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). UPDATE: We’ve added distinctions for Home/Away park factors and projected strength vL and vR handed pitchers:
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: 78-58
My Pick yesterday: Win – Tyler Mahle vs. NYM (W): 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BB, 7 K
My Pick today: Max Scherzer vs. BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Anthony Kay @ DET
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: 73-63
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – David Peterson @ WSH (W): 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BB, 6 K
Thursday 8/13 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. SEA – He sure feels like he’s on the verge of AGA.
Payton Tolle @ TOR – He’s fresh off 14 strikeouts. How could you sit him?
Parker Messick @ DET – Messick is up to 95 mph again and I love it.
Kevin Gausman @ WSH – Gausman’s new squad is exactly what he needs.
Probably Starts
Cade Cavalli vs. CHC – Cavalli is a new pitcher since the boosted velocity, and I’d be tempted to let him fly against any squad.
Braxton Ashcraft @ MIA – It’s been a bit of a struggle for Ashcraft to dominate with his secondaries as of late, but I expect him to find the high CSW marks again.
Walbert Ureña vs. TEX – It was a no-good, terrible, bad third inning. Let’s not forget everything about him because of it.
Roki Sasaki vs. MIL – The heat is there, and the splitter feel is looking good enough to make this work.
Questionable Starts
Taj Bradley vs. PHI – I wish he weren’t acting like a HIPSTER, but here we are.
Keider Montero vs. CLE – Montero has been a WHIP fiend this year, and hopefully he can continue to do so against the LHB-heavy Guardians. I have a little worry here given that Montero’s best pitch is his slider to RHB.
Andrew Abbott @ CHW – Abbott will do his normal discount SWATCH routine and let’s hope it gets him through six.
Do Not Starts
Max Scherzer vs. BOS – Scherzer has been shockingly decent lately and the Red Sox traditionally dislike RHP. It’s either him or Phillips for the stream, and at the very least, I’d go with the one who has gone longer lately. Don’t do either.
Aaron Nola @ MIN – You never know with Nola. The last outing looked similar to everything we’ve seen this year, and worked in his favor. Maybe it’ll strike again.
Shane Drohan @ LAD – Drohan hasn’t come through lately + it’s the Dodgers.
Tyler Phillips vs. PIT – There is still some intrigue here, but I wouldn’t. You shouldn’t. He gets limited often, too.
Davis Martin vs. CIN – Martin hasn’t been it for a while.
Friday 8/14 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale vs. ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Gavin Williams vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace. This is such an unreal run.
Gerrit Cole @ TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Sandy Alcantara @ CIN – Alcantara continues to go super deep into games, even without the best feel for his arsenal.
Chase Burns vs. MIA – Aces gonna hope he holds onto the label after this one. His velocity has fallen lately with shorter starts.
Probably Starts
Peter Lambert vs. SEA – He’s a reliable Holly.
George Kirby @ HOU – Here’s a good test, with Kirby getting a ton of right-handers in Houston. Will he get the sinker in and the sweeper down-and-away?
Landen Roupp vs. COL – Roupp hasn’t had peak command, yet he’s still feeling his changeup and curve, and Rockie Road gives many a pot of gold.
Questionable Starts
Jackson Jobe vs. CHW – Jobe had an impressive season debut in his Still ILL, but I expect the velocity to come down, making the four-seamer more hittable. It’ll be hard to replicate the stellar locations at the top of the zone again.
Michael King @ CLE – Last start was the best I’ve seen King all year, and LHB could get a serving of changeup.
Anthony Kay @ DET – Kay has quietly given trusting managers a solid ERA for a while.
Brandon Pfaadt @ ATL – It’s a Vargas Rule and he just took down the Dodgers, gotta try it with Atlanta, right?
Jake Bennett @ PIT – Bennett gets a solid matchup, though he’s barely eclipsed 4 strikeouts across the last five weeks.
Gage Jump vs. TEX – I wish it weren’t in Sacré Verde. If Jump is able to find strikes with his slider like he did last time, the four-seamer could propell another strikeout explosion.
Clay Holmes vs. STL – Cubbie faithful were disappointed in Holmes’ debut for Chicago, but it was a Still ILL and The Adobe should get more love from Koufax moving forward.
Do Not Starts
Shane Bieber vs. NYY – Bieber hasn’t found whiffs with his breakers this season and I’m not sure when he’ll get it cooking. At the very least, he’s found the movement on his arsenal from last season, and the precision could unlock against a hot/cold Yankee lineup.
Bubba Chandler vs. BOS – It’s like it’s season 2 of the will-they/won’t-they of a traditional sitcom. Come on Bubba, locate the heater up and in the zone, establish the slider for strikes.
Seth Lugo @ LAA – Lugo isn’t as deft as his former years, but the Angels have struggled against RHB with strong secondaries plenty. The kitchen sink could thrive.
Andrew Alvarez @ NYM – Alvarez just returned a pair of 5+ IP outings, though his pitch count leash hasn’t risen. I worry that his cut-fastball is too hittable, which puts a whole lot of pressure on the breaking pitches. It could be a decent 5/6 strikeout game, but at what cost?
Grayson Rodriguez vs. KCR – Grayson is locating his heater well, and can find some success with the changeup underneath. He did fall to 95 mph last time out, though, and his breakers leave a lot to be desired. I want a cutter dangit.
Robert Stock vs. WSH – Stock was dope, then he was demolished. At least he has a chance with his 96 mph heater and odd 92 mph cutter at a low arm angle that could mess up a wounded Nationals line that is sure to serve plenty of LHB.
Kumar Rocker @ ATH – Rocker gets a tough draw in Sacré Verde and his horizontal run on the sinker isn’t doing enough, nor is he locating it inside consistently.
Chris Bassitt @ TBR – Bassitt makes his return to the Orioles rotation after a long IL stint. It’s a clear avoid as the quality is in heavy question, let alone the capped volume.
Robert Gasser @ LAD – Gasser has come through at times, but against far weaker squads. The floor is super low here.
Matthew Liberatore @ CHC – If Libby can find a ton of strikes with his secondaries to RHB, his heater has a chance to miss bats upstairs. That’s the best I’ve got, as he pitches away from pitcher-friendly Busch and has to deal with the Cubs.
Jesse Scholtens vs. BAL – I’m not sure how long the Rays will let Scholtens go, but there is an outside chance his sinker can induce enough outs for five decent frames. I heavily suggest avoiding this.
Kyle Freeland @ SFG – Even outside Coors and in the lovely gift of Oracle Park, you cannot do this.
Saturday 8/15 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)
