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: 23-21
My Pick yesterday: Win – Connor Prielipp @ CLE (L): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
My Pick today: Janson Junk vs. WSH
My Pick tomorrow: Luis Severino @ 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: 26-18
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Connor Prielipp @ CLE (L): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Saturday 5/9 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cam Schlittler @ MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Probably Starts
Braxton Ashcraft @ SFG – Too easy of a start here. Kinda deserves the top tier at this point, though I have more hesitations about his sustainability vs. the proper aces.
Joe Ryan @ CLE – Ryan is apparently okay…? I have to imagine they’ll put him on a pitch count just to be safe.
Aaron Nola vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Nola’s fastball command was excellent against the Marlins.
Landen Roupp vs. PIT – Roupp is grooving, even with the latest hiccup against the Rays. Expect a bounce-back outing in a great matchup.
Edward Cabrera @ TEX – Cabrera won’t be in stupid cold weather and is favoring sinkers over four-seamers. We love that.
Payton Tolle vs. TBR – He’s starting today and he’s two-for-three with getting his heater over the plate. I really hope I can believe he’s a consistent strike thrower.
Clay Holmes @ ARI – We saw a renovation for The Adobe with a major sinkerball emphasis and I’m here for it.
Randy Vásquez vs. STL – Vásquez’s velocity has dropped a bit since his 96 mph heat early in the year, but I’m not scared of a start against the Cardinals.
Michael Wacha vs. DET – We’re seeing a lovely Vargas Rule play out in front of us.
Merrill Kelly vs. NYM – This sure feels like the start where Kelly gets swooped up in your league and isn’t dropped again.
Questionable Starts
Luis Castillo @ CHW – It’s away from Seattle and Castillo hasn’t been the reliable arm you want him to be. But I get it, it’s the CrySox.
Kyle Harrison vs. NYY – Harrison is a fun southpaw, and I wish he didn’t have to endure the Yankees.
Spencer Arrighetti @ CIN – If Arrighetti has his curveball on point, this should be great. The floor is lower with a date in Cincy, though.
Nick Martinez @ BOS – He’s been on a ROLL. However, Fenway is known to disrupt pitchers and I don’t believe this Vargas Rule is meant to last a whole lot longer. Sorry, Nick. Was that to yourself or to Martinez? Yes.
Shane Baz vs. ATH – At least it’s not in Sacré Verde. Baz is a 15-team Toby at this point, with extra benefit in 12-team QS leagues.
Janson Junk vs. WSH – He’s had two starts of four-seamers up, one of breakers for whiffs, and zero where he’s been the stud his stuff suggests. Here’s to this one being the breakout performance.
Tanner Bibee vs. MIN – Got a coin?
Trey Yesavage vs. LAA – Yesavage has had decent results, though the feel for his arsenal is far behind what we saw in the fall.
Jack Kochanowicz @ TOR – Jackie K. is much improved from his 2025 self, but I question the overall command and the Jays pack plenty of thump.
Jack Leiter vs. CHC – He’s the ultimate HIPSTER. A good play for strikeouts if you need it, a bad play to preserve ratios.
Do Not Starts
Blake Snell vs. ATL – It’s a very clear ‘Still ILL” against a tough offense. Remember, it’s not #HotSnellSummer until he actually gets hot.
Spencer Strider @ LAD – This start is simply to see what the shape of his four-seamer actually is after one start in Coors. I have little hope he’ll be the guy you want after sitting 94.6 mph in his premier outing.
Aaron Civale @ BAL – Civale is a 15-teamer “HIPSTER. Good luck.
Ty Madden (Opener) @ KCR – He tossed five beautiful frames in a flash start earlier this week and I didn’t see anything that suggested repeatable success.
Zack Littell @ MIA – Littell ain’t the guy you thought he was.
Dustin May @ SDP – I dig that May is taking steps with his arsenal and finding ways to avoid reliving his traumatic tumbles out of the gate, but until I see whiffs and the ability to put batters away, I’m not considering him against good offenses. The only exception is deep QS leagues.
Anthony Kay vs. SEA – 0 Kay.
Kyle Freeland @ PHI – At least it’s outside of Coors…?
Sunday 5/10 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cristopher Sánchez vs. COL – Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom vs. CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ CHW – He’s not longer an ace, but it’s the CrySox.
Drew Rasmussen @ BOS – I hate that it’s in Fenway, but it’s Rasmussen.
Probably Starts
Davis Martin vs. SEA – He’s been killing it. I see it as a Vargas Rule and not a true breakout, but if this keeps going, does that matter?
Gavin Williams vs. MIN – Say it with me. You’re gonna like it, but you’re not gonna like it.
José Soriano @ TOR – Two starts against the CrySox have created haze on his burst out of camp, and this start against the Jays is a true test.
Taj Bradley @ CLE – Maybe Bradley is the new Professor Chaos? At this point, you can’t bench him.
Luis Severino @ BAL – Sevy is away from Sacré Verde and not facing an elite offense. That’s what we want to see.
Tyler Mahle vs. PIT – I like the current version of Mahle at 92+ mph nd it’s great to see another good matchup.
Questionable Starts
Sandy Alcantara vs. WSH – This sure feels like 2025 all over again, doesn’t it?
Logan Henderson vs. NYY – I’m a huge fan of Henderson now that he has a proper breaking ball to separate from his four-seamer, change, and cutter mix. I’m not a fan of starting non-aces against the Yankees.
Jameson Taillon @ TEX – Taillon is very capable of being a Toby in Arlington. The reward isn’t the highest, though.
Carlos Rodón @ MIL – It’s a Still ILL, but the Brewers make me a little more inclined to give it a shot.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. NYM – He’s a Toby who can take down the Mets, but he carries a lower floor than other options.
Peter Lambert @ CIN – I kinda dig Lambert, though I’m hesitant to trust him in a terrible park. His command has been a little shaky lately, including during the seven shutout frames against the Dodgers, if you can believe it.
Bubba Chandler @ SFG – Maybe this is the start. It won’t be. BUT MAYBE. For what it’s worth, even with six walks, he still went 5 IP and 2 ER last time out. In Oracle Park, he could still produce even if he struggles to locate.
Cade Cavalli @ MIA – We know the upside of 10 strikes, we also know he was fortunate to get there in both starts.
Bryce Elder @ LAD – Elder’s cutter has been a difference maker against LHB this year, while he’s still as hittable as ever against RHB. I’m not sure he can continue to be so effective to LHB for much longer, and this is the Dodgers.
Justin Wrobleski vs. ATL – This is the game of regression for both Wrobleski and Elder, though Wrobo Cop’s success feels a little less sustainable.
Do Not Starts
Andrew Abbott vs. HOU – Two starts of success, albeit against Rockie Road and hosting a struggling Red Sox offense where he got away with plenty. We haven’t seen a strikeout explosion all year and I’m not ready to sign up.
Brayan Bello vs. TBR – I know his last start was solid, but it could easily be a Dennis. This is a play to make when you’re chasing ceiling and don’t care about floor.
Noah Cameron vs. DET – Cameron was pushed back with back tightness and I’m expecting him to be a little off his game, which isn’t great to hear when he’s been a little off his game for most of the year.
Chris Bassitt vs. ATH – He can’t face 80% RHB every game, sadly.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ PHI – Look, Sugano has had some success outside of Coors for those looking for 5 IP of 2 ER or fewer. That’s all I’m gonna say.
Kyle Leahy @ SDP – I’m still waiting for that one game of dominance.
Walker Buehler vs. STL – Buehler ain’t it.
Eric Lauer vs. LAA – Lauer hasn’t been it since his first start of the season.
David Peterson @ ARI – The floor is so terrible with little reason to believe he’ll pitch at his peak.
Brant Hurter @ KCR – This isn’t 2024, sadly. Well, at least for Hurter.
Monday 5/11 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)
