SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 5/29 & 5/30

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: 38-18

 

Note: We went back and realized I had missed calculating one streaming win and one loss across the season.

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• There are plenty of double-headers today, meaning guys like Ian Anderson, Dallas Keuchel, and Taijuan Walker have jumped into the rankings today. Take note of the changes
• Jon Gray is getting his start against the Pirates today and I still like Austin Gomber instead – Gray is famous for pitching worse on the road, after all.

 

• 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.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s going to be a fantastic game in DC with Max Scherzer and Brandon Woodruff squaring off in the top tier. You don’t want to miss that one.
• Sandy Alcantara and Kevin Gausman each have a pair of tough offenses ahead, though they both have enough talent to succeed regardless of the opponent. Well, Sandy is a little more questionable after his start against the Dodgers, but he should still fare well.

 

• The second tier is a bit dicey. Yusei Kikuchi leads off as he’s pitching in rhythm and gets a fantastic date with the Rangers. This is nearly a Tier 1 start.
• Tyler Mahle didn’t have his fastball command in his previous outing, making this a bit more concerning than I’d like. However, there’s hesitation with all of the Tier 2 plays today (weird, I know) and I’ll bank on Mahle’s fastball rebound more than the others.

 

• Zach Eflin and Eduardo Rodriguez seem like safe plays given their opponents, vaulting them above Blake Snell and Aaron Civale, who each present lower floors than you’d like to see given their upside.

 

• Steven Matz is fresh off a ten-strikeout performance and now gets a field day against Cleveland. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a manager not starting Matz here.
• Jameson Taillon sneaks in above Zack Greinke simply because of the easier matchup against the Tigers over the Padres. I can understand some wanting Greinke or even Taillon in the next tier, but at the end of the day, if you have them on your teams, you’re starting them.

 

• The third tier is small for Sunday. Cole Irvin leads the way as he’s acted as a Toby through the season, while Kwang Hyun Kim gets a spot as he has one of his easier matchups of the year…maybe. The Diamondbacks have performed better against lefties this season.
• Tarik Skubal gets the streaming pick of the day as the Yankee offense has floundered as of late + Skubal is leaning more on his slider as of late. I’ve given it the “hesitant” yellow tag, but he presents the highest ceiling on the waiver wire.

 

• In the final tier, Brad Keller sits at the top as someone who could have his fastball/slider combo working and excel despite the Twins matchup. It’s too risky to place him in tier three, but he’s a solid deep option.
• I’m sorry Kyle Freeland, I just don’t think you’re in a good enough place yet for me to trust you, even if you get to square off against the Pirates. Same for you, Chad Kuhl, who gets to host Rockie Road on the other end.

 

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)