Weekly Pitcher Rankings: National No. 1

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Updated on July 31, 2016 12:28PM 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 Aug. 1-7

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Carlos Carrasco	MIN, at NYY	Has allowed more than 3 ER just once yielding a 2.45 ERA & 1.05 WHIP in 69.7 IP
2	Danny Salazar	MIN, at NYY
3	Matt Shoemaker	OAK, at SEA	Bookended July w/a pair of 5 ER outings, but was still v good in the middle; stay the course
4	Masahiro Tanaka	at NYM, CLE
5	Justin Verlander	NYM	Allowed 1-2 ER in six July starts (1.69 ERA) w/48 K and just 12 BB in 42.7 IP
6	Corey Kluber	at NYY
7	Cole Hamels	at BAL
8	Jose Quintana	at DET	Killer July (1.95 ERA in 32.3 IP) has his season mark back until 3.00 and likely made him impossible to trade given huge cost
9	Chris Sale	at DET
10	Lance McCullers	TOR, TEX
11	Yu Darvish	at BAL, at HOU	The skills continue to be there, it's just a matter of staying healthy (3.31 ERA, 26 K, 5 BB in 16.3 IP since DL return)
12	Michael Fulmer	CWS, NYM
13	David Price	at SEA, at LAD
14	Danny Duffy	at TB, TOR	Just continues to absolutely dominate (1.53 ERA

For the week Aug. 1-7

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Carlos Carrasco	MIN, at NYY	Has allowed more than 3 ER just once yielding a 2.45 ERA & 1.05 WHIP in 69.7 IP
2	Danny Salazar	MIN, at NYY
3	Matt Shoemaker	OAK, at SEA	Bookended July w/a pair of 5 ER outings, but was still v good in the middle; stay the course
4	Masahiro Tanaka	at NYM, CLE
5	Justin Verlander	NYM	Allowed 1-2 ER in six July starts (1.69 ERA) w/48 K and just 12 BB in 42.7 IP
6	Corey Kluber	at NYY
7	Cole Hamels	at BAL
8	Jose Quintana	at DET	Killer July (1.95 ERA in 32.3 IP) has his season mark back until 3.00 and likely made him impossible to trade given huge cost
9	Chris Sale	at DET
10	Lance McCullers	TOR, TEX
11	Yu Darvish	at BAL, at HOU	The skills continue to be there, it's just a matter of staying healthy (3.31 ERA, 26 K, 5 BB in 16.3 IP since DL return)
12	Michael Fulmer	CWS, NYM
13	David Price	at SEA, at LAD
14	Danny Duffy	at TB, TOR	Just continues to absolutely dominate (1.53 ERA in last 47 IP), making the decision more and more difficult for TOR
15	Aaron Sanchez	at KC
16	Drew Pomeranz	at SEA
17	Rick Porcello	at SEA	Has won 8 straight decisions, including his last six starts in a row (2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP)
18	Chris Tillman	CWS
19	Jake Odorizzi	KC
20	Steven Wright	at LAD	He has won 8 straight over his last 9 starts: 2.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 63 K in 55.3 IP
21	Trevor Bauer	MIN
22	Dallas Keuchel	TEX
23	Matt Moore	KC, MIN
24	Chris Archer	KC, MIN
25	J.A. Happ	at HOU	So frustrating because it seems whenever you start trusting him, he goes sideways (6.43 ERA in L4)
26	Ervin Santana	at TB
27	Felix Hernandez	LAA
28	Marco Estrada	at HOU
29	James Paxton	BOS, LAA
30	CC Sabathia	at NYM, CLE	Allowed 4, 5, or 6 in six straight before his most recent outing (6.7 IP/2 ER at HOU); big week for CC re: fantasy viability
31	R.A. Dickey	at HOU, at KC
32	Sean Manaea	at LAA, CHC
33	Jordan Zimmermann	CWS
34	Hector Santiago	at SEA	BB give pause to an otherwise stellar July: 1.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 34 K, and 21 BB (5.4 BB/9) in 35.3 IP
35	Michael Pineda	CLE
36	Marcus Stroman	at HOU, at KC
37	Doug Fister	TOR, TEX
38	Blake Snell	MIN
39	Josh Tomlin	MIN	I'm stillterrified of him. He has a 3.32 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 59.7 IP, but also 15 HR (2.3 HR/9)
40	Kevin Gausman	TEX
41	Dylan Bundy	TEX, at CWS
42	Carlos Rodon	BAL
43	Drew Smyly	KC	Getting on track? Last 2 starts: 6 IP/1 ER, 6 IP/2 ER; had a 7.40 ERA in his previous 12
44	Mike Fiers	TOR
45	Hisashi Iwakuma	BOS
46	Rich Hill	CHC
47	Sonny Gray	CHC
48	Yordano Ventura	at TB, TOR	Last four: 3.67 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 22 K, and 3.1 K:BB ratio in 27 IP
49	Edinson Volquez	at TB
50	Martin Perez	at HOU
51	A.J. Griffin	at BAL
52	Ian Kennedy	at TB	He has 2 HR-free outing in a row!!! He did that in early May, too, but that was only other time this year
53	Collin McHugh	TOR
54	Tyler Skaggs	at SEA
55	James Shields	at DET, BAL
56	Eduardo Rodriguez	at SEA, at LAD
57	Yovani Gallardo	TEX
58	Kendall Graveman	at LAA
59	Tyler Duffey	at CLE, at TB
60	Matt Boyd	CWS
61	Nathan Eovaldi	NYM
62	Dillon Overton	at LAA
63	Ivan Nova	NYM
64	Kyle Gibson	at CLE, at TB
65	Wade Miley	BOS
66	Ricky Nolasco	at CLE
67	Miguel Gonzalez	BAL
68	Tommy Milone	at CLE
69	Wade LeBlanc	BOS, LAA
70	Dillon Gee	TOR
71	Ubaldo Jimenez	at CWS
72	Lucas Harrell	at HOU
73	Mike Pelfrey	NYM
73	Jered Weaver	OAK
74	Tim Lincecum	OAK

NATIONAL LEAGUE

START

Rank	Pitcher	Opponent(s)	Comments
1	Stephen Strasburg	at ARI, SF	What do Strasburg haters do now that he's having a full-on amazing season?
2	Madison Bumgarner	at PHI, at WAS	He's fanned fewer than 6 just twice in his last 14 starts
3	Jacob deGrom	NYY, at DET
4	Max Scherzer	at ARI
5	Jose Fernandez	at CHC	Every pitcher is entitled to a rough start here and there, it's just always jarring when Fernandez's are at home
6	Jake Arrieta	at OAK
7	Noah Syndergaard	at DET
8	Adam Wainwright	at CIN, ATL	Now has a 2.79 ERA in his last 13 starts
9	Johnny Cueto	at PHI
10	Kyle Hendricks	at OAK
11	Carlos Martinez	ATL	He's dropped nearly 2.0 strikeouts off his rate, but the ERA & WHIP are both better; still a stud
12	Steven Matz	at NYY
13	Tanner Roark	at ARI
14	Gerrit Cole	at ATL	After a shaky return start (4 IP/4 ER), he's been great in back-to-back starts (1.20 ERA, 13 K, 1 BB in 15 IP)
15	Jon Lester	MIA
16	Julio Teheran	at STL	I was nervous after the 10 ER demolition at NYM as he's worn down before, but since: 2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 24 K, 4.0 K:BB in 23 IP
17	Junior Guerra	at SD
18	John Lackey	MIA	After allowing 5 ER in 5.3 IP at LAD, he's been incredible: 1.47 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 40 K, and 2.5 K:BB ratio in 49 IP
19	Vincent Velasquez	SF
20	Jaime Garcia	ATL	The Aaron Sanchez of the NL (though not quite as good, obviously); 2.75 ERA in 36 since DL return
21	Jason Hammel	MIA, at OAK
22	Jeremy Hellickson	at SD
23	Anthony DeSclafani	at PIT
24	Michael Wacha	at CIN	Hasn't allowed more than 3 ER in any of his last 9; Ks have been spotty, but still has a healthy 3.2 K:BB ratio
25	Adam Conley	at CHC
26	Kenta Maeda	at COL
27	Aaron Nola	SF
28	Mike Leake	at CIN
29	Zach Davies	at SD	Has a 2.40 ERA in his last 10 starts and though it comes w/just 56 K in 63.7 IP, that's offset by a strong 4.7 K:BB
30	Jerad Eickhoff	at SD
31	Gio Gonzalez	SF
32	Jon Gray	LAD, MIA
33	Jeff Samardzija	at PHI
34	Bartolo Colon	at NYY
35	Joe Ross	SF	He's been solid at home despite a .382 BABIP: 3.47 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 8.7 K, and 4.4 K:BB in 36.3 IP
36	Tyler Anderson	LAD
37	Jameson Taillon	CIN
38	Scott Kazmir	at COL
39	Brandon Finnegan	STL
40	Dan Straily	STL
41	Robbie Ray	WAS
42	Jimmy Nelson	at SD, at ARI
43	Tom Koehler	at CHC, at COL
44	Mike Foltynewicz	PIT, at STL
45	Archie Bradley	WAS, MIL
46	Zach Eflin	SF, at SD	The problem is that his bad starts are awful and often spoil 2-3 good ones; last 6 ER: 2, 6, 0, 6, 1 and 5
47	Jarred Cosart	PHI
48	Francisco Liriano	CIN
49	Homer Bailey	at PIT
50	Tyler Chatwood	LAD
51	Bud Norris	BOS
52	Chase Anderson	at ARI
53	Brandon McCarthy	at COL, BOS	Early returns have been nice (2.39 ERA, 11.3 K/9), but this is a nightmarish two-start slate
54	Logan Verrett	NYY, at DET
55	Christian Friedrich	PHI
56	Braden Shipley	MIL
57	Andrew Cashner	at COL	"Yesss, I'm out of the NL West, no more Coors!! … wait, what?!?!"
58	Zack Godley	WAS
59	Chad Bettis	MIA
60	Ryan Vogelsong	at ATL, CIN
61	Colin Rea	at COL
62	Jake Peavy	at WAS
63	Matt Cain	at WAS
64	Edwin Jackson	MIL
65	Patrick Corbin	MIL
66	Cody Reed	STL, at PIT
67	Tyrell Jenkins	PIT
68	Luis Perdomo	MIL
69	Matt Garza	at ARI
70	Paul Clemens	MIL
71	Aaron Blair	PIT
72	Jeff Locke	at ATL
73	Jorge De La Rosa	MIA
74	Joel De La Cruz	at STL

MLB TOP 100

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Stephen Strasburg	at ARI, SF	What do Strasburg haters do now that he's having a full-on amazing season?
2	Madison Bumgarner	at PHI, at WAS	He's fanned fewer than 6 just twice in his last 14 starts
3	Jacob deGrom	NYY, at DET
4	Carlos Carrasco	MIN, at NYY	Has allowed more than 3 ER just once yielding a 2.45 ERA & 1.05 WHIP in 69.7 IP
5	Danny Salazar	MIN, at NYY
6	Matt Shoemaker	OAK, at SEA	Bookended July w/a pair of 5 ER outings, but was still v good in the middle; stay the course
7	Masahiro Tanaka	at NYM, CLE
8	Max Scherzer	at ARI
9	Jose Fernandez	at CHC	Every pitcher is entitled to a rough start here and there, it's just always jarring when Fernandez's are at home
10	Jake Arrieta	at OAK
11	Justin Verlander	NYM	Allowed 1-2 ER in six July starts (1.69 ERA) w/48 K and just 12 BB in 42.7 IP
12	Corey Kluber	at NYY
13	Noah Syndergaard	at DET
14	Adam Wainwright	at CIN, ATL	Now has a 2.79 ERA in his last 13 starts
15	Johnny Cueto	at PHI
16	Cole Hamels	at BAL
17	Jose Quintana	at DET	Killer July (1.95 ERA in 32.3 IP) has his season mark back until 3.00 and likely made him impossible to trade given huge cost
18	Chris Sale	at DET
19	Lance McCullers	TOR, TEX
20	Yu Darvish	at BAL, at HOU	The skills continue to be there, it's just a matter of staying healthy (3.31 ERA, 26 K, 5 BB in 16.3 IP since DL return)
21	Michael Fulmer	CWS, NYM
22	David Price	at SEA, at LAD
23	Danny Duffy	at TB, TOR
24	Kyle Hendricks	at OAK
25	Aaron Sanchez	at KC	Just continues to absolutely dominate (1.53 ERA in last 47 IP), making the decision more and more difficult for TOR
26	Carlos Martinez	ATL	He's dropped nearly 2.0 strikeouts off his rate, but the ERA & WHIP are both better; still a stud
27	Steven Matz	at NYY
28	Tanner Roark	at ARI
29	Gerrit Cole	at ATL	After a shaky return start (4 IP/4 ER), he's been great in back-to-back starts (1.20 ERA, 13 K, 1 BB in 15 IP)
30	Jon Lester	MIA
31	Julio Teheran	at STL
32	Junior Guerra	at SD	I was nervous after the 10 ER demolition at NYM as he's worn down before, but since: 2.35 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 24 K, 4.0 K:BB in 23 IP
33	Drew Pomeranz	at SEA	After allowing 5 ER in 5.3 IP at LAD, he's been incredible: 1.47 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 40 K, and 2.5 K:BB ratio in 49 IP
34	Rick Porcello	at SEA
35	Chris Tillman	CWS	Has won 8 straight decisions, including his last six starts in a row (2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP)
36	Jake Odorizzi	KC
37	John Lackey	MIA
38	Vincent Velasquez	SF	He has won 8 straight over his last 9 starts: 2.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 63 K in 55.3 IP
39	Jaime Garcia	ATL
40	Jason Hammel	MIA, at OAK
41	Steven Wright	at LAD
42	Trevor Bauer	MIN	The Aaron Sanchez of the NL (though not quite as good, obviously); 2.75 ERA in 36 since DL return
43	Dallas Keuchel	TEX
44	Jeremy Hellickson	at SD
45	Anthony DeSclafani	at PIT	So frustrating because it seems whenever you start trusting him, he goes sideways (6.43 ERA in L4)
46	Matt Moore	KC, MIN
47	Chris Archer	KC, MIN
48	J.A. Happ	at HOU
49	Michael Wacha	at CIN	Hasn't allowed more than 3 ER in any of his last 9; Ks have been spotty, but still has a healthy 3.2 K:BB ratio
50	Adam Conley	at CHC
51	Kenta Maeda	at COL
52	Aaron Nola	SF
53	Mike Leake	at CIN
54	Zach Davies	at SD	Has a 2.40 ERA in his last 10 starts and though it comes w/just 56 K in 63.7 IP, that's offset by a strong 4.7 K:BB
55	Jerad Eickhoff	at SD
56	Ervin Santana	at TB
57	Felix Hernandez	LAA
58	Marco Estrada	at HOU
59	Gio Gonzalez	SF
60	James Paxton	BOS, LAA
61	CC Sabathia	at NYM, CLE	Allowed 4, 5, or 6 in six straight before his most recent outing (6.7 IP/2 ER at HOU); big week for CC re: fantasy viability
62	R.A. Dickey	at HOU, at KC
63	Sean Manaea	at LAA, CHC
64	Jon Gray	LAD, MIA
65	Jeff Samardzija	at PHI
66	Jordan Zimmermann	CWS
67	Hector Santiago	at SEA	BB give pause to an otherwise stellar July: 1.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 34 K, and 21 BB (5.4 BB/9) in 35.3 IP
68	Michael Pineda	CLE
69	Bartolo Colon	at NYY
70	Joe Ross	SF	He's been solid at home despite a .382 BABIP: 3.47 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 8.7 K, and 4.4 K:BB in 36.3 IP
71	Tyler Anderson	LAD
72	Marcus Stroman	at HOU, at KC
73	Doug Fister	TOR, TEX
74	Blake Snell	MIN	I'm stillterrified of him. He has a 3.32 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 59.7 IP, but also 15 HR (2.3 HR/9)
75	Josh Tomlin	MIN
76	Jameson Taillon	CIN
77	Scott Kazmir	at COL
78	Brandon Finnegan	STL
79	Dan Straily	STL
80	Kevin Gausman	TEX
81	Robbie Ray	WAS
82	Jimmy Nelson	at SD, at ARI
83	Tom Koehler	at CHC, at COL
84	Dylan Bundy	TEX, at CWS
85	Carlos Rodon	BAL	Getting on track? Last 2 starts: 6 IP/1 ER, 6 IP/2 ER; had a 7.40 ERA in his previous 12
85	Drew Smyly	KC
86	Mike Foltynewicz	PIT, at STL
87	Archie Bradley	WAS, MIL
88	Zach Eflin	SF, at SD	The problem is that his bad starts are awful and often spoil 2-3 good ones; last 6 ER: 2, 6, 0, 6, 1 and 5
89	Mike Fiers	TOR
90	Hisashi Iwakuma	BOS
91	Rich Hill	CHC
92	Sonny Gray	CHC
93	Yordano Ventura	at TB, TOR	Last four: 3.67 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 22 K, and 3.1 K:BB ratio in 27 IP
94	Jarred Cosart	PHI
96	Francisco Liriano	CIN
97	Homer Bailey	at PIT
98	Tyler Chatwood	LAD
99	Bud Norris	BOS
100	Chase Anderson	at ARI