its really a matter of preference (and how you cap the game or what is important to you)
obviously if youre laying a good amount of money down on a particular team, its usually assumed youre confident in the pitcher who is throwing for your team. in that case- yeah listed works because you dont want to get stuck with a bet you dont want if your guy somehow gets scratched from his start and replaced with an inferior pitcher (although youll get better odds, but not have any say in the matter)
but other times, action might be better if youre backing a 'team' more than a 'pitcher'. that way your bet wont be cancelled if the opposition's starter gets scratched.
99 times out of 100, action/listed doesnt matter. pitchers dont get scratched too often. but rather safe than sorry.
only time id be careful is betting 'action' on overnight lines, because the pitchers the sportsbooks expect to go dont always get their turn.
but if you only make bets on gameday, you can normally count on the pitchers they have listed that afternoon to start. in fact, its amazing how sometimes books know about a pitching change sooner than local news or radio.
