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: 51-39
My pick yesterday: Simeon Woods Richardson @ ARI – W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 51-39
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Spencer Arrighetti vs. COL – W
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. MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Chris Sale @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Corbin Burnes vs. TEX – Aces gonna ace.
Jack Flaherty @ LAA – Okay, it’s no longer your final boss, but if you are stupid good, you get the AGA tag.
Shota Imanaga @ SFG – Aces gonna ace. He won’t allow 10 ER again, y’all.
Probably Starts
Carlos Rodón @ TOR – He had a rough day at the park last week and we can’t be that reactive.
Andrew Abbott vs. PIT – He just fanned ten with four-seamer precision and could carry it over against the Pirates. He still weirds me out.
Questionable Starts
Ben Lively @ KCR – He had a hiccup before last start, where he seemingly righted the ship. The Royals are laboring and this could be the same Lively we’ve adored.
Jordan Hicks vs. CHC – Hicks has been struggling and his sinker has been hit harder this year with an ICR over 40%. If he can get his sweeper and/or splitter working, everything gets better. It’s a 50/50 if it’ll be there.
Michael Wacha vs. CLE – Wacha’s changeup is coming alive and I wonder if he’ll continue the trend against the guardians.
David Festa @ ARI – It’s the MLB debut for Festa, who carries a legit four-seamer with an array of secondaries. Fun stuff here.
Jordan Montgomery vs. MIN – Monty has more polish as of late, but I’m still afraid of the Twins.
UPDATE: Miles Mikolas vs. CIN – Mikolas has been a solid QS arm with a ton of sliders over the plate and doing his best limiting fastballs over the plate.
José Berríos vs. NYY – The Yankees make this rough. Berríos’ overall numbers are good, but hot dang has he been rough the last six weeks.
Jon Gray @ BAL – It’s Baltimore and Gray only has his slider. Well, multiple versions of his heater but it’s not a good heater.
Do Not Starts
Drew Thorpe vs. ATL – If his changeup is working, he has a shot. A long shot.
UPDATE: Davis Daniel vs. DET – He had some moments in the rotation last year, but the ceiling is too low + the obvious Shag Rug risk.
Trevor Rogers @ PHI – Rogers has located better lately, but it’s the Phillies.
Zach Plesac vs. DET – Plesac is back and ready to disappoint.
Andre Pallante vs. CIN – Pallante has been able to survive with his cut four-seamer and curve, but Atlanta is too fearsome.
UPDATE: Chad Kuhl vs. ATL – Kuhl story, bro. That’s for Rockies pitchers! He was a Rockie before, IT COUNTS.
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
Logan Gilbert vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Ronel Blanco @ NYM – Blanco is certainly acting like an ace, but can he stop the power of Grimace?
Bailey Ober @ SEA – He’s at his peak and it’s the Mariners.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. MIA – It’s the Marlins.
Probably Starts
Zach Eflin vs. WSN – Eflin is solid and shouldn’t have an issue with the Nationals.
Logan Webb vs. LAD – Webb is sturdy, but this is the Dodgers. He’ll have to finagle his way through this, though he’s certainly done it before.
Nick Pivetta vs. SDP – Pivetta hasn’t had his cutter and sweeper on point. I’m a little worried he’s turning into the Cherry Bomb of old.
Marcus Stroman @ TOR – Stroman does what Stroman does.
Mitchell Parker @ TBR – Parker is a Toby with a decent matchup.
Landon Knack @ SFG – Knack can go five frames and find a Win against the Giants.
Questionable Starts
Drew Thorpe vs. COL – Thorpe is a decent play against poor offenses and Rockie Road certainly applies.
Max Scherzer @ BAL – He was limited to under 60 pitches in his first start + this is the Orioles + how good is Scherzer right now?
Charlie Morton vs. PIT – I never feel good starting Morton, but at least it’s the Pirates.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. NYY – Kikuchi hasn’t been trending in the right direction and it’s the Yankees. At least his slider is back, now he just needs to get his heater back in the upper third of the zone…
Jose Quintana vs. HOU – Quintana’s command was on point in his last outing and even against Houston, that would spell success again. Thing is, it was the best we’ve seen all year.
Albert Suárez vs. TEX – The Rangers aren’t so terrifying and there’s a decent Win chance with some strikeouts here.
Jameson Taillon @ MIL – Taillon just fanned ten, but this is the Brewers and it’s hard to imagine those strikeouts piling up again.
Alec Marsh vs. CLE – Marsh has some magic in him here and there. Not the biggest fan of this, but it could be six decent frames.
Do Not Starts
Andre Pallante vs. CIN – Pallante has been able to survive with his cut four-seamer and curve and at least the Reds aren’t the scariest away from Cin City.
Frankie Montas @ STL – Montas can squeeze out a Quality Start for those in desperate need, but I can’t recommend this in 12-teamers. Not enough upside.
Kenta Maeda @ LAA – The ceiling isn’t worth the floor.
Slade Cecconi vs. OAK – Cecconi just doesn’t do enough.
Colin Rea vs. CHC – He has a solid outing every so often.
JP Sears @ ARI – He’s a Cherry Bomb without much sweet.
Triston McKenzie @ KCR – McKenzie’s absurd luck has started to fade.
Zach Plesac vs. DET – At least he gets the Tigers?
Randy Vásquez @ BOS – Vásquez has found his way to production before and I’d hate to chase that small probability in Fenway.
Dakota Hudson @ CHW – Maybe his breakers and sinkers find gloves. It is the CrySox, after all.
Martín Pérez @ ATL – It’s a Still ILL against a solid Atlanta crew.
Kyle Tyler @ PHI – Tyler is not the arm you want to chase.
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)