Here are today’s daily SP Streamer rankings.
Every day of the 2023 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:
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 that day’s streaming pick in the second tier and I’d roll with them everywhere. Those in Yellow are 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 (in Alphabetical order):
I’m sure it’ll change through the year + there are differences to be made about teams vs. LHP or RHP, but it works as a general table that y’all should keep in mind.
Alright, let’s get to it.
This year, with our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, I’ll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.
To get access to PL Bot’s picks each day, sign up for PL Pro here.
Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 28-24
My pick yesterday: J.P. France vs MIL
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 26-26
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Ryne Nelson @ PHI
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign Up for PL Pro here.
With the new formatting for the notes, I’ve made the streaming pick of the day Underlined and Italicized.
Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan vs. SFG – AGA. He gets an easier matchup than McShane and Gallen.
Shane McClanahan vs. TOR – AGA. Despite the Jays, it’s McClanahan. Don’t overthink it.
Zac Gallen @ PHI – AGA. Gallen didn’t have his command last time but it was a One Night Bland. You have to start him.
Bryce Miller vs. OAK – He’s killing it and it’s the Athletics. I could even see a case for him at #2.
Nestor Cortes vs. BAL – The slider returned last time out and I may be overly aggressive after just one game of the breaker showing up. I think it’s one of those “ah, there it is” situations and he’ll keep it going against Baltimore.
Probable Starts
Sandy Alcantara @ COL – He was stripped of his AGA tag and now has to endure Coors…and I’m still starting him. The stuff is too good.
James Paxton @ LAA – Paxton is sitting 96 mph with fastballs performing comfortably inside the zone + there’s another level to reach once his secondaries lock in.
Marcus Stroman vs. NYM – Stroman is a QS rock and even against his former squad, he should be thrown out there.
Martín Pérez @ PIT – It’s a fantastic matchup for a Toby.
Anthony DeSclafani @ MIN – Tony Disco does enough to take advantage of a middling Twins offense.
Michael Kopech @ CLE – He just earned 20 whiffs against the Royals, but volatility is the name of the game for Kopech. The Guardians are a perfect litmus test.
Cal Quantrill vs. CHW – It’s a Toby against a weak offense.
Questionable Starts
Tyler Wells @ NYY – I’m astounded by his 0.79 WHIP and sub 3.00 ERA when he’s 90th+ percentile in BABIP (sub 200) and LOB rate (nearly 90%). It’s not going to last, but if you want to Vargas Rule it as he’s earning more whiffs than expected, go for it.
Brandon Bielak @ MIL – Bielak earned plenty of whiffs with his changeup last time and the Brewers are a weak crew, making him our streaming pick of the day. There could be a cheap Win here.
Update: Kodai Senga @ CHC – He’s a Cherry Bomb and those live here.
Tony Gonsolin @ ATL – I don’t trust what Gonsolin does, but he’s kept his head above water thus far. Facing Atlanta doesn’t remove the anxiety, either.
Bryce Elder vs. LAD – Elder’s slider/sinker is overperforming and the Dodgers are a scary offense.
Johan Oviedo vs. TEX – I love the Oviedo we saw last time he started, but Texas is a difficult lineup to face. I really hope the command sticks around.
Zack Greinke vs. DET – Who knows with Greinke, but at least it’s the Tigers.
Tyler Anderson vs. BOS – If the changeup is there, this could work.
Do Not Starts
Yusei Kikuchi @ TBR – He’s too volatile and it’s the Rays.
Ryan Weathers @ WSN – It’s the Nationals, but Weathers doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table.
Matthew Boyd @ KCR – No slider whiffs no start.
Ben Lively vs. STL – He had a ton of whiffs last time and there’s a chance he’s going super slider heavy for another outing…but the Cardinals are hot right now. Too risky.
Tylor Megill @ CHC – There’s nothing new to lean on here from Megill and the Cubs are a solid crew.
Ranger Suárez vs. ARI – He isn’t locked in and not stretched out in full. Avoid this one.
Adrian Houser vs. HOU – Houser has a chance as he chucks fastballs and hopes they find gloves. That floor is terrible because of it.
Trevor Williams vs. SDP – Are the Padres that bad of an offense after all?
Steven Matz @ CIN – Matz is laboring on the bump and a date in Cincy doesn’t spell redemption.
Ken Waldichuk @ SEA – The high walk rate makes for a difficult path to a worthwhile ceiling.
Karl Kauffmann vs. MIA – He’s in Coors and doesn’t do a whole lot with his arsenal.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Logan Gilbert vs. OAK – With his new splitter and a reliable slider, I’m starting to buy into the high strikeout rate from Gilbert + Oakland is glorious.
Logan Webb @ MIL – Webb has a new slider and it could spell the return of a 25% strikeout rate.
Aaron Nola @ ATL – Nola did wonderful things last time out and now gets a proper challenge with Atlanta. You start him and don’t look back.
Lucas Giolito @ DET – I have my questions about the arsenal, but don’t overthink it against the Tigers.
Probable Starts
JP Sears @ SEA – The whiffs are there and despite the 100th percentile flyball rate (which generally leads to a higher HR rate than others), I’m rolling with Sears.
Questionable Starts
Zach Eflin vs. TOR – The past few starts are the best I’ve ever seen Eflin with his new cutter, but the Jays are oh-so-scary. Is it enough to risk it? This was the toughest call of these ranks.
Blake Snell @ WSN – Look, I don’t know when Snell will kick in, but if you want to chance it here, the Nationals are one of the better floors you’ll get.
Kyle Gibson @ NYY – Gibson does whatever Gibson wants on a given day. He’s the prototypical Cherry Bomb.
Do Not Starts
Braxton Garrett @ COL – I’ve been encouraged by Garrett’s new cutter reliance, but Coors is undefeated. It’s too risky.
Alek Manoah @ TBR – He had a good line against the Orioles and yet, didn’t take any tangible steps forward in his repertoire. I’d sit this out against a strong offense.
Miles Mikolas @ CIN – Mikolas has a low ceiling and heads to one of the worst parks to pitch a baseball.
Kyle Freeland vs. MIA – Freeland has had his moments and Hey, it’s the Marlins! and yet…I don’t want this at all.
Clarke Schmidt vs. BAL – I have my concerns that his repertoire simply doesn’t do enough to warrant a spot on fantasy teams. The floor/ceiling balance isn’t there.
Alex Faedo vs. CHW – If the slider is working, there’s a chance Faedo can make this work against an offense that struggles against right-handers.
Carlos Carrasco @ CHC – I have no idea what we’re gonna get from Carrasco and the Cubs are solid.
Jameson Taillon vs. NYM – Same for Taillon, really. He’s been struggling to find any sort of rhythm this year and the Mets are dangerous.
Bryse Wilson? vs. SFG – There’s a chance this is Julio Teheran instead and even typing that sentence made me take another step away from my computer.
Luke Weaver vs. STL – Weaver gets his “revenge” game and is not equipped to come out ahead.
Jake Irvin vs. SDP – The ceiling is far too low.
Dylan Dodd vs. PHI – We haven’t seen him click into place since his fantastic spring and the Phils aren’t the kind of team to welcome Dodd’s ascension with a steering hand.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
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