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Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 6/18 & 6/19

Nick Pollack ranks the starting pitcher streamers for today & tomorrow.

Here are today and tomorrow’s daily SP Streamer rankings for fantasy baseball.

Every day of the 2024 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today and tomorrow’s slate of scheduled starting pitchers and ranking their matchups for your fantasy baseball streams.

There’s a lot that goes into this and you can hang out with me on Playback.tv/pitcherlist to talk about the specific ranks as I make them every weekday morning from 10am – 12pm ET. If you have questions about these ranks, please ask during the morning Playback AMA. Those are my office hours as I generally don’t answer comments on the site.

There are four tiers to these rankings with 12-teamers in mind:

Auto-Start – Just do it. Don’t overthink this, start the man. This includes “if I have them rostered, I’m starting them” pitchers.

Probably Start – I’m likely starting these arms, though I recognize there is more risk than we’d like there to be. Either it’s a tough matchup for a good-not-elite pitcher or a weak lineup for a volatile arm. These pitchers have a 50% or greater chance of performing well in my view and I’m starting them in the majority of situations.

Questionable Start – Think of this tier as “I don’t want to start these pitchers in a vacuum, but you could do worse.” Streamers found in this tier are not pitchers I’m targeting and are only if you are in dire need of one. To play it safe with streaming, just start the Probably Start streamers.

Do Not Start – The reward is not worth the risk. Don’t do it. Seriously, these pitchers have a very slim chance of success or sometimes none at all.

Obviously, there will be circumstances where pitchers should move between teams for your situation specifically and these new tiers should act as a little more help than the straight table from last year.

Please keep in mind that streaming is far from a perfect play. In fact, if they work out over half the time, I’d consider it a success. These matchup rankings & streamer picks are going to be wildly different than the actual results throughout the year, so please, have sympathy before the scathing comments and tweets. I’m only trying to help!

Make sure to read the notes if you’re wondering why I’m favoring certain pitchers over others – I won’t get to everyone and hopefully I answer what questions you will have.

There is a second table for tomorrow’s starting pitcher matchups as well, helping everyone get a jump on their nightly pickups. Please note that these matchups are subject to change, though, and there will be times when I have the incorrect pitcher going. I thank you for your future understanding.

Finally, there are my streaming picks of the day, and please keep in mind that I am forced to pick a streamer every day. Those highlighted in Green are that day’s streaming pick in the second tier and I’d roll with them everywhere. Those in Yellow are in the third tier and should be okay if you’re searching for something on a given day, but I don’t recommend streaming unless you’re in need. Finally, those are Red are those I really don’t want to start (they are labeled as “Do Not Start”, after all) but have no other choice. Don’t stream these guys until you are truly desperate. A streaming pick is defined as “rostered in 20% or fewer leagues according to Fantasy Pros. This really emphasizes the point that I’d be happy if over 50% of these worked. I could do the whole sub 30/40% rostered, but there’s no fun in that. You can use the rankings to realize who those picks would be instead.

(Opener) – Outlines that a pitcher is being opened for that day & the pitcher listed will follow the opener.

As I do my rankings, I thought it would be helpful to showcase a table of how we’re ranking offenses (in alphabetical order by tier):

Nick’s Loose Team Offense Rankings (Updated 6/17)

I’m sure it’ll change through the year + there are differences to be made about teams vs. LHP or RHP, but it works as a general table that y’all should keep in mind.

Alright, let’s get to it.

To spice up these streaming recommendations, I’ve included our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, and I’ll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.

These projections are different from your typical projections as they incorporate our pitch quantifier, assessing pitcher and hitter skills at a much more granular level than your standard box score.

To get access to PL Bot’s picks each day, sign up for PL Pro here.

The streaming record is determined by “Was this a productive game for 12-teamers if I started them?” Roughly a PQS with a Win and a strikeout per inning with a sub 1.20 WHIP, with a minimum of 5 IP. Close calls are decided by Playback chat.

 

Nick’s 2024 Streamer Record: 46-36

My pick yesterday: Reese Olson @ ATL – W

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 47-35

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: James Paxton @ COL – W

Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.

My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto Starts

 

Aaron Nola vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace. Yes, he’s #1 despite his blowup last week. It’s weird, I know, but it’s the right move. Brush it off.

Tanner Houck @ TOR – Aces gonna ace. He’s earned it.

Justin Steele vs. SFG – He’s looking as good as ever. He’s moving closer to Ace Potential –> AGA if he keeps his fastball and slider command.

Framber Valdez @ CHW – Valdez is as frustrating as any but this is the White Sox.

Logan Webb @ CHC – Aces gonna ace, just without the same ceiling.

Pablo López vs. TBR – You can do it Pablo. The feel isn’t quite back but you have to believe he’ll get there.

Nick Lodolo @ PIT – Lodolo hasn’t put everything together, but this is the Pirates and the floor is strong enough to prevent anyone from benching him.

 

Probably Starts

 

Michael King @ PHI – This is a tough one given the Phillies’ offense, but I’m absolutely loving King’s groove and would send him out there.

Jake Irvin vs. ARI – Irvin is on a ridiculous Vargas Rule with his curveball absolutely crushing.

Bryce Miller @ CLE – Miller’s secondaries are still lacking, but we’ll chance it here.

Chris Bassitt vs. BOS – Bassitt is a set-and-forget arm without the expectations of an ace.

Walker Buehler @ COL – I love that Buehler had an actual plan last time out and executed it. If only the plan was a good one…

Michael Lorenzen vs. NYM – He’s the clear streaming pick of the day as a Toby against a poor lineup. But Grimace…Uh huh.

Nestor Cortes vs. BAL – He’s a LHP against the Orioles and that should give you pause. We’re still going for this given the Win chance, though.

Spencer Schwellenbach vs. DET – I’m digging Mr. Crescendo’s wide arsenal and the Tigers are not baring their teeth.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Alec Marsh @ OAK – Marsh hasn’t been consistent, but this is Oakland. This feels like a start you make.

Aaron Civale @ MIN – We’re seeing more cutters and curves, but the whole approach is still a little rough around the edges.

Hogan Harris vs. KCR – His iVB has gone down an inch each start since his electric 17″ in his first outing. Now at 15″, I wonder if he has enough in the tank to get through the Royals.

Triston McKenzie vs. SEA – McKenzie has somehow made this work and the Mariners seem like a decent bet. Seem being the key word.

Tobias Myers @ LAA – Myers has gone 14 frames across his last two outings and maybe he can skirt by another six against the Angels.

Bailey Falter vs. CIN – Flater has a solid four-seamer at times and the Reds often flounder.

Griffin Canning vs. MIL – The Brewers aren’t a team to mess with, though we’ve seen Canning cruise with his breakers in the zone and nibbling with heaters.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Roddery Muñoz vs. STL – We saw how it works for Muñoz in his last outing, but it’s too volatile to trust without a huge ceiling to chase.

Luis Severino @ TEX – He has a long enough leash n all, but is Sevy to be trusted as a fastball/sweeper arm? I just can’t do it.

Jonathan Cannon vs. HOU – Cannon had himself a surprisingly great outing in his return to the majors, but this is the Astros. Hopefully it gives us the courage to start him against the Tigers on Sunday.

Casey Mize @ ATL – Speaking of the Tigers, Mize gets Atlanta and I’m finding it hard to get back on the train in full. Atlanta is heating up a bit, too, and I’d rather play this safe.

Lance Lynn @ MIA – It’s the Marlins! Take Two Ls and you’ll end up with one.

Albert Suárez @ NYY – It’s the Yankees. Suárez does deserve props for his cutter coming alive, but this is going to be a grind.

Slade Cecconi @ WSN – Cecconi can’t be trusted, not even against the Nats.

Austin Gomber vs. LAD – Nooooooope.

 

Enjoy these rankings? Support my work and Pitcher List by getting PL+ or PL Pro! You’ll get an Ad-Free website, access to our incredible non-toxic baseball Discord community, my weekly PL Pro exclusive SP FAAB Forecast podcast, a full suite of fantasy baseball tools, and much more. Get 10% off yearly with code SPSTREAMERS here.

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto Starts

 

Cole Ragans @ OAK – Aces gonna ace. AGAINST OAKLAND.

Tarik Skubal @ ATL – Aces gonna ace. Atlanta is a little tougher than Oakland. A little.

Joe Ryan vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace and it’s not Houston.

Garrett Crochet vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace. The first proper test for Crochet as an ace of the first tier.

Ranger Suárez vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace. Don’t let us down.

Reynaldo López vs. DET – He’s been too good and it’s the Tigers.

Freddy Peralta @ LAA – Don’t be a Cherry Bomb. Please.

Kevin Gausman vs. BOS – He’s been volatile but we’re still going for it.

 

Probably Starts

 

Tanner Bibee vs. SEA – Bibee has been in a groove and his heater can perform better than usual against the Mariners.

Hunter Greene @ PIT – It’s the Pirates. You should get the strikeouts.

Gerrit Cole vs. BAL – He’s making his season debut and coming off the IL to face the Orioles. Isn’t it a Still ILLMaybe. Cole tossed 70 pitches in his final rehab start with elite iVB on his heater (more than last year’s mark!) and I imagine he’ll be amped for this game against his division rival. Expect 80 pitches and some HYPE.

Hunter Brown @ CHW – We watched Brown pitch at his peak in his last outing and now gets the CrySox.

Kyle Gibson @ MIA – He’s coming off the bereavement list, which may affect his performance here. It’s hard to read how that’ll change his outlook and I’ll stick with “Gibson’s sweeper has carried him across a successful stretch and it’s the Marlins.”

Bobby Miller @ COL – This looks like a Still ILL except that Miller tossed 93 pitches in his final rehab start. Don’t take his performance during his buildup as gospel. His four-seamer shape is there and the Dodgers will need him for at least five innings. Let’s. Go.

Bryan Woo @ CLE – Woo’s MRI was apparently clean and he’s cleared to pitch again. He’s been solid while on the bump and we’re going to keep going with this indefinitely.

Taj Bradley @ MIN – Bradley’s four-seamer and splitter combo were fantastic in his last outing and I hope he’s figured out an approach that can return 70% strikes often. The Twins are a menace (read: Royce Lewis is a menace) and Bradley’s Cherry Bomb history could emerge from the shadows.

Brandon Pfaadt @ WSN – I’m enamored by Pfaadt’s four-seamer, sinker, and sweeper command from his last outing. It’s the Nats, making for a decent floor.

Mitch Keller vs. CIN – Keller was in a phenomenal command groove before his stumble last time out. I’m giving him one more start before I ring the bell.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Matt Waldron @ PHI – If the knuckler is there, Waldron will survive. We can hope.

Brayan Bello @ TOR – The change has been missing for a bit now. I still believe it’ll return, but you may want to bench until it blossoms once again.

Sean Manaea @ TEX – Peterson showcased the flaws of the Rangers offense against LHP and he has the Power of Grimace on his side. You know, POG.

Andrew Heaney vs. NYM – Heaney didn’t pitch as poorly as the line suggested in his last outing, but the Mets are purple hot right now. See above.

Tyler Anderson vs. MIL – Anderson has been a solid Toby on the back of his revitalized changeup, but the Brewers are a bit dangerous.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Luis Medina vs. KCR – Medina throws hard and his a pair of solid breakers, but the command…oooof. It’s difficult to watch at times.

Cade Povich @ NYY – Povich has a kitchen-sink arsenal that could help him come through against the Yankees. That said, it’s the Yankees.

Spencer Howard @ CHC – I don’t like what he brings to the table, but the other options are pretty dang rough.

Patrick Corbin vs. ARI – At least Corbin has a long leash.

Kyle Hendricks vs. SFG – He’s returning from the IL and hasn’t been fantasy relevant for a bit.

Ryan Feltner vs. LAD – Noooooope.

Huascar Brazoban vs. STL – How long is he even going to go?

 

Enjoy these rankings? Support my work and Pitcher List by getting PL+ or PL Pro! You’ll get an Ad-Free website, access to our incredible non-toxic baseball Discord community, my weekly PL Pro exclusive SP FAAB Forecast podcast, a full suite of fantasy baseball tools, and much more. Get 10% off yearly with code SPSTREAMERS here.

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Photos Courtesy of IconSportswire | Adapted by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)

Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

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