Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Pocket Aces Abound

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Updated on April 11, 2021 11:17PM EST

Pocket aces is a term coined by Toby Guevin (@batflipcrazy) derived from his proclivity for double tapping elite starting pitchers to begin a draft. This week, it refers to so many fantasy staffs boosted by an ace (or two) garnering two starts. For those in head-to-head leagues, this could mean chasing some two-start options if your opponent's roster is graced with an elite arm with two starts.

Streaming pitching in April is a bit of a Catch-22. On paper, it's the best month since runs are the lowest of any month. On the other hand, not as much is known about the potential spot-starters so it's a risk. One advantage to April streaming is many are conservative to kick off the season so there isn't as much competition for the available starters.

Personally, I'm aggressive early, even though it could manifest in a hole too big to balance the rest of the season. The reason I am not shy about early streaming is my research shows it's needed to win, or at least most of the top teams in the league do it successfully. The problem being it's not easy. As I like to say, your team, your call (but I'm here to help).

As always, these rankings will be refreshed Sunday night after teams firm up their pitching plans. Speaking of which, I pull the probable starters from the site's outstanding Projected Starters Grid. Please direct rotation questions to those pages where our staff will do its

For the week of April 12-18

UPDATED: Sunday April 11 11:15 PM ET

Mixed Leagues

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TOR, TB
2	Shane Bieber	CLE	@CWS, @CIN
3	Aaron Nola	PHI	@NYM, STL
4	Trevor Bauer	LAD	COL, @SD	Curious how MLB will spin spot-checking of Bauer's baseballs
5	Yu Darvish	SD	@PIT, LAD
6	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	@STL, ARI	Encouraging to see 6 IP in first outing
7	Kenta Maeda	MIN	BOS, @LAA
8	Zack Greinke	HOU	DET, @SEA
9	Lucas Giolito	CWS	CLE, @BOS
10	Tyler Glasnow	TB	TEX, @NYY
11	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	NYY, @KC
12	Max Fried	ATL	MIA, @CHC	Good setup for a rebound
13	Freddy Peralta	MIL	CHC, PIT
14	Max Scherzer	WAS	ARI
15	Blake Snell	SD	@PIT, LAD
16	Jacob deGrom	NYM	PHI
17	Luis Castillo	CIN	@SF	Nice bounce back from opening day debacle
18	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	CHC
19	Walker Buehler	LAD	@SD	Strikeouts will come
20	Sonny Gray	CIN	CLE	Slated to make debut
21	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	@SD
22	Corbin Burnes	MIL	CHC	Talk of the first ten days of the season
23	Charlie Morton	ATL	MIA
24	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@NYM	Hit hard by the Braves, but nice to see the K's
25	Jack Flaherty	STL	WAS	Nice to see 6-inning effort last time out
26	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@ATL, SF	Great to see early punch outs
27	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
28	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@MIL
29	Patrick Corbin	WAS	ARI
30	Matthew Boyd	DET	@HOU, @OAK	Warning: Rabbit hole ahead. No homers despite league being on record pace.
31	Dane Dunning	TEX	@TB, BAL	Looks like a traditional starter, not an opener
32	Ian Anderson	ATL	MIA
33	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@MIN, CWS
34	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@ATL, SF
35	Julio Urias	LAD	COL
36	John Means	BAL	SEA, @TEX	Great pair to continue solid start to the season
37	German Marquez	COL	NYM
38	Jose Berrios	MIN	BOS	Good test to see if the strikeout spike is real
39	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
40	Tarik Skubal	DET	@OAK
41	Jon Gray	COL	@LAD
42	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	TEX, @NYY
43	Zach Plesac	CLE	@CWS	First start facing someone other than Detroit
44	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	DET, @SEA
45	Adam Wainwright	STL	WAS
46	John Gant	STL	WAS, @PHI	Probably won't work more than 5 IP per start
47	Rich Hill	TB	TEX
48	Jesus Luzardo	OAK	@ARI
49	Sean Manaea	OAK	DET	Good spot to get on track
50	Andrew Heaney	LAA	MIN	Rebounded nicely after rough debut
51	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@ARI, DET	Rough first two but should get back on track with two soft matchups
52	Dustin May	LAD	COL	Skipped last start, but a double dip this week
53	Zach Eflin	PHI	@NYM
54	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS, @CIN
55	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	OAK, @WAS
56	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	TB
57	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	CLE
58	Joe Musgrove	SD	@PIT
59	Brady Singer	KC	LAA, TOR
60	Zac Gallen	ARI	OAK	Tentative, but could make 2021 debut earlier than first expected.
61	Lance McCullers	HOU	DET	Walks high, but impressive thus far
62	Joey Lucchesi	NYM	PHI
63	Chase Anderson	PHI	@NYM, STL
64	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@SF
65	J.A. Happ	MIN	BOS, @LAA
66	Antonio Senzatela	COL	@LAD, NYM
67	Corey Kluber	NYY	@TOR
68	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TOR, TB
69	Dinelson Lamet	SD	LAD	Injury to Adrian Morejon could accelerate return
70	Carlos Rodon	CWS	CLE, @BOS
71	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	MIN	Apparently, a blister doesn't affect hitting
72	Casey Mize	DET	@HOU, @OAK
73	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SEA
74	Aaron Civale	CLE	@CWS
75	Kohei Arihara	TEX	@TB
76	Kevin Gausman	SF	CIN
77	Kyle Gibson	TEX	@TB, BAL	Risky, but viable pickup in deeper leagues
78	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	@LAA
79	Mike Minor	KC	TOR
80	Chris Paddack	SD	@PIT
81	Austin Gomber	COL	@LAD
82	Mix 12 Reliever
83	Taijuan Walker	NYM	PHI, @COL	Coors start obviously risky
84	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@KC
85	Martin Perez	BOS	@MIN, CWS	Gut feeling this is a good week.
86	Mix 15 Reliever
87	Robbie Ray	TOR	NYY, @KC	On target to make 2021 debut
88	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	BAL
89	Michael Pineda	MIN	BOS
90	Tyler Anderson	PIT	SD
91	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	@MIA
92	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@MIN	Gutty effort first time back from health issues
93	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@TB
94	Justus Sheffield	SEA	@BAL, HOU
95	Trevor Cahill	PIT	SD, @MIL
96	Frankie Montas	OAK	DET
97	Danny Duffy	KC	LAA, TOR
98	Dean Kremer	BAL	SEA, @TEX
99	Adrian Houser	MIL	PIT
100	Jose Quintana	LAA	MIN
101	Joe Ross	WAS	@STL
102	Luke Weaver	ARI	@WAS
103	Nick Pivetta	BOS	CWS
104	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@MIL, ATL
105	Ross Stripling	TOR	NYY
106	Zach Davies	CHC	ATL
107	Josh Fleming	TB	TEX
108	Jose Urena	DET	@OAK
109	Cole Irvin	OAK	DET
110	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@PHI
111	JT Brubaker	PIT	@MIL
112	Griffin Canning	LAA	@KC
113	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@BAL
114	Brad Keller	KC	LAA
115	Mitch Keller	PIT	SD
116	Garrett Richards	BOS	@MIN
117	Wade Miley	CIN	@SF, CLE
118	Johnny Cueto	SF	CIN
119	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@MIL
120	Chad Kuhl	PIT	SD, @MIL
121	Daniel Castano	MIA	SF
122	Drew Smyly	ATL	@CHC
123	Aaron Sanchez	SF	CIN, @MIA
124	Carlos Martinez	STL	@PHI
125	Matt Moore	PHI	STL
126	Merrill Kelly	ARI	@WAS
127	Justin Dunn	SEA	@BAL
128	Trevor Williams	CHC	ATL
129	Jakob Junis	KC	TOR
130	Michael Fulmer	DET	@HOU
131	David Peterson	NYM	PHI, @COL
132	Logan Webb	SF	@MIA
133	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	MIA, @CHC
134	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	SEA
135	Erick Fedde	WAS	@STL, ARI
136	Brett Anderson	MIL	PIT
137	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@ATL
138	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@TEX
139	Dylan Cease	CWS	@BOS
140	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@COL
141	Logan Allen	CLE	@CIN
142	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
143	Steven Matz	TOR	@KC
144	Taylor Widener	ARI	@WAS
145	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	CLE
146	Nick Neidert	MIA	@ATL
147	Alex Cobb	LAA	@KC
148	Matt Harvey	BAL	SEA
149	Nick Margevicius	SEA	@BAL
150	Michael Wacha	TB	@NYY
151	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	NYM
152	T.J. Zeuch	TOR	@KC

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TOR, TB
2	Shane Bieber	CLE	@CWS, @CIN
3	Kenta Maeda	MIN	BOS, @LAA
4	Zack Greinke	HOU	DET, @SEA
5	Lucas Giolito	CWS	CLE, @BOS
6	Tyler Glasnow	TB	TEX, @NYY
7	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	NYY, @KC
8	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
9	Matthew Boyd	DET	@HOU, @OAK	Warning: Rabbit hole ahead. No homers despite league being on record pace.
10	Dane Dunning	TEX	@TB, BAL	Looks like a traditional starter, not an opener
11	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@MIN, CWS
12	John Means	BAL	SEA, @TEX	Great pair to continue solid start to the season
13	Jose Berrios	MIN	BOS	Good test to see if the strikeout spike is real
14	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
15	Tarik Skubal	DET	@OAK
16	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	TEX, @NYY
17	Zach Plesac	CLE	@CWS	First start facing someone other than Detroit
18	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	DET, @SEA
19	Rich Hill	TB	TEX
20	Jesus Luzardo	OAK	@ARI
21	Sean Manaea	OAK	DET	Good spot to get on track
22	Andrew Heaney	LAA	MIN	Rebounded nicely after rough debut
23	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@ARI, DET	Rough first two but should get back on track with two soft matchups
24	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS, @CIN
25	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	TB
26	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	CLE
27	Brady Singer	KC	LAA, TOR
28	Lance McCullers	HOU	DET	Walks high, but impressive thus far
29	J.A. Happ	MIN	BOS, @LAA
30	Corey Kluber	NYY	@TOR
31	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TOR, TB
32	Carlos Rodon	CWS	CLE, @BOS
33	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	MIN	Apparently, a blister doesn't affect hitting
34	Casey Mize	DET	@HOU, @OAK
35	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SEA
36	Aaron Civale	CLE	@CWS
37	Kohei Arihara	TEX	@TB
38	Kyle Gibson	TEX	@TB, BAL	Risky, but viable pickup in deeper leagues
39	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	@LAA
40	Mike Minor	KC	TOR
41	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@KC
42	Martin Perez	BOS	@MIN, CWS	Gut feeling this is a good week.
43	Robbie Ray	TOR	NYY, @KC	On target to make 2021 debut
44	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	BAL
45	Michael Pineda	MIN	BOS
46	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@MIN	Gutty effort first time back from health issues
47	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@TB
48	Justus Sheffield	SEA	@BAL, HOU
49	Frankie Montas	OAK	DET
50	Danny Duffy	KC	LAA, TOR
51	AL Reliever
52	Dean Kremer	BAL	SEA, @TEX
53	Jose Quintana	LAA	MIN
54	Nick Pivetta	BOS	CWS
55	Ross Stripling	TOR	NYY
56	Josh Fleming	TB	TEX
57	Jose Urena	DET	@OAK
58	Cole Irvin	OAK	DET
59	Griffin Canning	LAA	@KC
60	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@BAL
61	Brad Keller	KC	LAA
62	Garrett Richards	BOS	@MIN
63	Justin Dunn	SEA	@BAL
64	Jakob Junis	KC	TOR
65	Michael Fulmer	DET	@HOU
66	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	SEA
67	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@TEX
68	Dylan Cease	CWS	@BOS
69	Logan Allen	CLE	@CIN
70	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
71	Steven Matz	TOR	@KC
72	Alex Cobb	LAA	@KC
73	Matt Harvey	BAL	SEA
74	Nick Margevicius	SEA	@BAL
75	Michael Wacha	TB	@NYY
76	T.J. Zeuch	TOR	@KC

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Aaron Nola	PHI	@NYM, STL
2	Trevor Bauer	LAD	COL, @SD	Curious how MLB will spin spot-checking of Bauer's baseballs
3	Yu Darvish	SD	@PIT, LAD
4	Stephen Strasburg	WAS	@STL, ARI	Encouraging to see 6 IP in first outing
5	Max Fried	ATL	MIA, @CHC	Good setup for a rebound
6	Freddy Peralta	MIL	CHC, PIT
7	Max Scherzer	WAS	ARI
8	Blake Snell	SD	@PIT, LAD
9	Jacob deGrom	NYM	PHI
10	Luis Castillo	CIN	@SF	Nice bounce back from opening day debacle
11	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	CHC
12	Walker Buehler	LAD	@SD	Strikeouts will come
13	Sonny Gray	CIN	CLE	Slated to make debut
14	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	@SD
15	Corbin Burnes	MIL	CHC	Talk of the first ten days of the season
16	Charlie Morton	ATL	MIA
17	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@NYM	Hit hard by the Braves, but nice to see the K's
18	Jack Flaherty	STL	WAS	Nice to see 6-inning effort last time out
19	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@ATL, SF	Great to see early punch outs
20	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@MIL
21	Patrick Corbin	WAS	ARI
22	Ian Anderson	ATL	MIA
23	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@ATL, SF
24	Julio Urias	LAD	COL
25	German Marquez	COL	NYM
26	Jon Gray	COL	@LAD
27	Adam Wainwright	STL	WAS
28	John Gant	STL	WAS, @PHI	Probably won't work more than 5 IP per start
29	Dustin May	LAD	COL	Skipped last start, but a double dip this week
30	Zach Eflin	PHI	@NYM
31	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	OAK, @WAS
32	Joe Musgrove	SD	@PIT
33	Zac Gallen	ARI	OAK	Tentative, but could make 2021 debut earlier than first expected.
34	Joey Lucchesi	NYM	PHI
35	Chase Anderson	PHI	@NYM, STL
36	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@SF
37	Antonio Senzatela	COL	@LAD, NYM
38	Dinelson Lamet	SD	LAD	Injury to Adrian Morejon could accelerate return
39	Kevin Gausman	SF	CIN
40	Chris Paddack	SD	@PIT
41	Austin Gomber	COL	@LAD
42	Taijuan Walker	NYM	PHI, @COL	Coors start obviously risky
43	Tyler Anderson	PIT	SD
44	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	@MIA
45	Trevor Cahill	PIT	SD, @MIL
46	NL Reliever
47	Adrian Houser	MIL	PIT
48	Joe Ross	WAS	@STL
49	Luke Weaver	ARI	@WAS
50	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@MIL, ATL
51	Zach Davies	CHC	ATL
52	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@PHI
53	JT Brubaker	PIT	@MIL
54	Mitch Keller	PIT	SD
55	Wade Miley	CIN	@SF, CLE
56	Johnny Cueto	SF	CIN
57	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@MIL
58	Chad Kuhl	PIT	SD, @MIL
59	Daniel Castano	MIA	SF
60	Drew Smyly	ATL	@CHC
61	Aaron Sanchez	SF	CIN, @MIA
62	Carlos Martinez	STL	@PHI
63	Matt Moore	PHI	STL
64	Merrill Kelly	ARI	@WAS
65	Trevor Williams	CHC	ATL
66	David Peterson	NYM	PHI, @COL
67	Logan Webb	SF	@MIA
68	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	MIA, @CHC
69	Erick Fedde	WAS	@STL, ARI
70	Brett Anderson	MIL	PIT
71	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@ATL
72	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@COL
73	Taylor Widener	ARI	@WAS
74	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	CLE
75	Nick Neidert	MIA	@ATL
76	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	NYM