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: 47-36
My Pick yesterday: Win – Brandon Young @ SEA (L): 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BB, 2 K
My Pick today: Javier Assad vs. COL
My Pick tomorrow: Sean Manaea @ PHI
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: 44-39
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Robert Gasser vs. CLE (ND): 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BB, 5 K
Wednesday 6/17 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Shohei Ohtani vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Gavin Williams @ MIL – Williams’ high strike rates are a lovely sight.
George Kirby vs. BAL – Kirby gets a better matchup than those below + I’m putting some weight on his ten strikeout performance, even if it didn’t look incredibly sustainable.
Carlos Rodón vs. CHW – Rodón has yet to showcase feel for all three of his main offerings (four-seamer, changeup, slider), and I’m expecting it to come in time, if not for this outing.
Braxton Ashcraft @ ATH – I still worry about Ashcraft’s fastballs and Sacré Verde is a terrible place to pitch. That said, he’s been consistently helpful to your squads and I don’t see you holding him back.
Nolan McLean @ CIN – This matchup is sure to have many of you terrified. I get it. McLean isn’t pitching at his best and it’s a horrible park. I’m sending him out there, expecting him to feature better sweepers and a supporting cast to ensure his sinker can churn outs.
Probably Starts
Nick Lodolo vs. NYM – Lodolo is looking on top of his game and it’s the Mets. Yes, even in Cincy.
Kyle Bradish @ SEA – Seattle is the #1 park for strikeouts, making Bradish a Probable Start despite shaky performances this year. I’m still optimistic on the long-term outlook.
Shane McClanahan @ LAD – It’s not a fun start at all, especially after some disappointing results as of late. However, McShane’s heater is coming in hot + the changeup is still legit.
Questionable Starts
Javier Assad vs. COL – It’s an easy streaming option for Assad, who has taken advantage of lineups like Rockie Road in the past despite a lack of whiffability.
Sandy Alcantara @ PHI – With three straight 7+ inning outings behind him, it’s hard to resist him now, isn’t it?
Casey Mize @ HOU – Mize is returning from the IL (again) and I’m expecting around 70 pitches with the same slider that has gotten me excited after his last few starts.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. LAA – Erod is a Toby to consider against poor offenses. Hey look! A poor offense!
Peter Lambert vs. DET – He’s a decent Toby, but the Tigers aren’t the easy lineup to take down.
Robbie Ray (Opener) @ ATL – Who. Knows. I REALLY hope we get the slider back on track. If we do, this could be a fantastic outing, though we haven’t seen his heater and slider work in tandem for a long time. Update: He’s going to enter the game in the second to pick up from last night’s suspended game. For those in a QS league, I feel for you.
Do Not Starts
Brandon Sproat vs. CLE – Sproat somehow survived Vegas and with JoRam in the lineup, this could work. I hope the outing granted him the confidence he needed.
Zack Littell vs. KCR – It’s possible he goes Dancing With The Disco and pulls it off. I doubt it.
Griffin Canning @ STL – Canning isn’t doing enough to convince me this is worthwhile.
Jake Bennett vs. TOR – There’s a chance he turns into a SWATCH in time. It’s a wait-and-see.
Andrew Painter vs. MIA – The matchup is great, but Painter’s ability is highly suspect.
Max Scherzer @ BOS – Scherzer faces a poor Boston lineup that struggles to RHP. However, I haven’t seen Scherzer overwhelm a lineup in a while.
Sam Aldegheri @ ARI – Aldegheri doesn’t pack enough punch in the arsenal to trust in this.
Aaron Civale vs. PIT – He’s back! And I have zero interest.
Kyle Leahy vs. SDP – Leahy isn’t doing the things we want him to do.
JR Ritchie vs. SFG – Ritchie is not a starter you should have confidence in.
Anthony Kay @ NYY – It’s the Yankees, even if Kay has looked better as of late.
Carsen Whisenhunt (Opener) @ ATL – It’s a doubleheader today for ATL/SFG, as they pickup in the second inning of last night’s game. Whishenhunt is getting the pearl in the second game as a proper starter and despite thowing harder at the beginning of the year, it’s an obvious wait-and-see + he’ll likely go back to the minors after being the extra man for today’s dual presentation.
Luinder Avila @ WSH – Avila didn’t deserve the atrocity of last Friday, but that doesn’t make him deserve your trust.
Sean Sullivan @ CHC – Is the Colorado starter.
Atlanta Bullpen vs. SFG – Atlanta is planning on using relievers in Game 1 and save Ritchie for Game 2. Yup.
Thursday 6/18 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan @ TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Bryan Woo vs. BAL – Hey Woo. I want to give you the AGA label back, but you have to showcase to everyone that you can limit HRs again.
Probably Starts
Sonny Gray vs. TOR – He’s more often Sonny than Gray.
Parker Messick @ MIL – He’s been a bit shaky lately, and I trust that he’ll figure out the command he’s had for a while.
Ryan Weathers vs. CHW – Weathers’ HR rates are terrifying managers and I want to remind y’all that HR rate is the noisiest of all stats.
Gage Jump vs. LAA – It’s Sacré Verde, but I’m really digging Jump’s high strike rates thus far with a strong four-seamer.
Questionable Starts
Noah Cameron vs. STL – I was bummed watching his last outing and it’s still very possible he gets back to his stellar command in this one.
Landen Roupp @ ATL – It’s not a fun matchup for Roupp, and this may be the verse before the exciting chorus. Don’t quote me on that. Hopefully, it’ll be by the book.
José Soriano @ ATH – Soriano’s control is questionable and Sacré Verde often amplifies the issue.
Sean Manaea @ PHI – I was impressed by Manaea’s four-seamer and sweeper command against Atlanta and it could continue against the Phils.
Shane Baz @ SEA – Baz has been on a bit of a run, though I’m still skeptical there’s anything going on here outside of smoke and mirrors. Maybe the sinker is a difference maker…?
Martín Pérez vs. SFG – Pérez has been shockingly good as a Vargas Rule and the Giants aren’t a lineup to fear.
Matthew Liberatore @ KCR – He’s a 15-team Toby with a lovely matchup.
Shane Drohan vs. CLE – I scrutinized Drohan’s arsenal on Monday and I was left unimpressed for a pitcher still auditioning for an extended starting role in Milwaukee. That said, the Guardians without JoRam.
Trey Yesavage @ BOS – Yesavage’s command has been an atrocity. The good news? So has the Boston lineup against RHP.
Do Not Starts
Aaron Nola vs. NYM – Even against the Mets, Nola cannot be trusted.
Jack Leiter vs. MIN – Leiter is a 15-team HIPSTER.
Sean Burke @ NYY – It’s the Yankees. There is a chance Burke has his full arsenal working here, though I wouldn’t test it.
Friday 6/19 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)
