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: 90-64
My Pick yesterday: Win – Zac Thornton vs. HOU (ND): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BB, 5 K
My Pick today: Jackson Jobe @ MIN
My Pick tomorrow: Eric Lauer vs. STL
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: 80-74
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Janson Junk @ WSH (ND): 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BB, 2 K
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.
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.
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.
Anthony Molina @ ATL – The Giants are going to give Molina a try and maybe it works. There’s a touch of intrigue with his four-seamer, though I’m not expecting this to work out of the gate, if even at all in the future.
Mitch Farris vs. NYY – Farris is stepping in on short notice with George Klassen off to the IL with a back injury. He’s a southpaw with a slow-as-molasses changeup that is fun for me to watch as a pitching nerd, but has rarely come through for your fantasy teams.
Tanner Gordon vs. BAL – In Coors. Noooooope.
Tuesday 9/1 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jesús Luzardo @ ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Gavin Williams vs. TOR – That last start was an obvious outlier. Don’t let it affect your decision.
Paul Skenes vs. SFG – He’s above 97 mph and on the path to redemption, with the Giants on the horizon. Easy choice.
Troy Melton @ MIN – A lower strikeout rate than the elites with a great ratio floor.
Sonny Gray vs. SEA – It’s been Sonny for a while. UPDATE: The Red Sox have elected to skip this start, and will have a spot starter go instead. I’d ignore who it is.
Logan Webb @ PIT – Webb is doing what you want him to do and it’s PNC Park.
Probably Starts
Bryan Woo @ BOS – Woo still has the velocity and I don’t quite understand why he’s not dominating like he should. I’m letting him fly here.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. PHI – Erod is making us consider changing it to the Erod Rule.
Sean Burke @ HOU – It has been a back-and-forth of Burke’s ability to find whiffs across his last six starts. It’s a product of inconsistent breaking ball feel and despite a hilariously bad feel for his slider last game, I think it’s unwise to believe he’s unable to reclaim it.
Walbert Ureña vs. NYY – The Yankee offense is hot-and-cold and the changeup has been so good.
MacKenzie Gore vs. ATH – He’s a bit of a HIPSTER, though he’s also hosting a weak offense in a good home park.
Questionable Starts
Matthew Boyd vs. MIL – Boyd is allowing a few too many HRs for me to feel confident on a given day. Still a good Win chance and 5+ strikeout potential.
Eric Lauer vs. STL – This is all for the Win chance.
Nick Lodolo vs. SDP – Lodolo has struggled to get his breaking ball back since dealing with his blister, but the overall locations of his heaters and changeup has been solid.
Trevor Rogers @ COL – I’m a big fan of Rogers. I’m not a big fan of Coors.
Connor Prielipp vs. DET – Prielipp has the stuff, but not the consistency.
Sean Manaea @ TBR – Manaea’s fastball is still at 92 mph. His ability to locate it well and lean on it 50%+ of the time is waning.
J.T. Ginn @ TEX – The results have been there for Ginn over the last two months and it’s away from Sacré Verde, even if I don’t trust the arsenal and required accuracy.
Freddy Peralta vs. NYM – Peralta just had his first great start in a long time. He’s been terribly inconsistent, but at least we have something to latch onto now. Maybe he’s actually found feel for his heater and newly favored changeup?
Do Not Starts
Robert Gasser @ CHC – Gasser’s cutter is cool. Not much else is.
Randy Dobnak vs. MIA – If you want to take a shot at Dobnak slinging 5/6 frames with decent ratios without buttering your bread, go for it.
Michael McGreevy @ LAD – There’s always an outside chance McGreevy can skirt through six on the back of Koufax.
Randy Vásquez @ CIN – Vásquez has had more success over the last month, and I wish I had more to point to that would make me confident he could produce in Cincy.
AJ Smith-Shawver @ WSH – Despite the weak offense, AJSS has little to offer. It’s hard to lean on an approach that is hyper-reliant on splitter success given its companion is an awfully hittable 95-mph four-seamer.
Tyler Phillips @ KCR – Phillips hasn’t done enough for long enough. It’s not enough. I GET IT.
Jake Irvin vs. ATL – Irvin has some increased velocity at times and is tinkering with the arsenal. I’m not ready to commit with a ton of risk still present.
Spencer Arrighetti @ CLE – The Pasta Pirate is still leaning too much on his curveball while the fastball needs more juice than 92 mph.
Mike Burrows vs. CHW – Burrows is back! In a Still ILL I wouldn’t touch.
Gabriel Hughes vs. BAL – It’s Hughes. In Coors.
Wednesday 9/2 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)
