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: 61-43
My pick yesterday: Carson Spiers vs. MIA -W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 61-43
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Marco Gonzales @ CHW – 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
George Kirby @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Seth Lugo @ BOS – It’s the final test for the AGA tag.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. NYY – Aces gonna ace, even against the Yankees.
Reynaldo López @ SDP – He’s a sturdy Holly.
Kutter Crawford vs. KCR – He’s also a sturdy Holly.
Probably Starts
Nathan Eovaldi @ HOU – Eovaldi has been fantastic, though I get that the Astros make for some concern.
UPDATE: Dylan Cease vs. ATL – He’s a premium Cherry Bomb and you’re likely chancing it against Atlanta.
Andrew Abbott vs. MIA – I don’t quite understand Abbott, but it’s the Marlins and I won’t deny this.
Christian Scott vs. COL – Scott has been pitching well and now gets Rockie Road. Seems like a clear stream.
José Berríos @ ARI – His curve and change were great in his last start and the Sneks aren’t too scary.
Gavin Williams @ TBR – I liked Gavin more in his last start with his curveball landing low as it should. The “Cutter” (I think it’s a slider that isn’t breaking as much) is working as a strike pitch and it’s the Rays. I’m for it.
Kyle Gibson vs. CHC – Gibson had an unfortunate frame and was cruising otherwise with both breakers. He’s in a good spot.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ SFG – I’m not the biggest SWR fan, but he’s been making it work and now gets the Giants. The stuff isn’t terribly great, though the command is better than average.
Questionable Starts
Luis Gil @ BAL – We all know what happened against the Orange Birds two weeks ago, though Gil got his iVB back in his last start against the Red Sox.
Luis L. Ortiz @ CHW – A decent streaming option as Ortiz has found an approach that works with fastballs, cutters, and sliders.
Edward Cabrera @ CIN – He tossed about 80 pitches last time out and could be pushed more here with strikeouts aplenty.
Mitchell Parker @ MIL – Parker has been a Toby, though this is a tough date in Milwaukee.
Matt Waldron vs. ATL – If the Knuckler is there, Waldron could fare well.
José Soriano vs. SEA – The Mariners make it a digestible time, though Soriano needs to feature enough strikes.
Justin Wrobleski @ DET – He’s getting a second shot for the Dodgers and his four-seamer (outside of its horrible extension) can perform well against the Tigers. I’m curious if his secondaries can keep up.
Chris Flexen vs. PIT – Flexen has squeezed a ton out of his arsenal out of late and it’s the Pirates.
Do Not Starts
Hayden Birdsong vs. MIN – I’m not impressed by Birdsong enough to let him fly here. The heater command + questionable secondaries make me nervous without a massive ceiling.
Zack Littell vs. CLE – He just got trounced and the Guardians aren’t a fun lineup to face.
Hayden Wesneski @ STL – The sweeper is good, does he have anything else to support it?
Mitch Spence @ PHI – If the cutters and sliders are spotted well, it can work.
Yilber Diaz vs. TOR – He’s…okay. There could be something of intrigue from his second outing.
Tyler Phillips vs. OAK – Phillips is getting the call with Wheeler on the mend. He’s a kitchen sink arm and it’s possible he steals a Win in his debut.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. TEX – He’s far too volatile.
Javier Assad @ STL – It’s a Still ILL.
Keider Montero vs. LAD – He throws hard and could locate well + the secondaries could show up. Unlikely against the Dodgers, of course.
Lance Lynn vs. CHC – If you add the two Ls, you’ll likely get a third.
Dallas Keuchel vs. WSN – He’s found a way in his last two, but there’s no way he’s turning into a Vargas Rule, right? Yeaaaaaah, this can’t happen.
Ryan Feltner @ NYM – Let’s 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
Chris Sale @ SDP – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Zac Gallen vs. TOR – He wasn’t great last time out, but we trust this to work.
Ronel Blanco vs. TEX – Blanco is still pitching incredibly well.
Probably Starts
Yusei Kikuchi @ ARI – Kikuchi is putting it all together.
Jake Irvin @ MIL – Irvin didn’t have his hook last time out and I’m leaning that it’ll return.
Nick Lodolo vs. MIA – It’s the Marlins, ignore the weird Still ILL game.
Ryan Pepiot vs. CLE – Pepiot is fighting off the Cherry Bomb label and we can only hope the control is there.
Mitch Keller @ CHW – Keller gets the White Sox and hasn’t had his production fall off a cliff.
Jose Quintana vs. COL – I’m sold that Quintana’s command is here for a while in this Vargas Rule and now he gets Rockie Road.
Carlos Rodón @ BAL – It’s the Orioles, but Rodón’s skills are great across his last two.
Blake Snell vs. MIN – Can he throw enough strikes?
Brayan Bello vs. KCR – Bello had a few mistakes that were punished, but ultimately looked far better than his previous month in his last outing.
Jameson Taillon @ STL – Taillon is cooking right now.
Ben Lively @ TBR – Lively has had a great schedule and has mostly taken advantage of it. We’re giving him another start before moving on.
Questionable Starts
Brady Singer @ BOS – He’s a textbook Cherry Bomb in Fenway.
Dean Kremer vs. NYY – Kremer is horribly inconsistent.
Chris Paddack @ SFG – I don’t love what Paddack does and was tempted to put him in the bottom tier. There’s a chance for six frames, though.
Miles Mikolas vs. CHC – Mikolas had a disaster outing, sandwiched by production. There’s a chance.
Do Not Starts
Colin Rea vs. WSN – The ceiling isn’t great and he just struggled mightily.
Jon Gray @ HOU – Gray doesn’t have his best slider and it’s the Astros.
Trevor Rogers @ CIN – He’s locating well, but the stuff isn’t special.
Cal Quantrill @ NYM – Maybe the splitter is killing it? He’s too disrupted from his Vargas Rule.
Michael Mercado vs. OAK – Mercado isn’t nearly as bad as last start would make you think + it’s the Athletics.
Randy Vásquez vs. ATL – I’m not buying the recent starts of success + it’s Atlanta.
Ryan Yarbrough @ DET – Oh snap! The Fratty Pirate! I wonder how long they let him pitch and if he gets an opener.
Joey Estes @ PHI – It’s the Phillies and Estes displaced the cataclysmic floor in his last outing.
Roansy Contreras vs. SEA – How long does he go? As we watch it, we may want it to be short.
Joey Wentz vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers. It’s Wentz. Noooooope.
TBD White Sox SP vs. PIT – With Jonathan Cannon pitching in bulk after Crochet on Friday, it’s unclear how the White Sox will approach Sunday’s game. Maybe Michael Soroka? Or calling up Sean Burke or Nick Nastrini? Who knows.
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)
Lively against TB seems weird, I mean, shouldn’t he be pitching for TB?