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Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 4/29 & 4/30

Nick Pollack ranks the starting pitcher streamers for today & tomorrow.

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 by tier):

Nick’s Loose Team Offense Rankings (Updated 4/29)

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: 23-9

My pick yesterday: Albert Suárez vs. OAK

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 20-11

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Keaton Winn vs. PIT

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

 

Joe Ryan @ CHW – Aces gonna ace.

Max Fried @ SEA – Aces gonna ace.

Cristopher Sánchez @ LAA – His changeup is fantastic and the Angels are meh.

Grayson Rodriguez vs. NYY – He’s coming off a rough outing and the Yankees could be a tough day at the park.

Ryan Pepiot @ MIL – He’s looking great with his heater, you’re starting him.

 

Probably Starts

 

Trevor Rogers vs. WSN – He’s pulled off the BSB in each of his last two starts and the Nationals make for a great time to flex it.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Garrett Crochet vs. MIN – I know, three great, three rough. I think he’ll be better this time out with his slider in a redemption start.

Jameson Taillon @ NYM – He’s a Toby facing a middling Mets team.

Nick Lodolo @ SDP – The strikeouts should be there as long as the curve is working. Still a Cherry Bomb.

Bailey Falter @ OAK – It’s the Athletics and Falter’s four-seamer is looking as good as ever.

Luis Severino vs. CHC – The Cubs are a bit injured and Severino’s four-seamer and cutter may be enough.

Kenta Maeda vs. STL – He’s a Cherry Bomb with a blegh floor.

Bryce Miller vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta.

Steven Matz @ DET – This could be six frames of a production against the Tigers…or destroy your week.

Clarke Schmidt @ BAL – Schmidt has looked better lately, though he may not have enough to endure the mighty Orioles offense.

Griffin Canning vs. PHI – Canning’s four-seamer was excellent in his last start, I’m worried it’ll find more of the zone along with his secondaries to make it not worthy.

 

Do Not Starts

 

James Paxton @ ARI – Paxton’s heater is down to 93 mph and I wouldn’t want to face the Sneks.

Matt Waldron vs. CIN – Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.

Jake Irvin @ MIA – It’s the Marlins – there’s always a chance.

Yariel Rodríguez vs. KCR – Are the Jays allowing Yariel to go a full five frames?

Joe Boyle vs. PIT – Can he throw enough strikes? Please?

Bryse Wilson vs. TBR – Wilson has rare moments of bliss.

Tommy Henry vs. LAD – Henry has returned 2 ER or fewer in three outings thus far, but not against The Dodgers.

Daniel Lynch IV @ TOR – Absolutely not.

UPDATE: Jonathan Bowlan @ TOR – With Marsh on the IL, Bowlan is getting the call. He hurls heaters from 93-96 mph with a decent slider and that’s about it. I don’t see him as the next big thing (his high strikeout rate is fueled by one fantastic 10 strikeout game, which preceded three strikeouts in six frames) and I’d chase something else.

 

Enjoy these rankings? Support my work and Pitcher List by getting PL+ or PL Pro! You’ll get an Ad-Free website, access to our incredible non-toxic baseball Discord community, my weekly PL Pro exclusive SP FAAB Forecast podcast, a full suite of fantasy baseball tools, and much more. Get 10% off yearly with code SPSTREAMERS here.

 

Today’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

 

Auto Starts

 

Freddy Peralta vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace, even after featuring horrific command last time out.

Cole Ragans @ TOR – Aces gonna ace. He’s returning to the scene of his three-walk disaster last year…

Logan Webb @ BOS – Aces gonna ace. He feels like a lock for 7+ frames these days.

Luis Castillo vs. ATL – Aces gonna ace, which means you start him against Atlanta.

 

Probably Starts

 

José Berríos vs. KCR – It’s not terrible weather this time.

Reynaldo López @ SEA – He’s cruising and gets another middling lineup.

Spencer Turnbull @ LAA – Hey, he’s still here! Let’s hope they actually understand reason.

Jack Flaherty vs. STL – He’s a solid play for six frames, even with the floor that comes with his heaters when located down the pipe.

Nestor Cortes @ BAL – It’s the Orioles, though Cortes has been able to go deep into games as of late.

MacKenzie Gore @ TEX – He was able to stave off the Dodgers, why not the Rangers, too?

 

Questionable Starts

 

Jon Gray vs. WSN – It’s a solid matchup, yet Gray’s slider is all that’s carrying him to the finish line.

Simeon Woods Richardson @ CHW – Woods did fine against the CrySox last week and I’d expect more of the same here.

Javier Assad @ NYM – He’s a Toby against a Mets offense that doesn’t do a whole lot.

Mitch Keller @ OAK – It’s the Athletics, yet Keller is a Cherry Bomb poster boy.

Jordan Montgomery vs. LAD – I see JorMont as a Holly and the Dodgers make little margin for error.

Roddery Muñoz vs. COL – He chucks sinkers galore and does enough to make this a worthwhile start against Rockie Road.

Cooper Criswell vs. SFG – Criswell is a sinker/sweeper arm who can get through 5+ frames. Fenway is the biggest concern here.

Sean Manaea vs. CHC – Manaea isn’t my favorite arm, though he’s using more across his arsenal these days + the Cubs lineup is depleted with Suzuki and Bellinger on the mend.

Kyle Gibson @ DET – Sure Gibson. He’s matchup agnostic, oddly enough.

Tyler Anderson vs. PHI – Anderson is always capable of a QS, with a date against Philly lowering his odds.

Tyler Alexander @ MIL – If he gets opened for, there’s a higher Win chance, but that assumes the Rays offense will actually score runs.

Dean Kremer vs. NYY – I don’t expect Kremer to have 17 whiffs across four-seamers and cutters again. Hopefully the splitter shows up.

Landon Knack @ ARI – He’s a fastball/slider arm that doesn’t seem consistent for six frames, especially against the Sneks. Think something akin to Ben Brown.

Hunter Brown vs. CLE – You never know. At least he’s been better than the Royals game – that was awful.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Ryan Feltner @ MIA – Hey, he’s not in Coors! And it’s the Rockies! And his slider can get whiffs sometimes!

Alex Wood vs. PIT – Wood silenced the Yankees somehow.

Michael Soroka vs. MIN – Soroka is suddenly a sinker/slider guy I guess? It’s weird.

Nick Martinez @ SDP – Please throw more changeups.

Carlos Carrasco @ HOU – He has a long leash if balls can find a way to land in goves.

Jhony Brito vs. CIN – I wouldn’t expect Brito to go very long in this one.

 

Enjoy these rankings? Support my work and Pitcher List by getting PL+ or PL Pro! You’ll get an Ad-Free website, access to our incredible non-toxic baseball Discord community, my weekly PL Pro exclusive SP FAAB Forecast podcast, a full suite of fantasy baseball tools, and much more. Get 10% off yearly with code SPSTREAMERS here.

 

Tomorrow’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) – 

Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

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