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: 59-46
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Connor Prielipp vs. CLE (ND): 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BB, 6 K
My Pick today: Jack Perkins (Opener) @ DET
My Pick tomorrow: Brandon Sproat @ PIT
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: 55-50
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Jared Jones vs. ATL (ND): 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 0 BB, 8 K
Thursday 7/9 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Bryce Miller @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Drew Rasmussen vs. NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Jesús Luzardo @ CIN – He’s on an incredible run. I hope the probably HR he allows is just a solo shot.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. LAA – Eovaldi hasn’t gotten the results he’s deserved thus far. Maybe a few more four-seamers will do the trick.
Gavin Williams @ MIN – Williams allowed on three runs on the final pitch of his last outing, cut short by the rain. Don’t let that box score taint your perception.
Probably Starts
Reid Detmers @ TEX – His slider feel is there in a great place to pitch.
Trevor Rogers vs. CHC – Rogers is cookin’ 94/95 mph heaters up and looking like his 2025 self.
Questionable Starts
Logan Henderson @ STL – He’s BACK! It’s a Still ILL, though he tossed 68 pitches in his final rehab start. He could go 75+ across five frames of production.
Michael Wacha @ NYM – The changeup is generally there and there’s an argument for Wacha to be in the next tier. He’s just a Toby.
Jack Perkins (Opener) @ DET – It’s away from Sacré Verde and the Tigers are not as strong as they used to be.
Framber Valdez vs. ATH – Please have your curveball. Please.
Merrill Kelly @ SDP – The command is back to normal against a mediocre offense. A step down from Wacha.
Andre Pallante vs. MIL – He’s been on a solid run, though the skills aren’t anything more than a 15-team Toby.
Sean Manaea vs. KCR – We haven’t seen Manaea take over a game yet and the velocity under 91 mph has me spooked.
Do Not Starts
Brady Singer vs. PHI – He had a nice little run. Maybe he can go six, but the risk is too high.
Anthony Kay vs. BOS – The Red Sox are better against LHP and Kay doesn’t hold a ton of upside.
Ryan Feltner @ SFG – He was able to get whiffs last start – in Coors – and this is in Oracle Park. I’m not saying start him, I’m just recognizing that this is one of the better times to start Feltner.
Bryce Elder @ PIT – Elder no longer has it, and the Pirates love facing RHP.
Mitch Keller vs. ATL – You know this ain’t it.
Janson Junk vs. SEA – He’s back! And I wonder how long he’ll go.
Carson Whisenhunt vs. COL – Ray is pushed to Friday, and Whisenhunt appears in a lovely matchup against Rockie Road. He’s not sitting 95+ mph these days, though, and I’d be very cautious jumping at this.
Griffin Canning vs. ARI – This hasn’t worked for a while. But he was decent with an opener! Sure.
Bailey Ober vs. CLE – He’s returning from the IL in a super obvious Still ILL, even if it’s the Guardians.
Patrick Sandoval @ CHW – It’s a Still ILL for a southpaw who we haven’t seen pitch in ages.
David Peterson @ BAL – Why would you do this to yourself?
Ryan Yarbrough @ TBR – It’s unclear what the Yankees are doing here in Rodón’s spot, and I’d avoid whatever happens, unless it’s clear the Fratty Pirate will get a chance for a vulture Win.
Friday 7/10 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Shohei Ohtani vs. ARI – Aces gonna ace. Hope the bicep/knee is alright.
Braxton Ashcraft vs. MIL – He’s as steady as any non-ace.
Nolan McLean vs. BOS – The Red Sox are a good draw for McLean, and while not being at his peak, he’s still performing better than his nadir.
Sonny Gray @ NYM – The sweeper feel has been there with a string of Sonny days at his back.
Parker Messick @ MIA – It’s the Marlins. I sure wish the four-seamer velocity returns to 95 mph.
Hunter Brown @ TEX – His four-seamer has been off, which is unusual for Hunter. I’d wager it returns to form instead of returning sub-50% strikes once again.
Robbie Ray vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road. Ray has tinkered to find ways to get through games, even if the four-seamer has suddenly dropped to the bottom of the menu. Wait, it’s just a dessert now?
Probably Starts
Sandy Alcantara vs. CLE – He’s been a QS machine and it’s the Guardians. I wonder if the cutter will be a major factor again.
Hunter Greene vs. CHC – Greene’s Still ILL came with a good slider and a horrible 52% strike rate on his four-seamer. That latter mark is highly unlikely to stick around.
Sean Burke vs. ATH – Burke has been cooking and it’s a decent matchup. I regret not pushing him more before his recent stretch.
Shota Imanaga @ CIN – It’s a little shifty with GABP and Imanaga’s HR issues, but I think the skills are still solid.
Nick Martinez vs. SEA – He’s on a roll, even without the highest strikeout rates.
Questionable Starts
Ryan Weathers @ WSH – It’s one of the toughest lineups against LHP + Weathers weird failures.
Jack Flaherty vs. PHI – Flaherty has done better in his last two, though the slider wasn’t keeping its head above water last time around, making me believe he’ll fall back toward his unproductive self.
Luis Castillo @ TBR – He’s had a better slider, though his ceiling is a solid six frames, nothing more.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ LAD – He’s a Vargas Rule, but it’s the Dodgers.
Brandon Young vs. KCR – He returned 23 whiffs, then had a rough outing. It’s the Royals and it’s possible he leans on the favorable side.
Brandon Sproat @ PIT – It’s not a good lineup to face and despite Sproat’s recent improvements, I’m still not seeing the complete arm that demands success here.
Zebby Matthews vs. LAA – We know the HR risks with Zebby, and it’s a coin flip if he’ll get away with his strikes in the zone to return a solid ERA.
Do Not Starts
Aaron Nola @ DET – The velocity is back down and I don’t want to chase to the ceiling when we’ve seen the floor so often.
Kyle Leahy vs. ATL – There’s not enough to chase for me to gamble Leahy against Atlanta.
Luinder Avila @ BAL – Avila has been able to go five productive innings, but that’s not much of a reward when a blow-up start is possible.
Grayson Rodriguez @ MIN – It’s an obvious Still ILL where I just hope we get 96 mph heaters and a strong changeup to support it.
Aaron Civale @ CHW – Civale is outside of Sacré Verde, at least, and he has a longer leash than most waiver wire adds. The skills are highly suspect, though.
Shane Bieber @ SDP – Bieber has looked terrible since his return. Don’t start him until we see it come through, if you’re even rostering him at this point.
Zack Littell vs. NYY – I may be overvaluing the cold Yankee offense, but Littell does little to excite.
JP Sears vs. TOR – Sears just had a Gold Star against the Dodgers, with rare command along the outisde edge to RHB. I do not expect that to return.
Cal Quantrill vs. HOU – He’s the UNQUANTRILLFIABLE. Which means…? You don’t want him.
Tanner Gordon @ SFG – Absolutely not.
Saturday 7/11 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)
