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.

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