Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.
Lugo bounced back from his 7 ER nightmare v. LAA. Duds are just part of his game. He had 5 in his big 2024 season and his 14 since 2024 are tied for 4th-most.
I’m not sitting King or anything, but I want to point out that STL has been sneaky strong. They’re sitting 9th vR on the season and up at 3rd in the last 2 weeks. It gives me pause on someone like Walker Buehler over the weekend and could slow me down some Griffin Canning, though I’ve always had a soft spot for him.
I think Painter’s better than his .370 BABIP, especially with a flyball lean; ATH is tough enough to still play it safe in the shallowest formats, but he’s viable across the board.
Where are the Kellerheads from the chat? Your boy better not let me down here! After inconsistent control in his first four starts (0, 4, 1, 4 BB), he has dialed in with just 3 in his last three starts combined (19 IP). Often a Keller skeptic, I’m down to run the hot hand here as his 2.84 ERA/0.84 WHIP over the L3 comes with a 19% K-BB and 114 LOC+. He wins with command and control which does lead to more volatility with the ball in play more often and ARI is up to 12th vR over the last 2 weeks, though Skenes and Co. shut them out tonight (I’m typing this with just 1 out in the 9th… will I jinx the Pirates?).
Griffin Jax is opening and he’s still unlikely to deliver a fantasy-relevant inning total, but they are stretching him out with a season-high 45 pitches last time out. I don’t know if this caps around 3+ innings, but if they can get him consistently in the 3-5 range, maybe he can move into the follower role. Scholtens, meanwhile, isn’t a bad Win chase, having won 3 of his last 4. All of the wins were follows, though he did go 5.7 IP in the start so it wasn’t volume that kept him from winning that one.
Some of the 1-x’s have fringe 12-start viability but I’m not eager to use them there.
Whenever we start trusting Irvin, he drops 4 BB on our heads… but that’s why he’s a #4. That’s just a trait of #4s and why they live in the streaming world. MIN is 7th in K% vR so maybe we spike one of his biggies (games of 7 and 9 Ks this yr).
I’m keeping tabs on Scott, but let’s be careful about running him in Coors. COL has found their groove at home, though perhaps the snowyyy weather this week will slow them down.
Povich and Liberatore are fringe streamers for sure. Povich gets a sputtering MIA offense in their HR-suppressing park (88 HR factor is 6th lowest) while Liberatore gets a slightly better offense in a park that suppresses everything but homers (97 overall factor is 25th, but 108 HR is 9th highest).
Even with as bad as PHI has been, Ginn is scary to stream here. Is the upside even worth the severe downside? PHI might not get all the way back into a Top 10 offseason this year but Ginn has a career 349-pt. platoon split and their 3 above avg. hitters are all lefties (Schwarber, Harper, and Marsh).
Just not enough swing and miss in Lowder’s game to have any real confidence with him, particularly if the wind is blowing out at Wrigley.
Gallen has very similar metrics to Lowder with just a 7% K-BB and 8% SwStr. If not for a 5% HR/FB, he’d likely be toting an ERA north of 5.00 right now.
Cecconi has always been a HR machine but it’s even worse this year at 2.0 (career 1.7) and at that rate, there’s nothing he can do to make himself a worthy stream.
Bums: Is Matt McLain now a boring accumulator? At least that’s what the ROS projections say. But yet 2B options are so weak. How much longer should I keep stepping on this rake in a 12 team roto. Apologies if this went thru a lot getting an error on the phone
1:03
12T H2H 6×6 OBP,SLG: Hi Paul! I finally gave up on McLain for Bazzana. Keaschall, Semien, Stott, and Angel Martinez are on the wire, would you move off of Bazzana for any of these guys?
1:03
Paul Sporer: Crazy coincidence that the very first two Qs both involve McLain!!!
1:08
Paul Sporer: Boring accumulation does appear to be on deck with him. I was among those who bought the spring power surge. But it has completely evaporated in season outside of his 2-HR game v. DET. He has 5 SBs so still viable in deeper formats. I think he’s starting to straddle the cut line in 12s and lower.
Bums: Depends who’s available, but if it’s some of the names shared by the next Q, then I think there’s merit to moving on as he’s just bludgeoning the AVG for only a bit of HR/SB juice
12T H2H: With those options, you can probably try to play some hot hand stuff. That can be a tricky game if you’re always catching the tail end of a hot streak and missing most of the juice, but I guess it’s just more that I wouldn’t wait toooo long on guys before moving on. Give Bazz another 7-10 days and if it’s not turning, you can look elsewhere, but he doesn’t appear overmatched and a tiny BABIP is holding back a lot.
1:08
Charlotte: Shane-o-Mac looks so good after getting through his first 3 starts. Is he back-back??!!
Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.
Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.
Some pretty tough matchups for the studs. 6 of the 3-x’s are facing Top 10 offenses against their respective handedness. All 6 of those starters are in my Top 30 rankings, too. Ohtani gets a big test in HOU… can one of the best offense in baseball push his 0.60 ERA?
Alcantara is putting up solid results, but an 8% K-BB will come back to burn him if he doesn’t improve; good news is that an 11% SwStr can definitely yield better than a 16% K.
I have no delusions that Bradley has revolutionized himself despite the sweet 2.85 ERA; his 1.22 WHIP is a sobering reminder that he’s enjoyed some good fortune to get here. Thankfully a lagging WAS offense gives him a great shot to stay hot.
Elder is riding a .252 BABIP and 5% HR/FB to results this good, but a new cutter has helped him shave 204 pts off his OPS vL so perhaps a regressed version could still hold some Team Streamer juice. I’m running him in SEA and then very likely for next week’s home 2-step v. CHC/BOS.
Cavalli is coming off back-to-back 10-K games, so let’s see where this goes. It’s a 2-step week and I like both individually in daily moves leagues w/a trip to MIA lined up for the weekend.
Buehler and Severino are cromulent veterans getting solid setups on the road while Chandler and Sproat are young upstarts who’ve disappointed thus far with just OK matchups, also on the road. ARI is only 26th in wOBA on the season but rising to 17th in the last two weeks and will likely send 6 lefty/switch hitters against Chandler, who has a 230-point platoon split (.854 vL). I’m sure at least 1 of these 4 will have a good start and maybe even 2, but I couldn’t even begin to have confidence in identifying which one(s).
This feels like a touch-the-stove moment with Lambert where some of us are going to get too cute here… this is a waiver pickup you’ve already gotten some juice out of, don’t piss it all away hoping he survives LAD coming to visit. I would hold for the SEA/TEX 2-step he’s in line for next week.
I think Dana is just the guess for Kikuchi’s spot right now… if you see someone confirmed, let me know in the comments!
Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.
Went to a game with the family tonight so I’ll drop comments in the morning.
As I keep my rankings updated behind the scenes in between updates, Schlittler just keeps rising. Soriano is getting a ton of attention for his sub-1.00 ERA essentially out of nowhere, but Schlittler is every bit as impressive so far this year.
Gilbert’s surface woes (at least relative to an ace) surprised me a bit as I don’t have him anywhere this year so I’m not as dialed in on his day-to-day. But once I take a deeper look, I’m not worried. His 19% K-BB is down 7 pts from last year but in line with his 21% career mark. The .349 BABIP stands out and the elevated line drive could be a culprit behind it, but nothing I’m long-term concerned about.
Cabrera hasn’t been giving me the warm-n-fuzzies despite the impressive surface numbers. His 6 pt. drop in K% is a little concerning despite his SwStr holding firm at his 12% career mark. A career-best 8% HR/FB is keeping him from fully paying for his lessened skills but the 4.27 SIERA hints at what could happen if the HR/FB trends back toward league average (11%), let alone his career mark (15%).
Martin hasn’t added to his SwStr% to back the 6 pt. K% surge but he’s still at the upper reaches of what a 9.6% can yield. He has a nice BB% improvement and of course the 87% LOB is playing a big role in his ERA being under 2.00. He’s not that good but if he can live in a 14-17% K-BB range and he doesn’t get all his LOB and HR/FB regression is one super nasty start, then I think he can maintain a usable mid-3.00s ERA with a sub-1.25 WHIP.
I’m starting to take the struggling performances of expected good teams a bit more seriously as we push into May. So teams like the Phillies, Mets, and Red Sox. They all still have threats in the lineup and can go off on a given night, but I’m loosening my streaming restrictions against them. It earned Junk an extra X and got Sugano his lone X.
Baz has a 2-step so you might have to eat that Yankees start to get the Athletics one at home this weekend, but is it even worth it? I want him to be as good as his reputation, but he’s just not.
Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
The chart includes their performance for 2026, their opponent’s wOBA versus the pitcher’s handedness, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues – essentially a shallow, medium, deep league setup – and then a note about some, most, or all depending on the day. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations for standard 5×5 roto leagues, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. I usually won’t have much to write about aces who are locked into our rotations. If you want to discuss someone further, please feel free to leave a comment. I usually do a few sweeps of the comments before game time in case there are time-sensitive questions.
A couple key changes since posting:
Carson Whisenhunt was showing for SFG when I wrote last night. It’s Ray and he’s of course all systems go. Consider him just under Ragans.
Wheeler is in for Painter and of course an easy 3-x, too. Even if I’m a little nervous about how good he’s going to be this year, he’s still an auto-start for the first 4-5 to see where he’s at.
And then just some notes…
SDP is only 27th in BB% vL this year so maybe Schultz can exhibit some improved control against them?
Cantillo is doing his thing with that sub-3.00 ERA, but the 1.32 WHIP makes clear that it’s not sustainable and a trip to Sacramento could the first big hit of regression.
There was a Keller stan either in the comments here or in my chat recently and I’m sure they’re licking their chops at the 3.18 ERA/1.15 WHIP combo but I just can’t see how that 4.49 SIERA isn’t more accurate of who he truly is as a pitcher. His 3% HR/FB is doing most of the work with a little assist from a good-but-not-insane .273 BABIP. Still ran a 2-x bc it’s at home and CIN’s offense hasn’t been great. Don’t burn us, Mitch, let your regression be against obvious teams in obvious spots. Though if that’s the case, it could be a while with at ARI, v. COL, at STL and at TOR on his upcoming schedule. Only TOR was slated to be a fearsome lineup out of that group and so far they haven’t been, sitting just 23rd in wOBA vR.
Povich could be interesting after this start, just don’t want him in NYY
Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.
Forgot we have the 2 DHs after yesterday’s rainouts so it’s Webb/Sanchez (both easy must starts, of course) followed by Painter/Houser and then McCullers/Bassitt lead off the HOU/BAL one with yesterday’s matchup, Lambert (2-x yesterday)/Young, in the nightcap. Sanchez is 2nd to Skenes, Webb is between Woodruff & Valdez.
