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: 37-26
My pick yesterday: Frankie Montas vs. STL
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 36-27
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Logan Allen @ COL
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
Zac Gallen @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Jack Flaherty @ BOS – You want strikeouts? You’re getting strikeouts.
Nick Pivetta vs. DET – It’s an easier lineup than Flaherty and given the Tigers’ propensity to flail at fastballs in the zone, this should work. That said, Pivetta’s command has looked more like his frustrating self frequently since coming off the IL.
Logan Gilbert vs. HOU – Gilbert isn’t doing all the things, but he’s doing enough of the things. Let’s hope he keeps his AGA tag.
Carlos Rodón @ LAA – Rodón’s heater isn’t the 95/96+ of old, but 94/95 was worked well and the slider is far better than we saw in 2023.
Reynaldo López vs. WSN – I’m shocked he holds just two Wins to his name and hopefully the Atlanta offense can support him here.
Probably Starts
Christian Scott vs. ARI – Scott’s best skill is locating his four-seamers upstairs and that skill has gone on vacation recently. I’d expect it to return while his #2 skill – the fantastic sweeper – is still present.
Brady Singer @ MIN – He’s a sinker/slider guy on a good run. But he’s a Cherry Bomb. And the Twins aren’t that great. I’m leaning start if you have him.
Questionable Starts
Spencer Arrighetti @ SEA – Not a great pick for streamers on Thursday and I’ll go with Arrighetti despite the results. I dig his four-seamer in the zone and as long as his secondaries can earn strikes, I think he can take down the Mariners. Decent Win chance with the Astros offense behind him, too…even if he’s up against Gilbert.
Jameson Taillon @ MIL – We haven’t seen Taillon find his groove yet, and Milwaukee can be a nuisance.
Chris Paddack vs. KCR – Paddack has had moments, at least he has the leash to go six frames if he’s efficient enough.
Tyler Alexander (Opener) vs. OAK – You never know with T-Lex. At least it’s the Athletics.
Trevor Williams @ ATL – #NeverTrevor.
UPDATE: Ray Kerr vs. WSN – Atlanta shifted things around with Spencer Schwellenbach’s MLB debut and Kerr will square up against the Nationals today, with ReyLó going tomorrow. Kerr has a decent enough heater with curves that could silence the Nationals, presenting clearer upside than those in Tier 4.
Do Not Starts
Patrick Sandoval vs. NYY – He’s had himself a solid start to the year, though the Yankees are as hot as anything.
Colin Rea vs. CHC – Rea has had moments of magic.
UPDATE: Daniel Lynch IV @ MIN – He’s stepping in for an injured Brady Singer and I’m not ready to go after Lynch. Not enough pizzazz and I hope we get something new.
Kyle Muller @ TBR – Absolutely not.
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
Aaron Nola vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Tanner Houck vs. DET – He’s cruising and the Tigers are…yeah. But they just took down Jones! Okay true, but that was a lot of poor luck mixed with Jones somehow failing to earn a four-seamer whiff. WEIRD TIMES.
Dylan Cease @ KCR – Outside of a start against the Yankees, Cease has been more consistent than previous seasons.
Ronel Blanco vs. MIN – Blanco looks as reliable as ever.
Bryan Woo vs. LAA – Woo still needs to wrangle his seocndaries, but the four-seamer should soar against the Angel.
Marcus Stroman @ SFG – It’s a lovely safe start for Stroman as he should go six frames comfortably.
Reynaldo López vs. OAK – He only has two Wins and it sure feels like he’s going to get his third here.
José Berríos vs. PIT – He’s the Great Undulator, but it’s the Pirates.
Probably Starts
Pablo López @ HOU – He’s been off a ton with his sweeper and changeup + it’s the Astros. Here’s to a redemption start for Pablo.
Tanner Bibee vs. WSN – Bibee’s arm angle has lowered a touch lately and it’s possible the change sticks around, helping him survive with his four-seamer better than ever.
Walker Buehler vs. COL – Buehler isn’t locked in like the old days yet, but we’re still trucking forward against Rockie Road.
Jordan Montgomery @ NYM – He’s a Toby against a middling offense.
José Soriano @ SEA – The Mariners are terrible and as long as Soriano hurls enough sinker strikes, he’ll come through. I can’t believe he’s rostered in fewer than 10% of leagues, honestly.
Questionable Starts
Jordan Hicks vs. NYY – The Yankees are rough, but Hicks’ sinker is tough to barrel + if he has his split or sweeper working, he could come out on top.
Albert Suárez vs. TBR – It looks like a strong stream on paper, though I’m skeptical Suárez will keep his four-seamer skills for another start, let alone throw enough effective secondaries to support it.
Michael Wacha vs. SDP – His command has improved as of late. The Padres offense is hard to discern and Wacha will need his best changeup without too many mistakes from his supporting cast.
Javier Assad vs. CIN – It feels like the Vargas Rule is over, and this may be the final nail in the coffin. One more spin, shall we?
Erick Fedde @ MIL – Fedde has been a command pitcher who can go six frames, though we shouldn’t underestimate the Brewers offense.
Luis Severino vs. ARI – I don’t trust Severino long term at all. I also recognize that he could go six frames here.
Tobias Myers vs. CHW – I dig what Myers brings to the table and a CrySox lineup may be what he needs to kick himself into gear. I’d love to wait and see first before jumping in.
José Ureña @ MIA – It’s the Marlins, the Rangers are a great offense, and Ureña has had some veteran magic.
Bailey Falter @ TOR – We’ve seen Falter come through at times this year, maybe the Jays flounder again.
JP Sears @ ATL – Atlanta isn’t as scary as years past, and I wonder if Sears leans into a breaker-heavy approach once again.
Kenta Maeda @ BOS – He’s a Cherry Bomb without the sweetness of old.
Aaron Civale @ BAL – The Orioles are no fun and Civale hasn’t found his former self yet.
Do Not Starts
Graham Ashcraft @ CHC – Sure, maybe he can squeeze out six frames without much damage, but why chase that?
Miles Mikolas @ PHI – Naaaaaah.
Patrick Corbin @ CLE – Oh h*ck naaaaaah.
Dakota Hudson @ LAD – THE DODGERS?!
Sixto Sánchez vs. TEX – Every time I see Sixto’s name, I wonder what could have been.
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)