SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 6/14 & 6/15

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: 42-30

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• Just two arms sit in the top tier on Monday as Lance Lynn vs. Tyler Glasnow is set to be a wonderful matchup. Start them both.
• The second tier in thin as well, with Sean Manaea, Alex Wood, and Adam Wainwright each with a solid matchup and the talent to take advantage of it. Let’s just hope Wood’s slider is back, Waino has his cutter, and Manaea is throwing at least 91 mph (if not 92/93!).

 

• The third tier, well that’s where the craziness happens. Kenta Maeda is expected to make his return from the IL and on one hand, I’m excited he got the chance to hit the reset button on the season, especially with a date against the Mariners. On the other, it’s a Still ILL scenario given how long he’s been out for and you may want to play it safe on a Monday.
• The general rules for starting JT Brubaker are “avoid against strong teams, start against average”. The Nationals should qualify for the latter.

 

• Matthew Boyd hasn’t had his slider all year and now his changeup hasn’t been the overwhelming offering it was in April. He should be fine against the Royals, but a low floor is present.
• The streaming pick of the day is Brad Keller opposite Boyd as the Tigers are a team few fear. Keller has 93/94 velocity and is embracing the breaker these days – this could be a solid option.

 

• We saw a small step forward for Dylan Bundy last week, though it’s unclear if he can continue his path of redemption against a quality Athletics lineup. It’s a coin flip here.
• It wasn’t the season debut we hoped for from Tony Gonsolin and I anticipate he’ll find his footing with more time. I’d take the chance that his slider feel returns as he faces the middling Phillies.

 

• I absolutely adore how Austin Gomber has pitched but it’s a hard sell to deal with Coors + the Padres. His stuff has looked great, especially with an emrbace for secondary pitches over fastballs, and this could still work regardless of the opponent.
• Few are happy to see the Jays and Red Sox square off as Nathan Eovaldi and Alek Manoah grant hesitation to fantasy managers everywhere. You may want to play this conservatively.

 

• In the bottom tier, I think we’re over considering David Peterson for a little bit, while Eric Lauer hints at success with a harder cutter, but it isn’t worth the risk in Cincy.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s odd seeing a starter head into Coors and stick as the #1 starter of the day, but it’s hard to argue against Yu Darvish’s rank for Tuesday. You should have confidence he’ll pass the test with flying colors.
• At the bottom of the top tier are Taijuan Walker and Luis Castillo, who both are given little reason not to trust them in decent matchups. Castillo hasn’t gotten the changeup whiffs back, but he’s throwing hard and gets a middling Brewers lineup, while Walker has been flat-out fantastic.

 

• Despite facing the Astros, you can’t deny Kyle Gibson’s ability to succeed regardless of his opponent. Until he hits that major wall, we’re riding this train.
• Casey Mize lands in the second spot as he’s done well with both his slider and fastball across the last few weeks. I’m skeptical that they can both perform this well through the full season, but he’s well worth the gamble against the Royals.

 

• Lance McCullers is returning for the Astros and will be limited as Jake Odorizzi follows. I’d rather start Jake of the two as he’ll have a great chance at a Win, though McCullers should be started as I expect his quality of inning to be worth your time.
• Frankie Montas has been a solid play with 97+ mph fastballs and a slider that has begun to earn whiffs. Hopefully his splitter will be the next to take the step forward, while the Angels aren’t a major deterrent to hold back Montas along the journey.

 

• It’s a massive third tier as we’re served a mix of poor matchups to generally productive arms & great matchups for pitchers who give us hesitation. Leading off is Mike Minor who looks like a Tier 2 play with a date against Detroit, but his recent performance was a product of pristine command, command I’m not sure will return against the Tigers.
• Andrew Heaney is as volatile of a pitcher you’ll find and despite two straight successes, his legit Cherry Bomb label makes us wonder what we’ll see against Oakland. If you need strikeouts, go for it.

 

• Shane McClanahan got roughed up last time out + he gets the White Sox + he still hasn’t gone six innings. I love the stuff, but the ceiling is capped and the floor is…icky.
• The streaming pick of the day is Sammy Long, who showcased a lovely curveball against the Rangers paired with a 93 mph heater from the left side. I question how many innings he’ll get and if his repertoire is enough to ensure a quality performance, but he’s the best of the options available on Tuesday.

 

• It’s sad to see Patrick Corbin facing the Pirates and not placing him in the second tier, but sadly Corbin hasn’t had the velocity nor slider whiffs as of late. Here’s to a start that reinvigorates our adoration.
• There’s a tough matchup between Atlanta and Boston featuring Tucker Davidson and Eduardo Rodriguez. Tucker is a solid streaming option, but against the Red Sox, I have hesitation. Rodriguez hasn’t been locked in with his fastball/changeup all year, and Atlanta can take advantage. Both have the ceiling of six frames with a good amount of strikeouts, though, granting them the bottom spots of the third tier.

 

• In the final tier, Cal Quantrill could be impressive enough to warrant your trust in a deep league against Baltimore, but I’d avoid in all but desperate situations.
• Save for Chris Flexen, whose cutter had a moment in the sun, and just isn’t the consistent pitch you want it to be.

 

Photo by Tom Hagerty | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)