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 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.
Nick’s 2024 Streamer Record: 10-3
My pick yesterday: Reynaldo López vs. NYM
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 9-4
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Martín Pérez vs. DET
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
Bobby Miller @ MIN – Aces gonna ace, even after his last starts horrible second inning.
Aaron Nola @ STL – Aces gonna ace. Nola is actually going high heaters and I sincerely hope he does it again for a another start.
Tanner Bibee vs. CHW – This is a lovely matchup for Bibee and I’ll continuously wonder if he should be going low with his heater instead of elevating.
Logan Gilbert @ TOR – The Jays aren’t scary and while I’m still waiting for the legit breakout to begin, Gilbert is obviously worth the start.
Dylan Cease vs. CHC – So far so good for Cease and we run him out there, even if we don’t know if the command will be there.
Probably Starts
Marcus Stroman vs. MIA – Among all the fire around us, we’re sipping our coffee and starting Stroman. This is fine.
Jordan Hicks vs. WSN – It’s a fantastic matchup, all Hicks needs to do is throw enough sinker strikes – not even secondary strikes, though that would be lovely.
Zack Littell @ LAA – Littell has come through twice now and even though his fastball has terrible shape and his slider approach is strange, we’re going for it against the Angels.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. SEA – Kikuchi shelved the changeup in favor of his ole curve/slider secondary approach and you should be a fan of it.
Cody Bradford vs. OAK – The four-seamer is looking great and it’s the Athletics, making for another solid Win chance. Bradford also is pitching for his spot in the rotation, which could turn up the adrenaline a bit. Stupid jacked Lorenzen…
Hunter Brown @ KCR – Brown has been a Cherry Bomb, though I’m holding out hope he’ll settle over time. I’m more tepid on both Hunters than the rest of the tier and Brown gets the nod for the better matchup and Win chance.
Update: Kutter Crawford vs. BAL – The Red Sox are pushing up their rotation to give time for Cooper Criswell and I’m a bit scared of this outing. Not only is it the mighty Orioles, but Fenway isn’t a fun park to pitch in (Kutter struggled there last year) + he showcased volatility in his final frame against the Angels + Jackson Holliday is making his debut and that hype clashes with Kutter. It’s scarier than I want it to be.
Hunter Greene vs. MIL – I guess we’re letting this fly if we have him, but hot dang, I hate this anxiety. Greene in Cincy just isn’t right.
Questionable Starts
Griffin Canning vs. TBR – I debated this one a ton – the Rays are not looking strong in the slightest and Canning should have strikeout ability in him. However, the velocity is down and his breakers are far too hittable. It’s a toss up.
Erick Fedde @ CLE – He’s a Toby with a focus on command. If you’re dire for a QS, this is the shot to take.
Seth Lugo vs. HOU – It’s the Astros, though Lugo has the chance to make it still work.
Ryan Weathers @ NYY – I like Weathers’ heater and if he has both his change and breaker, he’ll come out ahead. That’s a major IF, though, and the Yankees can punish him quickly.
Do Not Starts
Update: Spencer Arrighetti @ KCR – I generally don’t favor MLB debuts due to jitters and the Unknown of the pitcher’s ability, pushing Spencer to the bottom of the QS tier. He’s likely here for just two starts as Justin Verlander returns in the near future and with his second start in this brief stint, Arrighetti will get Atlanta. That means we’re treating this potential pick up as a one-time thing and it’s not enough incentive to make the move.
Cole Irvin @ BOS – I’m not sure his command and velocity are where it needs to be to endure Fenway.
Lance Lynn vs. PHI – There’s always a strikeout chance with Lynn, but hot dang that floor.
Jose Quintana @ ATL – If Quintana can be precise with all of his arsenal, he could dance around punishment for five frames.
Kyle Hendricks @ SDP – He’ll throw enough strikes to give himself a chance.
Patrick Corbin @ SFG – Just throw the cutter more. What do you have to lose?
Ross Stripling @ TEX – The Rangers are not a team you want to chance against.
Update: José Soriano vs. TBR – He’s moving into the rotation to ake over for Chase Silseth and while I’m excited to watch him go, he’s not stretched out yet after going 43 pitches in relief. I would expect more than 55-60, but it’s much lower chance at six frames than those above. Keep a massive eye on this one.
Tommy Henry @ COL – The Rockies are not as scary in Coors as they used to be, but it’s also Henry…who had a good start last time? It’s weird.
Chris Paddack vs. LAD – Paddack’s split-change looked good but didn’t get the results we want last time out and it’s the Dodgers.
Wade Miley @ CIN – It’s a Still ILL + Cincy. Expect few frames.
Dylan Dodd vs. NYM – Dodd hasn’t been the guy we wanted him to be since looking stellar in the spring ’23.
Austin Gomber vs. ARI – COL story, bro. Sorry Gomber.
TBD Red Sox SP vs. BAL – With Pivetta hitting the IL just moments after I published this piece, it’s unclear who will slot in for the Red Sox on Tuesday – it would be Cooper Criswell, but he just started on Sunday, and everyone else (probably including Criswell) are not names to consider.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Pablo López @ DET – Aces gonna ace. This is gonna be fun.
Tarik Skubal vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace. That velocity dip was just a weird weather thing right? Right?!
Freddy Peralta @ CIN – He’s looking so dang good right now and even with the tougher matchup in Cincy, I’m spotting him over Fried.
Max Fried vs. NYM – Aces gonna showcase to all of us that’s he not cooked. My brain says he should be above Peralta, my heart recognizes the anxiety of fantasy managers everywhere. IT’S THE METS. He’ll crush this.
Grayson Rodriguez @ BOS – It’s a terrible matchup and we’re still going to do this. Of course.
Probably Starts
Jared Jones @ PHI – He’s just too dang fun y’all. Suárez on the other side may be a wiser play for ratios and Wins, but I don’t care. Have fun.
Ranger Suárez vs. PIT – How good is the Pirates offense? This seems like a solid stream for Suárez as he’s in a solid rhythm.
Jon Gray vs. OAK – I have my questions about Gray’s overall productivity, but it’s the Athletics.
Garrett Whitlock vs. BAL – I don’t like the situation – Fenway + the Orioles – though the renewed extension for Garrett Whitlock helps massively. Expect more whiffs than we saw in his first two outings.
Hunter Brown @ KCR – Brown has been a Cherry Bomb, though I’m holding out hope he’ll settle over time. I’m more tepid on both Hunters than the rest of the tier and Brown gets the nod for the better matchup and Win chance.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer vs. HOU – The new four-seamer could be a factor and this is the Astros. The poster child for Cherry Bomb against a tough offense = the sole member of the Questionable Start tier.
Do Not Starts
JP Sears @ TEX – I don’t want to stream Sears as it’s awfully risky against the mighty Rangers. There’s a chance he pulls it off if he can locate decently well, but hot dang you should skip this.
Nick Martinez vs. MIL – Martinez hasn’t found his rhythm yet and hosting the Brewers in Cincy doesn’t make for the softest development.
Luis Severino @ ATL – It’s Atlanta + Severino doesn’t have the stuff of old. If he can locate heaters with precision for another start, he’ll have a shot at the very least. Too much risk for a low ceiling.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) –
Fun fact: An anagram of Spencer Arighetti is “A Creeper Thirsting”.
Probably not fantasy relevant, however.