Ranking pitchers is inherently difficult because they always seem to be just one twinge away from a serious injury. We’ve already seen several important starters – most recently Kodai Senga and Lucas Giolito – come down with injuries this spring, leaving their return dates uncertain.
While availability is always the best ability, overpowering stuff has to be a close second. That’s why the Braves’ Spencer Strider tops this year’s list. There’s a little extra distance between him and the rest of the National League after the Brewers traded Corbin Burnes, but fantasy managers can still be happy with workhorses Zack Wheeler, Zac Gallen, Aaron Nola or Logan Webb heading their staffs.
The Dodgers have a pair of wild cards in Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with youngster Bobby Miller a potential breakout this season. Even with ace Sandy Alcantara out for the season, the Marlins can still trot out Jesus Luzardo and Eury Perez as potential SP1 candidates. Glasnow, Michael King and Eduardo Rodriguez are among the top offseason arrivals from the AL.
Speaking of the American League, Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole heads a deep group of impact starters with 200-strikeout potential. Toronto’s Kevin Gausman led the league a year ago with 237 whiffs, with Burnes, Pablo Lopez, Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez also reaching the 200-K mark.
As for who could take the next step this season, Tarik Skubal, Grayson Rodriguez and Cole Ragans look like the top candidates. And there are a number of potential injury stashes in the AL with Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, John Means, Max Scherzer, Jeffrey Springs and Jacob deGrom targeting mid- to late-season returns.
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2024 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings
Spencer Strider, Braves NL1
Gerrit Cole, Yankees AL1
Corbin Burnes, Orioles AL2
Zack Wheeler, Phillies NL2
Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays AL3
Luis Castillo, Mariners AL4
George Kirby, Mariners AL5
Pablo Lopez, Twins AL6
Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers NL3
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers NL4
Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks NL5
Aaron Nola, Phillies NL6
Logan Webb, Giants NL7
Max Fried, Braves NL8
Blake Snell, free agent
Freddy Peralta, Brewers NL9
Logan Gilbert, Mariners AL7
Jesus Luzardo, Marlins NL10
Framber Valdez, Astros AL8
Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles AL9
Tarik Skubal, Tigers AL10
Bobby Miller, Dodgers NL11
Eury Perez, Marlins NL12
Sonny Gray, Cardinals NL13
Joe Musgrove, Padres NL14
Dylan Cease, White Sox AL11
Tanner Bibee, Guardians AL12
Joe Ryan, Twins AL13
Zach Eflin, Rays AL14
Cole Ragans, Royals AL15
Justin Steele, Cubs NL15
Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays AL16
Jordan Montgomery, free agent
Michael King, Padres NL16
Chris Sale, Braves NL17
Hunter Greene, Reds NL18
Jose Berrios, Blue Jays AL17
Justin Verlander, Astros AL18
Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks NL19
Mitch Keller, Pirates NL20
Bailey Ober, Twins AL19
Yu Darvish, Padres NL21
Braxton Garrett, Marlins NL22
Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks NL23
Walker Buehler, Dodgers NL24
Carlos Rodon, Yankees AL20
Shane Bieber, Guardians AL21
Cristian Javier, Astros AL22
Gavin Williams, Guardians AL23
Hunter Brown, Astros AL24
Nick Pivetta, Red Sox AL25
Aaron Civale, Rays AL26
Shane Baz, Rays AL27
Bryce Miller, Marines AL28
Bryan Woo, Mariners AL29
Brayan Bello, Red Sox AL30
Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks NL25
Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers AL31
Shota Imanaga, Cubs NL26
Ryan Pepiot, Rays AL32
Kodai Senga, Mets NL27
Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies NL28
Kyle Bradish, Orioles AL33
Kutter Crawford, Red Sox AL34
Charlie Morton, Braves NL29
Kenta Maeda, Tigers AL35
Michael Wacha, Royals AL36
Nestor Cortes, Yankees AL37
Seth Lugo, Royals AL38
John Means, Orioles AL39
Andrew Abbott, Reds NL30
Max Scherzer, Rangers AL40
Marcus Stroman, Yankees AL41
Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays AL42
Triston McKenzie, Guardians AL43
Taj Bradley, Rays AL44
Edward Cabrera, Marlins NL31
Reid Detmers, Angels AL45
Nick Lodolo, Reds NL32
Reese Olson, Tigers AL46
Emmett Sheehan, Dodgers NL33
Griffin Canning, Angels AL47
MacKenzie Gore, Nationals NL34
Kyle Harrison, Giants NL35
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers NL36
Luis Severino, Mets NL37
Garrett Whitlock, Red Sox AL48
Jon Gray, Rangers AL49
Sean Manaea, Mets NL38
Dean Kremer, Orioles AL50
Lance Lynn, Cardinals NL39
Jameson Taillon, Cubs NL40
James Paxton, Dodgers NL41
Louie Varland, MIn AL51
Casey Mize, Tigers AL52
Trevor Rogers, Marlins NL42
Chris Paddack, Twins AL53
Chase Silseth, Angels AL54
Dane Dunning, Rangers AL55
Tyler Wells, Orioles AL56