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: 101-70
My Pick yesterday: Win – Cristian Javier vs. KCR (L): 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BB, 2 K
My Pick today: Cody Bradford (Opener) vs. BOS
My Pick tomorrow: Zac Thornton vs. PHI
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: 87-84
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Win – Matthew Liberatore vs. SFG (ND): 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BB, 2 K
Thursday 9/17 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Drew Rasmussen vs. ATH – Aces gonna ace.
Nolan McLean vs. PHI – Not an ace, but we’re not benching at this point in the year.
Sonny Gray @ TEX – I’d expect a Sonny day, even in a dome.
Probably Starts
Walbert Ureña vs. MIN – Ureña’s changeups are too good to bench here.
Taj Bradley @ LAA – He’s a Cherry Bomb who has given more than taken.
Questionable Starts
Framber Valdez @ CHW – WHO. KNOWS. At least it’s the White Sox.
Kyle Harrison @ PIT – We last saw Harrison in relief and he allowed four hits without recording an out. Yeesh. The final two were softly hit, to be fair, but we really don’t know what to make of Harrison at the moment.
Michael King @ COL – He’s still weirding me out, which I know is more “vibes” analysis – EVERYTHING IS VIBES ANALYSIS – and it’s Coors. The floor is lower than I want for a ceiling that hasn’t been reached a ton.
Justin Wrobleski @ CIN – It’s Wrobo Cop! I hope they give him enough volume. Dodgeritis is in full force, eh?
Aaron Nola @ NYM – Will the HRs actually stop?
Do Not Starts
Cody Bradford (Opener) vs. BOS – The required precision hasn’t been there much at all since his Still ILL. At least he has an opener.
Seth Lugo @ HOU – Lugo has the leash and not the skills.
Jeffrey Springs @ TBR – It’s a revenge game for Springs, who I hope is a changed man.
Erick Fedde vs. DET – I’m expecting an opener for Fedde per usual, which increases the Win chance but doesn’t change his talent.
Brady Singer vs. LAD – Singer hasn’t worked for ages and it’s the Dodgers in Cincy.
Ethan Pecko (Opener) vs. KCR – Pecko has such a low ceiling with a Shag Rug. I’m not going to get seduced by the opener tag
Khristian Curtis (Opener) vs. MIL – I’m still waiting for this to work once. But the opener tag beckons…NO. SNAP OUT OF IT.
Tanner Gordon vs. SDP – Absolutely not.
Friday 9/18 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tyler Glasnow vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Cade Cavalli @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Probably Starts
Dylan Cease @ TEX – Probably Start?! Yeah, I know. His velocity is down 2+ ticks and that 1.80 WHIP from last start – even with the strikeouts – is a product of it. JUST SAYIN’.
Gerrit Cole @ ARI – Cole really needs to figure out his breakers again. I wonder if he’ll bring back the cutter?
Bryan Woo @ COL – Even in Coors, I think Woo is absolutely locked in right now. But fine, Coors.
Paul Skenes vs. KCR – How on Earth are we going to rank you entering 2027…
Ian Seymour vs. BOS – I don’t see how you could hold back Seymour right now.
Ranger Suarez @ TBR – Suarez is looking more in rhythm these days.
Tyler Mahle @ HOU – Mahle is on a heater.
Dustin May @ BAL – May has had the worst luck. Keep the faith.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. NYY – It’s the Yankees, but Erod has been just so dang good.
Peter Lambert vs. ATL – Lambert is a low-end Holly who I’d still test against Atlanta.
Questionable Starts
Nick Pivetta vs. MIA – He’s stretched out a bit now, but he’s finding it difficult to find any whiffs, making for a lower ceiling than we want.
Joey Cantillo (Opener) vs. ATH – Cantillo likely has an opener after having one last time out, and his command was improved overall. Still a little bit of work to do on the changeup, though.
Clay Holmes @ CIN – It’s not a fun park, and at least The Adobe loves the dirt. Huh? He keeps it on the ground often, yeesh.
Zac Thornton vs. PHI – I’m still doubtful of Thornton’s future, but he has gone six decent frames often.
Connor Prielipp @ LAA – This is your strikeout play with a higher ratio risk and a little less volume than the prior two.
Do Not Starts
Randy Dobnak @ PIT – Maybe I’m undervaluing Dobnak and should have him one tier higher. His ceiling is 5/6 innings of boring with a ghastly floor.
Cade Povich vs. MIL – We haven’t seen a whole lot of Povich and hopefully he can go deep in this one.
Cooper Hjerpe (Opener) vs. WSH – This will be Kyle Leahy for the first three innings or so, allowing Hjerpe and his super low arm-angle a chance to steal a Win. If he can throw enough high strikes with his four-seamer, it’ll work.
Brandon Williamson (Opener) vs. CHC – Like Leahy, you’re going to see three innings of Chase Burns before Williamson steps in, and despite surviving last start, I’m still not endorsing this play.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. MIN – Grayson is someone to consider super late in drafts next year as a potential post-post(-post?) hype sleeper where he just needs a high-80s pitch to tie the room together. It’s not there now, sadly.
Kumar Rocker vs. TOR – Rocker has some strikeout upside with spiked sliders with enough bait to get many to fish. This could easily be four frames, though.
Luis Castillo vs. DET – Castillo is just so not it right now.
Cesar Perdomo @ LAD – Perdomo is a potential SWATCH if he steps up and locates that changeup like he did against the Mets. It could work even against the Dodgers, even if the chances are slim.
Andrew Sears @ CHW – Sears is a rookie with some promise that hasn’t blossomed. I wonder if the lowly White Sox offense can help.
Tyler Phillips @ SDP – Phillips has a decent start here and there, and the ceiling isn’t worth it.
Alan Rangel (Opener) @ NYM – I’m expecting an opener here, which opens the door for a Win chance…?
Mason Barnett @ CLE – Barnett has some interesting skills but this isn’t meant to work.
Ryan Feltner vs. SEA – Absolutely not.
Saturday 9/19 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)
