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 those picks would be 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):
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: 27-17
My pick yesterday: Griffin Canning vs. KCR
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 25-19
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Griffin Canning vs. KCR
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
Cole Ragans @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Tarik Skubal vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Kevin Gausman vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace. He looked like himself last time out.
Freddy Peralta vs. STL – Aces gonna ace. Peralta was better with a few more touches of polish left.
Justin Steele @ PIT – It’s start #2, which should make for a higher pitch count and an easy 5+ frames.
Bryce Miller vs. OAK – Bryce still needs more than his heater and has a chance to show a rookie how to go six frames.
Probably Starts
Nick Lodolo @ SFG – Lodolo has his breaker working and pitching in Oracle Park is a lovely thing.
John Means vs. ARI – Means looked fantastic in his return from TJS and with the Orioles at his back, he’s an obvious start against the Sneks.
Nestor Cortes @ TBR – He’s done everything you could ask of him and gets a Rays team that has looked lost at the plate.
Paul Skenes vs. CHC – HE’S HERE. HE’S FINALLY HERE. Probably 75-80 pitches and MLB debuts are usually a sit for me, but I don’t care. HAVE FUN AND START THE MAN.
Andrew Heaney @ COL – His BSB approach has been great across the last few weeks and it looks here to stay. Coors ain’t so bad.
Questionable Starts
Cristian Javier @ DET – It’s a Still ILL for a guy who has had inefficiency issues in his day. Still stoked to have him back.
Triston McKenzie @ CHW – The dude is a runner exhausted by mile 3 but somehow finishes the marathon. I guess we’re giving it a go against the CrySox…
Kyle Gibson @ MIL – He’s been solid and despite his whole Cherry Bomb tendencies, you’re doing this.
Taijuan Walker @ MIA – It’s the Marlins. It’s also Taijuan throwing 90 mph heaters.
Cooper Criswell vs. WSN – He’s been decent for the Red Sox, but he’s not one to go deep into games with his sweeper/sinker approach.
Tyler Anderson vs. KCR – Anderson has looked like a proper Toby and could come through for five here.
Jesús Luzardo vs. PHI – It’s another Still ILL for a Cherry Bomb against a good Phillies team.
Christian Scott vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta, though I wonder if Scott’s “new” factor makes it tougher on Atlanta to figure him out + their bats haven’t had their classic thump this year.
Mason Black vs. CIN – He’s fine. The Reds are a lovely gift in Oracle Park.
James Paxton @ SDP – Paxton is hurling just 93 mph heaters and you’re hoping he squeezes out a Win in five innings.
Zack Littell vs. NYY – The Yankees are heating up and Littell doesn’t do a whole lot that excites me.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ TOR – He came through last outing and the Jays aren’t looking so hot.
Do Not Starts
Ryne Nelson @ BAL – Nelson’s four-seamer is looking great, though the cutter still has work to do. Waltimore will help, his opponent’s lineup will not.
Alex Wood @ SEA – He’s had some magic across the last month.
UPDATE: Joey Estes @ SEA – He’s returning from the minors and there’s a chance he pulls this off – he’s stretched out enough at least.
Mike Clevinger vs. CLE – Naaaaah, I’m good.
Jake Irvin @ BOS – In Fenway + Irvin does little to attract our attention.
Matt Waldron vs. LAD – Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer.
Ryan Feltner vs. TEX – It’s Coors. And Feltner. AND THE RANGERS.
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
Auto Starts
Zack Wheeler @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo vs. OAK – Aces gonna ace.
Zac Gallen @ BAL – Aces gonna ace.
Bailey Ober @ TOR – No reason not to expect another Bailey Special.
Seth Lugo @ LAA – He’s been money and it’s the Angels.
Probably Starts
Walker Buehler @ SDP – It wasn’t an impressive return from the IL, though the stuff is there.
Justin Verlander @ DET – He just got trounced by the Yankees and this should be far better against his old friends.
MacKenzie Gore @ BOS – Gore is in such a good place right now, I don’t care that this is Fenway.
Luis Gil @ TBR – Gil has been far better at throwing strikes as of late and the Rays are still struggling at the dish.
Jack Flaherty vs. HOU – I wouldn’t expect another explosion of strikeouts and it still comes down to Flaherty’s four-seamer. If he’s 94+ mph and keeping batters off the pitch, he’ll thrive on the back of his secondaries.
Dean Kremer vs. ARI – He’s been on a nice run with his cutter and four-seamer + the Orioles can give him a chance for a Win, even against Gallen.
Kyle Harrison vs. CIN – I’m not the biggest Harrison fan (save for Something) but Harrison’s heater can mess up the Reds in Oracle Park easily.
Questionable Starts
Frankie Montas @ SFG – He’s far from exciting, but makes for a solid Sunday stream in San Francisco.
Brayan Bello vs. WSN – Bello is expected to return from the IL Sunday and despite facing the Nationals, I worry he may be a little rusty or limited in typical Still ILL fashion.
Jameson Taillon? @ PIT – He’s enduring back stiffness and it’s unclear if Taillon makes this outing. If he does, I’d be concerned he’ll get an early hook.
Patrick Sandoval vs. KCR – The Irish Panda has done well over his last few, but the low floor still remains.
Bryce Elder @ NYM – This is your Win chance for the weekend. Good luck.
Bryse Wilson vs. STL – He deserved his success in his last outing, but will he perform up to the same standard? The Cardinals will certainly give him more leeway for success, at the very least.
Logan Allen @ CHW – Allen was pummeled by the Tigers earlier in the week, but that’s not a death sentence. Allen could certainly rebound against the White Sox here.
Yu Darvish vs. LAD – The Dodgers are not a fun squad, even if this is Darvish. You never know.
Do Not Starts
Tyler Alexander vs. NYY – Is he still in the rotation? For how much longer? And is it worth it in general, let alone against the Yankees?
Bailey Falter vs. CHC – The potential is there but the execution hasn’t for a bit.
Alek Manoah vs. MIN – Oh Manoah. Maybe this is the start…probably not.
Miles Mikolas @ MIL – At least he has the leash to make something happen.
Alex Wood @ SEA – He’s had some magic across the last month.
Luis Severino vs. ATL – I don’t like Severino’s arsenal these days (29% sweepers last time?!) and it’s Atlanta.
Michael Soroka vs. CLE – At least he has the chance at six frames?
Braxton Garrett vs. PHI – Garrett could be returning from the IL and it’s the Phillies. I wouldn’t expect much here.
José Ureña @ COL – If you trust José, Ureña boatload of trouble.
Dakota Hudson vs. TEX – It’s Coors + the Rangers.
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.
Featured Image by Kurt Wasemiller (@KUWasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram) –