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: 65-54
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Luinder Avila @ DET (ND): 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BB, 2 K
My Pick today: Brandon Sproat @ SFG
My Pick tomorrow: Colin Rea @ STL
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: 61-58
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Carson Whisenhunt vs. LAA (L): 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BB, 7 K
Monday 7/27 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Zack Wheeler @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby @ TEX – You know the right approach. Please do it.
Kyle Bradish @ DET – The breakers are working. You’re starting him.
Max Fried @ CHW – He was excellent in his Still ILL, but limited to sub 70 pitches. I wonder how long they’ll let him fly here, and if the velocity will feature the same boost.
Probably Starts
Payton Tolle @ ATH – It’s a poor matchup for Tolle in a terrible park.
Walbert Ureña vs. HOU – He’s been absurdly solid in his rookie year.
Questionable Starts
Brandon Sproat @ SFG – It’s a great place to pitch, even if Sproat wasn’t his best self last time out.
Keider Montero vs. BAL – I want to give massive props to Montero. He’s been quietly great this year. I don’t buy it, but I respect it.
Zac Thornton vs. ATL – I’m not a big believer in Thornton and it’s Atlanta, but there’s a chance he goes six innings on the back of cutter and four-seamer command to jam RHB.
Tatsuya Imai @ LAA – Who knows what we’ll get. At least he’s throwing more than two pitches now.
Do Not Starts
Kumar Rocker vs. SEA – It’s just such a meh approach.
Tyler Mahle vs. MIL – I hope he can go six frames again and I’m glad he’s at 93+ mph with a home start. A decent deep league play.
Jack Perkins vs. BOS – It’s in Sacré Verde.
Mitch Keller vs. ARI – He just took down the Yankees, why not the Sneks? Because he’s rarely good. Oh. Right.
Merrill Kelly @ PIT – It’s against an offense that excels against RHP.
Slade Cecconi @ CIN – Great American Small Park? No thanks. Keep throwing those 88/89 mph cutters though.
Martín Pérez @ NYM – This is a deep league Toby, chasing a cheap Win.
Matthew Liberatore vs. CHC – Libby hasn’t worked out much at all this year.
Noah Schultz vs. NYY – I see potential for the second half, or really in August. This matchup ain’t it.
David Peterson @ STL – As much as I really don’t trust Peterson, it’s possible the Cubs defense allows for more 5/6 innings of decent outings than before. The terrible floor is very much still present, though.
Tyler Phillips vs. PHI – Phillips gives us glimpses of what could be. That’s all.
Andrew Alvarez vs. TOR – He’s pitched five full innings once and never six full.
Max Scherzer @ WSH – He’s back! In a very clear Still ILL.
Tuesday 7/28 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Henderson @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole @ CHW – Is it time for Coronation Day?
Griffin Jax vs. TEX – He’s allowed to go six frames!
Gavin Williams @ CIN – Gavin just gave us a GORGEOUS outing and boy do I hope he’s unlocked his final gear.
Troy Melton vs. BAL – Melton has been peak. I’m not sure the strikeouts will fully be there, but he’s using his full arsenal well.
Probably Starts
Reid Detmers vs. HOU – Detmers’ slider is in a good place at the moment and that’s all you really need to know.
Justin Wrobleski vs. SEA – Wrobo Cop fell down under 94 mph after sporting 95+, but I’d still feel confident in this matchup. Here’s to hoping he retains some of it.
Landen Roupp vs. MIL – Roupp’s ability to locate is well quoted at this point.
Cade Cavalli vs. TOR – Cavalli’s velocity uptick is holding and he’s introducing more cutters. I was out on Cavalli initially, but he’s a different arm now.
Michael King vs. COL – I’ve been iffy on King for a little bit, but it’s Rockie Road. Hopefully it gets him back in the groove we love.
Sandy Alcantara vs. PHI – Alcantara is going deeper into games and the Phillies have been overrun by many.
Peter Lambert @ LAA – Lambert has been a strong Toby for a while, pushing Holly territory if he can come close to those ten strikeout games regularly.
Taj Bradley vs. KCR – Bradley was hitting 100 mph last game and now gets the Royals. Just throw strikes. Please.
Questionable Starts
Jake Bennett @ ATH – I like Bennett and also think he was overperforming a touch + it’s Sacré Verde.
Colin Rea @ STL – Rea heads into lovely Busch Stadium and has been a good streaming option when dealt a generous matchup.
Gage Jump vs. BOS – The Red Sox are good against southpaws and it’s his home park of Sacré Verde.
Shane Bieber @ WSH – Bieber has given us hope lately, returning to his 2025 movement on his secondaries. The feel for them is still returning, though, and the Nationals are a difficult lineup to silence.
Brady Singer vs. CLE – Singer has returned to his old sinker/slider tricks and faces a questionable lineup.
Bubba Chandler vs. ARI – Is it time? Like TRULY time? Did he and Jared have a conversation and both figure it out together at the same time?
Dean Kremer @ DET – Kremer’s cutter command is there and the Tigers aren’t scary.
Do Not Starts
Christian Scott vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta and Scott hasn’t quite put it all together yet.
Seth Lugo @ MIN – Lugo has a chance for six innings, but the floor is too low and the ceiling is meh.
Hunter Dobbins vs. CHC – Dobbins could have fun with his sweeper to LHB again, but the matchup ain’t worth it.
Brandon Pfaadt @ PIT – I kinda dig Pfaadt’s command and approach these days. Not enough to start him against the Pirates.
Aaron Nola @ MIA – Nola just isn’t the guy he used to be, even when he does a good job commanding his arsenal.
Luis Castillo @ LAD – This may be the last time we see Castillo on the Mariners and leaving Seattle to face the Dodgers is rough.
Anthony Kay vs. NYY – The Yankees roll over at times against southpaws, but I still wouldn’t risk it with the low ceiling Kay brings to the table. If he can jams both sides of the plate effectively, he could survive.
Bailey Ober vs. KCR – He’s under 87 mph now. UNDER.
Cal Quantrill @ TBR – I wonder how long they’ll let him go or if he’ll have an opener. Either way, no thank you.
Michael Lorenzen @ SDP – You know better.
Wednesday 7/29 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)
