Weekly Pitcher Rankings: deGromination

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: deGromination

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

One month down, five to go. It's a little jarring to remember this would have been the halfway point this time last season.

One month also represents when in-season performance begins to move the needle off strictly initial expectations. That is, individual pitching and team hitting number from April have some influence on these rankings. History shows not to get carried away with the outcomes from the first month of play, but they do begin to adjust both player and team expectations. Keep in mind team expectations are relevant since they affect the matchups.

Speaking of which, some matchups are sure to change as teams formally announce their pitching plans. As such, the rankings will be refreshed Sunday might with the most current intel.

Week of May 3 - May 9

UPDATED: Monday May 3 12:20 AM ET

Mixed 

RankPitcherTMOPPComments 
1Jacob deGromNYM@STL, ARIBest 2-2 pitcher in MLB historyN
2Aaron NolaPHIMIL, @ATLEarly on getting fewer Ks but also walking a lot fewer hittersN
3Tyler GlasnowTB@LAA, @OAK A
4Clayton KershawLAD@CHC, @LAA N
5Walker BuehlerLAD@CHC, @LAAKs picking upN
6Aaron CivaleCLE@KC, CINLack of strikeouts will catch up if he doesn't ramp them upA
7Zack GreinkeHOU@NYY, TOR A
8Shane BieberCLE@KC A
9Sandy AlcantaraMIAARI, MIL N
10Yu DarvishSDPIT

One month down, five to go. It's a little jarring to remember this would have been the halfway point this time last season.

One month also represents when in-season performance begins to move the needle off strictly initial expectations. That is, individual pitching and team hitting number from April have some influence on these rankings. History shows not to get carried away with the outcomes from the first month of play, but they do begin to adjust both player and team expectations. Keep in mind team expectations are relevant since they affect the matchups.

Speaking of which, some matchups are sure to change as teams formally announce their pitching plans. As such, the rankings will be refreshed Sunday might with the most current intel.

Week of May 3 - May 9

UPDATED: Monday May 3 12:20 AM ET

Mixed 

RankPitcherTMOPPComments 
1Jacob deGromNYM@STL, ARIBest 2-2 pitcher in MLB historyN
2Aaron NolaPHIMIL, @ATLEarly on getting fewer Ks but also walking a lot fewer hittersN
3Tyler GlasnowTB@LAA, @OAK A
4Clayton KershawLAD@CHC, @LAA N
5Walker BuehlerLAD@CHC, @LAAKs picking upN
6Aaron CivaleCLE@KC, CINLack of strikeouts will catch up if he doesn't ramp them upA
7Zack GreinkeHOU@NYY, TOR A
8Shane BieberCLE@KC A
9Sandy AlcantaraMIAARI, MIL N
10Yu DarvishSDPIT N
11Trevor BauerLAD@CHC N
12Gerrit ColeNYYHOU A
13Kenta MaedaMINTEX, @DETNot quite ready to dock for early season woes, but will if he struggles this weekA
14Zac GallenARI@NYM N
15Adam WainwrightSTLNYM, COLDominant lately and weak foes at homeN
16Brandon WoodruffMIL@PHI N
17J.A. HappMINTEX, @DETPotential sell high after he continues early season roll facing two lesser lineupsA
18Dinelson LametSDPIT, @SF N
19Jack FlahertySTLNYMConcern is growing, but not in panic stage yetN
20Joe MusgroveSD@SFHas improved velo and spin on all four pitchesN
21John MeansBAL@SEAContinues to rack up strikeoutsA
22Julio UriasLAD@LAA N
23Yusei KikuchiSEABAL A
24Hyun Jin RyuTOR@OAK A
25Max ScherzerWAS@NYY N
26Lance LynnCWS@KC A
27Zack WheelerPHIMIL N
28Kevin GausmanSFSD N
29Lucas GiolitoCWS@KCAl Leiter should ask Giolito about the meatball he threw to Niko Goodrum last weekA
30Shane McClanahanTB@LAA, @OAKImpressive, but may not go five framesA
31Sean ManaeaOAKTB A
32Joey LucchesiNYM@STL, ARILooked good in the spring, but likely limited with inningsN
33Jose BerriosMIN@DET A
34Michael PinedaMINTEX A
35Pablo LopezMIAARI N
36Mike MinorKCCLE, CWS6 HR in 25 IPA
37Madison BumgarnerARI@MIA N
38Charlie MortonATLPHI N
39German MarquezCOLSF, @STLWalks high, even on the roadN
40Ryan WeathersSDPIT N
41Cristian JavierHOUTOR A
42Carlos RodonCWS@KC A
43Cole IrvinOAKTOR, TBMissing more bats, intriguing pickup for pair at homeA
44Kwang Hyun KimSTLNYM, COLSoft lineups, good week to deployN
45Eduardo RodriguezBOS@BAL A
46Kyle HendricksCHCLAD, PITResist temptation to reserve, lest you lose the good stats to balance poor AprilN
47Ian AndersonATLPHI N
48Blake SnellSD@SF N
49Zach PlesacCLECIN A
50Anthony DeSclafaniSFSD N
51Marcus StromanNYM@STL N
52Trevor RogersMIAMILGood test for the young leftyN
53Steven MatzTOR@OAK, @HOU A
54Carlos MartinezSTLCOL N
55Kyle GibsonTEX@MIN, SEA A
56Danny DuffyKCCLE A
57Andrew HeaneyLAATB A
58Shohei OhtaniLAATB, LADBig conundrum for many, use as P or UT in what could be only two-start week all seasonA
59Tyler MahleCIN@CLE N
60Huascar YnoaATL@WAS, PHI N
61Taijuan WalkerNYM@STL N
62Matt ShoemakerMINTEX A
63Dylan BundyLAALAD A
64Adrian HouserMIL@PHI, @MIA N
65Sonny GrayCINCWSWalks too high, not ideal lineup to get rightN
66Frankie MontasOAKTOR, TB4.34 xFIP and 4.01 SIERA say be patientA
67Nathan EovaldiBOSDET A
68Nick PivettaBOSDET, @BALToo many walks, but these lineups may not take advantageA
69Freddy PeraltaMIL@PHI N
70Tyler AndersonPIT@SD, @CHC N
71Domingo GermanNYYHOU, WASBack on track, but tough drawA
72Merrill KellyARI@NYM N
73Robbie RayTOR@OAK A
74Ryan YarbroughTB@LAA A
75Jordan MontgomeryNYYHOU A
76Dane DunningTEX@MIN, SEA A
77Zach EflinPHI@ATL N
78Brady SingerKCCLE A
79Rich HillTB@OAK A
80Chris BassittOAKTOR A
81Mike FoltynewiczTEXSEA A
82Jameson TaillonNYYWAS A
83John GantSTLNYM N
84Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@NYY A
85Luis CastilloCIN@CLE N
86Paul CampbellMIAARI N
87Josh FlemingTB@LAA A
88Justin DunnSEABALMediocre arm but great matchupsA
89David PetersonNYMARI N
90Mix 12 Reliever    
91Jose UrquidyHOUTOR A
92Luke WeaverARI@MIAWhat happens when a pedestrian pitcher meets two beatable lineupsN
93Chris FlexenSEA@TEXShould get back on track after blip last time outA
94JT BrubakerPIT@SD N
95Corey KluberNYYWAS A
96Triston McKenzieCLE@KC A
97Mix 15 Reliever    
98Austin GomberCOL@STL N
99Alex CobbLAATB A
100Patrick CorbinWAS@NYY N
101Joe RossWASATL, @NYY N
102Erik SwansonSEABAL A
103Wade MileyCIN@CLE N
104Dylan CeaseCWS@CIN A
105Garrett RichardsBOS@BAL A
106Spencer TurnbullDET@BOS A
107Dallas KeuchelCWS@CIN A
108Riley SmithARI@MIA, @NYM N
109Adbert AlzolayCHCLAD N
110Chase AndersonPHIMIL N
111Michael FulmerDET@BOS, MIN A
112Eric LauerMIL@PHI, @MIA N
113Jorge LopezBAL@SEA A
114Jose QuintanaLAATB A
115Ljay NewsomeSEA@TEX A
116Luis GarciaHOU@NYY A
117Trevor WilliamsCHCPIT N
118Anthony KayTOR@OAK, @HOU A
119Mike FiersOAKTOR A
120Casey MizeDET@BOS A
121Martin PerezBOSDET A
122Griffin CanningLAALAD A
123Jon GrayCOLSF N
124Aaron SanchezSF@COL, SD N
125Jordan ZimmermannMIL@MIA N
126Max FriedATL@WAS N
127Vince VelasquezPHIMIL, @ATL N
128Ross StriplingTOR@HOU A
129Dean KremerBAL@SEA, BOS A
130Jose UrenaDETMIN A
131Daniel LynchKCCLE, CWS A
132Jake ArrietaCHCLAD N
133Jon LesterWASATL N
134Erick FeddeWASATL N
135Zach DaviesCHCPIT N
136Nick NeidertMIAMIL N
137Justus SheffieldSEA@TEX A
138Trevor CahillPIT@CHC N
139Kohei AriharaTEX@MIN A
140Jeff HoffmanCINCWS N
141Alex WoodSF@COL N
142Tarik SkubalDETMIN A
143Brad KellerKCCWS A
144Mitch KellerPIT@SD N
145Jordan LylesTEX@MIN A
146Drew SmylyATL@WAS N
147Chi Chi GonzalezCOL@STL N
148Matt HarveyBALBOS A
149Sam HentgesCLE@KC, CIN A
150Bruce ZimmermannBALBOS A
151Logan WebbSF@COL N
152Wil CrowePIT@CHC N
153Jhoulys ChacinCOLSF N

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Tyler GlasnowTB@LAA, @OAK 
2Aaron CivaleCLE@KC, CINLack of strikeouts will catch up if he doesn't ramp them up
3Zack GreinkeHOU@NYY, TOR 
4Shane BieberCLE@KC 
5Gerrit ColeNYYHOU 
6Kenta MaedaMINTEX, @DETNot quite ready to dock for early season woes, but will if he struggles this week
7J.A. HappMINTEX, @DETPotential sell high after he continues early season roll facing two lesser lineups
8John MeansBAL@SEAContinues to rack up strikeouts
9Yusei KikuchiSEABAL 
10Hyun Jin RyuTOR@OAK 
11Lance LynnCWS@KC 
12Lucas GiolitoCWS@KCAl Leiter should ask Giolito about the meatball he threw to Niko Goodrum last week
13Shane McClanahanTB@LAA, @OAKImpressive, but may not go five frames
14Sean ManaeaOAKTB 
15Jose BerriosMIN@DET 
16Michael PinedaMINTEX 
17Mike MinorKCCLE, CWS6 HR in 25 IP
18Cristian JavierHOUTOR 
19Carlos RodonCWS@KC 
20Cole IrvinOAKTOR, TBMissing more bats, intriguing pickup for pair at home
21Eduardo RodriguezBOS@BAL 
22Zach PlesacCLECIN 
23Steven MatzTOR@OAK, @HOU 
24Kyle GibsonTEX@MIN, SEA 
25Danny DuffyKCCLE 
26Andrew HeaneyLAATB 
27Shohei OhtaniLAATB, LADBig conundrum for many, use as P or UT in what could be only two-start week all season
28Matt ShoemakerMINTEX 
29Dylan BundyLAALAD 
30Frankie MontasOAKTOR, TB4.34 xFIP and 4.01 SIERA say be patient
31Nathan EovaldiBOSDET 
32Nick PivettaBOSDET, @BALToo many walks, but these lineups may not take advantage
33Domingo GermanNYYHOU, WASBack on track, but tough draw
34Robbie RayTOR@OAK 
35Ryan YarbroughTB@LAA 
36Jordan MontgomeryNYYHOU 
37Dane DunningTEX@MIN, SEA 
38Brady SingerKCCLE 
39Rich HillTB@OAK 
40Chris BassittOAKTOR 
41Mike FoltynewiczTEXSEA 
42Jameson TaillonNYYWAS 
43Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@NYY 
44Josh FlemingTB@LAA 
45Justin DunnSEABALMediocre arm but great matchups
46Jose UrquidyHOUTOR 
47Chris FlexenSEA@TEXShould get back on track after blip last time out
48Corey KluberNYYWAS 
49Triston McKenzieCLE@KC 
50Alex CobbLAATB 
51Erik SwansonSEABAL 
52Dylan CeaseCWS@CIN 
53Garrett RichardsBOS@BAL 
54AL Reliever   
55Spencer TurnbullDET@BOS 
56Dallas KeuchelCWS@CIN 
57Michael FulmerDET@BOS, MIN 
58Jorge LopezBAL@SEA 
59Jose QuintanaLAATB 
60Ljay NewsomeSEA@TEX 
61Luis GarciaHOU@NYY 
62Anthony KayTOR@OAK, @HOU 
63Mike FiersOAKTOR 
64Casey MizeDET@BOS 
65Martin PerezBOSDET 
66Griffin CanningLAALAD 
67Ross StriplingTOR@HOU 
68Dean KremerBAL@SEA, BOS 
69Jose UrenaDETMIN 
70Daniel LynchKCCLE, CWS 
71Justus SheffieldSEA@TEX 
72Kohei AriharaTEX@MIN 
73Tarik SkubalDETMIN 
74Brad KellerKCCWS 
75Jordan LylesTEX@MIN 
76Matt HarveyBALBOS 
77Sam HentgesCLE@KC, CIN 
78Bruce ZimmermannBALBOS 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Jacob deGromNYM@STL, ARIBest 2-2 pitcher in MLB history
2Aaron NolaPHIMIL, @ATLEarly on getting fewer Ks but also walking a lot fewer hitters
3Clayton KershawLAD@CHC, @LAA 
4Walker BuehlerLAD@CHC, @LAAKs picking up
5Sandy AlcantaraMIAARI, MIL 
6Yu DarvishSDPIT 
7Trevor BauerLAD@CHC 
8Zac GallenARI@NYM 
9Adam WainwrightSTLNYM, COLDominant lately and weak foes at home
10Brandon WoodruffMIL@PHI 
11Dinelson LametSDPIT, @SF 
12Jack FlahertySTLNYMConcern is growing, but not in panic stage yet
13Joe MusgroveSD@SFHas improved velo and spin on all four pitches
14Julio UriasLAD@LAA 
15Max ScherzerWAS@NYY 
16Zack WheelerPHIMIL 
17Kevin GausmanSFSD 
18Joey LucchesiNYM@STL, ARILooked good in the spring, but likely limited with innings
19Pablo LopezMIAARI 
20Madison BumgarnerARI@MIA 
21Charlie MortonATLPHI 
22German MarquezCOLSF, @STLWalks high, even on the road
23Ryan WeathersSDPIT 
24Kwang Hyun KimSTLNYM, COLSoft lineups, good week to deploy
25Kyle HendricksCHCLAD, PITResist temptation to reserve, lest you lose the good stats to balance poor April
26Ian AndersonATLPHI 
27Blake SnellSD@SF 
28Anthony DeSclafaniSFSD 
29Marcus StromanNYM@STL 
30Trevor RogersMIAMILGood test for the young lefty
31Carlos MartinezSTLCOL 
32Tyler MahleCIN@CLE 
33Huascar YnoaATL@WAS, PHI 
34Taijuan WalkerNYM@STL 
35Adrian HouserMIL@PHI, @MIA 
36Sonny GrayCINCWSWalks too high, not ideal lineup to get right
37Freddy PeraltaMIL@PHI 
38Tyler AndersonPIT@SD, @CHC 
39Merrill KellyARI@NYM 
40Zach EflinPHI@ATL 
41John GantSTLNYM 
42Luis CastilloCIN@CLE 
43Paul CampbellMIAARI 
44David PetersonNYMARI 
45Luke WeaverARI@MIAWhat happens when a pedestrian pitcher meets two beatable lineups
46JT BrubakerPIT@SD 
47Austin GomberCOL@STL 
48Patrick CorbinWAS@NYY 
49Joe RossWASATL, @NYY 
50Wade MileyCIN@CLE 
51NL Reliever   
52Riley SmithARI@MIA, @NYM 
53Adbert AlzolayCHCLAD 
54Chase AndersonPHIMIL 
55Eric LauerMIL@PHI, @MIA 
56Trevor WilliamsCHCPIT 
57Jon GrayCOLSF 
58Aaron SanchezSF@COL, SD 
59Jordan ZimmermannMIL@MIA 
60Max FriedATL@WAS 
61Vince VelasquezPHIMIL, @ATL 
62Jake ArrietaCHCLAD 
63Jon LesterWASATL 
64Erick FeddeWASATL 
65Zach DaviesCHCPIT 
66Nick NeidertMIAMIL 
67Trevor CahillPIT@CHC 
68Jeff HoffmanCINCWS 
69Alex WoodSF@COL 
70Mitch KellerPIT@SD 
71Drew SmylyATL@WAS 
72Chi Chi GonzalezCOL@STL 
73Logan WebbSF@COL 
74Wil CrowePIT@CHC 
75Jhoulys ChacinCOLSF 

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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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