Raise your hand if you’ve had constant headaches in the pitching department this season. If your hand is up (you know it is) then hopefully my daily starting pitcher rankings can help set things right.
To stream or not to stream is an age-old fantasy dilemma. However, that question is one for the beginning of the season not for when your squad is clawing and scratching to get into the playoffs. This is the time when risk and reward are at their maximum, some dreams may be realized while others are certain to be crushed. It’s a bumpy road that’s filled with potholes and booby traps and one that is not for the faint of heart, but with some courage and know-how and not an insignificant amount of good luck, you can come out on the other side with some wins in your pocket and a smile on your face.
In an effort to aid your quest, we’ve put together some daily streaming pitcher ranks. Good luck with those waiver wires!
One note on this list: we use the Probables Grid through RosterResource via Fangraphs to populate our ranks. It’s a fantastic tool to have in your fantasy toolbox, check it out!
More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers
Daily Starting Pitcher Rankings for August 23
The No-Brainers
It’s hard to call any match-up a sure thing but the following guys are ones that have the talent to have a dominant outing.
Always fun when the guy you’re way into in the preseason goes on to a very successful season. George Kirby was one of my favorites in March and he has proven me right. As the old saying goes, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day.” He gets the primo matchup of the day versus the White Sox.
Corbin Burnes hasn’t been out-and-out dominant this year but is still one of the safest bets to go deep into a game with fantastic strikeout upside.
The only reason that Shohei Ohtani isn’t #2 (or even #1!) is that his last start was two weeks ago. Ohtani’s so otherworldly talented that he’ll probably go 7.2 with eight strikeouts but I wonder if some rust will need to be shaken off.
Clayton Kershaw is pitching. That’s the extent of the blurb. If #22 is on the mound, he’s in your lineup.
Toronto versus Baltimore is such a fun series. Hard to think that Gausman once was an Oriole! Despite his rough outing last time around, he remains an auto-start.
Sandy has turned it around in the second half, though it could be said that it couldn’t get any worse than his first half.
- 1st half: 4.72 ERA, 114 IP, 94:33 K:BB
- 2nd half: 2.70 ERA, 50 IP, 47:8 K:BB
He’s put himself back into the elite status conversation.
The Rockies stink. Aaron Civale pulls an easy one tonight.
The Fun Dice Rolls
With every game started, there is inherent risk. These pitchers, along with the parks in which they are playing and the teams they are facing, provide as much insurance as possible.
It’s easy to pick on the A’s but Cole Ragans has been something of a revelation the last month or so. Feel good starting him if you have him on your rosters.
Always wary to start anyone in Milwaukee, it’s a hitter’s paradise. The Brewers offense is far from scary though, so Kenta Maeda is more than up to the task.
Having only allowed a couple of stinkers this season, Seth Lugo should be considered a pretty safe option.
One of my favorite players, Tarik Skubal has been awesome since his return from injury. In 38.1 innings, he has a 3.76 ERA with 43 strikeouts and only SEVEN walks. The Tigers playing behind him have not been so awesome, though. He has a 1.99 FIP, that’s WILD.
Michael Lorenzen has to be excited to not be facing the Nationals. After no-hitting Washington on August 9, on 120+ pitches no less, he turned around and coughed up six earned runs against them nine days later. Which Lorenzen will show up today against the Giants?
If you’re still waiting for the other shoe to drop for Andrew Abbott, be comforted knowing that you aren’t the only one. Abbott remains competitive but it is noteworthy that in his last four starts, he has failed to reach six innings.
The Not-So-Sure Things
This is a mixed bag of hunches, streamers, and inconsistent results. Be advised, dipping into this well one too many times can cause severe consternation and heartbreak.
I don’t know why I can’t get behind Jameson Taillon in any way but I just can’t. His game log is fairly pristine but still, I don’t trust it in any way.
Chris Sale’s velocity was down about three miles per hour in his second start off the Injured List, which is concerning to say the least. Starting him in Houston does not feel right but if you’re going to take a risk you could do far worse than Sale.
The Yankees are in such a bad way that I could possibly convince myself to start MacKenzie Gore in Yankees Stadium. That is something that I could not have seen myself saying six weeks ago, but here we are.
The Yankees are in such a bad way that I could possibly convince myself to start MacKenzie Gore in Yankees Stadium. That is something that I could not have seen myself saying six weeks ago, but here we are.
The Only If You Musts
Sometimes you are in a position, where you need any pitching you can get. Cross your fingers and hope for the best with this group.
Reid Detmers, the Master of Inconsistency, takes on the Reds. Not interested but the Reds struggle with strikeouts; they’re 2nd in MLB in the month of August at 27.9%. Maybe there is something to be investigated here
Jose Urquidy might be an opener, not totally sure. The Astros are a worthy team stream, either way.
I haven’t had any Michael Kopech exposure thus far this season and now is not the time to change that.
The Hail Marys
If you need an absolute miracle. here are your options.
The Cardinals are, finally, totally not good. For a while, the offense was buoying them but that, too, has fallen apart. Luis Ortiz will either throw a total gem or get rocked for 5 in 2.1, there is no in-between here.
Kyle Muller versus Kansas City and Alex Cobb in Philadelphia are the only pitchers left who have any interest to me but save yourself the headache.
Just Don’t Do It
Like, seriously, stop thinking about it.
No to Zack Thompson. No to Jose Quintana. Triple no to Luis Severino!
Thanks as always for stopping by, we’ll be back tomorrow! If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas, or just want to drop a virtual high-five, send a note to [email protected] and give us a follow on Twitter @LDeePee