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: 30-27
My Pick yesterday: Win – Cade Cavalli vs. NYM (L): 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K
My Pick today: Connor Prielipp @ BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Christian Scott @ MIA
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: 30-27
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – David Peterson @ WSH (W): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Friday 5/22 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ KCR – He hasn’t acted like an ace, but it’s the Royals. You got this.
Probably Starts
Kevin Gausman vs. PIT – He’s been a steady Holly.
Gavin Williams @ PHI – The high strike rates are such a great sign of Gavin’s step forward this year. The results haven’t been pristine, but the process is there. I’m trusting him.
Michael Soroka vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road for a pitch with elite command.
Davis Martin @ SFG – LET’S KEEP IT GOING.
Gerrit Cole vs. TBR – He’s back and I’m STOKED. On one hand, it’s a Still ILL. On the other, he’s killed it in rehab, stretched out past 80 pitches, it’s the Rays, and it’s COLE. Just do it and have fun.
Payton Tolle vs. MIN – This is such a fun matchup. I’m leaning Tolle slightly due to the home crowd and familiarity with Fenway, but that could be foolish.
Connor Prielipp @ BOS – Good luck, Prielipp. I trust you more long-term than Tolle and I could go either way in this awesome head-to-head matchup.
Trevor McDonald vs. CHW – I dig this one plenty for Buck, though a LHB-power crew may present problems if his changeup isn’t waking up.
Bryce Elder vs. WSH – Elder is…whatever he is. You ride.
Questionable Starts
Eury Pérez vs. NYM – Pérez gets the Mets, though his command is all kinds of wonky. It feels like an obvious start, and yet, the results haven’t been there.
Logan Henderson vs. LAD – I love Henderson, I hate starting against the Dodgers.
Spencer Arrighetti @ CHC – The Pasta Pirate is more dependent on his own feel than the opponent on a given night. Here’s to hoping he’s got it all cooking.
Nick Martinez @ NYY – It’s the Yankees, who are the perfect goons for the lords of baseball regression.
Noah Cameron vs. SEA – Cameron looked far better last start, commanding like his 2025 self. Even if it were just for one game, this may be the right mix of risk/reward with a start against the Mariners.
Justin Wrobleski @ MIL – I just don’t believe in the fastball/slider. Sorry.
Do Not Starts
Jameson Taillon vs. HOU – Taillon is too risky at this point.
Jeffrey Springs @ SDP – It’s rarely been Sunshine and Rainbows, but for what it’s worth, the Padres are strong against LHB.
Bubba Chandler @ TOR – I can’t endorse Bubba until we see it work out.
Jack Flaherty @ BAL – Flaherty has had one game where he overperformed. That’s it.
Chris Bassitt vs. DET – Bassitt is too blegh these days.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. TEX – I’m waiting for a worthwhile outing before trusting in GrayRod again. The overall stuff was mid last time out.
Kyle Leahy @ CIN – Too rough of a matchup to trust a guy who hasn’t showcased all the elements needed for a breakout.
Chris Paddack vs. STL – He performed well in his debut for the Reds, with the velocity back up to 93 mph, but it’s Cincy, and you can’t trust it yet.
Walker Buehler vs. ATH – Buehler will do everything he can to keep the Athletics off his fastballs, but the ceiling is just so low.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ ARI – It’s away from Coors! MAYBE HE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
Miles Mikolas @ ATL – Oh wow. Nooooope.
Tobias Myers @ MIA – Myers isn’t stretched out and there’s a chance Sean Manaea is the bulk arm if you’re trying to nab a vulture Win. It’s not 100% confirmed, but this is a sneaky play that could work out. Yes, I’m hiding this in the notes to thank y’all who read them. You get one more thing – 25% yearly PL Pro with promo code MEMORIAL25. Just for this weekend.
Saturday 5/23 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Paul Skenes @ TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Zack Wheeler vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace. Probably. Please show me that velocity again and it’s so obviously yours.
Nathan Eovaldi @ LAA – Side? What side? Eovaldi has proven he’s totally healthy.
Freddy Peralta @ MIA – It’s the Marlins.
George Kirby @ KCR – Not an ace, but a wonderful matchup. Hopefully he attacks RHB a little differently with true pitch separation this time.
Probably Starts
Max Meyer vs. NYM – His four-seamer is excellent and this is the best we’ve ever seen him. Arguably top tier.
Ryan Weathers vs. TBR – Weathers is a K-BB% darling, even if the four-seamer is more hittable than we’d like + the changeup isn’t always there.
Framber Valdez @ BAL – Valdez’s slider to LHB is an interesting addition, while the curveball is the true gravitational force affecting Valdez’s pendulum. He goes through waves across seasons and he’s worth the start.
Drew Rasmussen @ NYY – It’s the Yankees and Rasmussen has been allowing more hits than usual across his last few weeks. I expect things to normalize here.
Questionable Starts
J.T. Ginn @ SDP – That was such a brutal end to a no-hit bid. Ginn’s command was unreal in that outing and he’s been in rhythm for a few games. That said, the Padres are far better against RHP than LHP.
Zac Gallen vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and as much as it seems Gallen should be higher, he hasn’t taken advantage of all the great matchups he’s had lately. The approach was much better in his last outing, though.
Walbert Ureña vs. TEX – Ureña’s changeup is steering the ship and I hope he can continue to find enough strikes with his heaters to let it thrive.
Stephen Kolek vs. SEA – Kolek went over six frames last time out and could provide another quality start against the middling Mariners. I hope we see improved breakers in this one.
Do Not Starts
Colin Rea vs. HOU – I nearly put him in the third tier, but Rea’s ceiling isn’t high enough.
Roki Sasaki @ MIL – Nope, I’m not buying that Roki’s 75% strike rate is going to stick for another start, and the forkball/splitter differentiation is not nearly as big as the headlines make it seem. The real impact was his slider command to RHB, and he has to prove its sustainability.
Slade Cecconi @ PHI – I didn’t see enough of a change last start to make this feel like a promising play.
Brady Singer vs. STL – Singer hasn’t been solid for a while. At least you’ll get a long leash…in Cincy.
Adrian Houser vs. CHW – Houser just had his best outing of the year, but the White Sox are a decent offense now…?
Brandon Young vs. DET – Young’s high four-seamer has good vert, but there’s not much else. There’s a shot for 5-6 frames of 2 ER or fewer.
Brayan Bello vs. MIN – Will he have an opener? It’s clearly been helpful for him, but then again, the skills aren’t any different.
Lucas Giolito vs. ATH – He was 90 mph in his season debut for the Padres. That’s terrifying.
Andre Pallante @ CIN – Pallante was much better last time out and if he can get his four-seamer on the inner third to LHB at will, he can deal with RHB via sliders and sinkers. Someone to watch across his tough schedule.
Grant Holmes vs. WSH – REB could get you strikeouts, but there’s not much else here.
Taj Bradley @ BOS – Bradley gets a Still ILL after his incredible April performance. I was skeptical of its sustainability then and I worry it’s the wall we didn’t want him to hit.
Patrick Corbin vs. PIT – We’re not at the place to start Corbin yet.
Kai-Wei Teng @ CHC – He’s stretched out, sure, but think of this as McCullers lite.
Erick Fedde @ SFG – Don’t trust him, obviously.
Jake Irvin @ ATL – Irvin was throwing harder last time out and I’m curious if that sticks. Monitor it, definitely don’t start against Hotlanta.
Michael Lorenzen @ ARI – At least StrongBad is away from Coors.
Robert Gasser vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers + I wasn’t impressed by Gasser’s season debut.
Sunday 5/24 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)
