Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 8/13 & 8/14 & 8/15

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: 87-47

My Pick yesterday: Loss– Emmet Sheehan vs. TBR

My Pick today: Tomoyuki Sugano vs. SEA

My Pick tomorrow: Michael McGreevy vs. COL

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: 88-46

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Loss– Emmet Sheehan vs. TBR

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.

 

Wednesday 8/13 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Logan Gilbert @ BAL – Aces gonna ace.

Hunter Brown vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.

Brandon Woodruff vs. PIT – It’s a great matchup and he’s done nothing but produce.

Joe Ryan @ NYY – Aces gonna ace.

Cristopher Sánchez @ CIN – Aces gonna ace.

Nick Pivetta @ SFG – Don’t allow HRs again, K? Thx.

Eury Pérez @ CLE – Pérez against LHB will need to find one of his secondaries to come through and I’d wager he does.

Trevor Rogers vs. SEA – It’s pretty wild to watch Rogers’ return to production lately and we’re not getting in the way of ourselves by benching him.

 

Probably Starts

 

Merrill Kelly vs. ARI – He should rebound after last week.

Seth Lugo vs. WSN – The curve will be better than his previous start.

Gavin Williams vs. MIA – I’m a little worried that he’ll be fatigued after the 120+ pitch outing last time out, though he also had the best extension of the year and was pitching SO DANG WELL. 

David Peterson vs. ATL – Just don’t hurt our WHIP, okay?

Drew Rasmussen @ ATH – His 5/6 inning ceiling has still routinely helped.

Michael McGreevy vs. COL – It’s “Rockie Road” and you just saw how easily Mikolas handled them.

Cam Schlittler vs. MIN – The potential is still untapped while the growing pains haven’t been terrible. I’m not scared of the Twins.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Troy Melton vs. CHW – YES. They’re going with Troy over Montero and I’m excited to watch him have a ball. They said he’d be getting “the bulk”, which could mean five innings or someone else acts as the opener (despite saying he’s the “starter”). Either way, think of him like a Zebby type against a poor offense. Update: The Tigers activated Sawyer Gipson-Long today, and it’s safe to wager we’ll see him pitch in this one behind Melton. I’d normally say keep him on the IL, but SGL could vulture a Win in this one…

Shane Smith vs. DET – Smith may be limited, but his overall skills are as good as we’ve seen from Shane this year.

Hunter Greene vs. PHI – It’s a “Still ILL” and I’m concerned he won’t go long.

Shohei Ohtani @ LAA – We just saw Ohtani go four frames, maybe this is the outing where he pushes to 65 pitches and squeezes out five in full?

Kevin Gausman vs. CHC – He’s returning strikeouts, but it’s a toss-up each time out. And it’s the Cubs.

J.T. Ginn vs. TBR – Maybe I should have Ginn higher than this after his stupid good skills in his last game. Given his floor, I need to see it a second time (at least) before pushing him further up. After all, the sinker is still well under 95 mph.

Mitch Keller @ MIL – If you need a QS, fine. I don’t like it.

Cade Horton @ TOR – I’m cool with Horton, though I think he’s been a bit fortunate. The Jays set this up as a potential disaster start.

Zac Gallen @ TEX – It’s the Rangers, remember them, Gallen? Please take it out on them. I wonder if the sinker usage inside to RHB will continue to rise.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Walker Buehler @ HOU – He showcased a new windup, now starting in the stretch position in hopes to make him more consistent throughout a start. He had a better line last time, maybe it’s a thing?

Kai-Wei Teng vs. SDP – The secondaries can be lovely. The bubbling lava on the floor is just as beautiful, in a horrifying way.

Kyle Hendricks vs. LAD – Hendricks is what he is. A guy to avoid.

Carlos Carrasco @ NYM – Oh snap, REVENGE GAME. Nah, this shouldn’t work.

Jake Irvin @ KCR – He’s been rough for a while now.

Austin Gomber @ STL – You know the drill.

 

 

Thursday 8/14 Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Tarik Skubal @ MIN – Aces gonna ace.

 

Probably Starts

 

Edward Cabrera @ CLE – He’s on a roll like branded bread.

Jesús Luzardo @ WSN – Luzardo is a “Cherry Bomb” who is fortunately going to face more LHB than usual.

Kodai Senga vs. ATL – Senga has been in a funk (like most of the Mets’ rotation) and he should come out of it here if not shortly after.

Matthew Boyd @ TOR – Boyd has been fantastic, but the Jays against a LHP at home is rough.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Max Scherzer vs. CHC – He’s been nothing but solid for you since returning from the IL and I’m all for Scherzer after this one. There’s a chance he still succeeds here, too.

Bailey Ober vs. DET – Ober was better in the return and Eric Samulski made a great point that we should expect him to improve down the stretch now that he’s not pitching hurt.

Tanner Bibee vs. MIA – I know it’s Miami, but Bibee has been all kinds of disastrous lately. Good luck.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Tomoyuki Sugano vs. SEA – He’s the streaming pick and I wouldn’t roll with it, even if Sugano had far better command in his last start.

Eduardo Rodriguez @ COL – It’s in Coors but if Erod can nail the outside corner with his changeup, he should take down their RHB well.

Logan Evans @ BAL – The Mariners are pushing Castillo an extra day, giving the pearl to Evans in Baltimore. If he can jam the sinker inside to RHB, he has a chance. This is a Hobbit Hole, though – the ceiling is low.

Brad Lord vs. PHI – He just had a magical start and I don’t have the faith.

Bryce Elder @ NYM – Elder is a quarterly “Werewolf”, so like a blue wolf?

Bradley Blalock vs. ARI – In Coors and with the initials B.B. It’s clear, y’all.

 

 

Friday 8/15 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.