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: 55-42
My pick yesterday: Cole Irvin @ MIN
PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 52-45
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Jameson Taillon @ NYY
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
Gerrit Cole vs. CHC – Aces gonna ace. Cole is arriving at his peak.
Kevin Gausman @ DET – It’s the Tigers. It’s also Gausman. Please get double-digit splitter whiffs again, thanks.
Spencer Strider @ TBR – He’s SP #1, but has to deal with the Rays.
James Paxton vs. OAK – Paxton has been gold and gets a delicious date with the Athletics.
Blake Snell vs. NYM – Snell is…odd. He gave you a horrid WHIP last time as he went 30% zone rate across all his pitches and I’m not exactly sure what we’ll get here against the Mets. But hot dang, we’re starting him.
Framber Valdez vs. SEA – I imagine that if the ankle was still a major issue, Valdez would rest it through the All-Star Break instead of getting the start here.
Tyler Wells @ MIN – Wells pitches, you start him.
Sonny Gray vs. BAL – He’s on the upswing and I hope this stretch of being in rhythm lasts a long time.
Probably Starts
Mitch Keller @ ARI – His velocity dropped in his last outing and the Diamondbacks, even without Carroll, are a strong crew.
Reid Detmers @ LAD – Detmers is dominating as of late, though the Dodgers are another tough challenge.
Bryan Woo @ HOU – The four-seamer is elite and the Astros are without Álvarez.
Gavin Williams vs. KCR – Don’t judge Williams for his start against Atlanta. This outing will likely be a massive pendulum swing in the other direction.
Braxton Garrett vs. PHI – Garrett took a step back with his command and cutter usage last time out and I’m hoping it was a blip and not the beginning of a descent.
Ranger Suárez @ MIA – Suárez had been fantastic until a major lapse against the Nationals last time out. He’s worth the chance against the Marlins, but my confidence is waning, wondering if that was the wall to end this Vargas Rule.
Andrew Heaney @ WSN – We just saw Heaney finally get his slider down in his last start, catalyzing a huge strikeout effort. I guess we’re taking the chance he can replicate against the Nationals.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer @ CLE – He’s a Cherry Bomb who finally was his sweetest self with 12 whiffs on the slider and matched it with 12 called strikes on the sinker. And yet, who knows what’s next.
Taj Bradley vs. ATL – Bradley is volatile and it’s Atlanta. This is incredibly dangerous.
Do Not Starts
Paul Blackburn @ BOS – You see the red label in the table – he’s the streaming only because there isn’t anyone else. There’s a chance Paulie Punchouts baffles the Red Sox with his variety of pitches, but the ceiling is limited and the Sawx could mess him up.
Miles Mikolas @ CHW – Earlier in the year I’d likely have Mikolas in the third tier. At this point, I feel Mikolas just isn’t worth the risk.
David Peterson @ SDP – Peterson survived last start but the repertoire isn’t anything I’m interested in.
Alex Wood vs. COL – Am I the only one that feels like Wood should be better than he currently is? This is Rockie Road and normally I’d be for it, but Wood just isn’t locked in + the Giants may limit him once again. Skip over it.
Colin Rea vs. CIN – Rea could chuck heaters and survive, but it’s the hawt Reds. No thanks.
Drew Smyly @ NYY – Until I see the curve actually overflowing the bottom part of the zone and not hanging up constantly, I’ll be out on Smyly.
Luke Weaver @ MIL – He survived last time and while the Brewers seem like a decent dart throw, Weaver isn’t that guy.
Michael Grove vs. LAA – There’s a chance this is Landon Knack instead as the Dodgers have him on their Taxi Squad. I’m not too impressed with Knack as he’s a 91 mph four-seamer guy with the intent to elevate but doesn’t demand whiffs on the pitch (i.e. it’s not elite) and he lives and dies with his slider. The other offerings haven’t been a major factor in the minors, making this a two-pitch guy for a team that is notorious for limiting their young players and adding haze to their playing time. Not for me. If it’s Grove, his four-seamer isn’t good enough.
Jake Irvin vs. TEX – The velocity came down slightly last start and I’m not ready to trust the curve. Oh, and it’s Texas.
Matt Manning vs. TOR – Manning isn’t doing enough new stuff to trust against the Jays.
Touki Toussaint vs. STL – Touki! It’s cool, not smart.
Connor Seabold @ SFG – Never Seabold.
TBD Diamondbacks SP vs. PIT – With Drew Jameson pitching in relief on Thursday (and now on the IL), our hopes of him starting on Saturday have been dashed. This is very likely a bullpen game.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Joe Ryan vs. BAL – The Orioles offense can roll over fast at times and Ryan has been too good.
Aaron Nola @ MIA – We just saw peak Nola and let’s hope it sticks against a poor offense.
Max Scherzer @ SDP – The Padres are a strange crew to face. Scherzer should be all good.
Joe Musgrove vs. NYM – Musgrove just fanned eleven in his last outing, but the Mets are a tougher opponent.
Logan Webb vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Webb could cruise through seven, if not more.
Jesús Luzardo vs. PHI – Luzardo hasn’t allowed an ER in his last three starts.
Lucas Giolito vs. STL – Giolito has been soaring across the last month and the Cardinals are…not great.
Chris Bassitt @ DET – Bassitt it’s a stable play here who could take full advantage of the weak Detroit offense.
Shane Bieber vs. KCR – I’m not sure what we’ll see from Bieber and hopefully the slider and curve come alive.
Logan Gilbert @ HOU – It’s the toughest matchup in the top tier, pushing Gilbert to the bottom as he’s been struggling to lock into his repertoire for a while.
Probably Starts
Zach Eflin vs. ATL – Poor Eflin. He’s been dominating for your fantasy leagues, but this is Atlanta. You may want to take this one off.
Domingo Germán vs. CHC – Germán had a very fortunate night of bliss, but his follow-up outing wasn’t what we wanted. Still, the curve is elite and this is worth your time.
Kyle Hendricks @ NYY – On the other side is Hendricks, who has had fantastic sinker and changeup command since returning from the IL.
Questionable Starts
Dane Dunning @ WSN – Some may want him in the second tier, personally I see a pitcher who has been awfully fortunate and doesn’t have an elite offering in the mix. It’s not as high of a ceiling as we want it to be.
JP Sears @ BOS – He’s our streaming pick of the day and I’m not in love with it. Sears has a flat fastball that can get plenty of whiffs, but the Red Sox can pack some thump. If Sears has an off day, the floor is rough.
Bryce Elder @ TBR – Yes, he’s been a fantastic stretch, but the Rays are the Rays.
Tarik Skubal vs. TOR – I loved watching Skubal in his return and can’t wait to see him thrive in the second half. For tomorrow, however, he’ll be on a heavy pitch count and have to endure the Jays. Sit this out in most scenarios.
Brandon Bielak vs. SEA – This could work if Bielak’s changeup is doing wonderful things.
Kyle Gibson @ MIN – You never know with Gibson.
Do Not Starts
Zach Davies vs. PIT – Even against the Pirates, this is a sit.
Wade Miley vs. CIN – Maybe the cutter and change can hold the new velocity they had in his last start, but the Reds are too hot.
Kyle Freeland @ SFG – I refuse.
Steven Matz @ CHW – If Matz is actually starting this time, we wait and see. He was so rough when he was in the rotation earlier this year, even if I thought the skills were better than the results.
Patrick Corbin vs. TEX – Absolutely not.
Ben Lively @ MIL – Is he actually making his return to the rotation tomorrow? If so, that’s cool, but far too risky.
Ryan Yarbrough @ CLE – How many innings is he actually going to go? And does he even get the pearl?
TBD Pirates SP @ ARI – It’s possible it’s a call up with a proper start. Avoid, of course.
Red Sox Bullpen vs. OAK – There may be a bulk reliever here and y’all know how much I hate chasing those.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)