SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 6/2 & 6/3

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: 39-21

 

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

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• After making it a point to add more arms to the top tier, here we have just two pitchers for Wednesday. Walker Buehler and Lance Lynn are clear starts and there isn’t much more to add here. Start them. Duh.
• You could have a case that Alek Manoah is an auto-start as well as he faces the Marlins, though it feels strange to elevate him after just one start in the majors. We just don’t know if he can perform at a high level with consistency.

 

• Pablo Lopez is on the opposite side of Manoah, and like Sandy Alcantara, it’ll be a tough evening against the Jays. If you have him, you’re starting him, and let’s wish him luck
• It’s great to see Sean Manaea carrying 92+ mph velocity with changeups and curveballs working in his favor. Start him with confidence against the mediocre Mariners squad.

 

• It’ll be a fun matchup between Shane McClanahan and Jordan Montgomery, two southpaws with high CSW marks, yet get there with dramatically different stuff. I think both should perform well enough to benefit your teams, though Shane is in a better place to justify the higher ranking.
• Leading off the third tier is Madison Bumgarner, whose command has been shaky the last few outings. Still, his fastball velocity is still elevated and this start may pay dividends against the Mets if he’s able to calibrate.

 

• The streaming pick of the day is Randy Dobnak as he faces the Orioles. I’m not in love with this one as Dobnak sputtered against the middling Royals lineup last time out, but he has the best mix of floor and ceiling out of the options available. Let’s hope the slide piece is there and BABIP is in his favor.
• We’re all falling for Adbert Alzolay these days, though he gets a legit challenge against the Padres. It’s a tough call and I’d start him if I needed to pad my strikeout totals at the cost of possibly damaging ERA and WHIP.

 

• In the final tier, I don’t believe Dinelson Lamet will get enough innings to make the start worthwhile. It’s sad, really, and I look forward to future days where Lamet can throw 90+ pitches again.
• David Peterson may be considered a decent streaming option, though he failed to come through against the Diamondbacks a few weeks back, as the crew performs better against left-handers. It’s not for me.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• The top tier is obvious with Gerrit Cole and Yu Darvish, though Ian Anderson is a clear third wheel after struggling last time out against the Mets. Still, he should be depended on for a bounce-back and started in leagues.
• Dallas Keuchel hasn’t given you the best results as of late, but the Tigers are weak against left-handers and I expect Keuchel to capitalize.

 

• Continuing in Tier 2, Taijuan Walker may be getting a Padres lineup missing Fernando Tatis Jr., soothing the gauntlet that is the San Diego lineup. If you’re rostering Walker, you’re obviously starting him.
• Griffin Canning has bounced between success and failure and he’s fortunate to get a date with the Mariners on Thursday. A 7+ strikeout game could be in the cards, making him the streaming pick of the day.

 

• Anthony DeSclafani hasn’t had the easiest of schedules as of late and while the Cubs are far from the weakest crews out there, it should work in Tony Disco’s favor.
• Entering Tier 3 is Tyler Anderson, who many may have discarded after a rough stretch. He’s slated for the Marlins, though, and his changeup/cutter/fastball approach could carve up the struggling offense.

 

• It’s been a Cherry Bomb season from Adam Wainwright, which could also be said about the Reds’ offense. Take the chance if you’d like and hope Waino has his cutter + curveball combo working.
• On the other side is…yeah. Luis Castillo. Maybe Thursday is the day, y’all. Maybe it is.

 

• Casey Mize has been on a wonderful stretch, though the string of opponents has been mostly in his favor. The White Sox are a true test and let’s see if he’s able to squeeze out fantasy relevance with his slider and splitter.
• The starters in this tier are all truly “questionable” and I can see a scenario where Patrick Corbin has his slider + fastball again, taking down an Atlanta offense without their big middle-of-the-lineup bat.

 

• In the bottom tier, Kris Bubic was improved in his last outing, but still has a bit of command questions to answer with his changeup. There’s a chance he’s able to work through the Twins’ bats, but it’s not worth the risk.
• Justus Sheffield hasn’t proven himself as a proper Toby who can take advantage of a solid matchup. I wouldn’t trust this one.

 

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