Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings: 5/20, 5/21, and 5/22
Nick's rankings for starting pitchers for fantasy baseball, with commentary and analysis.
Wednesday 5/20
Auto-Starts
- Chris Sale (vs. MIA) - Aces gonna ace.
- Cam Schlittler (vs. TOR) - Aces gonna ace.
- Shohei Ohtani (vs. SDP) - Aces gonna ace.
- Joe Ryan (vs. HOU) - Let me give you the AGA label again.
Probably Starts
- Merrill Kelly (vs. SFG) - He’s back to being the low-end Holly you remember.
- Kyle Harrison (vs. CHC) - His four-seamer and curveball are both 90th percentile PLV. The changeup? 7th percentile. Fortunately, that fastball is a fantastic foundation.
- Connelly Early (vs. KCR) - Early is an all-around solid arm and it’s a great matchup.
- Michael Wacha (vs. BOS) - Wacha has been rolling. Why stop now?
- Emerson Hancock (vs. CHW) - I have some fear surrounding Hancock’s low vert heater, but the results have been there save for one blip.
Questionable Starts
- Edward Cabrera (vs. MIL) - Ecab was initially in the probably start tier but I’m second-guessing that. He’s too much of an unknown start-to-start, nay, inning-to-inning. In 15-teamers, you have no choice, but in 12-teamers, I want to move on from the thought that you haveto do this.
- Michael McGreevy (vs. PIT) - McGreevy has been shockingly good…? The stuff doesn’t suggest it, but this is a decent matchup you may want to try.
- Carmen Mlodzinski (vs. STL) - I don’t love it, but he could have an opener again + it’s a decent matchup. We’re gunning for 5 IP of decent production.
- Trey Yesavage (vs. NYY) - It’s the Yankees and Yesavage has had one game of his slider cooking. He needs to warm me up a little more.
- Randy Vásquez (vs. LAD) - We’ve seen a fair number of arms survive the Dodgers and Vásquez is a kitchen-sink arm with 95/96 mph heat. He could muscle through this.
- Sean Burke (vs. SEA) - It’s @TEA and Burke could pull it off. Or not have his command as we’ve seen frequently.
- Andrew Abbott (vs. PHI) - The changeup/fastball combo to RHB hasn’t been there yet. I sure hope it is here.
- Tanner Bibee (vs. DET) - Flip a coin.
- Shane Baz (vs. TBR) - I’m not impressed with Baz, but there could be a Bailey Special here.
Do Not Starts
- Tyler Mahle (vs. ARI) - As much as I want to believe in this, Mahle hasn’t given you the bottom line to believe in it. If you’re searching for a sneaky play, it’s this.
- Mike Burrows (vs. MIN) - Burrows’ command isn’t where I want it to be.
- Aaron Nola (vs. CIN) - Speaking of poor command…Nola is just so hittable right now.
- Zach Thornton (vs. WSH) - He’s getting the pearl for the Mets in a very clear PILOT Rule. He’s a low-90s slinging southpaw with two breakers he enjoys and a sinker. Great K-BB% in the minors, but we’ll see how this plays in the bigs. There may be an opener for him as well.
- Janson Junk (vs. ATL) - He’s not commanding the stuff well + Hotlanta.
- Aaron Civale (vs. LAA) - If you’re desperate, I get it. The Angels are a poor offense and Civale has had some moments.
- Steven Matz (vs. BAL) - It’s a Still ILL for Matz. Let’s make sure he’s all good.
- Jack Leiter (vs. COL) - It’s Coors for a HIPSTER. Nope.
- Jack Kochanowicz (vs. ATH) - Jackie K. is not locating well at all.
- Zack Littell (vs. NYM) - Even against the Mets, it’s too Littell too late.That doesn’t make sense.Just let me have this.
- Kyle Freeland (vs. TEX) - Absolutely not.
- Tigers Bullpen (vs. CLE) - We may see some Drew Anderson, who could be pitching at the right time for a Win, but will the quality be there? Will the Tigers be winning in the first place?
Thursday 5/21
Auto-Starts
- Braxton Ashcraft (vs. STL) - Feels weird that he’s at the top, but he’s the Golden Brax.
- Spencer Strider (vs. MIA) - Strider against the Marlins is absolutely cool with me, even if I don’t see a Top 30 SP.
- José Soriano (vs. ATH) - The results haven’t been what we want lately, though the Dodgers’ outing was great until he completely lost it in the sixth.
Probably Starts
- Carlos Rodón (vs. TOR) - He hasn’t dominated yet since he returned from the IL.
Questionable Starts
- Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. COL) - It’s Rockie Road for a 15-teamer Toby.
- Casey Mize (vs. CLE) - Mize has impressed me with his slider, though it may be tough to excel here with a LHB-heavy lineup.
- Cade Cavalli (vs. NYM) - It’s the Mets, it’s also Cavalli’s volatility with an arsenal that breaks the Huascar Rule.
- Sandy Alcantara (vs. ATL) - Sandy has put us in purgatory and it’s Hotlanta.
- Dustin May (vs. PIT) - May is a constant QS option who is showing more whiffability.
- Joey Cantillo (vs. DET) - Cantillo, please get the changeup in check. We need some more of those 7+ strikeout games.
Do Not Starts
- Luis Severino (vs. LAA) - Sevy hasn’t been reliable for a while.
- David Peterson (vs. WSH) - Peterson has had some moments, but the floor is terrible.
- Tomoyuki Sugano (vs. ARI) - It’s away from Coors! MAYBE HE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
- Spencer Miles (vs. NYY) - He’s the bulk guy for the Jays in Lauer’s spot and it’s the Yankees.
