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: 74-57
My Pick yesterday: Win – Tyler Mahle @ NYY (ND): 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BB, 9 K
My Pick today: Robert Gasser vs. MIN
My Pick tomorrow: Sean Manaea @ 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: 71-60
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Tyler Mahle @ NYY (ND): 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BB, 9 K
Saturday 8/8 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Chris Sale @ NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto @ ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Gavin Williams @ CHW – Aces gonna ace.
Chase Burns @ WSH – Aces gonna ace. Please have your velocity back, yeah?
Jacob deGrom vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace.
Griffin Jax @ SEA – He’s been such a lock and it’s @TEA.
Gerrit Cole vs. ATL – I gave him the AGA tag, but then didn’t have his secondaries helping last time out. You’re gonna fix this, right?
Sandy Alcantara vs. LAA – I dare you to bank on Sandy going fewer than six frames. I dare ya.
Probably Starts
Peter Lambert @ SDP – He’s been a sturdy Holly for a while now.
Walbert Ureña @ MIA – Ditto.
George Kirby vs. TBR – It’s a home start and despite all the frustration, he’s still very capable of producing.
Kyle Bradish @ TEX – It’s a good matchup and the breakers should do better than we’ve seen in the last two games.
Taj Bradley @ MIL – He just had a rough one, I’m hoping it’s not his poor command rearing its ugly head.
Landen Roupp vs. DET – It’s two straight rough outings for Roupp and I understand if you’d like to bench him here. It’s rare for him to feature this poor control.
Questionable Starts
Jake Bennett vs. ATH – He’s a solid Toby. Why? Because he hasn’t fanned more than four in any start across his last five.
Michael King vs. HOU – I’m still waiting for that single start where King showcases full command of his arsenal.
Clay Holmes @ KCR – It’s a Still ILL for The Adobe in his new, reinforced-with-steel home in Chicago. He was pushed to 73 pitches in his final rehab game for the Mets, so this could be business as usual, but with a better defense. Business as better.
Robert Gasser vs. MIN – Gasser doesn’t have quite the arsenal I’m looking for, but the Twins are blegh and he’s executed well enough to make this one work.
Anthony Kay vs. CLE – The Guardians will give him plenty of RHB and Kay has done well elevating his four-seamer while throwing the kitchen sink around the edge. It’s not the highest ceiling, though.
Matthew Liberatore vs. COL – As much as he’s pained us all year, he’s fresh off a high strikeout game and gets Rockie Road in a wonderful home park.
Do Not Starts
Bubba Chandler vs. NYM – I want to believe. Just throw those 93 mph slider/cutters for strikes and locate the four-seamer in the upper third of the zone. THAT’S IT.
Jackson Jobe @ SFG – I’m STOKED to see Jobe on the mound on Saturday. It’s a proper Still ILL for a young arm and while he’s worth the spec add, temper your expectations.
Robert Stock @ PIT – Stock’s 96 four-seamer and 92 mph cutter is pretty cool, but I’m scared against a tough lineup against RHP.
Andrew Alvarez vs. CIN – Alvarez finally got pushed to 6+ frames, but it came without a change in pitch count. It may mean he’s still going to struggle to go at least five innings.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. LAD – He’s had a Vargas Rule and it’s the Dodgers. Yikes.
Gage Jump @ BOS – Jump simply hasn’t had it. Even away from Sacré Verde, I can’t trust it here.
Aaron Nola vs. TOR – I don’t have any faith in Nola these days. I wish it weren’t so.
Max Scherzer @ PHI – It was a solid outing last time, and I don’t buy that Scherzer can do it again.
Seth Lugo vs. CHC – The decline is real.
Kyle Freeland @ STL – It was just a Birthday Party last time out, don’t go bonkers here.
Sunday 8/9 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob Misiorowski vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Cam Schlittler vs. ATL – Aces gonna ace.
Jesús Luzardo vs. TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Troy Melton @ SFG – He’s been too good to sit.
Logan Webb vs. DET – Webb is at home and looking like good ole solid Webb.
Probably Starts
Jared Jones vs. NYM – Alright Jared. Throw high four-seamers and low sliders. PLEASE.
Joey Cantillo @ CHW – Cantillo still has the velocity and curveball focus. Just get that changeup command back.
Justin Wrobleski @ ARI – Wrobo Cop has allowed 4 HRs in each of his last two games. Surely that doesn’t happen again.
Ian Seymour @ SEA – Seymour just had fun in Coors and now gets the gift of @TEA. There may be an opener, too. Who knows with the Rays.
Emerson Hancock vs. TBR – He’s not impressing me as much as in April, but he’s still productive for your squads.
Matthew Boyd @ KCR – It’s a lovely matchup and I hope we get prime fastball/changeup separation.
Michael McGreevy vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road in St. Louis for a pitcher who just addded 1-2 ticks of velocity.
Sean Manaea @ PIT – The four-seamer is killing it and this is an excellent matchup.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer @ WSH – The Nationals aren’t as scary as they used to be and Singer has been more like his classic self.
Connor Prielipp @ MIL – I’m waiting for us to get peak Prielipp, but he’s just two starts removed from his IL stint. This could be the first of many strong outings.
Shane Bieber @ PHI – Bieber got his feel back last time out, but there is still another gear to hit with his breakers to find his 2025 form.
Cristian Javier @ SDP – Javier is throwing cutters for strikes and I think it makes for an arm who should find strikeouts shortly.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. LAD – It’s a Vargas Rule, but it’s also the Dodgers.
Do Not Starts
Randy Dobnak vs. CHC – I know he’s been shockingly good lately, but Dobnak this is a much tougher matchup.
J.T. Ginn @ BOS – He was better than expected in his Still ILL, but I’m not quite sold that he’s a reliable arm with a good enough ceiling.
Cade Povich @ TEX – I’m thrilled we saw Povich feature changeups last time out. I’m curious if he can become a proper SWATCH in time and I need another start or two to feel properly confident. Not a terrible choice for a desperate Sunday, but generally a pass from me.
Kumar Rocker vs. BAL – I was excited when I saw 17″ of run on his sinker with command inside, then he lost it all last time out. Please get it back.
Grayson Rodriguez @ MIA – He’s commanding the heater well and the secondaries are better, but are they whiffable enough?
Ryan Gusto vs. LAA – He’s interesting, but the Marlins have kept him on a generally short leash and we’ve rarely seen fantastic performances.
Patrick Sandoval vs. ATH – The Irish Panda is a WHIP risk, but the Red Sox can’t lose a game, can they?
Davis Martin vs. CLE – Martin is not the guy he was at the start of the season.
Grant Holmes @ NYY – I don’t buy that the cutter > slider approach is actually a good thing.
Randy Vásquez vs. HOU – He found a few more whiffs, but we have so much history to forget before we believe it.
Trevor Williams vs. CIN – #NeverTrevor
Michael Lorenzen @ STL – Absolutely not.
Monday 8/10 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)
