Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Top Pitchers This Week

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Top Pitchers This Week

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Earlier this week, Andrew McCutchen indicated that a league official told him the seams of this year's ball are a bit higher. He said the league's aware, it wasn't on purpose, and they're investigating the reason. The balls are hand-sewn, so there isn't anything that can be done this season.

The repercussion is added drag, thereby reducing carry. And the data corroborates the report. Here are the numbers through Jun. 20 of each year:

 AEV (mph)Distance (ft)HR%
202292.1314.92.8
202392.2316.63
202492314.32.8
202592.5314.12.9

The distance is only a smidge less this season, but the exit velocity is up so it should travel further. Home run rate is also slightly up as the percentage of fly balls has increased while strikeouts are down, leading to more balls in play.

The mercury is rising, so the distance - and therefore, homers - should do likewise... but not by as much as it would if the seams were lower. Higher seams could means increased spin, though that's a story for another day. But as cited, strikeouts are lower.

UPDATED: Monday June 23, 2:10 AM ET

Week of June 23 - 29

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Tarik SkubalDETATH, MIN 
2Zack WheelerPHI@HOU 
3Paul SkenesPIT@MIL 
4Garrett CrochetBOS@LAA 
5Spencer SchwellenbachATL@NYM, PHINeeds to step up with Sale out
6Joe RyanMIN

Earlier this week, Andrew McCutchen indicated that a league official told him the seams of this year's ball are a bit higher. He said the league's aware, it wasn't on purpose, and they're investigating the reason. The balls are hand-sewn, so there isn't anything that can be done this season.

The repercussion is added drag, thereby reducing carry. And the data corroborates the report. Here are the numbers through Jun. 20 of each year:

 AEV (mph)Distance (ft)HR%
202292.1314.92.8
202392.2316.63
202492314.32.8
202592.5314.12.9

The distance is only a smidge less this season, but the exit velocity is up so it should travel further. Home run rate is also slightly up as the percentage of fly balls has increased while strikeouts are down, leading to more balls in play.

The mercury is rising, so the distance - and therefore, homers - should do likewise... but not by as much as it would if the seams were lower. Higher seams could means increased spin, though that's a story for another day. But as cited, strikeouts are lower.

UPDATED: Monday June 23, 2:10 AM ET

Week of June 23 - 29

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Tarik SkubalDETATH, MIN 
2Zack WheelerPHI@HOU 
3Paul SkenesPIT@MIL 
4Garrett CrochetBOS@LAA 
5Spencer SchwellenbachATL@NYM, PHINeeds to step up with Sale out
6Joe RyanMINSEA 
7Carlos RodonNYY@CIN, ATH 
8Jacob deGromTEX@BAL 
9Freddy PeraltaMILPIT 
10Matthew BoydCHC@STL 
11Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD@COL 
12David PetersonNYM@PIT 
13Spencer StriderATL@NYM, PHIShowing signs of returning to form
14Kris BubicKCTB, LADIn a rut, but should rebound, though tough pair
15Max FriedNYY@CIN 
16Bryan WooSEA@MIN, @TEX 
17Clarke SchmidtNYYATH 
18Jacob MisiorowskiMILPITCrazy movement along with plus velo
19Framber ValdezHOUPHI, CHCTwo productive lineup, at least he's at home
20Nathan EovaldiTEXSEA 
21Chad PatrickMILPIT, COLMatchups don't get better than this
22Ranger SuarezPHI@HOU, @ATL 
23Logan WebbSFMIA 
24Ryan PepiotTB@BAL 
25Dylan CeaseSD@CINKeeping the ball in the yard; ratios will fall
26Tanner BibeeCLETORDeserves more than four wins
27Drew RasmussenTB@KC 
28Logan GilbertSEA@TEX 
29Hunter BrownHOUPHI 
30Sandy AlcantaraMIA@ARIBack in fantasy circle of trust
31Merrill KellyARIMIA 
32Cristopher SanchezPHI@HOU 
33Bailey OberMINSEA, @DETNot as confident in a bounce back as this time last season
34Andrew AbbottCINSD 
35Sonny GraySTL@CLE 
36Shane SmithCWSARI, SF 
37Nick PivettaSDWAS 
38Nick LodoloCINNYY, SD 
39Mitch KellerPITNYM1-9 record, but 3.93 xFIP
40Jose SorianoLAAWAS 
41Shota ImanagaCHC@STL 
42MacKenzie GoreWAS@SD 
43Justin WrobleskiLAD@COL, @KC 
44Jesus LuzardoPHI@ATL 
45Grant HolmesATL@NYM 
46Clayton KershawLAD@COL 
47Gavin WilliamsCLETOR 
48Luis CastilloSEA@MIN, @TEX 
49Eury PerezMIA@ARI 
50Jack FlahertyDETATH 
51Shane BazTB@KCBagged the slider, added a cutter
52Michael WachaKCTB 
53Kumar RockerTEXSEA 
54Lucas GiolitoBOSTOR 
55Robbie RaySF@CWS 
56Stephen KolekSDWAS, @CIN 
57Edward CabreraMIA@SF 
58Andrew HeaneyPIT@MIL 
59Hayden BirdsongSFMIA 
60Michael SorokaWAS@LAA 
61Jameson TaillonCHC@STL, @HOU 
62Brayan BelloBOSTOR 
63Eduardo RodriguezARI@CWS, MIAMatchup driven, still not in a groove
64Sean BurkeCWSARI 
65George KirbySEA@MIN 
66Seth LugoKCLAD 
67Landen RouppSF@CWS 
68Cade HortonCHC@HOU 
69Ben BrownCHC@STL 
70Trevor RogersBALTEX, TB 
71Patrick CorbinTEX@BAL 
72Max ScherzerTOR@CLE 
73Zac GallenARI@CWS 
74Michael LorenzenKCTB 
75Simeon Woods RichardsonMINSEA 
76Mitchell ParkerWAS@SD, @LAA 
77Jacob LatzTEX@BAL 
78Kevin GausmanTOR@CLE 
79Chris BassittTOR@BOS 
80Frankie MontasNYMATL, @PIT 
81Dustin MayLAD@KC 
82Mix 12 Reliever   
83Taj BradleyTB@KC, @BALNot talking the next step (yet)
84Charlie MortonBALTEX 
85Dean KremerBALTB 
86Will WarrenNYYATH 
87Mix 15 Reliever   
88Zack LittellTB@BAL 
89Didier FuentesATL@NYM 
90Walker BuehlerBOS@LAA, TOR 
91Jose BerriosTOR@BOS 
92Tomoyuki SuganoBALTEX 
93Zach EflinBALTB 
94Randy VasquezSD@CIN 
95David FestaMIN@DET 
96Clay HolmesNYMATL 
97Ben CaspariusLAD@KC 
98Ryne NelsonARI@CWS 
99Jeffrey SpringsATH@DET 
100Jose QuintanaMILCOL 
101Brandon PfaadtARIMIA 
102Allan WinansNYY@CIN 
103Casey MizeDETMIN 
104Braxton AshcraftPIT@MIL 
105Quinn PriesterMILCOL 
106Luis SeverinoATH@DET, @NYYTough road tilts
107Jake IrvinWAS@LAA 
108Logan AllenCLETOR, STL 
109Chase BurnsCINNYY 
110Jack LeiterTEXSEA 
111Sawyer Gipson-LongDETMIN 
112Kyle FreelandCOL@MIL 
113Ryan BergertSDWAS 
114Erick FeddeSTLCHC 
115Nick MartinezCINSD 
116Miles MikolasSTL@CLE 
117Matthew LiberatoreSTLCHC, @CLETough duo to get back on track
118Noah CameronKCLAD 
119Cal QuantrillMIA@SF, @ARI 
120Yusei KikuchiLAABOS 
121Brady SingerCINNYY 
122Luis L. OrtizCLESTL 
123Griffin CanningNYMATL 
124Aaron CivaleCWSSF 
125Slade CecconiCLESTL 
126Chris PaddackMINSEA, @DET 
127Trevor WilliamsWAS@SD 
128Kyle HendricksLAAWAS 
129Justin VerlanderSFMIA, @CWS 
130Colin ReaCHC@HOU 
131Paul BlackburnNYMATL, @PIT 
132Andre PallanteSTLCHC 
133Jacob LopezATH@DET 
134Janson JunkMIA@SF 
135Jack KochanowiczLAABOS, WAS 
136Eric LauerTOR@CLE, @BOS 
137Adrian HouserCWSSF 
138Mick AbelPHI@ATL 
139Bailey FalterPITNYM 
140Mitch SpenceATH@NYY 
141Bryce ElderATLPHI 
142Ryan GustoHOUCHC 
143Tyler AlexanderCWSARI 
144Emerson HancockSEA@MIN 
145German MarquezCOLLAD, @MIL 
146Richard FittsBOS@LAA 
147Colton GordonHOUPHI 
148Brandon WalterHOUCHC 
149Mike BurrowsPITNYM 
150Michael McGreevySTLCHC 
151Chase DollanderCOLLAD 
152JP SearsATH@NYY 
153Tyler AndersonLAABOS 
154Antonio SenzatelaCOL@MIL 
155Austin GomberCOLLAD 
156Dietrich EnnsDETATH 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Tarik SkubalDETATH, MIN 
2Garrett CrochetBOS@LAA 
3Joe RyanMINSEA 
4Carlos RodonNYY@CIN, ATH 
5Jacob deGromTEX@BAL 
6Kris BubicKCTB, LADIn a rut, but should rebound, though tough pair
7Max FriedNYY@CIN 
8Bryan WooSEA@MIN, @TEX 
9Clarke SchmidtNYYATH 
10Framber ValdezHOUPHI, CHCTwo productive lineup, at least he's at home
11Nathan EovaldiTEXSEA 
12Ryan PepiotTB@BAL 
13Tanner BibeeCLETORDeserves more than four wins
14Drew RasmussenTB@KC 
15Logan GilbertSEA@TEX 
16Hunter BrownHOUPHI 
17Bailey OberMINSEA, @DETNot as confident in a bounce back as this time last season
18Shane SmithCWSARI, SF 
19Jose SorianoLAAWAS 
20Gavin WilliamsCLETOR 
21Luis CastilloSEA@MIN, @TEX 
22Jack FlahertyDETATH 
23Shane BazTB@KCBagged the slider, added a cutter
24Michael WachaKCTB 
25Kumar RockerTEXSEA 
26Lucas GiolitoBOSTOR 
27Brayan BelloBOSTOR 
28Sean BurkeCWSARI 
29George KirbySEA@MIN 
30Seth LugoKCLAD 
31Trevor RogersBALTEX, TB 
32Patrick CorbinTEX@BAL 
33Max ScherzerTOR@CLE 
34Michael LorenzenKCTB 
35Simeon Woods RichardsonMINSEA 
36Jacob LatzTEX@BAL 
37Kevin GausmanTOR@CLE 
38Chris BassittTOR@BOS 
39Taj BradleyTB@KC, @BALNot talking the next step (yet)
40Charlie MortonBALTEX 
41Dean KremerBALTB 
42Will WarrenNYYATH 
43Zack LittellTB@BAL 
44Walker BuehlerBOS@LAA, TOR 
45Jose BerriosTOR@BOS 
46Tomoyuki SuganoBALTEX 
47Zach EflinBALTB 
48David FestaMIN@DET 
49Jeffrey SpringsATH@DET 
50AL Reliever   
51Allan WinansNYY@CIN 
52Casey MizeDETMIN 
53Luis SeverinoATH@DET, @NYYTough road tilts
54Logan AllenCLETOR, STL 
55Jack LeiterTEXSEA 
56Sawyer Gipson-LongDETMIN 
57Noah CameronKCLAD 
58Yusei KikuchiLAABOS 
59Luis L. OrtizCLESTL 
60Aaron CivaleCWSSF 
61Slade CecconiCLESTL 
62Chris PaddackMINSEA, @DET 
63Kyle HendricksLAAWAS 
64Jacob LopezATH@DET 
65Jack KochanowiczLAABOS, WAS 
66Eric LauerTOR@CLE, @BOS 
67Adrian HouserCWSSF 
68Mitch SpenceATH@NYY 
69Ryan GustoHOUCHC 
70Tyler AlexanderCWSARI 
71Emerson HancockSEA@MIN 
72Richard FittsBOS@LAA 
73Colton GordonHOUPHI 
74Brandon WalterHOUCHC 
75JP SearsATH@NYY 
76Tyler AndersonLAABOS 
77Dietrich EnnsDETATH 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Zack WheelerPHI@HOU 
2Paul SkenesPIT@MIL 
3Spencer SchwellenbachATL@NYM, PHINeeds to step up with Sale out
4Freddy PeraltaMILPIT 
5Matthew BoydCHC@STL 
6Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD@COL 
7David PetersonNYM@PIT 
8Spencer StriderATL@NYM, PHIShowing signs of returning to form
9Jacob MisiorowskiMILPITCrazy movement along with plus velo
10Chad PatrickMILPIT, COLMatchups don't get better than this
11Ranger SuarezPHI@HOU, @ATL 
12Logan WebbSFMIA 
13Dylan CeaseSD@CINKeeping the ball in the yard; ratios will fall
14Sandy AlcantaraMIA@ARIBack in fantasy circle of trust
15Merrill KellyARIMIA 
16Cristopher SanchezPHI@HOU 
17Andrew AbbottCINSD 
18Sonny GraySTL@CLE 
19Nick PivettaSDWAS 
20Nick LodoloCINNYY, SD 
21Mitch KellerPITNYM1-9 record, but 3.93 xFIP
22Shota ImanagaCHC@STL 
23MacKenzie GoreWAS@SD 
24Justin WrobleskiLAD@COL, @KC 
25Jesus LuzardoPHI@ATL 
26Grant HolmesATL@NYM 
27Clayton KershawLAD@COL 
28Eury PerezMIA@ARI 
29Robbie RaySF@CWS 
30Stephen KolekSDWAS, @CIN 
31Edward CabreraMIA@SF 
32Andrew HeaneyPIT@MIL 
33Hayden BirdsongSFMIA 
34Michael SorokaWAS@LAA 
35Jameson TaillonCHC@STL, @HOU 
36Eduardo RodriguezARI@CWS, MIAMatchup driven, still not in a groove
37Landen RouppSF@CWS 
38Cade HortonCHC@HOU 
39Ben BrownCHC@STL 
40Zac GallenARI@CWS 
41Mitchell ParkerWAS@SD, @LAA 
42Frankie MontasNYMATL, @PIT 
43Dustin MayLAD@KC 
44Didier FuentesATL@NYM 
45Randy VasquezSD@CIN 
46Clay HolmesNYMATL 
47Ben CaspariusLAD@KC 
48Ryne NelsonARI@CWS 
49Jose QuintanaMILCOL 
50Brandon PfaadtARIMIA 
51NL Reliever   
52Braxton AshcraftPIT@MIL 
53Quinn PriesterMILCOL 
54Jake IrvinWAS@LAA 
55Chase BurnsCINNYY 
56Kyle FreelandCOL@MIL 
57Ryan BergertSDWAS 
58Erick FeddeSTLCHC 
59Nick MartinezCINSD 
60Miles MikolasSTL@CLE 
61Matthew LiberatoreSTLCHC, @CLETough duo to get back on track
62Cal QuantrillMIA@SF, @ARI 
63Brady SingerCINNYY 
64Griffin CanningNYMATL 
65Trevor WilliamsWAS@SD 
66Justin VerlanderSFMIA, @CWS 
67Colin ReaCHC@HOU 
68Paul BlackburnNYMATL, @PIT 
69Andre PallanteSTLCHC 
70Janson JunkMIA@SF 
71Mick AbelPHI@ATL 
72Bailey FalterPITNYM 
73Bryce ElderATLPHI 
74German MarquezCOLLAD, @MIL 
75Mike BurrowsPITNYM 
76Michael McGreevySTLCHC 
77Chase DollanderCOLLAD 
78Antonio SenzatelaCOL@MIL 
79Austin GomberCOLLAD 

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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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