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: 42-30
My pick yesterday: Cooper Criswell @ CHW – L
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 41-31
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Cooper Criswell @ CHW – L
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
UPDATE: Freddy Peralta @ DET – Aces gonna ace. The matchup is absurd and makes him SP #1.
Luis Castillo @ KCR – Aces gonna ace.
Grayson Rodriguez @ TBR – We are two games from AGA with the Rays + Phils on the board. Good luck.
UPDATE: Kyle Bradish @ TBR – So the Orioles are going with Bradish after all. Make sure he’s in your lineup.
Probably Starts
Brayan Bello @ CHW – It’s a safe floor against the CrySox.
Kevin Gausman @ OAK – This feels like an Auto Start, but we all know he’s been as volatile as anything.
MacKenzie Gore vs. ATL – Gore showcased his worst command of the year last time out. Expect a rebound.
Ben Lively @ MIA – He’s been in a groove and it’s the Marlins.
Andrew Heaney vs. SFG – Heaney has rebounded and improved his command as of late + it’s the Giants.
Questionable Starts
Matt Waldron vs. ARI – Waldron’s knuckleball was terrible last time out. It brings more haze than I’d like, but I also see a strong case to slot him in the next tier as well.
Kyle Gibson vs. COL – I’m warming up to the idea that Gibson’s sweeper is more consistent this year than before and it’s Rockie Road.
Ranger Suárez @ NYM – It’s the London Series and I suggest heavy caution starting anyone there, even Suárez, who may see the ramifications of a comebacker to his pitching hand during his last start.
Alec Marsh vs. SEA – I may have Marsh too high after his disappointment last time out, but then again, his best skill is locating high heaters and the Mariners flounder against those as much as anyone.
Hunter Brown @ LAA – Brown looked as good as I’ve seen all year in his last start. Here’s to hoping he can actually make it a proper trend.
Tyler Anderson vs. HOU – This has been a Vargas Rule, brought to you by the letter K. The Astros may be bringing it to an end.
Nestor Cortes vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers. Sorry Nestor.
Charlie Morton @ WSN – He’s a textbook Cherry Bomb.
Ben Brown @ CIN – He had a magnificent seven frames and don’t let them blind you. He breaks the Huascar Rule and now heads into Cin City.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ PIT – It’s a decent matchup, though the Twins are scared of letting SWR go a third time through the lineup, which makes five frames most likely.
Gavin Stone @ NYY – THIS IS THE TEST. I’m cautious for obvious reasons.
Taj Bradley vs. BAL – He just got bamboozled by the Orioles and I’d hate rolling the dice one more time.
Andrew Abbott vs. CHC – Abbott confounds me and this can go either way. There isn’t a single pitch I love, nor does he feature stellar command.
Luis Medina vs. TOR – He’s a Cherry Bomb who hurls 98 mph and can be filthy if he can land his slider and/or curve where he wants to for strikes. Expect inefficiency here.
Do Not Starts
Casey Mize vs. MIL – He hasn’t clicked yet and I’d prefer just to wait it out instead of taking a chance against a solid Milwaukee offense.
Bryse Wilson @ DET – Wilson has had one game of truly feeling his arsenal and it’s been multiple starts since.
Roddery Muñoz vs. CLE – Roddery is back! Unfortunately it’s the Guardians and I’d rather wait for a better matchup.
Nick Nastrini vs. BOS – Nick, this is so high! Sure is. The other options are terrible and maybe this is the start of Nastrini overcoming his yips.
Sean Manaea vs. PHI – It’s the London Series and it’s the Phillies and it’s Manaea. Noooope.
Ryne Nelson @ SDP – I know he just had a great outing, but it was a product of good BABIP, not dominance.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. MIN – Oh hey, he’s starting again! Expect nothing.
Spencer Howard @ TEX – Howard does not have the arsenal to justify a start (maybe with an opener?) against the Rangers.
Ryan Feltner @ STL – Let go of the dream. Let it go.
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
Tarik Skubal vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried @ WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans vs. SEA – Aces gonna ace.
Jared Jones vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga @ CIN – Aces gonna ace.
Grayson Rodriguez @ TBR – His four-seamers have been spotted incredibly well, can he get his changeup and slider down for a true “BSB?
George Kirby @ KCR – He’s nearing his AGA tag and he’ll get there if his slider is still spotted well and sinkers/four-seamers are used appropriately.
Tyler Glasnow @ NYY – Aces gonna ace…and it’s the Yankees.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. SFG – Now that he’s stretched out and facing the Giants, you should feel solid with this.
Bailey Ober @ PIT – He’s a stable Holly and not facing the Royals.
Justin Verlander @ LAA – It’s the Angels and you’re obviously starting him.
Probably Starts
Luis Gil vs. LAD – The Dodgers are legit, y’all. I know, it’s a tough call given how hot he is, but I get a sense he’s going to have some of the strike problems he’s had simply because he’ll likely be more tepid attacking the zone than per usual.
Questionable Starts
Patrick Sandoval vs. HOU – He’s only had a small collection of poor outings this year, but the Astros are mightier than most.
Frankie Montas vs. CHC – He just executed the BSB for real and I can’t help but wonder whether he can pull it off again across six frames.
Adam Mazur vs. ARI – I consider Mazur a potential Toby or Holly type with far better control than what we saw in his MLB debut. It’s hard to tell if the jitters that caused four walks will be eradicated by Sunday, though.
Do Not Starts
Mitch Spence vs. TOR – I don’t dislike Spence, there’s just not enough to chase here after not locating his cutter and slider well last time out.
Carlos Carrasco @ MIA – Maybe this works, it’s the Marlins after all.
Chris Flexen vs. BOS – He just had a great game and at least the Sawx are on the road in this battle of the pink laundry.
Andre Pallante vs. COL – There’s a part of me that thinks his cut-fastball can make this work, but he needs more of a supporting cast first.
Zack Littell vs. BAL – Littell throws few waste pitches + mistakes and his pitch separation from his last start makes me want to raise him higher…but it’s the Orioles and the ceiling isn’t high enough.
Bryse Wilson @ DET – He’s had one great start and many poor ones.
DJ Herz vs. ATL – Maybe the command is better after the MLB debut?
Bowden Francis @ OAK – The matchup is solid, but the skills are not what you want them to be.
Jose Quintana @ PHI – I’d avoid all starters in London.
Trevor Rogers vs. CLE – Rogers isn’t coming together as we want him to.
Chase Anderson @ CHW – It’s the White Sox…?
Ty Blach @ STL – Blach.
Humberto Castellanos @ SDP – They’re apparently giving him the pearl and I’d avoid it.
Taijuan Walker vs. NYM – This feels like a disaster.
Keaton Winn @ TEX – It’s a Still ILL against a strong offense.
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)