Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 3/30 & 3/31

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.

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,” which 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 would be those picks, 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):

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.

 

This year, with our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, I’ll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.

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.

 

2023 Results:

Nick’s Record: 101-77

PL Bot’s Record: 90-89

 

Nick’s 2024 Streamer Record: 2-0

My pick yesterday: Logan Allen vs. OAK

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 2-0

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Logan Allen vs. OAK

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

 

Joe Ryan @ KCR – I feel like we’re going to be giving Ryan the AGA label soon enough and this matchup is too lovely to pass up, especially for a guy looking like he’s already stretched out for six frames.

Grayson Rodriguez vs. LAA – Aces gonna ace, except I’m not sure how long he’ll go in this one. Also, can you please get you command in order? Not control, command inside the zone with your heater + actually landing sliders and changeups down and out of the zone. K thx.

Tanner Bibee @ OAK – It’s a lovely matchup and even with a heater that terrifies me and questionable slider/change command, this is super safe.

Max Fried @ PHI – Aces gonna ace…but why does it have to be the Phils?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. STL – It was a horrific first start overseas, but with the “first” outing of the way and the home crowd on his side, you have to imagine a far better game here with a stupid high Win chance.

Hunter Greene vs. WSN – He’s opposite Corbin, making this not just a fantastic strikeout ceiling, but also a strong Win chance. Just don’t allow a longball or two, please.

Dylan Cease vs. SFG – Y’all know I don’t love Cease, but he should rack up the strikeouts against the Giants with a solid Win chance.

Aaron Nola vs. ATL – Aces gonna ace. Probably. Maybe. STUPID ATLANTA OFFENSE BEING SO GOOD. You gotta start Nola regardless.

Logan Gilbert vs. BOS – Despite my hesitations drafting Gilbert in the spring, I still think he’s a solid pitcher who should produce. The Sawx are a solid team even outside Fenway, but you’re still rolling with this.

Kutter Crawford @ SEA – The Mariners don’t scare me offensively and Kutter should be set to go at least five, if not six here.

 

Probably Starts

 

DL Hall @ NYM – I’m super excited to see the data on Hall as I witnessed a new man in the spring. Hall morphed into a true starter with a focus on command over max-effort stuff and I can’t wait to see what the whole package looks like now. For now, I trust Hall’s efficiency to allow him to go at least five frames (if not more) and carry strikeouts along the way against a decent Mets offense.

Jared Jones @ MIA – This is a stupid fun matchup and I trust Jones’ strikeout ability more than Weathers’, granting him the higher spot. There is some command concern for his MLB debut, though the stuff is too fun and electric to deny.

Kenta Maeda @ CHW – It’s the White Sox + Maeda has flexed whiffs during the spring. There is some concern he doesn’t have his command working here, but the strikeouts should still flow.

Michael Soroka vs. DET – I’m not worried about the Tigers and I see Soroka as a solid Toby this year. Can’t wait to get a proper look at him with some legit data FINALLY.

JP Sears vs. CLE – Sears’ heater is looking incredible and the Guardians, despite spoiling Wood’s Oakland debut, aren’t much of a deterrent. If Sears can actually get his sweeper and changeup down, he should cruise to a strikeout per inning, if not more.

Ryan Weathers vs. PIT – The Pirates aren’t too scary and Weathers is looking solid, but had taken a step back in his final spring tuneup. He’s worth the start in hopes the ceiling is still present, though I have to acknowledge the floor if his heater isn’t bullying batters like we saw in early March.

Seth Lugo vs. MIN – Without Royce in their lineup, Lugo makes for a safer play in Kansas City, though he’s not the kind of pitcher you generally pump your fist in the air for starting.

Luis Severino vs. MIL – He just earned ten four-seamer whiffs in his final spring tune-up and I fully acknowledge how I could have been too low on Severino in the spring. Let’s hope his only tweaks this off-season weren’t “no more tipping”.

 

Questionable Starts

Hunter Brown vs. NYY – I’m hoping Brown has found his secondaries in the spring and there is a Cherry Bomb volatility here that should give you some anxiety. It’s okay to wait a start to see where Brown is with his arsenal, especially after the Yankees induced six walks from Valdez on Opening day.

Yusei Kikuchi @ TBR – It’s all about getting into a rhythm for Kikuchi and he didn’t find it in the spring. Throw in the Rays and you have yourself a whole lot of volatility here.

Zack Littell vs. TOR – Some are massively in on Littell and I honestly get it. However, the Jays pack a whole lot of thump and Littell isn’t the poster child of consistency.

Jordan Hicks @ SDP – Hey, I’m stoked to watch more Hicks. I just don’t want to against the Padres, especially when I only truly believe in his slider at the moment – the jury is still out on sinker at its diminished 95/96 mph velocity. And do we have a third pitch to truly believe in?

Marcus Stroman @ HOU – The Astros are legit. Stroman’s sinker can nullify. High risk with potential QS reward if you want to play that game. Strikeouts should be heavily limited, though.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Griffin Canning @ BAL – The Orioles just destroyed the Angels and you should be very afraid of that offense.

Cody Bradford vs. CHC – Bradford isn’t the worst streaming option I’ve seen, and unless you’re in a dire need to chase Wins on the second day of the season (short H2H week?), I wouldn’t tempt fate.

Tommy Henry vs. COL – Two first names n everything, we don’t trust Henry, Tommy. However, the Sneks are likely to Win this game as he’s opposite Gomber…

Kyle Hendricks @ TEX – It’s the Rangers and Hendricks is essentially two-pitches. Yikes.

Patrick Corbin @ CIN – Corbin? Inside Cincy? IN THIS ECONOMY? At least I can hope from afar that Corbin leans heavily into his cutter vs. RHB. That would be awesome.

Lance Lynn @ LAD – The Dodgers, ya’ll.

Austin Gomber @ ARI – COL story, Bro.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto-Starts

 

Bailey Ober @ KCR – Great Win chance against a meh offense.

Michael King vs. SFG – Great Win chance against a meh offense.

Chris Sale @ PHI – It’s a healthy Sale, but the Phillies are not the best matchup. He could also be slightly limited here.

 

Probably Starts

 

Brandon Pfaadt vs. COL – The Sneks are crushing offensively and the Rockies look terrible at the plate.

Jack Flaherty @ CHW – If I believed more in the Detroit lineup, I’d have Flaherty over Pfaadt.

Tyler Wells vs. LAA – Fantastic Win chance, I’m less convinced in Wells’ ability than Pfaadt and Flaherty.

Bryce Miller vs. BOS – I’m awfully excited to watch him go – is there anything new? – but the Red Sox aren’t as bad of an offense on the road as some make them out to be. I’m also expecting Devers to return by Sunday.

Garrett Whitlock @ SEA – He’s cutter/change and sinker/slider now, which should work for Whitlock to go at least five, if not six. I’m a little skeptical about the skills, but we’re going for this.

Trevor Rogers vs. PIT – It’s a good matchup and Rogers has displayed both the slider and change during the spring. Please show me at least 92 mph, if not sitting 93 mph here.

Erick Fedde vs. DET – He’s a Toby against a meh lineup. I’m a believer that his radically improved arsenal separates him far enough from his former self, especially with better command.

Gavin Stone vs. STL – I originally had him higher until I considered how the Dodgers could have a tight leash on his innings. Let’s hope for five frames, but if there’s any early trouble, he could get the hook before the end of the fifth.

Jon Gray vs. CHC – It’s a decent matchup with the Rangers offense behind him + a legit slider. Not the biggest Gray fan, but this looks like a decent start.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Carlos Carrasco @ OAK – It’s a great matchup and Carrasco has gone six in the spring.

Nick Martinez vs. WSN – It’s in Cincy, but it’s also the Nationals, as Montas showed us on Opening Day.

Clarke Schmidt @ HOU – Schmidt can finagle five frames, even against the Astros, and snatch a Win. Or it could be a ratio mess.

J.P. France vs. NYY – I don’t love it at all, though I can’t overlook a decent Win chance.

Brady Singer vs. MIN – Blegh. I doubt he’s a new man, but Singer does have his days.

Reid Detmers @ BAL – Detmers has had more slider success this spring, but otherwise looks unchanged from his volatile nature of 2023. The Orioles rake right now, too.

Tylor Megill vs. MIL – I’m highly skeptical of his four-seamer and American Spork, but at least the slider looks like a reliable pitch and there’s a solid chance at five quiet innings here.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Bowden Francis @ TBR – It’s too dang risky for a guy we haven’t seen start yet.

Colin Rea @ NYM – Rea has his moments with a decently sized leash. It’s so hard to know when, though.

Ranger Suárez vs. ATL – The Phillies recognize Atlanta’s changeup weakness and Suárez has a shot if he has it cooking. So not worth the risk, though.

Jordan Wicks @ TEX – It’s the Rangers. Wicks has some potential to win the BABIP game if he avoids the heart of the plate.

Bailey Falter @ MIA – At least it’s the Marlins? If Falter can execute the BSB, it’s possible.

Ryan Feltner @ ARI – I have a small soft spot for Feltner’s flat four-seamer with a slider that acts like a cutter, but the Sneks look like an offense you don’t want to mess with.

Jake Irvin @ CIN – His heater is a little better without much support. Avoid games in Cincy where you can.

Paul Blackburn vs. CLE – Sure, there’s a shot with the Guardians being meh and Blackburn allowed to do whatever he wants.

Tyler Alexander vs. TOR – T-Lex has shown some upside, but against the Jays? And will the Rays actually let him go five?

Steven Matz @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers. You just can’t do this.

Giants Bullpen @ SDP – It could be Spencer Howard for a moment, but I think the Giants ar going to piece this one together as they wait for Snell next week.

 

Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)