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: 89-64
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Cristian Javier (Opener) @ NYM (L): 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BB, 4 K
My Pick today: Zac Thornton vs. HOU
My Pick tomorrow: Jackson Jobe @ MIN
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: 80-73
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Mitch Bratt @ SFG (L): 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BB, 2 K
Sunday 8/30 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Drew Rasmussen vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Parker Messick vs. KCR – The sturdiest Holly of them all.
Chase Burns @ CHC – Aces gonna try to hold onto the tag. Just get that four-seamer up and throw the breaker for strikes, dangit. Are you talking to Jones? No, this is–Chandler? NO, this is—Klassen? Burke? WILL YOU STOP.
Zack Wheeler @ LAA – The former ace has been way off lately and I really hope he’s okay. If the Phillies are starting him without a hitch, then so do we.
Tyler Glasnow @ DET – It’s the second start for Glasnow and I was thrilled to see him land sliders for strikes last game – with a little extra vert to make it more like a cutter. I’m all for that. Just be a strike pitch, not the putaway curve.
Shota Imanaga vs. CIN – Imanaga fell down to 90.5 mph last game in Seattle after giving us plenty of reasons to trust him the start prior. I’m still going for it, but I understand if you’re concerned.
Braxton Ashcraft @ STL – Ashcraft has gone deeper into game, though I still question if his breaking pitches are at the level they need to be to cruise through the end of the season.
Probably Starts
Dustin May vs. TEX – He was removed after his first pitch became a comebacker that struck him square in the back. He should be super fresh now, assuming that soreness didn’t linger.
Tyler Mahle vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road for a pitcher on a heater.
Robbie Ray @ TBR – Ray is still tinkering and yet has a sub 2.00 ERA across roughly two months. But the WHIP and strikeouts…Yeah, I know. He’ll get there. Few sinkers to RHB last game!
Ranger Suarez @ NYY – I’m not sold that Suarez is at his peak right now, and it’s a bit risky chasing this one. I was tempted to push him down into Questionable, though I’m banking on the rivalry and playoff implications to bring out the best in him.
Questionable Starts
Zac Thornton vs. HOU – I’m not a fan for the long term, but Thornton has done an exceptional job locating his cutter and four-seamer to RHB for weak contact, and he’ll get a ton of them here.
Will Warren vs. BOS – I have a bad feeling about this. That Will was in Star Trek. Not important right now. Starting Warren has felt precarious for a while and I’m worried he won’t show up in an important game.
Zebby Matthews vs. CHW – I just saw Zebby feature his best slider, en route to a Gallows Pole. Here’s to hoping it’s here to stay.
Do Not Starts
Seth Lugo @ CLE – He has a long leash, but I’m not sure he wants to face a ton of LHB.
Kumar Rocker @ MIL – Rocker is able to return 6+ strikeouts as he’s still trying to find a consistent approach that can stick.
Janson Junk @ WSH – We all love the stuff as the projections expect more than his output thus far. The Marlins have a short hook + the strikeouts haven’t come. The ceiling isn’t worth it.
Andrew Alvarez vs. MIA – Maybe I’m too low on Alvarez here, but he’s routinely inefficient with poor heaters and only a curveball to hang his hat on.
José Urquidy (Opener) @ MIN – The White Sox are giving Urquidy an opener and that could very work for a cheap Win. After all, he was able to go six shutout before last game’s mediocrity.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. PHI – You really don’t know what you’ll get from Kikuchi on a given night. He’s one start removed from his Still ILL and I wonder if we’ll get the different secondaries again.
Max Scherzer vs. SEA – Scherzer still has some juice left in him, it’s all about having the good graces of Koufax to give him 5+ of production.
Matthew Liberatore vs. PIT – We’ve seen some lovely strikeout games from Libby, but we’ve seen a whole lot more of the lava floor.
Chris Bassitt @ ATH – Bassitt just had a great start and has a long leash. It’s Sacré Verde, y’all. That ceiling is highly unlikely to return here.
Framber Valdez vs. LAD – Watch this be the best start of his season. Because, you know, Valdez is hilarious like that. Didn’t he just toss 84 pitches and record zero whiffs? YUP.
Jeffrey Springs vs. BAL – Sunshine and rainbows hate looking for him.
Ethan Pecko @ NYM – Pecko has done little to earn our confidence through his first few games in the majors.
Mason Adams @ ATL – It’s the second start for the Colorado rookie and the dead-zone fastballs are sure to get pummeled here.
Monday 8/31 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob deGrom vs. ATH – Aces gonna ace. Yes, even after what just happened.
Payton Tolle vs. SEA – Tolle isn’t quite Ace level yet, and that doesn’t matter.
Kyle Harrison @ CHC – I’m a little worried about Harrison’s velocity drop and refusal to find his changeup. The fastball command is there and that’s good enough for me.
Probably Starts
Ian Seymour vs. NYM – He’s been too solid for too long for us to bench.
Logan Webb @ ATL – Sure, Webb should be fine.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. PHI – Pfaadt is on a Vargas Rule, even if he’s run into some HRs lately. Both of his last two games were ruined by a single longball.
Peter Lambert vs. CHW – Yes, I’m still down for this after the Yankee start. He pitched well, it didn’t go his way, and he’s been fantastic for a while as a Holly.
George Kirby @ BOS – Kirby upped the velocity last start and as much as I want to believe that will stick, who knows.
Taj Bradley vs. DET – Bradley is a HIPSTER who gets too many strikeouts for us to ignore.
Michael King @ CIN – He’s still the King without his crown, though he’s found more success lately.
Clay Holmes vs. MIL – You can reside with The Adobe if you’re searching for a Win and a solid ERA. You may not get the strikeouts or WHIP you like, though.
Questionable Starts
Jackson Jobe @ MIN – Jobe should be able to go 5+ against a weak Twins team. It’s not the overpowering strikeout filth we idolize, though he should induce plenty of weak contact.
Gage Jump @ TEX – He’s a true HIPSTER. At least he’s outside of Sacré Verde, yet his success is more about his own execution, not the opponent and park.
George Klassen vs. NYY – Klassen’s elite gyro slider works wonders against RHB, and I’m worried his developing LHB approach will struggle against the LHB-heavy Yankee lineup.
Anthony Kay @ HOU – Kay is fine. He’s always just fine.
Aaron Nola @ ARI – He’s still allowing the longballs, but has managed to keep most of them to just solo shots lately. I hope that continues as the curveball keeps racking up CSW.
Bryce Elder vs. SFG – Y’all know I don’t trust Elder long-term, but chasing a win against the Giants…? Maybe.
Kyle Bradish @ COL – He’s going through a rough patch with his breakers and now he heads to Coors where, uh, breakers act differently.
Do Not Starts
Elmer Rodríguez @ LAA – Despite going six frames and sitting 97+ mph, I’m not confident in Elmer. It was clearly an adrenaline-fueled outing in my book, where he had sat 96 mph just once all season prior, way back in June. The velocity will drop and the results will be worse.
Brady Singer vs. SDP – Singer is a QS arm who continues to do his thing – sinkers up, breakers down – and it’s rarely been productive for 12-teamers.
Will Dion vs. MIA – It’s interesting to see the Nationals letting Dion start properly instead of having Brad Lord as an opener. It hurts his Win chance and I’m not sure how long he goes, let alone with quality.
Ryan Gusto @ WSH – Speaking of being limited, Gusto rarely goes far and isn’t doing enough to get me interested. Maybe I should swap him and Dion, but at least Dion has more mystery in his quality and leash.
Robert Stock @ TBR – This has worked only a few times and he doesn’t go long.
Tanner Gordon vs. BAL – In Coors. Noooooope.
Tuesday 9/1 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)
