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: 87-63
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Will Dion (Opener) vs. COL (L): 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BB, 3 K
My Pick today: Hayden Wesneski @ NYY
My Pick tomorrow: Andrew Painter @ 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: 78-72
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Connor Prielipp @ ATH (ND): 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 5 K
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.
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
Landen Roupp vs. ARI – While I believe his skillset is better than the results we’ve seen, I also hesitate to endorse him until he can correct his ways. You’re talking about his command, right? Mostly.
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.
Jose Cabrera @ SFG – He’s back! If he’s able to throw strikes consistently again, there is a sneaky chance at success here. No idea if that will happen.
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
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal @ DET – Aces gonna ace.
Cam Schlittler vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease vs. SEA – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Henderson vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Eury Pérez @ WSH – It’s the Nationals. Please throw strikes, Eury. K thx.
Reid Detmers vs. PHI – Detmers may not have the skills to make me excited for 2027, but we’re rolling with him throughout this heater of a season.
Probably Starts
Andrew Painter @ LAA – Painter is a new man, even if it’s only been two starts. The four-seamer has made a massive jump in quality, the breakers are dotted, and the new changeup is a legit weapon to LHB.
Jacob Lopez vs. BAL – You know the drill by now. As long as Lopez has his peak approach, we start him. Yes, it could end suddenly, as with many others.
Jared Jones @ STL – I’ve seen many managers upset Jones’ production this season, but he’s been highly productive on the whole and gets a great matchup here.
Emerson Hancock @ TOR – Despite all the doom and gloom I’ve preached with Hancock, he’s found outs consistently and continued to help fantasy squads.
Michael Wacha @ CLE – The Guardians are about to get all the changeups.
Shane McClanahan vs. SDP – McShane is stretched out more, though his overall arsenal feel is not as sharp as it was earlier in the season. I’m a little worried about this and understand being conservative in some situations.
Hunter Brown @ NYM – Hey Hunter. Buddy. Can you please figure out your four-seamer? His floor has been high enough to justify starting him, and I’m hoping the ceiling of old is still within reach.
Christian Scott vs. HOU – Scott had a rough inning or two last game and now facing a ton of RHB, I hope he can nail the sweeper away (and where is that 90/91 mph pitch?!).
Quinn Mathews vs. PIT – Wait, PROBABLY?! He got SMOKED last time out! And his arsenal is much better than that box score + he gets the Pirates this time around in his home park. I’m game.
Questionable Starts
Dean Kremer vs. CHW – Kremer’s cutter and splitter are good enough that I can see him going six decent frames here…or reproducing the constant mediocrity that pains us. Flip a coin.
Cody Bradford @ MIL – He was a SWATCH before it was cool at 90 mph and seven feet of extension. It’s a small margin of error.
Tanner Bibee vs. KCR – Whatever, Bibee. Change your arm angle again, feature sinkers or cutters or changeups, I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GONNA DO.
Casey Mize @ TBR – Mize slipped on the dugout steps and hurt his ankle after his last outing, which wasn’t going well in the slightest before the absurd baseball-only injury. He’s been cleared to start, but I’d hold back in many cases given the lower velocity and possible pitch count limitations.
David Peterson vs. CIN – We just saw 17 whiffs from Peterson. IT’S IN THERE.
Do Not Starts
Jackson Kent vs. MIA – For a guy who hasn’t performed well thus far, I feel like I’m being super favorable toward Kent. I think he’s super close to being fantasy relevant as a SWATCH with an excellent approach right outside the zone with decent velocity and elite extension.
Grant Holmes vs. COL – Even with his recent success and a date with Rockie Road, I’m out. He’ll see a ton of LHB, which will weaken his slider-heavy attack.
Luis Castillo @ MIN – Castillo can’t be trusted. This is a dire QS play.
Blade Tidwell vs. ARI – I don’t think Tidwell has enough in the tank to consistently find six frames, let alone five of quality.
Brandon Young @ ATH – Young has a fun fastball and the secondaries lag behind. Throw in Sacré Verde and I’m out.
Rhett Lowder @ CHC – Lowder’s slider and changeup open the door for a quiet 5/6 innings on a given day. That ceiling is too low to justify to terrible floor.
Kohl Drake @ SFG – Drake hasn’t proven to be a Toby yet, even in Oracle Park.
Patrick Sandoval @ NYY – The Irish Panda is a WHIP killer. If you need 5+ strikeouts, this is a decent option, but that’s all I’d consider him for.
Tomoyuki Sugano @ ATL – Sugano has been stuck on 12 Wins for a while. COME ON FELLA, YOU GOT THIS.
Drew Anderson vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers and I’m still waiting for Anderson to show us he can consistently take down batters with his split-change.
Saturday 8/29 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)
