+

Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 5/2 & 5/3

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: 24-11

My pick yesterday: Andrew Heaney vs. WSN

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 22-13

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Andrew Heaney vs. WSN

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

 

Nathan Eovaldi vs. WSN – It’s the Nationals + Eovaldi is a rock on your squads. Duh.

 

Probably Starts

 

Edward Cabrera vs. COL – Cabrera has been granted a gift in Rockie Roadthough he needs to command well enough to take full advantage.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Spencer Arrighetti vs. CLE – Our streaming pick of the day against the Guardians. As with all in this tier, I don’t love it and it’ll require the Pasta Pirate to sling high heaters and have his secondaries working well. The ceiling is there, I’m just not willing to chase it in most leagues.

Kyle Bradish vs. NYY – It’s a Still ILL for Bradish in a high-intensity game against the Yankees. Excited to see where he is.

Carlos Rodón @ BAL – The Orioles perform well against LHP and Rodón isn’t blowing us away, even after earning a fair number of whiffs in his last outing.

Kyle Harrison @ BOS – He’s a Cherry Bombeven in Fenway. I’d avoid unless I was in dire need of strikeouts.

Mitchell Parker @ TEX – After two games knocking our socks off, Parker failed to come through against the Marlins. I’d be cautious against the Rangers, though he obviously has the upside to still come throughh.

Ben Brown @ NYM – Will he be able to go five frames? Are his four-seamer and curve good enough? It’s a touch better than the bottom tier, but not enticing enough to lean into.

 

 

Do Not Starts

 

Logan Allen @ HOU – Allen has glimmers of hope with his four-seamer + sliders and changeups, but the chances of brilliance are low against Houston.

Adrian Houser vs. CHC – Houser hasn’t done a whole lot to justify a start, even if the Cubs lineup is battered and bruised.

Josh Winckowski vs. SFG – It’s a solid matchup, it just happens to be an arm with an awfully short leash and not much in his arsenal to latch onto.

Peter Lambert @ MIA – COL story, Bro. Yes, even against the Marlins.

 

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

 

Aaron Nola vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.

Sonny Gray vs. CHW – He’s looked stellar and it’s the CrySox.

George Kirby @ HOU – Aces gonna ace. Kirby just dominated with his four-seamer upstairs and I want to see it again.

Ronel Blanco vs. SEA – Blanco has been brilliant and we’re not pulling him from our lineups right now.

Tanner Bibee vs. LAA – I don’t fully agree with Bibee’s high heater approach given its extreme attack angle, however, he’s located his changeup and slider downstairs often and pulled off the BSB to lovely results. Oh, it’s also the Trout-less Angels.

Dylan Cease @ ARI – It wasn’t a great time last start, but I’d still roll Cease out there against the Sneks. He’ll be better.

Yusei Kikuchi @ WSN – I’m digging Kikuchi’s high heaters and I think the slider should return.

Tanner Houck @ MIN – Houck has been cruising and you’d be hard pressed to find a manager benching him here.

 

Probably Starts

 

Martín Pérez vs. COL – It’s a lovely matchup for Pérez, who has been a fantastic Vargas Rule to kick off the season.

Aaron Civale vs. NYM – His last two starts have been wonky, but his first four were what we expected. Keep the course.

Marcus Stroman vs. DET – Stroman went 10/25 slider strikes last time out, a clear outlier.

Jose Quintana @ TBR – Our streaming pick today is Quintana facing the dreadful Rays lineup. His command is good enough to go a full six frames here.

Reese Olson @ NYY – I dig Olson for the season, though I can understand some trepidation here against the Yankees.

Hunter Greene vs. BAL – It’s Baltimore and in Cin City. Greene is also locating heaters better with ton more iVB (it’s actually great now!), which gives you a strikeout floor at the very least.

Jordan Hicks @ PHI – Hicks’ splitter showed up for 11 whiffs in his last outing, while holding onto the sinker foundation that has kept his floor reasonably high all year. That tracks, even in Philly.

 

Questionable Starts

 

José Soriano @ CLE – He’s like Hicks, but with a more inconsistent sinker.

JP Sears vs. MIA – He’s a Cherry Bombyes, even against the Marlins.

Ryan Weathers @ OAK – Weathers is the same, but without the track record.

Michael Lorenzen @ KCR – Lorenzen has the ability to go six frames of mediocrity and a Win.

Brady Singer vs. TEX – Singer is back to his two-pitch self, which certainly can be dominant. The Rangers make it a bit tougher than usual.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Joe Ross @ CHC – Ross can cook with sinker/slider and gets a middling Cubs lineup.

Chris Paddack vs. BOS – He had a great start against the CrySox…and that’s it. He’s pedestrian enough that he has a chance to make it work without the worst floor.

Slade Cecconi vs. SDP – He did lovely in his last outing, sadly I don’t think it’s sustainable.

Gavin Stone vs. ATL – You really don’t want to start Stone against Atlanta…but there’s a chance he’s his best self and soars for an easy Win.

Charlie Morton @ LAD – Morton is unreliable and it’s the Dodgers.

Cole Irvin @ CIN – Yes, he had a great start. This is Cin City and his arsenal isn’t great.

Hayden Wesneski vs. MIL – I don’t trust we’ll see Wesneski go long in this, let alone produce at a level to take advantage of the innings he gets.

Cal Quantrill @ PIT – COL story, bro. At least it’s not in Coors.

Patrick Corbin vs. TOR – THROW 60%+ CUTTERS AND SLIDERS. Please. Just give it a shot.

Brad Keller @ STL – Oh dang, it’s Keller. Don’t expect a long game here as he’s not stretched out + I’m not confident it’ll be of quality.

 

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.

One response to “Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 5/2 & 5/3”

  1. PREZ says:

    Houck, starting on FRI or SAT?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Account / Login