Skip to main content

Top 50 Starting Pitcher Draft Expert Rankings (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

Top 50 Starting Pitcher Draft Expert Rankings (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

It can be helpful to get an early sense of where the experts stand in terms of initial fantasy baseball draft rankings. We’ll have you covered as we approach the spring and new season, but for now let’s take a look at 2024 fantasy baseball rankings.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Rank Player Team Overall Best Worst Avg Std Dev ADP vs. ADP
1 Spencer Strider ATL 10 1 2 1.1 0.3 9 -1
2 Corbin Burnes BAL 20 2 8 3.1 1.2 20
3 Zack Wheeler PHI 24 2 7 3.8 0.9 26 2
4 Luis Castillo SEA 30 3 10 5.7 1.7 32 2
5 Pablo Lopez MIN 34 5 12 7.4 1.5 39 5
6 George Kirby SEA 38 4 20 7.8 2.8 41 3
7 Kevin Gausman TOR 37 3 17 8.1 3.2 31 -6
8 Zac Gallen ARI 40 5 22 9 2.9 38 -2
9 Yoshinobu Yamamoto LAD 41 3 18 10.8 3.6 34 -7
10 Logan Webb SF 45 7 16 12 2 47 2
11 Tarik Skubal DET 43 5 19 12.1 2.6 46 3
12 Tyler Glasnow LAD 44 2 29 12.3 3.5 43 -1
13 Aaron Nola PHI 47 4 28 13.8 3.4 48 1
14 Framber Valdez HOU 57 7 25 14.8 4 55 -2
15 Freddy Peralta MIL 50 8 22 14.8 2.4 58 8
16 Max Fried ATL 55 6 24 15.4 2.9 49 -6
17 Logan Gilbert SEA 66 8 23 18.4 2.1 67 1
18 Grayson Rodriguez BAL 67 11 34 19.6 3.4 68 1
19 Zach Eflin TB 69 11 30 20 3.5 78 9
20 Blake Snell 75 11 30 21.7 4.3 66 -9
21 Bobby Miller LAD 77 13 34 22.1 4 76 -1
22 Jesus Luzardo MIA 78 11 27 22.6 2.7 80 2
23 Joe Ryan MIN 86 17 34 25.3 3.7 87 1
24 Justin Steele CHC 88 16 33 25.4 3.3 90 2
25 Cole Ragans KC 93 13 47 26.9 7.8 96 3
26 Joe Musgrove SD 92 17 43 26.9 4.1 95 3
27 Dylan Cease SD 101 22 53 28.7 4.4 94 -7
28 Tanner Bibee CLE 105 19 38 29.6 3.5 105
29 Eury Perez MIA 115 13 82 31.9 16.8 84 -31
30 Sonny Gray STL 118 25 45 32.9 4.2 118
31 Chris Bassitt TOR 122 25 48 34.2 4.6 119 -3
32 Chris Sale ATL 128 23 61 36.3 7.9 130 2
33 Gerrit Cole NYY 139 2 87 36.6 20.3 37 -102
34 Bailey Ober MIN 133 28 50 36.9 5.8 149 16
35 Shane Bieber CLE 137 25 58 38.1 5.8 127 -10
36 Hunter Greene CIN 140 28 50 38.3 5.4 122 -18
37 Michael King SD 142 27 83 39 10.8 142
38 Merrill Kelly ARI 143 26 56 39.3 5.7 129 -14
39 Jordan Montgomery 152 22 74 40.7 6.5 158 6
40 Justin Verlander HOU 151 24 66 40.8 8.5 131 -20
41 Jose Berrios TOR 162 31 59 42.4 6.6 156 -6
42 Carlos Rodon NYY 165 23 72 42.7 7.7 166 1
43 Mitch Keller PIT 160 27 70 43.1 8.1 147 -13
44 Hunter Brown HOU 171 31 62 44.7 5.9 173 2
45 Yu Darvish SD 175 33 64 46.2 6.2 174 -1
46 Cristian Javier HOU 174 33 60 46.8 6.8 163 -11
47 Walker Buehler LAD 173 28 79 47.2 9.3 151 -22
48 Eduardo Rodriguez ARI 180 32 67 48.4 5.6 180
49 Bryce Miller SEA 183 32 69 51 7.8 184 1
50 Bryan Woo SEA 190 33 71 51.9 7.2 186 -4


What is Fantasy Baseball?

Fantasy baseball is an online game where participants act as managers of virtual baseball teams based on real-life Major League Baseball (MLB) players. The performance of these players in actual games determines the results in the fantasy league. It’s a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck, akin to the real-world decisions team managers must make.

Basic Strategy for Fantasy Baseball Success

1. Understand Your League’s Format and Scoring

Before drafting your team, it’s essential to understand the scoring system and rules of your specific league, as this will influence your drafting and management strategy. Knowing whether you’re in a points-based, category-based, or head-to-head league will guide you in selecting players whose strengths align with the scoring system.

2. Drafting Your Team Wisely

A solid draft is the foundation of a successful season. Here are a few tips for the drafting phase:

  • Balanced Team: Ensure you have a balanced team with a mix of power hitters, average hitters, speedsters, starting pitchers, and relievers.
  • Position Scarcity: Be aware of the depth of talent at each position. Some positions, like shortstop, may have fewer high-quality players, making it beneficial to draft a top player at that position early.
  • High-Floor Players: Early in the draft, focus on players with a proven track record of consistency.
  • Upside Picks: In the later rounds, look for “upside” players. These are athletes who have the potential to outperform their draft position.

3. In-Season Management

  • Stay Active: Constantly look for ways to improve your team through waivers, trades, and free-agent pickups.
  • Mind the Matchups: Pay attention to player matchups, platoon splits, and ballparks. Starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly park, for example, can be risky.
  • Injury Management: Stay on top of player injuries and have backups ready for your key players.

Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice


Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

More Articles

Fantasy Baseball Watchlist: Tony Gonsolin, Kyle Wright, Jordan Hicks

Fantasy Baseball Watchlist: Tony Gonsolin, Kyle Wright, Jordan Hicks

fp-headshot by Ben Rosener | 4 min read
Video: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Dynasty Risers & Fallers)

Video: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Dynasty Risers & Fallers)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 1 min read
Video: 11 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings Risers (2025)

Video: 11 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings Risers (2025)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 2 min read
Video: Fantasy Baseball MLB Free Agency Preview (2025)

Video: Fantasy Baseball MLB Free Agency Preview (2025)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 2 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

2 min read

Fantasy Baseball Watchlist: Tony Gonsolin, Kyle Wright, Jordan Hicks

Next Up - Fantasy Baseball Watchlist: Tony Gonsolin, Kyle Wright, Jordan Hicks

Next Article