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: 72-56
My Pick yesterday: Win – Sean Manaea @ CLE (W): 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BB, 7 K
My Pick today: Eric Lauer @ CHC
My Pick tomorrow: Dustin May vs. PIT
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: 69-59
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Sean Manaea @ CLE (W): 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 5 BB, 7 K
Wednesday 8/5 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Sean Burke @ BOS – I don’t see why you wouldn’t start him with the run he’s on.
Paul Skenes @ MIL – Aces gonna ace yes, even with the recent struggles
Bryan Woo vs. DET – He’s home and pitching better than the results suggest.
Eury Pérez @ ATL – Eury’s mix of sinkers and four-seamers is a little strange, but they’re working. If they keep earning strikes while the breakers are proper complements, we’re golden.
Probably Starts
Trevor Rogers vs. LAA – 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.
Reid Detmers @ BAL – Detmers is still here and his slider is too good to pass up.
Hunter Brown vs. TOR – He got his vert back last start and I would love to see it again.
Sonny Gray vs. CHW – The sweeper returned as it appears there are Sonny skies ahead.
Shota Imanaga vs. LAD – This doesn’t seem like a start to make on paper, but Imanaga did get over 91 mph last time and I’m inclined to start him. He’s been far more helpful than harmful.
Questionable Starts
Will Warren vs. STL – Warren had an impressive outing last game and
Tanner Bibee vs. NYM – Bibee has lowered his arm angle and I’m not convinced it’s a better version of Bibee quite yet, especially with the vert on his four-seamer falling with it.
Christian Scott @ CLE – I’m worried that Scott’s lack of refined attack to LHB will be exposed by the Cleveland Guardians‘ love for psending LHB to the plate against RHP.
Eric Lauer @ CHC – Lauer has been a Win magnet since joining the Dodgers.
Noah Cameron vs. MIN – We’ve seen two fantastic starts from Cameron since bumping his velo 1-2 ticks. He just took down the Twins by leaning into his ole ways of pitching backward, and he could very well do it again.
Casey Mize @ ARI – Mize is making his debut for the Padres and we haven’t seen him since he sat 91.9 mph almost two weeks ago. I hope he’s alright.
Jacob Lopez @ CIN – It’s been fun watching JLo command his arsenal exactly like he did last summer with four-seamers up and away to RHB, cutters coming back over the plate, and sweepers underneath. If he’s truly in that groove, the matchup rarely matters.
Nick Martinez @ COL – It’s Coors, obviously. Martinez has been unbelievably good on his “Vargas Rule”, and it could continue here, regardless.
Do Not Starts
Andre Pallante @ NYY – The Yankees have been a bottom-tier offense during Judge’s absence, but their recent acquisitions could make it tough on Pallante.
Dean Kremer @ KCR – It’s Kremer’s debut for his new team and he’s fortunate to get such a good matchup. He still has to execute his splitter and cutter better than what we’ve seen.
Kyle Harrison vs. PIT – This is a clear “Still ILL” for Harrison, and I hope he gets us hyped again.
Bryce Elder vs. MIA – I fail to believe Elder has any magic left for the second half.
Rhett Lowder vs. ATH – I kinda dig Lowder and maybe he deserves an extra spot or two higher in 15-teamers, but I hate the home park.
Andrew Painter vs. WSH – Painter is doing the right thing by limiting fastballs and favoring secondaries aplenty. The Nationals are too good of a squad to risk it as he figures himself out.
Cody Bradford vs. SFG – It’s his return from TJS in a Still ILL and he’s turned heads after going four shutout with seven strikeouts in his final rehab outing. The problem? Just 53 pitches thrown. Yikes. He was a SWATCH before it was cool and sitting 90 mph currently, but separating four-seamers and changeups well with 7+ feet of extension.
Drew Anderson @ SEA – After months of being their long reliever, Anderson is getting a proper look in the rotation after the departures of Skubal and Mize + Flaherty’s injury. Him and Jobe look to be the reinforcements (sorry Ty Madden) and if you’re desperate for strikeouts, Anderson’s split-change can do it. The bad news: He’s not stretched out at all yet. Give it a moment.
Carson Whisenhunt @ TEX – I see the potential “SWATCH” here, but the command needs polish and I wish for his old 95+ mph velocity.
Jake Irvin @ PHI – The bumped velo before he got hurt was cool. If that comes back, maybe we have something for the second half.
Jameson Taillon @ HOU – Taillon makes his debut for the Jays and I’m expecting better results than what we recently saw. He was getting super unlucky. At the same time, it’s best to play if safe right now.
Mitch Bratt vs. SDP – He’s not the guy you’re looking for.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. TBR – I still can’t believe he has double-digit wins.
Thursday 8/6 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Dylan Cease @ CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Nolan McLean @ CLE – I want this to be his “Coronation Day”. They’ll serve him all their LHB, and he’ll have to show he can handle them with ease.
Hunter Greene vs. ATH – Get the slider for strikes and we should be solid.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. WSH – He took a step forward last time out (even with the walks). As long as he’s hard to hit, we’re golden.
Probably Starts
Braxton Ashcraft @ MIL – He staved off LHB last time out, though I’m not convinced the problem is solved.
Foster Griffin vs. NYM – It’s his debut for the Guardians after a bit of a downturn across the last month. Fortunately, it’s the Mets.
Bryce Miller vs. DET – Miller is back at home. Phew. Now if only he could wrangle those secondaries again…
Michael Wacha vs. MIN – Wacha’s two different changeups have made him a strong Toby all year.
Questionable Starts
Dustin May vs. PIT – Don’t expect to see any changes in the first start from traded players, including May. If this weren’t the Pirates, I’d have him in the second tier.
Ranger Suarez vs. CHW – Suarez is still getting stretched out and hasn’t looked peak quite yet since returning from the IL.
Framber Valdez @ SEA – Is this the start? Like the real start? The one where his curveball kills it and he has help with his change?
David Peterson vs. TOR – Peterson’s ability to locate sinkers and four-seamers to RHB has been impressive across his last two, allowing the Cubs defense to do the rest. Don’t expect strikeouts to come your way.
Brandon Young vs. LAA – I’m worried there isn’t enough in the arsenal to consistently take down RHB. Hopefully the four-seamer is enough.
Do Not Starts
Luis Castillo @ BOS – Without @TEA to help him moving forward, I’m generally out on Castillo. Weren’t you before the trade, too? Uhhhh, yeah.
Janson Junk @ ATL – Junk has the stuff, but not the execution. PEAS without strikeouts is frustrating as anything.
Martín Pérez vs. MIA – Pérez was brilliant in his last outing and we could see that again. Or it could be a short outing of blegh.
Bailey Ober @ KCR – Ober is at 87 mph and I don’t care if PL Bot likes it, I don’t trust this.
Mason Barnett @ CIN – I’m awfully curious how long the Athletics let Barnett go. I hope they push him to be a proper starter and figure out a way to consistently locate his above-average stuff.
Ryan Johnson @ BAL – Johnson is hoping to find strikeouts with his splitter and friends. Don’t bank on it.
Kohl Drake vs. SDP – Drake may be a SWATCH in time. Not this time.
Walker Buehler @ ARI – Buehler doesn’t do enough for me to chase him.
Miles Mikolas @ PHI – Absolutely not.
Friday 8/7 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)
