Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 7/2 & 7/3

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: 53-41

My pick yesterday: David Peterson @ WSN – W

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 54-40

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: David Peterson @ WSN – 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

 

Tarik Skubal @ MIN – Aces gonna ace.

Grayson Rodriguez @ SEA – Aces gonna ace.

George Kirby vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace.

Reynaldo López vs. SFG – ReyLó isn’t sitting on your bench against the Giants. Great Win chance, sturdy heater, two solid breakers, and a whole lot of love from fantasy managers everywhere.

Kutter Crawford @ MIA – It’s the Marlins.

Dylan Cease @ TEX – Cease has more upside than the three above him, but his mechanics get out of whack at times, creating a lower floor, too.

 

Probably Starts

 

Luis Gil vs. CIN – Gil has had a rough two starts, with his last outing truly being the disappointing one as his control eluded him. I’m not ready to jump ship, of course, and we’re going for this one.

Nathan Eovaldi vs. SDP – Eovaldi should be expected to cruise for six regularly.

Mitch Keller vs. STL – His command returned last start and the Cardinals aren’t threatening.

Kyle Gibson @ PIT – Gibson has been a strong Toby this year and gets the Pirates.

Brady Singer vs. TBR – The sinker/slider is alive and well + the Rays make for an easier day at the park.

Sean Manaea @ WSN – I’m not the biggest Manaea fan, but the Mets are on a hot streak. The Nationals aren’t a team to actively avoid, either.

Zack Littell @ KCR – Littell is fine. His slider earns strikes over the plate and his splitter can show up to make it a comfortable 5-6 frames.

José Berríos vs. HOU – Berríos is the great undulator, who had a field day with his breaker last time out. If you have him, I believe you’re going with it, even against Houston.

Simeon Woods Richardson vs. DET – You may want him higher in these ranks above Manaea or Littell and that’s fine with me. I personally see a lower ceiling with a similar floor.

Bobby Miller vs. ARI – Miller. Please. Bucko. You got this. I have no issue if you want to bench him and wait for a strong start before letting him loose.

Mitch Spence vs. LAA – Spence has a cutter/slider that can fill up the zone and induce weak contact, allowing him to go five frames without much punishment.

 

Questionable Starts

 

José Soriano @ OAK – Soriano is returning from the IL and getting a gift in O.Co, but will he throw enough strikes, let alone pitches in general?

Spencer Arrighetti @ TOR – Arrighetti woke up in his last outing, though the Jays are a bit scarier. I also question if he can earn as many strikes with his heater to set up his secondaries. One start does not create a plateau.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Chris Flexen @ CLE – He’s had a kitchen sink flowing with solid command at times. The elevated HR rate in Cleveland is concerning, along with the low ceiling.

Carlos Carrasco vs. CHW – It’s the CrySox and Carrasco has a leash for at least five frames.

DJ Herz vs. NYM – Herz has potential with his changeup and heater, but the Mets are heating up and Herz hasn’t shown consistency in the slightest.

Valente Bellozo vs. BOS – Bellozo made the most of his last outing and there’s a chance he can make it work again. Probably not.

Hayden Wesneski vs. PHI – The sweeper is cool and at least Philly doesn’t have their best bats in the lineup. The innings will be limited, though, and I worry about everything outside the breaker.

Graham Ashcraft @ NYY – At least he has a shot to make it work? Maybe the cutter and slider are on point.

Michael Mercado @ CHC – I wonder how long he’ll actually go for the Phillies. The heater is around 94/95 mph with decent iVB with a cutter and curve, making this an arsenal that certainly can work. Given it’s essentially his MLB debut (one inning as a reliever last week), expect adrenaline and oddities along the way.

Hayden Birdsong @ ATL – I wasn’t too impressed with the debut and anticipate a drop in velocity from his first outing. Throw in Atlanta as your opponent and I’d prefer to stay out of the ring.

Ryne Nelson @ LAD – The Dodgers, y’all.

Ryan Feltner vs. MIL – Feltner? Naaaah.

Dallas Keuchel @ COL – 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

 

Zack Wheeler @ CHC – Aces gonna ace.

Chris Sale vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.

Corbin Burnes @ SEA – Aces gonna ace.

Jared Jones vs. STL – After a week off, I’m trusting Jones against a poor Cardinals offense.

Shota Imanaga vs. PHI – Aces gonna ace in a game where Imanaga needs to prove he still holds the coveted label.

Logan Gilbert vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace…even against the Orioles.

Jack Flaherty @ MIN – Flaherty should get the label soon enough and the Twins are a decent challenge to showcase he deserves it.

Ryan Pepiot @ KCR – Pepiot made easy work of the Mariners and the Royals could be more of the same. The ceiling is higher than Blanco…

Ronel Blanco @ TOR – …Though, if you’re in a Quality Start league, you may want to favor Blanco over Pepiot.

 

Probably Starts

 

Gavin Stone vs. ARI – I don’t buy that he’s a 25%+ strikeout arm now, leaving him out of the top tier.

Carlos Rodón vs. CIN – It’s been a tough trio of outings for Rodón and I’m not ready to jump ship.

Gavin Williams vs. CHW – He’s back! It could be a Still ILL, though with 82 pitches in his previous outing, I think you’re safe against the CrySox.

Christian Scott @ WSN – He’s also back! I’m down for this as Scott is stretched out and the Nationals aren’t a fearsome crew.

David Festa vs. DET – I dug Festa’s skills in his first start and I’d roll with him against the lowly Tigers. This could be the one that sells the masses.

Yusei Kikuchi vs. HOU – Kikuchi’s slider is back and we’d all be clamoring for this one if it weren’t for a three-run shot by Soto last game.

Michael Wacha vs. TBR – The changeup is doing what we want it to and the Rays aren’t scary.

Davis Daniel @ OAK – He just went eight scoreless frames and it’s the Athletics. I’m not enamored with his arsenal, but the command could be good enough to cruise.

Brayan Bello @ MIA – He’s been off but that shouldn’t last forever and it’s the Marlins. Surely this is the start of the rebound…?

 

Questionable Starts

 

Erick Fedde @ CLE – Cleveland is massively a HR park and I’d have some worry about Fedde here.

Mitchell Parker vs. NYM – Parker is a decent Toby, but do you want to go up against the power of Grimace?

Jon Gray vs. SDP – Sliders are still great, I worry about the rest from Gray.

Trevor Rogers vs. BOS – Rogers has a sub 3.30 ERA across his last six games, but the whiffs aren’t there. Boston isn’t scary, I just don’t feel comfortable with Rogers, especially after four walks last time out.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Joey Estes vs. LAA – It’s not the worst play and I was tempted to put him in Tier 3. The arsenal isn’t all too impressive, though, and I’d rather just avoid it. The gains are too little.

Miles Mikolas @ PIT – Mikolas wouldn’t be down here if it weren’t for a 9 ER cataclysm in his last outing.

Jordan Hicks @ ATL – Hicks isn’t in prime form and it’s Atlanta.

Adam Mazur @ TEX – I’m waiting for Mazur to show us a legit line before giving him a chance to start.

Andrew Abbott @ NYY – It’s the Yankees and Abbott just walked six.

Colin Rea @ COL – It’s Coors and even though Rea has some moments, you can’t.

Jordan Montgomery @ LAD – The Dodgers + The Bear is in hibernation.

Dakota Hudson vs. MIL – Uhhhh, no.

 

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)