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: 84-70
My pick yesterday: Simeon Woods Richardson @ TBR – l
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 85-69
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Zack Littell vs. MIN – L
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.
Tuesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Chris Sale vs. COL – Aces gonna ace.
Paul Skenes @ CHC – Aces gonna ace.
Luis Castillo @ OAK – Aces gonna ace.
Justin Steele vs. PIT – Obiviously.
Sonny Gray @ MIL – Gray strikeouts out too many to deny this.
Probably Starts
Jeffrey Springs vs. MIN – I’m all for it, though I understand hesitation if Springs’ changeup isn’t there.
Ryne Nelson @ SFG – The four-seamer is elite and Nelson has cutters or sliders working just enough each time out to complement it. In addition, the Giants do little to instill fear.
Carlos Rodón @ TEX – Rodón hasn’t been as consistent as we want. It’s frustration and we’re still rolling him out there.
Tanner Bibee @ KCR – He has Cherry Bomb tendencies and they could appear in this one against a decent offense.
Kutter Crawford @ NYM – Kutter has been leaning on his namesake and this matchup should work out.
David Festa @ TBR – I love his slider affinity in his last outing and the Rays are a lovely stream.
David Peterson vs. BOS – He’s rolling despite many signs that it’ll end at some point. Vargas Rule all day.
Cade Povich vs. CHW – Povich gets the White Sox in a lovely Win chance. Sidenote: WATCH THIS GAME ON MASN! Alex Fast is going to be a color commentator for the entire game in the Baltimore broadcast booth. It’s AWESOME.
Questionable Starts
Chris Bassitt vs. PHI – You generally just lock in Bassitt and this is no different. I get those who want to sit out this early in the week, though.
Walker Buehler @ LAA – It’s the Angels and I don’t actually dislike Buehler’s approach last time – he actually had a gameplan! It can work and I want to believe all he needs is more time.
Patrick Corbin @ MIA – It’s the one time I’ve had Corbin in the Third Tier this year and it’s after two starts of harder cutters that returned success. Now it’s a deliocus matchup and what the h*ck, LET’S DO THIS.
Brady Singer vs. CLE – He’s a Cherry Bomb. Always has been.
Aaron Civale vs. STL – Civale’s breakers aren’t there yet and I’m worried he’ll stumble even after his great line in his last outing.
Andrew Heaney vs. NYY – It’s the Yankees and Heaney is more volatile than we want him to be.
Do Not Starts
J.T. Ginn vs. SEA – There’s some hope here for Ginn who is able to go sinker/slider, but he was limited to just 67 pitches last time and the ceiling isn’t high enough.
Kyle Harrison vs. ARI – There’s always some chance with Harrison for strikeouts, but it’s just not worth it.
Max Meyer vs. WSN – Meyer’s slider was better last time and it’s still not enough.
Tyler Phillips @ TOR – Phillips has had moments of six quality frames. The Shag Rug is far too scary.
Reid Detmers vs. LAD – Oh snap! He’s back! And is being handed the Dodgers as a cruel, cruel curl of the monkey paw.
Nick Nastrini @ BAL – Nastrini was able to throw more four-seamer strikes in his last start, but it’s the Orioles and it’s too early to chase one single game. Sidenote: WATCH THIS GAME ON MASN! Alex Fast is going to be a color commentator for the entire game in the Baltimore broadcast booth. It’s AWESOME.
Kyle Freeland @ ATL – COL story, bro.
UPDATE: Steven Matz @ MIL – It’s a Still ILL and I wouldn’t touch Matz until he shows us something worthwhile.
UPDATE: Kyle Hendricks vs. PIT – I know it’s the Pirates, but it’s Hendricks, who likely isn’t stretched out as he takes over for a hurt Justin Steele.
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.
Wednesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Shota Imanaga vs. PIT – Aces gonna ace.
George Kirby @ OAK – Are you good? Seriously, we need ya.
Sonny Gray @ MIL – Gray strikeouts out too many to deny this.
Probably Starts
Spencer Arrighetti @ CIN – He’s been on such a run that I don’t think you’re benching him, even in Cin City.
Seth Lugo vs. CLE – Lugo came through in a big way against the Astros and it’s enough to feel confident against the Guardians.
Cristopher Sánchez @ TOR – That Jays lineup isn’t scary.
Zac Gallen @ SFG – Gallen is a in a weird place, fortunately he gets the Giants.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. NYY – Eovaldi is looking sharp, I just wish it weren’t the Yankees.
Tanner Houck @ NYM – Houck’s results have been great save for one massive clunker, but the skills are questionable. I think he’s more precarious than the last month would suggest.
Bowden Francis vs. PHI – I get it. He’s been unreal so how could I rank him so low? Because this is the first legit offense he’s facing and I don’t buy his four-seamer/splitter combo.
Albert Suárez vs. CHW – It’s a great Win chance and a clear stream if you still can.
Questionable Starts
Ben Lively @ KCR – He’s a Vargas Rule who has shown cracks in the armor.
Marcus Stroman @ TEX – Stroman is a QS/Win chance arm without a high ceiling.
Charlie Morton vs. COL – He’s a Cherry Bomb but gets the gift of Rockie Road.
JP Sears vs. SEA – Sears’ second half has been much improved, but I still classify him as a Cherry Bomb with his four-seamer chaos + unreliable changeup.
Tylor Megill vs. BOS – It’s a good matchup and Megill was able to keep his secondaries low in his last outing.
Bobby Miller @ LAA – Who knows, y’all. I hope we get the slider cooking with high four-seamers. Please.
Yu Darvish vs. DET – Wait, HE’S BACK! And we have no idea how long he’ll go or how he’s feeling.
Louie Varland @ TBR – It’s a solid matchup where his four-seamer will play up effectively as The Trop adds 1-2 inches of vert. I wonder if he can take advantage.
MacKenzie Gore @ MIA – He’s done well in two straight, including sitting 96/97 mph against the Yankees. Maybe it’s time to jump back in for just one game and go from there?
Colin Rea vs. STL – It’s a dart throw, but the Cardinals aren’t the best offense and Rea has made it through 5/6 frames without the best stuff.
Do Not Starts
Hayden Birdsong vs. ARI – I don’t trust the guy at all.
Valente Bellozo vs. WSN – His stuff is mid and he needs the great grace of Koufax with pristine command.
Domingo Germán @ CHC – Ehhhh, I don’t like the guy at all.
Keider Montero @ SDP – Montero doesn’t do a whole lot and the Padres are a strong offense.
Jonathan Cannon @ BAL – If Cannon can find a rhythm and not let it up, he could find six frames. The odds of an unproductive start are very high.
Tyler Alexander vs. MIN – How long will he go? Does T-Lex have any meat on his bones?
Bradley Blalock @ ATL – At least it’s not in Coors?
Griffin Canning vs. LAD – Oh no.
Nick Martinez vs. HOU – OH NO.
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)