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: 64-51
My pick yesterday: Ryne Nelson @ KCR – L
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 65-50
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Edward Cabrera vs. BAL – 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
Corbin Burnes @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
UPDATE: Chris Sale @ NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Taj Bradley @ TOR – Get this – Bradley’s sub 1.00 ERA since he wore Pride Day cleats in June leads baseball.
Dylan Cease @ WSN – Cease against a questionable lineup? Yes please.
Max Scherzer vs. CHW – He left his last start with arm fatigue but is apparently good to go in this one…? Even if it’s a shorter start, it should still be productive against the White Sox.
Chris Bassitt vs. TBR – He’s not special, but it’s the Rays and you start Bassitt. Not a traditional Auto-Start, but I don’t see a reason to bench him.
Probably Starts
Gavin Williams vs. DET – It’s a great matchup, though Williams hasn’t dominated quite yet. I wonder if we’ll get the cutter/slider breaker back in this one.
Logan Webb @ LAD – Webb has hurt in the WHIP department and it’s the Dodgers. Still, he has a chance to go seven frames consistently and has succeeded against Los Angeles plenty in the past.
Questionable Starts
Clayton Kershaw vs. SFG – He’s back! Is he okay? Are they letting him go five innings? Will he have a good enough slider and fastball? It’s a Still ILL, but I understand giving it a whirl for the fun of it + it’s the Giants.
Mitch Spence @ LAA – Take your pick of Spence or Daniel for the streaming option. Personally, I’ll go with Spence Dancing With The Disco and the better offense (at least in July!) behind him.
Davis Daniel vs. OAK – He’s dominated the Athletics in the past and has a long enough leash to make it worthwhile.
Charlie Morton @ NYM – Who knows. Let’s hope we see the same curveball we saw last time.
Luis Severino vs. ATL – Severino showed up with 97 mph heat last time out and he could produce if it continues against Atlanta, a team already without Acuña, Harris II, and Albies, then add a slumping Olson. This may not be a strong lineup at all.
Do Not Starts
Jonathan Cannon @ TEX – He always has a chance if he’s nailing the edges. He has the overall ability to generate outs more than your standard rookie. Think of him as a discount Michael King. Like FIRE SALE discount.
UPDATE: Kenny Rosenberg vs. OAK – We’ve seen him act as a Toby last year. At rare times. While being more stretched out.
UPDATE: Ross Stripling @ LAA – He’s returning from the IL. There’s always a chance…but let’s not.
Roddery Muñoz vs. BAL – It’s Baltimore and Muñoz is a wild card.
Patrick Corbin vs. SDP – At least he’s experimenting. The cutter was so good last time!
Kenta Maeda (Opener) @ CLE – I don’t think he goes very long here + Cleveland is a launching pad.
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
George Kirby @ CHW – Aces gonna ace.
Sonny Gray vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Freddy Peralta vs. MIA – He doesn’t have the AGA label, but it’s the Marlins, y’all.
Grayson Rodriguez vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace against a much tougher matchup than Peralta.
Pablo López @ DET – He has the sweeper back, will the changeup get low?
Zac Gallen vs. PIT – Gallen has displayed signs of fatigue lately, though it’s the Pirates and it’s not wise to act on a few outings with Gallen’s track record.
Michael King @ BAL – King is making his case for AGA with this matchup against the Orioles (Rockie Road is next, not the Dodgers as I originally thought!). Let’s hope the King without a crown gets his coronation.
Cristopher Sánchez vs. CLE – It’s not in Cleveland and you’re starting Sánchez on the regular.
Probably Starts
Drew Thorpe vs. SEA – I love this matchup and watching Thorpe display a pristine slider in his last start gets me amped. Add him if you still can.
Nick Lodolo @ TBR – Let’s hope the blister is fully healed. The curveball was better, now it’s up to the heaters.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. TEX – Kikuchi’s heater and slider are ready to roll. Just axe the changeup and lean more on the curve for strikes. PLEASE.
Andrew Heaney @ TOR – Heaney is barely our streaming pick of the day right at 20% rostered and I’m here for it. The new slider is working well and he just staved off the Orioles.
MacKenzie Gore @ STL – He’s become a bit of a Cherry Bomb, especially with diminished velocity in his last outing. The sweet is too good to pass up against the Cardinals, but this could be the start that forces him into the third tier moving forward.
Brady Singer vs. CHC – He’s a Cherry Bomb, though the matchup is great and he’s been oddly consistent as of late.
Shane Baz vs. CIN – I don’t love the slider as much as 2021 and I doubt it’ll come back in full + last outing was a mess. Nevertheless, five frames of production should be the baseline expectation with his heater against the Reds away from Cin City.
Luis L. Ortiz @ ARI – He’s on a roll and the Sneks are not scary.
Questionable Starts
Brayan Bello vs. NYY – I love where Bello is currently, I’d prefer to solidify that faith on the bench and ensure the trend continues in a tough matchup at home.
Nestor Cortes @ BOS – It’s a risky play inside of Fenway, though the Win chance is too good.
Framber Valdez vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers + what are we gonna get this time.
Kyle Harrison vs. COL – I recognize that Harrison can be productive and this is Rockie Road. I just wish I saw a clearer path to being more than what he has been.
Charlie Morton @ NYM – Who knows. Let’s hope we see the same curveball we saw last time.
Kodai Senga vs. ATL – It’s a very obvious Still ILL, though Atlanta is far from their peak lineup. Here’s to Senga coming through in the best way.
Gavin Stone @ HOU – Stone has been a solid Toby and we generally don’t start those against Houston.
Mitch Spence @ LAA – Take your pick of Spence or Fulmer in this outing. I’m favoring Spence’s ability to go Dancing With The Disco and the better offense behind him (at least in July!).
Kyle Freeland @ SFG – He’s been on a run and I’m hoping the worse command last time returns to the precision of previous outings. Pitching in Oracle Park could make this a sneaky stream for those in need.
Ben Lively @ PHI – Lively, you’ve been wonderful despite a questionable arsenal. This is the Phillies. I know. Okay, cool. I recommend the right side of the bench. Better view.
Carson Fulmer vs. OAK – His first outing showed promise, the second came with curveballs getting launched. Don’t rule out a rebound, though it’s not fun facing Oakland.
Do Not Starts
Keider Montero vs. MIN – Montero doesn’t do enough for me to chase this, especially with Royce returning to the lineup.
Trevor Rogers @ MIL – The Brewers aren’t at their best. Rogers’ stuff is definitely not at its best.
Kyle Hendricks @ KCR – Hendricks ain’t it y’all.
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)