Check out all of our starting pitcher rankings and other lineup selection tools here to help you make smart fantasy baseball lineup decisions. All fantasy advice is geared toward ESPN 10-team leagues with standard scoring.
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Other resources: RP depth chart | 2026 Rankings
ESPN's 2026 Player Rater | Betting notes for Thursday
Pitchers to stream on Thursday
It's the time of the season when the same names will appear in this section every five or six days. Ian Seymour has earned that distinction with four quality starts over his last five outings, posting a 2.51 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in the process. This isn't a lucky stretch, as it is fully supported with 36 strikeouts to only five walks over 28 2/3 innings. Next up is a favorable matchup at pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field against the Toronto Blue Jays, who sport the lowest wOBA in the league facing lefties -- and they're without Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Peter Lambert has yielded two or fewer runs in each of his his last eight outings, registering a 2.44 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over this stretch. As with Seymour, Lambert's production is deserved, with 49 punchouts and only 15 free passes covering his previous 44 1/3 frames. The Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels in an enticing matchup for Lambert. The visitors check in with the second-lowest wOBA and second-highest strikeout rate with a righty on the hill.
After stumbling out of the gate in his first start after the All-Star break, Robert Gasser is back on track with a 3.33 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over his last five starts, spanning 27 stanzas. He hasn't been dominant, with a palatable 25 strikeouts, but he has exhibited sharp control and command with only five walks and three homers over this stretch. On tap for the Milwaukee Brewers righty is a home date against the below-average offense of the Seattle Mariners.
Hitters to stream on Thursday
The Blue Jays have surrendered the most stolen bases in baseball over the last month. Meanwhile, entering Wednesday's action, Chandler Simpson hit safely in 15 of 16 games, sporting a .418/.414/.448 line while adding nine steals to his American League-leading total. Simpson is a prime Thursday target, as is Jonathan Aranda for his power potential facing Shane Bieber.