SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 6/3 & 6/4

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: 39-22

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• The top tier is obvious with Gerrit Cole and Yu Darvish, and Lance Lynn joins the pair as his start was pushed to today.
• 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 few 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.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• Despite getting Atlanta + Houston, I’m still auto-starting Julio Urías and Hyun Jin Ryu as they are capable of performing well against strong offenses. They deserve your confidence.
• Freddy Peralta is on such a groove right now, I don’t see a scenario where you don’t start him against Arizona.

 

• In the second tier, Shohei Ohtani has a lovely date with the Mariners and leans on the side of favorable outcomes instead of disastrous. His fastball velocity wasn’t quite back up to its elite levels last time out, but it was a significant improvement on its previous low 90s affair.
• I know the struggles of Blake Snell have been tough to endure, but he gets a Mets lineup that is still dealing with significant injuries. Play it safe if you like, I’m siding with a bounceback game.

 

• Dallas Keuchel hasn’t been at his best as of late, though his vacation begins Friday as he gets the Tigers in Chicago. I’d be starting him everywhere I could.
• Kicking off the third tier is our streaming pick of the day, Logan Webb. He amassed 13 slider whiffs in his last start against the Dodgers and could carry the momentum into this start against the Cubs. Be wary, though, we’ve seen him fluctuate between outings this season.

 

• Ian Anderson was pushed back from a start against the Mets (sweet!) to a start against the Dodgers (ugggh). He certainly has the ability to overcome it, but it makes for a difficult choice.
• Joining Anderson as a big name with a tough matchup are Zack Greinke and Frankie Montas. The Jays feel like a team to avoid and may warrant a sit for Greinke, while Montas is dealing with Coors. Tough break as he’s looked as good as ever lately.

 

• I want to like Josh Fleming against the Rangers more, however there’s a lot of haze as to how Fleming will be used by the Rays. It could be sub five frames, as a starter or a reliever, and it’s not a lock he performs in the frames he gets.
• Cody Poteet rounds out the tier as he has a solid matchup against the Pirates. He’s been a popular stream in May, though his skills don’t guarantee success here.

 

• Jon Gray falls from the third to the fourth tier after getting pushed from a date with the Rangers to the Athletics. He has a better ceiling than all of the other options, but the floor is incredibly low.
• Mitch Keller gets the Marlins and I still wouldn’t trust it, even if he’s had a touch of success lately. Just too much volatility.

 

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