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: 3-0
My pick yesterday: Jared Jones vs. MIA
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 2-1
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Griffin Canning @BAL
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
Update: Kevin Gausman @ TBR – He may be limited, but who cares. You start him.
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? Update: They’ll have an opener for him, so there’s a chance of a vulture Win, if you’re into that.
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. Update: It’ll be Daulton Jefferies, who could go five, but likely will just go three or four.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Shota Imanaga vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and the strikeouts will pile up quickly.
Tanner Houck @ OAK – I’m absolutely SHOCKED he’s rostered in under 10% of leagues. This is such a fantastic matchup and Houck has looked much improved over the spring.
Charlie Morton @ CHW – It’s too good of a Win chance to pass up.
MacKenzie Gore vs. PIT – Gore has looked fantastic this spring and while the Pirates have displaced the Marlins starters a bit, Gore’s heater looks ready to dominate.
Triston McKenzie @ SEA – McKenzie’s curve is back and his four-seamer should dominate like Pivetta’s did.
Probably Starts
James Paxton vs. SFG – Paxton should be able to dismantle the Giants and steal a Win.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. CIN – It’s not in Cincy (Philly ain’t great, but still better). I’m a little worried about the changeup we’ve seen this spring, but at least the sinker velocity is still up two ticks.
Reese Olson @ NYM – Olson’s slider is great, changeup is solid, sinker works well, and the four-seamer needs to be sent home on the bus. The Mets don’t scare me here.
Max Meyer vs. LAA – His slider should have a field day against the Angels.
Chase Silseth @ MIA – Silseth looked fantastic in his last spring outing and I’m hoping he’s already in rhythm with his slider and splitter.
Luis Gil @ ARI – I’m obsessed with Gil’s arsenal, but the Sneks aren’t the greatest matchup (the Rockies SP aren’t anything like Gil, though) and it’s possible Gil doesn’t go a full five. I’m still going after it.
Ryan Pepiot vs. TEX – I’m thrilled Pepiot is executing high heaters unlike his time with the Dodgers, but does his first start have to be Texas?!
Questionable Starts
Dean Kremer vs. KCR – It’s a solid Win chance, though it still requires Kremer to have both his cutter and four-seamer working.
Sean Manaea vs. DET – I hope his sweeper is well spotted down, though I worry the ceiling isn’t worth this.
Matt Waldron vs. STL – There’s a sneaky Win chance in here given Waldron’s solid arsenal.
Andrew Abbott @ PHI – This is a risky play against a strong offense, but we have seen Abbott excel before. Go for Wins with Wacha/Marco, strikeouts for Abbott.
Ryne Nelson vs. NYY – Nelson is super interesting to me, but I’d rather not test it against the Yankees.
Michael Wacha @ BAL – Not a terrible Win chance, but it just happens to be Baltimore.
Marco Gonzales @ WSN – It’s the Nationals and Marco has decent command at the moment.
Do Not Starts
Bowden Francis @ HOU – I love his fastball shape, but this is too risky.
Ronel Blanco vs. TOR – He struck out ten…minor leaguers in his last start. This is the Jays.
Emerson Hancock vs. CLE – He could bea Toby, but I don’t think he’s polished enough yet to go six frames, let alone five.
Joe Boyle vs. BOS – The command is atrocious and the Red Sox are solid.
Kyle Gibson @ SDP – Maybe he can earn all the slider whiffs again?
Dane Dunning @ TBR – I’m not a fan of Dunning’s arsenal and the Rays are legit.
Dakota Hudson @ CHC – There’s an outside chance he has BABIP on his side, I guess.
Chris Flexen vs. ATL – Absolutely not.
Keaton Winn @ LAD – Not a chance.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)