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: 80-63
My pick yesterday: Michael Lorenzen vs. LAA W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 81-62
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Andrew Heaney vs. PIT – W
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Paul Skenes vs. CIN – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease vs. NYM – Aces gonna ace.
Justin Steele vs. DET – It’s the Tigers.
Corbin Burnes vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace…against the Astros and without his old cutter.
Jeffrey Springs @ OAK – Springs looks dominant and gets O.Co.
Freddy Peralta @ STL – Peralta. Please. Buddy. Don’t turn into Professor Chaos.
Probably Starts
Cristopher Sánchez @ ATL – The Atlanta lineup is reeling.
Chris Bassitt vs. LAA – Bassitt should be able to take down the Angels. Should.
Nick Lodolo @ PIT – Despite Lodolo’s latest clunker, I’d go for it against the weak Pirates. He still has the tools.
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. PHI – I want to trust Mr. Crescendo here, even against the Phillies. Just don’t let them hit your four-seamer and you’re golden.
Questionable Starts
Osvaldo Bido vs. TBR – I nearly had him in the second tier given his Vargas Rule + the Rays being so bad, but I just can’t do it. Bido’s arsenal just isn’t that good.
Luis Severino @ SDP – Severino’s fastball + cutter + sweeper is making me more of a fan than in the spring, but it’s the Padres.
Spencer Arrighetti @ BAL – We know the strikeout upside, but the Orioles are a strong offense and The Pasta Pirate is awfully volatile.
Gavin Williams @ NYY – It’s the Yankees and Gavin hasn’t quite figured out his secondaries to pair with his heater. He’s close.
Do Not Starts
UPDATE: Kenta Maeda (Opener) @ CHC – With Hurter pitching on Wednesday, the Tigers haven’t outlined their plan for today’s game and since Maeda was supposed to get yesterday and hasn’t pitched since Thursday of last week, I’m going with him. If it’s Jackson Jobe or Ty Madden (or another intriguing prospect I’m forgetting), I’d pay more attention, and if you’re trying to find some sneaky starts, Maeda will likely be opened for, giving him at least a chance for a Win.
Griffin Canning @ TOR – He’s just too dang hittable.
UPDATE: Ryan Yarbrough (Opener) vs. LAA – It looks like the Jays are going with an opener and bulking with the Fratty Pirate. Maybe there’s a Win to steal?
Brant Hurter @ CHC – There’s some value for those in max-start leagues as I expect he’ll be opened for. Super boring southpaw.
Miles Mikolas vs. MIL – I doubt his increased velocity will hold, but at least he has a long leash?
Cal Quantrill @ WSN – The splitter isn’t coming back.
Patrick Corbin vs. COL – Even against Rockie Road, we can’t trust Corbin.
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.
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Chris Sale vs. WSN – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Carlos Rodón vs. COL – It’s Rockie Road. Obviously.
Probably Starts
Tanner Bibee vs. TEX – Bibee is a Holly and the Rangers are a weird offense.
Chris Bassitt vs. LAA – Bassitt should be able to take down the Angels. Should.
Joe Musgrove vs. NYM – Musgrove sat 94 mph in his last outing and looked as solid as ever. Now stretched over 80 pitches, expect production.
Ryne Nelson @ BOS – His heater is too dang good. Fenway is scary, but you shouldn’t bench him for this.
Brayan Bello vs. ARI – Bello is as in tune with his arsenal as he’s been all year.
Andrew Abbott @ PIT – I like Abbott’s embrace of the BSB and this is a lovely matchup.
JP Sears vs. MIL – Sears is absolutely killing it with his heater upstairs. I’m seeing how long this lasts.
Hunter Brown @ BAL – Brown gets a tough deal with a date in Baltimore, though his dense arsenal helps him find a way to get through starts. I’m curious what we get here.
Nathan Eovaldi @ CLE – Eovaldi’s velocity was lower last time out as he avoided the IL with a Lat issue. Yes, I’m concerned + it’s Cleveland. Good luck.
Questionable Starts
Bobby Miller vs. TBR – Bobby. Bucko. This is the Rays. If you can’t handle The Rays, then we are truly lost.
Bailey Falter vs. CIN – I took a moment to determine which streaming option was the safest of the lot and settled on Falter’s high extension four-seamer paired with great command. Hosting the Reds in PNC Park made the decision easier on the heart.
Hayden Birdsong @ SEA – This is your strikeout upside stream. Seattle makes for an increase in punchouts, the lineup does its part, and all Birdsong has to do is throw strikes.
David Festa vs. STL – Festa’s lack of slider confidence is a little worrisome, but the four-seamer and changeup combo could be enough against the Cards.
Aaron Civale @ OAK – It looks good on paper, but Civale’s breakers have been far from stable.
Keider Montero @ CHW – It’s the CrySox and Montero has displayed the ability to go six frames against poor lineups.
Cade Povich vs. HOU – I don’t love this, but Povich is a Toby for a winning team.
Andre Pallante @ MIN – His cut-fastball over the plate has befuddled hitters and he could be a sneaky stream for those in need despite the limited ceiling.
Do Not Starts
Kyle Hendricks @ MIA – I know it’s the Marlins, but Hendricks ain’t it.
Michael Wacha vs. PHI – Maybe the changeup is good enough to carry Wacha, but it’s too scary against the Phillies.
Paul Blackburn @ SDP – Blackburn is only a play against poor lineups.
MacKenzie Gore @ ATL – I’m more afraid of Gore’s deteriorating skills than excited to face a weakened Atlanta lineup.
Max Meyer vs. CHC – He hasn’t proven he can do enough with his non-sliders.
Chris Flexen vs. DET – Is there a beach in Detroit? Duh. Will Flexen find it?! Probably not.
Jack Kochanowicz @ TOR – As a sinkerballer, Kochanowicz can find outs without the best stuff. Oh, the life of a Koufax worshipper.
Taijuan Walker @ KCR – Never Walker. Only run.
Kyle Freeland @ NYY – COL story, bro.
Tyler Alexander @ LAD – He may get an opener, but regardless, it’s the Dodgers with little upside.
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)