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: 34-22
My pick yesterday: Simeon Woods Richardson @ WSN
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 33-23
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Austin Gomber @ OAK
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
Zack Wheeler vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace. Yes, even with arguably the toughest matchup here, Wheeler is the top play.
Grayson Rodriguez @ CHW – Grayson was great in his return and gets the CrySox.
Kevin Gausman @ DET – He’s been a bit weird this season making him third, even against the Tigers.
Luis Castillo @ NYY – Aces gonna ace. It’s the Yankees and still a little safer than Skenes given the massive gap in track record.
Paul Skenes vs. SFG – He was so good in his second start, but it’s one game. It’s certainly possible he shows up once again, but I can’t elevate him over an AGA quite yet, even if their opponent strengths are on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Jack Flaherty vs. TOR – Flaherty has been too dang good lately to sit against the middling Jays crew.
Probably Starts
Luis Gil vs. SEA – Fresh off fourteen strikeouts, Gil now gets a strikeout-heavy lineup to feast. That said, if he doesn’t throw enough strikes, he’ll fail to make it through five regardless of who stands at the plate.
Questionable Starts
Frankie Montas vs. SDP – Our reluctant streamer of the day is Montas, who has a shot at going six each time he pitches. I wouldn’t chase this one as the reward isn’t too high relative to the clear risk in Cin City.
Andrew Heaney @ PHI – He’s had the BSB working for him across the last month and after a stumble last time out, the Phils could continue the spiral downward.
Do Not Starts
Joey Estes vs. COL – This can actually work against Rockie Road for those in deep AL-Only leagues.
Matt Waldron @ CIN – Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer. That said, it has been a good knuckler the last two times out (against the Dodgers and Atlanta, but opponent does not matter for a knuckleballer). It’s a massive gamble, but at least there is a clear ceiling to collect if it hits, unlike those below.
Darius Vines @ CHC – He’s been able to earn a Win with his changeup and slider before and with Atlanta facing a pack of relievers, Vines could earn a sneaky Win.
UPDATE: AJ Smith-Shawver @ CHC – I’m excited to see AJSS. His heater has been mid-to-upper 90s with great vert, but the overall command has been the issue. Hopefully he’s taken a step forward by now.
Mason Black (Opener) @ PIT – There’s a Toby in here, maybe the Pirates bring it out of him.
Ryan Feltner @ OAK – We want this to work so badly. However, don’t forget how Feltner failed to come through on the road in Miami and Pittsburgh earlier this year.
Mike Clevinger @ TOR – Naaaaah, I’m good.
UPDATE: Ben Brown vs. ATL – Hendricks has been displaced and we’re getting Ben Brown, though I wouldn’t expect him to go too long here.
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
Corbin Burnes @ CHW – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby @ WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Zac Gallen vs. MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Seth Lugo @ TBR – He’s been too good.
Kutter Crawford vs. MIL – Crawford has been steady all season and the Brewers aren’t going to stop you from starting Crawford.
Probably Starts
MacKenzie Gore vs. SEA – It’s finally a good matchup for Gore and I’m stoked to see how he performs.
Yu Darvish vs. NYY – Darvish has failed to surrender a run in any of his last four starts. You can’t deny him the start, even against the Yankees, right?
Justin Verlander @ OAK – He’s not the overpowering arm of old, but it’s the Athletics. This should be a safe start.
Bailey Ober vs. TEX – Ober stumbled for the first time since his opening outing and now it’s the Rangers. Expect a rebound.
Christian Scott vs. SFG – Scott gets a lovely matchup and his four-seamer + sweeper combo should carve the Giants lineup.
Carlos Ródon @ SDP – Ródon has looked more like his old self with improved sliders and his fastball flirting with 96 mph on average.
Cristopher Sánchez @ COL – Coors isn’t so bad these days and Sánchez’s changeup has been showing up as of late.
Alek Manoah @ DET – Two strong outings of seven innings have raised our eyebrows on Manoah once again and a date with the Tigers feels managable.
Logan Allen @ LAA – Allen looked great last time out and the Angels are an inviting team to stream against.
Questionable Starts
Patrick Sandoval vs. CLE – He’s produced more than expected as of late, though I still have my concerns that The Irish Panda doesn’t have consistent command of his changeup and slider./
Michael Lorenzen @ MIN – You need a PQS? You may find it here.
James Paxton @ CIN – How about a Win? Why not, Paxton could be your guy.
Kyle Harrison @ NYM – Some strikeouts? Harrison is a Cherry Bomb but the Mets are pedestrian.
Do Not Starts
Tyler Alexander vs. KCR – He has his moments, but the ceiling is too low to justify this.
Matt Manning vs. TOR – Manning hasn’t been the guy we want. It could show up here, though it’s unwise to anticipate it.
Darius Vines @ PIT –He’s been able to earn a Win with his changeup and slider before and with a cushy Pirates lineup, Vines could earn a sneaky Win.
Braxton Garrett @ ARI – Garrett hasn’t yet flexed his full arsenal effectively. Let’s hope his third start is when he fully shakes off the rust.
Miles Mikolas vs. CHC – The best quality of Mikolas is his long leash, which makes him a desperate QS play.
Bryse Wilson @ BOS – Wilson had one good outing. One.
Bailey Falter vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta. This is a Hail Mary play in hopes his four-seamer is spotted perfectly.
Graham Ashcraft vs. LAD – Who knows. Maybe Ashcraft throws effective cutters in this one and the Dodgers roll over everything.
Ross Stripling vs. HOU – Strip against the Astros isn’t what you’re looking for.
Chris Flexen vs. BAL – He had a nice run of nailing down four-seamers and cutters, but the Yankees exposed him and now it’s the Orioles. Yup.
Ty Blach vs. PHI – Blach.
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.
Photos Courtesy of IconSportswire | Adapted by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)