Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Double the Kershaw

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Updated on May 14, 2016 12:37PM EST

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. I'll let you know where the new arm slots.

For the week May 16-22

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Chris Sale	HOU	Dropped a Maddux on the Yanks in the Bronx; trading Ks for efficiency and it's working (7.3 IP/start)
2	David Price	at KC, CLE	Pedroia found a mechanical issue that was impacting Price and early returns were very positive; I buy the change
3	Masahiro Tanaka	at OAK
4	Danny Salazar	CIN, at BOS	He has a 4.6 BB/9 and H/9 showing just how filthy his stuff has been; needs more first-pitch strikes to cut BBs
5	Drew Smyly	at TOR, at DET	Has a 1.4 HR/9, but they're all in three multi-HR outings, which I think is better than consistently allowing them
6	Corey Kluber	at CIN
7	Cole Hamels	at OAK	A 1.27 WHIP says the ERA is running favorable and will jump up if he continues at that WHIP clip, but I can see him cutting some BBs
8	Jose Quintana	KC
9	Kevin Gausman	at LAA	Unlikely to maintain a .203 BABIP obviously, but he's been utter filth through four starts
10	Felix Hernandez	at CIN	Here's the thing, you could see, but who's giving you market value for him? Just

For the week May 16-22

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Chris Sale	HOU	Dropped a Maddux on the Yanks in the Bronx; trading Ks for efficiency and it's working (7.3 IP/start)
2	David Price	at KC, CLE	Pedroia found a mechanical issue that was impacting Price and early returns were very positive; I buy the change
3	Masahiro Tanaka	at OAK
4	Danny Salazar	CIN, at BOS	He has a 4.6 BB/9 and H/9 showing just how filthy his stuff has been; needs more first-pitch strikes to cut BBs
5	Drew Smyly	at TOR, at DET	Has a 1.4 HR/9, but they're all in three multi-HR outings, which I think is better than consistently allowing them
6	Corey Kluber	at CIN
7	Cole Hamels	at OAK	A 1.27 WHIP says the ERA is running favorable and will jump up if he continues at that WHIP clip, but I can see him cutting some BBs
8	Jose Quintana	KC
9	Kevin Gausman	at LAA	Unlikely to maintain a .203 BABIP obviously, but he's been utter filth through four starts
10	Felix Hernandez	at CIN	Here's the thing, you could see, but who's giving you market value for him? Just hold him, at least we're getting a good ERA
11	Jordan Zimmermann	MIN, TB	He's always stranded runners at an above average clip (career 75%), but this 88% will come down; entertain selling
12	Taijuan Walker	at BAL
13	Jake Odorizzi	at TOR	3 duds, 5 gems; don't love the matchup, but two of the gems are vs. TOR
14	Justin Verlander	MIN
15	Dallas Keuchel	at CWS, TEX	League forcing him back in the zone (28% out of zone swing%, which is league avg and down from 33% last yr) and lack of overpowering stuff is showing
16	Rick Porcello	at KC, CLE
17	Marcus Stroman	TB, at MIN
18	Rich Hill	TEX	He's an out shy of five straight QS; has 34 Ks in 30.7 IP during those starts
19	Chris Tillman	SEA
20	Marco Estrada	at MIN
21	Sonny Gray	NYY	MLBN did a good breakdown suggesting it's a mechanical flaw causing the issues; no word of injury concern; buy low
22	Chris Archer	at TOR	Don't feel as comfortable saying he's not hurt, but we haven't heard anything to that end; still, I'm not buying
23	J.A. Happ	TB, at MIN
24	Carlos Rodon	HOU, KC	Volatility (4 QS, 3 starts of 5-plus R) says he's not quite ready, but still 6-plus Ks in all but one start; talent is evident, but needs time
25	Ian Kennedy	BOS, at CWS	Doubled his HR total (to 6) and nearly doubled his ER total (9 in first six starts; 7 in last start) in one game at NYY; scared of the BOS start
26	Yu Darvish	at OAK	Stuff has been solid on rehab; saw him in Round Rock on Thursday and he settled nicely after some bumps in 1st inn.; still worry about normal command issues that follow TJ especially since his was already shaky
27	Aaron Sanchez	at MIN	Some worried the wheels were about to come off after 6 ER vs. OAK, but just 4 ER in 21 IP since
28	Hisashi Iwakuma	at CIN	He's been pretty average so far, but nothing suggests real trouble so I'd just leave him in the lineup and check in on him later
29	Hector Santiago	BAL
30	Steven Wright	at KC
31	Nathan Eovaldi	at ARI, at OAK	K:BB has improved nicely, but now HRs are a problem as he's double his career rate (1.5 HR/9)
32	Nate Karns	at BAL
33	Ervin Santana	TOR
34	Michael Pineda	at ARI, at OAK	Chris Liss has taken to calling him Michael Piñata
35	Josh Tomlin	at CIN
36	Anibal Sanchez	TB
37	Lance McCullers	TEX	Tough spot for a season debut (at BOS), but don't overreact; remember Matz's season debut?
38	Jhoulys Chacin	LAD
39	R.A. Dickey	TB	Seems to need a ramp up month; Aprils since 2013: 5.30 ERA, rest of seas: 3.67 ERA
40	Mike Fiers	at CWS
41	Matt Moore	at DET	Last 2 starts looked like the ugly version of Moore where inefficiency took over and had him out before 5 IP; maddeningly inconsistent
42	Tyler Duffey	TOR
43	Collin McHugh	TEX
44	Wade Miley	at BAL, at CIN	Solid 3.18 ERA in last 4 averaging 7 IP/start, but also 6 HRs; decent spot-starter
45	Jose Berrios	at DET, TOR	Still starting in AL-onlys, but you almost certainly have better options in all mixers
46	Trevor Bauer	at BOS	Looking solid in returng to rotation, but this matchup is terrible so he's a fringe start this week
47	Michael Fulmer	TB
48	Nicholas Tropeano	LAD	Too many BB for mixed league viabilty, but the 14% SwStr rate is really nice
49	Martin Perez	HOU
50	Edinson Volquez	BOS	Nope, not against BOS
51	Miguel Gonzalez	KC
52	Cody Anderson	CIN, at BOS	Getting the swings-and-misses for more Ks, but struggling to put batters away; monitor him
53	Doug Fister	at CWS	Five straight QS, but also just 14 Ks against 12 BBs in the 32 IP

SIT

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
53	Yordano Ventura	BOS, at CWS	A doubling in BB% hints at more than shaky control, velo down 2 MPH, too; hate to say it, but feels like injury
54	Ricky Nolasco	at DET
55	Mat Latos	HOU	He's 4 BBs shy of a 1:1 K:BB ratio; the LOB% is starting to drop, too; sellllll (and by that I mean cut, because no one is buying)
56	Sean Manaea	TEX, NYY	Thought he was more ready, but even after 3 starts it's clear he needs more seasoning; wouldn't be surprised if Hahn took his spot soon
57	Matt Andriese	at DET
58	Henderson Alvarez	TEX, NYY
59	Phil Hughes	at DET, TOR	Just can't miss bats
60	Kendall Graveman	NYY
61	Matt Shoemaker	at LAD, BAL
62	Derek Holland	at OAK, at HOU	One of those SPs where 2 starts is actually bad news
63	Clay Buchholz	CLE
64	Ubaldo Jimenez	SEA
65	Colby Lewis	at HOU
66	Ivan Nova	at OAK
67	Tyler Wilson	SEA, at LAA
68	Dillon Gee	at CWS	Decent long relief duty, but I'm not sold
69	Jered Weaver	at LAD, BAL
70	Mike Wright	at LAA
71	Mike Pelfrey	MIN
72	Luis Severino TBD	at ARI	Left Friday's start with an elbow injury; unlikely to start, but you're benching even if he does

NATIONAL LEAGUE

START

Rank	Pitcher	Opponent(s)	Comments
1	Clayton Kershaw	LAA, at SD	The three super-studs all get two starts this week! :hearteyes emoji
2	Max Scherzer	at NYM, at MIA	There's likely an element of bad luck in the bevy of HRs, but he also needs to tighten the command
3	Noah Syndergaard	WAS, MIL
4	Jake Arrieta	at SF
5	Stephen Strasburg	at NYM	The Nats wanted to get him locked in before he wins that Cy Young* ... (*they're giving a Cy to the 2nd-best SP this yearbecause Kershaw is getting a different award which is fittingly called The Kershaw)
6	Jose Fernandez	WAS
7	Johnny Cueto	at SD	63% of his 19 ER have come in two starts; still not sure why I didn't have him in my top 20 this spring (he was 23rd)
8	Jon Lester	at SF
9	Madison Bumgarner	at SD, CHC	I'd stop short of saying he's at peak MadBum, but my concern about him after the ST ailments, wonky debut have waned some
10	Jaime Garcia	COL, ARI
11	Jacob deGrom	MIL	Still rounding info form, remember that he's a couple weeks off the pace of others; 2.12 ERA curbs any buy-low opp, but I'd still buy even at full price as Ks and WHIP will move more toward ERA than vice versa
12	Gerrit Cole	ATL
13	Gio Gonzalez	at NYM
14	Jason Hammel	at MIL	Has allowed more than 2 ER just once and it was only 3 ER vs. WAS; health is the real key and right now he has a clean bill
15	Vince Velasquez	MIA	Since SD gem: 4.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 24 Ks in 28.3 IP
16	Kenta Maeda	LAA, at SD
17	Jeff Samardzija	at SD	Has 28 Ks and 5.6 K:BB ratio in his last 29.3 IP (four starts); excelling home and away
18	Matt Harvey	WAS	Maybe the talk about his weight and by extenison, his stamina wasn't misguided: 1st time through - .621 OPS, 2nd - .706, 3rd - 1.214; maybe NYM considers him a 5-6 IP SP for a few starts?
19	Aaron Nola	ATL
20	Zack Greinke	NYY	Skills say he's not this bad, but it really feels more like a mid-3.00s ERA if/when he gets on track
21	Steven Matz	MIL
22	John Lackey	at MIL
23	Drew Pomeranz	SF	Has walked 3 in all but one start; will need to trim that to stay this good, but there is plenty to like here (32% K, GB lean, 5.4 H/9)
24	Michael Wacha	COL
25	Joe Ross	at MIA	One bad inning vs. DET and it happened to be his last (not uncommon for young arms); plan for a 3.50ish ERA w/these skills
26	Carlos Martinez	ARI
27	Tanner Roark	at MIA
28	Francisco Liriano	ATL, COL	Has 3 elite outings, a couple avearge-ish ones, and two duds including a disaster at CHC; had an ERA north of 4.00 through 8 starts last year before taking off; stay the course
29	Jerad Eickhoff	MIA, ATL
30	Adam Conley	WAS	He's been excellent (3 game scores of 69-plus) or awful (3 of 37 or lower); and just meh in his other start (49 game score vs. WAS)
31	Wei-Yin Chen	at PHI, WAS
32	James Shields	SF
33	Julio Teheran	at PIT	Since that 6 ER at WAS: 1.44 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 30 Ks, 3.3 K:BB ratio in 31.3 IP
34	Kyle Hendricks	at MIL, at SF
35	Jeremy Hellickson	MIA
36	Jimmy Nelson	CHC	He's really cut into his platoon split, but now HRs from both sides have hampered him
37	Jon Gray	at STL	A very viable all-formats SP on the road and if he can tame Coors even a little, he can be really special
38	Scott Kazmir	at LAA
39	Juan Nicasio	COL	It hasn't been as good as that spring suggested, but he's been solid since at DET shellacking: 4.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 26 Ks in 28.3 IP
40	Brandon Finnegan	CLE
41	Matt Wisler	at PHI	Carrying a neutral platoon split so far this year; would love to see some more swing-and-miss
42	Bartolo Colon	WAS
43	John Lamb	at CLE, SEA
44	Chad Bettis	at STL	A cut below Gray, but has actually displayed better skills at home since the start of '15
45	Tyler Chatwood	at PIT	Given their wire availability, a super-streamer could feasibly use 3 Rockies this week; heavy GB lean curbs need for big Ks
46	Colin Rea	SF, LAD
47	Ross Stripling	at LAA
48	Alex Wood	at SD	If you can't start him at SD, then just cut him
49	Mike Leake	ARI
50	Adam Wainwright	COL	Can you make any sort of viable case for a rebound that doesn't revolve entirely around his track record?
51	Rubby De La Rosa	at STL
52	Eddie Butler	at PIT	I'm keeping an eye on him to see if he can join his Coors cohorts as at least a road-only stream option
53	Cesar Vargas	LAD
54	Patrick Corbin	at STL
55	Shelby Miller	NYY	A moderately encouring outing vs. SF, but even that still had a catastrophic HR that cost him any chance of winning
56	Tim Adleman	CLE	Missing bats at a decent clip through 2 starts, but I'm still skeptical for now
57	Chase Anderson	CHC, at NYM
58	Robbie Ray	NYY, at STL	Said all last year that he allowed to much hard contact to have such a low HR rate; 1.3 HR/9 as hard contact continues

SIT

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
59	Jon Niese	ATL, COL
60	Junior Guerra	CHC	He's done some good things through 3 starts, but I'm not starting him vs. CHC
61	Tom Koehler	at PHI
62	Christian Friedrich	LAD
63	Dan Straily	SEA
64	Jake Peavy	CHC
65	Adam Morgan	ATL
66	Matt Cain	CHC
67	Mike Foltynewicz	at PIT
68	Williams Perez	at PIT, at PHI
69	Zach Davies	at NYM
70	Alfredo Simon	at CLE, SEA
71	Aaron Blair	at PIT, at PHI
72	Chris Rusin	at STL, at PIT
73	Jeff Locke	ATL
74	Jarred Cosart	at PHI
75	Wily Peralta	at NYM

MLB TOP 100

Rank	Pitcher	Opponent(s)	Comments
1	Clayton Kershaw	LAA, at SD	The three super-studs all get two starts this week! :hearteyes emoji:
2	Max Scherzer	at NYM, at MIA	There's likely an element of bad luck in the bevy of HRs, but he also needs to tighten the command
3	Noah Syndergaard	WAS, MIL
4	Jake Arrieta	at SF
5	Chris Sale	HOU	Dropped a Maddux on the Yanks in the Bronx; trading Ks for efficiency and it's working (7.3 IP/start)
6	David Price	at KC, CLE	Pedroia found a mechanical issue that was impacting Price and early returns were very positive; I buy the change
7	Stephen Strasburg	at NYM	The Nats wanted to get him locked in before he wins that Cy Young* ... (*they're giving a Cy to the 2nd-best SP this yearbecause Kershaw is getting a different award which is fittingly called The Kershaw)
8	Jose Fernandez	WAS
9	Johnny Cueto	at SD	63% of his 19 ER have come in two starts; still not sure why I didn't have him in my top 20 this spring (he was 23rd)
10	Jon Lester	at SF
11	Masahiro Tanaka	at OAK
12	Madison Bumgarner	at SD, CHC	I'd stop short of saying he's at peak MadBum, but my concern about him after the ST ailments, wonky debut have waned some
13	Jaime Garcia	COL, ARI
14	Danny Salazar	CIN, at BOS	He has a 4.6 BB/9 and H/9 showing just how filthy his stuff has been; needs more first-pitch strikes to cut BBs
15	Jacob deGrom	MIL	Still rounding info form, remember that he's a couple weeks off the pace of others; 2.12 ERA curbs any buy-low opp, but I'd still buy even at full price as Ks and WHIP will move more toward ERA than vice versa
16	Gerrit Cole	ATL
17	Drew Smyly	at TOR, at DET	Has a 1.4 HR/9, but they're all in three multi-HR outings, which I think is better than consistently allowing them
18	Gio Gonzalez	at NYM
19	Corey Kluber	at CIN
20	Cole Hamels	at OAK	A 1.27 WHIP says the ERA is running favorable and will jump up if he continues at that WHIP clip, but I can see him cutting some BBs
21	Jose Quintana	KC
22	Kevin Gausman	at LAA	Unlikely to maintain a .203 BABIP obviously, but he's been utter filth through four starts
23	Felix Hernandez	at CIN	Here's the thing, you could see, but who's giving you market value for him? Just hold him, at least we're getting a good ERA
24	Jason Hammel	at MIL	Has allowed more than 2 ER just once and it was only 3 ER vs. WAS; health is the real key and right now he has a clean bill
25	Vince Velasquez	MIA	Since SD gem: 4.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 24 Ks in 28.3 IP
26	Kenta Maeda	LAA, at SD
27	Jeff Samardzija	at SD	Has 28 Ks and 5.6 K:BB ratio in his last 29.3 IP (four starts); excelling home and away
28	Jordan Zimmermann	MIN, TB	He's always stranded runners at an above average clip (career 75%), but this 88% will come down; entertain selling
29	Taijuan Walker	at BAL
30	Matt Harvey	WAS	Maybe the talk about his weight and by extenison, his stamina wasn't misguided: 1st time through - .621 OPS, 2nd - .706, 3rd - 1.214; maybe NYM considers him a 5-6 IP SP for a few starts?
31	Aaron Nola	ATL
32	Jake Odorizzi	at TOR	3 duds, 5 gems; don't love the matchup, but two of the gems are vs. TOR
33	Justin Verlander	MIN
34	Zack Greinke	NYY	Skills say he's not this bad, but it really feels more like a mid-3.00s ERA if/when he gets on track
35	Steven Matz	MIL
36	John Lackey	at MIL
37	Drew Pomeranz	SF	Has walked 3 in all but one start; will need to trim that to stay this good, but there is plenty to like here (32% K, GB lean, 5.4 H/9)
38	Michael Wacha	COL
39	Joe Ross	at MIA	One bad inning vs. DET and it happened to be his last (not uncommon for young arms); plan for a 3.50ish ERA w/these skills
40	Carlos Martinez	ARI
41	Tanner Roark	at MIA
42	Dallas Keuchel	at CWS, TEX	League forcing him back in the zone (28% out of zone swing%, which is league avg and down from 33% last yr) and lack of overpowering stuff is showing
43	Rick Porcello	at KC, CLE
44	Marcus Stroman	TB, at MIN
45	Rich Hill	TEX	He's an out shy of five straight QS; has 34 Ks in 30.7 IP during those starts
46	Chris Tillman	SEA
47	Francisco Liriano	ATL, COL	Has 3 elite outings, a couple avearge-ish ones, and two duds including a disaster at CHC; had an ERA north of 4.00 through 8 starts last year before taking off; stay the course
48	Jerad Eickhoff	MIA, ATL
49	Adam Conley	WAS	He's been excellent (3 game scores of 69-plus) or awful (3 of 37 or lower); and just meh in his other start (49 game score vs. WAS)
50	Marco Estrada	at MIN
51	Sonny Gray	NYY	MLBN did a good breakdown suggesting it's a mechanical flaw causing the issues; no word of injury concern; buy low
52	Chris Archer	at TOR	Don't feel as comfortable saying he's not hurt, but we haven't heard anything to that end; still, I'm not buying
53	Wei-Yin Chen	at PHI, WAS
54	J.A. Happ	TB, at MIN
55	Julio Teheran	at PIT	Since that 6 ER at WAS: 1.44 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 30 Ks, 3.3 K:BB ratio in 31.3 IP
56	Carlos Rodon	HOU, KC	Volatility (4 QS, 3 starts of 5-plus R) says he's not quite ready, but still 6-plus Ks in all but one start; talent is evident, but needs time
57	Kyle Hendricks	at MIL, at SF
58	Ian Kennedy	BOS, at CWS	Doubled his HR total (to 6) and nearly doubled his ER total (9 in first six starts; 7 in last start) in one game at NYY; scared of the BOS start
59	James Shields	SF
60	Yu Darvish	at OAK	Stuff has been solid on rehab; saw him in Round Rock on Thursday and he settled nicely after some bumps in 1st inn.; still worry about normal command issues that follow TJ especially since his was already shaky
61	Aaron Sanchez	at MIN	Some worried the wheels were about to come off after 6 ER vs. OAK, but just 4 ER in 21 IP since
62	Hisashi Iwakuma	at CIN	He's been pretty average so far, but nothing suggests real trouble so I'd just leave him in the lineup and check in on him later
63	Hector Santiago	BAL
64	Steven Wright	at KC
65	Nathan Eovaldi	at ARI, at OAK	K:BB has improved nicely, but now HRs are a problem as he's double his career rate (1.5 HR/9)
66	Nate Karns	at BAL
67	Jon Gray	at STL	A very viable all-formats SP on the road and if he can tame Coors even a little, he can be really special
68	Ervin Santana	TOR
69	Michael Pineda	at ARI, at OAK	Chris Liss has taken to calling him Michael Piñata
70	Josh Tomlin	at CIN
71	Jeremy Hellickson	MIA
72	Jimmy Nelson	CHC	He's really cut into his platoon split, but now HRs from both sides have hampered him
73	Scott Kazmir	at LAA
74	Juan Nicasio	COL	It hasn't been as good as that spring suggested, but he's been solid since at DET shellacking: 4.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 26 Ks in 28.3 IP
75	Brandon Finnegan	CLE
76	Matt Wisler	at PHI	Carrying a neutral platoon split so far this year; would love to see some more swing-and-miss
77	Bartolo Colon	WAS
78	Anibal Sanchez	TB
79	Lance McCullers	TEX	Tough spot for a season debut (at BOS), but don't overreact; remember Matz's season debut?
80	John Lamb	at CLE, SEA
81	Chad Bettis	at STL	A cut below Gray, but has actually displayed better skills at home since the start of '15
82	Tyler Chatwood	at PIT	Given their wire availability, a super-streamer could feasibly use 3 Rockies this week; heavy GB lean curbs need for big Ks
83	Colin Rea	SF, LAD
84	Alex Wood	at SD	If you can't start him at SD, then just cut him
85	Ross Stripling	at LAA
85	Mike Leake	ARI
86	Adam Wainwright	COL	Can you make any sort of viable case for a rebound that doesn't revolve entirely around his track record?
87	Jhoulys Chacin	LAD
88	R.A. Dickey	TB	Seems to need a ramp up month; Aprils since 2013: 5.30 ERA, rest of seas: 3.67 ERA
89	Mike Fiers	at CWS
90	Matt Moore	at DET	Last 2 starts looked like the ugly version of Moore where inefficiency took over and had him out before 5 IP; maddeningly inconsistent
91	Tyler Duffey	TOR
92	Collin McHugh	TEX
93	Wade Miley	at BAL, at CIN	Solid 3.18 ERA in last 4 averaging 7 IP/start, but also 6 HRs; decent spot-starter
94	Jose Berrios	at DET, TOR	Still starting in AL-onlys, but you almost certainly have better options in all mixers
96	Trevor Bauer	at BOS	Looking solid in returng to rotation, but this matchup is terrible so he's a fringe start this week
97	Michael Fulmer	TB
98	Nicholas Tropeano	LAD	Too many BB for mixed league viabilty, but the 14% SwStr rate is really nice
99	Martin Perez	HOU
100	Edinson Volquez	BOS	Nope, not against BOS