Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Not the Bum He Used to be

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Not the Bum He Used to be

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

As always, remember that rotations are subject to change, so if you see something that looks incorrect, assume that it was a change that occurred since this was written and feel free to politely bring it up in the comments, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.

For the week May 25-31

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

1. David Price - at OAK, at LAA
Note: Since 8 ER snow game: 3.34 ERA, 32 Ks, 6.4 K:BB ratio in 35 IP; amazing he has a 3.32 season ERA with 8 ER dud
2. Corey Kluber - at SEA
Note: Can't wait to see what he does on Saturday after 30 Ks in his last two starts
3. Felix Hernandez - at TB
Note: Maybe SEA could do us a solid and push Felix back a day to face Kluber?
4. Dallas Keuchel - at BAL, CWS
Note: Since the start of '14: 2.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 18% K rate, and 2.8 K:BB ratio in 264.7 IP
5. Chris Sale - at BAL
6. Sonny Gray - NYY
7. Chris Archer - SEA
Note: If there's a concern, it's three 4 BB games in five May starts, but three 8 K games as well
8. Danny Salazar - TEX, at SEA
Note: Finally a HR-free outing! I'm going to remain worried about his gopheritis, but the K numbers are just so good
9. Jake Odorizzi - SEA, at BAL
Note: Rays have scored 2, 2, 0, 2, 2, 5, 1,
As always, remember that rotations are subject to change, so if you see something that looks incorrect, assume that it was a change that occurred since this was written and feel free to politely bring it up in the comments, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.

For the week May 25-31

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

1. David Price - at OAK, at LAA
Note: Since 8 ER snow game: 3.34 ERA, 32 Ks, 6.4 K:BB ratio in 35 IP; amazing he has a 3.32 season ERA with 8 ER dud
2. Corey Kluber - at SEA
Note: Can't wait to see what he does on Saturday after 30 Ks in his last two starts
3. Felix Hernandez - at TB
Note: Maybe SEA could do us a solid and push Felix back a day to face Kluber?
4. Dallas Keuchel - at BAL, CWS
Note: Since the start of '14: 2.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 18% K rate, and 2.8 K:BB ratio in 264.7 IP
5. Chris Sale - at BAL
6. Sonny Gray - NYY
7. Chris Archer - SEA
Note: If there's a concern, it's three 4 BB games in five May starts, but three 8 K games as well
8. Danny Salazar - TEX, at SEA
Note: Finally a HR-free outing! I'm going to remain worried about his gopheritis, but the K numbers are just so good
9. Jake Odorizzi - SEA, at BAL
Note: Rays have scored 2, 2, 0, 2, 2, 5, 1, 2, and 1 in Odorizzi's starts; no wonder he's 3-4 despite a 2.43 ERA
10. Jose Quintana - at HOU
Note: Hasn't allowed more than 2 ER in any of his last five (2.18 ERA) and he's gone 7 IP in four of them
11. Garrett Richards - SD
12. Anibal Sanchez - at LAA
13. Michael Pineda - KC
Note: One nightmare inning vs. TEX saddled him with 7 R (4 ER)
14. Scott Kazmir - DET
15. Jeff Samardzija - at TOR
Note: Pitching much better of late with 3 gems in his last 4 starts (3.72 ERA) and 27 Ks in 29 IP
16. Trevor Bauer - at SEA
Note: Must be capable of handling volatility to roster Bauer: 4.3 IP/7 ER, 5 IP/5 ER, 7.3 IP/1 ER, and 7.3 IP/1 ER in his last four
17. Collin McHugh - at BAL
18. Carlos Carrasco - TEX
Note: Toting the exact same K:BB ratio (4.8) as last year, but an ERA more than 2 runs higher; he'll get better
19. Clay Buchholz - at MIN, at TEX
Note: Until he shows differently, I'm always going to expect the super-dud every four or five starts
20. Jesse Chavez - DET, NYY
Note: Pitching a lot like the guy we saw last year
21. Wei-Yin Chen - HOU, TB
22. Shane Greene - at OAK, at LAA
Note: Looking like early season Greene again in his last three: 1.40 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 17% K rate, and 3.3 K:BB ratio in 19.3 IP
23. J.A. Happ - at TB, CLE
Note: Rain prevented him a chance to recover from a brutal first inning in Balt.
24. Jesse Hahn - DET, NYY
25. Rick Porcello - at MIN
26. Phil Hughes - BOS
Note: Rounding into form with a pair of 7 IP/2 ER outings? My only real concern is the sharp dip in K rate (22% to 16%)
27. Nate Karns - at BAL
Note: TB protecting him from 3rd time thru which limits IP upside, but is netting premium ratios (2.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) since 6 ER opener
28. Miguel Gonzalez - TB
29. Alex Colome - SEA
Note: Shares Karns' 3rd time through issues and we should probably get used to five-and-dive
30. Chris Young - at NYY
Note: I doubt he'll get to face Chris B. Young, but it'd be cool if he did
31. Edinson Volquez - at CHC
32. James Paxton - CLE
Note: Very eager to see how he does in TOR, if he excels slot him just north of Hughes
33. Ubaldo Jimenez - HOU
Note: Has some modest outings on the ledger, but has avoided that catastrophic 6 or 7 ER nightmare… so far
34. Alfredo Simon - at OAK
35. Yovani Gallardo - BOS
Note: He's been solid, if unspectacular usually allowing 3-4 ER (6 of 9 stars) and going 5-6 IP (6 of 9, too)
36. C.J. Wilson - SD
37. Yordano Ventura - at CHC
Note: Back-to-back 6 K starts is encouraging, especially facing the highest strikeout team in the league
38. Ricky Nolasco - BOS, TOR
Note: Slowly chiseling his 6.00 ERA down; his .413 BABIP has to come down and should shave at least two runs off the ERA
39. Roenis Elias - at TB, CLE
40. Drew Hutchison - CWS, at MIN
Note: Pairing off any of his starts shows you the volatility you're getting here: 1, 7, 4, 2, 6, 6, 1, 2, and 4 ER
41. Wandy Rodriguez - at CLE, BOS
42. Mike Wright - CWS
Note: Looking like he'll lose the regular spot with Norris back, but a DH on Thu likely gives him one more shot
43. Trevor May - TOR
44. Carlos Rodon - at HOU
Note: A DH gives them an 8-game week so I can't see him getting the entire week off
45. Hector Santiago - DET
Note: Stayed hot against best tm vs. LHP (TOR) and now gets second-best, but the bill on that 87% LOB will come due soon; be careful
46. Wade Miley - at TEX
Note: After his 8.62 ERA in April, he's got a 3.04 ERA in May with a 1.24 WHIP and 3.2 K:BB ratio in 27 IP
47. Colby Lewis - at CLE
48. Erasmos Ramirez - at BAL
Note: Luring us former believers back in with a pair of solid outings, but just 5 IP apiece and still an 11% BB rate
49. R.A. Dickey - CWS

SIT

50. Jered Weaver - SD, DET
Note: Three straight brilliant starts including trips to BAL and TOR, but just 13 Ks in the 23 IP limits upside
51. Marco Estrada - CWS
52. Nick Martinez - BOS
53. Shaun Marcum - TEX, at SEA
Note: There is some intrigue here, but I'm not sure I can jump in on a two-start week just yet
54. Nathan Eovaldi - KC, at OAK
Note: These are the top 2 AL teams vs. RH and third and fourth overall
55. Matt Shoemaker - SD, DET
Note: The HR issues are leaving him with a Marco Estrada upside, but he's got a lot of work to do to even get there right now
56. Kyle Lobstein - at LAA
Note: They aren't hitting RH at all, but LAA is 9th in wRC+ vs. LH (112)
57. Danny Duffy - at NYY
58. Joe Kelly - at MIN, at TEX
Note: Good luck figuring him out; he's just too inconsistent to trust with any regularity
59. Kyle Gibson - TOR
Note: Gibson and Pelfrey have two of the most fraudulent ERAs in the game at 2.98 and 3.00, respectively
60. Mike Pelfrey - BOS
Note: Both allow too much contact to stay this good
61. Lance McCullers Jr. - CWS
62. Taijuan Walker - CLE
63. Mark Buehrle - at MIN
64. Kendall Graveman - NYY
Note: Had a 1.85 ERA in four AAA starts, but a poor 1.6 K:BB ratio lowers how much we can buy into that ERA
65. Bud Norris - CWS
66. Scott Feldman - at BAL
67. Adam Warren - KC, at OAK
68. Chris Tillman - HOU, TB
Note: Return after an 8-day layoff was cut short by a lengthy rain-delay; 1 hit in 3 IP, but also 3 BB
69. CC Sabathia - at OAK
70. Chris Capuano - at OAK
71. Jeremy Guthrie - at NYY, at CHC
Note: Hasn't topped 3 Ks in any of his eight starts this year, five which have been 6 or more IP
72. John Danks - at TOR, at HOU
Note: It doesn't get much worse as a two-start slate for an AL lefty with both of these clubs carrying .183 ISOs vs. LH (tied for 6th in MLB)
73. Phil Klein - at CLE, BOS
74. Aaron Sanchez - at MIN
75. Roberto Hernandez - CWS
76. Steven Wright - at TEX
77. Hector Noesi - at TOR
Note: C. Rodon is being pushed back for a non-injury related "private matter" per reports or bc TOR has league-high 138 wRC+ vs. LHP

NATIONAL LEAGUE

START

1. Madison Bumgarner - at MIL, ATL
Note: Had a 5.29 ERA thru 3 starts with 10 ER; has a 1.80 ERA in his last 5 starts with just 8 ER
2. Max Scherzer - at CHC
Note: Kluber's 18-K effort could be in danger when Scherzer faces the league's highest K% team
3. Matt Harvey - MIA
Note: Holding a 0.96 ERA through four May starts so far thanks to three scoreless outings of at least 7 IP
4. Gerrit Cole - MIA
5. Zack Greinke - ATL
Note: His ERA hasn't been north of 1.93 at any point this season; Ks are light compared to history, but could be poised to jump
6. Clayton Kershaw - ATL
7. Johnny Cueto - WAS
Note: He's gone at least seven innings in eight of his nine outings
8. James Shields - PIT
Note: CHC start is perfect microcosm of his season: 11 Ks, but also 2 HRs in his 7 IP
9. Jordan Zimmermann - at CHC, at CIN
Note: Seven straight quality starts: 2.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 3.2 K:BB ratio in 45.3 IP; Ks back on the rise with 6 in ea. of last two
10. Cole Hamels - COL
Note: COL showing their normal road woes with a .614 OPS against lefties outside of Coors
11. Andrew Cashner - at LAA
Note: Offensive output for Cashner this year: 4, 4, 5, 0, 2, 0, 1, 1, and 1; you can put the 4 R losses on him, but rest is weak support
12. Lance Lynn - ARI
13. Jon Lester - WAS
Note: Cooling April fears by dominating in May with a 1.85 ERA in 34 IP; 5 HRs are a bit alarming, though
14. A.J. Burnett - at SD
15. Shelby Miller - at SF
16. Michael Wacha - LAD
Note: Sharp GB% jump to 50% mitigates some of the worry over the drop in K%; still see stuff capable of 20-22% K rate
17. Jacob deGrom - PHI
Note: Raised some concerns with shaky finish to Apr, but has been the ROY-level stud we saw last yr in May (2.08 ERA, 31 Ks in 26 IP)
18. Bartolo Colon - PHI
19. Tyson Ross - at LAA, PIT
Note: BB don't appear to be headed anywhere in the short-term, but two bottom 10 teams vs. RH does bode well
20. Chase Anderson - at STL, at MIL
Note: Not quite a 2.54 ERA guy, but pitching really well right now and definitely worth holding
21. Jake Arrieta - KC
Note: Everyone gets dropped in the ranks when facing KC… not something I expected to say in 2015
22. Francisco Liriano - at SD
Note: Imagine what kind of season Liriano could have if he could just avoid the super implosions
23. Jason Hammel - KC
Note: Tough matchup, but he's rolling of late: 1.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 33 Ks, and 6.6 K:BB ratio in 36 IP going into seventh of all five
24. Julio Teheran - at LAD, at SF
Note: Consecutive very good starts, but a ridiculously challenging two-start week on the road vs. top teams against RHPs
25. Stephen Strasburg - at CIN
26. Gio Gonzalez - at CIN
Note: Gio and Stras have been uncharacteristically poor this year, but I have a really hard time sitting either
27. Rubby De La Rosa - at MIL
Note: Platoon issues mitigated against a Brewers team that features one threatening lefty in Adam Lind
28. Kyle Lohse - SF, ARI
29. Brett Anderson - ATL, at STL
Note: Loving the 15 Ks in his last two after just 16 in his first six total; 3 IP into his next start will be a three-year high in innings
30. Noah Syndergaard - MIA
Note: Going to six-man with Gee returning, but Thor is pitching well enough to maintain when they go back to a five-man
31. Carlos Frias - at STL
Note: His 18% K rate is passable with a 61% GB rate, but his stuff points to more Ks which will come in handy as his 82% LOB drops
32. Jimmy Nelson - ARI
Note: He has run the gamut within his eight starts which suggests an unfinished, but enough upside to ride thru the tough times
33. Wily Peralta - SF
34. Carlos Martinez - ARI, LAD
Note: 14 of his 21 ER coming in two starts shows the blow-up potential, but also outlines how great his other 6 have been
35. Aaron Harang - COL
36. Alex Wood - at LAD
37. Dan Haren - at NYM
Note: He's been a perfect stream option with his only bad start coming at LAD, a spot you'd never start him anyway
38. Ian Kennedy - PIT
39. Kyle Hendricks - WAS
Note: Shutout dropped him to 4.14 ERA which tells you how good his first seven starts were (WAS has surged to top 10 vs. RH, too)
40. Mike Leake - COL
Note: Gave back all seven starts of good work in just two (14 of his 27 ER), but still a worthy play here
41. Tsuyoshi Wada - WAS, KC
42. Tim Lincecum - at MIL, ATL
Note: Seven shutout IP vs. LAD gives him three scoreless outings in his last three; I remain skeptical, though
43. Mike Fiers - ARI
Note: Four good starts in his last five; until we see that '14 command return, you can't expect more than a high-3.00s with lots of Ks
44. Tim Hudson - ATL
45. David Phelps - at PIT, at NYM
46. Tanner Roark - at CHC
Note: If you thought a 17% K rate was worrisome, how about his 8% from this year? Be careful not to expect '14 out of the gate
47. John Lackey - LAD
Note: I worried about his road record after '14 and slow start this year, but he's eyeing a big week if he can tame KC this wknd
48. Jaime Garcia - ARI
49. Chris Heston - ATL
Note: Not really concerned if he gets blasted in Coors; he's a home-only spot starter right now with potential for more
50. Jorge De La Rosa - at CIN
Note: Has stark home-road split this year (in admittedly small samples) with 2.19 ERA, 12 Ks, and 4.0 K:BB in 12.3 road IP
51. Jon Niese - MIA
Note: Last two starts have brought his ERA to a level you should expect going forward (3.72 ERA) as a best-case
52. Mike Bolsinger - at STL
Note: Doesn't have the stuff to maintain anything close to this performance level, but can be league average
53. Michael Lorenzen - COL
Note: The Lorenzen/Iglesias back and forth is really annoying for fantasy purposes
54. Dillon Gee - PHI
Note: NYM is going with a six-man at least this week; nice soft landing for Gee off the DL

SIT

55. Anthony DeSclafani - WAS
Note: Sharp platoon splits have Span and Harper licking their chops
56. Archie Bradley - at STL, at MIL
Note: Was skating by skills-wise before the injury and has really struggled in two starts since returning
57. Jeff Locke - MIA, at SD
58. Josh Collmenter - at STL
59. Tom Koehler - at NYM
Note: Career home-road splits say stay away on road and early '15 backs that even more (6.53 ERA in four road starts)
60. Williams Perez - at LAD, at SF
Note: Great in his first MLB start, but I can't trust him in a pair on the road against top two teams vs. RHPs
61. Charlie Morton - MIA, at SD
Note: Being activated Monday after a hip surgery; need to see something before considering a pickup
62. Mike Foltynewicz - at SF
Note: The Ks aren't enough to justify the hit in ratios; plus SF has soared to second in MLB in wRC+ vs. RH (111)
63. Odrisamer Despaigne - at LAA, PIT
64. Jason Marquis - COL, WAS
65. Matt Garza - SF
66. Jeremy Hellickson - at MIL
67. Ryan Vogelsong - at MIL
68. Eddie Butler - at CIN, at PHI
Note: Can't even muster up much excitement with a pair outside of Coors thanks to his sub-1.0 K:BB ratio
69. Jordan Lyles - at PHI
70. Kyle Kendrick - at CIN
71. Jerome Williams - at NYM
72. Sean O'Sullivan - at NYM
73. Chad Bettis - at PHI
74. Marlins Fourth Starter - at PIT
Note: MIA's rotation has been decimated by injuries with Cosart, Latos, and Alvarez all hitting the DL
75. Marlins Fifth Starter - at PIT
76. Severino Gonzalez - at NYM, COL

MLB TOP 100

1. Madison Bumgarner - at MIL, ATL
Note: Had a 5.29 ERA thru 3 starts with 10 ER; has a 1.80 ERA in his last 5 starts with just 8 ER
2. Max Scherzer - at CHC
Note: Kluber's 18-K effort could be in danger when Scherzer faces the league's highest K% team
3. David Price - at OAK, at LAA
Note: Since 8 ER snow game: 3.34 ERA, 32 Ks, 6.4 K:BB ratio in 35 IP; amazing he has a 3.32 season ERA with 8 ER dud
4. Matt Harvey - MIA
Note: Holding a 0.96 ERA through four May starts so far thanks to three scoreless outings of at least 7 IP
5. Gerrit Cole - MIA
6. Corey Kluber - at SEA
Note: Can't wait to see what he does on Saturday after 30 Ks in his last two starts
7. Zack Greinke - ATL
Note: His ERA hasn't been north of 1.93 at any point this season; Ks are light compared to history, but could be poised to jump
8. Clayton Kershaw - ATL
9. Felix Hernandez - at TB
Note: Maybe SEA could do us a solid and push Felix back a day to face Kluber?
10. Dallas Keuchel - at BAL, CWS
Note: Since the start of '14: 2.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 18% K rate, and 2.8 K:BB ratio in 264.7 IP
11. Johnny Cueto - WAS
Note: He's gone at least seven innings in eight of his nine outings
12. James Shields - PIT
Note: CHC start is perfect microcosm of his season: 11 Ks, but also 2 HRs in his 7 IP
13. Chris Sale - at BAL
14. Jordan Zimmermann - at CHC, at CIN
Note: Seven straight quality starts: 2.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 3.2 K:BB ratio in 45.3 IP; Ks back on the rise with 6 in ea. of last two
15. Cole Hamels - COL
Note: COL showing their normal road woes with a .614 OPS against lefties outside of Coors
16. Andrew Cashner - at LAA
Note: Offensive output for Cashner this year: 4, 4, 5, 0, 2, 0, 1, 1, and 1; you can put the 4 R losses on him, but rest is weak support
17. Sonny Gray - NYY
18. Chris Archer - SEA
Note: If there's a concern, it's three 4 BB games in five May starts, but three 8 K games as well
19. Danny Salazar - TEX, at SEA
Note: Finally a HR-free outing! I'm going to remain worried about his gopheritis, but the K numbers are just so good
20. Jake Odorizzi - SEA, at BAL
Note: Rays have scored 2, 2, 0, 2, 2, 5, 1, 2, and 1 in Odorizzi's starts; no wonder he's 3-4 despite a 2.43 ERA
21. Jose Quintana - at HOU
Note: Hasn't allowed more than 2 ER in any of his last five (2.18 ERA) and he's gone 7 IP in four of them
22. Garrett Richards - SD
23. Anibal Sanchez - at LAA
24. Lance Lynn - ARI
25. Jon Lester - WAS
Note: Cooling April fears by dominating in May with a 1.85 ERA in 34 IP; 5 HRs are a bit alarming, though
26. A.J. Burnett - at SD
27. Shelby Miller - at SF
28. Michael Wacha - LAD
Note: Sharp GB% jump to 50% mitigates some of the worry over the drop in K%; still see stuff capable of 20-22% K rate
29. Jacob deGrom - PHI
Note: Raised some concerns with shaky finish to Apr, but has been the ROY-level stud we saw last yr in May (2.08 ERA, 31 Ks in 26 IP)
30. Bartolo Colon - PHI
31. Tyson Ross - at LAA, PIT
Note: BB don't appear to be headed anywhere in the short-term, but two bottom 10 teams vs. RH does bode well
32. Michael Pineda - KC
Note: One nightmare inning vs. TEX saddled him with 7 R (4 ER)
33. Scott Kazmir - DET
34. Jeff Samardzija - at TOR
Note: Pitching much better of late with 3 gems in his last 4 starts (3.72 ERA) and 27 Ks in 29 IP
35. Trevor Bauer - at SEA
Note: Must be capable of handling volatility to roster Bauer: 4.3 IP/7 ER, 5 IP/5 ER, 7.3 IP/1 ER, and 7.3 IP/1 ER in his last four
36. Collin McHugh - at BAL
37. Carlos Carrasco - TEX
Note: Toting the exact same K:BB ratio (4.8) as last year, but an ERA more than 2 runs higher; he'll get better
38. Chase Anderson - at STL, at MIL
Note: Not quite a 2.54 ERA guy, but pitching really well right now and definitely worth holding
39. Clay Buchholz - at MIN, at TEX
Note: Until he shows differently, I'm always going to expect the super-dud every four or five starts
40. Jesse Chavez - DET, NYY
Note: Pitching a lot like the guy we saw last year
41. Jake Arrieta - KC
Note: Everyone gets dropped in the ranks when facing KC… not something I expected to say in 2015
42. Francisco Liriano - at SD
Note: Imagine what kind of season Liriano could have if he could just avoid the super implosions
43. Jason Hammel - KC
Note: Tough matchup, but he's rolling of late: 1.50 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 33 Ks, and 6.6 K:BB ratio in 36 IP going into seventh of all five
44. Julio Teheran - at LAD, at SF
Note: Consecutive very good starts, but a ridiculously challenging two-start week on the road vs. top teams against RHPs
45. Stephen Strasburg - at CIN
46. Gio Gonzalez - at CIN
Note: Gio and Stras have been uncharacteristically poor this year, but I have a really hard time sitting either
47. Rubby De La Rosa - at MIL
Note: Platoon issues mitigated against a Brewers team that features one threatening lefty in Adam Lind
48. Kyle Lohse - SF, ARI
49. Brett Anderson - ATL, at STL
Note: Loving the 15 Ks in his last two after just 16 in his first six total; 3 IP into his next start will be a three-year high in innings
50. Noah Syndergaard - MIA
Note: Going to six-man with Gee returning, but Thor is pitching well enough to maintain when they go back to a five-man
51. Carlos Frias - at STL
Note: His 18% K rate is passable with a 61% GB rate, but his stuff points to more Ks which will come in handy as his 82% LOB drops
52. Jimmy Nelson - ARI
Note: He has run the gamut within his eight starts which suggests an unfinished, but enough upside to ride thru the tough times
53. Wily Peralta - SF
54. Carlos Martinez - ARI, LAD
Note: 14 of his 21 ER coming in two starts shows the blow-up potential, but also outlines how great his other 6 have been
55. Aaron Harang - COL
56. Wei-Yin Chen - HOU, TB
57. Shane Greene - at OAK, at LAA
Note: Looking like early season Greene again in his last three: 1.40 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 17% K rate, and 3.3 K:BB ratio in 19.3 IP
58. J.A. Happ - at TB, CLE
Note: Rain prevented him a chance to recover from a brutal first inning in Balt.
59. Jesse Hahn - DET, NYY
60. Rick Porcello - at MIN
61. Phil Hughes - BOS
Note: Rounding into form with a pair of 7 IP/2 ER outings? My only real concern is the sharp dip in K rate (22% to 16%)
62. Nate Karns - at BAL
Note: TB protecting him from 3rd time thru which limits IP upside, but is netting premium ratios (2.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) since 6 ER opener
63. Miguel Gonzalez - TB
64. Alex Colome - SEA
Note: Shares Karns' 3rd time through issues and we should probably get used to five-and-dive
65. Chris Young - at NYY
Note: I doubt he'll get to face Chris B. Young, but it'd be cool if he did
66. Edinson Volquez - at CHC
67. James Paxton - CLE
Note: Very eager to see how he does in TOR, if he excels slot him just north of Hughes
68. Ubaldo Jimenez - HOU
Note: Has some modest outings on the ledger, but has avoided that catastrophic 6 or 7 ER nightmare… so far
69. Alfredo Simon - at OAK
70. Alex Wood - at LAD
71. Dan Haren - at NYM
Note: He's been a perfect stream option with his only bad start coming at LAD, a spot you'd never start him anyway
72. Ian Kennedy - PIT
73. Kyle Hendricks - WAS
Note: Shutout dropped him to 4.14 ERA which tells you how good his first seven starts were (WAS has surged to top 10 vs. RH, too)
74. Mike Leake - COL
Note: Gave back all seven starts of good work in just two (14 of his 27 ER), but still a worthy play here
75. Yovani Gallardo - BOS
Note: He's been solid, if unspectacular usually allowing 3-4 ER (6 of 9 stars) and going 5-6 IP (6 of 9, too)
76. C.J. Wilson - SD
77. Yordano Ventura - at CHC
Note: Back-to-back 6 K starts is encouraging, especially facing the highest strikeout team in the league
78. Ricky Nolasco - BOS, TOR
Note: Slowly chiseling his 6.00 ERA down; his .413 BABIP has to come down and should shave at least two runs off the ERA
79. Roenis Elias - at TB, CLE
80. Drew Hutchison - CWS, at MIN
Note: Pairing off any of his starts shows you the volatility you're getting here: 1, 7, 4, 2, 6, 6, 1, 2, and 4 ER
81. Tsuyoshi Wada - WAS, KC
82. Tim Lincecum - at MIL, ATL
Note: Seven shutout IP vs. LAD gives him three scoreless outings in his last three; I remain skeptical, though
83. Mike Fiers - ARI
Note: Four good starts in his last five; until we see that '14 command return, you can't expect more than a high-3.00s with lots of Ks
84. Tim Hudson - ATL
85. David Phelps - at PIT, at NYM
86. Tanner Roark - at CHC
Note: If you thought a 17% K rate was worrisome, how about his 8% from this year? Be careful not to expect '14 out of the gate
87. John Lackey - LAD
Note: I worried about his road record after '14 and slow start this year, but he's eyeing a big week if he can tame KC this wknd
88. Jaime Garcia - ARI
89. Chris Heston - ATL
Note: Not really concerned if he gets blasted in Coors; he's a home-only spot starter right now with potential for more
90. Jorge De La Rosa - at CIN
Note: Has stark home-road split this year (in admittedly small samples) with 2.19 ERA, 12 Ks, and 4.0 K:BB in 12.3 road IP
91. Jon Niese - MIA
Note: Last two starts have brought his ERA to a level you should expect going forward (3.72 ERA) as a best-case
92. Wandy Rodriguez - at CLE, BOS
93. Mike Wright - CWS
Note: Looking like he'll lose the regular spot with Norris back, but a DH on Thu likely gives him one more shot
94. Trevor May - TOR
95. Carlos Rodon - at HOU
Note: A DH gives them an 8-game week so I can't see him getting the entire week off
96. Hector Santiago - DET
Note: Stayed hot against best tm vs. LHP (TOR) and now gets second-best, but the bill on that 87% LOB will come due soon; be careful
97. Wade Miley - at TEX
Note: After his 8.62 ERA in April, he's got a 3.04 ERA in May with a 1.24 WHIP and 3.2 K:BB ratio in 27 IP
98. Colby Lewis - at CLE
99. Erasmos Ramirez - at BAL
Note: Luring us former believers back in with a pair of solid outings, but just 5 IP apiece and still an 11% BB rate
100. Mike Bolsinger - at STL
Note: Doesn't have the stuff to maintain anything close to this performance level, but can be league average
Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul Sporer
Sporer covers pitching for RotoWire. He also writes for Baseball Prospectus and publishes an annual guide on starting pitcher. In his spare time, he roots for the Tigers.
Weekly Hitter Rankings: Miami Runs Machine
Weekly Hitter Rankings: Miami Runs Machine
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: May is for Streaming
Weekly Pitcher Rankings: May is for Streaming
Mexico Series MLB Best Bet for Saturday, April 27
Mexico Series MLB Best Bet for Saturday, April 27
Tyler Glasnow Prop & More Expert MLB Picks for Saturday, April 27
Tyler Glasnow Prop & More Expert MLB Picks for Saturday, April 27