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: 66-52
My pick yesterday: Hayden Birdsong vs. COL – W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 67-51
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Hayden Birdsong vs. COL – 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
Cole Ragans vs. CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Garrett Crochet vs. SEA – Aces gonna ace…and possibly be limited heavily? It’s a weird time.
Bailey Ober @ DET – Ober is dope and makes us feel dope.
Hunter Greene @ TBR – Greene is ready to feast on the poor Rays lineup.
Reynaldo López @ NYM – He’s been seeing elements of regression as of late, but he’s still a strong play on a given day.
Bryce Miller @ CHW – The fastball can be enough against the CrySox.
Carlos Rodón @ BOS – He’s re-shaped his approach with improved secondaries and even in Fenway, I’m going for it.
Tanner Houck vs. NYY – I’m more tepid on Houck these days and he has the tougher lineup in this fun matchup.
Probably Starts
Tobias Myers vs. MIA – Myers has been making it work with his varied arsenal and now gets the gift of Miami.
Mitch Keller @ ARI – Keller does what Keller does.
Ranger Suárez vs. CLE – Suárez isn’t the same guy from May, but still worthwhile if just for the Win chance.
Jon Gray @ TOR – The slider was back last time out and I wouldn’t be afraid of the Jays.
José Soriano vs. OAK – Soriano just needs to throw strikes and he’ll be fine.
Questionable Starts
Jordan Hicks vs. COL – This is Hicks’ last start for the Giants before moving to the pen with Alex Cobb’s return. At least it’s Rockie Road.
José Berríos vs. TEX – Berríos is not the man we want him to be and yet, there’s always a chance this is the start where his pendulum swings back.
DJ Herz @ STL – You don’t know what you’ll get from Herz. It’s a desperate strikeout play.
Javier Assad @ KCR – Assad is not the guy from the first half.
David Peterson vs. ATL – I’m not a fan of Peterson’s arsenal and this seems to carry too limited of a ceiling.
River Ryan @ HOU – The ability is there, but it’s Houston and just his second start of the season. Let’s hope we get a look at an approach that could work for the next two months.
Do Not Starts
Miles Mikolas vs. WSN – At least he has a long leash.
Yilber Diaz vs. PIT – Diaz just burned you heavily. No need to risk this.
Spencer Arrighetti vs. LAD – Can he throw enough strikes and not let his heater fall over the plate and endure the Dodgers’ bats?
Randy Vásquez @ BAL – He’s been a phenomenal run that seems heavily luck-based and this is the Orioles.
Osvaldo Bido @ LAA – He just made it work against the Astros, but I can’t endorse spinning that wheel again.
Austin Gomber @ SFG – He pitched near his peak and was still not good enough in his last start.
Albert Suárez vs. SDP – Suárez just got pummeled by the Marlins. All trust hath been lost.
UPDATE: Joey Cantillo @ PHI – It’s an MLB debut + it’s the Phillies. He’s done well in Triple-A with a four-seamer/changeup mix. The 92-94 mph heater (pushed to 98 in the futures game?!) that has elite extension with 15-16″ of iVB (slightly above average), but the winner here is a changeup that comes in nearly 15 mph slower. LHP can be changeup-focused and succeed in the majors (they’ll face RHB predominately, after all) and he’s someone to monitor in this debut, though I doubt you’ll want to hold on for the Orioles up next unless this comes with precise command – a rarity for Cantillo.
Kyle Tyler @ MIL – He’s not the guy you’re looking for on Sunday. He has to be at his best to go at least five.
Kenta Maeda (Opener) vs. MIN – This could very well just be a bullpen game.
Tyler Alexander (Opener) vs. CIN – T-Lex generally doesn’t go long enough, nor does he carry the ability to make you angry about it.
Xzavion Curry @ PHI – He won’t go long and it’s the Phillies.
UPDATE: Kolby Allard vs. CLE – DRALLA IS BACK. Don’t let him take a bite of your ratios.
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 vs. NYY – Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Jack Flaherty vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Gilbert @ BOS – Aces gonna ace.
Nathan Eovaldi @ STL – Eovaldi should cruise here.
Luis Gil @ PHI – Gil is in a great place with his arsenal, even if this is the Phillies.
Nick Pivetta vs. SEA – Pivetta just had a disaster of a game, but the Mariners offense still isn’t something to fear.
Tanner Bibee @ DET – It’s the Tigers, even if I’m not the biggest Bibee fan.
Zach Eflin vs. TOR – He’s in Baltimore and has a strong crew behind him. I expect a little extra adrenaline in his first start with the club.
Probably Starts
Simeon Woods Richardson @ NYM – The sole member of the second tier is our streaming pick. He’s been far better than I’ve given him credit, including taking down the Phillies last time out.
Questionable Starts
Alec Marsh @ CHW – The White Sox are so bad.
Jose Quintana vs. MIN – The command has improved, but the Twins with Royce are not a fun matchup.
Jordan Montgomery vs. WSN – He looked fine in his return from the IL and it’s the Nationals. Let’s hope he clicks into rhythm.
Cade Povich vs. TOR – He’s getting called up as the extra man for the double-header and has a chance as a Toby against a middling lineup.
Jameson Taillon @ CIN – Taillon has done well spotting his pitches over the last month, though it’s Cin City.
DJ Herz @ ARI – He’s a pure Cherry Bomb – will he have two pitches working well?
Yariel Rodríguez @ BAL – The Orioles are not a fun offense for Yariel to face, even if his cut-fastball is creating a ton of poor contact.
Collin Rea vs. ATL – He just showcased the ability of going 6+ once again and I still don’t know what to make of the Atlanta offense.
Do Not Starts
Chris Flexen vs. KCR – We’ve seen days where he has multiple pitches and spots the edges, turning into Flexen At The Beach.
Jake Bloss vs. PIT – Is there enough in the arsneal (and leash!) to make this a worthy start?
Carson Spiers vs. CHC – He hasn’t started for a bit and I’d rather not chance it.
Andre Pallante vs. TEX – Pallante has had a shockingly productive run, but the Rangers bats are heating up with the Texas summer.
Darius Vines @ MIL – Vines may be getting a start here and nothing suggests it’s worth your time.
Bowden Francis @ BAL – How long is he even going to 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.
Photos Courtesy of IconSportswire | Adapted by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)