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: 12-6
My pick yesterday: Graham Ashcraft @ CHW
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 12-6
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Graham Ashcraft @ CHW
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
Tyler Glasnow vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Aaron Nola vs. COL – Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby vs. CIN – Aces gonna ace.
Sonny Gray @ OAK – He’s BACK BAYBEEE. And gets the Athletics.
Zach Eflin vs. LAA – The Angels shouldn’t scare you.
Joe Musgrove @ MIL – Musgrove isn’t lighting up the scoreboard quite yet (or denying the lighting…?), but is breakers are working well.
Seth Lugo @ CHW – A safe matchup for a solid arm.
Probably Starts
Merrill Kelly vs. CHC – Kelly’s solid, even against the Cubs.
Chris Bassitt vs. NYY – Don’t overthink it with Bassitt.
Cody Bradford @ DET – He’s on too good of a roll to deny him this start against the Tigers. Let’s be thankful the Rangers didn’t displace him for Lorenzen.
Kutter Crawford vs. CLE – As long as Crawford finds enough strikes, he’s worthwhile.
Luis Gil @ TOR – The hot/cold Jays carry enough reward. We should see his first 5+ IP start here.
Frankie Montas @ SEA – Montas is a toss-up each game, but at least it’s the Mariners.
Martín Pérez @ NYM – He’s been rolling and gets a manageable offense.
Kyle Harrison @ MIA – Harrison effectively kept his four-seamers inside the zone effectively last time out, while flexing a changeup to mix with his breaker. He could be turning a corner.
Questionable Starts
Reese Olson vs. TEX – Olson was a heavy disappointment in his last start as he’s struggling to find his slider. It could very well click back into place, but the Rangers make it a little tougher to buy into.
Ben Brown @ ARI – I don’t love his two-pitch mix (control is inconsistent, few four-seamer whiffs) and it’s the Sneks.
UPDATE: Edward Cabrera vs. SFG – It’s a Still ILL, though Cabrera is stretched out more than your typical return from the IL.
UPDATE: Michael Lorenzen @ DET – It’s a great matchup, but we just don’t know where Lorenzen is at the moment.
Adrian Houser vs. PIT – Houser has proven he can survive just by hurling heaters into the zone against pedestrian offenses.
Do Not Starts
A.J. Puk vs. SFG – The matchup is good, the stuff is not. We wait until Puk proves he’s capable.
Joe Ross vs. SDP – He had great slider command last time, maybe it repeats?
Patrick Sandoval @ TBR – The Rays aren’t intimidating, but the Irish Panda isn’t demanding our endorsement.
Erick Fedde vs. KCR – He’s a Toby against a strong offense.
Cole Irvin vs. MIN – Irvin’s velocity hasn’t jumped back up, nor has he showcased command we expect from a Toby.
Louie Varland @ BAL – I want to believe in Varland. He needs to display his upside first + this is the Orioles.
Ross Stripling vs. STL – Strip’s kitchen sink approach isn’t enough.
UPDATE: Nick Nastrini vs. KCR – It’s an MLB debut and while I’m awfully curious how Nastrini looks, it’s the Royals.
Cal Quantrill @ PHI – COL story, bro.
Patrick Corbin @ LAD – At least he has a longer leash than the other three below.
Xzavion Curry @ BOS – It’s the “best” matchup of these bottom three.
Darius Vines @ HOU – Maybe his changeup is good enough? How long are they letting him go?
Spencer Arrighetti vs. ATL – It was a horrific debut and now he gets Atlanta.
UPDATE: Mitchell Parker @ LAD – Another MLB debut, this time in one of the worst matchups to introduce a player.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Grayson Rodriguez vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert vs. CIN – It’s in Seattle. You’re going with this.
Jared Jones @ NYM – How could we possibly sit Jones right now?
Dylan Cease @ MIL – Cease has a new cutter and I’m hoping we see more of it here.
Aaron Civale vs. LAA – He’s been cruising and the Angels aren’t a terrifying squad.
Hunter Greene @ SEA – Greene has earned this tier against the middling Mariners lineup.
Probably Starts
Brady Singer @ CHW – Singer has made it work recently and gets the White Sox. I’m still skeptical long term, sadly.
Ranger Suárez vs. COL – This is a perfect Toby matchup.
Jordan Hicks @ MIA – Hicks’ sinker has found the zone and holds one of the best Str-ICR marks. The Marlins aren’t much of a deterrent.
Tanner Bibee @ BOS – Bibee hasn’t been so sharp lately and this is Fenway, but we’re not at a place to bench him.
Garrett Whitlock vs. CLE – Whitlock’s extension is here and even at home, we’re going with this.
Jon Gray @ DET – It’s a great matchup, but does Gray have enough in the tank to take full advantage?
Yusei Kikuchi vs. NYY – I absolutely adore where Kikuchi is with his three-pitch mix, even against the Yankees.
Carlos Rodón @ TOR – He hasn’t impressed as we hoped he would, though if we have Rodón, we’re sticking him in our lineups.
Questionable Starts
Lance Lynn @ OAK – I know it’s the Athletics, but Lynn can’t be trusted firmly.
José Soriano @ TBR – His first outing was solid after early hiccups. I’d give it a proper go this time around.
Ryan Weathers vs. SFG – His heater has stuck above 96 mph, but how good are his slider and changeup?
Jose Quintana vs. PIT – The command is in a good place and the Pirates aren’t too scary.
Reynaldo López @ HOU – I dig López so far this year and maybe the Astros aren’t the toughest offense ever…?
Casey Mize vs. TEX – We’re still waiting for Mize to find his slider groove. It could snap into place here, even against the Rangers.
JP Sears vs. STL – He’s a Cherry Bomb, who soared last time out with sliders in the zone instead of fastball domination. I’m curious what we get here.
Ryan Yarbrough vs. WSN – It’s a decent Win chance for the Fratty Pirate, who could be opened for, allowing for a solid Vulture Win.
Do Not Starts
Chris Paddack @ BAL – Paddack doesn’t do a ton to make me encouraged for a start, especially against the mighty Orioles crew.
Wade Miley vs. SDP – It’s his second outing and we’re hoping they let him go a full five.
Erick Fedde vs. KCR – He’s a Toby against a strong offense.
Hunter Brown vs. ATL – Brown looked atrocious last time out against the Royals, not just with his fastball, but moreso with terrible secondaries over the plate. And now Atlanta? Yeah, no.
Tommy Henry vs. CHC – We’ve seen Henry come through in a game or two, but the Cubs are a tough team to endure.
Austin Gomber @ PHI – Col story, Bro.
Kyle Hendricks @ ARI – I wonder how long the Cubs let him start.
Patrick Corbin @ LAD – It’s Corbin. It’s the Dodgers.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) –