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: 87-62
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Adrian Houser vs. CIN (ND): 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 0 BB, 2 K
My Pick today: Will Dion (Opener) vs. COL
My Pick tomorrow: Sean Manaea vs. MIL
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: 78-71
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Matthew Liberatore vs. BAL (L): 4.0 IP, 8 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BB, 7 K
Wednesday 8/26 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jesús Luzardo @ SEA – Aces gonna ace.
Troy Melton vs. TBR – He’s a solid Holly, even if the whiffs aren’t here.
Sonny Gray @ MIA – He was Gray last time out, but it’s Miami where it’s constantly Sonny.
Sean Burke vs. TEX – Burke has had a weird stretch lately and I understand anyone’s caution. He returned 15 whiffs last start with a much better set of breakers, giving me hope for a return to form.
Bryan Woo vs. PHI – Woo was cleared to start after giving us a scare that his sore shoulder would hold him out for an extended period of time.
Probably Starts
Joey Cantillo @ LAA – You held onto Cantillo through Coors to take advantage of this start against the Angels.
Peter Lambert @ NYY – Lambert just had a blowup outing. He deserves a pass after his dominance + there was a whole lot of misfortune that shouldn’t stick through a night in the Bronx.
Dustin May @ NYM – Speaking of poor luck, Koufax is sure to be kinder this time around.
Kyle Bradish @ STL – I know many of you want to bench Bradish. Go ahead if you’d like. Personally, I see a great matchup in Busch Stadium, and I will continue to expect at least one of the curveball and slider to come through.
MacKenzie Gore @ CHW – Gore is nailing the top of the zone with heaters + getting a feel for his changeup down-and-away. Let it ride.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. CHC – This Vargas Rule is still cooking.
Nick Lodolo @ SFG – I’d have Lodolo in the third tier if not for an ideal matchup in Oracle Park. The upside is still there.
Questionable Starts
Roki Sasaki @ ATL – He’s a HIPSTER who has a different approach each start. Atlanta has been weaker since the start of the month, though I’m not sold it’ll be like that forever.
Matthew Boyd @ ARI – Boyd is allowing all the HRs again, without the whiffs that made it digestible.
Landen Roupp vs. CIN – I’ve expected better from Roupp for a while now, is this the one where he makes good on his command? Fortunately, it’s in Oracle Park.
J.T. Ginn vs. MIN – Ginn has been a Vargas Rule for some. I’m not doing it, but I get it if you are. It’s still Sacré Verde, you know.
Bubba Chandler @ SDP – I’m amazed that Chandler threw even harder last start and still didn’t have a great outing. If he could just execute the BSB, then he’d be great.
Do Not Starts
Michael McGreevy vs. BAL – McGreevy has had some surprisingly good starts n all and sure, it’s his home park. It’s just so meh.
Will Dion (Opener) vs. COL – I have a soft spot for Dion, who Crumpler comped to the left-handed version of Alan Rangel. That’s not appealing. Yeah, yeah, Dion has an opener against Rockie Road, alright? There could be a cheap dub here.
Connor Prielipp @ ATH – It’s Sacré Verde for a pitcher trying to get a wrangle on his high-stuff arsenal.
Randy Dobnak @ TOR – Dobnak is gonna hyuck some sinkers, some changeups, and some sweepers for about 80 pitches. It can turn into five innings of decency.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. CLE – On one hand, GrayRod’s mix is four-seamer/change, which plays into the Guardians’ extreme LHB-platooning. On the other, his breakers need a lot of work and the fast/slow combo isn’t the greatest.
Freddy Peralta @ DET – This hasn’t worked yet. Why start now?
Elmer Rodríguez vs. HOU – With Weathers injured, Elmer returns. He’s failed thus far to prove himself as an arm to go deep into games, but maybe it’ll be different with the benefit of a RHB-heavy lineup.
Robert Stock vs. MIL – The hope for Stock is five frames of meh with a much worse floor. I imagine the Brewers will see him go fastball + cutter and rub their chins. Hmmmm, let’s talk in November.
Randy Vásquez vs. PIT – Is this too low? It’s possible with Vásquez’s increased success since the break and the Pirates’ offense, but the strikeouts are few are far between + the floor is rough.
Spencer Miles vs. KCR – Pitchers are dropping like flies, with Shane Bieber heading to the IL with a shoulder injury. Miles will get the pearl and I’m not sure how long they’ll let him go.
Ryan Gusto vs. BOS – He’s not allowed to go deep into games and the stuff hasn’t returned the outcomes we want.
AJ Smith-Shawver vs. LAD – AJSS is leaning on having an elite splitter, and even that might not be enough, especially against the Dodgers. The 95 mph fastball is rough.
Tanner Gordon @ WSH – It’s the Colorado pitcher.
Thursday 8/27 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob Misiorowski @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Chris Sale vs. LAD – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ ATL – Aces gonna ace.
Trevor Rogers @ STL – He rebounded from his off day across four frames and gets a great pitcher’s park.
Logan Webb vs. ARI – It was strange seeing him without a good changeup last game. It should return.
Probably Starts
Noah Cameron @ TOR – I’m a little worried about Cameron after he sat 92 mph last time out with more reliance on Koufax to produce. I’m not ready to call it quits after one game, though.
Sean Manaea vs. MIL – Manaea’s fastball is still at 93 mph and as long as he keeps throwing it for strikes, this should work.
Questionable Starts
Hayden Wesneski @ NYY – He’s a decent arm, who will have to adapt against a LHB-heavy crew. It’s unfortunate, as his best skill is the sweeper/sinker combo to RHB.
Do Not Starts
Jake Irvin vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road…? At least he’s throwing harder.
Kohl Drake @ SFG – Drake hasn’t proven to be a Toby yet, even in Oracle Park.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. KCR – The velocity isn’t jumping up and he’s still too four-seamer/curve reliant.
Gabriel Hughes @ WSH – Oh hey, it’s Washington again! Maybe the great command he had a month ago returns. Super unlikely, of course.
Cooper Hjerpe vs. BAL – If they are calling Hjerpe up, it’ll be a PILOT Rule for a pitcher I don’t see as having a big immediate impact.
Friday 8/28 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)
