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: 63-48
My pick yesterday: Mitch Spence vs. LAA – W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 63-48
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Jack Kochanowicz @ OAK – 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
Max Fried vs. STL – Aces gonna ace.
Joe Ryan vs. MIL – Aces gonna ace.
Shota Imanaga vs. ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Seth Lugo vs. CHW – Lugo has been on fire (mostly) and it’s the White Sox.
Ronel Blanco @ SEA – The Mariners are a fantastic matchup and Blanco has been stellar.
Michael King @ CLE – I’m a huge fan of King, though I wish this wasn’t in Cleveland.
Kevin Gausman vs. DET – The splitter needs to return for Gausman to become the man we want him to be…but this is the Tigers. Well worth the risk.
Probably Starts
Jake Irvin vs. CIN – Irvin has lost his sheen lately, but I’ll give him a chance to showcase a rebound post-ASB.
Marcus Stroman vs. TBR – Stroman is Stroman. The Rays make this floor a little higher.
Kutter Crawford @ LAD – The Dodgers are terrifying, though Kutter is in as good of a place as we’ve seen all year.
UPDATE: Christian Scott @ MIA – It’s the Marlins and I don’t think Scott is as bad as his last few have been.
Shane Baz @ NYY – I’m not sure what to make of this one. Baz’s four-seamer is looking great, while the slider doesn’t have the same bite as it did in 2021. The Yankees are also up-and-down offensively and I think if I have Baz, I’m going for this. I could see myself placing him lower if I valued Wins or IP over Strikeouts.
Ben Lively vs. SDP – Lively has taken advantage of poor lineups all season, but this may be a tougher ask.
Andrew Abbott @ WSN – Abbott. I don’t know what to do with you. I guess we just start him and hope for the best?
UPDATE: Spencer Schwellenbach vs. STL – The Cardinals aren’t scary + Spencer has a deep arsenal on a winning club.
Luis Severino @ MIA – It’s the Marlins. We go with it.
Drew Thorpe @ KCR – I debated between Thorpe and Soriano for the streaming pick and landed on Thorpe – he’s a little more consistent for 5/6 frames and keeping runs off the board with his stellar changeup.
UPDATE: Carson Fulmer @ OAK – He looked solid with his secondaries last time out and now gets another cushy matchup against the Athletics.
José Soriano @ OAK – Soriano has a touch more volatility than Thorpe given the reliance on sinker strikes, but this is Oakland.
Brandon Pfaadt @ CHC – I find it hard to lean heavily into Pfaadt without a complementary secondary pitch for his sweeper, though his sinker has helped his four-seamer this season. I’ll go with it against a middling Cubs offense, though I have my concerns for the second half.
Bryan Woo vs. HOU – How long will they let Woo go? Is it worth it against the Astros?
Aaron Civale @ MIN – Civale looked better in his first start with Milwaukee and the Twins aren’t a mighty crew. Let’s hope the curveball is back in action now that he has had more time to bond with his new team.
Questionable Starts
Andrew Heaney vs. BAL – The slider looks great, but I fear starting a LHP against the Orioles.
Joey Estes vs. LAA – Estes is awfully volatile. Take a shot if you want, the ceiling isn’t high enough for me.
Dean Kremer @ TEX – Will Kremer have his splitter? Or Cutter? Or Four-seamer? Or anything? You really don’t know with him.
James Paxton vs. BOS – If you’re chasing a Win, you do you. We all know the ghastly floor.
Keider Montero @ TOR – There is something in the tank here with Montero as he features mid-90s heat and a decent breaker, while the Jays aren’t a team to run away from. It’s a desperate Sunday play.
Do Not Starts
Trevor Rogers vs. NYM – His stuff just isn’t what it used to be. It’s hard to lean into Rogers if he’s sitting 91 mph and not 93-95 mph.
Jordan Hicks @ COL – Hicks has gotten progressively worse this year and now has to endure Coors.
UPDATE: Hayden Birdsong @ COL – It’s Coors and I’m not the biggest fan of Birdsong’s arsenal in the first place.
Miles Mikolas @ ATL – Mikolas always has a chance as he’ll throw a ton of strikes. At least he has that going for him…?
Tyler Phillips @ PIT – It’s Pittsburgh, but Phillips is not a guy I’d go after. Maybe for a desperate Win chance?
Marco Gonzales vs. PHI – Gonzo could be a streaming option later in the summer, but not against Philly, obviously.
Austin Gomber vs. SFG – Gomber in Coors isn’t what you want.
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 @ CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. CIN – Aces gonna ace.
Cole Ragans vs. ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert vs. LAA – Aces gonna ace.
Tanner Houck @ COL – Aces gonna ace, even in Coors.
Bailey Ober vs. PHI – Ober gets the toughest matchup against the Phillies, and he’s performed too well to bench. I feel your anxiety.
Carlos Rodón vs. TBR – The Rays aren’t scary and Rodón has been pitching better than the results have shown.
Tyler Anderson @ SEA – His changeup has been phenomenal and it’s the Mariners.
Hunter Greene @ ATL – It’s not a fun time against Atlanta, but the ceiling is worth it.
Probably Starts
Ranger Suárez @ MIN – He’s been in a decline across the last few weeks, though it’s the Twins and his skills are not fully depleted. The ASB could have been a reset button.
Mitch Keller vs. STL – It’s the Cardinals. Keller is fine.
Michael Lorenzen vs. CHW – A solid matchup for Lorenzen equates to a streaming pick of the day.
Tobias Myers @ CHC – He’s been on a roll and there may be something to his high iVB four-seamer matching with a deep arsenal.
David Peterson @ MIA – The Marlins force Peterson into the second tier despite his middling arsenal.
Blake Snell @ LAD – Snell was unreal in his second start back from the IL, but this is the Dodgers. Up to you to decide if you believe his patented second-half run has already begun.
Questionable Starts
Spencer Arrighetti @ OAK – Just throw strikes. Please. Arrighetti can be a solid arm, especially against the Athletics, if his fastball lives in the zone.
Erick Fedde @ TEX – Fedde has been a Toby all year and the Rangers are heating up.
Andre Pallante @ PIT – The Pirates could open the door for a decent outing.
Zack Littell @ NYY – He’ll likely go Dancing With The Disco, which I don’t love against the Yankees.
River Ryan vs. SFG – I’m excited to watch Ryan, but I have a rule not to start pitchers in their MLB debuts – especially those without a history of going long in games.
Do Not Starts
Carlos Carrasco vs. DET – It’s the Tigers, but Carrasco is just a desperate QS play. Nothing more.
Yilber Diaz @ KCR – Maybe there’s something real here, I’m not believing in Yilber quite yet. With the Shag Rug present, I want to see one more.
Javier Assad vs. MIL – Assad did little to impress in his return from the IL and now gets a difficult lineup.
Hogan Harris vs. HOU – We’ve seen Hogan find a way through 5/6 frames against a tough offense. That said, the risk is absolutely not worth the reward.
Yonny Chirinos vs. NYM – Yonny could hurl sliders over the plate and get through five, but even that’s a stretch.
Austin Gomber vs. BOS – It’s Coors. There has to be something else to consider.
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)