Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Good News, Bad News?

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Good News, Bad News?

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Let's start with the good news. Buoyed by three doubleheaders, there are a season-high 100 games on the docket, featuring a bountiful 37 two-start option.

The bad news is the quality of the double-dippers is lacking. Although, depending on your perspective, it may be beneficial if you're trying to make up ground on the pitching ledger as your opponents won't be able to extend the gap as much. 

Something to keep in mind is barring a rainout pushed to Sept. 27, there are only two games on the slate that day, limiting the two-start options for the final week of the season.

Note: there are several double dippers in the 90-110 range. Deciding whether to take the chance is all about team needs and balancing categories.

As always, the probable pitchers are culled from the best Projected Starters grid on the planet. Ergo, please direct all rotation questions over there. If you have a query regarding a ranking, I'll be happy to address it below.

UPDATED: Monday September 20 1:45 AM ET

Week of Sept. 20-26

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Robbie RayTOR@TB, @MINERA estimators still trail Cole, but close enough to get my hypothetical AL Cy vote.
2Alek ManoahTOR@TB, @MIN 
3Joe MusgroveSDSF, ATL9 BB, 4 HR last 17.1 IP, needs to flip the script this week
4Triston McKenzieCLEKC, CWS1.50 ERA and .61 WHIP with 20 K, 3 BB over last 18 IP

Let's start with the good news. Buoyed by three doubleheaders, there are a season-high 100 games on the docket, featuring a bountiful 37 two-start option.

The bad news is the quality of the double-dippers is lacking. Although, depending on your perspective, it may be beneficial if you're trying to make up ground on the pitching ledger as your opponents won't be able to extend the gap as much. 

Something to keep in mind is barring a rainout pushed to Sept. 27, there are only two games on the slate that day, limiting the two-start options for the final week of the season.

Note: there are several double dippers in the 90-110 range. Deciding whether to take the chance is all about team needs and balancing categories.

As always, the probable pitchers are culled from the best Projected Starters grid on the planet. Ergo, please direct all rotation questions over there. If you have a query regarding a ranking, I'll be happy to address it below.

UPDATED: Monday September 20 1:45 AM ET

Week of Sept. 20-26

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Robbie RayTOR@TB, @MINERA estimators still trail Cole, but close enough to get my hypothetical AL Cy vote.
2Alek ManoahTOR@TB, @MIN 
3Joe MusgroveSDSF, ATL9 BB, 4 HR last 17.1 IP, needs to flip the script this week
4Triston McKenzieCLEKC, CWS1.50 ERA and .61 WHIP with 20 K, 3 BB over last 18 IP
5Freddy PeraltaMILSTL, NYMInnings may be limited in one or both
6Corbin BurnesMILNYM 
7Zack WheelerPHIBALFirst to 200 IP
8Carlos RodonCWS@DET, @CLE 
9Huascar YnoaATL@ARI, @SD 
10Tyler MahleCINPIT, WAS 
11Brandon WoodruffMILSTL 
12Max ScherzerLAD@COL 
13Marco GonzalesSEA@OAK, @LAA7-0 with a 2.53 ERA and .99 WHIP in 11 starts since the break
14Sandy AlcantaraMIA@TB1.93 ERA, .60 WHIP with 27 K and 1 BB over last 23.1 IP
15Clayton KershawLAD@ARI 
16Adam WainwrightSTL@MIL 
17Lance LynnCWS@CLE 
18Aaron NolaPHIPITHR have been an issue all season
19Sonny GrayCINWAS 
20Charlie MortonATL@ARI 
21Gerrit ColeNYY@BOS 
22Luis CastilloCINPIT 
23Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@LAA 
24Shohei OhtaniLAASEA 
25Kevin GausmanSF@SD, @COL 
26Sean ManaeaOAKSEA, HOUTough matchups, but 21 K with just 2 BB over last 19 IP
27Ranger SuarezPHIBAL, PIT 
28John MeansBAL@PHI, TEX 
29Julio UriasLAD@COL, @ARI 
30Shane BieberCLECWSGood to see him back
31Framber ValdezHOU@LAA, @OAKAssuming cut on his finger has healed
32Jose BerriosTOR@MIN 
33Cal QuantrillCLEKC 
34Chris SaleBOSNYM 
35Lucas GiolitoCWS@CLE 
36Shane McClanahanTBMIA 
37Nathan EovaldiBOSNYY 
38Chris BassittOAKSEAAssuming he doesn't need a rehab start
39Nestor CortesNYYTEX, @BOS 
40Jose UrquidyHOU@LAA 
41Logan WebbSF@SD11 straight games with at least 6 IP, including 10 QS
42Max FriedATL@SD 
43Yu DarvishSDATL 
44Marcus StromanNYM@BOS 
45Eduardo RodriguezBOSNYM, NYYNew York, New York
46Zack GreinkeHOU@OAK 
47Chris FlexenSEA@OAK 
48Luis GarciaHOU@LAA 
49Elieser HernandezMIAWAS 
50Corey KluberNYYTEX 
51Frankie MontasOAKHOU 
52Zach PlesacCLECWS 
53Kyle GibsonPHIPITERA correction in full force
54Eric LauerMILNYM 
55Trevor RogersMIAWAS 
56Tyler AndersonSEA@OAK, @LAA 
57Logan GilbertSEA@LAA 
58Jake OdorizziHOU@OAK 
59Jordan MontgomeryNYYTEX, @BOS 
60Adrian HouserMILSTL 
61Alex WoodSF@SD 
62Vladimir GutierrezCINPIT, WASPrime matchups
63Madison BumgarnerARIATL 
64Tarik SkubalDETKC 
65Bryce ElderATL@ARI, @SD 
66Carlos CarrascoNYM@MIL 
67Edward CabreraMIA@TB 
68Walker BuehlerLAD@COL 
69Alex CobbLAAHOU 
70Zac GallenARILAD 
71Josiah GrayWAS@MIA 
72Tony GonsolinLAD@ARI 
73Erick FeddeWAS@MIA, @CINGood option if you need whiffs, but puts ratios at risk
74Aaron CivaleCLECWS 
75Joe RyanMIN@CHC 
76Taijuan WalkerNYM@MIL 
77Dylan CeaseCWS@CLE 
78Cole IrvinOAKSEA 
79Casey MizeDETCWS 
80Rich HillNYM@MIL 
81Luis PatinoTBMIA 
82Jose SuarezLAASEA 
83Drew RasmussenTBTOR 
84James KaprielianOAKHOU 
85Mix 12 Reliever   
86Ian AndersonATL@ARI 
87Miles MikolasSTL@MIL 
88Francisco PerezCLEKC 
89Nick PivettaBOSNYY 
90Carlos HernandezKC@CLE10 BB over last 16 IP, but good matchups, albeit on the road
91Mix 15 Reliever   
92Dallas KeuchelCWS@DET, @CLE 
93Taylor HearnTEX@NYY 
94Yusei KikuchiSEA@OAK 
95Michael PinedaMINTOR 
96Brett AndersonMILSTL 
97Kyle HendricksCHCMIN 
98Wade MileyCINWAS 
99Shane BazTBTOR 
100Jon LesterSTL@MIL, @CHC 
101Alec MillsCHCMIN, STL 
102Paolo EspinoWAS@CIN 
103Josh RogersWAS@MIA, @CIN 
104Matt ManningDETCWS, KC 
105Zac LowtherBALTEX 
106Luke WeaverARIATL 
107A.J. AlexyTEX@NYY, @BAL 
108Brady SingerKC@CLE, @DET 
109Reynaldo LopezCWS@DET 
110Nabil CrismattSDSF 
111Wily PeraltaDETKC 
112Jesus LuzardoMIAWAS, @TB 
113Jaime BarriaLAAHOU, SEA 
114Paul BlackburnOAKSEA 
115Jake WoodfordSTL@MIL, @CHC 
116Eli MorganCLECWS 
117Merrill KellyARIATL 
118Dakota HudsonSTL@CHC 
119Michael WachaTBTOR 
120Dane DunningTEX@NYY 
121Humberto MejiaARIATL, LAD 
122Tylor MegillNYM@BOS 
123Jordan LylesTEX@BAL 
124Vince VelasquezSDSF 
125Ryan YarbroughTBMIA 
126Bailey OberMINTOR 
127Logan AllenCLEKC 
128J.A. HappSTL@CHC 
129Patrick CorbinWAS@CIN 
130Steven MatzTOR@MIN 
131Anthony DeSclafaniSF@COL 
132Zach DaviesCHCSTL 
133Ross StriplingTOR@TB 
134Kris BubicKC@DET 
135Tyler AlexanderDETCWS 
136Justin SteeleCHCSTL 
137Griffin JaxMIN@CHC, TOR 
138Spencer HowardTEX@BAL 
139Mitch KellerPIT@CIN, @PHI 
140Packy NaughtonLAAHOU 
141Adonis MedinaPHIBAL, PIT 
142Jon GrayCOLSF 
143Antonio SenzatelaCOLLAD, SF 
144German MarquezCOLLAD 
145Daniel LynchKC@CLE 
146Kolby AllardTEX@BAL 
147Humberto CastellanosARILAD 
148Adrian SampsonCHCSTL 
149Max KranickPIT@PHI 
150Dillon PetersPIT@CIN, @PHI 
151Jake ArrietaSDATL 
152Janson JunkLAAHOU 
153Charlie BarnesMINTOR 
154Chris EllisBAL@PHI, TEX 
155Keegan AkinBAL@PHI 
156Wil CrowePIT@CIN 
157Alexander WellsBALTEX 
158Jackson KowarKC@DET 
159Jose QuintanaSF@COL 
160Ervin SantanaKC@CLE 
161Kyle FreelandCOLLAD 
162Connor OvertonPIT@PHI 
163Peter LambertCOLSF 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Robbie RayTOR@TB, @MINERA estimators still trail Cole, but close enough to get my hypothetical AL Cy vote.
2Alek ManoahTOR@TB, @MIN 
3Triston McKenzieCLEKC, CWS1.50 ERA and .61 WHIP with 20 K, 3 BB over last 18 IP
4Carlos RodonCWS@DET, @CLE 
5Marco GonzalesSEA@OAK, @LAA7-0 with a 2.53 ERA and .99 WHIP in 11 starts since the break
6Lance LynnCWS@CLE 
7Gerrit ColeNYY@BOS 
8Lance McCullers Jr.HOU@LAA 
9Shohei OhtaniLAASEA 
10Sean ManaeaOAKSEA, HOUTough matchups, but 21 K with just 2 BB over last 19 IP
11John MeansBAL@PHI, TEX 
12Shane BieberCLECWSGood to see him back
13Framber ValdezHOU@LAA, @OAKAssuming cut on his finger has healed
14Jose BerriosTOR@MIN 
15Cal QuantrillCLEKC 
16Chris SaleBOSNYM 
17Lucas GiolitoCWS@CLE 
18Shane McClanahanTBMIA 
19Nathan EovaldiBOSNYY 
20Chris BassittOAKSEAAssuming he doesn't need a rehab start
21Nestor CortesNYYTEX, @BOS 
22Jose UrquidyHOU@LAA 
23Eduardo RodriguezBOSNYM, NYYNew York, New York
24Zack GreinkeHOU@OAK 
25Chris FlexenSEA@OAK 
26Luis GarciaHOU@LAA 
27Corey KluberNYYTEX 
28Frankie MontasOAKHOU 
29Zach PlesacCLECWS 
30Tyler AndersonSEA@OAK, @LAA 
31Logan GilbertSEA@LAA 
32Jake OdorizziHOU@OAK 
33Jordan MontgomeryNYYTEX, @BOS 
34Tarik SkubalDETKC 
35Alex CobbLAAHOU 
36Aaron CivaleCLECWS 
37Joe RyanMIN@CHC 
38Dylan CeaseCWS@CLE 
39Cole IrvinOAKSEA 
40Casey MizeDETCWS 
41Luis PatinoTBMIA 
42Jose SuarezLAASEA 
43Drew RasmussenTBTOR 
44James KaprielianOAKHOU 
45Francisco PerezCLEKC 
46Nick PivettaBOSNYY 
47Carlos HernandezKC@CLE10 BB over last 16 IP, but good matchups, albeit on the road
48Dallas KeuchelCWS@DET, @CLE 
49Taylor HearnTEX@NYY 
50Yusei KikuchiSEA@OAK 
51Michael PinedaMINTOR 
52Shane BazTBTOR 
53AL Reliever   
54Matt ManningDETCWS, KC 
55Zac LowtherBALTEX 
56A.J. AlexyTEX@NYY, @BAL 
57Brady SingerKC@CLE, @DET 
58Reynaldo LopezCWS@DET 
59Wily PeraltaDETKC 
60Jaime BarriaLAAHOU, SEA 
61Paul BlackburnOAKSEA 
62Eli MorganCLECWS 
63Michael WachaTBTOR 
64Dane DunningTEX@NYY 
65Jordan LylesTEX@BAL 
66Ryan YarbroughTBMIA 
67Bailey OberMINTOR 
68Logan AllenCLEKC 
69Steven MatzTOR@MIN 
70Ross StriplingTOR@TB 
71Kris BubicKC@DET 
72Tyler AlexanderDETCWS 
73Griffin JaxMIN@CHC, TOR 
74Spencer HowardTEX@BAL 
75Packy NaughtonLAAHOU 
76Daniel LynchKC@CLE 
77Kolby AllardTEX@BAL 
78Janson JunkLAAHOU 
79Charlie BarnesMINTOR 
80Chris EllisBAL@PHI, TEX 
81Keegan AkinBAL@PHI 
82Alexander WellsBALTEX 
83Jackson KowarKC@DET 
84Ervin SantanaKC@CLE 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Joe MusgroveSDSF, ATL9 BB, 4 HR last 17.1 IP, needs to flip the script this week
2Freddy PeraltaMILSTL, NYMInnings may be limited in one or both
3Corbin BurnesMILNYM 
4Zack WheelerPHIBALFirst to 200 IP
5Huascar YnoaATL@ARI, @SD 
6Tyler MahleCINPIT, WAS 
7Brandon WoodruffMILSTL 
8Max ScherzerLAD@COL 
9Sandy AlcantaraMIA@TB1.93 ERA, .60 WHIP with 27 K and 1 BB over last 23.1 IP
10Clayton KershawLAD@ARI 
11Adam WainwrightSTL@MIL 
12Aaron NolaPHIPITHR have been an issue all season
13Sonny GrayCINWAS 
14Charlie MortonATL@ARI 
15Luis CastilloCINPIT 
16Kevin GausmanSF@SD, @COL 
17Ranger SuarezPHIBAL, PIT 
18Julio UriasLAD@COL, @ARI 
19Logan WebbSF@SD11 straight games with at least 6 IP, including 10 QS
20Max FriedATL@SD 
21Yu DarvishSDATL 
22Marcus StromanNYM@BOS 
23Elieser HernandezMIAWAS 
24Kyle GibsonPHIPITERA correction in full force
25Eric LauerMILNYM 
26Trevor RogersMIAWAS 
27Adrian HouserMILSTL 
28Alex WoodSF@SD 
29Vladimir GutierrezCINPIT, WASPrime matchups
30Madison BumgarnerARIATL 
31Bryce ElderATL@ARI, @SD 
32Carlos CarrascoNYM@MIL 
33Edward CabreraMIA@TB 
34Walker BuehlerLAD@COL 
35Zac GallenARILAD 
36Josiah GrayWAS@MIA 
37Tony GonsolinLAD@ARI 
38Erick FeddeWAS@MIA, @CINGood option if you need whiffs, but puts ratios at risk
39Taijuan WalkerNYM@MIL 
40Rich HillNYM@MIL 
41Ian AndersonATL@ARI 
42Miles MikolasSTL@MIL 
43Brett AndersonMILSTL 
44Kyle HendricksCHCMIN 
45Wade MileyCINWAS 
46Jon LesterSTL@MIL, @CHC 
47NL Reliever   
48Alec MillsCHCMIN, STL 
49Paolo EspinoWAS@CIN 
50Josh RogersWAS@MIA, @CIN 
51Luke WeaverARIATL 
52Nabil CrismattSDSF 
53Jesus LuzardoMIAWAS, @TB 
54Jake WoodfordSTL@MIL, @CHC 
55Merrill KellyARIATL 
56Dakota HudsonSTL@CHC 
57Humberto MejiaARIATL, LAD 
58Tylor MegillNYM@BOS 
59Vince VelasquezSDSF 
60J.A. HappSTL@CHC 
61Patrick CorbinWAS@CIN 
62Anthony DeSclafaniSF@COL 
63Zach DaviesCHCSTL 
64Justin SteeleCHCSTL 
65Mitch KellerPIT@CIN, @PHI 
66Adonis MedinaPHIBAL, PIT 
67Jon GrayCOLSF 
68Antonio SenzatelaCOLLAD, SF 
69German MarquezCOLLAD 
70Humberto CastellanosARILAD 
71Adrian SampsonCHCSTL 
72Max KranickPIT@PHI 
73Dillon PetersPIT@CIN, @PHI 
74Jake ArrietaSDATL 
75Wil CrowePIT@CIN 
76Jose QuintanaSF@COL 
77Kyle FreelandCOLLAD 
78Connor OvertonPIT@PHI 
79Peter LambertCOLSF 

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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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