Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Close at Top Price

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Close at Top Price

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

What a lousy week for two-start pitchers. It would be even worse if it weren't for a couple doubleheaders. Because of the lack of quality double-dippers, some of the hurlers that have a pair may seem high. If you play in a league with a start or innings limit, it's worth considering passing on some of these options for a better pitcher with a single start.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1 Yu Darvish TEX at HOU, vs. SEA
2 Chris Sale BOS at PHI
3 David Price BOS vs. PHI, at HOU Velocity fine, command still off
4 Jason Vargas KC at SF, at LAA Should be able to maintain low HR rate for another week
5 Rick Porcello BOS vs. PHI, at HOU
6 Masahiro Tanaka NYY at LAA, at OAK Park upgrades should help slow down home run onslaught
7 Corey Kluber CLE vs. LAD
8 Luis Severino NYY at OAK Legit ace
9 Lance McCullers HOU vs. TEX
10 Marco Estrada TOR vs. TB
11 CC Sabathia NYY at LAA, at OAK Carsten Charles has discovered the fountain of youth
12 JC Ramirez LAA vs. NYY, vs. KC Home venue provided big boost
13 Justin Verlander DET vs. TB
14 Sean Manaea OAK vs. NYY
15 Ervin Santana MIN vs. SEA
16 Jordan Montgomery NYY at OAK
17 Michael Fulmer DET vs. ARI
18 Michael Pineda NYY at LAA
19 Brian Johnson BOS at PHI Getting extended look with Eduardo Rodriguez sidelined
20 Carlos
What a lousy week for two-start pitchers. It would be even worse if it weren't for a couple doubleheaders. Because of the lack of quality double-dippers, some of the hurlers that have a pair may seem high. If you play in a league with a start or innings limit, it's worth considering passing on some of these options for a better pitcher with a single start.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1 Yu Darvish TEX at HOU, vs. SEA
2 Chris Sale BOS at PHI
3 David Price BOS vs. PHI, at HOU Velocity fine, command still off
4 Jason Vargas KC at SF, at LAA Should be able to maintain low HR rate for another week
5 Rick Porcello BOS vs. PHI, at HOU
6 Masahiro Tanaka NYY at LAA, at OAK Park upgrades should help slow down home run onslaught
7 Corey Kluber CLE vs. LAD
8 Luis Severino NYY at OAK Legit ace
9 Lance McCullers HOU vs. TEX
10 Marco Estrada TOR vs. TB
11 CC Sabathia NYY at LAA, at OAK Carsten Charles has discovered the fountain of youth
12 JC Ramirez LAA vs. NYY, vs. KC Home venue provided big boost
13 Justin Verlander DET vs. TB
14 Sean Manaea OAK vs. NYY
15 Ervin Santana MIN vs. SEA
16 Jordan Montgomery NYY at OAK
17 Michael Fulmer DET vs. ARI
18 Michael Pineda NYY at LAA
19 Brian Johnson BOS at PHI Getting extended look with Eduardo Rodriguez sidelined
20 Carlos Carrasco CLE at MIN Looks low but Twins hit RHP well
21 Dylan Bundy BAL at CWS
22 Drew Pomeranz BOS at HOU
23 Sonny Gray OAK vs. NYY
24 James Paxton SEA at TEX
25 Chris Heston SEA vs. CLE
26 Josh Tomlin CLE vs. LAD Only four walks all season, ERA will come down
27 Buck Farmer DET vs. ARI, vs. TB Appears to be figuring things out
28 Jharel Cotton OAK at MIA, vs. NYY
29 Jose Berrios MIN vs. SEA
30 Matt Shoemaker LAA vs. NYY
31 Chris Archer TB at DET
32 Jake Odorizzi TB at TOR, at DET Big park downgrades facing potential strong lineups
33 Francisco Liriano TOR vs. TB
34 Jesse Chavez LAA vs. KC
35 Jordan Zimmermann DET vs. TB
36 Daniel Norris DET vs. TB
37 Ricky Nolasco LAA vs. KC
38 Joe Musgrove HOU vs. TEX, vs. BOS
39 Ian Kennedy KC at LAA
40 Jose Quintana CWS at TOR
41 Alec Asher BAL at CWS, vs. STL
42 Marcus Stroman TOR vs. CWS
43 Tyson Ross TEX vs. SEA
44 Jason Hammel KC at SF
45 Brad Peacock HOU vs. TEX
46 Joe Biagini TOR vs. CWS
47 Adalberto Mejia MIN vs. SEA, vs. CLE
48 David Paulino HOU vs. BOS
49 Andrew Triggs OAK at MIA
50 Trevor Bauer CLE vs. LAD, at MIN
51 Danny Salazar CLE at MIN
52 Felix Hernandez SEA at TEX
53 Alex Meyer LAA vs. NYY, vs. KC
54 Alex Cobb TB at TOR
55 Jesse Hahn OAK vs. NYY
56 Matt Andriese TB at DET
57 Kevin Gausman BAL vs. STL
58 Chris Tillman BAL at CWS
59 Miguel Gonzalez CWS vs. BAL
60 Tyler Duffey MIN vs. CLE
61 Jake Junis KC at LAA
62 Erasmo Ramirez TB at DET
63 Mike Fiers HOU vs. BOS
64 Derek Holland CWS vs. BAL
65 Wade Miley BAL at CWS, vs. STL
66 J.A. Happ TOR vs. CWS
67 Mike Pelfrey CWS vs. BAL, at TOR
68 Martin Perez TEX vs. SEA
69 Mike Clevinger CLE at MIN
70 Kyle Gibson MIN vs. SEA, vs. CLE
71 Yovani Gallardo SEA at MIN, at TEX
72 Ariel Miranda SEA at MIN
73 James Shields CWS at TOR
74 David Holmberg CWS vs. BAL
75 Nick Martinez TEX at HOU
76 Andrew Cashner TEX at HOU
77 Eric Skoglund KC at LAA
78 Christian Bergman SEA at MIN
79 Sam Gaviglio SEA at MIN

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rank Pitcher TEAM Opponent(s) Comments
1 Clayton Kershaw LAD at CLE, at CIN
2 Stephen Strasburg WAS vs. ATL, at NYM
3 Jimmy Nelson MIL at STL, vs. SD Fanned 38, walked just three over last 32 innings
4 Max Scherzer WAS at NYM
5 John Lackey CHC at NYM, at PIT Not sharp but aided by pitcher's parks
6 Robbie Ray ARI at PHI Faster delivery delivering results
7 Jacob deGrom NYM vs. CHC, vs. WAS Tough lineups, but helped by Citi Field
8 Joe Ross WAS vs. ATL, at NYM Can he maintain consistent arm slot?
9 Carlos Martinez STL vs. MIL
10 Chase Anderson MIL vs. SD
11 Johnny Cueto SF vs. KC
12 Jon Lester CHC at NYM
13 Zack Greinke ARI at DET Coming off paternity list for interleague affair
14 Steven Matz NYM vs. WAS
15 Tyler Chatwood COL at PIT, vs. SF Second game at Coors, but against punchless Giants
16 Mike Foltynewicz ATL at WAS, vs. MIA Maintaining last season's skills gains
17 Alex Wood LAD at CIN
18 Edinson Volquez MIA vs. OAK
19 Randall Delgado ARI at PHI Sticking as a starter
20 Aaron Nola PHI vs. ARI
21 Ivan Nova PIT vs. CHC Getting by with disappearing strikeouts
22 Jake Arrieta CHC at PIT
23 Lance Lynn STL vs. MIL, at BAL Lucky ERA is so low considering how many homers allowed
24 Matt Garza MIL vs. SD
25 German Marquez COL at PIT
26 Junior Guerra MIL at STL
27 Rich Hill LAD at CLE
28 Scott Feldman CIN at SD
29 Jaime Garcia ATL vs. MIA
30 Mike Leake STL vs. MIL
31 Julio Teheran ATL at WAS
32 Michael Wacha STL vs. MIL
33 Zach Davies MIL at STL
34 Tim Adleman CIN vs. LAD
35 Jameson Taillon PIT vs. COL
36 Tanner Roark WAS vs. ATL
37 Mike Montgomery CHC at NYM
38 Amir Garrett CIN at SD
39 Patrick Corbin ARI at PHI
40 Gerrit Cole PIT vs. COL
41 Luke Weaver STL at BAL
42 Chad Kuhl PIT vs. COL, vs. CHC
43 Robert Gsellman NYM vs. WAS
44 Kyle Freeland COL at PIT, vs. SF
45 Gio Gonzalez WAS at NYM
46 Hyun-Jin Ryu LAD at CIN
47 Seth Lugo NYM vs. WAS
48 Sean Newcomb ATL vs. MIA
49 Jeremy Hellickson PHI vs. BOS
50 Zack Wheeler NYM vs. CHC
51 Bronson Arroyo CIN at SD, vs. LAD
52 Antonio Senzatela COL vs. SF
53 Jerad Eickhoff PHI at BOS, vs. ARI
54 Clayton Richard SD vs. CIN
55 Matt Harvey NYM vs. CHC
56 Luis Perdomo SD vs. CIN, at MIL
57 Jose Urena MIA vs. OAK, at ATL
58 Ben Lively PHI at BOS, vs. ARI
59 Taijuan Walker ARI at DET
60 Dinelson Lamet SD at MIL
61 R.A. Dickey ATL at WAS
62 Eddie Butler CHC at PIT
63 Tyler Glasnow PIT vs. CHC
64 Jhoulys Chacin SD vs. CIN
65 Jeff Hoffman COL vs. SF
66 Wily Peralta MIL at STL
67 Brandon McCarthy LAD at CLE
68 Adam Wainwright STL at BAL
69 Dan Straily MIA at ATL
70 Nick Pivetta PHI vs. BOS
71 Ty Blach SF vs. KC, at COL
72 Jeff Samardzija SF at COL
73 Asher Wojciechowski CIN vs. LAD
74 Jeff Locke MIA at ATL
75 Matt Moore SF at COL
76 Jarred Cosart SD at MIL
77 Matt Cain SF at COL
78 Kyle Freeland COL vs. CLE


MLB

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1 Clayton Kershaw LAD at CLE, at CIN
2 Stephen Strasburg WAS vs. ATL, at NYM
3 Yu Darvish TEX at HOU, vs. SEA
4 Jimmy Nelson MIL at STL, vs. SD Fanned 38, walked just three over last 32 innings
5 Chris Sale BOS at PHI
6 David Price BOS vs. PHI, at HOU Velocity fine, command still off
7 Jason Vargas KC at SF, at LAA Should be able to maintain low HR rate for another week
8 Rick Porcello BOS vs. PHI, at HOU
9 Max Scherzer WAS at NYM
10 Masahiro Tanaka NYY at LAA, at OAK Park upgrades should help slow down home run onslaught
11 John Lackey CHC at NYM, at PIT Not sharp but aided by pitcher's parks
12 Robbie Ray ARI at PHI Faster delivery delivering results
13 Corey Kluber CLE vs. LAD
14 Luis Severino NYY at OAK Legit ace
15 Lance McCullers HOU vs. TEX
16 Marco Estrada TOR vs. TB
17 Jacob deGrom NYM vs. CHC, vs. WAS Tough lineups, but helped by Citi Field
18 Joe Ross WAS vs. ATL, at NYM Can he maintain consistent arm slot?
19 CC Sabathia NYY at LAA, at OAK Carsten Charles has discovered the fountain of youth
20 JC Ramirez LAA vs. NYY, vs. KC Home venue provided big boost
21 Carlos Martinez STL vs. MIL
22 Justin Verlander DET vs. TB
23 Chase Anderson MIL vs. SD
24 Johnny Cueto SF vs. KC
25 Jon Lester CHC at NYM
26 Zack Greinke ARI at DET Coming off paternity list for interleague affair
27 Steven Matz NYM vs. WAS
28 Tyler Chatwood COL at PIT, vs. SF Second game at Coors, but against punchless Giants
29 Sean Manaea OAK vs. NYY
30 Mike Foltynewicz ATL at WAS, vs. MIA Maintaining last season's skills gains
31 Ervin Santana MIN vs. SEA
32 Alex Wood LAD at CIN
33 Edinson Volquez MIA vs. OAK
34 Jordan Montgomery NYY at OAK
35 Randall Delgado ARI at PHI Sticking as a starter
36 Aaron Nola PHI vs. ARI
37 Michael Fulmer DET vs. ARI
38 Michael Pineda NYY at LAA
39 Brian Johnson BOS at PHI Getting extended look with Eduardo Rodriguez sidelined
40 Ivan Nova PIT vs. CHC Getting by with disappearing strikeouts
41 Jake Arrieta CHC at PIT
42 Lance Lynn STL vs. MIL, at BAL Lucky ERA is so low considering how many homers allowed
43 Carlos Carrasco CLE at MIN Looks low but Twins hit RHP well
44 Dylan Bundy BAL at CWS
45 Drew Pomeranz BOS at HOU
46 Sonny Gray OAK vs. NYY
47 Matt Garza MIL vs. SD
48 James Paxton SEA at TEX
49 Chris Heston SEA vs. CLE
50 German Marquez COL at PIT
51 Junior Guerra MIL at STL
52 Josh Tomlin CLE vs. LAD Only four walks all season, ERA will come down
53 Buck Farmer DET vs. ARI, vs. TB Appears to be figuring things out
54 Rich Hill LAD at CLE
55 Jharel Cotton OAK at MIA, vs. NYY
56 Scott Feldman CIN at SD
57 Jose Berrios MIN vs. SEA
58 Jaime Garcia ATL vs. MIA
59 Matt Shoemaker LAA vs. NYY
60 Chris Archer TB at DET
61 Jake Odorizzi TB at TOR, at DET Big park downgrades facing potential strong lineups
62 Francisco Liriano TOR vs. TB
63 Mike Leake STL vs. MIL
64 Jesse Chavez LAA vs. KC
65 Jordan Zimmermann DET vs. TB
66 Daniel Norris DET vs. TB
67 Ricky Nolasco LAA vs. KC
68 Julio Teheran ATL at WAS
69 Michael Wacha STL vs. MIL
70 Joe Musgrove HOU vs. TEX, vs. BOS
71 Ian Kennedy KC at LAA
72 Jose Quintana CWS at TOR
73 Alec Asher BAL at CWS, vs. STL
74 Marcus Stroman TOR vs. CWS
75 Zach Davies MIL at STL
76 Tim Adleman CIN vs. LAD
77 Tyson Ross TEX vs. SEA
78 Jameson Taillon PIT vs. COL
79 Tanner Roark WAS vs. ATL
80 Jason Hammel KC at SF
81 Mike Montgomery CHC at NYM
82 Brad Peacock HOU vs. TEX
83 Joe Biagini TOR vs. CWS
84 Adalberto Mejia MIN vs. SEA, vs. CLE
85 David Paulino HOU vs. BOS
86 Andrew Triggs OAK at MIA
87 Amir Garrett CIN at SD
88 Patrick Corbin ARI at PHI
89 Gerrit Cole PIT vs. COL
90 Luke Weaver STL at BAL
91 Chad Kuhl PIT vs. COL, vs. CHC
92 Trevor Bauer CLE vs. LAD, at MIN
93 Robert Gsellman NYM vs. WAS
94 Danny Salazar CLE at MIN
95 Kyle Freeland COL at PIT, vs. SF
96 Gio Gonzalez WAS at NYM
97 Felix Hernandez SEA at TEX
98 Hyun-Jin Ryu LAD at CIN
99 Seth Lugo NYM vs. WAS
100 Sean Newcomb ATL vs. MIA
101 Alex Meyer LAA vs. NYY, vs. KC
102 Jeremy Hellickson PHI vs. BOS
103 Zack Wheeler NYM vs. CHC
104 Alex Cobb TB at TOR
105 Jesse Hahn OAK vs. NYY
106 Matt Andriese TB at DET
107 Kevin Gausman BAL vs. STL
108 Bronson Arroyo CIN at SD, vs. LAD
109 Antonio Senzatela COL vs. SF
110 Jerad Eickhoff PHI at BOS, vs. ARI
111 Clayton Richard SD vs. CIN
112 Chris Tillman BAL at CWS
113 Miguel Gonzalez CWS vs. BAL
114 Matt Harvey NYM vs. CHC
115 Tyler Duffey MIN vs. CLE
116 Jake Junis KC at LAA
117 Erasmo Ramirez TB at DET
118 Mike Fiers HOU vs. BOS
119 Derek Holland CWS vs. BAL
120 Luis Perdomo SD vs. CIN, at MIL
121 Wade Miley BAL at CWS, vs. STL
122 Jose Urena MIA vs. OAK, at ATL
123 Ben Lively PHI at BOS, vs. ARI
124 J.A. Happ TOR vs. CWS
125 Taijuan Walker ARI at DET
126 Dinelson Lamet SD at MIL
127 R.A. Dickey ATL at WAS
128 Mike Pelfrey CWS vs. BAL, at TOR
129 Eddie Butler CHC at PIT
130 Martin Perez TEX vs. SEA
131 Mike Clevinger CLE at MIN
132 Tyler Glasnow PIT vs. CHC
133 Jhoulys Chacin SD vs. CIN
134 Jeff Hoffman COL vs. SF
135 Kyle Gibson MIN vs. SEA, vs. CLE
136 Wily Peralta MIL at STL
137 Brandon McCarthy LAD at CLE
138 Yovani Gallardo SEA at MIN, at TEX
139 Ariel Miranda SEA at MIN
140 Adam Wainwright STL at BAL
141 James Shields CWS at TOR
142 Dan Straily MIA at ATL
143 David Holmberg CWS vs. BAL
144 Nick Pivetta PHI vs. BOS
145 Nick Martinez TEX at HOU
146 Ty Blach SF vs. KC, at COL
147 Andrew Cashner TEX at HOU
148 Eric Skoglund KC at LAA
149 Jeff Samardzija SF at COL
150 Asher Wojciechowski CIN vs. LAD
151 Christian Bergman SEA at MIN
152 Sam Gaviglio SEA at MIN
153 Jeff Locke MIA at ATL
154 Matt Moore SF at COL
155 Jarred Cosart SD at MIL
156 Matt Cain SF at COL
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Todd Zola
Todd has been writing about fantasy baseball since 1997. He won NL Tout Wars and Mixed LABR in 2016 as well as a multi-time league winner in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship. Todd is now setting his sights even higher: The Rotowire Staff League. Lord Zola, as he's known in the industry, won the 2013 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Article of the Year award and was named the 2017 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year. Todd is a five-time FSWA awards finalist.
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