SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 5/28 & 5/29

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.

 

2021 Streamer Record: 36-17

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• Nothing special here in the top tier, save for Ian Anderson getting the bump to the top with his matchup against the Mets. It really is a tough time to score runs with that crew at the moment.
• The second tier is a small affair as well, with two southpaws in Sean Manaea and Madison Bumgarner holding the fort. Bumgarner still has his 91/92 mph heater working for him, while Manaea got his velocity back in the last start. Both should be comfortable starts.

 

• The third tier kicks off with Dallas Keuchel as he gets the lefty-loving Orioles. Keuchel was in a good place around the edges against the Yankees and was plenty closer to success than his short outing would suggest. This could be a standard Toby affair against Baltimore.
• Adbert Alzolay has excelled with his slider and faces a volatile Cincy offense. There’s an unwelcome floor, but Alzolay could run away with a bunch of strikeouts.

 

• On one hand, it’s Jon Gray out of Coors and facing the Pirates. On the other, Gray has notoriously been more successful in Colorado for some odd reason. He’s been relying heavily on his slider through the year and it could be enough to succeed in Pittsburgh.
• The streaming pick of the day is Martin Perez as he could steal a Win against the Marlins. His lack of leash makes me favor him over the decent start slated for Randy Dobnak against the Royals.

 

• It’s the return of Framber Valdez and I’m incredibly conflicted. He performed like an ace in 2020, but it’s been a long time between then, with a clear disruption with his finger injury. This is also a Still ILL and he’s facing a tough Padres offense. However, it could just be more of the same and give you 5+ quality frames. Up to you if you want to take the chance.
• On the other side of the ball is Dinelson Lamet, who may be getting a proper start…and last about three innings? Maybe four or five? We’re still in the dark about the Padres’ plans for Lamet, making this one too risky to start against the Astros.

 

• The Dodgers may still be without Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger, but I’m still scared starting Anthony DeSclafani against them as he got rocked last time out. Tony Disco is likely worth the hold through this outing, even if he is on the bench.
• Taijuan Walker could return from his IL stint to start tomorrow against Atlanta and I’m skeptical he can provide value. His momentum has been interrupted + Atlanta is a solid squad, even without Marcell Ozuna or Travis d’Arnaud.

 

• Yes, Cody Poteet has been on a roll to start his 2021 campaign, but now he gets the strong Red Sox lineup. You don’t want this.
• Casey Mize has been pitching at his best as of late, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw him out there in the game where Giancarlo Stanton returns to the lineup.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• We have a sizeable top tier with Yu Darvish seizing the #1 spot despite the toughest matchup of the bunch. He’s been simply too good, while often going seven frames per start. The man deserves it.
• Yes, Freddy Peralta has a spot in the top crew as he faces the Nationals. He’s the most volatile one there, but he’s been able to be in rhythm more often than not so far this season and hopefully it’ll stay that way on Saturday.

 

• In the second tier, Adam Wainwright leads the way as he’s proven to go deep into games and take advantage of weak opponents.
• JT Brubaker has had a tough go of it across his last two games, but things should be easier now as he gets to play host to Rockie Road.

 

• Despite the recent struggles, Patrick Corbin showed solid skills with nine slider whiffs and a fastball flirting with 93 mph in his last outing. Expect another step forward against the Brewers.
• Austin Gomber feasted on a road start in New York and gets another lovely matchup as he heads to Pittsburgh, making him the streaming pick of the day. He’s looking great with his secondary stuff and I’d feel confident rolling with this.

 

• If Gomber is unavailable, consider Justin Dunn, who is throwing harder than ever and can find whiffs with his slider or curveball on a given night. An evening with the Rangers should lean in his favor.
• It hasn’t been a smooth road for Nathan Eovaldi over the last month, though he can calibrate himself against the Marlins – at the very least, the Red Sox offense should help ease the burden a bit.

 

• At the start of the third tier is Luis Castillo, who has severed the trust of managers everywhere. Who knows, maybe this is the start where everything clicks and he begins his string of dominance. Those that disagree with this rank, make sure to acknowledge those below him – there’s a reason all them are listed as “questionable”.
• Including Deivi Garcia, who is getting the ball to replace Corey Kluber. He hasn’t pitched more than five frames in the minors this season and is coming off a 2.2 frame blowup in Triple-A. That said, he could still succeed against Detroit as he’ll likely stay in the rotation for a good while.

 

• Ross Stripling had a strong performance in “relief” last time out and could carry his high-performing four-seamer into another game against the weak Cleveland squad.
• Jake Odorizzi is returning from the IL, though it’s a clear Still ILL as he has a tough date with the Padres. Wait and see before making a move.

 

Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)