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: 68-55
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Javier Assad @ STL (ND): 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BB, 6 K
My Pick today: Zebby Matthews @ SEA
My Pick tomorrow: Robert Gasser @ LAA
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: 65-58
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Noah Cameron @ MIN (ND): 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BB, 7 K
Friday 7/31 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Paul Skenes @ CIN – 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.
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.
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.
Andrew Painter @ BAL – The Phillies are calling up Painter and I see it as an audition to showcase to teams he’s capable of pitching in the majors before the trade deadline. Don’t do this.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. KCR – It’s Sugano in Coors. But he has ten wins! Okay, have fun.
Ty Madden (Opener) @ ATH – He’s likely the bulk in this bullpen game for the Tigers. In Sacré Verde. Why not Mize? He was scratched to “preserve him for the trade deadline”, but I believe they want to hide that his velocity fell massively in his last start to 91.9 mph (not 94+ in his previous outing).
Germán Márquez (Opener) vs. SFG – It looks like Márquez is the bulk arm for the Padres tonight. Yay.
Dodgers Bullpen vs. BOS – The Dodgers are going with a bullpen game as they wait to get Skubal at the deadline. Sigh.
Saturday 8/1 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Jacob deGrom @ HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Drew Rasmussen vs. CHW – Aces gonna ace.
Parker Messick vs. ARI – He’s back to 95 mph and we love that.
Cristopher Sánchez @ BAL – Sánchez is still a great arm, just not an ace when he’s allowing as many hits as he is.
Probably Starts
Braxton Ashcraft @ CIN – I hope we see the Golden Brax again. It’s not a good park and he’s had trouble navigating LHB with his breaking pitches. It could be fixed overnight.
Kevin Gausman vs. STL – Gausman is presumably making his last start for the Jays (if not dealt beforehand) and boy do I hope he goes to the Cubs. That defense is MADE for him.
Payton Tolle @ LAD – Tolle is more dependent on his ability to get strikes with his Ras Pack than the opponent.
Max Fried @ CHC – Fried is still stretching out and is coming off a rough outing against the White Sox. Expect 75+ pitches here, which we now can cover six innings given his overall efficiency.
Questionable Starts
José Soriano vs. MIL – Soriano’s results have been much better lately, but the skills are still highly suspect as he struggles to consistently earn strikes.
Zac Thornton vs. MIA – Thornton has been a blessing for many who picked him up once he entered the Mets rotation properly. It’s precarious with a four-seamer/cutter focus that lacks a true whiff pitch to RHB, while the cutter is the sole effective weapon to LHB.
Robert Gasser @ LAA – Gasser took advantage of Rockie Road and assuming nothing disrupts this rotation over the weekend, he’ll get a chance to be a decent stream against a questionable Angels lineup.
Connor Prielipp @ SEA – Prielipp got the Still ILL out of the way and now heads to a favorable park. Please throw more curveballs. And what is up with that sinker to RHB?! I wonder what we get.
Shane Baz vs. PHI – Baz’s curveball feel is better, though I’m still wondering when we’ll see a true #3 pitch step up to the occasion.
Andrew Abbott vs. PIT – Abbott gets a tough draw, hosting the Pirates in Great American Small Park. I do like Abbott’s SWATCH approach, though, and he could pull through like he has so many times.
Tyler Mahle @ SDP – Mahle is not just at 93 mph, but now 94 mph and the Padres aren’t a scary crew.
Jack Perkins vs. DET – It’s unfortunate how often Perkins has to deal with Sacré Verde, and the Tigers pack some thump. Be careful here.
Do Not Starts
Framber Valdez @ ATH – Valdez has struggled massively with his arsenal feel and no better place to get it back than in Sacré Verde, right? Was that sarcastic? Yes. 100% yes.
Quinn Mathews @ TOR – It’s the MLB debut for Mathews after a string of injuries and delays in the minors since making a major impression in 2025 spring training. It’s a PILOT Rule, for starters, and despite the high strikeout numbers recently in the minors (10 Ks in seven frames last start!), I see it more as a product of teams neglecting to use platoon splits as the slider does a good job taking down LHB. I expect teams to serve him many RHB in the majors, which puts more pressure on his four-seamer and changeup combo, which needs a whole lot more work. That said, the team context is beneficial and if the Cardinals are giving him a proper runway through the end of the year, he’s sure to be a solid stream at times, especially if he displays growth while in the big leagues.
David Peterson vs. NYY – Peterson has gotten some interest given more success than failure as a part of the Cubs organization, bringing over his added cut from his latter starts with the Mets. His sinker/four-seamer separation to RHB was immaculate last time out, and if that sticks, it’ll work. His consistency has always been a major question, though, while those great outings have also come with few strikeouts. I’d pass.
Noah Schultz @ TBR – I’m waiting for Schultz to take the next step and find whiffs with his changeup and sweeper consistently, while showcasing he can confidently jam both LHB and RHB frequently during outings. Until then, he’s a deep league stream in hopes that Koufax is on his side.
Walker Buehler vs. SFG – Buehler has had a whole lot more success than expected with the Padres, and yet…you know.
Reynaldo López vs. WSH – ReyLó’s velocity took a major hit last time out and I don’t like facing the Nationals offense.
Ronel Blanco vs. TEX – I dig that Blanco is back to his slider/changeup ways of old. Once he excels with the pair to give us a glimpse of the upside, I’ll consider moving him out of this tier.
Kohl Drake @ CLE – Drake is trying to be an effective SWATCH and the Guardians could be an opponent that unlocks his next gear. I’ll wait to see it first.
Tyler Phillips @ NYM – The last start from Phillips was a glimpse of what could be, though I’m highly skeptical of his ability to pull it off each outing.
Luinder Avila @ COL – It’s Coors and Avila rarely goes deep into games.
Miles Mikolas @ ATL – Mikolas.
Ryan Feltner vs. KCR – Coors.
Sunday 8/2 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)
