Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Dodgers Duo on Top

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Dodgers Duo on Top

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

I don't recall a poorer weekly slate this year, and it could get worse. Friday was painful for pitching as Max Scherzer (neck spasm) and Jon Lester (sore shoulder) were placed on the disabled list. On top of that, Corey Kluber sprained his ankle while Drew Pomeranz left early with back spasms.

Of the healthy and upper-tier pitchers with a pair of starts, the Dodgers rule the roost as Alex Wood sits atop the rankings.

UPDATED: Sunday 11:30 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1Carlos CarrascoCLEvs. BOS, vs. KC19 K, 3 BB last 2 GS, covering 13 IP
2Chris ArcherTBvs. TOR, at STLHomers continue to plague otherwise outstanding skills
3Cole HamelsTEXat LAA, at OAKOutpitching skills but matchups so juicy
4Charlie MortonHOUvs. WAS, at LAAContinuing to exceed expectations
5Masahiro TanakaNYYat DET, vs. SEASlated to come off DL after successful bullpen on Friday
6Chris SaleBOSat CLE
7Marcus StromanTORat TBPedestrian peripherals but limiting the long ball
8Justin VerlanderDETat CWS2.72 ERA, .99 WHIP with 10.1 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 since break
9Corey KluberCLEvs. BOS
10Luis SeverinoNYYat DET
11Ervin SantanaMINat CWSWhiffs up, walks down
12Carlos RodonCWSvs. MIN, vs. DETWalks down, so is ERA, funny how that works
13Michael FulmerDETat CWSBurned by high hit

I don't recall a poorer weekly slate this year, and it could get worse. Friday was painful for pitching as Max Scherzer (neck spasm) and Jon Lester (sore shoulder) were placed on the disabled list. On top of that, Corey Kluber sprained his ankle while Drew Pomeranz left early with back spasms.

Of the healthy and upper-tier pitchers with a pair of starts, the Dodgers rule the roost as Alex Wood sits atop the rankings.

UPDATED: Sunday 11:30 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1Carlos CarrascoCLEvs. BOS, vs. KC19 K, 3 BB last 2 GS, covering 13 IP
2Chris ArcherTBvs. TOR, at STLHomers continue to plague otherwise outstanding skills
3Cole HamelsTEXat LAA, at OAKOutpitching skills but matchups so juicy
4Charlie MortonHOUvs. WAS, at LAAContinuing to exceed expectations
5Masahiro TanakaNYYat DET, vs. SEASlated to come off DL after successful bullpen on Friday
6Chris SaleBOSat CLE
7Marcus StromanTORat TBPedestrian peripherals but limiting the long ball
8Justin VerlanderDETat CWS2.72 ERA, .99 WHIP with 10.1 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 since break
9Corey KluberCLEvs. BOS
10Luis SeverinoNYYat DET
11Ervin SantanaMINat CWSWhiffs up, walks down
12Carlos RodonCWSvs. MIN, vs. DETWalks down, so is ERA, funny how that works
13Michael FulmerDETat CWSBurned by high hit rate lately
14Tyler SkaggsLAAvs. TEX, vs. HOUOn bereavement, may not make first start
15Danny SalazarCLEvs. KC1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP with 46 K and 9 BB in 32 1/3 IP since returning to rotation
16Danny DuffyKCvs. COL, at CLEPoised for another late flourish
17Jose BerriosMINat CWS
18J.A. HappTORat TB
19Alex CobbTBvs. TORSlated to return from turf toe
20Dylan BundyBALvs. OAK
21Dallas KeuchelHOUvs. WASStrike outs down, but only 1 ER alowed last 13 2/3 IP
22Andrew HeaneyLAAvs. TEXOdd line last time vs. BAL: 5 IP, 5 K, 0 BB, 4 HR
23Sonny GrayNYYvs. SEA
24Eduardo RodriguezBOSat CLE, vs. BAL
25Mike FiersHOUvs. WAS
26Collin McHughHOUat LAA
27Mike ClevingerCLEvs. BOS, vs. KC
28Ariel MirandaSEAat NYY
29Chris RowleyTORat TB, vs. MIN
30Lucas GiolitoCWSvs. MIN, vs. DET2017 debut on Tuesday
31CC SabathiaNYYvs. SEA
32Erasmo RamirezSEAat ATL
33A.J. GriffinTEXat OAK
34Matt BoydDETvs. NYY, at CWS
35Chris SmithOAKat BAL, vs. TEX
36Martin PerezTEXat LAA
37Rick PorcelloBOSvs. BAL
38JC RamirezLAAvs. TEX
39Ian KennedyKCvs. COL
40Brad PeacockHOUat LAA
41Ricky NolascoLAAvs. TEX, vs. HOU
42Drew PomeranzBOSat CLELeft last start with back spasms
43Kendall GravemanOAKvs. TEX
44Andrew CashnerTEXat LAA
45Miguel GonzalezCWSvs. DET
46Austin PruittTBvs. TOR
47Tyson RossTEXat LAA, at OAKCake matchups wasted on a gas can
48Jason VargasKCat CLE
49Parker BridwellLAAvs. HOU
50Jake OdorizziTBat STL
51Jharel CottonOAKvs. TEX
52Jake JunisKCvs. COL
53Sean ManaeaOAKat BAL
54Marco EstradaTORvs. MIN
55Tim MelvilleMINat CWS
56Trevor BauerCLEvs. BOS
57Dillon GeeMINat TOR, at CWS
58Jason HammelKCat CLE
59Kyle GibsonMINat CWS, at TOR
60Blake SnellTBat STLLooked better last two outings, but low K totals
61Wade MileyBALvs. OAK
62Jeremy HellicksonBALat BOS
63Doug FisterBOSat CLE, vs. BAL
64Ubaldo JimenezBALvs. OAK
65Andrew AlbersSEAat ATL, at NYY
66James ShieldsCWSvs. MIN
67Buck FarmerDETvs. NYY
68Kevin GausmanBALat BOS
69Nick TepeschTORvs. MIN
70Jordan ZimmermannDETvs. NYY
71Derek HollandCWSvs. MIN
72Paul BlackburnOAKat BAL
73Jaime GarciaNYYat DET
74Bartolo ColonMINat TOR
75Yovani GallardoSEAat NYY
76Carson FulmerCWSvs. MIN
77Marco GonzalesSEAat ATL
78Chris TillmanBALat BOS

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rank Pitcher TEAM Opponent(s) Comments
1Alex WoodLADat PIT, vs. MIL
2Aaron NolaPHIvs. CHC, vs. MIA
3Lance LynnSTLvs. SD, vs. TBGreat matchups
4Max ScherzerWASvs. NYMExpected to make weekend start
5Dan StrailyMIAat PHI, vs. SDTossed 6 IP only once in last 7 GS
6Taijuan WalkerARIat NYM, vs. SFAt least 1 HR allowed 7 straight efforts
7Yu DarvishLADvs. MILExpected to return for the weekend
8Carlos MartinezSTLvs. SD
9Jimmy NelsonMILat SF, at LADBounced back nicely after round outing vs. Cin
10Madison BumgarnerSFat ARI
11Zack GreinkeARIvs. SF
12Gerrit ColePITvs. LAD, at CIN3.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 9.2 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 since break
13Robbie RayARIat NYMExpected to return, fanned 11 in just 4 IP final rehab start
14Patrick CorbinARIat NYM, vs. SF25 K, 4 BB, 3 ER last three outings, spanning 21 1/3 iP
15Jeff SamardzijaSFvs. MIL
16Kenta MaedaLADvs. MIL
17Michael WachaSTLvs. TB
18Jose QuintanaCHCat PHINot as sharp as just before the trade
19Gio GonzalezWASvs. NYMCheck latest Z Files, still adament regression is coming
20Zack GodleyARIat NYM
21John LackeyCHCat CIN, at PHIAllowed 3 or fewer ER 9 of last 10 GS
22Steven MatzNYMvs. ARI, at WAS
23Jon GrayCOLat KC, at ATLGetting it in gear, in line for strong finish
24Stephen StrasburgWASat HOU
25Kyle HendricksCHCat PHI
26Tanner RoarkWASat HOU, vs. NYM
27Luis CastilloCINvs. PITWhere have the whiffs gone?
28Mike LeakeSTLvs. TB
29Adam ConleyMIAvs. SDSkills pedestrian, rank buoyed by opponent
30Jake ArrietaCHCat CIN7 QS in last 8 GS
31Jacob deGromNYMat WAS
32Jameson TaillonPITvs. LAD, at CINShould see a hit rate correction
33Rich HillLADat PIT5 HR allowed in 16 IP in August
34Luke WeaverSTLvs. SDLikely to take Wainwright's spot
35Zach DaviesMILat SF, at LAD
36Mike FoltynewiczATLvs. SEA, vs. COL
37Jose UrenaMIAat PHI
38Ivan NovaPITat CIN
39Justin NicolinoMIAat PHI
40Chase AndersonMILat LADTough draw first game back from DL
41Dinelson LametSDat MIA
42Brock StewartLADat PITFilling in for Darvish
43Mark LeiterPHIvs. CHC
44Ben LivelyPHIvs. CHC
45Vance WorleyMIAat PHI
46Chris StrattonSFvs. MIL, at ARI
47R.A. DickeyATLvs. SEA
48Chad BettisCOLat ATL
49Nick PivettaPHIvs. MIA
50Homer BaileyCINvs. CHC, vs. PIT
51A.J. ColeWASvs. NYM
52Mike MontgomeryCHCat CIN
53Matt MooreSFvs. MIL
54Julio TeheranATLvs. COL
55German MarquezCOLat KC
56Jerad EickhoffPHIvs. MIA
57Lucas SimsATLvs. SEA
58Odrisamer DespaigneMIAvs. SD
59Chris FlexenNYMvs. ARI
60Trevor WilliamsPITvs. LAD
61Travis WoodSDat MIA
62Jhoulys ChacinSDat STL
63Zach EflinPHIvs. MIA
64Hyun-Jin RyuLADat PIT
65Matt GarzaMILat SF
66Sean NewcombATLvs. COL
67Robert GsellmanNYMvs. ARI, at WAS
68Robert StephensonCINvs. PIT
69Clayton RichardSDat STL, at MIA
70Chad KuhlPITvs. LAD
71Antonio SenzatelaCOLat KC
72Ty BlachSFat ARI
73Asher WojciechowskiCINvs. CHC
74Sal RomanoCINvs. CHC
75Luis PerdomoSDat STL
76Kyle FreelandCOLat ATL
77Rafael MonteroNYMvs. ARI
78Edwin JacksonWASat HOU
79Tyler PillNYMat WAS

MLB

RANK PITCHER TEAM OPPONENT COMMENT
1Alex WoodLADat PIT, vs. MIL
2Aaron NolaPHIvs. CHC, vs. MIA
3Carlos CarrascoCLEvs. BOS, vs. KC19 K, 3 BB last 2 GS, covering 13 IP
4Lance LynnSTLvs. SD, vs. TBGreat matchups
5Chris ArcherTBvs. TOR, at STLHomers continue to plague otherwise outstanding skills
6Max ScherzerWASvs. NYMExpected to make weekend start
7Cole HamelsTEXat LAA, at OAKOutpitching skills but matchups so juicy
8Dan StrailyMIAat PHI, vs. SDTossed 6 IP only once in last 7 GS
9Charlie MortonHOUvs. WAS, at LAAContinuing to exceed expectations
10Masahiro TanakaNYYat DET, vs. SEASlated to come off DL after successful bullpen on Friday
11Chris SaleBOSat CLE
12Taijuan WalkerARIat NYM, vs. SFAt least 1 HR allowed 7 straight efforts
13Yu DarvishLADvs. MILExpected to return for the weekend
14Carlos MartinezSTLvs. SD
15Jimmy NelsonMILat SF, at LADBounced back nicely after round outing vs. Cin
16Marcus StromanTORat TBPedestrian peripherals but limiting the long ball
17Justin VerlanderDETat CWS2.72 ERA, .99 WHIP with 10.1 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 since break
18Madison BumgarnerSFat ARI
19Zack GreinkeARIvs. SF
20Gerrit ColePITvs. LAD, at CIN3.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 9.2 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 since break
21Corey KluberCLEvs. BOS
22Robbie RayARIat NYMExpected to return, fanned 11 in just 4 IP final rehab start
23Luis SeverinoNYYat DET
24Patrick CorbinARIat NYM, vs. SF25 K, 4 BB, 3 ER last three outings, spanning 21 1/3 iP
25Ervin SantanaMINat CWSWhiffs up, walks down
26Jeff SamardzijaSFvs. MIL
27Kenta MaedaLADvs. MIL
28Carlos RodonCWSvs. MIN, vs. DETWalks down, so is ERA, funny how that works
29Michael WachaSTLvs. TB
30Jose QuintanaCHCat PHINot as sharp as just before the trade
31Michael FulmerDETat CWSBurned by high hit rate lately
32Tyler SkaggsLAAvs. TEX, vs. HOUOn bereavement, may not make first start
33Gio GonzalezWASvs. NYMCheck latest Z Files, still adament regression is coming
34Zack GodleyARIat NYM
35John LackeyCHCat CIN, at PHIAllowed 3 or fewer ER 9 of last 10 GS
36Steven MatzNYMvs. ARI, at WAS
37Danny SalazarCLEvs. KC1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP with 46 K and 9 BB in 32 1/3 IP since returning to rotation
38Jon GrayCOLat KC, at ATLGetting it in gear, in line for strong finish
39Danny DuffyKCvs. COL, at CLEPoised for another late flourish
40Stephen StrasburgWASat HOU
41Kyle HendricksCHCat PHI
42Jose BerriosMINat CWS
43J.A. HappTORat TB
44Alex CobbTBvs. TORSlated to return from turf toe
45Dylan BundyBALvs. OAK
46Tanner RoarkWASat HOU, vs. NYM
47Dallas KeuchelHOUvs. WASStrike outs down, but only 1 ER alowed last 13 2/3 IP
48Luis CastilloCINvs. PITWhere have the whiffs gone?
49Andrew HeaneyLAAvs. TEXOdd line last time vs. BAL: 5 IP, 5 K, 0 BB, 4 HR
50Mike LeakeSTLvs. TB
51Adam ConleyMIAvs. SDSkills pedestrian, rank buoyed by opponent
52Jake ArrietaCHCat CIN7 QS in last 8 GS
53Jacob deGromNYMat WAS
54Sonny GrayNYYvs. SEA
55Jameson TaillonPITvs. LAD, at CINShould see a hit rate correction
56Rich HillLADat PIT5 HR allowed in 16 IP in August
57Luke WeaverSTLvs. SDLikely to take Wainwright's spot
58Zach DaviesMILat SF, at LAD
59Mike FoltynewiczATLvs. SEA, vs. COL
60Jose UrenaMIAat PHI
61Eduardo RodriguezBOSat CLE, vs. BAL
62Ivan NovaPITat CIN
63Mike FiersHOUvs. WAS
64Collin McHughHOUat LAA
65Justin NicolinoMIAat PHI
66Mike ClevingerCLEvs. BOS, vs. KC
67Ariel MirandaSEAat NYY
68Chris RowleyTORat TB, vs. MIN
69Chase AndersonMILat LADTough draw first game back from DL
70Lucas GiolitoCWSvs. MIN, vs. DET2017 debut on Tuesday
71CC SabathiaNYYvs. SEA
72Dinelson LametSDat MIA
73Brock StewartLADat PITFilling in for Darvish
74Mark LeiterPHIvs. CHC
75Erasmo RamirezSEAat ATL
76A.J. GriffinTEXat OAK
77Matt BoydDETvs. NYY, at CWS
78Chris SmithOAKat BAL, vs. TEX
79Ben LivelyPHIvs. CHC
80Martin PerezTEXat LAA
81Vance WorleyMIAat PHI
82Chris StrattonSFvs. MIL, at ARI
83R.A. DickeyATLvs. SEA
84Chad BettisCOLat ATL
85Rick PorcelloBOSvs. BAL
86JC RamirezLAAvs. TEX
87Nick PivettaPHIvs. MIA
88Ian KennedyKCvs. COL
89Homer BaileyCINvs. CHC, vs. PIT
90Brad PeacockHOUat LAA
91Ricky NolascoLAAvs. TEX, vs. HOU
92Drew PomeranzBOSat CLELeft last start with back spasms
93A.J. ColeWASvs. NYM
94Kendall GravemanOAKvs. TEX
95Mike MontgomeryCHCat CIN
96Andrew CashnerTEXat LAA
97Miguel GonzalezCWSvs. DET
98Austin PruittTBvs. TOR
99Matt MooreSFvs. MIL
100Julio TeheranATLvs. COL
101German MarquezCOLat KC
102Tyson RossTEXat LAA, at OAKCake matchups wasted on a gas can
103Jason VargasKCat CLE
104Jerad EickhoffPHIvs. MIA
105Lucas SimsATLvs. SEA
106Parker BridwellLAAvs. HOU
107Jake OdorizziTBat STL
108Odrisamer DespaigneMIAvs. SD
109Chris FlexenNYMvs. ARI
110Trevor WilliamsPITvs. LAD
111Jharel CottonOAKvs. TEX
112Travis WoodSDat MIA
113Jhoulys ChacinSDat STL
114Zach EflinPHIvs. MIA
115Jake JunisKCvs. COL
116Hyun-Jin RyuLADat PIT
117Matt GarzaMILat SF
118Sean NewcombATLvs. COL
119Sean ManaeaOAKat BAL
120Robert GsellmanNYMvs. ARI, at WAS
121Robert StephensonCINvs. PIT
122Clayton RichardSDat STL, at MIA
123Marco EstradaTORvs. MIN
124Chad KuhlPITvs. LAD
125Antonio SenzatelaCOLat KC
126Tim MelvilleMINat CWS
127Trevor BauerCLEvs. BOS
128Ty BlachSFat ARI
129Dillon GeeMINat TOR, at CWS
130Jason HammelKCat CLE
131Kyle GibsonMINat CWS, at TOR
132Blake SnellTBat STLLooked better last two outings, but low K totals
133Asher WojciechowskiCINvs. CHC
134Wade MileyBALvs. OAK
135Jeremy HellicksonBALat BOS
136Sal RomanoCINvs. CHC
137Doug FisterBOSat CLE, vs. BAL
138Ubaldo JimenezBALvs. OAK
139Andrew AlbersSEAat ATL, at NYY
140James ShieldsCWSvs. MIN
141Buck FarmerDETvs. NYY
142Kevin GausmanBALat BOS
143Nick TepeschTORvs. MIN
144Luis PerdomoSDat STL
145Jordan ZimmermannDETvs. NYY
146Derek HollandCWSvs. MIN
147Kyle FreelandCOLat ATL
148Paul BlackburnOAKat BAL
149Jaime GarciaNYYat DET
150Rafael MonteroNYMvs. ARI
151Bartolo ColonMINat TOR
152Yovani GallardoSEAat NYY
153Carson FulmerCWSvs. MIN
154Edwin JacksonWASat HOU
155Marco GonzalesSEAat ATL
156Chris TillmanBALat BOS
157Tyler PillNYMat WAS

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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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