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, there are my streaming picks of the day, and please keep in mind that I am forced to pick a streamer every day. Those highlighted in Green are in the second tier and I’d roll with them everywhere. The most common are those in Yellow in the third tier and should be decent if you’re searching for something on a given day. Finally, those are Red are those I really don’t want to start (they are labeled as “Do Not Start”, after all) but have no other choice. Don’t stream these guys until you are truly desperate. A streaming pick is 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: 75-56
Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- Sunday is a rough day. We only have two pitchers in the top tier, neither consider elite options for the full year. Adam Wainwright has been a wonderful surprise this year and should be able to cruise through the weak Pirates lineup. Meanwhile, Logan Webb cannot be stopped and should be started essentially blindly until further notice.
- I debated if Sandy Alcantara deserved to re-enter the top tier or not and I elected to make him the top paly of the second tier as he heads to the hitter-haven in Cincinnati.
- Framber Valdez has not had his sinker working as well as we saw in 2020, but a date with the Mariners should be relatively safe.
- I’ve adored the splitter and slider we’ve seen from Frankie Montas over the past month and despite a tough date with the Giants, I’m throwing him out there.
- It’s a cushy schedule for Vladimir Gutiérrez down the stretch, Sunday’s matchup against the Marlins very much included. He’s a Toby and he’s ready to produce.
Luis Gil still hasn’t allowed a single ER after three starts and there’s a chance his legend grows against the Twins. His fastball is overpowering enough to make it a possibility.UPDATE: This game has already been postponed.
- It’s not fun seeing John Means in the third tier, but he’s been roughed up lately and I’m not confident his command on both his fastball and changeup will be there Sunday. He’s still the best questionable call to make and let’s hope it works out.
- Marcus Stroman and David Price are squaring off in Los Angeles and I’d personally avoid both options where I could. The Dodgers are no joke + Price hasn’t found his groove quite yet.
- The streaming pick of the day is Carlos Hernández as he gets a lovely date with the Cubs. He pounds 95-97 mph heaters with a developing slider and could succeed as he faces his first weak lineup.
- Alec Mills and José Suarez are two dire options for those in need on Sunday as they’ve shown the ability to be a Toby in the past and each face a mediocre offense.
- In the bottom tier, I would avoid Adrian Houser if I could. He’s done well against the Pirates but not a whole lot else with the ceiling not worth the floor.
Griffin Jax has had his moments over the last few weeks but I don’t think his stuff is good enough to hold off a Yankee offense that has recently come alive.UPDATE: This game has already been postponed.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- It’s Monday with just six games being played and sadly we have very few good options to kick off our weeks. Even the #1 play seems a little shaky with Lance Lynn facing the Jays. Without George Springer in the lineup, Toronto has been a little more subdued, but it doesn’t mean Lynn is a lock for demolition.
- Zack Greinke isn’t the flashiest, but he sure is stable and against the Royals, you’re obviously starting him everywhere.
- In the second tier, Alek Manoah has been on fire, but the Chicago White Sox offense could give him a difficult time. I’d still start him, of course, but he avoids the top tier because of that risk.
- Huascar Ynoa returned from the IL and had both his fastball velocity and slider command. The Yankees are tough, but you have to start Ynoa here.
- It’s been great watching Marco Gonzales go on a hot stretch over the last six weeks and the Athletics aren’t a big enough threat to make me reconsider riding this wave.
- With Sunday’s postponement, it looks like Luis Gil would get pushed to Monday to face Atlanta. He’s yet to allow a single ER and with his excellent heater and a little luck, the streak could continue.
- Adbert Alzolay is the lone cat in the third tier and is also my streaming pick of the day. Slim pickings and I’m not a fan of Alzolay’s current rhythm, but it is Rockie Road and if he has his slider, he can make it well worth your while.
- It’s too bad Daniel Lynch has to face an offense like Houston, though he has the ability to leave the match unscathed – he allowed just 1 ER across seven innings just last week. It’s unlikely for him to repeat his success, but I hope he defies us once again.
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