Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Mercury Rising

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Mercury Rising

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Weather is warming and the ball is traveling farther. The quality of pitching is also declining as the schedule has forced teams to call up less-skilled hurlers to fill rotation spots. Has the time to liberally stream pitching passed? Probably not yet, but beware, scoring is on the upswing. The ball is still incurring more drag, but higher temperatures and humidity are helping to soften the effect.

Speaking of the schedule, here is your weekly reminder I pull starters from the Probable Starters page, so please direct any rotation questions over there. However, I'm always willing to address any rankings questions in the discussion below.

UPDATED: Monday May 16 1:15 AM ET

Week of May 16-22

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Freddy PeraltaMILATL, WASRounding into form
2Corbin BurnesMILATL 
3Sandy AlcantaraMIAWAS, ATL9 BB, 3 HR over last 17.1 IP
4Max ScherzerNYMSTL 
5Shane McClanahanTBDETSugar has been sweet
6Justin VerlanderHOUTEXOnly 36 K in 40 IP
7Alek ManoahTORCIN 
8Kevin GausmanTORSEA 
9Joe MusgroveSD@SF 
10Gerrit ColeNYY@BAL 
11Brandon WoodruffMILWAS4 HR over last 10 IP
12Pablo LopezMIAWAS 
13Walker BuehlerLADARI 
14Carlos RodonSFSD 
15Chris BassittNYMSTL 
16Shane BieberCLEDET 
17Miles MikolasSTL@NYM, @PIT 
18

Weather is warming and the ball is traveling farther. The quality of pitching is also declining as the schedule has forced teams to call up less-skilled hurlers to fill rotation spots. Has the time to liberally stream pitching passed? Probably not yet, but beware, scoring is on the upswing. The ball is still incurring more drag, but higher temperatures and humidity are helping to soften the effect.

Speaking of the schedule, here is your weekly reminder I pull starters from the Probable Starters page, so please direct any rotation questions over there. However, I'm always willing to address any rankings questions in the discussion below.

UPDATED: Monday May 16 1:15 AM ET

Week of May 16-22

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Freddy PeraltaMILATL, WASRounding into form
2Corbin BurnesMILATL 
3Sandy AlcantaraMIAWAS, ATL9 BB, 3 HR over last 17.1 IP
4Max ScherzerNYMSTL 
5Shane McClanahanTBDETSugar has been sweet
6Justin VerlanderHOUTEXOnly 36 K in 40 IP
7Alek ManoahTORCIN 
8Kevin GausmanTORSEA 
9Joe MusgroveSD@SF 
10Gerrit ColeNYY@BAL 
11Brandon WoodruffMILWAS4 HR over last 10 IP
12Pablo LopezMIAWAS 
13Walker BuehlerLADARI 
14Carlos RodonSFSD 
15Chris BassittNYMSTL 
16Shane BieberCLEDET 
17Miles MikolasSTL@NYM, @PIT 
18Eduardo RodriguezDET@TB 
19Dylan CeaseCWS@KC, @NYY 
20Sean ManaeaSD@SF 
21Nestor Cortes Jr.NYYCWS 
22Shohei OhtaniLAA@TEX 
23Zack WheelerPHISD 
24Sonny GrayMIN@OAK 
25Max FriedATL@MIL 
26Triston McKenzieCLEDET 
27Josh WinderMIN@OAK 
28Garrett WhitlockBOSHOU, SEA 
29Michael LorenzenLAAOAK 
30Aaron NolaPHILAD 
31Tony GonsolinLADARI, @PHIOutpitching peripherals, but nice matchups
32Frankie MontasOAK@LAA 
33Zac GallenARI@CHC 
34Framber ValdezHOUTEX 
35Nathan EovaldiBOSHOU 
36Jameson TaillonNYY@BAL, CWS 
37Drew RasmussenTBDET 
38Cristian JavierHOUTEX 
39Patrick SandovalLAAOAK 
40Julio UriasLAD@PHI 
41Ian AndersonATL@MIL, @MIAPatient teams can beat him
42Kyle WrightATL@MIA 
43Adam WainwrightSTL@PIT 
44Charlie MortonATL@MIA 
45Tarik SkubalDET@CLE 
46Luis GarciaHOU@BOS 
47Joe RyanMIN@KCWill deception continue as he sees opponents more?
48Eric LauerMILWAS 
49Yusei KikuchiTORSEA, CINNew pitch mix seemingly effective
50Zach LogueOAKMIN, @LAA 
51Brad KellerKCCWS, MIN 
52Merrill KellyARI@LAD, @CHC 
53Lucas GiolitoCWS@NYY 
54Luis SeverinoNYY@BAL, CWS 
55Noah SyndergaardLAA@TEX 
56Yu DarvishSD@PHI 
57Josiah GrayWAS@MIA 
58Bailey OberMIN@KC 
59Logan GilbertSEA@TOR, @BOSGood litmus test this week
60Kyle HendricksCHCARI 
61Chase SilsethLAAOAK 
62Hyun Jin RyuTORCIN 
63Anthony DeSclafaniSFSD 
64Michael KopechCWS@NYY 
65MacKenzie GoreSD@SF 
66Jordan MontgomeryNYY@BAL 
67Jake OdorizziHOU@BOS, TEX 
68Marcus StromanCHCARI 
69Cal QuantrillCLECIN 
70Tyler WellsBALTB 
71Mix 12 Reliever   
72Paul BlackburnOAK@LAA 
73Trevor RogersMIAATL 
74Zach EflinPHISD, LAD 
75Zach PlesacCLECIN 
76Dakota HudsonSTL@NYM 
77Robbie RaySEA@BOS 
78Mike ClevingerSD@PHI 
79Michael WachaBOSSEA 
80Steven MatzSTL@NYM, @PITPitching better than ratios suggest
81Jose QuintanaPITSTL 
82Jordan HicksSTL@NYM 
83Mix 15 Reliever   
84Chris ArcherMIN@OAK 
85Zack GreinkeKCCWS 
86Jose BerriosTORSEACause for concern, but still optmistic water finds its level
87Alex WoodSF@COL, SD 
88Jon GrayTEXLAA, @HOU 
89Luis CastilloCIN@TOR 
90Beau BrieskeDET@TB 
91Dane DunningTEXLAA 
92Tanner HouckBOSSEA 
93Rich HillBOSSEA 
94Marco GonzalesSEA@TOR 
95Connor OvertonCIN@CLE, @TOR 
96Elieser HernandezMIAATL 
97Blake SnellSD@PHI 
98Madison BumgarnerARI@LAD, @CHC 
99Alex FaedoDET@TB, @CLE 
100Trevor WilliamsNYMSTL 
101Nick PivettaBOSHOU 
102Corey KluberTBDET, @BAL 
103Ranger SuarezPHILAD 
104Adrian HouserMILATL 
105Keegan ThompsonCHCPIT 
106James KaprielianOAKMIN 
107Kyle BradishBALNYY, TB 
108Wade MileyCHCPIT, ARI 
109Aaron CivaleCLEDET 
110George KirbySEA@BOS 
111Tyler MahleCIN@CLE 
112Cody PoteetMIAWAS 
113Spencer StriderATL@MIL 
114Tyler AndersonLADARI, @PHI 
115Tyler GilbertARI@LAD 
116Daulton JefferiesOAKMIN 
117Brady SingerKCCWS 
118Zach ThompsonPITSTL 
119Kyle GibsonPHISD 
120Jeffrey SpringsTB@BAL 
121Dylan BundyMIN@KC 
122Taylor HearnTEXLAA, @HOU 
123Taijuan WalkerNYMSTL, @COL 
124Chris FlexenSEA@TOR, @BOS 
125Glenn OttoTEX@HOU 
126Jose UrquidyHOU@BOS 
127Erick FeddeWAS@MIL 
128Ryan PepiotLADARI 
129Drew SmylyCHCPIT 
130Reid DetmersLAA@TEX 
131JT BrubakerPIT@CHC 
132Logan WebbSF@COLOnly 28 K In 41 IP
133Zach DaviesARI@LAD 
134Austin GomberCOLNYM 
135Bruce ZimmermannBALNYY 
136Daniel LynchKCMIN 
137Dillon PetersPIT@CHC 
138Joan AdonWAS@MIA 
139Martin PerezTEX@HOU 
140Patrick CorbinWAS@MIL 
141Hunter GreeneCIN@TOR 
142Justin SteeleCHCARI 
143Ryan YarbroughTB@BAL 
144Bryse WilsonPITSTL 
145Jon HeasleyKCMIN, CWS 
146Jordan LylesBALNYY 
147Mitch KellerPIT@CHC 
148Aaron SanchezWAS@MIA, @MIL 
149Humberto CastellanosARI@CHC 
150Antonio SenzatelaCOLSF, NYM 
151Vince VelasquezCWS@KC 
152Johnny CuetoCWS@KC 
153Carlos HernandezKCCWS 
154Chad KuhlCOLSF 
155Jimmy LambertCWS@KC 
156German MarquezCOLNYM 
157David PetersonNYM@COL 
158Alex CobbSF@COL 
159Dallas KeuchelCWS@KC 
160Carlos CarrascoNYM@COL 
161Joey WentzDET@CLE 
162Kyle FreelandCOLSF 
163Spenser WatkinsBALNYY, TB 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Shane McClanahanTBDETSugar has been sweet
2Justin VerlanderHOUTEXOnly 36 K in 40 IP
3Alek ManoahTORCIN 
4Kevin GausmanTORSEA 
5Gerrit ColeNYY@BAL 
6Shane BieberCLEDET 
7Eduardo RodriguezDET@TB 
8Dylan CeaseCWS@KC, @NYY 
9Nestor Cortes Jr.NYYCWS 
10Shohei OhtaniLAA@TEX 
11Sonny GrayMIN@OAK 
12Triston McKenzieCLEDET 
13Josh WinderMIN@OAK 
14Garrett WhitlockBOSHOU, SEA 
15Michael LorenzenLAAOAK 
16Frankie MontasOAK@LAA 
17Framber ValdezHOUTEX 
18Nathan EovaldiBOSHOU 
19Jameson TaillonNYY@BAL, CWS 
20Drew RasmussenTBDET 
21Cristian JavierHOUTEX 
22Patrick SandovalLAAOAK 
23Tarik SkubalDET@CLE 
24Luis GarciaHOU@BOS 
25Joe RyanMIN@KCWill deception continue as he sees opponents more?
26Yusei KikuchiTORSEA, CINNew pitch mix seemingly effective
27Zach LogueOAKMIN, @LAA 
28Brad KellerKCCWS, MIN 
29Lucas GiolitoCWS@NYY 
30Luis SeverinoNYY@BAL, CWS 
31Noah SyndergaardLAA@TEX 
32Bailey OberMIN@KC 
33Logan GilbertSEA@TOR, @BOSGood litmus test this week
34Chase SilsethLAAOAK 
35Hyun Jin RyuTORCIN 
36Michael KopechCWS@NYY 
37Jordan MontgomeryNYY@BAL 
38Jake OdorizziHOU@BOS, TEX 
39Cal QuantrillCLECIN 
40Tyler WellsBALTB 
41Paul BlackburnOAK@LAA 
42Zach PlesacCLECIN 
43Robbie RaySEA@BOS 
44Michael WachaBOSSEA 
45Chris ArcherMIN@OAK 
46Zack GreinkeKCCWS 
47Jose BerriosTORSEACause for concern, but still optimistic water finds its level
48Jon GrayTEXLAA, @HOU 
49Beau BrieskeDET@TB 
50Dane DunningTEXLAA 
51Tanner HouckBOSSEA 
52Rich HillBOSSEA 
53Marco GonzalesSEA@TOR 
54Alex FaedoDET@TB, @CLE 
55Nick PivettaBOSHOU 
56Corey KluberTBDET, @BAL 
57AL Reliever   
58James KaprielianOAKMIN 
59Kyle BradishBALNYY, TB 
60Aaron CivaleCLEDET 
61George KirbySEA@BOS 
62Daulton JefferiesOAKMIN 
63Brady SingerKCCWS 
64Jeffrey SpringsTB@BAL 
65Dylan BundyMIN@KC 
66Taylor HearnTEXLAA, @HOU 
67Chris FlexenSEA@TOR, @BOS 
68Glenn OttoTEX@HOU 
69Jose UrquidyHOU@BOS 
70Reid DetmersLAA@TEX 
71Bruce ZimmermannBALNYY 
72Daniel LynchKCMIN 
73Martin PerezTEX@HOU 
74Ryan YarbroughTB@BAL 
75Jon HeasleyKCMIN, CWS 
76Jordan LylesBALNYY 
77Vince VelasquezCWS@KC 
78Johnny CuetoCWS@KC 
79Carlos HernandezKCCWS 
80Jimmy LambertCWS@KC 
81Dallas KeuchelCWS@KC 
82Joey WentzDET@CLE 
83Spenser WatkinsBALNYY, TB 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Freddy PeraltaMILATL, WASRounding into form
2Corbin BurnesMILATL 
3Sandy AlcantaraMIAWAS, ATL9 BB, 3 HR over last 17.1 IP
4Max ScherzerNYMSTL 
5Joe MusgroveSD@SF 
6Brandon WoodruffMILWAS4 HR over last 10 IP
7Pablo LopezMIAWAS 
8Walker BuehlerLADARI 
9Carlos RodonSFSD 
10Chris BassittNYMSTL 
11Miles MikolasSTL@NYM, @PIT 
12Sean ManaeaSD@SF 
13Zack WheelerPHISD 
14Max FriedATL@MIL 
15Aaron NolaPHILAD 
16Tony GonsolinLADARI, @PHIOutpitching peripherals, but nice matchups
17Zac GallenARI@CHC 
18Julio UriasLAD@PHI 
19Ian AndersonATL@MIL, @MIAPatient teams can beat him
20Kyle WrightATL@MIA 
21Adam WainwrightSTL@PIT 
22Charlie MortonATL@MIA 
23Eric LauerMILWAS 
24Merrill KellyARI@LAD, @CHC 
25Yu DarvishSD@PHI 
26Josiah GrayWAS@MIA 
27Kyle HendricksCHCARI 
28Anthony DeSclafaniSFSD 
29MacKenzie GoreSD@SF 
30Marcus StromanCHCARI 
31Trevor RogersMIAATL 
32Zach EflinPHISD, LAD 
33Dakota HudsonSTL@NYM 
34Mike ClevingerSD@PHI 
35Steven MatzSTL@NYM, @PITPitching better than ratios suggest
36Jose QuintanaPITSTL 
37Jordan HicksSTL@NYM 
38Alex WoodSF@COL, SD 
39Luis CastilloCIN@TOR 
40Connor OvertonCIN@CLE, @TOR 
41Elieser HernandezMIAATL 
42Blake SnellSD@PHI 
43Madison BumgarnerARI@LAD, @CHC 
44Trevor WilliamsNYMSTL 
45Ranger SuarezPHILAD 
46NL Reliever   
47Adrian HouserMILATL 
48Keegan ThompsonCHCPIT 
49Wade MileyCHCPIT, ARI 
50Tyler MahleCIN@CLE 
51Cody PoteetMIAWAS 
52Spencer StriderATL@MIL 
53Tyler AndersonLADARI, @PHI 
54Tyler GilbertARI@LAD 
55Zach ThompsonPITSTL 
56Kyle GibsonPHISD 
57Taijuan WalkerNYMSTL, @COL 
58Erick FeddeWAS@MIL 
59Ryan PepiotLADARI 
60Drew SmylyCHCPIT 
61JT BrubakerPIT@CHC 
62Logan WebbSF@COLOnly 28 K In 41 IP
63Zach DaviesARI@LAD 
64Austin GomberCOLNYM 
65Dillon PetersPIT@CHC 
66Joan AdonWAS@MIA 
67Patrick CorbinWAS@MIL 
68Hunter GreeneCIN@TOR 
69Justin SteeleCHCARI 
70Bryse WilsonPITSTL 
71Mitch KellerPIT@CHC 
72Aaron SanchezWAS@MIA, @MIL 
73Humberto CastellanosARI@CHC 
74Antonio SenzatelaCOLSF, NYM 
75Chad KuhlCOLSF 
76German MarquezCOLNYM 
77David PetersonNYM@COL 
78Alex CobbSF@COL 
79Carlos CarrascoNYM@COL 
80Kyle FreelandCOLSF 

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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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