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.
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: 69-59
My pick yesterday: Will Warren vs. LAA – L
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 73-55
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Will Warren vs. LAA – L
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
Hunter Greene @ MIA – Aces gonna ace. This is Greene looking around the rest of the Auto Start tier today.
Probably Starts
Nestor Cortes vs. LAA – Cortes was pushed to Thursday with the rainout and should have an easy time against the Angels for a cheap Win.
Bryan Woo vs. DET – Woo went 90+ pitches last time out and all I want is for him to do it again.
Shane Baz @ STL – Baz’s slider was much improved last time out, allowing the curve to do less of the heavy lifting. Having two breakers that can show up each day gives me more confidence than before.
Kyle Gibson vs. TBR – He’s a Toby facing the lowly Rays.
Questionable Starts
DJ Herz vs. SFG – Herz is a Cherry Bomb, though the Giants certainly open up the opportunity for a high strikeout game.
Randy Vasquez @ PIT – Vásquez’s last outing was rough…against a tough squad. This is the Pirates and could be far better as the ratio fiend of July.
Kyle Harrison @ WSN – Harrison just got rocked by Cincinnati, but at least this is the Nationals. He’s a coin-flip, though I’d slightly prefer the southpaw on the other side. Herz’s heater and changeup have had a marginally better track record.
Dean Kremer @ TOR – You really don’t know what you’re gonna get from Kremer, but at least the Jays aren’t the toughest squad around.
Kevin Gausman vs. BAL – Uggggh. These Questionable Start are really questionable today. Does Gausman have his splitter working enough? I personally don’t think so.
Tyler Anderson @ NYY – Anderson has been gold this year, but it’s the Yankees.
Charlie Morton vs. MIL – You never know with Morton.
Luis Ortiz vs. SDP – I hate the matchup, but there has only been one stumble from Ortiz – last week. He’s taken down tough squads before.
Do Not Starts
Kenta Maeda @ SEA – How long is Maeda going to go? Will it be worth it? But it’s Seattle! BUT IT’S MAEDA.
David Peterson @ COL – It’s Coors and I don’t love Peterson’s stuff.
Frankie Montas @ ATL – Atlanta isn’t the elite offense of old and I wonder if Montas has improved enough for the Brewers. I don’t expect adrenaline-fueled velocity to stay elevated after sitting nearly two ticks up in his Milwaukee debut.
Jordan Montgomery vs. PHI – The Bear hasn’t been himself in a while. Well, save for the three innings of good fortune prior to rain ousting him in his last start. You can’t lean into that.
Austin Gomber vs. NYM – Maybe Gomber is his best self here. Doubtful.
Kolby Allard @ ARI – Oh Dralla, maybe you can siphon a Win with an opener?
Kyle Tyler vs. CIN – The matchup isn’t the worst, but Tyler doesn’t bring enough to the table.
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 @ ARI – Aces gonna ace.
Jack Flaherty vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.
Robbie Ray vs. DET – The next three guys are acting like aces and you gotta start them all. As for Ray, he’s been absurd for two games, sandwiching a dud. Small samples are weird, I’m leaning that the dud was just him shaking off rust. Gotta showcase the rebound start to show that you can roll with the punches moving forward, right?
Bailey Ober vs. CLE – He’s been so dang good.
Ronel Blanco @ BOS – Blanco’s slider is a phenomenal foundation and even Fenway isn’t holding me back.
Garrett Crochet vs. CHC – Should he be in the top tier given his questionable pitch counts? If you’re in a max starts league, probably not as it’s possible he’s limited to roughly 70 pitches again (I’m begging you Chicago, DON’T). I expect his innings to be of quality, though, which makes this a clear scenario to start Crochet if you don’t have a start limit. Why turn down the potential ceiling of bliss if the floor isn’t poor?
Probably Starts
Zach Eflin @ TBR – It’s the Rays, it’s a great Win chance, and Eflin is a super safe play…likely without a ton of strikeouts. #RevengeGameAlert
Carlos Rodón vs. TEX – He’s been pitching far better with his secondaries + his heater sat 96/97 mph last time out. It’s game time. Too bad it’s against the Rangers, though.
Bryce Miller vs. NYM – He’s far better at home (Eno on The Craft outlined how the T-Mobile park elevates strikeout rates massively + Miller is one of the more extreme Home/Road split guys in baseball) and the Mets are a weird offense.
Jose Quintana @ SEA – It’s in Seattle + Quintana is on a solid command run.
Martín Pérez @ MIA – Pérez is cooking for a winning club and gets the Marlins. Awww yeah.
Spencer Schwellenbach @ COL – I know it’s Coors, but he already has low iVB on his heater. Let the man cook.
Jameson Taillon @ CHW – He’s a Toby against the CrySox. That works.
Mitchell Parker vs. LAA – He’s a Toby against a poor club.
José Soriano @ WSN – Soriano has more volatility than the other guys here, but a touch more upside than some of the Toby types. Take your pick, I also see the Nationals as a slightly dangerous crew, too.
Michael Lorenzen vs. STL – Lorenzen is generally safe with a slightly worse matchup than the others and a touch less upside.
Questionable Starts
José Berríos vs. OAK – I dunno, do what you want with Berríos.
Tanner Houck vs. HOU – Houck has been struggling and his gauntlet of a schedule plods along. I know it sounds wild, but I dropped Houck for a bat in a league where I had too much pitching. Consider it.
Edward Cabrera vs. SDP – Cabrera has the tools to dominate if he simply throws enough strikes, regardless of his opponent. Oh, AND WHERE IS THE SLIDER?!
Aaron Civale vs. CIN – Will he have the cutter and breakers working? At least it’s the Reds.
Mitch Spence @ TOR – He could go Dancing With The Disco with cutters and sliders, shrug, sip his drink, and move on with five frames of a 2 ER. Yay.
Carson Spiers @ MIL – He’s a command guy and maybe this works out.
Do Not Starts
Louie Varland vs. CLE – It’s a doubleheader and Varland could be the extra man for the Twins. He could also find himself in a steady rotation spot with Joe Ryan likely missing time with a triceps injury. Watch from afar.
Mitch Keller @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers.
Ryne Nelson vs. PHI – It’s the Phillies. He could sneak by with his four-seamer in the upper third and find outs as he has many times over the summer, but you can’t risk it.
Miles Mikolas @ KCR – The Royals are kinda a good offense at home and Mikolas is so dang boring.
Brant Hurter @ SFG – He made his MLB debut in relief over the weekend and I’m not interested in this 93 mph sinker/sweeper southpaw.
Cody Bradford @ NYY – He’s back in the rotation and gets the Yankees. Oh dear.
Alex Cobb @ MIN – This may finally be the season debut of Cobb, marking a very obvious Still ILL.
Triston McKenzie @ MIN – McKenzie could be the extra man for the double-header. It could also be Joey Cantillo. Either way, I’m not interested – Triston hasn’t been killing it in Triple-A.
Tyler Alexander vs. BAL – It’s possible this is Ryan Pepiot instead, though the last report suggests a Sim Game is next before he returns to the rotation. I’m guessing T-Lex gets the pearl, possibly in a bullpen game with an Opener ahead of him. I wouldn’t touch it.
Tanner Gordon vs. ATL – Inside Coors, too. Yikes.
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)