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: 26-24
My Pick yesterday: Win – Carmen Mlodzinski vs. CIN (W): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K
My Pick today: Connor Prielipp vs. MIL
My Pick tomorrow: Trevor McDonald @ ATH
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: 26-24
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Braxton Garrett @ MIN (L): 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 3 K
Friday 5/15 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cam Schlittler @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Blake Snell @ LAA – We’re a month out from #HotSnellSummer, but who knows how climate change will mess with the schedule.
Joe Ryan vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace. He was moved up a day, Prelipp pushed back. Again.
Braxton Ashcraft vs. PHI – Ashcraft is pitching far too well to bench right now.
Probably Starts
Randy Vásquez @ SEA – It’s a lovely matchup for the low-end Holly.
Edward Cabrera @ CHW – Cabrera is a little unpredictable, but overall worth your time, especially against the White Sox.
Michael Wacha @ STL -It’s been a strong season for Wacha save for a few blips and St. Louis makes for any easy slot inside lineups.
Tanner Bibee vs. CIN – As chaotic as he is, Bibee walking down the Reds Carpet should be fine.
Spencer Strider vs. BOS – Strider’s results were solid against the Dodgers and there are believeable elements here. I worry that the slower four-seamer and slow slider are not enough stuff-wise + question if he has the command to make it all work. Worthwhile for now.
Emerson Hancock vs. SDP – His four-seamer vert has declined steadily throughout the year, but then again, he did fan 14 batters with the low mark. The Padres are far tougher against RHP, too, adding enough haze to push him down the second tier.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. TEX – I’m a big fan of Arrighetti’s arsenal and I see each start a potential breakout outing where everyone starts paying attention.
Trey Yesavage @ DET – I’m not in love with his command and limited arsenal. I also recognize how he made this work in the small sample size last fall and know you’ll be starting him here.
Questionable Starts
Aaron Nola @ PIT – Nola. Oh buddy. I just want to live like I once did. When I wanted it to always be Nola day.
Janson Junk @ TBR – Junk has the stuff, but not the precision. Hopfully it’s coming.
Connelly Early @ ATL – I wish it weren’t Atlanta. He was great last time, but it wasn’t due to overpowering stuff.
Andrew Abbott @ CLE – Three straight decent outings from Abbott, and now I hold my breath, hoping the changeup can take down the slew of RHB he’ll face.
Clay Holmes vs. NYY – Maybe this is too low, but I don’t see this being an efficient outing against their LHB bats.
Do Not Starts
Dustin May vs. KCR – May has shown some promise lately with strikeouts finally arriving last time out. He’s been serviceable after his first two disasters, after all.
Jack Leiter @ HOU – Leiter is a HIPSTER and I simply don’t want to deal with it. This is too low, Nick. I get it. It probably is. I don’t trust him to execute his high stuff effectively.
Shane Baz @ WSH – We have yet to see Baz take a step forward this year.
Chad Patrick @ MIN –
Tyler Mahle @ ATH – Mahle was a bit unlucky during his good schedule, and now it’s Sacré Verde.
Jesse Scholtens vs. MIA – At least it’s the Marlins.
Merrill Kelly @ COL – It’s Coors.
Ty Madden vs. TOR – Madden’s fastballs have me terrified.
Aaron Civale vs. SFG – It’s Sacré Verde.
Sean Burke vs. CHC – Burke has moments, but it’s the Cubs.
Jack Kochanowicz vs. LAD – Jackie K. isn’t commanding well.
Zack Littell vs. BAL – Littell isn’t it.
Kyle Freeland vs. ARI – It’s in Coors.
Saturday 5/16 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cristopher Sánchez @ PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom @ HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert vs. SDP – Please let me make you an AGA again.
Carlos Rodón @ NYM – Rodón has his Still ILL out of the way.
Gavin Williams vs. CIN – I wonder, is the Reds Carpet still a thing…?
Probably Starts
Logan Henderson @ MIN – Henderson’s sweeper adds another much-needed wrinkle to his arsenal, though we haven’t seen him face a fair number of RHBs to truly understand its ceiling. The four-seamer, change, and cutter are already solid on their own, too.
Davis Martin vs. CHC – He’s on too much of a heater to deny.
Connor Prielipp vs. MIL – He was bumped for Zebby and Ryan and guess what? Clear skies and 80 DEGREE WEATHER. I’m so excited.
José Soriano vs. LAD – Soriano rebounded and let’s hope that wasn’t a Dennis as he faces the Dodgers.
Bryce Elder vs. BOS – Who is honestly benching Elder now?
Nick Martinez vs. MIA – Same with Martinez.
Sandy Alcantara @ TBR – It’s the Rays, which makes the questionable command of Sandy more digestable.
Questionable Starts
Jameson Taillon @ CHW – Taillon has been solid in good matchups. I wonder if the White Sox are super streamable these days, though.
Justin Wrobleski @ LAA – The regression appeared last time out, but he nearly went the distance. One more?
Payton Tolle @ ATL – Tolle has the strikeout upside, but Hotlanta could bring out the low floor easily.
Trevor McDonald @ ATH – I wish it weren’t in Sacré Verde. I dig McDonald once this start is behind him.
Bubba Chandler vs. PHI – Is this the start he finally figures it out? Probably not.
Do Not Starts
Luis Severino vs. SFG – It’s Sacré Verde, sadly.
Cade Cavalli vs. BAL – Cavalli has the rare strikeout upside, but the fastballs aren’t good enough.
Noah Cameron @ STL – I so want to believe Cameron can find the command he had last year all over again. At least it’s a great matchup.
Lucas Giolito @ SEA – Ayyyyy, he’s finally debuting! Definitely not worth the stash at this point. Just wait and see.
Kyle Leahy vs. KCR – Leahy has yet to give us a start to latch onto. It feels close though, I know.
Chris Bassitt @ WSH – It’ll be a whole lot of LHB and he hates those.
Casey Mize vs. TOR – This is a clear Still ILL for Mize.
Chris Paddack @ CLE – It’s his debut start for the Reds and with his diminished velocity the last time we saw him, you should keep your expectations very low.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ COL – Too bad it’s Coors.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. ARI – Too bad it’s Coors half of the time.
David Peterson vs. NYY – Peterson is a DNS, especially against the Yankees.
Kai-Wei Teng vs. TEX – He has the green light for the first time in a while for 80+ pitches, but that would require him to be pitching at a certain level to keep him in the game that long.
Spencer Miles @ DET – I legit have no idea what the Jays are up to.
Sunday 5/17 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)
