Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings: Pitchers (2024)

The 2023 MLB season is in the books, but it’s never too early to look ahead to the upcoming campaign. While much of the MLB landscape is sure to change over the offseason, it can be helpful to get an early sense of where the experts stand in terms of initial fantasy baseball rankings. We’ll have you covered as we approach the spring and new season, but for now let’s take a look at early 2024 fantasy baseball rankings.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Rank Player Team Positions Overall Best Worst Avg Std Dev ADP vs. ADP
1 Spencer Strider ATL SP 14 1 3 1.1 0.3 13 -1
2 Gerrit Cole NYY SP 17 1 2 2 0 15 -2
3 Corbin Burnes MIL SP 25 1 5 3.3 0.5 20 -5
4 Zack Wheeler PHI SP 28 3 8 4.5 0.9 27 -1
5 Kevin Gausman TOR SP 30 3 8 5.4 1 31 1
6 Luis Castillo SEA SP 36 5 18 6.8 1.5 33 -3
7 George Kirby SEA SP 39 6 10 7.8 1.1 41 2
8 Pablo Lopez MIN SP 40 6 16 8.1 1.5 47 7
9 Zac Gallen ARI SP 42 3 23 9.3 2.8 37 -5
10 Tyler Glasnow LAD SP 46 3 35 13.6 5.4 54 8
11 Tarik Skubal DET SP 48 6 34 14.6 3.8 46 -2
12 Aaron Nola PHI SP 47 8 24 14.8 2.8 40 -7
13 Devin Williams MIL RP 55 10 75 15.4 5.1 38 -17
14 Yoshinobu Yamamoto LAD SP 54 5 39 16.3 5 136 82
15 Freddy Peralta MIL SP 57 12 27 17.4 3.5 67 10
16 Logan Webb SF SP 56 10 25 17.5 4.5 58 2
17 Max Fried ATL SP 58 11 28 17.7 3 50 -8
18 Framber Valdez HOU SP 60 9 29 17.9 2.2 53 -7
19 Emmanuel Clase CLE RP 64 11 76 19.3 5.7 42 -22
20 Josh Hader HOU RP 67 10 77 20.2 5.9 45 -22
21 Blake Snell SP 65 7 33 21 3.8 61 -4
22 Logan Gilbert SEA SP 70 11 36 21.8 3.5 68 -2
23 Kodai Senga NYM SP 68 12 37 22.5 4.5 75 7
24 Grayson Rodriguez BAL SP 73 18 45 25.2 4.2 93 20
25 Edwin Diaz NYM RP 92 10 104 27.7 21.1 65 -27
26 Jhoan Duran MIN RP 78 13 78 27.9 7.7 82 4
27 Eury Perez MIA SP 75 18 53 28.3 3.9 85 10
28 Zach Eflin TB SP 80 19 36 29.4 4.6 97 17
29 Bobby Miller LAD SP 84 21 47 30.4 6.2 81 -3
30 Jesus Luzardo MIA SP 85 25 38 32.3 3.2 86 1
31 Joe Ryan MIN SP 91 24 47 32.5 3.4 98 7
32 Kyle Bradish BAL SP 90 22 40 33.1 5.5 83 -7
33 Camilo Doval SF RP 89 16 79 33.4 14 64 -25
34 Jordan Romano TOR RP 97 25 80 33.7 7.1 70 -27
35 Raisel Iglesias ATL RP 96 17 83 33.8 7.5 78 -18
36 David Bednar PIT RP 94 23 82 34.6 7.7 80 -14
37 Joe Musgrove SD SP 104 9 50 37.4 4.8 94 -10
38 Justin Steele CHC SP 109 30 65 40.1 4.8 90 -19
39 Walker Buehler LAD SP 107 27 60 40.3 5.5 96 -11
40 Alexis Diaz CIN RP 110 19 84 41.5 10.4 91 -19
41 Justin Verlander HOU SP 112 22 54 42.9 6.7 95 -17
42 Sonny Gray STL SP 113 32 54 44.1 6.7 126 13
43 Tanner Bibee CLE SP 114 17 64 44.4 9.4 123 9
44 Dylan Cease CWS SP 116 26 61 45.4 7.6 84 -32
45 Paul Sewald ARI RP 118 35 86 46.4 10.1 112 -6
46 Ryan Helsley STL RP 117 38 70 46.6 9.2 106 -11
47 Andres Munoz SEA RP 129 31 85 48.2 10.6 132 3
48 Evan Phillips LAD RP 125 39 52 48.2 2.9 133 8
49 Cole Ragans KC SP,RP 130 34 59 49.2 6.5 99 -31
50 Pete Fairbanks TB RP 136 30 88 50.2 13.9 121 -15
51 Chris Bassitt TOR SP 138 35 67 53 5.9 135 -3
52 Clay Holmes NYY RP 143 43 62 53.8 3.5 122 -21
53 Jordan Montgomery SP 139 41 64 54.3 5.5 155 16
54 Hunter Greene CIN SP 147 38 86 55.8 6.3 141 -6
55 Shane Bieber CLE SP 151 42 80 59 10.1 125 -26
56 Merrill Kelly ARI SP 155 39 70 60.6 5.3 156 1
57 Mitch Keller PIT SP 160 33 69 61.1 7.3 178 18
58 Tanner Scott MIA RP 153 20 74 53 11.7 146 -7
59 Gavin Williams CLE SP 158 36 93 62 11.2 158
60 Chris Sale ATL SP 165 50 81 63.5 7.2 159 -6
61 Carlos Rodon NYY SP 169 43 83 64.6 5.9 157 -12
62 Kenley Jansen BOS RP 176 45 104 64.6 17.5 138 -38
63 Cristian Javier HOU SP 166 37 91 65.3 6.8 144 -22
64 Jose Berrios TOR SP 167 40 83 65.4 5.2 167
65 Hunter Brown HOU SP 173 45 73 65.9 6.4 187 14
66 Michael King SD SP,RP 184 43 110 66.2 16.1 148 -36
67 Bailey Ober MIN SP 178 44 81 67.2 8.7 186 8
68 Shane Baz TB SP 188 48 90 67.5 6.1 174 -14
69 Yu Darvish SD SP 185 47 82 70.6 8.2 173 -12
70 Craig Kimbrel BAL RP 196 43 85 63.9 11.6 161 -35
71 Eduardo Rodriguez ARI SP 193 51 85 71.5 10 195 2
72 Braxton Garrett MIA SP 195 38 86 71.6 10.9 193 -2
73 Bryan Woo SEA SP 211 49 92 73.1 8.6 205 -6
74 Bryce Miller SEA SP 197 51 89 73.7 9.9 199 2
75 Nathan Eovaldi TEX SP 208 54 108 74.6 12 200 -8
76 Ryan Pressly HOU RP 198 34 108 60.1 28.2 101 -97
77 Brandon Pfaadt ARI SP 205 53 99 76.2 4.1 217 12
78 Aaron Civale TB SP 223 56 93 79.8 7.8 215 -8
79 Adbert Alzolay CHC RP 216 52 110 73.8 15.6 166 -50
80 Ryan Pepiot TB SP,RP 227 68 90 80.5 6.2 202 -25
81 Alex Lange DET RP 230 66 107 81.8 12.1 216 -14
82 Triston McKenzie CLE SP 224 49 94 82.3 10.8 233 9
83 Nick Pivetta BOS SP,RP 233 55 85 76.7 6.7 213 -20
84 Lucas Giolito BOS SP 235 59 101 83.2 7.1 214 -21
85 Charlie Morton ATL SP 229 58 92 84.5 8.6 210 -19
86 Brayan Bello BOS SP 238 61 108 85.2 4.9 229 -9
87 Nick Lodolo CIN SP 243 61 114 86.9 9.7 220 -23
88 Max Scherzer TEX SP 248 29 110 87.9 17.3 184 -64
89 Jose Leclerc TEX RP 242 71 95 83.1 6.8 224 -18
90 Shota Imanaga CHC SP 252 60 148 91.6 14.3 262 10
91 Kenta Maeda DET SP 258 67 130 94.3 5.3 273 15
92 Andrew Abbott CIN SP 259 63 112 94.4 7.3 234 -25
93 Emmet Sheehan LAD SP 262 70 125 97 8.5 278 16
94 Mason Miller OAK SP 261 62 126 97.4 14.1 252 -9
95 Jose Alvarado PHI RP 264 56 116 94.7 12.7 218 -46
96 Michael Wacha KC SP 267 74 113 98.8 9.3 310 43
97 Taj Bradley TB SP 266 73 118 99.3 5.8 306 40
98 Reid Detmers LAA SP 269 66 117 100.6 8.9 268 -1
99 Cristopher Sanchez PHI SP 277 72 122 102.7 8.8 320 43
100 Kyle Finnegan WSH RP 281 80 111 101.8 7.9 236 -45


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.


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