SP Streamers for today's, tomorrow's and the day after tomorrow's games for fantasy baseball.
Every day of the 2025 baseball season, I'll be looking at today's 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 and I'm starting them in the majority of situations.
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!
There is a second table (and now third for PL Pro members) 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.
And of course, there are my streaming picks of the day. Please keep in mind that for my streaming record, I am forced to pick a streamer every day even if they are in the bottom tier. 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 Do Not Start pitchers unless you are truly desperate. A streaming pick is defined as "rostered in 20% or fewer leagues" according to Fantasy Pros. This 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 and it applies to a smaller audience.
As I do my rankings, I thought it would be helpful to showcase a table of how we're ranking offenses, granted by our PLV powered Projections (in alphabetical order by tier):
Remember, these offensive rankings are based on each offense's Process+ so far this year and how we project their lineups moving forward. It means you're going to see a little different offensive rankings than you may see elsewhere and there will always be some surprises. This is based on skills, not purely results! If you have questions about these offense rankings, reach out to Kyle Bland (@blandalytics).
To spice up these streaming recommendations, I've included our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, and I'll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.
These projections are different from your typical projections as they incorporate our pitch quantifier PLV, assessing pitcher and hitter skills at a much more granular level than your standard box score.
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.
Note: If no pitcher under 20% rostered would have qualified for a "Streaming Win," no loss is granted.
(Opener) - Outlines that a pitcher is being opened for that day & the pitcher listed will follow the opener.
Nick's 2025 Streamer Record: 111-60
My Pick yesterday: Win - Colin Rea @ CIN
My Pick today: Brandon Sproat vs. WSN
My Pick tomorrow: Chad Patrick @ STL
My Pick day after tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
My picks for the day after tomorrow are located at the bottom of this article for PL Pro members.
In addition, PL Pro Members have access to my 14-Day Sit/Start SP Grid, ranking all expected starters into the four tiers across the next fourteen days. You can find it on the PL Pro Hub Page.
PL Bot's 2025 Streamer Record: 113-58
PL Bot's Pick yesterday: Win - Jonah Tong vs. SDP
PL Bot's Pick today: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick tomorrow: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Pick day Sunday: Unlock with PL Pro
PL Bot's Picks are located at the bottom of this article for PL Pro members.
Friday 9/19 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Garrett Crochet @ TBR - Aces gonna ace.
Bryan Woo @ HOU - Aces gonna ace.
Pablo López vs. CLE - He's looking like he's back to "AGA" land.
Shota Imanaga @ CIN - IM AN AGA.
Jacob Misiorowski @ STL - Aces gonna ace. He just tossed under 80 pitches and I'm hoping the Brewers are going every-other start with Jay Mis, making this a potential six inning outing.
Hunter Brown vs. SEA - Aces gonna ace... kinda. Brown's velocity has dropped in his last two starts and I'm as nervous as I've ever been about Brown. I don't want to big brain this, but I also need to share my anxiety with y'all.
Trevor Rogers vs. NYY - As long as he's starting, it means his toe injury isn't holding him back. It's been such a good run that I know you're starting him regardless of opponent right now.
Probably Starts
Max Scherzer @ KCR - Scherzer has rarely hurt your squads. Start him in Kauffman.
Dylan Cease @ CHW - Cease. You can do this. The ceiling is too high to bench.
Sonny Gray vs. MIL - He looked like Sonny last time out and it's a great home park.
Brandon Sproat vs. WSN - I'm not thrilled to see Sproat face a LHB-focused lineup, but it's a clear play.
Luis Severino @ PIT - It's not in "Sacré Verde" against a weak offense. That's cool with me.
Will Warren @ BAL - Warren isn't the exciting arm of April and May, but he's managed to survive his depreciated arsenal in the second half... outside of that horrible first frame against the Sawx last time out. It's an easier time in Camden and I'm leaning start, though I'd love to be conservative if possible.
Questionable Starts
Ryne Nelson vs. PHI - This could work and I'm kinda tempted to roll with it even though Nelson doesn't identify as a supinator or a pronator. He'll find the secondary pitch for him. One day.
Drew Rasmussen vs. BOS - He hasn't gone six frames regularly and he's back in Tampa Bay.
Clayton Kershaw vs. SFG - Kershaw has his best of command, he had his blurst of command. Here's to five frames of decency for a Win.
Nick Lodolo vs. CHC - Lodolo has been pitching better than the lines have been - a product of his rough schedule. Stupid Cubs making things difficult.
Robbie Ray @ LAD - Robbie's velocity is back up, but the Dodgers are the Dodgers. Blegh.
Mitch Keller vs. ATH - Keller has a chance for a QS and may have fun with the sweeper focus home in PNC Park.
Logan Allen @ MIN - The Twins aren't too scary and Allen is a deep-league "Toby". I'd stay away in most cases.
Do Not Starts
Davis Martin vs. SDP - He's a deep-league "Toby" against a tough offense. No thanks.
Janson Junk @ TEX - Maybe the JunkBaller will show up in a good place to pitch? I doubt it.
Charlie Morton vs. ATL - He hasn't performed well in a long time.
Taijuan Walker & Walker Buehler @ ARI - We have a piggy-back scenario with Walker leading and Buehler following, making Walker the more appealing play for a higher Win chance. Buehler? APPEALING?! Exactly my point. Only for those desperate for dubs.
Bryce Elder @ DET - Elder's fantastic run came to an end. Don't risk it.
Andrew Alvarez @ NYM - Alvarez's breakers are interesting with different movement at the same velocity, but it's not enough to start against the strong Mets crew.
Michael Lorenzen vs. TOR - Lorenzen is a dire shot for a Quality Start.
Tyler Mahle vs. MIA - He tossed just over 50 pitches in his final rehab start at just 91 mph and I don't expect him to dominate in his "Still ILL", even against the Marlins. It's possible Jacob Latz follows as a bulk arm and steals a vulture Win, which is kinda tempting. I just hate the haze around usage that has me neglecting to add Latz inside the ranks. If he's confirmed as bulk, let's put him under Mitch Keller in the Questionable Start tier.
Sam Aldegheri @ COL - Absolutely not. But he's kinda interesting! Absolutely. Not.
Bradley Blalock vs. LAA - It's the Colorado SP.
Saturday 9/20 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
Auto-Starts
Tyler Glasnow vs. SFG - Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan vs. CLE - Aces gonna ace.
Carlos Rodón @ BAL - Aces gonna ace.
Shane Bieber @ KCR - He's looking like an ace.
George Kirby @ HOU - We saw the terrible, then we saw the absurd. Good news? The Angels were RHB-heavy and the Astros are similar.
Nolan McLean vs. WSN - He's been a stud. Can't stop now.
Framber Valdez vs. SEA - You may be a little hesitant given his last month. I say you have to go for it in such an important series.
Probably Starts
Bubba Chandler vs. ATH - We saw the real Bubba last start and it's PNC Park.
Luis Morales @ PIT - He's away from "Sacré Verde" and can take down an easy lineup.
Parker Messick @ MIN - The Twins aren't scary and Messick is your standard crafty southpaw.
Questionable Starts
Chad Patrick @ STL - Patrick is taking over for Jose Quintana and it's a lovely matchup. Biggest question is volume.
Noah Cameron vs. TOR - He's had just one rough outing and he didn't pitch poorly. It is the Jays, though, who generally love facing LHP.
Joey Wentz @ DET - I dig Wentz, but not against a good lineup.
Yu Darvish @ CHW - It feels strange to put Darvish down here, but he couldn't take advantage of the "Reds Carpet" or "Rockie Road". It's hard to bank on a better game in a tougher situation.
Bailey Ober vs. CLE - His command has been great. His velocity? Not so much. At least the Guardians are LHB-focused, which plays into his recent ability of dotting heaters and changeups.
Zac Gallen vs. PHI - Gallen went changeup heavy last time out, while the deathball curve wasn't at its peak. I wonder what we'll see here.
Slade Cecconi @ MIN - The Slade Brigade forced me to place him in this tier. I still don't grasp how his four-seamer gets by inside the zone.
Adrian Houser vs. BOS - Houser is a decent play for a QS against a Red Sox lineup that performs worse away from Fenway... even if it's in Tampa Bay.
Patrick Corbin vs. MIA - It seems bonkers to trust Corbin at all, though this is as good as it gets: The Marlins, in Arlington, after Corbin has performed well with a legit shift in approach to pull his fastball usage down to just 10% in favor of sliders, cutters, and changeups. Yes, changeups. It's your sneaky weekend stream.
Do Not Starts
Adam Mazur @ TEX - Mazur just gave us a solid outing, though I have major questions about its repeatability. I wouldn't chance it.
Kyle Harrison @ TBR - He's getting a proper start, though I'm not ready to trust Harrison quite yet, especially in a terrible place for pitchers to find their rhythm.
Yoendrys Gómez vs. SDP - Gómez has fun elements, like a heater that can dominate upstairs and two whiffable breakers, but the command isn't quite enough to convince me to let him fly with the "Shag Rug" present against a strong offense.
Keider Montero vs. ATL - I know he made it work last time out and along with the above three in this tier, there is a chance Montero has enough to get through at least five with decent production. It's too minimal of a ceiling to chase, in my view.
Zack Littell vs. CHC - Littell has had some magic this season. Do you really want to bank on an extra sprinkle against the mighty Cubs offense?
Miles Mikolas vs. MIL - Mikolas is Mikolas. He's a desperate Win/QS play at the cost of strikeouts and likely a hit at your ratios.
Javier Assad @ CIN - How long will they let Assad go in this one? I'm not expecting success here.
Tomoyuki Sugano vs. NYY - Sugano has his moments dotting pitches. The Yankees make the margin of error absurdly thin.
Cade Cavalli @ NYM - He's electric, but the Mets are far tougher than the last trio of opponents that Cavalli failed to exploit.
Kai-Wei Teng @ LAD - You may find some strikeouts here at the cost of terrible ratios and a high chance of four or fewer frames.
Mitch Farris @ COL - Absolutely not.
Germán Márquez vs. LAA - It's the Colorado SP.
Sunday 9/21 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings
New for PL Pro members - I am making the streaming table for an extra day out (no write-ups as these pitchers change often). I wanted to add a bonus for those who support us without taking anything away from everyone else, and I thought this was a good compromise.
In addition, PL Pro Members have access to my Sit/Start SP Grid, ranking all expected starters into the four tiers across the next fourteen days. You can find it on the PL Pro Hub Page.
