Here are today’s and tomorrow’s and Sunday’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: 85-72
My pick yesterday: Joey Estes vs. SEA – L
PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 87-70
PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: Bailey Falter vs. WSN – L
Want PL Bot’s pick today? Sign up for PL Pro here.
My streaming pick of the day is Underlined and Italicized.
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Zack Wheeler @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Tarik Skubal @ OAK – Aces gonna ace.
Michael King vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Max Fried vs. TOR – He’s an ace, right? Probably. Just get the changeup back please.
Cole Ragans vs. MIN – Aces gonna ace.
Framber Valdez vs. ARI – He’s sure looking like an ace with his curve these days.
Nick Pivetta vs. CHW – The White Sox make guys like Pivetta look like aces.
Probably Starts
Bryce Miller @ STL – It’s away from Seattle and Bryce isn’t a finished product yet.
Kevin Gausman @ ATL – Gausman doesn’t get splitter whiffs and it’s annoying. He’s just a Holly and Atlanta isn’t the scariest.
Questionable Starts
Zebby Matthews @ KCR – I know we’re all terrified after the Jays messed him up. The Royals are without Vinnie and he’s so much more than what we saw last time out.
Luis L. Ortiz vs. WSN – This was such a tough rank today with multiple streaming options to choose from. Ortiz looks like the safest in a good matchup, giving him the nod. However, this isn’t your strikeout play.
DJ Herz @ PIT – Herz is the guy to target if you’re chasing punchouts. The question is if his changeup will be there or not.
Frankie Montas vs. COL – The heater is comfortably 96/97 mph these days with a lean toward BSB and more cutters. That should be enough for Rockie Road, except that it’s Montas. You never really know.
Mitch Spence vs. DET – I dig Spence’s feel for his cutter and slider with sinkers mixed in well and the Tigers aren’t a team to fear. The ceiling seems capped, though the Rays certainly gave us a glimpse of Spence’s peak.
Erick Fedde vs. SEA – Fedde is a Toby who has been worse with the Cardinals, having him throw more four-seamers that are simply not good. However, it’s the Mariners. Why didn’t you lead with that? It’s right there!
Jose Quintana vs. CIN – I’m not as confident in Quintana’s command as I was about a month ago, but this is a lovely matchup at home.
Shane Baz @ BAL – It’s the Orioles, though I do like Baz’s stuff. I see this as a bit of a grind, limiting the ceiling.
Brandon Pfaadt @ HOU – Pfaadt fanned ten Dodgers batters…with poor ratios. Maybe he’s getting into rhythm at the right time?
Luis Gil @ CHC – This is a Still ILL and I’m unsure how long Gil goes. The Cubs are showing their teeth as well and I’d rather not chance this. Leave him on the IL for this start if you can.
UPDATE: Dean Kremer vs. TBR – Looks like he’s okay from the welt on his hand after his last start. I wonder how long he’ll go, if it’ll impede his ability, and if his innate volatility is kept in check. On the other hand, it’s a good Win chance against a poor offense in Waltimore.
Edward Cabrera vs. PHI – He’s a Cherry Bomb who is more opponent-agnostic than most.
Matthew Boyd @ LAD – If he has the BSB working like last time, this could still be worthwhile. I really don’t like the floor, though.
Landon Knack vs. CLE – Knack could steal a Win as we’ve seen him go Dancing With The Disco before across 5+ frames of production.
Do Not Starts
Brandon Williamson @ NYM – We saw 40% CSW cutters featured half the time in his first start back, but he tossed under 70 pitches and his changeup lagged behind. I need to see it in full for a start before trusting this.
Javier Assad vs. NYY – Maybe Assad has it in him. This is a ratio play against the powerful Yankee offense and that doesn’t seem like a good match.
Samuel Aldegheri @ TEX – He’s a Toby at best. This could be a sneaky AL-Only stream, but the risk isn’t worth the reward.
Mason Black @ SDP – Black was at his best in his last start, but this is the Padres. No thanks.
José Ureña (Opener) vs. LAA – He has the best matchup down here, but y’all know the phrase.
Cole Irvin vs. TBR – How long does he go? Can he take advantage of a start against the Rays and steal a Win?
Davis Martin @ BOS – It’s in Fenway, though that lineup isn’t so tough with Devers ailing and if Martin’s changeup + slider are cooking…
Ryan Feltner @ MIL – At least it’s not in Coors?
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.
Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Aaron Nola @ MIA – Aces gonna ace.
Dylan Cease vs. SFG – Aces gonna ace.
Zach Eflin vs. TBR – It’s such a good matchup.
Logan Gilbert @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Bailey Ober @ KCR – Aces gonna ace…even though Ober had two of his three blowups against the Royals. I know you’re scared, but small sample y’all. HE’S GOT THIS.
Sean Manaea vs. CIN – Manaea has been a stud and it’s the Reds on the road.
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. TOR – He didn’t get whiffs on his breakers last time, they should return here.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. ARI – The strikeouts are too much to resist.
Logan Webb @ SDP – He locked back into place last start. We’re doing it.
Probably Starts
José Berríos @ ATL – Berríos has found a groove and Atlanta isn’t a team to avoid.
Tobias Myers vs. COL – Myers gets Rockie Road. Be happy about that.
Gavin Stone vs. CLE – Stone stumbled last start and I’d expect the changeup to return.
Kyle Gibson vs. SEA – I debated heavily about Gibson vs. Parker vs. Heaney for one of my clubs. I went with Heaney (better to have a Sunday start as a backup) and Gibson over Parker due to a higher Win chance.
Mitchell Parker @ PIT – Parker against the Pirates is a Toby in a good matchup. This should be fine.
Questionable Starts
Ryan Pepiot @ BAL – Pepiot was off in his last start and now gets the Orioles. If he has his stuff working, this should still work out, but it’s a Cherry Bomb scenario.
Mitch Keller vs. WSN – He’s a Cherry Bomb regardless of team.
Osvaldo Bido vs. DET – This looks good on paper, though he just stumbled against the Mariners. That said, a two-run shot was the real difference there and the HR luck should be back to normal here.
Brant Hurter @ OAK – Hurter has been surprisingly helpful for fantasy and could be opened for again, allowing for yet another Win opportunity.
Tyler Anderson @ TEX – Anderson’s changeup isn’t steering the ship well in the second half. He needs more from him four-seamer and cutter, making me lean conservatively away from Anderson.
Garrett Crochet @ BOS – It’s gonna be four frames, probably. He could fan more than six in that time, though.
Jack Leiter vs. LAA – I think he pitched better against the Yankees and this could be the game that the slider complements the four-seamer properly for a strikeout explosion. Or he could labor through 4+ and bring pain once again. The heater can be so elite if it had a friend…
Do Not Starts
Clarke Schmidt @ CHC – It’s a Still ILL for Schmidt against a decent Cubs offense. Watch this one and if the pitch count is above 70, he may be a streaming option hosting Boston + @ Seattle after.
Eduardo Rodriguez @ HOU – It’s the Astros and Erod doesn’t have enough upside.
Cooper Criswell vs. CHW – Maybe they let him go five…? It’s likely to be a piggy-back start with Rich Hill or someone else.
Alex Cobb @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers, but at least Cobb got his splitter back last start. Here’s to hoping it’s still there.
Alec Marsh vs. MIN – Marsh doesn’t do enough – last start was more of a peak.
Jordan Wicks vs. NYY – Wicks isn’t electric yet and it’s the Yankees.
Darren McCaughan vs. PHI – Definitely not.
Jakob Junis @ NYM – How long will he even go?
Ty Blach @ MIL – Blach.
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.
Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Auto Starts
Chris Sale vs. TOR – Aces gonna ace.
Corbin Burnes vs. TBR – The new cutter is getting me hyped y’all.
Joe Musgrove vs. SFG – His hard slider is legit.
Jack Flaherty vs. CLE – Aces gonna ace…just get that slider back in full, alright?
Luis Castillo @ STL – Aces gonna ace.
Gerrit Cole @ CHC – Aces gonna ace. It’s the Cubs and I’m not sold he’s totally fixed without the slider demoralizing batters.
Freddy Peralta vs. COL – Professor Chaos has made regular appearances, but it’s Rockie Road.
Probably Starts
Brayan Bello vs. CHW – It’s the CrySox.
Jared Jones vs. WSN – Jones’ four-seamer and slider command isn’t where it was in April. But yeah, he’s dope and it’s the Nats.
Andrew Heaney vs. LAA – I’m a fan of this stream against the lowly Angels, despite Heaney’s volatility. He looked awesome last start with his curve and change, too.
Ryne Nelson @ HOU – Don’t question the heater, just roll with it, even against the Astros.
Luis Severino vs. CIN – Severino is in a good place with heaters and sweepers and it’s the Reds on the road.
Questionable Starts
Justin Verlander vs. ARI – Verlander isn’t as sharp as he used to be and the Sneks aren’t the easiest lineup.
Michael Wacha vs. MIN – Wacha has his changeup working, but the ceiling isn’t too high here.
J.T. Ginn vs. DET – Ginn is a sinker/slider arm who could find six innings out of nowhere against the lowly Tigers.
Patrick Corbin @ PIT – LET IT RIDE. The cutter is still harder and better and it’s the Pirates. Unreal.
Miles Mikolas vs. SEA – This is one of the rare matchups that seem okay for Mikolas. He’s an arm to consider in QS leagues.
Gavin Williams @ LAD – I’m in love with Williams’ four-seamer, the question is if the cutter or curve will step up against a tough squad.
Simeon Woods Richardson @ KCR – He’s not doing enough to warrant a pick up. If he has his slider and changeup feel or has his heater back to 94 mph, he could find 5+ frames.
Do Not Starts
Seth Johnson @ MIA – It’s an MLB debut for an over-the-top arm with good vert on his four-seamer (because he’s over-the-top = better spin efficiency = better vert) and a slider that falls underneath. Not elite, but it’s the Phillies and this could be a sneaky Win on Sunday. I just hate trusting MLB debuts as we don’t know anything about their command + managers are conservative with their innings.
Jameson Taillon vs. NYY – If Taillon’s back is all good and he has the same feel as last game, he could come through. I imagine that was a peak and I’d hate to risk a strike-thrower against the Yankees.
Ty Madden @ OAK – I don’t love Madden’s skill set, but he could squirm his way through 5-6 frames against Oakland.
Caden Dana @ TEX – Dana doesn’t do a whole lot and carries the Shag Rug like Madden.
Julian Aguiar @ NYM – He’s a sinkerballer who may find six frames with few strikeouts. At what cost?!
Kyle Harrison @ SDP – Harrison can’t be trusted and it’s the Padres. Lower velocity last time out, too.
Kyle Freeland @ MIL – At least it’s not in Coors? He did come through in his outing…
Zack Littell @ BAL – Even if he goes Dancing With The Disco, it likely won’t work out for Littell.
Yariel Rodríguez @ ATL – I’d be surprised if he finds five full frames.
Max Meyer vs. PHI – This hasn’t worked out yet, why would that change against the Phillies?
Chris Flexen @ BOS – Have you seen the beaches in Boston?! This isn’t being played on Cape Cod, sadly.
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)