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: 70-56
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Kumar Rocker @ HOU (ND): 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 10 Hits, 2 BB, 5 K
My Pick today: Brandon Pfaadt vs. SDP
My Pick tomorrow: Sean Manaea @ CLE
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: 68-58
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Robert Stock vs. MIA (L): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BB, 4 K
Monday 8/3 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Cam Schlittler vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ TEX – He’s doing Webb things and gets a good matchup.
Probably Starts
Justin Wrobleski @ CHC – Wrobo cop just allowed four HRs. Not again on my watch. I sure hope the wind is blowing in.
Michael King @ ARI – King is still missing that extra gear where he can manipulate at least three of his pitches around the zone effectively, but at least it’s the Giants. Update: Pushed to Monday from Sunday.
Questionable Starts
Brandon Pfaadt vs. SDP – Pfaadt’s command is improved, though I’m not seeing a major stuff boost, nor an incredible approach to get me amped more than a streaming option.
Ian Seymour @ COL – Seymour heads to Coors. Not fun at all, but he’ll have an opener and he could be just fine.
Matthew Boyd vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers. Again, not a great time.
Cristian Javier vs. TOR – Javier is stepping in for Imai after he covered him last outing for five shutout frames and displayed a new cutter that could be a difference maker. This might be a major pickup.
Michael McGreevy @ NYY – With Dustin May on the trading block, McGreevy goes on Monday. He’s not going to get you strikeouts, but the Yankee offense is cold and he could go six strong.
Do Not Starts
Bubba Chandler @ MIL – Bubba has a new, tighter slider, but hasn’t figured out how to make it all work yet. Sigh.
Brandon Sproat vs. PIT – He’s had a rough go of it lately, even if he finally went six innings again last time out. It was mostly just four-seamers brute-forcing through the game and I don’t trust that to work against the Pirates.
Cal Quantrill vs. SFG – Quantrill has been okay…? And it’s a weak Giants offense in a great home park.
Shane Bieber @ HOU – I doubt Bieber is pitching here with the Trade Deadline arriving before any games are played, and it’s not like you want to chance it with Bieber returning six walks in 0.2 IP last game.
Aaron Nola vs. WSH – Nola just isn’t that guy anymore.
Andrew Alvarez @ PHI – He isn’t trusted to gove five frames. I’m not interested at all.
Michael Lorenzen vs. TBR – In Coors. As if that really changes anything for Lorenzen.
Tuesday 8/4 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tarik Skubal @ CHC – Aces gonna ace. This is the worst timeline.
Joe Ryan @ KCR – Aces gonna ace. His velocity came back to 93 mph last time out, but is he going to still be on the Twins?
Jesús Luzardo vs. WSH – Aces gonna prove that last start was a jinx I put on him and he still deserves the coveted label.
Logan Henderson vs. PIT – Henderson gets a tough draw. He’s also been incredible.
Probably Starts
Trevor Rogers vs. LAA – Wherever Rogers is pitching tomorrow, sign me up. His last outing was a step back without the same command and 93 mph instead of 94, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back.
Joey Cantillo vs. NYM – You know the drill. We like this new version of Cantillo.
Bryce Miller vs. DET – He’s back in his home park and I want to see a legit start from Miller again before pushing him back into the top tier.
Ryan Weathers vs. STL – Weathers is cruising.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. SDP – Erod is on one beautiful Vargas Rule.
Jared Jones @ MIL – I’m still waiting for Jones to give us one of his absurd whiff games with high heaters and low sliders.
Reid Detmers @ BAL – Detmers could be dealt before this one – José Soriano left to Toronto this morning, after all – and I’ll go where his slider goes.
Robbie Ray @ TEX – Ray is unlikely to remain a Giant by the end of today. I’m excited to see if his new squad can figure out the right approach for the veteran. At the very least, don’t expect something new in his debut outing in a new uniform.
Trey Yesavage @ HOU – He doesn’t know where it’s going and that’s worked out for him more times than not.
Questionable Starts
MacKenzie Gore vs. SFG – I truly hope Gore gets dealt at the deadline. He has the stuff, but he hasn’t squeezed enough out of it. If not, he gets the Giants in his lovely home park and that can work out well.
Sean Manaea @ CLE – Manaea gets a lowly Guardians lineup and even if I’m skeptical that his four-seamer should perform the way it has, it’s not a bad gamble here.
Casey Mize @ SEA – I don’t expect Mize to be on the Tigers for this one, but let’s say the hold him and he gets this start @TEA. I’d normally have him in the second tier, but I’m terrified about his huge velocity drop last start. I believe it was a reason he was scratched last Friday, masked as “saving him for trades.”
Brady Singer vs. ATH – Singer has been executing his sinker/slider approach of old, with a few extra cutters. If he sticks around past the deadline, this could work against a hampered Athletics crew.
Dustin May @ NYY – The Yankees are weaker than usual and I’d be inclined to go for it, but it’s the trade deadline tomorrow and the Cardinals could be dealing Dustin away. All games are after the deadline, so if he starts, I think you’re good to go.
Randy Dobnak vs. MIN – He just made it work against the Twins, why not twice? Because they were adjusting better to his sinker/change combo in the latter frames. Yeaaaah, this isn’t the highest chance of success, but who knows.
Do Not Starts
Davis Martin @ BOS – Martin hasn’t come through for a while, even if this is a lineup that hates RHP.
Freddy Peralta @ COL – Peralta is debuting with his new Rays squad and we shouldn’t see any shifts to his approach out of the gate. Throw in Coors, and I think it’s best just to wait one more.
Zack Littell @ PHI – Littell has had some success by Dancing With The Disco via splitters and sliders, but it’s just so meh.
J.T. Ginn @ CIN – I’m not a fan of what Ginn has given us lately + it’s a terrible park to pitch in.
Hayden Wesneski vs. TOR – I wonder what we’ll see from Wesneski during his runway in the rotation the rest of the year. I didn’t see a whole lot to get excited about last time, sadly.
Patrick Sandoval vs. CHW – The Irish Panda has earned whiffs with his slider and changeup in his return from TJS (far from 32 whiffs, of course), and I’m not confident his fastballs can avoid damage routinely. I also wonder how much see of him moving forward (including this start) as the Red Sox could add another starter before Tuesday.
Gabriel Hughes vs. TBR – I have a soft spot for Hughes and his cut-fastball. We’ve seen him have a strong outing in Coors against the Nationals, but the floor is lower than those above.
Javier Assad vs. LAD – We’ve seen Assad survive five for a Win in the past, but it’s the Dodgers. In addition, they could acquire another arm and push him out of the rotation, including this start.
Grant Holmes vs. MIA – Despite holding a sub 4.00 ERA this year (HOW?!), that WHIP hurts oh so much, and the strikeouts aren’t there.
JP Sears @ ARI – If Sears can nail the outside edge with changeups and cutters, great! He hasn’t done it a whole lot, though, and I wonder if the Padres will let him go long, let alone start him if they make moves on Monday.
Ryan Gusto @ ATL – He doesn’t have the sauce. I hope he finds it soon.
Wednesday 8/5 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)
