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: 32-26
My pick yesterday: J.P. France vs. MIN
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 28-30
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Ryne Nelson vs. COL
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
Shane McClanahan @ CHC – You start McShane. Duh.
Zac Gallen vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road, but Gallen hasn’t been at the top of his game lately.
Joe Ryan @ HOU – The matchup hurts, but Ryan has been that good this year. The slider and splitter should come back in this one.
Sandy Alcantara vs. SDP – It’s been a rocky start to the year and we have to trust it’ll smooth out.
Logan Gilbert vs. NYY – The splitter is a gamechanger and he should do well against the Yanks.
Nestor Cortes @ SEA – With the slider earning strikes now, I trust the four-seamer to dominate once again.
Probable Starts
Bryce Elder @ OAK – I was tempted to place him in the top tier with this gorgeous matchup against Oakland.
Martín Pérez @ DET – Pérez is a Toby and we love these matchups against Detroit.
Tony Gonsolin vs. WSN – I don’t think he’s at his peak, but his current state is good enough for the Nationals.
Miles Mikolas vs. KCR – The Royals aren’t enough to push away a start from Mikolas.
Lucas Giolito vs. LAA – Giolito is still trying to get into a rhythm and the Angels could mess him up. Still, worth the gamble.
Brayan Bello vs. CIN – We didn’t see the fastball whiffs return, but Bello has an arsenal that can be a complete package over time. The floor is decently high here hosting the Reds, too.
Questionable Starts
Kyle Gibson vs. CLE – Despite the fantastic matchup, we just don’t know what to expect from Gibson on a given night.
Tyler Anderson @ CHW – The White Sox aren’t scary, but Anderson has been all over the place with his arsenal. I’m not sure what to expect.
Kodai Senga vs. PHI – If Senga has his forkball, he’ll survive. That’s a big IF, sadly.
Brandon Bielak vs. MIN – The changeup has been good and the Twins aren’t too scary.
Johan Oviedo @ SFG – If Oviedo’s four-seamer can earn effective strikes, the slider will do the rest. The Giants are better than I’ve been giving them credit, though.
JP Sears vs. ATL – The whiffs disappeared last time and Atlanta is rough.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. MIL – He’s a Cherry Bomb, even against the Brewers. Super low floor here.
Ben Lively @ BOS – His slider has been ridiculous in the two starts we’ve seen, but I’m skeptical it’ll keep up.
Cal Quantrill @ BAL – If the sinker gets inside and jams enough batters, he’ll survive in Camden.
Ryan Weathers @ MIA – It’s the Marlins, but Weathers also carries a low ceiling with him.
Do Not Starts
Alex Faedo vs. TEX – The slider has been great for two straight starts, but the Rangers crush right-handers. Too risky here.
Ranger Suárez @ NYM – Suárez is getting closer to his ideal self, though I’d wait at least one more with the Mets on the docket.
Zack Greinke @ STL – It’s Greinke. The ceiling is too low for fantasy relevance against any but the worst of offenses.
Kyle Freeland @ ARI – I don’t buy what Freeland has done for a second.
Kyle Hendricks vs. TBR – He didn’t look special in his season debut and the Rays are a tough pull.
Adrian Houser @ TOR – There’s a chance Houser gets outs off the fastball, but it could be a 7 ER clunker, too.
Jake Irvin @ LAD – Irvin has shown very little upside and the Dodgers are a dangerous lineup.
Update: Giants Bullpen vs. PIT – It’s unclear how the Giants are playing this one. Sean Manaea was used out of the pen for under 30 pitches last time out and even if he’s the “bulk guy” and is able to toss 80 in this one, he’s been underwhelming in the opportunities he’s been given.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Aaron Nola @ NYM – I want to feel more confident with the #1 play, but you really can’t deny Nola a start here.
George Kirby vs. NYY – The same goes for Kirby. It’s a little scary against the volatile Yankee offense.
Hunter Brown vs. MIN – Brown has looked great as of late and there’s a case to be made that he’s the #1 play if he can continue to earn plenty of called strikes on the four-seamer.
Mitch Keller @ SFG – He stumbled in his last start and the Giants are a decent crew, but you still roll with the man.
Probable Starts
Shane Bieber @ BAL – Don’t rely on the strikeouts, but there’s enough here inside Camden to make Bieber worth your time.
James Paxton vs. CIN – He struggled with his four-seamer command in his last start, but the Reds don’t fear me inside Fenway…even if Elly De La Cruz gets the call.
Zach Eflin @ CHC – The cutter hasn’t been as stellar lately, but he still brings enough to the table.
Lance Lynn vs. LAA – He’s been on a wonderful stretch, but this is the toughest opponent Lynn has had in weeks.
Blake Snell @ MIA – The curve returned, the slider didn’t, and the four-seamer command disappeared. But hey, it’s the Marlins. You gotta try it…right?
Dane Dunning @ DET – The Tigers can be sneaky good and I hate Dunning’s strikeout potential, but there’s streamability here.
Justin Steele vs. TBR – I almost put him in the third tier as the four-seamer/slider combo is looking vulnerable at the moment + the Rays. I feel like if you have him, you’re leaning Start given his 2023 thus far. Good luck.
Questionable Starts
Jared Shuster @ OAK – Shuster is our streaming pick of the day as he gets the Athletics. The slider looked fantastic last time out and I’m hoping it’s enough to return at least five frames of production.
Louie Varland @ HOU – I really do dig Varland once he’s past the rough schedule as he features a much better four-seamer than the majority of the league.
Braxton Garrett vs. SDP – The new cutter is helping Garrett a ton, but the Padres are a team to fear with Tatis back and Soto looking back to form…even if Machado is on the mend.
Jaime Barría @ CHW – He came out and killed it with his slider last time out and the White Sox are prone to right-handed sliders.
Tommy Henry vs. COL – The big curve and solid changeup may be enough to pull off a decent stream against Rockie Road.
Alex Wood vs. PIT – I don’t trust Wood’s stuff to carry a high ceiling even against the Pirates. It’s riskier than I want it to be.
Clarke Schmidt @ SEA – You’re hoping for five frames of 2 ER ball and a Win. Schmidt hasn’t quite figured out the winning approach yet.
Noah Syndergaard vs. WSN – Thor has been far from what we want him to be, but there’s a decent Win chance here against the Nats.
Do Not Starts
Carlos Carrasco vs. PHI – He showed up with a legit curve instead of a slider last time out, maybe that’s a real thing? It’s too risky against the Phils.
Luke Weaver @ BOS – There’s a touch of upside for Weaver if he has everything locked in, but I don’t want to chase it.
James Kaprielian vs. ATL – When the four-seamer finds the zone, good things happen for Jimmy Hat. Sure don’t want to chance that against Atlanta, though.
Austin Voth vs. CLE – Voth is starting or acting as the bulk reliever in this one and if he is able to go 80 pitches, there actually is some value to be had here against the Guardians. The haze of how they’ll use Voth (and if he’s actually, you know, good) has me staying away.
Alek Manoah vs. MIL – I don’t care it’s the Brewers. Manoah has just been that poor this season.
Dinelson Lamet @ ARI – Hey, it’s Lamet! I’m excited to see him get a chance to start again, though we have to wait and see here. And remember, he pitches for the Rockies now.
Julio Teheran @ TOR – I’m shocked (and not shocked because baseball) Teheran pulled it off for the Brewers last time out, but this is the Jays and y’all know better.
Joey Wentz vs. TEX – Wentz isn’t looking good and the Rangers are a mighty tall hurdle.
Patrick Corbin @ LAD – Corbin had his fun and came back down to Earth.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)