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: 11-5
My pick yesterday: Paul Blackburn vs. WSN
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 11-5
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Keaton Winn @ TBR
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
Logan Webb @ TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan @ DET – He’s nearing AGA territory and the Tigers should only amplify his case.
Shota Imanaga @ SEA – So far so good for Shōta’s MLB career.
Chris Sale @ MIA – This has high floor written all over it.
Garrett Crochet vs. CIN – It doesn’t matter what I think the long term impact is, you’re starting him now.
Ryan Pepiot vs. SFG – Pepiot looked legit in Coors and now gets a cushy matchup.
MacKenzie Gore @ OAK – I’m a big believer in Gore’s improved arsenal and he should have a field day against the Athletics.
Probably Starts
Bowden Francis vs. COL – I absolutely love this start for Francis against Rockie Road, though with Yariel Rodríguez called up, there is some haze as to what happens on Saturday. Is Francis still starting? Is it an abbreviated “piggy-back” situation? Or is Yariel acting as a safety valve for the Blue Jays? Personally, I think it would foolish to give up on Francis so soon, especially against the visiting Colorado crew and he should take full advantage given the opportunity on Saturday.
Luis Gil @ CLE – Gil hasn’t gone a full five yet as his changeup and slider are struggling to find strikes. I believe it’s there and the strikeout upside is too good to pass up.
Ronel Blanco vs. TEX – Two starts against the Jays and Rangers, one hit allowed. But it’s the Rangers! Again! I know, and yet, you’re still doing this. I know…
Gavin Stone vs. SDP – His last outing against the Cubs was a strange one, bookmarked by errors. I’ll give him some slack, even against the Padres.
Spencer Turnbull vs. PIT – The cutter + sweeper combo is working so far for Turnbull and we’ll Vargas Rule this for now. Don’t expect Turnbull to still be on your roster in June.
Matt Manning vs. MIN – Manning is oddly already making his second start of the year despite leaving camp out of the rotation. He didn’t flex the strongest skills in his first outing and I’m hoping he has his slider cooking against the Twins.
Nick Lodolo @ CHW – He’s returning from the IL and stretched out to just under 70 pitches, which makes for about 75-80 expected in his season debut. It’s a bit of a Still ILL, though the floor is relatively solid against the White Sox.
Ryne Nelson vs. STL – He returned to 95-97 mph with a filthy cutter against Atlanta, I’m taking the shot that it’ll return to wow us all against a worse set of bats.
UPDATE: Clarke Schmidt @ CLE – Schmidt is looking like a solid “Toby” for a winning crew and I’d go for it, even if the Guardians have come out of the gate scorching hot.
Kenta Maeda vs. MIN – It’s often a toss-up for Maeda. His strikeout rate should hover 25% all year, but will the ratios be good enough? That’s your decision to make.
Questionable Starts
Dean Kremer vs. MIL – It’s a solid Win chance and maybe the splitter is back to help him coast.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ DET – SWR gets the call for this double-header, likely boasting the heater that featured three ticks extra velocity in the spring. That still puts him at just 93/94 mph. Very fair and I wonder if there’s enough in the tank to take full advantage.
Cooper Criswell vs. LAA – Designated as the SP #6 for the Red Sox in March, it’s no surprise to see Criswell. The Angels aren’t the toughest, but how long will the Sawx let Criswell’s sinker/sweeper approach challenge the Angels?
UPDATE: Yariel Rodríguez vs. COL – Despite how sour I am that the Jays aren’t giving Francis a proper chance to get his confidence back against Rockie Road, I recognize how Rodriguez could come through here. The biggest knock? He hasn’t thrown more than 60 pitches yet. But hey, it’s the Rockies.
Alec Marsh @ NYM – One great start, one poor one. Now it’s the Mets. Who knows. At least he has the chance to go 5+ for a team on a massive hot streak.
Sean Manaea vs. KCR – I’m heavily skeptical of Manaea’s arsenal and the Kansas City bats are walloping pitchers.
Joe Boyle vs. WSN – The Nationals are in the Top 10 in swing rates and Boyle just needs to find enough strikes against this poor lineup to keep his head above water.
Do Not Starts
Griffin Canning @ BOS – He’s two ticks down and it’s Fenway. I hope the swing and miss stuff is there to save him.
Triston McKenzie vs. NYY – I’m terrified of McKenzie at the moment. He’s sitting 1-2 ticks down and even features sub 90 mph heaters at times, while the curve isn’t earning whiffs. I still can’t believe he went near 50% sliders in his first start. Something feels very wrong and this is a dangerous start against the Yankees.
Marco Gonzales @ PHI – Marco has allowed a ton of ICR in his successful outings and now faces a stronger offense. Be careful.
Kyle Gibson @ ARI – You never know with Gibson. Do whatever you want.
DL Hall @ BAL – I believe in Hall over time, but this is a super hot Baltimore team.
Andrew Heaney @ HOU – Heaney isn’t pitching like a guy you can trust against Houston.
Dakota Hudson @ TOR – Hudson is a groundball fiend and it’s possible pitches find gloves.
UPDATE: Carlos Carrasco vs. NYY – Everything is worse with Carrasco right now.
Max Meyer vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta and Meyer only has a slider to lean on.
Matt Waldron @ LAD – Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.
Emerson Hancock vs. CHC – Hancock just got trounced. It can easily happen again.
UPDATE: Cody Poteet @ CLE – It’s a double-header in New York and the Yanks are electing to take advantage of the extra man to start Poteet, who has gone about four frames in each of his minor league games thus far. Maybe you’ll get five innings out of this?
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Corbin Burnes vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Zack Wheeler vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo vs. CHC – Aces gonna finally stop letting the cold get to him.
Zac Gallen vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
José Berríos vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road.
Blake Snell @ TBR – He should be good for five innings this time around.
Bailey Ober @ DET – Last start quelled our fears and it’s Detroit.
Brayan Bello vs. LAA – Bello is solid + the Angels.
Nestor Cortes @ CLE – Cortes just went eight frames and has only had trouble in the first frame of his previous two outings.
Probably Starts
Nathan Eovaldi @ HOU – Eovaldi is looking solid. We’re doing this even against the Astros.
Cristian Javier vs. TEX – Jaiver hasn’t survived even not at his best. The changeup should perform well against the Rangers.
Yu Darvish @ LAD – A bit contentious (like the rest of this tier) and I believe Darvish is better than his last outing.
Jack Flaherty vs. MIN – I don’t think Flaherty’s last outing is indicative of who he is as his slider and curve were doing what they should.
James Paxton vs. SDP – You’re here for a solid Win chance.
Charlie Morton @ MIA – You’re also here for a solid Win chance.
Questionable Starts
Jesús Luzardo vs. ATL – Luzardo is a bit of a Cherry Bomb going against one of the most Bomb-heavy offenses.
Graham Ashcraft @ CHW – I still wonder if Ashcraft can find the right groove. Last start came with too many sinkers over the plate and the White Sox are the best crew to figure things out.
Javier Assad @ SEA – He’s performed well as a starter, though the arsenal does little to excite. There’s a chance for 5/6 frames here against a middling team.
Mitch Keller @ PHI – He’s the poster child for Cherry Bomb.
Tyler Anderson @ BOS – Not the worst idea on a desperate Sunday.
Tyler Alexander vs. SFG – T-Lex hasn’t been terrible and the Giants aren’t the most intidimating.
Logan Allen vs. NYY – I kinda dig Allen’s approach lately, though the Yankees are a scary team to face.
Alex Wood vs. WSN – It’s the Nats, does Wood have enough in the tank?
Miles Mikolas @ ARI – Mikolas has survived with his secondary focus more than expected.
José Buttó vs. KCR – I’m a little afraid of the Royals at the moment, though Butto has shown to be able to find outs.
Do Not Starts
Colin Rea @ BAL – The Orioles are too hot right now and Rea is too cold.
Trevor Williams @ OAK – #NeverTrevor.
Michael Soroka vs. CIN – Soroka isn’t there yet.
Kyle Freeland @ TOR – Freeland ain’t it.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) –