Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings – 9/16 & 9/17

Every day of the 2022 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today and tomorrow’s slate of scheduled starting pitchers and ranking their matchups for your fantasy baseball streams.

There’s a lot that goes into this and you can hang out with me on Twitch.tv/pitcherlist to talk about the specific ranks as I make them every weekday morning from 10am – 12pm ET. If you have questions about these ranks, please ask during the morning Twitch AMA. Those are my office hours as I generally don’t answer comments on the site.

There are four tiers to these rankings with 12-teamers in mind (Updated 9/10):

Auto-Start – Just do it. Don’t overthink this, start the man. This includes “if I have them rostered, I’m starting them” pitchers.

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-not-elite pitcher or a weak lineup for a volatile arm. These pitchers have a 50% or greater chance of performing well in my view.

Questionable Start – Think of this tier as “I don’t want to start these pitchers in a vacuum, but you could do worse.” Streamers found in this tier are not pitchers I’m targeting and are only if you are in dire need of one. To play it safe with streaming, just start the Probably Start streamers.

Do Not Start – The reward is not worth the risk. Don’t do it. Seriously, these pitchers have a very slim chance of success or sometimes none at all.

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 throughout 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. Those in Yellow in the third tier and should be okay if you’re searching for something on a given day, but I don’t recommend streaming unless you’re in need. 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.

(Opener) – Outlines that a pitcher is being opened for that day & the pitcher listed will follow the opener.

As I do my rankings, I thought it would be helpful to showcase a table of how we’re ranking offenses:

I’m sure it’ll change through the year + there are differences to be made about teams vs. LHP or RHP, but it’s a great general table that y’all should keep in mind.

Alright, let’s get to it.

 

2022 Streamer Record: 88-66

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• It’s ace day, which means my streamer gives me pain, but you also have plenty of lovely starts waiting for you on Friday. I struggled with where to place Justin Verlander as I anticipate the Astros will limit him heavily in his return – we may see a piggyback game here. Still, I don’t think he’ll hurt your teams in the innings he pitches, making him an auto-start.
• There are a few arms coming off tough games that I’m still starting everywhere – Jack Flaherty, Jesús Luzardo, Dustin May, and Marcus Stroman. The matchups are too dang good and these pitchers are too talented to pass up.

 

• In the second tier, it’s hard not to have concern for Logan Webb facing the Dodgers, pushing him into the second tier. I’m going with it in my leagues, but I understand your hesitation if you need to be conservative.
• Frankie Montas is another who is sure to give managers anxiety, though I think his stuff warrants a start against the Brewers.

 

• The third tier is short and begins with Josiah Gray against the Marlins. Gray hasn’t fared well as of late, but the Marlins are a team that can bring out the best. 7+ strikeouts could be in order.
• My reluctant streaming pick of the day is Michael Lorenzen in his second start back from the IL. No, I don’t enjoy this pick, but I grasp he can go at least five productive frames and look at the other options – not a whole lot else to choose. Yes, I see Mitch Keller against the Mets. Not a chance.

 

• In the bottom tier, maybe I’m discounting Matt Manning too much, but I don’t think his four-seamer/slider combo is special and it’s far too dangerous to start.
• Germán Márquez is on the road against the Cubs, opening the door for a chance at fantasy relevance. He’s all kinds of volatile, though, and I’d rather find a different option for the weekend.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

• Outside the top half of the ranks, I had a little trouble with Joe Musgrove’s spot given his recent turmoil. His slider and curve were better last time out, though, and he has a great chance to shine against the Diamondbacks.
• It’s not confirmed exactly what the Cardinals are doing for their doubleheader (is it Dakota Hudson instead of Monty?) but for now, if Jordan Montgomery and José Quintana are pitching against the Reds, you dang well better start them.

 

• Sidenote: If it is Dakota Hudson, I’d place him at the top of the Questionable Start tier. He has a chance at a quality start against a poor offense.

 

• In the second tier, Johnny Cueto’s 2022 magic seems to be fading a touch, though it’s the Tigers. Surely he’s worth a start here, yeah?
• Our streaming pick of the day is Wade Miley as he faces Rockie Road. He’s looked sharp in his first two starts back from the IL and with his pitch count rising, he’s worth the start against a poor offense.

 

• I’m digging the return of Trevor Rogers‘ changeup and you can’t deny him Natty Lite after nine strikeouts against the Rangers. That said, his command isn’t completely back to normal and there is a hint of worry if his mistakes land in the middle of the zone, even against the Nationals.
• Despite a low pitch count incoming for Jon Gray, I’d still let him fly against the Rays. His velocity was sitting pretty at 96 mph with his filthy slider working per usual. It’s the man you loved in the heat of summer.

 

• The questionable start tier has a few intriguing names at the top. Jake Odorizzi had a rough line against the Mariners, though I believe his ability was better than the box score. There’s a decent chance he comes through against the Phils.
• Rich Hill has made it clear he’s a Cherry Bomb, while Kyle Bradish is producing despite a tough schedule. I’m not sold that Bradish can do it against the Jays, but he’s proven me wrong multiple times now.

 

• I know we don’t trust Erick Fedde, but the Marlins are the one exception to the rule. He gets them twice in a row now and I’m willing to wager he comes through for at least one. Hopefully it’s this one.
• Maybe you can steal a cheap Win from Ryan Yarbrough against the Rangers, while Eduardo Rodriguez reaaaalllly shouldn’t be started. I think his arsenal looks nothing like what we’re accustomed to from the former Boston southpaw.

 

• In the bottom tier, Hunter Greene is expected to return from the IL to start for the Reds…against the Cardinals. It’s a clear Still ILL to me, though I won’t rule out an amped-up Greene who blows heaters past St. Louis batters.
• Look, it’s José Ureña. But he’s somehow made it work at times and this is outside of Coors and against the Cubs. If there ever was a chance…

 

Featured Image by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)