Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Aces Flying Solo

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Aces Flying Solo

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

This could be lightest week all season in terms of upper-end pitchers with two starts. As such, it's an ideal opportunity to reiterate what the rankings reflect and how that should be applied on a week-to-week basis.

In short, the rankings order how much each hurler will benefit typical 5x5 standings relative to the others in the pool. Having two starts helps the potential for wins as well as strikeouts. In many cases, this overshadows the possible damage to ratios. The chief repercussion is not to use the list verbatim, especially if your ratios are in a spot where you can lose points. That is, it may be better to eschew a weaker two-start guy for a lower-ranked but better-skilled one-start guy to protect ratios. Conversely, if you feel your ratios can absorb a decent hit without any damage, chasing wins and strikeouts from a lower-ranked double dipper can be advantageous.

The other thing to keep in mind this week in we're on hug watch alert so be prudent with trade candidates as they may lose their second start.

By means of reminder, the schedule is pulled from the world's best Projected Starters grid so please direct specific rotation question over there.

UPDATED: Sunday July 26 12:45 AM ET

Week of July 26 - August 1

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Julio UriasLAD@SF, @ARINifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2Marcus StromanNYMATL, CINOnly seven wins, what is with the Mets and not

This could be lightest week all season in terms of upper-end pitchers with two starts. As such, it's an ideal opportunity to reiterate what the rankings reflect and how that should be applied on a week-to-week basis.

In short, the rankings order how much each hurler will benefit typical 5x5 standings relative to the others in the pool. Having two starts helps the potential for wins as well as strikeouts. In many cases, this overshadows the possible damage to ratios. The chief repercussion is not to use the list verbatim, especially if your ratios are in a spot where you can lose points. That is, it may be better to eschew a weaker two-start guy for a lower-ranked but better-skilled one-start guy to protect ratios. Conversely, if you feel your ratios can absorb a decent hit without any damage, chasing wins and strikeouts from a lower-ranked double dipper can be advantageous.

The other thing to keep in mind this week in we're on hug watch alert so be prudent with trade candidates as they may lose their second start.

By means of reminder, the schedule is pulled from the world's best Projected Starters grid so please direct specific rotation question over there.

UPDATED: Sunday July 26 12:45 AM ET

Week of July 26 - August 1

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Julio UriasLAD@SF, @ARINifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2Marcus StromanNYMATL, CINOnly seven wins, what is with the Mets and not scoring for aces
3Charlie MortonATL@NYM, MILHug watch candidate? Could lose second start if traded.
4Robbie RayTOR@BOS, KCHomers continue to be high while walks remain amazingly low
5Gerrit ColeNYY@TBI think he's figured things out
6Shohei OhtaniLAACOL, OAKTough decision for those needing Ohtani's offense
7Brandon WoodruffMIL@ATL 
8Corbin BurnesMIL@ATL 
9Luis GarciaHOU@SEA, @SF 
10Freddy PeraltaMIL@ATL 
11Walker BuehlerLAD@SF 
12German MarquezCOL@LAA, @SD 
13Zack WheelerPHIWAS 
14Max ScherzerWAS@PHI4 HR allowed over prior 10.2 IP
15Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TB, @MIA 
16Jose BerriosMIN@STL 
17Carlos RodonCWS@KCGetting better as the season progresses
18Lucas GiolitoCWS@KC 
19Yu DarvishSDCOL 
20Wade MileyCIN@CHC, @NYMAided by facing lesser lineups
21Lance LynnCWSCLE 
22Joe MusgroveSDCOL 
23Austin GomberCOL@LAA, @SD 
24Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@SEA 
25Aaron NolaPHI@PIT 
26Kevin GausmanSFHOU 
27Chris BassittOAK@LAA 
28Nathan EovaldiBOS@TB 
29Dylan CeaseCWS@KC, CLE 
30Kyle HendricksCHCCIN, @WAS 
31James KaprielianOAK@SD, @LAAGood test for the ROY candidate
32Shane McClanahanTBNYY, BOSHome field helps a lot, but not assured to stay in for 5 IP
33Zack GreinkeHOU@SF 
34Anthony DeSclafaniSFLAD 
35Zach PlesacCLESTL 
36Mike MinorKCCWS, @TOR 
37Logan GilbertSEA@TEX 
38Adbert AlzolayCHCCIN, @WAS 
39Sandy AlcantaraMIA@BAL, NYY 
40Alex WoodSFHOU 
41Michael PinedaMINDET, @STL 
42Domingo GermanNYY@MIA 
43Yusei KikuchiSEAHOU 
44Sean ManaeaOAK@SDStrikeouts up, not an ace, but getting close
45Dallas KeuchelCWS@KC, CLELow strikeouts aided by two-step
46Jameson TaillonNYY@MIA 
47Kenta MaedaMINDET 
48Tylor MegillNYMATLERA estimators peg mark closer to 3.75 (which is still obviously very good)
49Alek ManoahTORKC 
50Kwang Hyun KimSTL@CLE 
51Rich HillNYMCINPossible victim of not using grip enhancer
52Sonny GrayCIN@NYM 
53Luis CastilloCIN@CHC 
54Framber ValdezHOU@SF 
55Carlos CarrascoNYMCIN 
56Adam WainwrightSTL@CLE 
57Nick PivettaBOSTOR, @TB 
58Cole IrvinOAK@LAA 
59Jake OdorizziHOU@SEA 
60Chris PaddackSDOAK, COLTwo starts masks ratio risk
61John MeansBAL@DET 
62Max FriedATL@NYM 
63Patrick SandovalLAAOAK 
64Tyler AndersonPITMIL, PHI 
65Taijuan WalkerNYMATL 
66Hyun Jin RyuTOR@BOS 
67Zac GallenARILAD 
68Alex CobbLAAOAK 
69Kyle MullerATL@NYM, MIL 
70Frankie MontasOAK@LAA 
71Logan WebbSFLAD, HOU 
72Ryan YarbroughTBBOS 
73Zach EflinPHI@PIT 
74Jon GrayCOL@SD 
75Chris FlexenSEAHOU 
76Casey MizeDETBAL 
77Triston McKenzieCLE@CWS 
78Brad KellerKCCWS, @TOR2.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 22 K in last 20.2 IP, over 3 QS
79David PriceLAD@SF 
80Joe RossWAS@PHI, CHC 
81Tony GonsolinLAD@ARI 
82Tyler MahleCIN@CHC 
83Tarik SkubalDETBAL 
84JT BrubakerPITPHI 
85Johnny CuetoSFLAD 
86Eduardo RodriguezBOSTOR 
87Merrill KellyARILAD 
88Andrew HeaneyLAACOL 
89Mix 12 Reliever   
90Ryan WeathersSDCOL 
91Madison BumgarnerARI@TEX 
92Kyle GibsonTEXSEA 
93Spencer HowardPHIWAS 
94Blake SnellSDOAK 
95Dane DunningTEXARI 
96Drew SmylyATL@NYM 
97Mix 15 Reliever   
98Kolby AllardTEXSEA 
99Josh FlemingTBBOS 
100Tanner HouckBOSTOR 
101Chad KuhlPITMIL 
102Matt ManningDET@MIN, BAL 
103Jose SuarezLAACOL 
104Nestor CortesNYY@TB 
105Ross StriplingTORKC 
106Bryse WilsonATL@NYM 
107Touki ToussaintATLMIL 
108Erick FeddeWAS@PHI, CHC 
109Patrick CorbinWAS@PHI 
110Jaime BarriaLAAOAK 
111Martin PerezBOS@TB 
112Bailey OberMIN@STL 
113Adrian HouserMIL@PIT 
114Josiah GrayLAD@ARI 
115Darren McCaughanSEAHOU, @TEX 
116Cal QuantrillCLESTL, @CWS 
117J.A. HappMINDET 
118Eric LauerMIL@PIT 
119Daniel LynchKC@TOR 
120Kyle FreelandCOL@SD 
121Jake WoodfordSTLMIN 
122Alexander WellsBAL@DET 
123Nick TropeanoNYMATL 
124Mike FoltynewiczTEXSEA 
125Michael WachaTBNYY 
126Caleb SmithARILAD 
127Zach DaviesCHCCIN 
128Brett AndersonMIL@PIT 
129Vince VelasquezPHIWAS 
130Zach ThompsonMIANYY 
131Nick NeidertMIANYY 
132J.C. MejiaCLE@CWS 
133Marco GonzalesSEA@TEX 
134Taylor WidenerARI@TEX 
135Jordan HollowayMIA@BAL 
136Alec MillsCHCCIN 
137Steven MatzTOR@BOS 
138Carlos HernandezKCCWS 
139Jordan LylesTEXARI 
140Spenser WatkinsBALMIA, @DET 
141Johan OviedoSTLMIN 
142Kris BubicKCCWS 
143Mitch KellerPITMIL 
144Vladimir GutierrezCIN@CHC, @NYM 
145Garrett RichardsBOSTOR 
146Matt MoorePHIWAS, @PIT 
147Luis PatinoTBNYY 
148Chi Chi GonzalezCOL@LAA 
149Wily PeraltaDET@MIN 
150Jon LesterWASCHC 
151Matt HarveyBAL@DET 
152Wade LeBlancSTLMIN 
153Wil CrowePITPHI 
154Tyler AlexanderDET@MIN, BAL 
155Trevor WilliamsCHC@WAS 
156Jorge LopezBALMIA 
157Thomas HatchTOR@BOS 
158Anthony BandaNYMATL 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Robbie RayTOR@BOS, KCHomers continue to be high while walks remain amazingly low
2Gerrit ColeNYY@TBI think he's figured things out
3Shohei OhtaniLAACOL, OAKTough decision for those needing Ohtani's offense
4Luis GarciaHOU@SEA, @SF 
5Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TB, @MIA 
6Jose BerriosMIN@STL 
7Carlos RodonCWS@KCGetting better as the season progresses
8Lucas GiolitoCWS@KC 
9Lance LynnCWSCLE 
10Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@SEA 
11Chris BassittOAK@LAA 
12Nathan EovaldiBOS@TB 
13Dylan CeaseCWS@KC, CLE 
14James KaprielianOAK@SD, @LAAGood test for the ROY candidate
15Shane McClanahanTBNYY, BOSHome field helps a lot, but not assured to stay in for 5 IP
16Zack GreinkeHOU@SF 
17Zach PlesacCLESTL 
18Mike MinorKCCWS, @TOR 
19Logan GilbertSEA@TEX 
20Michael PinedaMINDET, @STL 
21Domingo GermanNYY@MIA 
22Yusei KikuchiSEAHOU 
23Sean ManaeaOAK@SDStrikeouts up, not an ace, but getting close
24Dallas KeuchelCWS@KC, CLELow strikeouts aided by two-step
25Jameson TaillonNYY@MIA 
26Kenta MaedaMINDET 
27Alek ManoahTORKC 
28Framber ValdezHOU@SF 
29Nick PivettaBOSTOR, @TB 
30Cole IrvinOAK@LAA 
31Jake OdorizziHOU@SEA 
32John MeansBAL@DET 
33Patrick SandovalLAAOAK 
34Hyun Jin RyuTOR@BOS 
35Alex CobbLAAOAK 
36Frankie MontasOAK@LAA 
37Ryan YarbroughTBBOS 
38Chris FlexenSEAHOU 
39Casey MizeDETBAL 
40Triston McKenzieCLE@CWS 
41Brad KellerKCCWS, @TOR2.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 22 K in last 20.2 IP, over 3 QS
42Tarik SkubalDETBAL 
43Eduardo RodriguezBOSTOR 
44Andrew HeaneyLAACOL 
45Kyle GibsonTEXSEA 
46Dane DunningTEXARI 
47Kolby AllardTEXSEA 
48Josh FlemingTBBOS 
49Tanner HouckBOSTOR 
50Matt ManningDET@MIN, BAL 
51Jose SuarezLAACOL 
52Nestor CortesNYY@TB 
53AL Reliever   
54Ross StriplingTORKC 
55Jaime BarriaLAAOAK 
56Martin PerezBOS@TB 
57Bailey OberMIN@STL 
58Darren McCaughanSEAHOU, @TEX 
59Cal QuantrillCLESTL, @CWS 
60J.A. HappMINDET 
61Daniel LynchKC@TOR 
62Alexander WellsBAL@DET 
63Mike FoltynewiczTEXSEA 
64Michael WachaTBNYY 
65J.C. MejiaCLE@CWS 
66Marco GonzalesSEA@TEX 
67Steven MatzTOR@BOS 
68Carlos HernandezKCCWS 
69Jordan LylesTEXARI 
70Spenser WatkinsBALMIA, @DET 
71Kris BubicKCCWS 
72Garrett RichardsBOSTOR 
73Luis PatinoTBNYY 
74Wily PeraltaDET@MIN 
75Matt HarveyBAL@DET 
76Tyler AlexanderDET@MIN, BAL 
77Jorge LopezBALMIA 
78Thomas HatchTOR@BOS 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Julio UriasLAD@SF, @ARINifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2Marcus StromanNYMATL, CINOnly seven wins, what is with the Mets and not scoring for aces
3Charlie MortonATL@NYM, MILHug watch candidate? Could lose second start if traded.
4Brandon WoodruffMIL@ATL 
5Corbin BurnesMIL@ATL 
6Freddy PeraltaMIL@ATL 
7Walker BuehlerLAD@SF 
8German MarquezCOL@LAA, @SD 
9Zack WheelerPHIWAS 
10Max ScherzerWAS@PHI4 HR allowed over prior 10.2 IP
11Yu DarvishSDCOL 
12Wade MileyCIN@CHC, @NYMAided by facing lesser lineups
13Joe MusgroveSDCOL 
14Austin GomberCOL@LAA, @SD 
15Aaron NolaPHI@PIT 
16Kevin GausmanSFHOU 
17Kyle HendricksCHCCIN, @WAS 
18Anthony DeSclafaniSFLAD 
19Adbert AlzolayCHCCIN, @WAS 
20Sandy AlcantaraMIA@BAL, NYY 
21Alex WoodSFHOU 
22Tylor MegillNYMATLERA estimators peg mark closer to 3.75 (which is still obviously very good)
23Kwang Hyun KimSTL@CLE 
24Rich HillNYMCINPossible victim of not using grip enhancer
25Sonny GrayCIN@NYM 
26Luis CastilloCIN@CHC 
27Carlos CarrascoNYMCIN 
28Adam WainwrightSTL@CLE 
29Chris PaddackSDOAK, COLTwo starts masks ratio risk
30Max FriedATL@NYM 
31Tyler AndersonPITMIL, PHI 
32Taijuan WalkerNYMATL 
33Zac GallenARILAD 
34Kyle MullerATL@NYM, MIL 
35Logan WebbSFLAD, HOU 
36Zach EflinPHI@PIT 
37Jon GrayCOL@SD 
38David PriceLAD@SF 
39Joe RossWAS@PHI, CHC 
40Tony GonsolinLAD@ARI 
41Tyler MahleCIN@CHC 
42JT BrubakerPITPHI 
43Johnny CuetoSFLAD 
44Merrill KellyARILAD 
45Ryan WeathersSDCOL 
46Madison BumgarnerARI@TEX 
47Spencer HowardPHIWAS 
48Blake SnellSDOAK 
49Drew SmylyATL@NYM 
50Chad KuhlPITMIL 
51NL Reliever   
52Bryse WilsonATL@NYM 
53Touki ToussaintATLMIL 
54Erick FeddeWAS@PHI, CHC 
55Patrick CorbinWAS@PHI 
56Adrian HouserMIL@PIT 
57Josiah GrayLAD@ARI 
58Eric LauerMIL@PIT 
59Kyle FreelandCOL@SD 
60Jake WoodfordSTLMIN 
61Nick TropeanoNYMATL 
62Caleb SmithARILAD 
63Zach DaviesCHCCIN 
64Brett AndersonMIL@PIT 
65Vince VelasquezPHIWAS 
66Zach ThompsonMIANYY 
67Nick NeidertMIANYY 
68Taylor WidenerARI@TEX 
69Jordan HollowayMIA@BAL 
70Alec MillsCHCCIN 
71Johan OviedoSTLMIN 
72Mitch KellerPITMIL 
73Vladimir GutierrezCIN@CHC, @NYM 
74Matt MoorePHIWAS, @PIT 
75Chi Chi GonzalezCOL@LAA 
76Jon LesterWASCHC 
77Wade LeBlancSTLMIN 
78Wil CrowePITPHI 
79Trevor WilliamsCHC@WAS 
80Anthony BandaNYMATL 

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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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