Here are today’s daily SP streamer rankings.
Each day of the 2023 baseball season, I look at today’s and tomorrow’s list of scheduled starting players and rank their matchups for your fantasy baseball streams.
There’s a lot in it and you can hang out with me on Twitch.tv/pitcherlist to talk about the specific ranks I hit every weekday morning from 10am to 12pm ET. If you have any questions about these ranks, please ask them during the morning Twitch AMA. These are my office hours as I generally do not respond to comments on the site.
There are four tiers of this 12-team player leaderboard:
Auto start – Just do it. Don’t think about it too much, start with the man. This includes “if I have them in the roster, I’ll start them” pitchers.
Probably start – I’ll probably start with those weapons, although I’m aware the risk is greater than we’d like. It’s either an uphill battle for a good pitcher who isn’t an elite player, or a weak lineup for an unpredictable arm. In my view, these pitchers have a 50% or better chance of performing well.
Questionable start – Think of this stage like this: “I don’t want to start these pitchers in a vacuum, but you could make it worse.” Streamers in this stage aren’t pitchers I target, just when you need one badly. To be on the safe side when streaming, just launch the Likely to Launch Streamer feature.
Don’t start – The reward is not worth the risk. Do not do it. Seriously, these pitchers have very little or sometimes no chance of success.
Obviously, there will be situations where pitchers should move between teams specific to your situation, and these new ranks should be a little more helpful than last year’s straight table.
Please keep in mind that streaming is far from a perfect game. In fact, I would consider it a success if it works more than half the time. These matchup leaderboards and streamer picks will vary wildly from actual results throughout the year, so please excuse the scathing comments and tweets. I’m just trying to help!
Be sure to read the comments if you’re wondering why I favor certain pitchers over others – I won’t go into all of them and hope I can answer your questions.
There’s also a second table for tomorrow’s starting pitcher matches so everyone can jump in on their evening picks. Please note, however, these matchups are subject to change will It can happen that I have the wrong pitcher. Thank you for your future understanding.
Finally, my streaming tips of the day, and please keep them in mind I am forced to choose a streamer every day. The highlighted in Green are the second-tier streaming choice that day and I’d take them anywhere. those in Yellow are in tier three and should be fine if you’re looking for something on a specific day, but I only recommend streaming if you need it. Finally, they are Red These are the ones I really don’t want to start (after all, they’re marked “Don’t Start”), but I have no choice. Don’t stream these guys until you’re really desperate. A streaming pick is defined as “lined up in 20% or fewer leagues,” which makes the point that I’d be happy if more than 50% of those worked. I could complete the whole squad under 30/40% but that’s not fun. Instead, you can use the leaderboard to identify who those favorites would be.
(opener) – Indicates that a pitcher will open that day and the listed pitcher follows the opener.
As I compile my ranking, I thought it would be helpful to present a table ranking our offenses (in alphabetical order):
Nick’s Loose Team Offensive Ranking (updated 05/08)
I’m sure it will change throughout the year + there are differences between teams vs LHP or RHP, but it works as a general table for all of you to keep in mind.
Alright, let’s get started.
This year, with our new daily fantasy baseball projections from PLV, I will be competing against PL Bot to choose the best streaming option each day.
For daily access to PL Bot’s selection, sign up for PL Pro here.
Nick’s streamer record 2023: 24-22
My choice yesterday: Taijuan Walker @ SFG
PL Bot’s streamer record 2023: 23-23
PL Bot’s pick yesterday: Ryne Nelson @ OAK
Would you like to choose PL Bot today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
With the new formatting of the notes, I’ve made the streaming picks of the day Underlined and italicized.
Today’s starting pitcher rankings
Automatic start
Shane McClanahan @ NYM – AGA. Don’t worry about his last launch.
Julio Urías @ STL – He competes for the AGA label and has been great lately. The Cardinals are heating up, but you’re still starting, Julio.
Dylan Cease vs. CLE – He had a redeeming start against the Astros when he reset the corner and switched to the four-seater/slider. As long as one of the hooks and the heater is working, Cease will rise.
Probable launches
Eury Pérez vs. WSN – He can give his strong debut a matchup against the Nationals. However, he’s not an ace straight away and regardless of the encounters, we usually see some turbulence among young players.
Logan Allen @ CHW – Speaking of turmoil, Allen has been through quite a bit over the past few weeks. However, the White Sox have a pretty easy decision here, even if the cap is as high as we’d like.
Questionable beginnings
Tyler Wells vs LAA – He’s only 18 years old… against the pirates. The Angels are a tougher squad and Wells will need to get the best out of his squad to come out unscathed.
Tyler Anderson @ BAL – Change has returned and Camden is a delight. However, the cap is nowhere near what it will be in 2022.
Nestor Cortes @ TOR – The slider has been missing all year and is causing Cortes a great deal of confusion. The Jays are as dangerous as they can get so it’s a game of safety and I’m hoping to get some encouragement in that for the next week.
Update: Taj Bradley @ NYM – He’s coming back up and there’s been a lot of talk about his underperforming in the minors. Let’s see if this was all practice and not Bradley’s true skill. Pick it up as an optional extra anywhere it’s not hidden, and use your gut to decide whether or not to launch it. I personally would play it safe.
Trevor Williams @ MIA – He’s my reluctant streaming pick of the day, as I understand it’s possible for Williams to get six frames against an 18th-century Miami team (without Jazz).
Does not start
Jose Berrios vs. NYY – He’s the big undulator with a terrible bottom. I really don’t want to deal with it, but if you have to, then you have to.
Adam Wainwright vs LAD – Waino could be fixed now that the Cardinals appear to have resolved their catch/play decision issues, but the Dodgers are tough and the cap is so hard to hit.
Tylor Megill vs TBR – Megill hasn’t looked his best since the injury in 2022 and is now getting the Rays. No thank you.
Today’s starting pitcher rankings
Tomorrow’s starting pitcher rankings
Automatic start
Shane McClanahan vs. MIL – AGA. Don’t worry about his last launch.
Zac Gallen @ PIT – AGA. The Pirates?!
Joe Ryan @ LAA – AGA. If you haven’t heard Fast’s one-on-one interview with Joe Ryan, you must now. So good.
Sandy Alcantara @ SFG – AGA. He still has the label for now and remember – his last game had 3 ER in the eighth inning.
Probable launches
Bryce Miller @ ATL – There aren’t many slam dunks in League Two on Friday, which makes me terribly aggressive with Miller in that game. It’s a bit risky (that’s all…?) since the secondaries haven’t quite come through yet, but I know we all do. You got that Bryce.
Marcus Stroman @ PHI – He just stumbled and it’s not the first time he’s had to jump up. start the guy
Anthony DeSclafani vs MIA – The last two starts were characterized by a lack of precision. Hopefully Tony Disco has had enough of this to capitalize on a Miami Marlins start.
James Paxton @ SDP – His four-seater dominated within the zone on his debut of the season and I’d bet the 96-mile heater will carry him again, especially if either the corner or the cutter can take a step up.
Reid Detmers vs MIN – It’s hard to figure out what to do with Detmers. His last launch helped save the WHIP and I still have hope he figures out his two-strike four-seamers.
Blake Snell vs BOS – It’s been pretty crazy with Snell’s repertoire, but it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and the Red Sox are a fickle team.
Martín Pérez vs COL – It is Rockie Road for one of the better toby arms out there.
Tony Gonsolin @ STL – I’ve been discussing this since the Cardinals are hot and Gonsolin doesn’t have the 2022 elite sliver. Still, his speed has increased, and pitching for the Dodgers is always a plus.
Questionable beginnings
Bryce Elder vs SEA – He’s fine? I hate buying under-90mph heaters when I’ve got just one more pitch in the tank and the Mariners could get to Elder quick.
Brandon Bielak vs. OAK – It’s athletics and Bielak just got through. Fine.
Zack Greinke @ CHW – Yes, it’s a bad third division on Friday. Maybe Greinke is 5+ strong?
Cal Quantrill @ NYM – The Mets are dangerous… and can be, you know, the Mets. Quantrill always has a chance of six frames, although the WHIP and strikeouts may not be what you want.
Johan Oviedo vs. ARI – He is a cherry bomb
Yusei Kikuchi vs BAL – He is a cherry bomb
Michael Kopech vs. KCR – He is a cherry bomb
Does not start
Carlos Carrasco vs CLE – It is a Still sick The situation for Carrasco and I would wait and see as his ceiling is not too high.
Matthew Boyd @ WSN – We hold Boyd back until the slider noises regain full form.
Kyle Gibson @ TOR – He is a cherry bomb with a fight aimed at destruction.
Jake Irvin vs DET – You see the Tigers and wonder, but Irvin just doesn’t do enough to justify a stream.
Clarke Schmidt @ CIN – I’ve lost quite a bit of faith in Schmidt and I hate throwing guys at Cincy.
Ken Waldichuk @ HOU – Waldichuk runs far too often and it’s the Astros.
Ranger Suárez vs. CHC – He’s not fully stretched out and needs a little more time to get comfortable + cubs are solid.
Adrian Houser @ TBR – Houser Schmouser.
Steven Matz vs. LAD – Matz will likely be the one to be kicked out of the rotation to bring Liberatore back into the five-man squad.
Ben Lively vs NYY – Never Raggedy Anne.
Karl Kauffmann? @TEX – He could play for the Rockies after having a less than 20% strikeout rate with the Minors. Noooo.
Tomorrow’s starting pitcher rankings
Featured image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)