This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
MLB, along with some reporters, broadcasters and Bryan Cranston are all taking victory laps. The problem is they're premature. Sure, games are shorter without disrupting too much on the field, though Alek Manoah and maybe Sandy Alcantara may beg to differ.
The caveat is we've yet to see what happens when the temperature and innings both rise. Will the pitch clock affect the quality of pitching? Will more injuries occur?
Who knows, but my more than ample gut says yes, in a resounding manner. I suspect ERA will continue to climb.
As for this week, the focus will be on Emmet Sheehan. His upcoming schedule isn't ideal, but he's in a great spot, with only Michael Grove in his way.
The weekend series between the Cubs and Cardinals will be contested in London Stadium. In 2019, the Red Sox and Yankees competed in the first London Series, with the Yankees sweeping by scores of 17-13 and 12-8, strongly suggesting the venue is very hitter friendly. The Sunday night update will reflect the estimated park effect.
Especially with some sketchy weather for the rest of the week, these are subject to change. Please refer to the Probable Pitchers grid for scheduling question. As usual, hit me up with rankings concerns below.
UPDATED: Monday June 19, 2:15 AM ET
Week of June 19 - 25
Mixed
| Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comments | MIX12 | MIX15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SEA, TEX | Strikeouts down, and benefiting from 81.4% LOB, but still solid | ||
| 2 | ||||||
MLB, along with some reporters, broadcasters and Bryan Cranston are all taking victory laps. The problem is they're premature. Sure, games are shorter without disrupting too much on the field, though Alek Manoah and maybe Sandy Alcantara may beg to differ.
The caveat is we've yet to see what happens when the temperature and innings both rise. Will the pitch clock affect the quality of pitching? Will more injuries occur?
Who knows, but my more than ample gut says yes, in a resounding manner. I suspect ERA will continue to climb.
As for this week, the focus will be on Emmet Sheehan. His upcoming schedule isn't ideal, but he's in a great spot, with only Michael Grove in his way.
The weekend series between the Cubs and Cardinals will be contested in London Stadium. In 2019, the Red Sox and Yankees competed in the first London Series, with the Yankees sweeping by scores of 17-13 and 12-8, strongly suggesting the venue is very hitter friendly. The Sunday night update will reflect the estimated park effect.
Especially with some sketchy weather for the rest of the week, these are subject to change. Please refer to the Probable Pitchers grid for scheduling question. As usual, hit me up with rankings concerns below.
UPDATED: Monday June 19, 2:15 AM ET
Week of June 19 - 25
Mixed
| Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comments | MIX12 | MIX15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SEA, TEX | Strikeouts down, and benefiting from 81.4% LOB, but still solid | ||
| 2 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | BAL, KC | Walks up, but should get better | ||
| 3 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @PHI, @CIN | 6 HR alllowed over last 15 IP | ||
| 4 | James Paxton | BOS | @MIN, @CWS | |||
| 5 | Jose Berrios | TOR | @MIA, OAK | Pedestrian K-rate only concern | ||
| 6 | Shane McClanahan | TB | KC | |||
| 7 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | ARI, @CLE | Bar is high when 3.44 ERA is disappointing | ||
| 8 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | BOS, @DET | Back on track | ||
| 9 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | @MIL, @SF | |||
| 10 | Zach Eflin | TB | KC | |||
| 11 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @MIL | |||
| 12 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | NYM | |||
| 13 | Bailey Ober | MIN | BOS, @DET | |||
| 14 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | @MIA | |||
| 15 | Framber Valdez | HOU | NYM | |||
| 16 | Michael Wacha | SD | @SF, WAS | 23.3% K-rate thrid best of career | ||
| 17 | Jon Gray | TEX | @NYY | |||
| 18 | Luis Castillo | SEA | @NYY | |||
| 19 | Michael Lorenzen | DET | KC, MIN | |||
| 20 | Shohei Ohtani | LAA | LAD | |||
| 21 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | OAK | |||
| 22 | Cristian Javier | HOU | NYM | |||
| 23 | Blake Snell | SD | @SF | |||
| 24 | Garrett Whitlock | BOS | @MIN | |||
| 25 | Nathan Eovaldi | TEX | @CWS | |||
| 26 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @LAA | |||
| 27 | Joe Ryan | MIN | BOS | |||
| 28 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | COL | 12 K to 9 BB in 17.2 IP -- danger lies ahead | ||
| 29 | Mitch Keller | PIT | @MIA | Good spot to emerge from rut | ||
| 30 | Tyler Wells | BAL | @TB | Graduatred from streamer to every week status | ||
| 31 | Joe Musgrove | SD | WAS | Really? Against Detroit? After I pimped you in my Rival.com lineup? | ||
| 32 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | PIT | |||
| 33 | Marcus Stroman | CHC | @PIT | 3.63 xFIP says regression coming | ||
| 34 | Logan Webb | SF | ARI | |||
| 35 | Aaron Civale | CLE | OAK, MIL | |||
| 36 | Yu Darvish | SD | @SF | |||
| 37 | Domingo German | NYY | SEA | |||
| 38 | Shane Bieber | CLE | MIL | |||
| 39 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | KC | Playing the role of Ryan Yarbrough, circa 2018-2020 | 17% | |
| 40 | George Kirby | SEA | @NYY, @BAL | |||
| 41 | Max Scherzer | NYM | @HOU, @PHI | |||
| 42 | Eury Perez | MIA | TOR, PIT | Pitching like he doesn't want to go back to riding buses | ||
| 43 | Hunter Brown | HOU | NYM, @LAD | |||
| 44 | Bobby Miller | LAD | HOU | |||
| 45 | Ranger Suarez | PHI | ATL, NYM | Back on track, .90 ERA with 1.05 WHIP over last 20 IP, with 18 K | ||
| 46 | Aaron Nola | PHI | ATL | |||
| 47 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @CWS, @NYY | |||
| 48 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | SEA | |||
| 49 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | HOU | |||
| 50 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @CWS | |||
| 51 | Dylan Cease | CWS | TEX | |||
| 52 | Justin Verlander | NYM | @HOU | |||
| 53 | Charlie Morton | ATL | @CIN | |||
| 54 | Emmet Sheehan | LAD | HOU | Similar profile as Bryce Miller, should succeed in a like manner | 0% | 0% |
| 55 | Anthony DeSclafani | SF | SD, ARI | |||
| 56 | Reese Olson | DET | KC, MIN | 49% | ||
| 57 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | @CLE | |||
| 58 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | TOR | Speculating, but maybe hurt by the pitch clock? | ||
| 59 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | @TB | |||
| 60 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @PIT | 26% | ||
| 61 | Matthew Boyd | DET | KC | 13% | ||
| 62 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | @MIN, @CWS | 42% | ||
| 63 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | CHC, @MIA | |||
| 64 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | MIL | |||
| 65 | Sonny Gray | MIN | BOS | |||
| 66 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | @MIA, OAK | |||
| 67 | MacKenzie Gore | WAS | STL, @SD | |||
| 68 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | BOS | |||
| 69 | Seth Lugo | SD | @SF, WAS | 25% | ||
| 70 | Brady Singer | KC | @DET | Showing signs of returning to form, no excuse in this matchup | ||
| 71 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | PIT | |||
| 72 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @NYY | |||
| 73 | Jordan Montgomery | STL | @WAS | |||
| 74 | JP Sears | OAK | @CLE | |||
| 75 | Mix 12 Reliever | |||||
| 76 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @DET, @TB | 0% | 0% | |
| 77 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | @BAL | |||
| 78 | AJ Smith-Shawver | ATL | @PHI | |||
| 79 | Logan Allen | CLE | OAK | |||
| 80 | Michael Kopech | CWS | TEX | |||
| 81 | Wade Miley | MIL | @CLE | 8% | 26% | |
| 82 | Jack Flaherty | STL | @WAS, CHC | Second game is in London | ||
| 83 | Bryce Miller | SEA | @BAL | |||
| 84 | Zack Greinke | KC | @TB | 9% | ||
| 85 | Mix 15 Reliever | |||||
| 86 | Randy Vasquez | NYY | SEA | 0% | 0% | |
| 87 | Alex Wood | SF | SD | 12% | ||
| 88 | Hunter Greene | CIN | ATL | |||
| 89 | Bryce Elder | ATL | @PHI | |||
| 90 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | OAK | 1% | 2% | |
| 91 | Dean Kremer | BAL | SEA | 23% | ||
| 92 | Sean Manaea | SF | SD | 7% | ||
| 93 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | ATL | |||
| 94 | Joey Wentz | DET | MIN | 0% | 0% | |
| 95 | Louie Varland | MIN | @DET | |||
| 96 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | NYM | 0% | 0% | |
| 97 | Luis Severino | NYY | TEX | |||
| 98 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @CIN | 12% | 47% | |
| 99 | Martin Perez | TEX | @CWS | |||
| 100 | Taj Bradley | TB | BAL | |||
| 101 | Miles Mikolas | STL | @WAS | |||
| 102 | Cole Irvin | BAL | SEA | 1% | 17% | |
| 103 | Corey Kluber | BOS | @MIN | 2% | 4% | |
| 104 | Reid Detmers | LAA | LAD | |||
| 105 | Rich Hill | PIT | CHC | 10% | ||
| 106 | Kodai Senga | NYM | @PHI | |||
| 107 | Drew Smyly | CHC | @PIT | |||
| 108 | Ben Lively | CIN | COL | 44% | ||
| 109 | Josiah Gray | WAS | STL, @SD | |||
| 110 | Noah Davis | COL | @CIN | 0% | 0% | |
| 111 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @COL | |||
| 112 | Bryan Woo | SEA | @NYY | |||
| 113 | Luis Ortiz | PIT | @MIA | 9% | ||
| 114 | Hogan Harris | OAK | @TOR | 0% | 4% | |
| 115 | Justin Steele | CHC | @STL | Working in the London Series | ||
| 116 | Jared Shuster | ATL | @CIN | |||
| 117 | Osvaldo Bido | PIT | CHC, @MIA | 0% | 0% | |
| 118 | Colin Rea | MIL | ARI | 4% | ||
| 119 | Lance Lynn | CWS | BOS | |||
| 120 | Daniel Lynch | KC | @DET, @TB | 4% | ||
| 121 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | COL, ATL | 4% | 17% | |
| 122 | Griffin Canning | LAA | @COL | |||
| 123 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | @COL | 20% | ||
| 124 | Ryne Nelson | ARI | @MIL, @SF | 3% | ||
| 125 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | TEX | |||
| 126 | Tommy Henry | ARI | @WAS | 20% | ||
| 127 | Trevor Williams | WAS | STL | 0% | 17% | |
| 128 | Connor Seabold | COL | LAA | 0% | 0% | |
| 129 | Jakob Junis | SF | SD, ARI | 0% | 0% | |
| 130 | Michael Grove | LAD | @LAA | 7% | ||
| 131 | Austin Gomber | COL | @CIN, LAA | 0% | 0% | |
| 132 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | @CLE | 1% | 19% | |
| 133 | J.P. France | HOU | @LAD | |||
| 134 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | TEX, BOS | 0% | 0% | |
| 135 | Jake Irvin | WAS | ARI | 0% | 2% | |
| 136 | Zach Davies | ARI | @SF | 3% | 19% | |
| 137 | Luis Medina | OAK | @CLE, @TOR | 0% | 4% | |
| 138 | Chase Anderson | COL | LAA | 1% | 9% | |
| 139 | Julio Teheran | MIL | ARI | 28% | ||
| 140 | Jonathan Heasley | KC | @TB | 0% | 0% | |
| 141 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @STL | Working in the London Series | ||
| 142 | Tylor Megill | NYM | @HOU | 29% | 42% | |
| 143 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @SD | 2% | 6% | |
| 144 | Bryan Hoeing | MIA | TOR, PIT | 0% | 0% | |
| 145 | Carlos Carrasco | NYM | @PHI | 22% | ||
| 146 | Adam Wainwright | STL | CHC | Working in the London Series | 9% | 32% |
| 147 | James Kaprielian | OAK | @TOR | 0% | 4% | |
| 148 | Luke Weaver | CIN | ATL | 0% | 49% | |
| 149 | Ronel Blanco | HOU | @LAD | 0% | 28% | |
American League
| Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | SEA, TEX | Strikeouts down, and benefiting from 81.4% LOB, but still solid |
| 2 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | BAL, KC | Walks up, but should get better |
| 3 | James Paxton | BOS | @MIN, @CWS | |
| 4 | Jose Berrios | TOR | @MIA, OAK | Pedestrian K-rate only concern |
| 5 | Shane McClanahan | TB | KC | |
| 6 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | BOS, @DET | Back on track |
| 7 | Zach Eflin | TB | KC | |
| 8 | Bailey Ober | MIN | BOS, @DET | |
| 9 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | @MIA | |
| 10 | Framber Valdez | HOU | NYM | |
| 11 | Jon Gray | TEX | @NYY | |
| 12 | Luis Castillo | SEA | @NYY | |
| 13 | Michael Lorenzen | DET | KC, MIN | |
| 14 | Shohei Ohtani | LAA | LAD | |
| 15 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | OAK | |
| 16 | Cristian Javier | HOU | NYM | |
| 17 | Garrett Whitlock | BOS | @MIN | |
| 18 | Nathan Eovaldi | TEX | @CWS | |
| 19 | Joe Ryan | MIN | BOS | |
| 20 | Tyler Wells | BAL | @TB | Graduatred from streamer to every week status |
| 21 | Aaron Civale | CLE | OAK, MIL | |
| 22 | Domingo German | NYY | SEA | |
| 23 | Shane Bieber | CLE | MIL | |
| 24 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | KC | Playing the role of Ryan Yarbrough, circa 2018-2020 |
| 25 | George Kirby | SEA | @NYY, @BAL | |
| 26 | Hunter Brown | HOU | NYM, @LAD | |
| 27 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @CWS, @NYY | |
| 28 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | SEA | |
| 29 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @CWS | |
| 30 | Dylan Cease | CWS | TEX | |
| 31 | Reese Olson | DET | KC, MIN | |
| 32 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | @TB | |
| 33 | Matthew Boyd | DET | KC | |
| 34 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | @MIN, @CWS | |
| 35 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | MIL | |
| 36 | Sonny Gray | MIN | BOS | |
| 37 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | @MIA, OAK | |
| 38 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | BOS | |
| 39 | Brady Singer | KC | @DET | Showing signs of returning to form, no excuse in this matchup |
| 40 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @NYY | |
| 41 | JP Sears | OAK | @CLE | |
| 42 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @DET, @TB | |
| 43 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | @BAL | |
| 44 | Logan Allen | CLE | OAK | |
| 45 | Michael Kopech | CWS | TEX | |
| 46 | Bryce Miller | SEA | @BAL | |
| 47 | Zack Greinke | KC | @TB | |
| 48 | Randy Vasquez | NYY | SEA | |
| 49 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | OAK | |
| 50 | Dean Kremer | BAL | SEA | |
| 51 | Joey Wentz | DET | MIN | |
| 52 | Louie Varland | MIN | @DET | |
| 53 | Luis Severino | NYY | TEX | |
| 54 | Martin Perez | TEX | @CWS | |
| 55 | Taj Bradley | TB | BAL | |
| 56 | AL Reliever | |||
| 57 | Cole Irvin | BAL | SEA | |
| 58 | Corey Kluber | BOS | @MIN | |
| 59 | Reid Detmers | LAA | LAD | |
| 60 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @COL | |
| 61 | Bryan Woo | SEA | @NYY | |
| 62 | Hogan Harris | OAK | @TOR | |
| 63 | Lance Lynn | CWS | BOS | |
| 64 | Daniel Lynch | KC | @DET, @TB | |
| 65 | Griffin Canning | LAA | @COL | |
| 66 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | @COL | |
| 67 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | TEX | |
| 68 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | @CLE | |
| 69 | J.P. France | HOU | @LAD | |
| 70 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | TEX, BOS | |
| 71 | Luis Medina | OAK | @CLE, @TOR | |
| 72 | Jonathan Heasley | KC | @TB | |
| 73 | James Kaprielian | OAK | @TOR | |
| 74 | Ronel Blanco | HOU | @LAD | |
National League
| Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @PHI, @CIN | 6 HR alllowed over last 15 IP |
| 2 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | ARI, @CLE | Bar is high when 3.44 ERA is disappointing |
| 3 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | @MIL, @SF | |
| 4 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @MIL | |
| 5 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | NYM | |
| 6 | Michael Wacha | SD | @SF, WAS | 23.3% K-rate thrid best of career |
| 7 | Blake Snell | SD | @SF | |
| 8 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @LAA | |
| 9 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | COL | 12 K to 9 BB in 17.2 IP -- danger lies ahead |
| 10 | Mitch Keller | PIT | @MIA | Good spot to emerge from rut |
| 11 | Joe Musgrove | SD | WAS | Really? Against Detroit? After I pimped you in my Rival.com lineup? |
| 12 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | PIT | |
| 13 | Marcus Stroman | CHC | @PIT | 3.63 xFIP says regression coming |
| 14 | Logan Webb | SF | ARI | |
| 15 | Yu Darvish | SD | @SF | |
| 16 | Max Scherzer | NYM | @HOU, @PHI | |
| 17 | Eury Perez | MIA | TOR, PIT | Pitching like he doesn't want to go back to riding buses |
| 18 | Bobby Miller | LAD | HOU | |
| 19 | Ranger Suarez | PHI | ATL, NYM | Back on track, .90 ERA with 1.05 WHIP over last 20 IP, with 18 K |
| 20 | Aaron Nola | PHI | ATL | |
| 21 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | HOU | |
| 22 | Justin Verlander | NYM | @HOU | |
| 23 | Charlie Morton | ATL | @CIN | |
| 24 | Emmet Sheehan | LAD | HOU | Similar profile as Bryce Miller, should succeed in a like manner |
| 25 | Anthony DeSclafani | SF | SD, ARI | |
| 26 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | @CLE | |
| 27 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | TOR | Speculating, but maybe hurt by the pitch clock? |
| 28 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @PIT | |
| 29 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | CHC, @MIA | |
| 30 | MacKenzie Gore | WAS | STL, @SD | |
| 31 | Seth Lugo | SD | @SF, WAS | |
| 32 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | PIT | |
| 33 | Jordan Montgomery | STL | @WAS | |
| 34 | AJ Smith-Shawver | ATL | @PHI | |
| 35 | Wade Miley | MIL | @CLE | |
| 36 | Jack Flaherty | STL | @WAS, CHC | Second game is in London |
| 37 | Alex Wood | SF | SD | |
| 38 | Hunter Greene | CIN | ATL | |
| 39 | Bryce Elder | ATL | @PHI | |
| 40 | Sean Manaea | SF | SD | |
| 41 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | ATL | |
| 42 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | NYM | |
| 43 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @CIN | |
| 44 | NL Reliever | |||
| 45 | Miles Mikolas | STL | @WAS | |
| 46 | Rich Hill | PIT | CHC | |
| 47 | Kodai Senga | NYM | @PHI | |
| 48 | Drew Smyly | CHC | @PIT | |
| 49 | Ben Lively | CIN | COL | |
| 50 | Josiah Gray | WAS | STL, @SD | |
| 51 | Noah Davis | COL | @CIN | |
| 52 | Luis Ortiz | PIT | @MIA | |
| 53 | Justin Steele | CHC | @STL | Working in the London Series |
| 54 | Jared Shuster | ATL | @CIN | |
| 55 | Osvaldo Bido | PIT | CHC, @MIA | |
| 56 | Colin Rea | MIL | ARI | |
| 57 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | COL, ATL | |
| 58 | Ryne Nelson | ARI | @MIL, @SF | |
| 59 | Tommy Henry | ARI | @WAS | |
| 60 | Trevor Williams | WAS | STL | |
| 61 | Connor Seabold | COL | LAA | |
| 62 | Jakob Junis | SF | SD, ARI | |
| 63 | Michael Grove | LAD | @LAA | |
| 64 | Austin Gomber | COL | @CIN, LAA | |
| 65 | Jake Irvin | WAS | ARI | |
| 66 | Zach Davies | ARI | @SF | |
| 67 | Chase Anderson | COL | LAA | |
| 68 | Julio Teheran | MIL | ARI | |
| 69 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @STL | Working in the London Series |
| 70 | Tylor Megill | NYM | @HOU | |
| 71 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @SD | |
| 72 | Bryan Hoeing | MIA | TOR, PIT | |
| 73 | Carlos Carrasco | NYM | @PHI | |
| 74 | Adam Wainwright | STL | CHC | Working in the London Series |
| 75 | Luke Weaver | CIN | ATL |
