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: 90-65
My Pick yesterday: Loss – Jackson Jobe @ MIN (L): 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BB, 4 K
My Pick today: Eric Lauer vs. STL
My Pick tomorrow: Andrew Painter @ ARI
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: 80-75
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss – Gage Jump @ TEX (L): 4.1 IP, 7 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BB, 2 K
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.
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.
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.
Kyle Bradish @ COL – He’s going through a rough patch with his breakers and now he heads to Coors where, uh, breakers act differently.
Connor Prielipp (Opener) 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.
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
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.
Robert Gasser @ CHC – Gasser’s cutter is cool. Not much else is.
Michael McGreevy @ LAD – There’s always an outside chance McGreevy can skirt through six on the back of Koufax.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. NYY – If Grayson can find at least one legit breaker, there may be something here to fit in with his heater and changeup.
Tyler Phillips @ KCR – Phillips hasn’t done enough for long enough. It’s not enough. I GET IT.
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.
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.
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.
Ronel Blanco vs. CHW – He’s back! I have very low expectations.
Spencer Arrighetti (Opener) @ CLE – The Pasta Pirate is still leaning too much on his curveball while the fastball needs more juice than 92 mph.
Ryan Magdic (Opener) @ TEX – Who knows who it is today. The latest guess is Magdic to make his MLB debut as a follower after tossing 93 pitches on August 26th. He’s a 92/93 mph southpaw with a poor fastball, an 81/82 mph gyro slider, and weak 78 mph curve + a changeup that needs to do more to succeed. I’m not a fan of this.
Jedixson Paez vs. SEA – Tossed just 54 pitches in his last outing in the minors and has been kept around 60. This ain’t it.
Gabriel Hughes vs. BAL – It’s Hughes. In Coors.
Wednesday 9/2 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Jacob Misiorowski @ CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Cam Schlittler @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease @ CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Eury Pérez @ KCR – Would you just look at that matchup.
Probably Starts
Jacob Lopez @ TEX – This ride is STILL GOING BAYBEEE.
Andrew Painter @ ARI – We’re down to 96 mph on the heater with an inch less ride, which is the same heater he returned to the majors with, not the fun one of the last two week. That’s alright, the changeup and breaking ball command is awesome.
Shane McClanahan vs. NYM – McShane’s feel is off, but at least he’s at 95/96 mph. It should return in time and I’m not too scared of the Mets.
Noah Cameron vs. MIA – Cameron’s velocity is falling and I’m a little worried about him moving forward, but it’s a Vargas Rule at this point and I won’t big-brain this.
Reid Detmers vs. NYY – Detmers is still Detmers. We roll with this until his slider goes away.
Questionable Starts
Joey Cantillo vs. TOR – I’m still tempted to put Cantillo in the tier above, but that changeup command was horrendous in his last start.
Trevor Rogers @ COL – I’m a big fan of Rogers. I’m not a big fan of Coors.
Cody Bradford vs. ATH – Bradford needs to get the pitch separation of old back on track. Fortunately, it’s a weak offense in a good matchup.
Landen Roupp @ PIT – This looks like a clear Tier 2 start, and yet Roupp isn’t reliable these days. There is a good man in there, I hope it comes out.
Hayden Wesneski vs. CHW – Wesneski doesn’t have incredible stuff, but it’s a great sweeper and he has solid intent around the strikezone.
David Peterson vs. MIL – I was impressed by Peterson’s overall command last game, including sudden appreciation for his changeup to RHB. He’s a Toby on a good team.
Dean Kremer vs. DET – Kremer’s feel for his cutter, splitter, and four-seamer are better than what you’ve seen lately. This can still work.
Bryce Miller @ BOS – He’s no longer in the bullpen now that Hancock is on the IL. It’s so difficult to have any faith in him, yet we know the skills are there.
Do Not Starts
Bubba Chandler vs. SFG – Oh Bubba. This should be a great potential outing for you, yet you haven’t put together the right approach you can consistently execute. It should be gyro sliders and 92+ mph cutters galore with surprise high heaters, though you’d have to land the breakers for strikes and actually get the heater upstairs and not over the plate or wasted. A man can dream…
Jackson Kent vs. ATL – Kent is showing flashes of the SWATCH lifestyle that could be stellar with his extension. I’d like to see another one first before buying in against Atlanta.
Grant Holmes @ WSH – We’ve seen some success from REB, but it’s not meant to last.
Casey Mize @ CIN – Mize was down to 92 mph in the start following his ankle injury, slipping on the dugout steps. He could be a Toby with that slider, but I’m worried this is too risky for a meh reward.
Davis Martin @ HOU – Martin will have a long enough leash to try for a Win or Quality Start, and maybe there’s a touch of magic left.
Andre Pallante @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers. At least Pallante is BABIP dependent and Koufax may be in attendance.
Justin Hagenman @ TBR – Hagenman is back! He just threw four frames in Triple-A and I’m not expecting this one to go super well.
Drew Anderson @ MIN – Anderson didn’t go a full five frames last game, but he’s flrting with five frames and has some whiff potential in the split-change. Not a ringing endorsement. Sure isn’t.
Patrick Sandoval vs. SEA – Sandoval has strikeout potential at a heavy cost of your ratios.
Jose Cabrera vs. PHI – It’s likely the last start for Cabrera in Arizona and he hasn’t looked sharp.
Brandon Williamson vs. SDP – Williamson is returning with Chase Burns shut down/limited heavily for the rest of the season. Yes, that’s a major bummer. Williamson can be interesting, but you must wait and see first.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. BAL – Come on, lucky Win number thirteen…In Coors…against the Orioles…
Thursday 9/3 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)
