Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Sale Looks to Bounce Back

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Updated on April 1, 2019 12:30AM EST

After a short week to kick off the season, we're looking at the first full slate of games. In what will be a recurring theme throughout the 2019 campaign, there are only 26 two-start options, fewer than one per team. As such, it's even more important to identify those with single starts in a favorable spot. The problem is we really don't have a decent grasp on several lineups. Sure, we know the clubs at the extremes, but those in the middle need some time to differentiate.

For those new to the rankings, two-start weeks are more important than most perceive. This isn't the best week to demonstrate this, but soon enough there will be examples of lesser hurlers ranked higher than superior arms.

In future weeks, I'll include more comments. This is a crazy week since I'm in dual mode as many continue to draft the traditional first weekend of the season, so I'm still updating season-long projections along with focusing on the first few games of the year.

As always, be sure to check back Sunday night for the inevitable adjustments after rotations crystallize.

For the week of April 1-6

UPDATED: Monday April 1, 12:30 AM ET

MLB

Rank	PITCHER	TEAM	OPP	COMMENT
1	Max Scherzer	WAS	vs. PHI, at NYM
2	Mike Clevinger	CLE	vs. CWS, vs. TOR	In a great spot to start off the season strong
3	Blake Snell	TB	vs. COL, at SF	Velo down first start, worth monitoring
4	Jose Berrios	MIN

As always, be sure to check back Sunday night for the inevitable adjustments after rotations crystallize.

For the week of April 1-6

UPDATED: Monday April 1, 12:30 AM ET

MLB

Rank	PITCHER	TEAM	OPP	COMMENT
1	Max Scherzer	WAS	vs. PHI, at NYM
2	Mike Clevinger	CLE	vs. CWS, vs. TOR	In a great spot to start off the season strong
3	Blake Snell	TB	vs. COL, at SF	Velo down first start, worth monitoring
4	Jose Berrios	MIN	at KC, at PHI
5	Corey Kluber	CLE	vs. CWS
6	Jacob deGrom	NYM	at MIA
7	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	at ATL, at MIL	Don't love the matchups, but Hendricks rarely lit up
8	Patrick Corbin	WAS	at NYM
9	Justin Verlander	HOU	at TEX
10	Chris Sale	BOS	at OAK, at ARI	I'm not worried. Maybe I'm a little bit concerned, but that's not the same thing.
11	Chris Archer	PIT	vs. STL, vs. CIN	Getting benefit of the doubt… for now
12	Brad Peacock	HOU	at TEX, vs. OAK	Cross your fingers in Arlington
13	Jack Flaherty	STL	vs. SD
14	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	vs. DET
15	Domingo German	NYY	vs. DET, at BAL	Worth a healthy FAAB bid if available
16	Ross Stripling	LAD	vs. SF
17	Aaron Nola	PHI	at WAS
18	Matt Strahm	SD	vs. ARI, at STL	Deserves chance in the rotation
19	Trevor Bauer	CLE	vs. TOR
20	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	at NYM
21	Hyun-Jin Ryu	LAD	vs. SF
22	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	vs. TOR
23	James Paxton	NYY	at BAL
24	Zack Greinke	ARI	at SD	OK, here I'm a little more than concerned
25	Noah Syndergaard	NYM	vs. WAS
26	German Marquez	COL	at TB
27	Yonny Chirinos	TB	at SF	Let's see if he starts or follows, either way, great set-up
28	Steven Matz	NYM	at MIA, vs. WAS
29	Gerrit Cole	HOU	at TEX
30	Marco Gonzales	SEA	vs. LAA	On a pace for 32 wins
31	Jonathan Loaisiga	NYY	vs. DET
32	Collin McHugh	HOU	vs. OAK
33	Jameson Taillon	PIT	vs. STL
34	Charlie Morton	TB	vs. COL
35	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	at CWS	Doesn't have the typical arsenal of Japanese pitchers, but has the deception
36	Joey Lucchesi	SD	vs. ARI
37	Kevin Gausman	ATL	vs. MIA	Expected to be back
38	Robbie Ray	ARI	at SD
39	Michael Wacha	STL	vs. SD
40	Caleb Smith	MIA	vs. NYM, at ATL
41	Luis Castillo	CIN	at PIT	Promising debut
42	J.A. Happ	NYY	at BAL
43	Brad Keller	KC	vs. MIN, at DET
44	Tyler Glasnow	TB	at SF
45	Jakob Junis	KC	at DET	Should take advanatge of several soft AL Central matchups all season
46	David Price	BOS	at OAK, at ARI	Red Sox starters hindered by lack of spring innings
47	Zack Wheeler	NYM	vs. WAS
48	Madison Bumgarner	SF	at LAD
49	Tanner Roark	CIN	vs. MIL, at PIT
50	Matt Shoemaker	TOR	vs. BAL	Outstanding debut, can he stay healthy?
51	Nick Pivetta	PHI	vs. MIN
52	Bryse Wilson	ATL	vs. MIA
53	Tyler Skaggs	LAA	vs. TEX
54	Trevor Cahill	LAA	at SEA
55	Merrill Kelly	ARI	at SD, vs. BOS	Has unfamiliarity on his side
56	Miles Mikolas	STL	at PIT
57	Zach Eflin	PHI	at WAS, vs. MIN
58	Kyle Wright	ATL	vs. MIA
59	Jake Arrieta	PHI	vs. MIN
60	Wade LeBlanc	SEA	at CWS
61	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	vs. SEA
62	Chris Paddack	SD	at STL
63	Joe Musgrove	PIT	vs. CIN
64	Jason Vargas	NYM	at MIA
65	Pablo Lopez	MIA	at ATL
66	Trevor Richards	MIA	vs. NYM	Check out his change if you haven't seen it
67	Mike Fiers	OAK	vs. BOS, at HOU
68	Jose Urena	MIA	vs. NYM
69	Marcus Stroman	TOR	vs. BAL, at CLE
70	Michael Pineda	MIN	at PHI
71	Freddy Peralta	MIL	at CIN
72	Jhoulys Chacin	MIL	at CIN
73	Trevor Williams	PIT	vs. CIN
74	Kyle Freeland	COL	at TB
75	Cole Hamels	CHC	at MIL
76	Anthony DeSclafani	CIN	vs. MIL, at PIT
77	Shane Bieber	CLE	vs. TOR
78	Julio Teheran	ATL	vs. CHC
79	Corbin Burnes	MIL	vs. CHC
80	Yu Darvish	CHC	at ATL
81	Dereck Rodriguez	SF	vs. TB
82	Mike Leake	SEA	at CWS
83	Jon Lester	CHC	at ATL
84	Jose Quintana	CHC	at MIL
85	Drew Pomeranz	SF	at LAD, vs. TB
86	Chris Stratton	SF	at SEA, vs. TEX
87	Rick Porcello	BOS	at ARI
88	Lucas Giolito	CWS	vs. SEA
89	Jeff Samardzija	SF	vs. TB
90	Felix Pena	LAA	vs. TEX
91	Zach Davies	MIL	at CIN, vs. CHC
92	Ivan Nova	CWS	at CLE, vs. SEA
93	Matthew Boyd	DET	at NYY	Things went south in a hurry vs. Blue Jays
94	Wade Miley	HOU	vs. OAK
95	Anibal Sanchez	WAS	vs. PHI
96	Jake Odorizzi	MIN	at PHI
97	Sonny Gray	CIN	at PIT
98	Eric Lauer	SD	vs. ARI
99	Sean Newcomb	ATL	vs. CHC
100	Adam Wainwright	STL	at PIT, vs. SD
101	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at KC
102	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	at OAK
103	Walker Buehler	LAD	at COL
104	Drew Smyly	TEX	vs. HOU, at LAA
105	Felix Hernandez	SEA	vs. LAA
106	Matt Harvey	LAA	vs. TEX
107	Mike Minor	TEX	vs. HOU
108	Julio Urias	LAD	vs. SF, at COL
109	Matt Moore	DET	vs. KC
110	Zack Godley	ARI	vs. BOS
111	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	vs. CHC
112	Tyler Mahle	CIN	vs. MIL
113	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	vs. COL
114	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	at OAK
115	Dylan Bundy	BAL	vs. NYY
116	Derek Holland	SF	at LAD
117	Kenta Maeda	LAD	at COL
118	Marco Estrada	OAK	vs. BOS
119	Spencer Turnbull	DET	vs. KC
120	Jon Gray	COL	vs. LAD
121	Tyler Anderson	COL	vs. LAD
122	Sean Reid-Foley	TOR	vs. BAL, at CLE
123	Luke Weaver	ARI	vs. BOS
124	Carlos Rodon	CWS	at CLE
125	Lance Lynn	TEX	at LAA
126	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	at ATL
127	Jorge Lopez	KC	at DET
128	Max Fried	ATL	vs. CHC
129	Tyson Ross	DET	at NYY, vs. KC
130	Edinson Volquez	TEX	at LAA
131	Jordan Zimmermann	DET	at NYY
132	Jordan Lyles	PIT	vs. CIN
133	Aaron Brooks	OAK	vs. BOS, at HOU
134	Chad Bettis	COL	at TB, vs. LAD
135	Shelby Miller	TEX	vs. HOU, at LAA
136	Alex Cobb	BAL	vs. NYY
137	Aaron Sanchez	TOR	at CLE
138	David Hess	BAL	at TOR, vs. NYY
139	Nick Margevicius	SD	at STL
140	Frankie Montas	OAK	at HOU
141	Brett Anderson	OAK	vs. BOS
142	Mike Wright Jr.	BAL	at TOR
143	Homer Bailey	KC	vs. MIN
144	Andrew Cashner	BAL	at TOR
145	Trent Thornton	TOR	at CLE

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rank	PITCHER	TEAM	OPP	COMMENT
1	Mike Clevinger	CLE	vs. CWS, vs. TOR	In a great spot to start off the season strong
2	Blake Snell	TB	vs. COL, at SF	Velo down first start, worth monitoring
3	Jose Berrios	MIN	at KC, at PHI
4	Corey Kluber	CLE	vs. CWS
5	Justin Verlander	HOU	at TEX
6	Chris Sale	BOS	at OAK, at ARI	I'm not worried. Maybe I'm a little bit concerned, but that's not the same thing.
7	Brad Peacock	HOU	at TEX, vs. OAK	Cross your fingers in Arlington
8	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	vs. DET
9	Domingo German	NYY	vs. DET, at BAL	Worth a healthy FAAB bid if available
10	Trevor Bauer	CLE	vs. TOR
11	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	vs. TOR
12	James Paxton	NYY	at BAL
13	Yonny Chirinos	TB	at SF	Let's see if he starts or follows, either way, great set-up
14	Gerrit Cole	HOU	at TEX
15	Marco Gonzales	SEA	vs. LAA	On a pace for 32 wins
16	Jonathan Loaisiga	NYY	vs. DET
17	Collin McHugh	HOU	vs. OAK
18	Charlie Morton	TB	vs. COL
19	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	at CWS	Doesn't have the typical arsenal of Japanese pitchers, but has the deception
20	J.A. Happ	NYY	at BAL
21	Brad Keller	KC	vs. MIN, at DET
22	Tyler Glasnow	TB	at SF
23	Jakob Junis	KC	at DET	Should take advanatge of several soft AL Central matchups all season
24	David Price	BOS	at OAK, at ARI	Red Sox starters hindered by lack of spring innings
25	Matt Shoemaker	TOR	vs. BAL	Outstanding debut, can he stay healthy?
26	Tyler Skaggs	LAA	vs. TEX
27	Trevor Cahill	LAA	at SEA
28	Wade LeBlanc	SEA	at CWS
29	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	vs. SEA
30	Mike Fiers	OAK	vs. BOS, at HOU
31	Marcus Stroman	TOR	vs. BAL, at CLE
32	Michael Pineda	MIN	at PHI
33	Shane Bieber	CLE	vs. TOR
34	Mike Leake	SEA	at CWS
35	Rick Porcello	BOS	at ARI
36	Lucas Giolito	CWS	vs. SEA
37	Felix Pena	LAA	vs. TEX
38	Ivan Nova	CWS	at CLE, vs. SEA
39	Matthew Boyd	DET	at NYY	Things went south in a hurry vs. Blue Jays
40	Wade Miley	HOU	vs. OAK
41	Jake Odorizzi	MIN	at PHI
42	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at KC
43	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	at OAK
44	Drew Smyly	TEX	vs. HOU, at LAA
45	Felix Hernandez	SEA	vs. LAA
46	Matt Harvey	LAA	vs. TEX
47	Mike Minor	TEX	vs. HOU
48	Matt Moore	DET	vs. KC
49	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	vs. COL
50	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	at OAK
51	Dylan Bundy	BAL	vs. NYY
52	Marco Estrada	OAK	vs. BOS
53	Spencer Turnbull	DET	vs. KC
54	Sean Reid-Foley	TOR	vs. BAL, at CLE
55	Carlos Rodon	CWS	at CLE
56	Lance Lynn	TEX	at LAA
57	Jorge Lopez	KC	at DET
58	Tyson Ross	DET	at NYY, vs. KC
59	Edinson Volquez	TEX	at LAA
60	Jordan Zimmermann	DET	at NYY
61	Aaron Brooks	OAK	vs. BOS, at HOU
62	Shelby Miller	TEX	vs. HOU, at LAA
63	Alex Cobb	BAL	vs. NYY
64	Aaron Sanchez	TOR	at CLE
65	David Hess	BAL	at TOR, vs. NYY
66	Frankie Montas	OAK	at HOU
67	Brett Anderson	OAK	vs. BOS
68	Mike Wright Jr.	BAL	at TOR
69	Homer Bailey	KC	vs. MIN
70	Andrew Cashner	BAL	at TOR
71	Trent Thornton	TOR	at CLE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rank	PITCHER	TEAM	OPP	COMMENT
1	Max Scherzer	WAS	vs. PHI, at NYM
2	Jacob deGrom	NYM	at MIA
3	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	at ATL, at MIL	Don't love the matchups, but Hendricks rarely lit up
4	Patrick Corbin	WAS	at NYM
5	Chris Archer	PIT	vs. STL, vs. CIN	Getting benefit of the doubt… for now
6	Jack Flaherty	STL	vs. SD
7	Ross Stripling	LAD	vs. SF
8	Aaron Nola	PHI	at WAS
9	Matt Strahm	SD	vs. ARI, at STL	Deserves chance in the rotation
10	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	at NYM
11	Hyun-Jin Ryu	LAD	vs. SF
12	Zack Greinke	ARI	at SD	OK, here I'm a little more than concerned
13	Noah Syndergaard	NYM	vs. WAS
14	German Marquez	COL	at TB
15	Steven Matz	NYM	at MIA, vs. WAS
16	Jameson Taillon	PIT	vs. STL
17	Joey Lucchesi	SD	vs. ARI
18	Kevin Gausman	ATL	vs. MIA	Expected to be back
19	Robbie Ray	ARI	at SD
20	Michael Wacha	STL	vs. SD
21	Caleb Smith	MIA	vs. NYM, at ATL
22	Luis Castillo	CIN	at PIT	Promising debut
23	Zack Wheeler	NYM	vs. WAS
24	Madison Bumgarner	SF	at LAD
25	Tanner Roark	CIN	vs. MIL, at PIT
26	Nick Pivetta	PHI	vs. MIN
27	Bryse Wilson	ATL	vs. MIA
28	Merrill Kelly	ARI	at SD, vs. BOS	Has unfamiliarity on his side
29	Miles Mikolas	STL	at PIT
30	Zach Eflin	PHI	at WAS, vs. MIN
31	Kyle Wright	ATL	vs. MIA
32	Jake Arrieta	PHI	vs. MIN
33	Chris Paddack	SD	at STL
34	Joe Musgrove	PIT	vs. CIN
35	Jason Vargas	NYM	at MIA
36	Pablo Lopez	MIA	at ATL
37	Trevor Richards	MIA	vs. NYM	Check out his change if you haven't seen it
38	Jose Urena	MIA	vs. NYM
39	Freddy Peralta	MIL	at CIN
40	Jhoulys Chacin	MIL	at CIN
41	Trevor Williams	PIT	vs. CIN
42	Kyle Freeland	COL	at TB
43	Cole Hamels	CHC	at MIL
44	Anthony DeSclafani	CIN	vs. MIL, at PIT
45	Julio Teheran	ATL	vs. CHC
46	Corbin Burnes	MIL	vs. CHC
47	Yu Darvish	CHC	at ATL
48	Dereck Rodriguez	SF	vs. TB
49	Jon Lester	CHC	at ATL
50	Jose Quintana	CHC	at MIL
51	Drew Pomeranz	SF	at LAD, vs. TB
52	Chris Stratton	SF	at SEA, vs. TEX
53	Jeff Samardzija	SF	vs. TB
54	Zach Davies	MIL	at CIN, vs. CHC
55	Anibal Sanchez	WAS	vs. PHI
56	Sonny Gray	CIN	at PIT
57	Eric Lauer	SD	vs. ARI
58	Sean Newcomb	ATL	vs. CHC
59	Adam Wainwright	STL	at PIT, vs. SD
60	Walker Buehler	LAD	at COL
61	Julio Urias	LAD	vs. SF, at COL
62	Zack Godley	ARI	vs. BOS
63	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	vs. CHC
64	Tyler Mahle	CIN	vs. MIL
65	Derek Holland	SF	at LAD
66	Kenta Maeda	LAD	at COL
67	Jon Gray	COL	vs. LAD
68	Tyler Anderson	COL	vs. LAD
69	Luke Weaver	ARI	vs. BOS
70	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	at ATL
71	Max Fried	ATL	vs. CHC
72	Jordan Lyles	PIT	vs. CIN
73	Chad Bettis	COL	at TB, vs. LAD
74	Nick Margevicius	SD	at STL