• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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.

• Alright, we have a ton of 3-x’ers today and they’re definitely not created equally so I want to break that group down in a bit more detail.
• Easy studs: Fried, Luzardo, McLean, Cease, Sale, Miz, and Ray – the ones you don’t need detail on to know they’re starts
• New 3s: I can’t ignore Hancock’s 1.5 HR9 and 93% LOB rates but there is a foundation to work with here (29% K, 4% BB, 12% SwStr – all far and away career bests) so we’re riding the the train; Detmers has brought his RP skills to his SP role wholesale with an equal 21% K-BB, though constructed more soundly trading 4 pts of K% for -4 of BB%. The 6% HR/FB will regress but these skills will soften the blow and he’s a rotation staple right now; Messick-Bubic-Burke is a rising AL Central trio who closed strong last yr and have rolled the success over into 2026 so far making them all easy starts right now; Burke might be a little fringier in 10s, but Messick/Bubic are all systems go
• Sketchy 3s: Prielipp needs more than 3 starts to join his AL Central brethren but the early returns are strong; Montero’s .245 BABIP and 0.8 HR9 are helping squeeze a 3.48 ERA out of these skills (14% K-BB) and I’m open to running him at KCR; regression is coming for Griffin, particularly his .220 BABIP and 84% LOB, but I willing to bet he can stave it off another start with a trip to MIA; I’m not moving off Dollander for a rough one v. ATL and he’s catching PHI hitting even worse than their full-season line (hopefully he gets an opener again!); Sheehan gets that tough ATL lineup now and while the 21% K-BB is excellent, the 1.7 HR9 looms large against the MLB HR leader against righties… one silver lining is being on LAD gives him a chance to struggle a bit but still net the W as long as he goes 5 IP; 14 ER in 5.3 IP is going to stain Nelson’s ERA for a whiiiile but he rebounded at CHC and NYM hasn’t given us any reason to avoid them with streamers; Mlodzinski’s 18% K-BB is 10th best on the board today but I just don’t see how a 9% SwStr can sustain that 26% K rate and yet we’re obviously not turning down this trip to SFG; Early hasn’t quite lived up to expectations despite the decent ERA (3.79), so it’s time to show something in this next 3-start run (TBR, PHI, at KCR) or else the ATL might need to be skipped
• I’m ready to get hurt by Canning again! I will say that we need to be a little tighter with streaming against STL as they sit 10th vR on the year and they’re riding high at 1st over the L2 wks
• It’s Lodolo’s season debut so of course do what you will with first starts off the IL; his rehab did go very well with a 34% K-BB in 12 IP so there has at least been some ramp up
• If you want to run McGreevy in a 10, it’s not crazy at SDP but this is pure run-hot; all the ERA indicators are north of 4.00 and his xERA is at 5.77!!
• Holding Bradish and Rocker in 15s comes down to the fact that there probably just isn’t anyone better on the wire but they surely haven’t done anything to earn the roster spot
• Snelling is a premium prospect making his MLB debut on Friday! Paddack was DFA’d so if this goes well, he’s going to stay in the rotation

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart, click here if you’re new to get an idea of what I’m doing with these rankings.

I moved the intro down to the bottom so daily readers don’t have to wade through it. Going forward, I’m going to start cutting myself off on notes around 11:30 CT, aiming for a midnight first run deadline and then updates in the AM if I have more to add (sometimes I can’t even start until 11p, so those would likely be light on notes until the morning). I will still always stay in the comments if y’all have questions. I know some of y’all use this for overnight waivers in daily moves leagues so a more regular post time will help that contingent, too.

• Ace day with several studs lined up to go, including five toting sub-3.00 ERAs.
• Webb’s looking better in his last 2, not that I’d be sitting him if they weren’t that great… he’s just not someone I’m going to overreact with even the early skills degradation. It’s not stubborn for stubborn sake, it’s trusting the lengthy track record over 6 starts.
• In fact, Eovaldi is a good example of a stud who has poor results but isn’t going anywhere for me. Maybe for someone with his injury history, I might sit him more aggressively if the velo was cratered and spin off kilter, but that isn’t the case (velo’s actually up .5 mph which isn’t meaningful, just pointing out that isn’t not even down at all, let alone alarmingly). His 16% K-BB is a little light but still 14% SwStr and 6% BB… the Ks will come, they’re just clocking him before he can get there and the 26% HR/FB rate will subside.
• Williams has a crazy line. He’s still walking the yard, more so in fact (13% BB) and his HRs are worse than last year (1.5 HR9) but they’re counterbalanced by a .192 BABIP/85% LOB rate. He’s like the inverse of Eovaldi. As he regresses, his good numbers will funnel over to Eovaldi, who deserves them. That’s just how it works! (I’m half-joking… of course, their performances are independent of each other, but I do believe in those trajectories.)
• The sinker effectiveness has notably declined for Sandy in his last three starts after dominating in the first three. Is that just seasonal ebbs and flows that looks worse because it’s three up and then three down or is it indicative of pending trouble? I don’t have an answer just yet, but I’m seeing him through this start and next week’s 2-step before altering his status. If the sinker from his first three doesn’t show up in any of the next three, he might dip toward a Team Streamer.
• Don’t fumble this, Cavalli… just 3 ER in his last two (9 IP) with 15 Ks against 0 BB and a chance to stay hot against one of the coldest teams going in the Mets.
• Lambert’s got 8 punchies in each of his first two starts since returning stateside and now gets a tough test in Baltimore that I’m really eager to watch and see how he handles it. He was one of those prospects I first wished could get out of Colorado and then just wished he could stay healthy. If this goes well, I might get silly with his LAD/at CIN 2-step next week… miiiight.
• BTW, I’m now tracking wOBA over the last 14 days on my little sheet where I put everything together each night (I’ll eventually expand to L30 when we get more sample going) to get an idea of who is running hot/cold off their season mark. Nothing that really moves the needle today… Sproat and Sugano getting a bit spicier versions of ARI and CIN, respectively, and four guys getting worse performing offenses but none of them actionable with two Aces (Glasnow/Webb) we were already starting everywhere and two non-factors (Pallante/Peterson) who aren’t elevated enough by improved matchups.
• Elmer Rodríguez is an interesting prospect for the Yankees, slotting 53rd in the Top 100, so I’m definitely watching him but I want to see one before slotting him in anywhere. 

Read the rest of this entry »

• Daily SP Chart archive
• 2-Start podcast episode
• SP Rankings (updated Monday April 27th!)

Welcome to the Daily SP Chart.

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.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll be in the comments answering questions and discussing changes!

Focus more on tier differences that rankings differences within a given tier. Sure, the top and bottom of a tier can be discussed, but 7-10 rankings within the same tier isn’t a huge split to me and comparing them would likely come down to short-term matchups.

Changes (won’t appear on the boards below):

• Peter Lambert – HOU – Team Streamer #91 – got knocked off during an edit when I was digging in a previous version on Sheets, thinking I was only changing some of the header text. I’ve got him at the very end of the Team Streamer tier, ranking 91st. Let’s see how this trip to Baltimore goes this week but then a LAD/at CIN 2-step next week is scary for pitchers way better than Lambert so it’s far from a must-start. If we see another 8 punchies, I might mess around and run him in my Main Event but I would at least keep him even though benching a 2-step is usually grounds for roster removal (the idea being “if you’re not going to use them in a 2-step, are they really worth it?” but there are exceptions, IMO). He lines up for TEX and at MIN the following weeks after the 2-step.

Full Rankings Without Tiers