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2024 starting pitcher rankings: Spencer Strider is king of the hill

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 – Kodai Senga, Lucas Giolito and, most recently, Gerrit Cole – 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.

Atlanta's Spencer Strider led the majors last season with 281 strikeouts, 44 more than runner-up Kevin Gausman of Toronto.
Atlanta's Spencer Strider led the majors last season with 281 strikeouts, 44 more than runner-up Kevin Gausman of Toronto.

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, Cole was at the head of 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.

2024 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings

  1. Spencer Strider, Braves NL1

  2. Corbin Burnes, Orioles AL1

  3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies NL2

  4. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays AL2

  5. Luis Castillo, Mariners AL3

  6. George Kirby, Mariners AL4

  7. Pablo Lopez, Twins AL5

  8. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers NL3

  9. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers NL4

  10. Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks NL5

  11. Aaron Nola, Phillies NL6

  12. Logan Webb, Giants NL7

  13. Max Fried, Braves NL8

  14. Blake Snell, free agent

  15. Freddy Peralta, Brewers NL9

  16. Logan Gilbert, Mariners AL6

  17. Jesus Luzardo, Marlins NL10

  18. Framber Valdez, Astros AL7

  19. Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles AL8

  20. Tarik Skubal, Tigers AL9

  21. Bobby Miller, Dodgers NL11

  22. Eury Perez, Marlins NL12

  23. Sonny Gray, Cardinals NL13

  24. Joe Musgrove, Padres NL14

  25. Dylan Cease, Padres NL15

  26. Tanner Bibee, Guardians AL10

  27. Joe Ryan, Twins AL11

  28. Zach Eflin, Rays AL12

  29. Cole Ragans, Royals AL13

  30. Justin Steele, Cubs NL16

  31. Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays AL14

  32. Michael King, Padres NL17

  33. Chris Sale, Braves NL18

  34. Hunter Greene, Reds NL19

  35. Jose Berrios, Blue Jays AL15

  36. Justin Verlander, Astros AL16

  37. Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks NL20

  38. Mitch Keller, Pirates NL21

  39. Bailey Ober, Twins AL17

  40. Jordan Montgomery, free agent

  41. Gerrit Cole, Yankees AL18

  42. Yu Darvish, Padres NL22

  43. Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks NL23

  44. Walker Buehler, Dodgers NL24

  45. Carlos Rodon, Yankees AL19

  46. Shane Bieber, Guardians AL20

  47. Cristian Javier, Astros AL21

  48. Gavin Williams, Guardians AL22

  49. Hunter Brown, Astros AL23

  50. Braxton Garrett, Marlins NL25

  51. Nick Pivetta, Red Sox AL24

  52. Aaron Civale, Rays AL25

  53. Shane Baz, Rays AL26

  54. Bryce Miller, Marines AL27

  55. Bryan Woo, Mariners AL28

  56. Brayan Bello, Red Sox AL29

  57. Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks NL26

  58. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers AL30

  59. Shota Imanaga, Cubs NL27

  60. Ryan Pepiot, Rays AL31

  61. Kodai Senga, Mets NL28

  62. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies NL29

  63. Kyle Bradish, Orioles AL32

  64. Kutter Crawford, Red Sox AL33

  65. Charlie Morton, Braves NL30

  66. Kenta Maeda, Tigers AL34

  67. Michael Wacha, Royals AL35

  68. Triston McKenzie, Guardians AL36

  69. Nestor Cortes, Yankees AL37

  70. Seth Lugo, Royals AL38

  71. John Means, Orioles AL39

  72. Andrew Abbott, Reds NL31

  73. Max Scherzer, Rangers AL40

  74. Marcus Stroman, Yankees AL41

  75. Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays AL42

  76. Taj Bradley, Rays AL43

  77. Edward Cabrera, Marlins NL32

  78. Reid Detmers, Angels AL44

  79. Nick Lodolo, Reds NL33

  80. Reese Olson, Tigers AL45

  81. Emmett Sheehan, Dodgers NL34

  82. Griffin Canning, Angels AL46

  83. MacKenzie Gore, Nationals NL35

  84. Kyle Harrison, Giants NL36

  85. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers NL37

  86. Luis Severino, Mets NL38

  87. Garrett Whitlock, Red Sox AL47

  88. Jon Gray, Rangers AL48

  89. Jeffrey Springs, Rays AL49

  90. Sean Manaea, Mets NL39

  91. Dean Kremer, Orioles AL50

  92. Lance Lynn, Cardinals NL40

  93. Jameson Taillon, Cubs NL41

  94. James Paxton, Dodgers NL42

  95. Louie Varland, MIn AL51

  96. Casey Mize, Tigers AL52

  97. Trevor Rogers, Marlins NL43

  98. Erick Fedde, White Sox AL53

  99. Paul Skenes, Pirates NL44

  100. Chris Paddack, Twins AL54

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings: Top 100 for 2024