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: 68-54
My Pick yesterday: Win – Dustin May vs. CHC (ND): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BB, 3 K
My Pick today: Javier Assad @ STL
My Pick tomorrow: Zebby Matthews @ SEA
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: 64-58
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Dustin May vs. CHC (ND): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BB, 3 K
Thursday 7/30 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Nolan McLean vs. MIA – This could be Coronation Day for McLean.
Eury Pérez @ NYM – Pérez suddenly featured sinkers last start and I hope that goes away.
Shane McClanahan vs. TEX – McShane hasn’t had his fastball command but you’re not benching him.
Probably Starts
Sean Burke vs. NYY – He’s on too good of a run with his four-seamer to bench him, even against the Yankees.
Ryan Weathers @ CHW – Weathers upped the velocity and is making good on his stellar K-BB%.
Roki Sasaki vs. SEA – We’re still seeing a few triple-digit heaters as he continues to tinker with each start. Hopefully the splitter is just as good as we saw last game.
Questionable Starts
Bryan Woo @ LAD – He’s away from @TEA and if I were truly a believer of his home/road splits, I’d have him in the Do Not Start tier. I am putting a little credence into it by placing him here.
Sonny Gray @ ATH – He’s on a downturn and heads to Sacré Verde.
Robbie Ray @ SDP – At least Ray is now throwing more four-seamers than sinkers once again. Next step: effective sliders to RHB.
Javier Assad @ STL – Assad is like Rea. He can find a Win in a good place to pitch.
Do Not Starts
Noah Cameron @ MIN – We’ve seen some great strikeout performances among some terrible floors. He’s a 15-team HIPSTER.
Andre Pallante vs. CHC – When Pallante avoids damage to LHB with his four-seamer, he can come through. I don’t like the idea of forcing him to deal with the Cubs.
Randy Vásquez (Opener) vs. SFG – Looks like Germán Márquez is opening with Vásquez following, moving Sears to tomorrow’s outing.
Bailey Ober vs. KCR – Ober is under 87 mph.
Rhett Lowder vs. PIT – Lowder is meh against weak opponents, let alone one of the best offenses against RHP.
Grant Holmes vs. WSH – I don’t buy what the REB is selling.
Hunter Barco (Opener) @ CIN – Barco is getting an opener and he has good enough control that it’s possible he steals a Win.
Jake Irvin @ ATL – He’s back! In a Still ILL against Atlanta. Rough. He was showcasing increased velocity before the injury and I wonder if that sticks.
Mason Barnett vs. BOS – He was stretched out to 50+ pitches last outing and even if he gets a little longer of a leash, the skills aren’t enough for me to be interested.
Marco Gonzales (Opener) @ TBR – The Rangers pushed Eovaldi back a day to cover for Jordan Montgomery’s delayed return, and veteran Gonzales is in the clubhouse and may be the follower. No thanks.
Friday 7/31 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Paul Skenes @ CIN – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Hunter Greene vs. PIT – Alright Greene, do the thing and do it well.
Nathan Eovaldi @ HOU – Eovaldi looked like that dude again last time out and the Astros aren’t scary. Just pitch around Yordan.
Probably Starts
Foster Griffin @ ATL – Griffin hasn’t found the strikeouts as of late, but the ratios have been phenomenal.
Hunter Brown vs. TEX – His velocity and strike rate returned, but the vert is missing on his four-seamer. He’s not him until that pitch dominates again.
Bryce Miller vs. MIN – It’s @TEA against a mid offense. He doesn’t need to be his peak self to make this work.
Shane Drohan @ LAA – Drohan has added velocity at the cost of a touch of movement and I’m a fan of the trade. I wonder if the changeup will return.
Nick Martinez vs. CHW – The Vargas Rule continues onward.
Shota Imanaga vs. NYY – Imanaga’s velocity has dropped in each of his last two starts and it’s the Yankees in HR-friendly Wrigley. It makes for a good case for the next tier and yet, I want to ride this out. He did succeed last time despite 90/91 mph velocity after all. Alright, you’re nervous, just bench him.
Questionable Starts
Tanner Bibee vs. ARI – Bibee added plenty of horizontal movement to his sinker and breakers and I’m awfully curious if it’s legit moving forward.
Brandon Young vs. PHI – I watch Young and see his four-seamer/splitter combo work but it just doesn’t add up to me. Sometimes you just gotta listen to the results and go with it.
Freddy Peralta vs. MIA – This is your last chance to prove you have trade value before the deadline. For all Mets fans out there who have been through so much for the last 40 seasons, please.
Will Warren @ CHC – I’m not seeing prime Warren here and it’s not a good time pitching in Wrigley. This may be his last start of the season if the Yankees acquire someone at the deadline.
Ranger Suarez @ LAD – Suarez nailed down his approach to LHB, but not to RHB in his Still ILL. He’s still limited and it’s the Dodgers, but we all know he’s capable fo going five strong.
Zebby Matthews @ SEA – I’ve been off the Zebby train, but he did add 1-2 ticks of velocity last game and it’s @TEA. I’m just saying there’s a better chance than usual that he’s worthwhile.
Carson Whisenhunt @ SDP – Whisenhunt went ultra BSB with heaters and changeups, boasting 15/33 whiffs on the slowball last time out. He needs a third option or a more effective fastball for strikes to complete the approach for long-term success, but against the Padres, it may be enough.
Do Not Starts
Kyle Leahy @ TOR – I know he just fanned nine and if that’s what you want to chase, by all Johns means. Personally, I don’t see him executing effectively across his outings and expect a much more pedestrian outing.
JP Sears vs. SFG – Sears could live away from the Giants hitters with changeups, fastballs, and sweepers. The ceiling is too low for my tastes, though.
Michael Wacha @ COL – It’s Coors. Sorry Wacha.
Janson Junk @ NYM – Junk simply isn’t getting whiffs despite his stuff and I’ll wait until he gives a ceiling to jump for.
Ryan Johnson vs. MIL – You just saw the floor for Johnson. That’s more common than the solid stretch.
Casey Mize @ ATH – Mize was laboring in his last start and featuring a huge drop in velocity + it’s Sacré Verde. I’m scared.
Bryce Elder vs. WSH – Elder has a good approach to LHB last outing and it sure felt like a Dennis. Forget about the first half, y’all. It’s gone.
Erick Fedde @ TBR – Fedde should be throwing more of his harder cutter. I doubt he will and even if he does, it doesn’t mean this will go well.
Jeffrey Springs vs. DET – It hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows much at all for Springs this year.
Mitch Bratt @ CLE – Even against the Guardians, I have no interest in Bratt.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. KCR – It’s Sugano in Coors. But he has ten wins! Okay, have fun.
Brian Keller @ BAL – Keller is not a guy you should lean into. It’s possible the Phillies trade for a starter before this game, but otherwise, consider it his last one for a while.
Saturday 8/1 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)
