This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
For those hoping it would be easier to find two-steppers to stream as the season progressed, I have bad news, it ain't happenin', either in terms of quantity or quality. At first pass, 39 hurlers have two scheduled starts, which is a high number this season. However, they're either universally rostered or too risky, there isn't much middle ground.
Many rotations are in flux as they're being reshuffled after the trading frenzy, not to mention a couple early week twin bills taxing the usual starting five. As always, please direct scheduling questions to the comments of the Projected Starters Grid. I'll be happy to handle questions germane to rankings in the comments below.
As is customary, an update will be posted Sunday night, reflecting all the changes between now and then.
For the week of Aug. 5-11.
UPDATED: August 5, 12:00 AM ET
MLB
Rank | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. WAS | Pitching as well as he has all season |
2 | Charlie Morton | TB | vs. TOR, at SEA | Great pair to break out of rut |
3 | Jose Berrios | MIN | vs. ATL, vs. CLE | .92 ERA, .86 WHIP with 23 K and 4 BB in last 3 GS spanning 19.2 IP |
4 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at DET, vs. OAK | Back to dominant form |
5 | Luis Castillo | CIN | vs. LAA, vs. CHC | Only 13 HR allowed in 130 IP |
6 | Mike Minor | TEX | at CLE, at MIL | 8 HR allowed last 23 IP |
7 | Kyle Hendricks |
For those hoping it would be easier to find two-steppers to stream as the season progressed, I have bad news, it ain't happenin', either in terms of quantity or quality. At first pass, 39 hurlers have two scheduled starts, which is a high number this season. However, they're either universally rostered or too risky, there isn't much middle ground.
Many rotations are in flux as they're being reshuffled after the trading frenzy, not to mention a couple early week twin bills taxing the usual starting five. As always, please direct scheduling questions to the comments of the Projected Starters Grid. I'll be happy to handle questions germane to rankings in the comments below.
As is customary, an update will be posted Sunday night, reflecting all the changes between now and then.
For the week of Aug. 5-11.
UPDATED: August 5, 12:00 AM ET
MLB
Rank | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. WAS | Pitching as well as he has all season |
2 | Charlie Morton | TB | vs. TOR, at SEA | Great pair to break out of rut |
3 | Jose Berrios | MIN | vs. ATL, vs. CLE | .92 ERA, .86 WHIP with 23 K and 4 BB in last 3 GS spanning 19.2 IP |
4 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at DET, vs. OAK | Back to dominant form |
5 | Luis Castillo | CIN | vs. LAA, vs. CHC | Only 13 HR allowed in 130 IP |
6 | Mike Minor | TEX | at CLE, at MIL | 8 HR allowed last 23 IP |
7 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs. OAK, at CIN | Defines solid |
8 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at MIN, at MIA | 114 IP - how many more before he slows down so he can work in October? |
9 | Justin Verlander | HOU | at BAL | |
10 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at NYM | Chance he comes back early for a two-step |
11 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | Pitching well and boosted by home park for both |
12 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | vs. STL | |
13 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | vs. COL | |
14 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | vs. ATL, vs. CLE | |
15 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. MIA | On another second half surge |
16 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
17 | Walker Buehler | LAD | vs. ARI | |
18 | Chris Sale | BOS | vs. LAA | |
19 | Zack Greinke | HOU | vs. COL | |
20 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs. ARI | Hoping to miss only one start |
21 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs. OAK, at CIN | |
22 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. WAS | |
23 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | at NYM | |
24 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | vs. CHC | |
25 | Dallas Keuchel | ATL | at MIA | |
26 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at SF | |
27 | Chris Paddack | SD | vs. COL | |
28 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at BAL, at TOR | Yankees need Tanaka to right he ship, good spot to do it |
29 | Matthew Boyd | DET | vs. KC | |
30 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | vs. TEX | |
31 | German Marquez | COL | at HOU, at SD | On the road for two, rare time that's a good thing |
32 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. PHI | |
33 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at LAD | |
34 | Jordan Yamamoto | MIA | at NYM, vs. ATL | |
35 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | vs. PHI, at LAD | |
36 | Domingo German | NYY | at TOR | |
37 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | at SEA | |
38 | Caleb Smith | MIA | vs. ATL | |
39 | Mike Fiers | OAK | at CWS | |
40 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | vs. ARI | |
41 | Shane Bieber | CLE | at MIN | |
42 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | at SEA | |
43 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | vs. KC | |
44 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at MIA | |
45 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at NYM | Slated to return from IL |
46 | David Price | BOS | vs. LAA | |
47 | Brendan McKay | TB | vs. TOR | |
48 | Alex Wood | CIN | vs. CHC | |
49 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at PIT, vs. TEX | Low IP/GS hurts ranking |
50 | Cole Hamels | CHC | at CIN | |
51 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at LAD | |
52 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | at ARI, at SF | Could be shut down if Phillies fall out of playoff chase |
53 | Marcus Stroman | NYM | vs. WAS | |
54 | Zach Plesac | CLE | vs. TEX, at MIN | |
55 | Mike Leake | ARI | vs. PHI, at LAD | |
56 | James Paxton | NYY | at BAL | |
57 | Tanner Roark | OAK | at CWS | Should benefit from deal, though this is a road affair |
58 | Brad Keller | KC | at DET | |
59 | Jakob Junis | KC | at BOS, at DET | |
60 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. CWS, vs. KC | |
61 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | at SEA, vs. COL | Strikeouts elevate ranking |
62 | Dustin May | LAD | vs. STL | |
63 | Lance Lynn | TEX | at CLE | |
64 | Max Fried | ATL | at MIN, at MIA | |
65 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. TB | |
66 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | at STL | |
67 | Sonny Gray | CIN | vs. CHC | |
68 | Wade Miley | HOU | at BAL | |
69 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | vs. TOR | |
70 | John Means | BAL | vs. NYY | |
71 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. MIA | |
72 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | vs. LAA | |
73 | Miles Mikolas | STL | at LAD | |
74 | Wade LeBlanc | SEA | vs. SD, vs. TB | |
75 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. OAK | |
76 | Yu Darvish | CHC | at CIN | |
77 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. MIL | |
78 | Rick Porcello | BOS | vs. KC, vs. LAA | Good matchups but tough to trust |
79 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at TOR | |
80 | Danny Duffy | KC | at DET | |
81 | Gio Gonzalez | MIL | vs. TEX | |
82 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | vs. CLE | |
83 | Jon Gray | COL | at SD | |
84 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | vs. SD | |
85 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at NYM, vs. ATL | |
86 | Chris Archer | PIT | at STL | |
87 | Jose Quintana | CHC | vs. OAK | |
88 | Drew Smyly | PHI | at SF | Encouraging start to tenure with the Phillies, .69 ERA, .85 WHIP with 13 K in 13 IP |
89 | Jordan Lyles | MIL | at PIT, vs. TEX | |
90 | Conner Menez | SF | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | |
91 | Jalen Beeks | TB | at SEA | |
92 | Robert Dugger | MIA | at NYM | |
93 | Andrew Cashner | BOS | vs. KC, vs. LAA | |
94 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | at SF | |
95 | Tommy Milone | SEA | vs. TB | |
96 | Ivan Nova | CWS | at DET | |
97 | Zach Davies | MIL | at PIT | |
98 | Adam Wainwright | STL | vs. PIT | |
99 | Dylan Cease | CWS | at DET | |
100 | Dario Agrazal | PIT | vs. MIL, at STL | |
101 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | at CHC, at CWS | |
102 | Nestor Cortes | NYY | at BAL | |
103 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | vs. STL | |
104 | Mike Montgomery | KC | at BOS, at DET | |
105 | Shaun Anderson | SF | vs. WAS | |
106 | Eric Lauer | SD | vs. COL | |
107 | Michael Wacha | STL | at LAD, vs. PIT | |
108 | Aaron Sanchez | HOU | at BAL | |
109 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | vs. NYY | |
110 | Cal Quantrill | SD | vs. COL | |
111 | Trent Thornton | TOR | at TB, vs. NYY | |
112 | Martin Perez | MIN | vs. ATL | |
113 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at CHC | |
114 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | at ARI, at SF | |
115 | Kyle Freeland | COL | at SD | |
116 | Thomas Pannone | TOR | vs. NYY | |
117 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. MIL | |
118 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. PIT | |
119 | Daniel Norris | DET | vs. CWS, vs. KC | |
120 | Walker Lockett | NYM | vs. MIA | |
121 | Devin Smeltzer | MIN | vs. CLE | |
122 | Zac Gallen | ARI | vs. PHI | |
123 | Jason Vargas | PHI | at ARI | |
124 | Chance Adams | NYY | at TOR | |
125 | Drew VerHagen | DET | vs. CWS | |
126 | Elieser Hernandez | MIA | vs. ATL | |
127 | Tyler Alexander | DET | vs. CWS | |
128 | Peter Lambert | COL | at HOU | |
129 | Wilmer Font | TOR | at TB | |
130 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | at BOS | |
131 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | at CIN, at BOS | |
132 | Kevin Gausman | ATL | at MIN | |
133 | Jacob Waguespack | TOR | at TB, vs. NYY | |
134 | Aaron Civale | CLE | vs. TEX, at MIN | |
135 | Hector Santiago | CWS | at DET | |
136 | Adrian Sampson | TEX | at MIL | |
137 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. HOU | |
138 | Joe Ross | WAS | at SF | |
139 | Jose Suarez | LAA | at CIN | |
140 | Adam Plutko | CLE | at MIN | |
141 | Erick Fedde | WAS | at SF | |
142 | Sean Reid-Foley | TOR | vs. NYY | |
143 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. KC | |
144 | Jaime Barria | LAA | at BOS | |
145 | Aaron Brooks | BAL | vs. HOU | |
146 | Tom Eshelman | BAL | vs. HOU | |
147 | Tyler Beede | SF | vs. PHI | |
148 | Chi Chi Gonzalez | COL | at SD | |
149 | Homer Bailey | OAK | at CHC | |
150 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | at CLE | |
151 | Pedro Payano | TEX | at MIL | |
152 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | vs. NYY | |
153 | Glenn Sparkman | KC | at BOS | |
154 | Ross Detwiler | CWS | vs. OAK | |
155 | Dillon Peters | LAA | at BOS |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Charlie Morton | TB | vs. TOR, at SEA | Great pair to break out of rut |
2 | Jose Berrios | MIN | vs. ATL, vs. CLE | .92 ERA, .86 WHIP with 23 K and 4 BB in last 3 GS spanning 19.2 IP |
3 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at DET, vs. OAK | Back to dominant form |
4 | Mike Minor | TEX | at CLE, at MIL | 8 HR allowed last 23 IP |
5 | Justin Verlander | HOU | at BAL | |
6 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | vs. COL | |
7 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | vs. ATL, vs. CLE | |
8 | Chris Sale | BOS | vs. LAA | |
9 | Zack Greinke | HOU | vs. COL | |
10 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at BAL, at TOR | Yankees need Tanaka to right he ship, good spot to do it |
11 | Matthew Boyd | DET | vs. KC | |
12 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | vs. TEX | |
13 | Domingo German | NYY | at TOR | |
14 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | at SEA | |
15 | Mike Fiers | OAK | at CWS | |
16 | Shane Bieber | CLE | at MIN | |
17 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | vs. KC | |
18 | David Price | BOS | vs. LAA | |
19 | Brendan McKay | TB | vs. TOR | |
20 | Zach Plesac | CLE | vs. TEX, at MIN | |
21 | James Paxton | NYY | at BAL | |
22 | Tanner Roark | OAK | at CWS | Should benefit from deal, though this is a road affair |
23 | Brad Keller | KC | at DET | |
24 | Jakob Junis | KC | at BOS, at DET | |
25 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. CWS, vs. KC | |
26 | Lance Lynn | TEX | at CLE | |
27 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. TB | |
28 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | vs. TOR | |
29 | Wade Miley | HOU | at BAL | |
30 | John Means | BAL | vs. NYY | |
31 | Aaron Sanchez | HOU | at SF, at BAL | |
32 | Wade LeBlanc | SEA | vs. SD, vs. TB | |
33 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. OAK | |
34 | Rick Porcello | BOS | vs. KC, vs. LAA | Good matchups but tough to trust |
35 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at TOR | |
36 | Danny Duffy | KC | at DET | |
37 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | vs. CLE | |
38 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | vs. SD | |
39 | Jalen Beeks | TB | at SEA | |
40 | Andrew Cashner | BOS | vs. KC, vs. LAA | |
41 | Tommy Milone | SEA | vs. TB | |
42 | Ivan Nova | CWS | at DET | |
43 | Dylan Cease | CWS | at DET | |
44 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | at CHC, at CWS | |
45 | Nestor Cortes | NYY | at BAL | |
46 | Mike Montgomery | KC | at BOS, at DET | |
47 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | vs. NYY | |
48 | Trent Thornton | TOR | at TB, vs. NYY | |
49 | Martin Perez | MIN | vs. ATL | |
50 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at CHC | |
51 | Thomas Pannone | TOR | vs. NYY | |
52 | Daniel Norris | DET | vs. CWS, vs. KC | |
53 | Devin Smeltzer | MIN | vs. CLE | |
54 | Chance Adams | NYY | at TOR | |
55 | Drew VerHagen | DET | vs. CWS | |
56 | Tyler Alexander | DET | vs. CWS | |
57 | Wilmer Font | TOR | at TB | |
58 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | at BOS | |
59 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | at CIN, at BOS | |
60 | Jacob Waguespack | TOR | at TB, vs. NYY | |
61 | Aaron Civale | CLE | vs. TEX, at MIN | |
62 | Hector Santiago | CWS | at DET | |
63 | Adrian Sampson | TEX | at MIL | |
64 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. HOU | |
65 | Jose Suarez | LAA | at CIN | |
66 | Adam Plutko | CLE | at MIN | |
67 | Sean Reid-Foley | TOR | vs. NYY | |
68 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. KC | |
69 | Jaime Barria | LAA | at BOS | |
70 | Aaron Brooks | BAL | vs. HOU | |
71 | Tom Eshelman | BAL | vs. HOU | |
72 | Homer Bailey | OAK | at CHC | |
73 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | at CLE | |
74 | Pedro Payano | TEX | at MIL | |
75 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | vs. NYY | |
76 | Glenn Sparkman | KC | at BOS | |
77 | Ross Detwiler | CWS | vs. OAK | |
78 | Dillon Peters | LAA | at BOS |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. WAS | Pitching as well as he has all season |
2 | Luis Castillo | CIN | vs. LAA, vs. CHC | Only 13 HR allowed in 130 IP |
3 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs. OAK, at CIN | Defines solid |
4 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at MIN, at MIA | 114 IP - how many more before he slows down so he can work in October? |
5 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at NYM | Chance he comes back early for a two-step |
6 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | Pitching well and boosted by home park for both |
7 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | vs. STL | |
8 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. MIA | On another second half surge |
9 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
10 | Walker Buehler | LAD | vs. ARI | |
11 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs. ARI | Hoping to miss only one start |
12 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs. OAK, at CIN | |
13 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. WAS | |
14 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | at NYM | |
15 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | vs. CHC | |
16 | Dallas Keuchel | ATL | at MIA | |
17 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at SF | |
18 | Chris Paddack | SD | vs. COL | |
19 | German Marquez | COL | at HOU, at SD | On the road for two, rare time that's a good thing |
20 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. PHI | |
21 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at LAD | |
22 | Jordan Yamamoto | MIA | at NYM, vs. ATL | |
23 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | vs. PHI, at LAD | |
24 | Caleb Smith | MIA | vs. ATL | |
25 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | vs. ARI | |
26 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | at SEA | |
27 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at MIA | |
28 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at NYM | Slated to return from IL |
29 | Alex Wood | CIN | vs. CHC | |
30 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at PIT, vs. TEX | Low IP/GS hurts ranking |
31 | Cole Hamels | CHC | at CIN | |
32 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at LAD | |
33 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | at ARI, at SF | Could be shut down if Phillies fall out of playoff chase |
34 | Marcus Stroman | NYM | vs. WAS | |
35 | Mike Leake | ARI | vs. PHI, at LAD | |
36 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | at SEA, vs. COL | Strikeouts elevate ranking |
37 | Dustin May | LAD | vs. STL | |
38 | Max Fried | ATL | at MIN, at MIA | |
39 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | at STL | |
40 | Sonny Gray | CIN | vs. CHC | |
41 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. MIA | |
42 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | vs. LAA | |
43 | Miles Mikolas | STL | at LAD | |
44 | Yu Darvish | CHC | at CIN | |
45 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. MIL | |
46 | Gio Gonzalez | MIL | vs. TEX | |
47 | Jon Gray | COL | at SD | |
48 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at NYM, vs. ATL | |
49 | Chris Archer | PIT | at STL | |
50 | Jose Quintana | CHC | vs. OAK | |
51 | Drew Smyly | PHI | at SF | Encouraging start to tenure with the Phillies, .69 ERA, .85 WHIP with 13 K in 13 IP |
52 | Jordan Lyles | MIL | at PIT, vs. TEX | |
53 | Conner Menez | SF | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | |
54 | Robert Dugger | MIA | at NYM | |
55 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | at SF | |
56 | Zach Davies | MIL | at PIT | |
57 | Adam Wainwright | STL | vs. PIT | |
58 | Dario Agrazal | PIT | vs. MIL, at STL | |
59 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | vs. STL | |
60 | Shaun Anderson | SF | vs. WAS | |
61 | Eric Lauer | SD | vs. COL | |
62 | Michael Wacha | STL | at LAD, vs. PIT | |
63 | Cal Quantrill | SD | vs. COL | |
64 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | at ARI, at SF | |
65 | Kyle Freeland | COL | at SD | |
66 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. MIL | |
67 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. PIT | |
68 | Walker Lockett | NYM | vs. MIA | |
69 | Zac Gallen | ARI | vs. PHI | |
70 | Jason Vargas | PHI | at ARI | |
71 | Elieser Hernandez | MIA | vs. ATL | |
72 | Peter Lambert | COL | at HOU | |
73 | Kevin Gausman | ATL | at MIN | |
74 | Joe Ross | WAS | at SF | |
75 | Erick Fedde | WAS | at SF | |
76 | Tyler Beede | SF | vs. PHI | |
77 | Chi Chi Gonzalez | COL | at SD |