Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 8/11 & 8/12

Here are today’s and tomorrow’s daily SP Streamer rankings for fantasy baseball.

Every day of the 2024 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today’s 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.

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: 70-60

My pick yesterday: Griffin Canning @ WSN – L

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 76-55

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Nick Martinez @ MIL – 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

 

Tyler Glasnow vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.

Dylan Cease @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.

Luis Castillo vs. NYM – Aces gonna ace.

 

Probably Starts

 

Chris Bassitt vs. OAK – It’s Bassitt. Not the sexiest, but it’ll work. Just plug and chug. That’s for a calculator. SET AND FORGET. I’m so SORRY. 

Tanner Bibee @ MIN – He mentioned that his shoulder has been bothering him all year. And yet he’s still performed a fair amount…?

Cristopher Sánchez @ ARI – He’s been rough, but it’s been against elite offenses. Arizona is hot right now, but I think I still roll with it.

Spencer Schwellenbach @ COL – It’s not an ideal matchup, but he’s been too dang hot to ignore here + I love his massively reduced fastball approach.

Nick Lodolo @ MIL – Lodolo confounds me a bit, but the ceiling is too high to ignore.

Luis Severino @ SEA – Severino was horrid in his last start…but had his fastball velocity and now heads into Seattle where the strikeouts flow like streams of Atlantis. That’s underwater, there is no stream. IT’S AN ALWAYS STREAM.

Albert Suárez @ TBR – He’s my streaming pick with a great Win chance against a poor offense. Suárez stepped up last time out and should have roughly 80 pitches in him to make this worthwhile.

David Festa vs. CLE – I dig what Festa brings to the table, but the Guardians are not a fun team to square up against. I’m for it, just cautious.

Hayden Birdsong vs. DET – We saw the downside of Birdsong last time out – inconsistent slider, still terrible fastball – though the curve has turned into the major focus it should be. I’m expecting the slider to be better, allowing him to provide value against the Tigers.

Hunter Brown @ BOS – I know he’s been great for y’all, but I just can’t get behind his “Approach” – chaos that he figures out each day he pitches, like paint falling down a canvas. Throw in the volatility of Fenway, and you have a whole lot of anxiety.

 

Questionable Starts

 

Keider Montero @ SFG – He’s of consideration after taking care of the Mariners, but the Giants are a touch tougher and Montero isn’t a special arm. It’s a 95+ mph heater (poor shape) with a good slider and decent curve as his number three.

MacKenzie Gore vs. LAA – The dude has been tanking across the last month. His velocity has fallen and his secondaries are not consistent. That said, the skills are there and this is the Angels, making for a high risk/reward Cherry Bomb.

Marcus Stroman vs. TEX – This is a Win/QS play if you need one.

Andrew Heaney @ NYY – Heaney’s slider is better than earlier in the year, but he hasn’t come through as consistently as you’d like + the Yankees.

JP Sears @ TOR – Sears has been on a mini-run, recently expressing fantastic four-seamer command upstairs that I don’t trust to last moving forward. It’s come and gone all his career.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Merrill Kelly vs. PHI – It’s a Still ILL, but I’m super happy to have Kelly back on the field again. Remember, he’s a potential Holly only if he gets into rhythm.

James Paxton vs. HOU – Maybe the new sinker is actually decent and he steals a Win? You really shouldn’t do this.

Max Meyer vs. SDP – His slider is the only pitch going for him and even that isn’t looking like the Elite McAwesome Sauce we want it to be.

Bailey Falter @ LAD – Falter has had some rare magical moments and maybe this is one of them?

Jeffrey Springs vs. BAL – It’s Baltimore and Springs isn’t fully back.

Kyle Freeland vs. ATL – It’s Atlanta. In Coors.

DL Hall vs. CIN – It’s a very clear Still ILL for Hall and I don’t expect him to go long. But for real, WELCOME BACK. I hope your attack angle and velocity are fixed. It’s still not confirmed that Hall is making this start. If Colin Rea is starting instead, place him at the bottom of Probable Start.

UPDATE: Jack Kochanowicz @ WSN – This isn’t the arm you’re looking for.

 

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 @ SFG – Aces gonna ace.

Blake Snell vs. ATL – Aces gonna ace.

Luis Gil @ CHW – This looks so dang juicy.

Shota Imanaga @ CLE – Aces gonna ace.

Sonny Gray @ CIN – Gray looked far better last time out.

Framber Valdez @ TBR – Framber is in his GROOVE.

Taj Bradley vs. HOU – He hasn’t been as sharp in his last two, but I’m not ready to give up yet.

Pablo López vs. KCR – His mechanics were off in his last start. I’m banking he made the adjustments.

 

Probably Starts

 

Brandon Pfaadt vs. COL – I like his command rhythm + it’s Rockie Road.

Brayan Bello vs. TEX – Bello has his full arsenal working, I wish this weren’t the Rangers.

Clayton Kershaw @ MIL – Kershaw was better last time out and the Brewers are the most fearsome.

Ben Lively vs. CHC – Is this the end of Lively’s incredible run? I doubt it.

Andrew Abbott vs. STL – He’s a premium Cherry Bomb, who actually executed well last time out and was burned for it.

 

 

Questionable Starts

 

Brady Singer @ MIN – Singer has been far better than expected this year, though he’s showing cracks in the armor.

Bowden Francis @ LAA – I didn’t love what I saw last time across his arsenal, but it is the Angels.

Joe Musgrove vs. PIT – OH SNAP HE’S FINALLY BACK. Treat this like a Still ILL and take it from there.

Tyler Mahle @ BOS – He wasn’t striking in his first outing and I’d consider this after a defiant outing, especially not in Fenway.

 

Do Not Starts

 

Davis Daniel vs. TOR – There’s a chance he pulls it off against the Jays, but this isn’t worth the risk at all.

Cal Quantrill @ ARI – If you could just convince the splitter to show up, that would be greaaaaaat. Thanks.

Marco Gonzales @ SDP – He isn’t ready for this one.

Colin Rea vs. LAD – It’s the Dodgers, y’all. He could also be starting on Sunday instead of DL Hall.

Ky Bush vs. NYY – Not. A. Chance.

 

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.