SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings – 6/5 & 6/6

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: 39-24

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s ace day on Saturday as Jacob deGrom matches up against Joe Musgrove in San Diego. Do yourself a favor and watch this game.
• Rich Hill slides into the bottom of the tier as he gets a date with the Rangers. With the way he’s pitching, I don’t see a scenario where he isn’t an auto-start.

 

• In the second tier, it’s a short stack with just Yusei Kikuchi and Jose Urquidy. Kikuchi is the safer player with a comfortable date against the Angels, while Urquidy had no trouble against the Red Sox last time out, giving us confidence he’ll survive Buffalo.
• I was tempted to place Alex Cobb in the second tier as well and even though he is the streaming pick of the day as he faces the Mariners, we still don’t know if his splitter will be good enough to warrant a must-add.

 

• Deeper in the third tier are your standard tough matchups and borderline abilities. Tarik Skubal is feeling his slider as of late and could carry it against a solid ChiSox squad, while Charlie Morton has a difficult evening scheduled against the Dodgers and Jameson Taillon’s struggles could continue as he endures the Sawx.
• Merrill Kelly is a sneaky stream against the Brewers. While he wasn’t in top form against the Mets last week, he’s flashed upside that could come out against a mediocre Milwaukee crew.

 

• I’m not going to rule out Joe Ross succeeding against the Phillies as he earned himself a Golden Goal over the weekend. There’s apparent risk, but keep him in mind for a desperate stream.
• Mike Minor has been performing questionably well, where the strikeouts have been there but his repertoire doesn’t speak to prolonged success. I can see some chasing it against a volatile Twins offense.

 

• In the final tier, I hope we get to see Spencer Howard stretched out and performing well with his secondaries. However, we haven’t quite seen him lock in yet, and this could fall as flat as a pancake.
• I’m curious to see if Ross Stripling can pull it out against a talented Houston lineup. He slightly tweaked his arm circle recently and could be trending in the right direction.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• At the top are your usual suspects as Trevor Bauer shouldn’t be denied the top spot regardless of a decent Atlanta offense.
• Sandy Alcantara hasn’t earned his AGA label yet – two struggles against the best pair of teams he’s faced – but a start against Pittsburgh? Absolutely.

 

• Marcus Stroman has to endure the Padres, though with the way he’s pitching, I can’t imagine a manager electing to sit him.
• Do you start Max Fried against the Dodgers? I say so. Yes, he wasn’t at his sharpest last time and the Dodgers are a strong team. You have to have faith that the skills will overcome more often than not.

 

• Domingo German also has a difficult time on Sunday and I’m electing letting him roll as his curveball has been on point over the last month.
• Opposite of Stroman is Chris Paddack who has struggled to find his 2019 groove this season. His fastball is improving, though, and is worth the gamble.

 

• Leading the way in the third tier is Dane Dunning as the streaming pick of the day. He was far from sharp against the Angels, though he’s showcased the ability to take advantage of middling offenses through the year and the Rays shouldn’t give him a hard time.
• Wade Miley had a lucious cutter last time out and would seem like a solid pay for Sunday. The big hiccup here is how well St. Louis performs against left-handers – #3 in wRC+! – pushing him down the ranks.

 

• I can’t deny how well Luis Garcia has been dealing despite the rough schedule and even with a date in Buffalo, Garcia should still be heavily considered.
• This current run from Garrett Richards is a bit suspiscious without his slider of old, however it did take a step forward in his last start and could continue the trend against the volatile Yankee offense.

 

• John Gant is on a ridiuclous strech and forces his way into consideration even when facing a Reds team that sits near the top of runs scored this season.
• Logan Gilbert had solid results last week, though we’re still waiting for his curveball and slider to take their proper leaps forward. This is a dangerous start against the Angels, even with Mike Trout missing.

 

• In the final tier, I just can’t start Steven Matz as he hosts the Astros. It seems like a recipe for disaster.
• I can’t help but be intriguied by Caleb Smith, though we shouldn’t expect many frames and he hasn’t unlocked his full potential yet.

 

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