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: 81-65
My pick yesterday: Will Warren vs. COL – L
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 82-64
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Will Warren vs. COL – L
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Zack Wheeler @ KCR – Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray @ SEA – In Seattle?!
Bryan Woo vs. SFG – IN SEATTLE?!
Reynaldo López vs. WSN – ReyLó was fortunate with foul balls last time out to help him get ten strikeouts, but that was the Phillies. This is the Nats. Nice.
Gavin Stone vs. TBR – It’s the Rays and Stone is fresh off a career-high ten strikeouts.
Kevin Gausman vs. LAA – I’m not loving Gausman’s lack of splitter whiffs, but he’s a clear play against the Angels.
Probably Starts
Seth Lugo vs. PHI – I have to mention how Lugo has been more like a Holly and less of an ace over the last two months.
Yusei Kikuchi @ BAL – Kikuchi’s four-seamer and slider are easily a better combo than they were in June, though the Orioles give some pause.
Zebby Matthews vs. STL – I’m a fan of Zebby’s command and I believe the strikeouts will come in time.
Marcus Stroman vs. COL – Too good of a Win chance here against Rockie Road.
Tanner Houck vs. ARI – Houck has had a string of positive ERA starts, but the splitter still isn’t doing it’s job against LHB. I won’t be fully back in until that pitch returns – it’s what catalyzed him into the stud of the spring.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. CIN – Ortiz’s four-seamer was as good as I’ve ever seen it during his last start and I hope that sticks in this great matchup.
Tyler Anderson @ TOR – Anderson has had his high four-seamers and cutters demolished in his last two starts, including a game against the Jays. Be cautious.
Questionable Starts
Frankie Montas @ OAK – Montas has found whiffs with his four-seamer lately and has a long leash of 90+ pitches. Maybe this works in O.Co.
Cody Bradford @ CLE – I’m a fan of Bradford’s command and extension, allowing for a good fastball/change approach. I just wish this wasn’t in HR-heavy Cleveland.
DJ Herz @ ATL – Herz is a strikeout Cherry Bomb and the weaker Atlanta lineup may induce another sparkling night.
Shane Baz @ LAD – I’m terrified of the Dodgers offense and Baz isn’t fully locked in with his slider and curve. I want to like this more, but it feels like a 4-5 inning grind of a start.
Merrill Kelly @ BOS – Kelly wasn’t impressive in his second outing and I’m worried the velocity drop is here to stay + Fenway.
UPDATE: Nick Martinez @ PIT – It’s not a bad matchup and Martinez could have his changeup cooking.
Jonathan Cannon vs. DET – As long as Cannon avoids hits on his sinker, he can survive for at least six frames.
Bryan Sammons @ CHW – Sammons is an arm to consider for a sneaky Win chance as he’s a Toby type who is expected to be opened for.
Javier Assad @ MIA – It’s the Marlins and Assad just went over five frames.
Joey Estes vs. MIL – I don’t love his arsenal, but at least he generally commands four-seamers upstairs well with decent iVB.
Martín Pérez vs. NYM – Pérez didn’t do well against a tough squad last time out (dang curve floating up!) and he could recover against the Mets.
Erick Fedde @ MIN – He’s been a Toby this year, but faded across the last two months. Maybe the command is on point against the Twins?
Dean Kremer vs. HOU – Kremer just had a blast with his splitter and sinker, which isn’t his standard plan of attack. He’s a Cherry Bomb at best.
Matthew Boyd vs. TEX – Boyd didn’t have his best slider and change against the Yankees, though they could return here.
Jose Quintana @ SDP – Quintana has been struggling lately and now it’s the Padres. I won’t rule out the chance to click back into place and find six innings of production.
Do Not Starts
Carson Spiers @ PIT – He just got destroyed and even against Pittsburgh, that floor is too dang scary.
Austin Gomber @ NYY – It’s the Yankees.
UPDATE: Kolby Allard @ KCR – No thanks.
Adam Oller vs. CHC – Oller isn’t likely to go five here, and even if he does, do you want it?
UPDATE: Jacob Lopez @ LAD – Baz has the flu and this looks to be a bullpen game.
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.
Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Zack Wheeler vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Bailey Ober vs. ATL – Aces gonna ace.
Ryan Pepiot @ SEA – It’s in Seattle y’all. This is gonna be good.
Max Fried @ MIN – Fried is looking more and more like an ace.
Cole Ragans @ CLE – Aces gonna ace…though it is in Cleveland.
Bryce Miller vs. TBR – He’s in Seattle and gets the Rays. YUP.
Ronel Blanco @ PHI – It’s a terrible matchup, and Blanco met the man of regression at his door. However, his skills are still solid and very much worth the play.
Nestor Cortes @ WSN – It feels weird having Cortes in the top tier, but after his last outing, I don’t see a scenario where you’re benching Cortes.
Probably Starts
Nick Pivetta vs. TOR – I’m weirded out by Pivetta right now and I’m scared.
Jameson Taillon @ PIT – It’s a Toby in a good matchup.
Mitch Keller vs. CHC – Keller is a Cherry Bomb, though last start was too dang sweet to turn away.
Questionable Starts
Brant Hurter @ CHW – Hurter is likely getting an opener and could steal a Win as a wannabe Toby type.
José Berríos @ BOS – It’s Fenway, even if Berríos has been in a great rhythm (against poor lineups).
Kyle Gibson vs. SDP – This isn’t the matchup you want for Gibson.
Edward Cabrera @ COL – It’s Coors and yet, it all comes down to Cabrera’s ability to throw strikes.
Davis Martin vs. DET – Martin has flexed some upside with his new changeup.
Randy Vásquez @ STL – Vásquez had himself a decent run for a moment and now he returns to the rotation against a middling team. I still heavily question the overall ability, though.
Do Not Starts
Logan Allen vs. KCR – I don’t trust Logan. Is it the two first names? Only a little, I promise.
Mitchell Parker vs. NYY – It’s the Yankees.
Alec Marsh @ CLE – Marsh isn’t a consistent arm + it’s in Cleveland.
Joey Cantillo vs. KCR – I need to see Cantillo find a groove first.
Ryan Feltner vs. MIA – COL story, bro.
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)