SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 4/18 & 4/19

With the 2021 season, I’m changing how I’m doing my starting pitcher streamers and daily matchup rankings

Instead of being featured in the SP Roundup, I’ll be highlighting my SP streamer picks for today and tomorrow inside this article, while also introducing four tiers and adding notes to each table.

The four tiers are as follows:

 

Auto-Start – Just do it. Don’t overthink this, start the man.

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 pitcher or a weak lineup for a volatile arm.

Questionable Start – There are situations where I’d take the chance, either with strong enough upside on the ability side, or a poor offense that a pitcher could take advantage of.

Do Not Start – The reward is not worth the risk. Don’t do it.

 

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 through the year, so please, have sympathy before the scathing comments and tweets. I’m only trying to help!

Make sure to read the notes if you’re wondering why I’m favoring certain pitchers over others – I won’t get to everyone and hopefully I answer what questions you will have.

There is a second table 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.

Finally, I have highlighted in Green my streaming pick of the day – Yellow if I wouldn’t actually want to stream them (I have to pick one every day!) . These are defined as “rostered in 20% or fewer leagues,” which 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. You can use the rankings to realize who would be those picks, instead.

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• We have a bevy of aces and while some may have hesitation rolling with Blake Snell after his atrocity last time out, you shouldn’t be overthinking this. I have to think he has a vendetta after his World Series start against the Dodgers.
• And yes, Trevor Bauer is still fourth on this list.

 

• Lots of fun starters are going in the second tier, including John Means against Texas. Here’s to hoping he rebounds well against a poor lineup.
• I know we’re all excited about Freddy Peralta, especially against the Pirates, but don’t rule that his cross-body delivery could return unwelcome chaos.

 

• It was a poor season debut, but I’m still rolling with Jake Odorizzi, especially against the mediocre bats in Seattle.
• Stephen Strasburg was placed on the IL shortly before this post was published and it’s unclear who is starting in his place.

 

• My streaming pick of the day is Kyle Gibson, who has performed well across his last two starts against the Jays and Rays and now have respite against Baltimore. This could work well.
• I swapped Gibson and Robbie Ray as I think I’m a little more confident in Gibson than the small(er) sample we’ve seen from Ray thus far. Here’s to hoping he cruises in Kansas City.

 

• Tanner Houck has returned! Well, just for a spot start as the Red Sox needed an arm after this week’s double-header. His slider is good enough to return strikeouts, but there is a creaky floor here that you may want to avoid when preserving ratios.
• I really hope The Fratty Pirate (aka Ryan Yarbrough) can settle down as he faces the Yankees. To his benefit, the Bronx Bombers have not fit their name lately – Andrew Kittredge will be starting, but Yarbrough will be the bulk.

 

• Reynaldo Lopez has returned as the White Sox square off in a double-header. I have low expectations here and I wouldn’t expect a renaissance season, let alone a single start.
• Alex Wood also makes his return to the mound and even though he’s facing the Marlins, this is a Still ILL. Here’s to hoping he demands our attention.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s a day-off for nearly half the league, but we still have some aces here with Lucas Giolito leading the way despite a somewhat tough matchup against Boston. You can’t say no.
• Slightly tough call between Brandon Woodruff and Joe Musgrove as they square off, but even with the tougher matchup, Woodruff has a longer track record to earn the higher rank.

 

• It wasn’t the shiniest start from Dustin May last time out, but you’re certainly starting him against the Mariners if you have him rostered.
• I sat for a long time wondering if Jesus Luzardo should be in Tier 2 vs. Tier 3 and in the end, I believe Luzardo has the TIARA and should recover in the near future, making his risk worth the reward, moreso than those in Tier 3. He is the lowest option here, though.

 

• I also had a battle between Danny Duffy and Matt Shoemaker. On one hand, Shoemaker has been running with sliders and that could continue against the whiff-heavy Athletics. On the other, Duffy sat 94/95 in his last outing, reminiscent of his 2016 breakout season. It makes Duffy the streamer of the day, but take your pick here.
• The final three of the third tier are distinctly separate from the aforementioned pair and I’m letting Joe Ross take the lead as he’s had a pair of strong outings behind him.

 

• You may be tempted to start Nathan Eovaldi and I’m a little cautious as the White Sox are no joke. In addition, his repertoire has leaned on breakers lately and I’m skeptical that can stick. Be cautious.
• Lastly, there are a trio of potential Tobys who I wouldn’t like to start my week with. Kohei Arihara, Justis Sheffield, and Jose Quintana could demolish your ratios quickly – yes, even if Quintana gets the Rangers. Don’t start them lightly.

 

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