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: 82-65
My pick yesterday: Zebby Matthews vs STL – W
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 83-64
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Joey Estes vs. MIL – L
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.
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.
Tuesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Logan Gilbert vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole @ WSN – Okay Cole. This is the one where you earn your AGA tag, showing that last start ain’t you.
Jack Flaherty vs. BAL – Aces gonna ace.
Logan Webb @ MIL – You’ve been so dang good.
Justin Steele @ PIT – Steele’s command wasn’t precise last time, but the results ignored it. Now it’s the Pirates.
Aaron Nola vs. HOU – Aces gonna ace.
Jeffrey Springs @ SEA – Springs’ changeup was off last time out. Now he gets the gift of Safeco. It’s not Safeco anymore. IT WILL ALWAYS BE SAFECO.
Spencer Schwellenbach @ MIN – He’s pitched like an ace and I’m wondering if he deserves the coveted AGA label.
Tobias Myers vs. SFG – He’s been a Vargas Rule and gets the Giants. We’re not benching him.
Probably Starts
Jared Jones vs. CHC – I want to follow the rules of Still ILL and I also recognize that Jones was absurd in his Triple-A start, showcasing the elite heater we know and love. The biggest question is pitch count – he’ll likely be around 75 pitches or so.
Gavin Williams vs. KCR – I love Gavin’s four-seamer and I see a reverse Garrett Crochet if his cutter can return 65% strikes and favored heavily over the curve.
Andrew Heaney @ CHW – It’s the White Sox and Heaney was able to make easy work of the Pirates last time out. It’s unfortunate Crochet is on the other side, but this is still worthwhile.
Simeon Woods Richardson vs. ATL – Atlanta isn’t formidable and SWR is a well-rounded arm.
Nick Lodolo vs. OAK – I’m a little worried about HR-heavy Oakland heading to Cin City, but Lodolo’s strikeout ability is still phenomenal.
Sean Manaea @ ARI – Manaea has been absurdly good and even against he Diamondbacks, you just have to roll with it.
Justin Verlander @ PHI – Verlander executed well during his return from the IL. I hate the matchup and debated slotting him into Tier 3, but I’m ultimately letting him fly where rostered.
Questionable Starts
Garrett Crochet vs. TEX – Crochet is in purgatory and will stick here at the top of Tier 3 as long as he only goes four frames.
Brant Hurter (Opener) vs. LAA – Pushed to Tuesday, Hurter could be a sneaky Win arm without much else. He’ll likely have an opener.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. NYM – I dig Erod’s changeup emphasis, but is he in a good enough groove to trust for a QS or Win?
Mitch Spence @ CIN – It’s not a good matchup, but I wanted to highlight Spence’s improved command and ability last start. There could be something going on here.
Michael Lorenzen @ CLE – It’s in Cleveland and that’s not what you want for Lorenzen. He’s a good-matchup-only guy.
Do Not Starts
Johnny Cueto @ DET – It looks tempting, but it’s Cueto.
Miles Mikolas vs. SDP – Mikolas may have six frames of magic…?
Yariel Rodríguez @ BOS – In Fenway? Absolutely not.
Roddery Muñoz @ COL – It’s Coors.
Cal Quantrill vs. MIA – It’s Coors and Quantrill without a splitter.
Quinn Priester vs. TOR – I’m curious what we see from Priester, but it’s Fenway and few signs of encouragement.
Patrick Corbin vs. NYY – Maybe the cutter is legit now. MAYBE.
Cole Irvin @ LAD – He’ll go few frames and it’s the Dodgers.
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)
Why is it that Cole can get the AGA tag against the Nationals, when all the others (that I remember) that gained it this year had to face off against a decent offense first?