Starting Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 6/1 & 6/2 | Pitcher List

Here are today and tomorrow’s daily SP Streamer rankings for fantasy baseball.

Every day of the 2024 baseball season, I’ll be looking at today 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: 38-27

My pick yesterday: José Soriano vs. SEA – L

PL Bot’s 2024 Streamer Record: 36-29

PL Bot’s Pick yesterday: José Soriano vs. SEA – 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

Chris Sale vs. OAK – Aces gonna ace.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. COL – Aces gonna ace.

Kyle Bradish vs. TBR – Aces gonna ace.

Ranger Suárez vs. STL – He’s on the most ridiculous run and you have to love it.

Joe Ryan @ HOU – Aces gonna ace.

Sonny Gray @ PHI – Aces gonna ace.

Justin Steele vs. CIN – His command has been there for two starts now. Make it a third and a believer in us all.

Garrett Crochet @ MIL – Crochet had went through three starts of adversity and has come out the other side looking like a stud.

Yusei Kikuchi vs. PIT – Kikuchi’s velocity was down last time out, while his changeup had to step up as his slider wasn’t working (again). However, the early 11:35am start time may have been the largest factor and this is the Pirates.

Logan Webb vs. NYY – Webb is solid, but the Yankees are red hot as an offense.

Framber Valdez vs. MIN – You never know what you’re gonna get with Valdez, but we all know you’re starting the man.

Probably Starts

Bryce Miller vs. LAA – I question Miller’s overall arsenal, but it’s the Angels.

Reese Olson @ BOS – He’s been hot Hot HOT.

Hunter Greene @ CHC – Greene’s heater is far better this year, though I worry about his home run rate inflating over time + the Cubs can be a scary offense.

Joe Musgrove @ KCR – Musgrove had a great rebound against the Yankees and we’re hoping for another step forward against the Royals.

Ben Lively vs. WSN – No longer a streamer (24% rostered!) as Lively has been cruising with higher heaters against poor lineups.

Robert Gasser vs. CHW – We saw a much better version of Gasser in his last outing and now he gets the gift of the CrySox.

Questionable Starts

Mitch Keller @ TOR – It’s a Vargas Rule for Keller as he’s in one of his patented command rhythms.

Taj Bradley @ BAL – Bradley has come out of the gate on fire, though this is Baltimore and his overall command is still a glaring flaw.

Reid Detmers @ SEA – Detmers has allowed at least 3 ER in each of his last seven starts, but this is the Mariners and Detmers still carries a 26% strikeout rate.

Michael Lorenzen @ MIA – It looks great on paper, but Lorenzen’s ceiling isn’t as high as Tier 2 + it’s not guarantee he comes through for a QS, let alone a Win.

Cooper Criswell vs. DET – He went 1-for-2 against the Rays and generally pitched similarly in both. Now against the Tigers, I think his brand of low changeups, sinkers, and sweepers, paired with high cutters can work for another five frames.

Cal Quantrill @ LAD – It’s the Dodgers and this looks like madness. Then you remember that The UnQuantrillfiable has excelled in seven of his last eight starts, on the back of a legit splitter he’s featuring nearly 40% of the time during this stretch. Vargas Rule BAYBEEEE.

Mitchell Parker @ CLE – Parker showed up with a legit slider against Atlanta (8/22 whiffs!) and there’s a part of me that wants to test the waters here in case Parker still has the breaker cooking. If he does, it makes for a true four-pitch mix that could speak sustainability through the summer.

Alec Marsh vs. SDP – Marsh finds whiffs based on four-seamer location and occasional filth from his breakers. There’s a chance he fans a batter per inning once again.

Sean Manaea vs. ARI – It’s all kinds of boring with high potential of five or fewer frames without production.

Ryan Weathers vs. TEX – Weathers has three great outings behind him in a debatable Vargas Rule, but this is Texas. I’m not sure he has it in him.

Do Not Starts

UPDATE: Slade Cecconi @ NYM – He’s starting instead of Walston and while I like him slightly more, I wouldn’t be chasing it unless I were desperate.

UPDATE: Randy Vasquez @ KCR – He’s stepping in for Musgrove and I have no interest here.

Blake Walston @ NYM – Nah, this ain’t what you’re looking for.

Cody Poteet @ SFG – He’s starting In Schmidt’s place and will come off the IL after enduring a blister. If he had been pitching regularly, I’d put him higher for a possible Win chance, but I’m expecting a limited pitch count.

Aaron Brooks @ ATL – Brooks? Nah, stick to the streams you’re used to.

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

Luis Castillo vs. LAA – Aces gonna ace.

Freddy Peralta vs. CHW – Aces gonna ace.

Cole Ragans vs. SDP – Aces gonna ace.

Nestor Cortes @ SFG – It’s a great matchup and Cortes has been solid as a rock.

Probably Starts

Chris Bassitt vs. PIT – Nearly worthy of Tier 1 in this matchup as Bassitt is a set-and-forget against the Pirates.

Brayan Bello vs. DET – Bello is coming into his own with a proper three pitch mix and now get the Tigers.

Michael King @ KCR – He’s looking like a strong Holly and the Royals don’t scare me.

Gavin Stone vs. COL – Who doesn’t like a great Win chance?

Nick Lodolo @ CHC – It’s not the ideal matchup, but Lodolo’s strikeout ability is worth it here.

Brandon Pfaadt @ NYM – It’s a Toby with some strikeout potential in a great matchup.

Griffin Canning @ SEA – Canning has strikeout ability and the Mariners roll over in spades.

Cole Irvin vs. TBR – Irvin is a Toby with a good Win chance.

Ben Brown vs. CIN – I’m a little worried he’ll be held back a bit after tossing 90 pitches last time out + it’s just a two pitch mix that shouldn’t return 10 strikeouts regularly. I made a video on his last outing showcasing why I don’t trust Ben Brown long term.

Andrew Heaney @ MIA – He tossed 41 pitches on the 28th and I think the Rangers will let him go 80+ here in a solid matchup.

Questionable Starts

Tylor Megill vs. ARI – I loved his four-seamer and cutter/slider additions last time out. I’m still unconvinced he can sustain it over many starts, but you may want to give it a whirl here and hope the trend continues.

Charlie Morton vs. OAK – He’s a pure Cherry Bomb, even against Oakland.

Hunter Brown vs. MIN – I’m not ready to trust Hunter quite yet. Still polish left to add across the board.

Jake Irvin @ CLE – He’s been on a ridiculous tear, with his last start featuring precise four-seamers upstairs and curveballs galore in the zone. It doesn’t seem legit to me, but if you want to Vargas Rule, go ahead.

Zack Littell @ BAL – It’s the Orioles, though Littell did feature his best command of the year in his last start.

Blake Snell vs. NYY – Snell isn’t here yet, but maybe it’s this start? …against the Yankees?

Taijuan Walker vs. STL – Walker is a Win chance arm and nothing more.

Carlos Carrasco vs. WSN – It’s a good matchup and he’ll be allowed to go six innings.

Simeon Woods Richardson @ HOU – He went the whole Anthony DeSclafani route last time with sliders all over the zone and four-seamers as mix-up pitches. I wonder if that’s sustainable, especially against the Astros.

Casey Mize @ BOS – He’s taken a step back the last few weeks and I don’t trust it’ll return here.

Do Not Starts

Nick Nastrini @ MIL – The talent is in there, but we haven’t seen him come into form yet.

Quinn Priester @ TOR – Maybe his sliders and curves are well spotted this time around?

Mitch Spence @ ATL – His cutter and slider are intriguing, but rely too much on BABIP to get by.

Austin Gomber @ LAD – It was a Vargas Rule, but his elbow has been bothering him + it’s the Dodgers.

Lance Lynn @ PHI – He’s the only one who puts an L in Win.

Trevor Rogers vs. TEX – Absolutely not.

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)