed him to excel upstairs with four-seamers to a nearly exclusive LHB lineup. The Angels will serve him many RHB, and I’m not sure we’ll like what we get. Can he actually command this well consistently?
Brandon Sproat @ KCR – That first start was horrible. Dreadful. A nightmare. And it’s in the past. Sproat is not destined to have such terrible command and jitters were likely the culprit. Expect better in Kansas City, almost certainly without a grand slam in the first.
Landen Roupp vs. NYM – Roupp’s curve, cutter, change, sinker mix (with a rare sprinkle of four-seamers) looked great and if he’s able to spot pitches consistently, he’ll quickly rise into the second tier, even against the Mets. Jury’s still out.
Tatsuya Imai @ ATH – Imai looked lost on the mound in his first start. It may not be easier in the minor league Sacramento park, but if he’s able to wield his pitches properly, he’s a second tier arm.
Michael Soroka vs. ATL – Soroka’s curveball was dope. If that appears again, he’ll produce. However, the rest of the arsenal is suspect, and I hope the new cutter steps up if the heaters and/or curve let him down.
Seth Lugo vs. MIL – He just showcased that he can still go six frames of decent production, but the curveball velocity is down and I’m worried he’s a Toby at best. The ceiling seems limited.
Chad Patrick @ KCR – I question if Patrick’s four-seamer, sinker, cutter mix is enough to last six frames consistently.
Dustin May @ DET – May didn’t pitch nearly as badly as the line suggests in his first outing. The Tigers aren’t too scary and this could be six quality frames.
Randy Vásquez @ BOS – I dig Vásquez’s new velocity and improved curve. I hate that this is Fenway.
Jack Flaherty vs. STL – I don’t see anything new from Flaherty to suggest he’s back on track. This is a lovely matchup, though.
Max Meyer @ NYY – Meyer’s 90 mph gyro slider and 87/88 mph sweeper are awesome. Pitching in the Bronx is not awesome.
Carmen Mlodzinski vs. BAL – Mlodzinski got a fair number of strikeouts on well spotted 94 mph four-seamers last time out and I don’t anticipate replication against the Orioles.
Anthony Kay (Opener) vs. TOR – I see a sleeper arm in time from Anthony, sporting 95/96 mph heaters and good command of his full arsenal (even if he walked many last game, he was near his intended spot a ton). I wish it weren’t the Jays, but it technically is a revenge game.
Do Not Starts
Slade Cecconi vs. CHC – I was a part of the Slade Brigade out of camp after he increased his cutter usage with good velocity. I’ve since left after it was far worse in his season debut in Seattle.
Bryce Elder @ ARI – Elder’s slider and sinker can be great against RHB when he commands it beautifully, but the floor is so bad.
Kumar Rocker vs. CIN – I wonder if the Reds Carpet will be a thing again this year. I also wonder what we’ll actually get from Rocker – will it be 40% sliders? Cutters? It’s too much haze.
Lazaro Estrada @ CHW – He’s getting the pearl instead of Lauer (don’t get thrown off by the opener) and I don’t see enough in the profile to get excited about this. Wait and see…?
Jack Kochanowicz vs. SEA – Jackie K was showing increased velocity and improved everything in the spring, but it wasn’t there the first time out. Let’s wait and see.
Luis Morales vs. HOU – Morales’ command is terrible and Sacré Verde should make it worse.
Jake Irvin vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers, even if Irvin surprised us last week.
Chase Dollander vs. PHI – With Quintana hurt, the Rockies are bringing Dollander back into the rotation as if nothing ever happened. Oh how I wish I were excited about that.
Luinder Avila vs. MIL – It’s a double-header and I don’t think we’ll see long of Avila, let alone quality.
Sunday 4/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Max Fried vs. MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns @ TEX – He looked so good last time and it’s in Arlington. Downside? He may be more limited that the others.
Logan Webb vs. NYM – I know the ratios have hurt and the matchup isn’t ideal, but it’s Webb.
Kodai Senga @ SFG – He pushed it to 99 mph last time out and that was awesome. Best version of Senga I’ve ever seen.
Kris Bubic vs. MIL – He’s healthy and looking last he was last year. That’s all you need to know.
Edward Cabrera @ CLE – I question his consistency and hate that he’ll get mostly LHB. And yet, you’re starting him.
Probably Starts
Luis Castillo @ LAA – It’s not in Seattle.
Kyle Harrison @ KCR – Harrison looked great in his first outing with an ultra flat heater returning many strikes. I just hope the blister doesn’t return.
Jack Leiter vs. CIN – We saw Jack Zippo appear last time out, and while he had control, he wasn’t locating well inside the zone. It’s the Reds Carpet, however, and the perfect moment to take a shot.
Questionable Starts
Braxton Ashcraft vs. BAL – I’m not sold on Ashcraft and the Orioles are a dangerous offense.
Eric Lauer @ CHW – We saw 17 whiffs from Lauer taking over in the rotation and now it’s the White Sox. The downside? We’ve seen him have these whiff explosions before, only to quickly come back down to earth.
Parker Messick vs. CHC – Messick took down the Dodgers, though it wasn’t with the fastball/change feel we normally see. I’m a little worried.
Ranger Suarez vs. SDP – He isn’t in rhythm yet, it’s Fenway, and it’s the Padres.
Kyle Leahy @ DET – Is this the start where we get hyped about Leahy? I sure hope so. It could also be super meh.
Chris Bassitt @ PIT – If you need a QS, Bassitt will have the leash.
Do Not Starts
Lance McCullers Jr. Jr. @ ATH – I know how good it was last time, but Sacré Verde is a disruptive place to pitch. McCullers’ history of volatility makes me concerned.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. ATL – I think he has the right idea for his attack, now he needs to execute it. Atlanta makes it a tough gamble.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. TBR – I’m not seeing the SWR from last year. His command is off.
Justin Verlander vs. STL – It feels like a decent start against the Cardinals, though Verlander isn’t impressing.
Davis Martin vs. TOR – It’s the Jays and Martin is pretty meh. Not the worst desperate option.
Roki Sasaki @ WSN – I don’t trust Sasaki at all. Maybe he goes five frames and steals a Win?
Jacob Lopez vs. HOU – Lopez had no command last time and now has to deal with Sacré Verde.
Nick Martinez @ MIN – It’s the Twins and the kitchen-sink could give him six frames. Or it could be his super low floor.
Foster Griffin vs. LAD – He’s hoping to be a SWATCH with a splitter against the Dodgers. Yeah, that ain’t happening.
Taijuan Walker @ COL – It’s Walker. In Coors.
Ryan Johnson vs. SEA – Johnson ain’t it.
Walker Buehler @ BOS – Buehler is going back to Fenway. Oh dear.
Chris Paddack @ NYY – Paddack just got pummeled by the Marlins and now has to deal with the Yankees.
Martín Pérez @ ARI – Is he going to last five frames?
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. PHI – Coors + Phillies. Yikes.
Monday 4/6 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)
