Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Keuchel Leads Astros

Todd Zola ranks this week's starting pitchers as Houston's Dallas Keuchel finds himself atop the AL with two starts against division foes.

Updated on September 2, 2017 12:53PM EST

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Keuchel Leads Astros

By:

Todd Zola

Updated on September 2, 2017 12:53PM EST

Weekly Pitcher Rankings

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Despite a full Labor Day schedule on Monday, the number of two-start pitchers seems less than normal, likely because there's a few hurlers expected to come off the disabled list as well as some rookies making their debut, extending some rotations.

UPDATED: Sunday September 3 9:45 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Dallas Keuchel	HOU	at SEA, at OAK
2	Jose Berrios	MIN	at TB, at KC	Pitching better than his ERA indicates
3	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. TB
4	Corey Kluber	CLE	at CWS
5	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at CWS
6	Justin Verlander	HOU	at SEA	Felt wrong changing team affiliation
7	Alex Cobb	TB	vs. MIN, at BOS
8	Rick Porcello	BOS	vs. TOR, vs. TB	Win potential elevates ranking
9	Danny Salazar	CLE	at CWS
10	J.A. Happ	TOR	at BOS, vs. DET
11	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at CWS, vs. BAL	Racking up the wins and whiffs
12	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. TB
13	Luis Severino	NYY	at TEX
14	Parker Bridwell	LAA	at OAK, at SEA
15	Ervin Santana	MIN	at KC	Improving skills mitigated regression
16	Tyler Skaggs	LAA	at OAK	May not make start, really scuffling
17	Charlie Morton	HOU	at OAK
18	Lance McCullers	HOU	at SEA	Tentative, but coule return mid-week
19	Garrett Richards	LAA	at OAK	On target to return, was hitting 96 on gun in rehab
20	Erasmo Ramirez	SEA	vs. HOU, vs. LAA
21	Chris Archer	TB	at BOS
22	Marcus Stroman	TOR	vs. DET

UPDATED: Sunday September 3 9:45 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Dallas Keuchel	HOU	at SEA, at OAK
2	Jose Berrios	MIN	at TB, at KC	Pitching better than his ERA indicates
3	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. TB
4	Corey Kluber	CLE	at CWS
5	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at CWS
6	Justin Verlander	HOU	at SEA	Felt wrong changing team affiliation
7	Alex Cobb	TB	vs. MIN, at BOS
8	Rick Porcello	BOS	vs. TOR, vs. TB	Win potential elevates ranking
9	Danny Salazar	CLE	at CWS
10	J.A. Happ	TOR	at BOS, vs. DET
11	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at CWS, vs. BAL	Racking up the wins and whiffs
12	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. TB
13	Luis Severino	NYY	at TEX
14	Parker Bridwell	LAA	at OAK, at SEA
15	Ervin Santana	MIN	at KC	Improving skills mitigated regression
16	Tyler Skaggs	LAA	at OAK	May not make start, really scuffling
17	Charlie Morton	HOU	at OAK
18	Lance McCullers	HOU	at SEA	Tentative, but coule return mid-week
19	Garrett Richards	LAA	at OAK	On target to return, was hitting 96 on gun in rehab
20	Erasmo Ramirez	SEA	vs. HOU, vs. LAA
21	Chris Archer	TB	at BOS
22	Marcus Stroman	TOR	vs. DET
23	Jason Vargas	KC	at DET, vs. MIN	Regression is an ugly thing
24	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	at BAL
25	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	at TEX
26	Lucas Giolito	CWS	vs. SF
27	CC Sabathia	NYY	at BAL
28	Sean Manaea	OAK	vs. LAA	Just doesn't look right
29	Cole Hamels	TEX	at ATL	Strikeout continue to be lacking
30	Jake Junis	KC	at DET, vs. MIN
31	Collin McHugh	HOU	at OAK
32	Chris Smith	OAK	vs. LAA
33	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	vs. TOR
34	Andrew Heaney	LAA	at SEA
35	Aaron Slegers	MIN	at TB
36	Mike Fiers	HOU	at OAK
37	Kendall Graveman	OAK	vs. LAA, vs. HOU
38	Blake Snell	TB	vs. MIN
39	Doug Fister	BOS	vs. TOR
40	Matt Andriese	TB	at BOS
41	Carlos Rodon	CWS	vs. CLE
42	Buck Farmer	DET	at TOR
43	Dylan Bundy	BAL	vs. NYY
44	Sonny Gray	NYY	at BAL
45	Kevin Gausman	BAL	vs. NYY
46	James Shields	CWS	vs. CLE, vs. SF
47	Mike Clevinger	CLE	vs. BAL
48	Artie Lewicki	DET	vs. KC
49	Ariel Miranda	SEA	vs. HOU
50	Jason Hammel	KC	at DET
51	Brett Anderson	TOR	vs. DET
52	Ricky Nolasco	LAA	at SEA
53	Andrew Cashner	TEX	at ATL, vs. NYY
54	Jake Odorizzi	TB	vs. MIN
55	Marco Gonzales	SEA	vs. LAA
56	David Holmberg	CWS	vs. CLE, vs. SF
57	Josh Tomlin	CLE	vs. BAL
58	Anibal Sanchez	DET	vs. KC
59	Joe Biagini	TOR	at BOS
60	Miguel Gonzalez	CWS	at ATL
61	Ian Kennedy	KC	vs. MIN
62	Martin Perez	TEX	vs. NYY
63	Adalberto Mejia	MIN	at KC
64	Jeremy Hellickson	BAL	vs. NYY
65	Bartolo Colon	MIN	at TB
66	Jharel Cotton	OAK	vs. HOU
67	Jordan Zimmermann	DET	at TOR
68	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	vs. CLE
69	Andrew Albers	SEA	vs. LAA
70	Matt Boyd	DET	vs. KC
71	Marco Estrada	TOR	at BOS
72	Chad Bell	DET	at TOR
73	Jaime Garcia	NYY	at TEX
74	A.J. Griffin	TEX	vs. NYY
75	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at KC
76	Daniel Gossett	OAK	vs. HOU
77	Sam Gaviglio	SEA	vs. MIN
78	Ubaldo Jimenez	BAL	at CLE
79	Wade Miley	BAL	at CLE
80	Chris Tillman	BAL	at CLE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rank	Pitcher	TEAM	Opponent(s)	Comments
1	Rich Hill	LAD	vs. ARI, vs. COL	Facing two weak clubs versus LHP
2	Carlos Martinez	STL	at SD, vs. PIT	Great matchups
3	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	at MIA, vs. PHI	.86 ERA, .76 WHIP, 23 K, 3 BB in last 21 IP
4	Jake Arrieta	CHC	at PIT, vs. MIL
5	Robbie Ray	ARI	at LAD, vs. SD	19 K in 11 2/3 IP since coming off the DL
6	Michael Wacha	STL	at SD, vs. PIT	Perfect platform to snap out of slide
7	Max Scherzer	WAS	vs. PHI
8	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	vs. COL	Still can't be expected to go more than 90 or so pitches
9	Alex Wood	LAD	vs. COL
10	Madison Bumgarner	SF	at CWS
11	Jacob deGrom	NYM	vs. PHI
12	Zack Greinke	ARI	at LAD
13	Zack Godley	ARI	vs. SD
14	Luke Weaver	STL	vs. PIT	Leake trade means his spot is safe, but could be shut down soon
15	Chase Anderson	MIL	at CIN, at CHC	Picking up where he left off
16	Gio Gonzalez	WAS	at MIA
17	Julio Teheran	ATL	vs. TEX, vs. MIA	Too little, too late, but pitching well lately
18	Luis Castillo	CIN	vs. MIL
19	Yu Darvish	LAD	vs. COL
20	Zach Davies	MIL	at CIN, at CHC	Not missing bats but keeping the ball in the yard
21	Patrick Corbin	ARI	vs. SD	2.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP with 82 K over last 76 1/3 IP
22	Gerrit Cole	PIT	vs. CHC
23	Lance Lynn	STL	at SD
24	Kenta Maeda	LAD	vs. ARI
25	Aaron Nola	PHI	at WAS
26	R.A. Dickey	ATL	vs. TEX, vs. MIA
27	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	at PIT
28	Jeff Samardzija	SF	at CWS
29	Jon Lester	CHC	at PIT
30	Tanner Roark	WAS	vs. PHI
31	Hyun-Jin Ryu	LAD	vs. ARI
32	Ben Lively	PHI	at NYM, at WAS
33	Tyler Mahle	CIN	at NYM
34	Jon Gray	COL	at LAD	Rounding into form
35	Robert Stephenson	CIN	vs. MIL, at NYM	Emerging as a 2018 fantasy asset
36	Adam Conley	MIA	vs. WAS, at ATL
37	Mark Leiter	PHI	at NYM, at WAS
38	Antonio Senzatela	COL	vs. SF, at LAD
39	Mike Montgomery	CHC	vs. MIL
40	Jimmy Nelson	MIL	at CHC	Reds one of best offenses versus RHP
41	John Lackey	CHC	vs. MIL
42	Taijuan Walker	ARI	at LAD
43	Jose Quintana	CHC	at PIT
44	Dillon Peters	MIA	vs. WAS	Deserved a win in his debut, good test versus Nationals
45	Homer Bailey	CIN	vs. MIL, at NYM
46	Nick Pivetta	PHI	at NYM
47	Tyler Chatwood	COL	vs. SF, at LAD
48	Matt Moore	SF	at CWS
49	Dinelson Lamet	SD	vs. STL
50	German Marquez	COL	at LAD
51	Tommy Milone	NYM	vs. PHI
52	Adam Wainwright	STL	at SD	Could return after having a platelet-rich plasma injection
53	Seth Lugo	NYM	vs. CIN
54	Steven Brault	PIT	vs. CHC
55	Travis Wood	SD	vs. STL, at ARI
56	Sal Romano	CIN	at NYM
57	Dan Straily	MIA	at ATL
58	Rafael Montero	NYM	vs. PHI, vs. CIN
59	Jameson Taillon	PIT	vs. CHC
60	Matt Harvey	NYM	vs. CIN
61	Ivan Nova	PIT	at STL
62	Sean Newcomb	ATL	vs. TEX
63	Mike Foltynewicz	ATL	vs. MIA
64	Chad Kuhl	PIT	vs. CHC, at STL
65	Clayton Richard	SD	vs. STL
66	Luis Perdomo	SD	vs. STL, at ARI
67	Trevor Williams	PIT	at STL
68	Mike Leake	STL	vs. HOU
69	Chris Flexen	NYM	vs. CIN
70	Johnny Cueto	SF	at COL
71	Jose Urena	MIA	at ATL
72	Edwin Jackson	WAS	vs. PHI
73	Kyle Freeland	COL	vs. SF
74	Matt Garza	MIL	at CIN
75	Jhoulys Chacin	SD	at ARI
76	Lucas Sims	ATL	vs. MIA
77	Odrisamer Despaigne	MIA	vs. WAS, at ATL
78	Erick Fedde	WAS	at MIA
79	Jake Thompson	PHI	at WAS

MLB

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Rich Hill	LAD	vs. ARI, vs. COL	Facing two weak clubs versus LHP
2	Carlos Martinez	STL	at SD, vs. PIT	Great matchups
3	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	at MIA, vs. PHI	.86 ERA, .76 WHIP, 23 K, 3 BB in last 21 IP
4	Jake Arrieta	CHC	at PIT, vs. MIL
5	Dallas Keuchel	HOU	at SEA, at OAK
6	Robbie Ray	ARI	at LAD, vs. SD	19 K in 11 2/3 IP since coming off the DL
7	Jose Berrios	MIN	at TB, at KC	Pitching better than his ERA indicates
8	Michael Wacha	STL	at SD, vs. PIT	Perfect platform to snap out of slide
9	Max Scherzer	WAS	vs. PHI
10	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	vs. COL	Still can't be expected to go more than 90 or so pitches
11	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. TB
12	Alex Wood	LAD	vs. COL
13	Corey Kluber	CLE	at CWS
14	Madison Bumgarner	SF	at CWS
15	Jacob deGrom	NYM	vs. PHI
16	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at CWS
17	Justin Verlander	HOU	at SEA	Felt wrong changing team affiliation
18	Alex Cobb	TB	vs. MIN, at BOS
19	Rick Porcello	BOS	vs. TOR, vs. TB	Win potential elevates ranking
20	Zack Greinke	ARI	at LAD
21	Zack Godley	ARI	vs. SD
22	Luke Weaver	STL	vs. PIT	Leake trade means his spot is safe, but could be shut down soon
23	Chase Anderson	MIL	at CIN, at CHC	Picking up where he left off
24	Gio Gonzalez	WAS	at MIA
25	Julio Teheran	ATL	vs. TEX, vs. MIA	Too little, too late, but pitching well lately
26	Danny Salazar	CLE	at CWS
27	J.A. Happ	TOR	at BOS, vs. DET
28	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at CWS, vs. BAL	Racking up the wins and whiffs
29	Luis Castillo	CIN	vs. MIL
30	Yu Darvish	LAD	vs. COL
31	Zach Davies	MIL	at CIN, at CHC	Not missing bats but keeping the ball in the yard
32	Patrick Corbin	ARI	vs. SD	2.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP with 82 K over last 76 1/3 IP
33	Gerrit Cole	PIT	vs. CHC
34	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. TB
35	Luis Severino	NYY	at TEX
36	Lance Lynn	STL	at SD
37	Parker Bridwell	LAA	at OAK, at SEA
38	Ervin Santana	MIN	at KC	Improving skills mitigated regression
39	Kenta Maeda	LAD	vs. ARI
40	Tyler Skaggs	LAA	at OAK	May not make start, really scuffling
41	Aaron Nola	PHI	at WAS
42	R.A. Dickey	ATL	vs. TEX, vs. MIA
43	Charlie Morton	HOU	at OAK
44	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	at PIT
45	Lance McCullers	HOU	at SEA	Tentative, but coule return mid-week
46	Jeff Samardzija	SF	at CWS
47	Garrett Richards	LAA	at OAK	On target to return, was hitting 96 on gun in rehab
48	Jon Lester	CHC	at PIT
49	Erasmo Ramirez	SEA	vs. HOU, vs. LAA
50	Tanner Roark	WAS	vs. PHI
51	Chris Archer	TB	at BOS
52	Marcus Stroman	TOR	vs. DET
53	Jason Vargas	KC	at DET, vs. MIN	Regression is an ugly thing
54	Hyun-Jin Ryu	LAD	vs. ARI
55	Ben Lively	PHI	at NYM, at WAS
56	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	at BAL
57	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	at TEX
58	Tyler Mahle	CIN	at NYM
59	Jon Gray	COL	at LAD	Rounding into form
60	Robert Stephenson	CIN	vs. MIL, at NYM	Emerging as a 2018 fantasy asset
61	Adam Conley	MIA	vs. WAS, at ATL
62	Mark Leiter	PHI	at NYM, at WAS
63	Antonio Senzatela	COL	vs. SF, at LAD
64	Lucas Giolito	CWS	vs. SF
65	Mike Montgomery	CHC	vs. MIL
66	Jimmy Nelson	MIL	at CHC	Reds one of best offenses versus RHP
67	CC Sabathia	NYY	at BAL
68	John Lackey	CHC	vs. MIL
69	Sean Manaea	OAK	vs. LAA	Just doesn't look right
70	Cole Hamels	TEX	at ATL	Strikeout continue to be lacking
71	Jake Junis	KC	at DET, vs. MIN
72	Collin McHugh	HOU	at OAK
73	Taijuan Walker	ARI	at LAD
74	Chris Smith	OAK	vs. LAA
75	Jose Quintana	CHC	at PIT
76	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	vs. TOR
77	Dillon Peters	MIA	vs. WAS	Deserved a win in his debut, good test versus Nationals
78	Andrew Heaney	LAA	at SEA
79	Homer Bailey	CIN	vs. MIL, at NYM
80	Aaron Slegers	MIN	at TB
81	Mike Fiers	HOU	at OAK
82	Nick Pivetta	PHI	at NYM
83	Kendall Graveman	OAK	vs. LAA, vs. HOU
84	Tyler Chatwood	COL	vs. SF, at LAD
85	Matt Moore	SF	at CWS
86	Blake Snell	TB	vs. MIN
87	Doug Fister	BOS	vs. TOR
88	Dinelson Lamet	SD	vs. STL
89	German Marquez	COL	at LAD
90	Tommy Milone	NYM	vs. PHI
91	Matt Andriese	TB	at BOS
92	Adam Wainwright	STL	at SD	Could return after having a platelet-rich plasma injection
93	Seth Lugo	NYM	vs. CIN
94	Carlos Rodon	CWS	vs. CLE
95	Steven Brault	PIT	vs. CHC
96	Buck Farmer	DET	at TOR
97	Dylan Bundy	BAL	vs. NYY
98	Sonny Gray	NYY	at BAL
99	Travis Wood	SD	vs. STL, at ARI
100	Sal Romano	CIN	at NYM
101	Kevin Gausman	BAL	vs. NYY
102	Dan Straily	MIA	at ATL
103	James Shields	CWS	vs. CLE, vs. SF
104	Rafael Montero	NYM	vs. PHI, vs. CIN
105	Jameson Taillon	PIT	vs. CHC
106	Matt Harvey	NYM	vs. CIN
107	Mike Clevinger	CLE	vs. BAL
108	Ivan Nova	PIT	at STL
109	Artie Lewicki	DET	vs. KC
110	Ariel Miranda	SEA	vs. HOU
111	Jason Hammel	KC	at DET
112	Brett Anderson	TOR	vs. DET
113	Sean Newcomb	ATL	vs. TEX
114	Ricky Nolasco	LAA	at SEA
115	Andrew Cashner	TEX	at ATL, vs. NYY
116	Jake Odorizzi	TB	vs. MIN
117	Marco Gonzales	SEA	vs. LAA
118	David Holmberg	CWS	vs. CLE, vs. SF
119	Mike Foltynewicz	ATL	vs. MIA
120	Chad Kuhl	PIT	vs. CHC, at STL
121	Josh Tomlin	CLE	vs. BAL
122	Anibal Sanchez	DET	vs. KC
123	Joe Biagini	TOR	at BOS
124	Clayton Richard	SD	vs. STL
125	Miguel Gonzalez	CWS	at ATL
126	Luis Perdomo	SD	vs. STL, at ARI
127	Ian Kennedy	KC	vs. MIN
128	Trevor Williams	PIT	at STL
129	Martin Perez	TEX	vs. NYY
130	Mike Leake	STL	vs. HOU
131	Adalberto Mejia	MIN	at KC
132	Jeremy Hellickson	BAL	vs. NYY
133	Chris Flexen	NYM	vs. CIN
134	Bartolo Colon	MIN	at TB
135	Johnny Cueto	SF	at COL
136	Jharel Cotton	OAK	vs. HOU
137	Jordan Zimmermann	DET	at TOR
138	Jose Urena	MIA	at ATL
139	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	vs. CLE
140	Andrew Albers	SEA	vs. LAA
141	Edwin Jackson	WAS	vs. PHI
142	Matt Boyd	DET	vs. KC
143	Marco Estrada	TOR	at BOS
144	Kyle Freeland	COL	vs. SF
145	Matt Garza	MIL	at CIN
146	Chad Bell	DET	at TOR
147	Jaime Garcia	NYY	at TEX
148	Jhoulys Chacin	SD	at ARI
149	Lucas Sims	ATL	vs. MIA
150	A.J. Griffin	TEX	vs. NYY
151	Odrisamer Despaigne	MIA	vs. WAS, at ATL
152	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at KC
153	Erick Fedde	WAS	at MIA
154	Daniel Gossett	OAK	vs. HOU
155	Sam Gaviglio	SEA	vs. MIN
156	Jake Thompson	PHI	at WAS
157	Ubaldo Jimenez	BAL	at CLE
158	Wade Miley	BAL	at CLE
159	Chris Tillman	BAL	at CLE