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: 91-73
Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- These schedules keep changing on us and it’s important to monitor the shifts for the weekend ahead. The top tier isn’t a whole lot different, though, save for Shane McClanahan going a day earlier against the Marlins. You better make sure he’s in that lineup.
- I can see some worrying about Huascar Ynoa against the Padres after his last outing. His fastball/combination has been excellent all year and I would be surprised if they didn’t pull him to the finish line with ease.
- In the second tier, John Means is now going tomorrow, making for a shorter tier and Ranger Suárez at the top. He’s been nothing but solid and gets yet another great matchup against the Pirates.
- Framber Valdez has performed well over the past few weeks and despite a solid offense in Oakland, I’m starting him where I can.
- In the third tier, Tyler Anderson is our streaming pick of the day as I try to go 9-for-10 in streams to end the season and hit the coveted 100 Wins for the season (it’s not going to happen). Anderson has looked like the Spider-Man this season and a date with the mediocre Angels should continue the narrative for at least one more start.
- The options after Anderson are…rough. All of these pitchers carry a low floor and solid ceiling, giving these starts the potential to make or break your season. Will Sean Manaea bounce back from 91 mph velocity? Can Jaime Barria be a Toby against the Mariners? Is Zac Gallen going to reclaim the feel for all his secondary pitches? Good luck everyone.
- In the final tier, Eli Morgan is once again a Cherry Bomb option. He performed against the Yankees, but the White Sox should have their full crew and be ready to pounce if his fastball command isn’t there.
- Those desperate for something on Saturday could consider Jordan Lyles against the Orioles as he at least has the potential to go six frames on the back of his 2021-edition slider. I wouldn’t chance it in normal circumstances.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
- Welcome to Sunday. Thigns have changed dramatically since I made this table back on Monday and hopefully these probably pitchers stick for your pickups to not go to waste.
- I was absolutely shocked to find Shane Baz hovering the 20% rostership rate and he becomes an incredibly rare “Auto-start” streamer as he faces the Marlins. I imagine he’ll go five innings of quality here as his stuff is as legit as any prospect pitcher you’ll find.
- The second tier comes with two decent arms in great matchups and two solid arms with questionable matchups. John Means and Marco Gonzales are being fed the bottom of the hitting barrel and should be productive during their time on the bump.
- Meanwhile, the horrible schedules of Joe Musgrove and Kevin Gausman continue and it’s tough for fantasy managers. Their ceilings are worth your time while the floor isn’t cataclysmic, but I understand your hesitation if you’d prefer to play it safe on a Sunday.
- In the third tier, some may be shocked to see Tyler Mahle as he hosts the Nationals. I hate to do it, but he truly has been a different pitcher inside his home park. This is riskier than it seems.
- Jake Odorizzi is borderline here, but those looking for a Win on a Sunday could consider Odorizzi as he has a good chance of going five with the lead as the Astros face off against Paul Blackburn.
- In the bottom tier, I would reluctantly be going with Jake Woodford (aka The Amish Mustang) as my streaming pick if it weren’t for Baz. The Cardinals are red hot and Woodford boasts a sub 4.00 ERA on the year. He can go 5+ here without the worst ratios and steal a Win on a desperate Sunday…or he could go a trio of frames and pull you down further. It’s Sunday, only take the chances you need to take.
- If you’re in the need for strikeouts, Jesús Luzardo is the better play than Woodford but the Rays are a tough crew and it spells plenty of danger.
- In Detroit, Wily Peralta and Kris Bubic square off and could each provide value on Sunday. Peralta did go seven frames against the Rays in his last start, after all.
- Finally, I suggest avoiding Josh Rogers despite his last two starts of success. Don’t forget, he played the Marlins and an afternoon in Cincinnati is completely different.
Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)