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: 13-7
My pick yesterday: José Soriano vs. TBR
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 13-7
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: José Soriano vs. 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
Freddy Peralta vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace. He looks as good as anyone right now.
Pablo López @ BAL – Aces gonna ace. Not at his sharpest lately, but one of the few capable of seven strong these days.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace. ELEVATE YOUR HEATERS.
Tarik Skubal vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace. The Rangers aren’t fun + Skubal’s velocity has been down lately. I’m not sure we’ll see 97+ again.
Max Fried @ HOU – Aces gonna get a tough matchup after finally looking normal again.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road and Sánchez should pull this off easily.
Reid Detmers @ TBR – His four-seamer is still legit + the Rays don’t scare me.
Bryce Miller vs. CIN – I’m hoping Miller can be more than “do something against my fastball” and the road Reds aren’t a massive threat.
Michael Wacha @ CHW – It’s a great matchup for Wacha, especially after a command hiccup.
Kevin Gausman vs. NYY – Seeing Gausman this low is no fun, but it’s the Yankees + Gausman’s velocity & splitter have been off. It’s a strange moment and if you want to put him in Probably, I completely understand. I’d say go for it.
Michael King @ MIL – I trust that King’s sweeper will return to form, while his changeup is looking fantastic.
Probably Starts
UPDATE: Brady Singer @ CHW – He’s cruising and this is the White Sox.
Zack Littell vs. LAA – The Angels aren’t scary, though Littell’s ability is a little questionable.
Tanner Houck vs. CLE – Houck looked terrible last time out as he hurled everything down the pipe. This should be an improvement.
Marcus Stroman @ TOR – It’s Stroman. We don’t overthink Stroman.
Dane Dunning @ DET – This is a lovely streaming option against a poor lineup.
Questionable Starts
Andrew Abbott @ SEA – A solid stream and the Reds are shifting Nick Martinez into the bullpen after stating in the preseason they were not going to do that. I don’t love his heater and curve at the moment, though he certainly has shown peaks that are worth our time.
Paul Blackburn vs. STL – Blackburn has yet to allow a run. Vargas Rule it all you want.
Steven Matz @ OAK – It’s the Athletics, though Matz doesn’t have the whiff stuff we’re looking for.
Brandon Pfaadt vs. CHC – I’m not a fan of Pfaadt’s approach with a major sweeper focus and a four-seamer that doesn’t do enough. When his changeup appears, things go his way, but it’s impossible to tell when that’ll happen.
Luis Severino vs. PIT – If Severino has his cutter again + can command his four-seamer effectively, there may be a tangible arm to chase. I’ve lost faith in his slider and change, sadly.
UPDATE: Trevor Rogers vs. SFG – I think we’re close to Rogers becoming the guy we want him to be: 93 mph heaters with solid changeups and sliders + the Giants swing weak lumber.
Jordan Wicks @ ARI – Wicks is so close to becoming a dude as he’s going BSB with his new four-seamer that carries above-average iVB. All that’s left is comfort with his slider/cutter.
Tyler Wells vs. MIN – Is this the start that gets us back on the Wells train? The Win chance is always present if he can survive for at least five frames.
Do Not Starts
A.J. Puk vs. SFG – It has gone terribly for Puk thus far, though there is promise in that arm if he can command his breaker and heater. The Giants open the door for a chance if you’re searching for one.
Keaton Winn @ MIA – I can see this one working out, but Winn’s splitter isn’t reliable for whiffs + the rest of his arsenal does little to impress.
Bailey Falter @ NYM – There are moments that Falter can elevate effectively and mix in the rest of his stuff. But even then, it’s not a night of bliss.
UPDATE: Albert Suárez vs. MIN – OH SNAP IT’S HIM. Don’t forget, I was amped for his first spring start, not the ones that followed. But hey! Maybe he’s 96/97 mph with high heaters?!
Erick Fedde vs. KCR – He’s a Toby and the Royals are too threatening these days.
J.P. France vs. ATL – France has a Win chance each time he starts, but hot dang, that’s Atlanta.
Ryan Feltner @ PHI – Feltner isn’t in Coors, at least…?
UPDATE: Jonathan Cannon vs. KCR – It’s another MLB debut this, this time featuring a pitcher with a 92 mph sinker paired with a cutter and friends. Not what you’re looking for.
Ben Lively @ BOS – Oh snap! I shouldn’t actually be excited but it’s cool to see a familiar face. I wonder if he’ll go slider-heavy again.
Jake Irvin @ LAD – Irvin has limited ability and it’s the Dodgers. Yikes.
UPDATE: Bryse Wilson vs. SDP – The Brewers are being careful with Peralta and giving him some extra rest. Expect a bullpen game with some Bryse thrown in.
Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto-Starts
Logan Webb vs. ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Ryan Pepiot vs. LAA – If you have Pepiot, there’s no way you’re denying this start against the Angels.
Probably Starts
Ryne Nelson @ SFG – His four-seamer & cutter is doing exactly what we want (95 and 91 mph!) + it’s the Giants.
Questionable Starts
Jack Leiter @ DET – Oh snap, it’s another MLB debut! He’s worth a spec add and possibly a start given it’s the Tigers, though I generally avoid MLB debuts given their volatility for many reasons. Leiter’s skill set = 97+ mph heaters with great extension mixed with a solid breaker. The biggest concern is his control and if he can earn enough strikes with the rest of his arsenal, while we also need to see his heaters earning the whiffs his Triple-A starts have tallied.
Griffin Canning @ TBR – I’m not a massive fan of Canning this season given his velocity drop and inability to avoid hits on his secondary offerings. That said, he still carries a strikeout per inning ability + the Rays are not a scary set of bats.
Do Not Starts
Kenta Maeda vs. TEX – Maeda could have his slider and splitter working and I’m tempted to put him in the third tier simply due to that upside. However, it is the Rangers and the floor outweighs the potential.
Jameson Taillon vs. MIA – He’s returning from the IL and had a bit of a shaky rehab start as most of his arsenal was well over the plate. I’m excited to see him turn into a potential Holly in time, though it’s wise to sit out this one.
A.J. Puk @ CHC – I really want Puk to click into place. I think we all do. That doesn’t mean we should gamble on it happening against a strong Cubs crew.
Cooper Criswell vs. CLE – I don’t think Criswell is all too poor of a pitcher, but he doesn’t pack a punch and I’m not sure he’ll be able to go more than five frames, if even that.
Carlos Carrasco @ BOS – Carrasco’s velocity has fallen this year, his secondaries are worse, and it’s Fenway. Nope.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) –
I watch every Jays game. TOR should be slotted as AVG in off. rankings until proven otherwise. Also Rogers Centre with recent reno’s is more a pitcher park than not now.