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.
To spice up these streaming recommendations, I’ve included our new daily fantasy baseball projections powered by PLV, and I’ll be competing against PL Bot to pick the best streaming option each day.
These projections are different from your typical projections as they incorporate our pitch quantifier, assessing pitcher and hitter skills at a much more granular level than your standard box score.
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: 35-26
My pick yesterday: Alec Marsh @ MIN
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 35-26
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Taijuan Walker @ SFG
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 @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Tyler Glasnow @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Tarik Skubal vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans @ MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Kevin Gausman @ CHW – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Jared Jones @ DET – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. BOS – Aces gonna SHOW UP AND BE AN ACE AGAIN. Sorry, just needed some dynamics.
Probably Starts
Jesús Luzardo @ SDP – He had a velocity dip last time out and I’d be a little cautious here.
Nestor Cortes @ LAA – Cortes is solid as a Holly for a winning club.
UPDATE: Gavin Stone @ NYM – It’s a great Win chance even if his arsenal isn’t the greatest.
Andrew Abbott vs. STL – Abbott has been making it work over the last six weeks and the Cardinals are not a massive deterrent.
Zack Littell vs. OAK – Littell is a Toby facing a poor offense. Works for me.
Questionable Starts
Brayan Bello @ BAL – I dig Bello, but it’s the Orioles. His improved slider has helped him create a higher floor, though we need to see the changeup is full force here.
Matt Waldron vs. MIA – I can’t believe I’m streaming a knuckleballer, but I’m streaming a knuckleballer. He’s thrown a harder one as of late and the Marlins are meh, but I’d avoid if I could. Why? Well, Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer, of course.
Kyle Gibson @ CIN – You never know with Gibson.
Brandon Pfaadt @ TEX – It’s the Rangers, but Pfaadt does have the ability to go six, especially if his four-seamer isn’t pummeled.
Hunter Brown @ SEA – I’m not sold that he’s back. He needs more command of his entire arsenal first.
Triston McKenzie @ COL – He’s been holding on by a thread and it feels like this just isn’t going to work out in the end.
Do Not Starts
Jake Irvin @ ATL – He’s been doing weird things and who knows, maybe the magic is still there.
Mitch Spence @ TBR – Who knows, the Rays are meh and the Athletics are letting Spence toss enough frames.
Griffin Canning vs. NYY – The Yankees are too dang hot right now.=
Dane Dunning vs. ARI – It’s a Still ILL and Dunning doesn’t do a whole lot.
Jose Quintana vs. LAD – At least he has a long enough leash.
UPDATE: Tylor Megill vs. LAD – I wouldn’t risk a start against the Dodgers, though he has the pieces to make a lovely painting if he ever figures out his command.
Ben Brown @ MIL – It’s just a two-pitch mix and he doesn’t go long into games.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. KCR – His command needs to be on point for this to work out.
Mike Clevinger vs. TOR – Naaaaah.
Ryan Feltner vs. CLE – Absolutely not.
Spencer Howard vs. PHI – Is he even going to go enough frames? With just mediocre fastballs?
TBD Brewers SP vs. CHC – It’s unclear who starts for the Brewers as Peralta was pushed to Wednesday.
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 vs. BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ DET – Three strikeouts last time, but these are the Tigers. You know, the team that flounders against fastballs over the plate.
Bailey Ober vs. KCR – Who’s up for another Bailey Special? Great, I’m starving.
Yu Darvish vs. MIA – Darvish stumbled against the Yankees and fortunately gets the Marlins for some respite.
Jack Flaherty vs. PIT – 33% strikeout rate with two breakers at a 21% SwStr rate. It’s a great time to have Flaherty on your squads.
Luis Gil @ LAA – He’s hurling four-seamer strikes with more support from his changeup than usual. It feels like he’s turned a corner.
Seth Lugo @ MIN – Lugo is cruising and while I’m a bit skeptical that his run is anything more than poor offenses failing to connect on his heaters mixed with some flashes of genuinely good command.
George Kirby vs. HOU – He’s been in a funk, though it’s more of a Cherry Bomb funk than a “oh no, he’s just always bad” funk.
Probably Starts
Ryan Pepiot vs. OAK – His first start back from the IL wasn’t a fun time with his four-seamer command, now we can roll with him as we should expect a better heater + more pitches.
Justin Verlander @ SEA – He flexed his strikeout ability against the Athletics and the Mariners should be more of the same.
Cristopher Sánchez @ SFG – The changeup is working and even with some Cherry Bomb tendencies, you roll with Sánchez against the Giants, especially with how hot the Phillies have been.
MacKenzie Gore @ ATL – It’s Atlanta…without Acuña and Gore has yet to allow more than 3 ER in a game all year. He’s locked in.
Kutter Crawford @ BAL – It’s the Orioles and Crawford has been shaky lately. Still, he’s a RHP with Waltimore on his side.
Questionable Starts
Alek Manoah @ CHW – Two great starts, one terrible start, and now he gets a good matchup. Hey, it could happen.
Tyler Anderson vs. NYY – Anderson has been cruising with his changeup, but this is one of the hottest offense arounds.
James Paxton @ NYM – Here’s another Win chance for Paxton.
Braxton Garrett @ SDP – He just went the distance, though he had some help along the way. I would be cautious, especially without Garrett’s full arsenal blossoming yet.
Frankie Montas vs. STL – No, I don’t like it. He’s also able to go six frames and gets a middling offense so what the h*ck. Here’s your streaming pick AND YOU BETTER LIKE IT.
Do Not Starts
Joey Estes @ TBR – I was tempted to put Estes through Heaney in the third tier, but the ceiling just isn’t quite there. He does have the chance to spot pitches well enough to survive, though.
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. WSN – Uhhh, he’s kinda cool. Limited information is out there given his minute experience in pro ball (TJS return in 2023), but he’s carved up A+ and AA ball this year. Mid-90s heater with a legit breaker (or two?) and could slide into the rotation easily for Atlanta given their lit-up-and-obnoxiously-loud carousel of arms they’ve used for Strider’s vacant SP #5 spot.
Logan Allen @ COL – I just feel meh starting Allen at the moment and Coors is weird, even if it’s not as dangerous as previous seasons.
Andrew Heaney vs. ARI – And maybe Heaney finds his BSB groove again after losing it for his last two starts.
Kyle Harrison vs. PHI – I’m absolutely stunned that Harrison is rostered in over 50% of leagues, well ahead of Gore. He’s too volatile, has a limited ceiling, hasn’t displayed growth this season, and here gets the Phils. Move. On.
Bryse Wilson vs. CHC – Wilson has erratic moments of success. It’s unwise to chase it.
Ryne Nelson @ TEX – The Rangers are solid and Nelson hasn’t put it together yet.
Chris Flexen vs. TOR – He’s no longer Flexen at the beach.
David Peterson vs. LAD – He’s back! And it’s a Still ILL with likely a pitch count + the Dodgers. Nooooope.
Ty Blach vs. CLE – Blach.
Andre Pallante @ CIN – Is he actually starting here? Do we care?
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)
Looks like there’s some confusion with Peralta