Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball – 8/31 & 9/1

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 Playback.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 Playback 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.

The 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, with a minimum of 5 IP. Close calls are decided by Playback chat.

 

Nick’s 2023 Streamer Record: 82-65

My pick yesterday: Cristopher Sánchez vs. LAA

PL Bot’s 2023 Streamer Record: 75-72

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Brandon Pfaadt @ LAD

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 @ LAD – Aces still gonna ace, even against the Dodgers. Funny story, I saw Strider in San Francisco last Friday and will now watch him again in Los Angeles. Go figure.

 

Probably Starts

 

Clarke Schmidt @ DET – He’s the clear streamer here as he’s come through plenty and gets the Tigers. Let it ride.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Braxton Garrett @ WSN – The matchup is solid, the sinker and slider command are not. I’m a bit concerned about Braxton.

Lance Lynn vs. ATL – We dig Lynn, but it’s Atlanta. It’s scary.

Matt Manning vs. NYY – He survived the Astros despite not having his best stuff and left early with a back injury. If Manning actually makes this start, it’s possible he’s able to take down the laboring Yankees.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Joan Adon vs. MIA – Maybe you want to chase this, but I don’t like Adon’s stuff a whole lot. Seems awfully mid at best and very detrimental at worst.

Pedro Avila vs. SFG – It’s the Giants, but Avila isn’t a lock of any kind.

Sean Manaea (Opener) @ SDP – We don’t know what the Giants are going to do here + the Padres are great against LHP.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Zack Wheeler @ MIL – Aces gonna ace.

Tyler Glasnow @ CLE – Aces gonna ace.

Freddy Peralta vs. PHI – Aces gonna ace.

Max Scherzer vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.

Justin Verlander vs. NYY – Aces gonn–oh wait. He’s really good but not an ace. It’s fine. We start him.

Eury Pérez @ WSN – The future 2024 AGA.

Kodai Senga vs. SEA – He really does look an ace.

Logan Gilbert @ NYM – Gilbert, get your fastball domination working and keep the slider and we’ll talk.

James Paxton @ KCR – There was a moment you were on the verge of AGA, but your fastball has declined steadily. Get it together.

 

Probably Starts

 

Michael Wacha vs. SFG – Wacha had a stumble last time, but it’s the Giants. We hold pat.

Eduardo Rodriguez @ CHW – He’s a solid Holly against a meh team.

Graham Ashcraft vs. CHC – Ashcraft has been cruising and you can’t not start him.

Mitch Keller @ STL – Keller has dominated for two straight on the back on his cutter and we gotta roll with it against the Cards.

Max Fried @ LAD – This game is dope and also so annoying for your fantasy squads.

Julio Urías vs. ATL – Do you actually start Urías? WHY ARE BOTH THESE OFFENSES SO GOOD.

Joe Ryan @ TEX – Oh cool, another fantastic arm against an elite offense. Cool cool cool.

 

Questionable Starts

 

JP Sears vs. LAA – He’s our streaming pick of the day as the Angels are roooough right now.

Patrick Sandoval @ OAK – It’s the Athletics, but The Irish Panda hasn’t been able to have both his changeup and sldier for so long and it’s legit bothering me.

Carlos Rodón @ HOU – It’s the Astros, but Rodón is steadily improving. This could be his breakout start.

Dakota Hudson vs. PIT – He didn’t come through against the Phils, but I have to wonder if the new slider skill can return to take care of the Pirates.

Jordan Wicks @ CIN – I love his changeup with a solid cutter and heater. It’s Cincy, though.

Hyun Jin Ryu @ COL – Coors isn’t as rough as it used to be, though the ceiling is still limited here. Push him up at least one if you’re chasing six frames.

Cole Irvin @ ARI – Irvin is fine. Ish. You may steal a Win here.

Jake Irvin vs. MIA – Is Irvin’s two heaters + curve approach enough?

Touki Toussaint vs. DET – Here’s a decent strikeout upside play, as long as Touki goes to the curveball at least 35% of the time.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Zach Davies vs. BAL – His changeup isn’t enough. No thanks.

Chris Flexen vs. TOR – It’s the Jays. In Coors.

Cal Quantrill vs. TBR – This is a clear Still ILL for Quantrill, who I’m not interested in even if he’s healthy.

Jordan Lyles vs. BOS – When have you felt good starting Lyles?

Ben Lively vs. CHC – Sadly, he’s Raggedy Anne again without the heavy slider lean.

Caleb Kilian @ CIN – Hey, he’s back! And I have zero interest taking the chance in Cincy for this doubleheader.

Tristan Beck @ SDP – Beck doesn’t go long and the Padres are dangerous.

 

Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)