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: 36-31
My pick yesterday: Dean Kremer @ MIL
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 33-34
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Dean Kremer @ MIL
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
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.
Zack Wheeler vs. DET – He’s had his ups and downs, but it’s the Tigers and Wheeler’s heater is still elite.
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. UPDATE: Postponed due to air quality.
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.
UPDATE: 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 with Aaron Judge on the mend, it makes for a higher floor.
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 – He’s fresh off a 40%+ CSW game with his four-seamer and slider + Judge is on the IL.
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
UPDATE: 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.
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. UPDATE: Postponed due to air quality.
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.
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.
UPDATE: Matt Dermody @ CLE – The Red Sox are calling him up for this start against the Guardians. He had an eleven-strikeout game on the back of his slider and changeup in late May, but I’d rather not chance it in an MLB debut.
Yonny Chirinos vs. MIN – Chirinos isn’t fantasy relevant. You know this.
Graham Ashcraft vs. LAD – Ashcraft has destroyed fantasy teams and now gets the Dodgers. Absolutely not.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Gerrit Cole vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Shohei Ohtani vs. SEA – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Cristian Javier @ CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Tyler Glasnow vs. TEX – Aces gon–wait. He hasn’t earned it yet and the Rangers are terrifying. If you want to lower him a little because of the risk, go ahead. I think he’ll come out ahead, but I get it.
Marcus Stroman @ SFG – If you want something safer than Glasnow, it’s Stroman. However, we can all agree that Stroman’s ceiling isn’t quite as high on the strikeout side – he’s not going to keep up his 8+ inning outings and the Giants are a solid crew.
Bobby Miller @ PHI – This could be Michael Grove instead as the Dodgers haven’t announced their weekend schedule yet. If it’s Miller, you go for it because duh. If it’s Grove, he falls to the top of the Do Not Start tier.
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. Note: I’m assuming the Diamondbacks move Kelly to Friday with Thursday’s postponement.
Tyler Wells vs. KCR – Wells is on such a good run that you can’t deny him this outing.
Dylan Cease vs. MIA – Will the slider be the same pitch we saw last time out? The Marlins have been bashing plenty of starters lately…
Eury Pérez @ CHW – Pérez will only get better with more time on the bump and the White Sox are terrible against RHP.
Probable Starts
Yu Darvish @ COL – Darvish does what he does regardless of opposition…and yet it’s Coors.
Garrett Whitlock @ NYY – The Yankees are weaker without Judge and Whitlock should get better with each start.
Sonny Gray @ TOR – I nearly put this in the third tier as I’m scared of Gray’s decline with his curveball and slider and the Jays are as dangerous as they come. At the same time, he’s found a way to have success this season and I imagine if you have him rostered, you’re starting him.
Questionable Starts
Yusei Kikuchi vs. MIN – Kikuchi introduced a new approach of curves + sliders, allowing his four-seamer to take a step back and focus on living inside the zone. Maybe it’s a thing, y’all.
Logan Allen vs. HOU – The Astros are a fearsome matchup for Allen. On the other hand, we’ve seen Allen come through with his command and if it’s on point, he’ll go six strong.
Michael Lorenzen vs. ARI – I want to believe in Lorenzen’s great stretch, while I also recognize that the Diamondbacks put up more of a fight than the stream of weak lineups Lorenzen has seen.
Jordan Montgomery vs. CIN – I worry about the addition of ELDC and The Bear hasn’t been as his peak.
Adrian Houser vs. OAK – The man throws four-seamers and sinkers for outs and the Athletics are bad at fastballs.
Jared Shuster vs. WSN – I’m not totally sold that Shuster’s slider can be relied upon and the Nationals have had some thump. I’m closely watching this one.
Ben Lively @ STL – His slider was gone last time out, though don’t overlook the dire situation in St. Louis. It could resurrect Lively’s slide piece.
Andrew Heaney @ TBR – The strikeout upside is still there, but Heaney’s a Cherry Bomb in a very destructive matchup.
Luis Medina @ MIL – He’s failed to get you the PQS you want…but this is Milwaukee.
Tylor Megill @ PIT – I can’t trust Megill and the Pirates are a volatile crew.
Do Not Starts
Daniel Lynch @ BAL – Maybe the new slider is enough, though I’d prefer to avoid the Orioles if I could.
Rich Hill vs. NYM – Hill does whatever he wants. I still avoid him against tough teams like the Mets, though.
Ranger Suárez vs. LAD – He looked great against the Nationals and yet it’s still too risky against the Dodgers.
Josiah Gray vs. ARI – Josiah hasn’t been fantasy relevant for weeks now. Note: I’m assuming Josiah is pushed to Friday instead of Gore due to Thursday’s postponement.
Austin Gomber vs. SDP – Coors is undefeated.
Jakob Junis? vs. CHC – I’m not sure what the Giants are doing this weekend (is this an opener? Bullpen game? Proper start?) and I’d just avoid it.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)