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: 72-57
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Eric Lauer @ CHC (L): 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 11 Hits, 0 BB, 1 K
My Pick today: Dustin May vs. PIT
My Pick tomorrow: Connor Prielipp @ MIL
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: 69-60
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Cody Bradford vs. SFG (ND): 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BB, 5 K
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.
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.
Andrew Abbott vs. ATH – With Hunter Greene hitting the IL with elbow soreness (yikes), Abbott was pushed up a day and gets an easier matchup.
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
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale @ NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Drew Rasmussen @ SEA – Aces gonna ace. @TEA is lovely.
Zack Wheeler vs. TOR – Aces gonna ace. It’s been two straight of fewer than four frames after the injury scare + a limited outing due to a rain delay.
Chase Burns @ WSH – Aces gonna ace. Please have your velocity back, yeah?
Logan Gilbert vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Payton Tolle vs. ATH – Throw strikes and we’re cool.
Parker Messick @ CHW – He’s still over 94 mph and that’s great.
Kevin Gausman @ KCR – It’s his debut with the Cubs and I don’t think we’ll see much change in the approach. The difference is the team behind him.
Max Fried vs. ATL – Fried is still stretching out, but should be above 80 pitches in this revenge game.
Cade Cavalli vs. CIN – He’s a better pitcher now and the Reds Carpet is still better than most.
Probably Starts
Nathan Eovaldi vs. BAL – Maybe this is too aggressive of a ranking, but I fail to believe that Eovaldi is just bad now.
Robbie Ray vs. HOU – Ray is debuting for the Padres and his fastball approach has improved over the last month. Now just figure out that slider…
Roki Sasaki @ ARI – Sasaki is still flirting with triple digits, but I worry that there isn’t a consistent approach across his arsenal that truly works. The four-seamer can’t do it on its own.
Shane Drohan vs. MIN – Drohan is looking like the favorite among the trio of young arms for the Brewers eying the SP #5 slot. If his slider can continue to get whiffs against RHB, he’ll get it.
Keider Montero @ SFG – Montero is a WHIP king in one of the best matchups you can hope for.
Kyle Leahy vs. COL – Leahy is striking out more batters lately, even if his command is a bit suspect. Rockie Road in cushy Busch Stadium is a gift.
Questionable Starts
José Soriano @ PHI – I feel like he should be in tier two, and yet, he’s still such a wild card.
Shane Baz @ TEX – Baz is a Toby without a strong third pitch.
Connor Prielipp @ MIL – Prielipp is two starts removed from his blister-driven IL stint and I hope the secondaries continue to improve.
Jack Perkins @ BOS – The Red Sox dislike RHP and hopefully the HRs are limited now that he’s out of Sacré Verde.
Do Not Starts
Noah Schultz vs. CLE – It’s a decent matchup for Schultz, though he hasn’t shown much upside thus far.
Zac Thornton @ PIT – We saw the expected regression for Thornton last time out and it’s not a good matchup against the Pirates.
Merrill Kelly vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers and Kelly just got trounced. There is a chance his changeups work far better this time around, though.
Tyler Phillips vs. LAA – Phillips has been productive the last two and he may be a sneaky stream against a poor Angels squad. It’s too risky for not enough of a ceiling for 12-teamers.
Ronel Blanco @ SDP – Blanco is trying to pitch backward effectively and I’ll wait until I’m impressed by it.
Carmen Mlodzinski vs. NYM – He tossed 47 pitches on August 1st and I imagine he’ll be limited to roughly 60 pitches here. Now if they give him an opener…he’d still be meh.
Adrian Houser vs. DET – Houser is returning to the rotation after Mahle and Ray were shipped away and I wonder how long they’ll let him go, let alone if it’ll be of quality.
Mason Black vs. CHC – Oh right! He’s on the Royals now! Cool. Welp, see ya later.
Ryan Feltner @ STL – It’s Feltner. I know, away from Coors, but still.
Brett Kerry @ MIA – He tossed 59 pitches then 55 in his only two games and it’s 92 mph with a decent slider and changeup. Not for me.
Saturday 8/8 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)
