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: 39-28
My pick yesterday: Griffin Canning @ SEA – W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 39-30
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Andrew Heaney @ MIA – 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. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Tarik Skubal @ TEX – Aces gonna ace.
MacKenzie Gore vs. NYM – He’s certainly performing like a stud, and the Mets are likely to flounder, too.
Grayson Rodriguez @ TOR – I’m banking on Rodriguez featuring stellar four-seamer command upstairs.
Kevin Gausman vs. BAL – It’s Baltimore + Gausman has been all kinds of weird this year. He’s just too dang hittable.
Probably Starts
Justin Verlander vs. STL – Back-to-Back nine strikeout games with excellent command across the board and now he gets the Cardinals? Yes please.
Matt Waldron @ LAA – I know. Don’t Trust A Knuckleballer. But the dude is feeling it and the Angels make for a high enough floor to ride out this Vargas Rule.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. DET – He’d be in the top tier if it weren’t for his limited pitch count at 40 pitches last time out.
Tylor Megill vs. WSN – I loved his four-seamer and cutter/slider additions last time out. I’m still unconvinced he can sustain it over many starts, but you may want to give it a whirl here and hope the trend continues. A matchup against the Nationals makes this just appealing enough to ride with it.
Tyler Anderson vs. SDP – He’s been on a Vargas Rule of his own and now gets the Padres. Works for me.
Questionable Starts
Andrew Abbott @ COL – Abbott was a bit mediocre last start + Coors. Here’s to hoping it’s a rebound outing.
Kyle Gibson @ HOU – He’s a Cherry Bomb through and through.
Do Not Starts
Ryne Nelson vs. SFG – I don’t trust he’ll suddenly lock in here, but at least it’s the best matchup of the tier.
Bryse Wilson @ PHI – He’s been awfully blegh save for one start and it’s the Phils.
Ryan Feltner vs. CIN – Absolutely not.
Spencer Howard @ ARI – Definitely 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
Tyler Glasnow @ PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Corbin Burnes @ TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. CHW – Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby @ OAK – Aces gonna ace. These matchups are so good.
Max Fried @ BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Ryan Pepiot @ MIA – It’s a fantastic matchup and Pepiot’s four-seamer is legit.
Luis Gil vs. MIN – The Twins are getting better with Royce returning to the lineup, but Gil is on a ridiculous hot streak. Just. Throw. Strikes. The words of my travel coach in high school ring through my head, as if I didn’t already know that was the intention of pitching.
Jesús Luzardo vs. TBR – It’s a solid matchup, though Luzardo’s Cherry Bomb tendencies rooted in a poor fastball shape and inconsistent secondaries prevent him from an AGA label.
Seth Lugo @ CLE – He’s been cooking and you’re doing this. Even against the Guardians.
Probably Starts
Jack Flaherty @ TEX – He’s been so dang good, but it’s Texas. But Texas hasn’t been that great lately. Ehhhh, I think that’s a legit offense still.
Jared Jones vs. LAD – I personally want to put him in auto, though I recognize the results haven’t been there. He pitched far better than the line against the Tigers suggests.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. MIL – Milwaukee has been hawt but Sánchez whipped out 96 mph heaters last game.
Kutter Crawford vs. ATL – Atlanta isn’t the hot offense you think they are, and I expect Kutter to rebound.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. STL – Our streaming pick of the day is Arrighetti, who is starting to come together with his secondaries. The last piece is four-seamer location in the upper third of the zone, which could come through against the lowly Cardinals offense.
Questionable Starts
Bailey Ober @ NYY – It’s painful to put Ober here, but the Yankees are so hot right now. It’s risky.
Patrick Sandoval vs. SDP – He’s on a Vargas Rule run and there’s an argument to put him in the second tier given his season long ratios are heavily impacted by just two clunkers
Dane Dunning vs. DET – He’s a fringe Toby against the Tigers. That’s considerable.
Mitch Spence vs. SEA – Spence is the same as a fringe Toby against the strikeout friendly Mariners. His cutter and slider could make for a quiet 5+ frames of value.
Triston McKenzie vs. KCR – Will his elbow let him come through against a tough Royals crew?
Trevor Williams vs. NYM – #NeverTrevor and I recognize he’s commanded low in the zone well with a sinker that has been stupid good at limiting Ideal Contact.
Do Not Starts
Kyle Harrison @ ARI – It’s not a terrible matchup, but Harrison just doesn’t do a whole lot and hasn’t improved this year. I just don’t want to go after this.
David Peterson @ WSN – He’s only had one start this season after recovering from a hip injury and it’s unclear if he’ll get his old whiff-heavy slider back.
Blake Walston vs. SFG – Walston is a crafty LHP at 92 mph, a big hook, cutter, slider, sweeper, etc. He’s hoping to scrape 5/6 frames against the Giants and I won’t rule it out.
Adam Mazur @ LAA – Ayyy it’s an MLB debut! Unfortunately, I’m not seeing legit upside here from Mazur, but maybe he shocks us against the Angels. I don’t go for MLB debuts (too many jitters n all, look at Skenes!) but if you want to spec add, go ahead. I have my doubts.
Andre Pallante @ HOU – His four-seamer is really a cutter at 94/95 and it’s incredibly difficult to hit. If he’s able to find his slider or curve in this one, Pallante could turn into an Ashcraft/Rasmussen type overnight.
Frankie Montas @ COL – Montas is allowed to go six frames and at least he has that going for him.
Chris Flexen @ CHC – Hey, who knows. Maybe he’s Flexen at the beach and landing cutters perfectly on the edges.
Colin Rea @ PHI – This is a stretch, though we have seen Rea pull off a magic act or two.
Ty Blach vs. CIN – Blach.
Bowden Francis vs. BAL – Hey, he’s back! And gets Baltimore and is likely limited!
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)
I enjoy most (don’t understand PLV!) of the PitcherList content, particularly SP Streamers, SP Roundup, and The List.
Playing in a friends & family Yahoo 10-team H2H points league, we sometimes get caught up in “I have to stream pitchers,” and most of the time being disappointed in the results. Despite reading PitcherList for 3 years, the following quote caught my eye early this season:
“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.”
I started tracking the impact of streamed starting pitchers on the outcome of matchups. After 9 weeks, 45 total matchups, and 37 matchups involving streamed pitchers, our league is nowhere near streaming working out “…over half the time.” We’re at 3 matchups out of the 37 involving streamers in which the streamed pitchers’ points changed the outcome. That’s 8.1%. Now, individual pitcher performances generate positive points but the overall impact is not encouraging. One factor contributing to the low success rate is our league has a limit of 4 Adds per week (this rule evolved years ago based on a perception of a West Coast manager taking advantage of differences in time zones to make picks while the rest of the league slept…). I suspect unlimited Adds would change the data for our league.
So, small sample size but rather eye-opening to the managers in our league.
Thanks.