Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers to Target (2023)

As I did last season, I will recommend the best (and most widely) available pitcher to stream every single day. I try to stay below 30% owned in Yahoo leagues, but I break that rule sometimes. I must choose someone, no matter how bad the options are, but I will tell you if it’s a good idea to take a day off from streaming.

I like these two-start pitchers: Corey Kluber (BOS) and Ryan Pepiot (LAD).
I’m claiming and holding Clarke Schmidt (NYY), just in case he becomes a steady presence in New York.

Fantasy Baseball Streaming Pitchers

Let’s dive right in!

Monday, April 3

Ryan Pepiot (LAD) vs. COL, 8%

Last season, in nearly 100 innings in the minors, Pepiot managed an 11.23 K/9 and a 2.56 ERA. Of course, that was coupled with a 3.55 BB/9 and an 86.2% LOB%, so danger does lurk here. However, a relatively high LOB% has followed him throughout his career, and he’s managed to limit the damage, probably in large part due to the same reasons Corey Kluber is on the list this week: soft contact. In 30.1 IP last year, Pepiot managed a 20.5% Soft% according to Fangraphs, which is a small sample size but even higher than Kluber’s (who finished in the top 11 for qualified pitchers in that category). Pepiot had a 3.29 ERA in Spring Training and punched out 19 hitters in 13.2 IP. With a solid lineup to support him, I’m crossing my fingers for a win today.

Tuesday, April 4

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) at KC, 9%

I believe in Kikuchi. There, I said it. The fan in me sees serious potential on a good team. This spring, he has punched out 25 guys in 18 innings. That’s with a 1.00 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Kikuchi had a 5.19 ERA last year, but it was coupled with a 4.07 xFIP. But hey, he struck guys out last year with that 11.09 K/9. We already know that. It was the dreaded free pass that hurt him (5.19 BB/9). I’m not here to say this issue is completely fixed, as he has walked 10 guys already in his 18 innings. The news is that Kikuchi is working with a new curveball, which will only be great if he can command it. Kikuchi has also said that the pitch clock helps him avoid overthinking. Watch this first game against K.C. and see how he manages the walks.

Wednesday, April 5

Corey Kluber (BOS) vs. PIT, 15%

Please see my notes above about Kluber. He has increased his cutter usage, which has led to more flyballs, but remember that it’s often the weak flyball that he manages to get. Since the defensive shift is limited, we might begin to wonder what the results will be for high groundball pitchers in 2023, which is why I’m more willing to look at streamers this year with a higher FB% if it’s coupled with soft contact. Add to this the fact that Pittsburgh was 27th in runs scored and 28th in OPS last year; why not attempt to stream “Klubot” for the two-start pitching fun?

Thursday, April 6

Clarke Schmidt (NYY) at BAL, 36%

For the next three days, I’m breaking the rules because of weak matchups. These pitchers won’t be as available. Schmidt is definitely one that you should pick up and hold if he becomes a long-term answer to an injury-riddled Yankees rotation. Schmidt added a new cutter to his arsenal this year, and the results have been impressive during the spring. It’s a valuable pitch for him because he has a very vertical repertoire with a changeup, sinker, and curveball included. That up-down action allows hitters to focus on a falling action, but the cutter seems to help Schmidt induce more swinging strikes as hitters look to meet the ball low. Let’s see if he can make mincemeat of the Orioles.

Friday, April 7

Alex Cobb (SF) vs. KC, 53%

Here we go again. I feel like Cobb was a weekly favorite last year, but I promise not to beat this drum too much for 2023. For one, he’s already owned by more people. I’ll give you the short version. The 35-year-old has actually increased his velocity as he’s gotten older, and he’s managed more strikeouts with a sinker that seems to paralyze hitters. They often don’t swing, and he often drops it in the zone. If you add the splitter to the mix, which has been nicknamed “The Thing”, then it’s not only about strikeouts, but also harmless contact. The reason he tends to stay available in leagues is because of bad luck, as evidenced by his 3.73 ERA and 2.80 FIP (and injuries). He could be a solid addition to your team this early if you need pitching long term.

Saturday, April 8

Ross Stripling (SF) vs. KC, 49%

Stripling pitched to a 3.01 ERA last year that was largely supported by many of the underlying stats. The strikeouts went down (8.35 K/9 in 2021 versus 7.44 K/9 in 2022), but the groundball rate went up (35.5% in 2021 versus 43.8% in 2022). That’s because he stopped throwing his heater half the time and moved toward a changeup that has continued to improve. He’s seen a nearly 20% increase in groundballs on that pitch alone. It’s a boring stream, perhaps, but both Cobb on Friday and Stripling on Saturday will offer us a pitcher-friendly ballpark as well. Let’s go for it.

Sunday, April 9

Ryan Pepiot (LAD) at ARI, 8%

Arizona may be a team of the future, but let’s assume they’re not quite there yet. They finished in the middle of the pack in runs scored in 2022. The Dodgers led the league in that category. If Pepiot manages to find success early in the season, we may only be able to use him for a short time in this streaming column, as he could become widely unavailable. All of my reasons from Monday apply here, but if he was shaky on April 3, you could consider giving him a pass.