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: 36-30
My pick yesterday: Louie Varland vs. TBR
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 33-33
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Hayden Wesneski @ LAA
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
Zack Wheeler vs. DET – He’s had his ups and downs, but it’s the Tigers and Wheeler’s heater is still elite.
Corbin Burnes vs. BAL – Aces gonna hopefully ace if he gets his secondaries working.
Max Scherzer @ ATL – Atlanta is tough, but Scherzer has dominated regardless of opposition.
George Kirby @ SDP – There’s a temptation to raise him above Scherzer, but the Padres are a solid crew.
Probable Starts
Jon Gray vs. STL – Maybe Gray belongs in the top tier as the Cardinals are struggling, though his four-seamer isn’t the elite pitch I want it to be. Still, he’s cruising right now.
Edward Cabrera vs. KCR – As long as he tosses enough strikes, Cabrera will come out on top against the Royals.
Tanner Bibee vs. BOS – There’s still growth to be had with Bibee as he’s figuring out how to command his full repertoire with consistency.
Pablo López @ TBR – The changeup has been a little off but I imagine it’ll come back as his velocity and sweeper are still great. He’s not a 4.54 ERA pitcher, y’all.
Charlie Morton vs. NYM – He’s a premium Cherry Bomb and I think you have to do it against the Mets.
Logan Webb @ COL – It’s Coors, but Webb has been killing it. I wonder if we’ll see the slider step up or if the changeup will do all the work once again.
Chris Bassitt vs. HOU – Kitchen sink guys are generally less prone to the blowup start against tougher opponents. Start Bassitt.
Michael Wacha vs. SEA – He’s the biggest point of contention in the second tier and given how well Wacha has been with his command, I think we go for it.
Questionable Starts
Lance Lynn @ NYY – I was tempted to put him in tier two, but I worry that his great stretch was feasting on weak teams after his last outing against the Angels. High risk/reward here, though if Aaron Judge is sitting, it may make for a higher floor.
Dean Kremer @ MIL – I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Kremer fan, but he’s able to six frames for a solid Win chance while the Brewers aren’t a team to fear.
Hogan Harris @ PIT – A sneaky stream here, especially if the Athletics elect to use an opener. He’s a craft lefty who could come through against a mediocre offense.
Jhony Brito vs. CHW – He’s back in the majors with Nestor Cortes on the mend and may be able to go five for the Win for the Yankees.
Roansy Contreras vs. OAK – I’m not a believer in Contreras, but the Athletics makes believers in many.
Jack Flaherty @ TEX – It’s the Rangers. If it were an easier opponent, Flaherty would be in tier two.
Zach Davies @ WSN – There’s a chance he has his changeup, but it hasn’t been there as of late. Could be a sneaky stream as well.
Do Not Starts
Reese Olson @ PHI – I was impressed by his slider movement, vicious changeup, and a fastball that can survive inside the zone. That said, it was just one outing and we may see a massive drop off in command. The floor is too low for me.
UPDATE: Randy Vásquez vs. CHW – The Yankees are calling up Vásquez, not Brito, and I’m a little turned off by the air quality in the Bronx right now due to the Canada wildfires. It feels too risky overall.
Jameson Taillon @ LAA – Taillon had better form with his secondaries last time out, but we need to see consistency before we lean on this.
Jaime Barría vs. CHC – There’s a chance the slider and change are enough, but the ceiling is too low against a strong Cubs offense.
Jordan Lyles @ MIA – Lyles hasn’t come through often this year and maybe the Marlins are what he needs after a strong outing last time out.
Noah Syndergaard @ CIN – Thor isn’t what he used to be and Cincy is rough.
Kutter Crawford @ CLE – The Guardians aren’t great, is Crawford better?
Connor Seabold vs. SFG – It’s Coors.
Brandon Williamson vs. LAD – The cutter has a chance of messing up the Dodgers and that’s the best I’ve got. You don’t want to do this.
Ronel Blanco @ TOR – He’s not a bad option for the Astros overall, certainly not against the Jays.
Patrick Corbin vs. ARI – Hey Corbin. Hope you’re doing okay.
Yonny Chirinos vs. MIN – Chirinos isn’t fantasy relevant. You know this.
UPDATE: Cooper Criswell vs. MIN – Looks like the Rays are leaning on Criswell again for the bulk and you don’t want to chase that.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Spencer Strider vs. NYM – Aces gonna ace. There’s no reason not to start Strider.
Clayton Kershaw @ CIN – He’s the TATIAGA once again, even in Cincy.
Tyler Glasnow vs. MIN – Glasnow’s skills are where we want them to be as he’s now stretched out to 85+ pitches.
Framber Valdez @ TOR – He was given the AGA label during The List yesterday and I kinda wish I waited until after this Toronto start. Still, you’re starting him with his cutter doing great things.
Justin Verlander @ ATL – Verlander looked as good as ever against the Jays last week and we have to believe he’s turned a corner.
Merrill Kelly @ WSN – There’s a temptation to put him above Valdez given the better matchup, but it’s Kelly. The floor is lower than those above, even against the Nationals.
Probable Starts
Luis Severino vs. CHW – It’s just Severino in the second tier as I have no idea where he’s at after the horror that was his last start. Apparently he’s not hurt and just had an “off” day. We can only hope as we send him out against the White Sox.
Questionable Starts
Reid Detmers vs. CHC – The Cubs aren’t as scary as they were in April, but Detmers has yet to find his stride to go six full frames of dominance.
Kyle Bradish @ MIL – He’s my reluctant streaming pick of the day as I hope the Orioles can get him a Win as Bradish faces a horrid offense.
Aaron Civale vs. BOS – I trust Civale a little more than others here to toss enough pitches to go six frames against the Red Sox.
José Berríos vs. HOU – The matchup is brutal, but Berríos has been incredible this year save for his first two starts.
Bailey Ober @ TBR – It’s no fun facing the Rays, though you may be spared as Ober has spotted his fastball beautifully this season.
Mike Clevinger @ NYY
Drew Smyly @ LAA – The Angels are a hot squad and Smyly isn’t at his peak.
Alex Cobb @ COL – It’s Coors. I hate Coors.
Do Not Starts
Colin Rea vs. BAL – Rea has whipped up magic in the past, but it’s not worth the danger.
Josiah Gray vs. ARI – Josiah hasn’t been fantasy relevant for weeks now.
Chase Anderson vs. SFG – There has been some surprising starts from Chase as of late, but y’all know that can’t continue. Coors is undefeated.
Chris Murphy? @ CLE – The Red Sox have called up Murphy and are likely starting him in place of Sale. He’s not the prospect you want to chase as we sit on the sidelines for his MLB debut.
Graham Ashcraft vs. LAD – Ashcraft has destroyed fantasy teams and now gets the Dodgers. Absolutely not.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
Since, Judge is our, would you say Lynn moves into tier 2? If so, where about?