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.
Streaming record is determined by “Was this a productive game for 12-teamers if I started them?” Roughly a PQS with a Win and a strikeout per inning with a sub 1.20 WHIP. Close calls are decided by Twitch chat.
Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 57-43
My pick yesterday: Cristopher Sánchez vs. SDP
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 53-47
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Trevor Williams @ STL
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. CHW – Duh.
Kevin Gausman vs. ARI – More duh.
Tyler Glasnow @ KCR – Double duh.
Framber Valdez @ LAA – His ankle is all good.
George Kirby vs. DET – The ratios should be bliss and hopefully we get some strikeouts along the way.
Pablo López @ OAK – It’s Oakland and Pablo has been on his redemption arc.
Zac Gallen @ TOR – He’s an ace, but it’s Toronto, but who cares.
James Paxton @ CHC – Paxton is pitching too well to consider benching.
Blake Snell @ PHI – The stupid good run is a little weird and yet we don’t care right now. Don’t let analytics get in the way of greatness…Or something like that.
Zach Eflin @ KCR – You don’t need me, Eflin is killing it and it’s the Royals.
Freddy Peralta @ CIN – Peralta’s arsenal is cooking and even with the walk rates, I think you’re going to see a much better Peralta in the second half, even in this small sample inside Cincy.
Andrew Abbott vs. MIL – His first starts weren’t the real Abbott, but neither was the disaster against the Brewers in his last start.
Marcus Stroman vs. BOS – He hasn’t been great lately and yet, he’s Stroman. The same guy he’s been for a bit and the sinker should stay low and be effective against the Red Sox in front of a great infield defense.
Probably Starts
Alex Cobb @ PIT – I hope the slider is still present as the splitter gets all the whiffs.
UPDATE: Chris Bassitt vs. ARI – Gausman is dealing with side soreness, pushing Bassitt up a day. It’s not the easiest call, but I think Bassitt helps more than hurts overall with his kitchen-sink approach.
Braxton Garrett @ BAL – He hasn’t had the best command across his last two starts, but I’m not ready to let go with a start in Baltimore being a great litmus test. Just get that sinker and cutter working right again.
Reid Detmers vs. HOU – The Dodgers just messed him up, though it wasn’t Detmers being his best and getting beat. The Astros are a little less threatening and I imagine Detmers will pitch better to demand more results.
Questionable Starts
JP Sears vs. MIN – He’s a bit of a Cherry Bomb these days and this could work if he gets his four-seamer up enough with sliders down to take down the Twins.
Steven Matz vs. WSN – I really dug his first start back from the IL and I think it’s worth it to take a stab here and see if it sticks. There’s always a chance for a massive clunker, though.
Kyle Gibson vs. MIA – He just earned a Golden Goal, looking as good as I’ve seen him in AGES. It’s unlikely to stick, though, even against the Marlins.
Kodai Senga vs. LAD – The strikeouts should be there regardless of the ratios.
Michael Lorenzen @ SEA – He’s a Toby in a decent matchup against the Mariners. Low ceiling, sadly.
Taijuan Walker vs. SDP – Who really knows what chaos Taijuan will bring and the Padres are volatile in their own right.
Tony Gonsolin @ NYM – Gonsolin isn’t as bad as he has been recently, though the Mets are a decent offense that could make this frustratingly boring.
Lance Lynn @ ATL – Lynn is in his own world, but so is the Atlanta offense. Be super careful here.
Gavin Williams @ TEX – Same with Williams against the Rangers. It’s a desperate ceiling play as he just earned 15 fastball whiffs.
Andrew Heaney vs. CLE – …and Heaney as well, being Heaney ‘n all.
UPDATE: Hogan Harris vs. MIN – Sears goes tomorrow, and Harris is a desperate option for the weekend if you’re chasing starts. I don’t love this, but I recognize that it could work.
Johan Oviedo vs. SFG – It’s a legit coin flip for Oviedo as it depends on his fastball not getting hammered and earning enough strikes.
Do Not Starts
Jake Irvin @ STL – If the fastball velocity is up at 95+ and he figures out his curveball some more, this could actually be good. We’re still in wait-and-see mode, though.
Brady Singer vs. TBR – It’s the Rays and you can’t trust Singer.
Ranger Suárez vs. SDP – Suárez hit the Vargas Rule wall two starts ago, struggling against two poor offenses since. He’ll return, but we need to see it first.
Clarke Schmidt @ COL – It’s Coors and Schmidt doesn’t have a ceiling to risk for.
UPDATE: Cooper Criswell @ KCR – I won’t rule out some decent frames from Cooper, though it’s not the play you want to make.
UPDATE: Alec Marsh vs. TBR – Maybe Marsh has it in him, but this is the Rays.
UPDATE: Cole Ragans vs. TBR – I have a soft spot for Ragans, but not on the Royals and certainly not against the Rays.
Connor Seabold vs. NYY – It’s Coors and Seabold.
Ryan Weathers @ PHI – I don’t expect Weathers to have a long leash here, let alone be productive enough in those limited innings.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan @ OAK – It’s Oakland and the others have rough matchups.
Gerrit Cole @ COL – I wrestled with the ranks below Ryan and I’d say we go with Cole and that’s that.
Max Scherzer vs. LAD – Scherzer gets the Dodgers and if he starts, we start him.
Zack Wheeler vs. SDP – Wheeler has been a little off here and there, but so have the Padres.
Jesús Luzardo @ BAL – Love this matchup for Luzardo inside Coors.
Zach Eflin @ KCR – You don’t need me, Eflin is killing it and it’s the Royals.
Justin Steele vs. BOS – Steele’s fastball has been great and the Red Sox aren’t enough to stop us from starting him.
Bryce Miller vs. DET – It’s a great situation, though I question how long the Mariners will let him go after he’s been off the bump for a few weeks.
Probably Starts
Bobby Miller @ NYM – I believe in Miller across the second half, but he may need another start or two to get calibrated.
Jack Flaherty vs. WSN – Flaherty seems like he’s in a good place at the moment and it’s Washington.
Kyle Bradish vs. MIA – Bradish has been in a good groove and it’s the Marlins. Let’s hope the curve does good things.
Seth Lugo @ PHI – Lugo is fresh off an 18-whiff game with a great defense behind him.
Questionable Starts
Cristian Javier @ LAA – Do what you want here. I don’t believe Javier is destined to struggle forever and the Angels don’t have Mike Trout.
JP Sears vs. MIN – He’s a bit of a Cherry Bomb these days and this could work if he gets his four-seamer up enough with sliders down to take down the Twins.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. ARI – He’s earning strikes with breakers, but the curve is hung a little too much for my liking, especially with the fastball not landing on the edges. Throw in the Diamondbacks’ thump and I’m concerned.
Reese Olson @ SEA – Here’s a fun one for a desperate Sunday. Olson could lean on the changeup and slider, exploiting the Mariners’ tendency to swing outside the zone.
Dylan Cease @ ATL – Cease is already volatile and Atlanta is as dangerous as any offense in the bigs.
Tanner Bibee @ TEX – I was tempted to place him in the bottom tier, but if Bibee gets locked in with his secondaries, he could come through despite the matchup.
Alex Wood @ PIT – He just went five frames against Rockie Road and the Pirates aren’t much different.
Martín Pérez vs. CLE – He’s a Toby in a decent matchup.
Kutter Crawford @ CHC – If Crawford leans heavily into his slider and sweeper, this could be the start of a second-half surge. Or he could still go kutter heavy and disappoint.
Do Not Starts
Osvaldo Bido vs. SFG – There’s a lean toward the third tier given we’ve seen Bido come through here and there, but I think the odds are not in your favor.
Josiah Gray @ STL – Gray’s command is too chaotic for me and his heaters get crushed.
Adrian Houser @ CIN – Maybe he can chuck fastballs that find gloves one more time.
Brady Singer vs. TBR – It’s the Rays and you can’t trust Singer.
Tyler Anderson vs. HOU – Anderson’s changeup isn’t what it was last season and it’s the Astros.
Kolby Allard vs. CHW – Don’t let the eight-strikeout game make you believe in Dralla.
Tommy Henry @ TOR – The slider disappeared last time for some reason and the Jays are a tough lineup to endure.
Ben Lively vs. MIL – The slider isn’t as good as we saw early on from Lively.
Chase Anderson vs. NYY – It’s Coors.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)
I think UR in the wrong profession.
I could get better results by
flipping a coin.