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: 7-7
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Brady Singer @ MIA
My Pick today: Max Meyer vs. CIN
My Pick tomorrow: Landen Roupp @ BAL
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: 9-5
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Grant Holmes @ LAA
Thursday 4/9 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Nolan McLean vs. ARI – He’s on the path toward AGA.
Probably Starts
Randy Vásquez vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Vásquez’s velocity should be back to its spring highs are enduring the brick weather of Boston last time out. I’m kinda tempted to put
Max Meyer vs. CIN – It’s the Reds Carpet and the breakers are too good.
Ryan Weathers vs. ATH – The results haven’t been there yet, and I’m not worried. The stuff is still excellent.
Rhett Lowder @ MIA – Lowder isn’t the most exciting. He throws above-average strikes and that’s all you need against a team like Miami
Seth Lugo vs. CHW – Lugo hasn’t disappointed yet + it’s Chicago.
Mick Abel vs. DET – Alright Abel, it’ll be 48-50 degrees for your start in Minnesota. That’s okay, right? Give us the start we know you should have.
Questionable Starts
Anthony Kay @ KCR – Feels weird to put him this high, but Kay is far better than the results have given us thus far. He’s a 95+ mph SWATCH with a wide arsenal and great command.
Jack Flaherty @ MIN – Even against the Twins, I’m losing faith in Flaherty to take advantage.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ NYM – Erod has looked great out of the gate and that rhythm could continue against a Soto-less lineup.
Chase Dollander @ SDP – I really liked the new version of Dollander we just saw and this is outside of Coors, in San Diego, where we’ve historically seen amplified pitch movement across early weeks. This may be the highest I’ve ranked Dollander.
Do Not Starts
Jeffrey Springs @ NYY – Despite featuring an improved fastball, I don’t think this will be sunshine and rainbows in the Bronx.
Friday 4/10 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tyler Glasnow vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried @ TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns vs. LAA – As he continues to push toward 90 pitches, Burns will earn the AGA tag. Remember, his preseason rank was low due to injury risk and playing time, not skills.
Jesús Luzardo vs. ARI – Jesús celebrated Easter with a blessed day in Colorado. Hard to bench him now.
Shota Imanaga vs. PIT – He’s cooking and it’s the Pirates.
Kris Bubic vs. CHW – It’s last year’s Bubic against one of the worst offenses.
Connelly Early @ STL – You may think it’s too soon, but this is in St. Louis + his last game was in the brutal cold.
Probably Starts
Tatsuya Imai @ SEA – The reverse slider showed up and it was lovely. Now he heads to @TEA and we celebrate.
Shane Baz vs. SFG – So far so good for Baz. Hard to bench him now.
Emerson Hancock vs. HOU – I’m buying Hancock after seeing him replicate the four-seamer command with a proven change in his lower arm angle that we didn’t have data for after the first outing. I’m curious how he deals with the RHB-heavy Astros – likely with plenty of cutters away.
Drew Rasmussen vs. NYY – He was pushed back on paternity leave (maybe another day needed?) and I wish it weren’t the Yankees.
Clay Holmes vs. ATH – The Adobe has done well with his sinker thus far and we’re glad it’s not in Sacré Verde. Especially since I have a ticket for Citi Field that night with the Pitcher List crew. That would have been awkward.
Questionable Starts
Landen Roupp @ BAL – I’m enthused about Roupp, though I need to see him feature his peak command for more than one start (especially with the sinker).
Bryce Elder vs. CLE – Elder has been cooking, though he feasts his sinker/slider to RHB…and the Guardians will make sure he starves by serving a slew of LHB.
Chad Patrick vs. WSN – I’m tempted to put him in the second tier, but Patrick doesn’t go deep into games often, and he’ll face plenty of LHB, which won’t help his fastball/cutter approach.
Michael Soroka @ PHI – This may feel low, but then again, Soroka’s curveball is the biggest question mark. If he has it hookin’, we cookin’. Otherwise, the floor is very floor against the Phillies.
Slade Cecconi @ ATL – I’m not sure what to make of Slade and at this point, he’s a 15-teamer HIPSTER in my view.
Davis Martin @ KCR – He just tossed six boring frames and sure, he could do it again.
Walker Buehler vs. COL – I hate removing Buehler from the bottom tier, but his gameplan this year is “throw a ton of breakers away to RHB” and guess what? Rockie Road is what it is because of how susceptible they are to, wait for it, tons of breakers away to their RHB.
Do Not Starts
Jack Kochanowicz @ CIN – I really wish Jackie K. didn’t have two tough matchups in a row after showing us a super interesting mix last time out.
Dustin May vs. BOS – I believe in him long term – April showers, May flowers, after all – though he’s been terrible thus far. But it is Boston away from Fenway and in a good pitcher’s park…
Keider Montero vs. MIA – Will he go five frames? He’s not the fun guy we saw in the spring. At least it’s Miami.
Carmen Mlodzinski @ CHC – He doesn’t do enough and may not go long. There is some upside here if the velocity returns.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ TOR – I’m not seeing what we want from SWR. It’s possible the game in a dome improves his velocity after dealing with the frigid Minnesota environment.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ SDP – He just had himself a lovely game in Coors. And hey! It’s weird April Petco Park. So there’s a chance…
Chris Paddack @ DET – He has done nothing to get us excited. But sure, it’s possible.
Jake Irvin @ MIL – Irvin’s stuff+ has improved, but is it enough? Yes, he had more extension, but I need more.
Patrick Corbin vs. MIN – OH DANG. Ignore the blue screen in front of you, do NOT restart your PC. At least not yet.
Kumar Rocker @ LAD – Rocker’s approach is a big unknown and it’s the Dodgers. No thanks.
J.T. Ginn @ NYM – He’s returning and I hope to see something to latch onto.
Saturday 4/11 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)
