Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Proceed with Caution

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Proceed with Caution

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

As is always the case, the July heat and humidity is boosting offense, though still not to last season's level. The ball is traveling further, and home runs are up. Additionally, flyball BABIP is also on the rise. The advantages enjoyed by flyball pitchers are lessening. It's time to be more prudent with streaming pitching, especially those with lower strikeout rates and higher walk rates. Flyball pitchers exhibiting one or both of those traits are still in play but come with elevated risk.

Considering this is the first week after the break, it's not surprising that there are 97 games, a few above average.

As usual, please direct rotation questions to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm happy to address rankings queries below.

UPDATED: Monday, July 22 12:50 AM ET

Week of July 22 - 28

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPCommentsMIX12MIX15
1Tarik SkubalDET@CLE, MIN   
2Chris SaleATLCIN, @NYM   
3Cole RagansKCARI, CHC   
4Hunter GreeneCIN@ATL, @TBA fledgling fantasy ace  
5Dylan CeaseSD@WAS   
6Tyler GlasnowLADSF   
7Reynaldo LopezATLCIN, @NYM3.71 xFIP almost more than double his 1.88 ERA  
8Bailey OberMINPHI, @DETTaking advantage of a soft schedule  
9Corbin BurnesBAL@MIA   
10Freddy PeraltaMILMIA   
11Luis CastilloSEA

As is always the case, the July heat and humidity is boosting offense, though still not to last season's level. The ball is traveling further, and home runs are up. Additionally, flyball BABIP is also on the rise. The advantages enjoyed by flyball pitchers are lessening. It's time to be more prudent with streaming pitching, especially those with lower strikeout rates and higher walk rates. Flyball pitchers exhibiting one or both of those traits are still in play but come with elevated risk.

Considering this is the first week after the break, it's not surprising that there are 97 games, a few above average.

As usual, please direct rotation questions to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm happy to address rankings queries below.

UPDATED: Monday, July 22 12:50 AM ET

Week of July 22 - 28

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPCommentsMIX12MIX15
1Tarik SkubalDET@CLE, MIN   
2Chris SaleATLCIN, @NYM   
3Cole RagansKCARI, CHC   
4Hunter GreeneCIN@ATL, @TBA fledgling fantasy ace  
5Dylan CeaseSD@WAS   
6Tyler GlasnowLADSF   
7Reynaldo LopezATLCIN, @NYM3.71 xFIP almost more than double his 1.88 ERA  
8Bailey OberMINPHI, @DETTaking advantage of a soft schedule  
9Corbin BurnesBAL@MIA   
10Freddy PeraltaMILMIA   
11Luis CastilloSEALAA   
12Paul SkenesPITSTL   
13Pablo LopezMIN@DET5.11 ERA, 3.56 xFIP, the turnaround starts now  
14Logan GilbertSEALAA   
15Zack WheelerPHI@MINHopefully the rest has allowed bis cranky back to heal  
16Garrett CrochetCWS@TEX, SEAShort outings a risk  
17Blake SnellSF@LAD, COL   
18Grayson RodriguezBAL@MIA   
19George KirbySEA@CWS   
20Jack FlahertyDET@CLE   
21Tanner BibeeCLEDET   
22Joe RyanMIN@DET   
23Gerrit ColeNYYNYM   
24Bryce MillerSEALAA, @CWS   
25Sonny GraySTLWAS   
26Justin SteeleCHCMIL   
27Mitch KellerPITSTL, @ARI   
28Drew ThorpeCWSSEA   
29Erick FeddeCWS@TEX, SEAAuditioning for a trade to a contender  
30Zac GallenARIPIT   
31Aaron NolaPHI@MIN   
32Nick PivettaBOS@COL   
33Seth LugoKCCHC   
34Brandon PfaadtARIPIT   
35Shane BazTBCIN   
36Logan WebbSFCOL   
37Kevin GausmanTORTEX   
38Tanner HouckBOS@COL, NYY   
39Tyler AndersonLAA@SEA, OAKRegression impending, but perhaps not this week  
40Ranger SuarezPHI@MIN, CLE   
41Nick LodoloCIN@TB   
42Nathan EovaldiTEXCWS   
43Hunter BrownHOU@OAK   
44Kodai SengaNYMATL   
45Luis GilNYYNYM   
46Zach EflinTB@TOR   
47Jon GrayTEXCWS, @TORGood pair to get out of his rut  
48Jose SorianoLAA@SEA, OAK   
49Michael KingSD@BAL   
50Taj BradleyTB@TORThe Rays have another SP1 in their midst  
51David PetersonNYM@MIA, ATL   
52Andrew HeaneyTEX@TOR   
53Max ScherzerTEXCWS   
54Michael WachaKCARI   
55Jose BerriosTORTB, TEX   
56MacKenzie GoreWAS@STL   
57Shota ImanagaCHC@KC   
58Andrew AbbottCIN@TB   
59Jordan HicksSF@LAD, COL   
60Chris BassittTORTB   
61Bryan WooSEA@CWS   
62Cristopher SanchezPHICLE   
63Gavin WilliamsCLEDET   
64Charlie MortonATL@NYM   
65Yusei KikuchiTORTEX   
66Nick MartinezCIN@ATL 1%0%
67Nestor CortesNYY@BOS   
68Michael LorenzenTEXCWS, @TOR   
69Clayton KershawLADSF 7%0%
70Carlos RodonNYYTB, @BOS   
71Brady SingerKCCHC   
72Framber ValdezHOULAD   
73Aaron CivaleMILMIA   
74Jameson TaillonCHCMIL   
75Matt WaldronSD@WAS   
76Mix 12 Reliever     
77DJ HerzWASSD, @STL 22% 
78Luis SeverinoNYMATL   
79Hayden BirdsongSFCOL 0%0%
80Griffin CanningLAA@SEA 13% 
81Kutter CrawfordBOSNYY   
82Spencer ArrighettiHOU@OAK, LAD 32% 
83Jake IrvinWAS@STL   
84Miles MikolasSTLWAS 33% 
85Luis OrtizPIT@ARI 49% 
86Mix 15 Reliever     
87Sean ManaeaNYM@NYY   
88Jose QuintanaNYM@NYY   
89Tyler PhillipsPHICLE 0%0%
90Zack LittellTB@NYY, CIN   
91Christian ScottNYMATL   
92Kenta MaedaDET@CLE, MIN 8%0%
93Tyler AlexanderTB@TOR, CIN 0%0%
94Spencer SchwellenbachATL@NYM   
95Frankie MontasCIN@ATL   
96Colin ReaMIL@CHC 34% 
97Ronel BlancoHOULAD   
98Jordan MontgomeryARI@KC   
99Joe RossMIL@CHC 0%0%
100Carson FulmerLAAOAK 0%0%
101Simeon Woods RichardsonMINPHI   
102Louie VarlandMINPHI 2%0%
103Yariel RodriguezTORTB   
104Tobias MyersMIL@CHC, MIA   
105Kyle GibsonSTLWAS   
106Landon KnackLADSF 39% 
107Mitch SpenceOAK@LAA 2%0%
108River RyanLADSF 0%0%
109Andre PallanteSTL@PIT 6% 
110Mitchell ParkerWASSD   
111Jake BlossHOU@OAK 0%0%
112Kyle HarrisonSF@LAD   
113JP SearsOAKHOU 32% 
114Martin PerezPITSTL 6%0%
115Ryan FeltnerCOL@SF 0%0%
116Yilber DiazARI@KC, PIT 0%0%
117Justin WrobleskiLAD@HOU 0%0%
118Max MeyerMIA@MIL   
119Matthew LiberatoreSTL@PIT 0%0%
120Ben LivelyCLE@PHI   
121Lance LynnSTL@PIT   
122Ryne NelsonARI@KC 9% 
123Edward CabreraMIABAL 40% 
124Dean KremerBALSD   
125Xzavion CurryCLEDET, @PHI 0%0%
126Trevor RogersMIA@MIL 11% 
127Joey EstesOAK@LAA 10% 
128Kyle HendricksCHC@KC 2%0%
129Marcus StromanNYY@BOS   
130Hogan HarrisOAKHOU, @LAA 2%0%
131Tanner GordonCOL@SF 0%0%
132Gavin StoneLAD@HOU   
133Albert SuarezBAL@MIA, SD 47% 
134Osvaldo BidoOAKHOU, @LAA 0%0%
135Austin GomberCOLBOS, @SF 2%0%
136Kyle TylerMIABAL 0%0%
137Randy VasquezSD@WAS, @BAL 0%0%
138Brayan BelloBOSNYY   
139Javier AssadCHCMIL, @KC   
140Robbie RaySF@LAD 1%0%
141Kyle FreelandCOL@SF 1%0%
142James PaxtonLAD@HOU   
143Bruce ZimmermannBALSD 0%0%
144German MarquezCOLBOS 0%0%
145Alec MarshKCARI   
146Carlos CarrascoCLEDET, @PHI 1%0%
147Dylan DoddATLCIN 0%0%
148Keider MonteroDETMIN 0%0%
149Cal QuantrillCOLBOS 8%0%
150Jonathan CannonCWS@TEX 3%0%
151Cooper CriswellBOS@COL 6%0%
152Yonny ChirinosMIANYM, @MIL 0%0%
153Joey WentzDET@CLE 0%0%
154Roddery MunozMIABAL 0%0%
155Patrick CorbinWASSD 0%0%
156Jack KochanowiczLAAOAK 0%0%
157Adam MazurSD@BAL 0%0%
158Chris FlexenCWS@TEX 0%0%
159Marco GonzalesPIT@ARI 0%0%

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Tarik SkubalDET@CLE, MIN 
2Cole RagansKCARI, CHC 
3Bailey OberMINPHI, @DETTaking advantage of a soft schedule
4Corbin BurnesBAL@MIA 
5Luis CastilloSEALAA 
6Pablo LopezMIN@DET5.11 ERA, 3.56 xFIP, the turnaround starts now
7Logan GilbertSEALAA 
8Garrett CrochetCWS@TEX, SEAShort outings a risk
9Grayson RodriguezBAL@MIA 
10George KirbySEA@CWS 
11Jack FlahertyDET@CLE 
12Tanner BibeeCLEDET 
13Joe RyanMIN@DET 
14Gerrit ColeNYYNYM 
15Bryce MillerSEALAA, @CWS 
16Drew ThorpeCWSSEA 
17Erick FeddeCWS@TEX, SEAAuditioning for a trade to a contender
18Nick PivettaBOS@COL 
19Seth LugoKCCHC 
20Shane BazTBCIN 
21Kevin GausmanTORTEX 
22Tanner HouckBOS@COL, NYY 
23Tyler AndersonLAA@SEA, OAKRegression impending, but perhaps not this week
24Nathan EovaldiTEXCWS 
25Hunter BrownHOU@OAK 
26Luis GilNYYNYM 
27Zach EflinTB@TOR 
28Jon GrayTEXCWS, @TORGood pair to get out of his rut
29Jose SorianoLAA@SEA, OAK 
30Taj BradleyTB@TORThe Rays have another SP1 in their midst
31Andrew HeaneyTEX@TOR 
32Max ScherzerTEXCWS 
33Michael WachaKCARI 
34Jose BerriosTORTB, TEX 
35Chris BassittTORTB 
36Bryan WooSEA@CWS 
37Gavin WilliamsCLEDET 
38Yusei KikuchiTORTEX 
39Nestor CortesNYY@BOS 
40Michael LorenzenTEXCWS, @TOR 
41Carlos RodonNYYTB, @BOS 
42Brady SingerKCCHC 
43Framber ValdezHOULAD 
44Griffin CanningLAA@SEA 
45Kutter CrawfordBOSNYY 
46Spencer ArrighettiHOU@OAK, LAD 
47Zack LittellTB@NYY, CIN 
48Kenta MaedaDET@CLE, MIN 
49Tyler AlexanderTB@TOR, CIN 
50Ronel BlancoHOULAD 
51Carson FulmerLAAOAK 
52Simeon Woods RichardsonMINPHI 
53Louie VarlandMINPHI 
54AL Reliever   
55Yariel RodriguezTORTB 
56Mitch SpenceOAK@LAA 
57Jake BlossHOU@OAK 
58JP SearsOAKHOU 
59Ben LivelyCLE@PHI 
60Dean KremerBALSD 
61Xzavion CurryCLEDET, @PHI 
62Joey EstesOAK@LAA 
63Marcus StromanNYY@BOS 
64Hogan HarrisOAKHOU, @LAA 
65Albert SuarezBAL@MIA, SD 
66Osvaldo BidoOAKHOU, @LAA 
67Brayan BelloBOSNYY 
68Bruce ZimmermannBALSD 
69Alec MarshKCARI 
70Carlos CarrascoCLEDET, @PHI 
71Keider MonteroDETMIN 
72Jonathan CannonCWS@TEX 
73Cooper CriswellBOS@COL 
74Joey WentzDET@CLE 
75Jack KochanowiczLAAOAK 
76Chris FlexenCWS@TEX 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Chris SaleATLCIN, @NYM 
2Hunter GreeneCIN@ATL, @TBA fledgling fantasy ace
3Dylan CeaseSD@WAS 
4Tyler GlasnowLADSF 
5Reynaldo LopezATLCIN, @NYM3.71 xFIP almost more than double his 1.88 ERA
6Freddy PeraltaMILMIA 
7Paul SkenesPITSTL 
8Zack WheelerPHI@MINHopefully the rest has allowed bis cranky back to heal
9Blake SnellSF@LAD, COL 
10Sonny GraySTLWAS 
11Justin SteeleCHCMIL 
12Mitch KellerPITSTL, @ARI 
13Zac GallenARIPIT 
14Aaron NolaPHI@MIN 
15Brandon PfaadtARIPIT 
16Logan WebbSFCOL 
17Ranger SuarezPHI@MIN, CLE 
18Nick LodoloCIN@TB 
19Kodai SengaNYMATL 
20Michael KingSD@BAL 
21David PetersonNYM@MIA, ATL 
22MacKenzie GoreWAS@STL 
23Shota ImanagaCHC@KC 
24Andrew AbbottCIN@TB 
25Jordan HicksSF@LAD, COL 
26Cristopher SanchezPHICLE 
27Charlie MortonATL@NYM 
28Nick MartinezCIN@ATL 
29Clayton KershawLADSF 
30Aaron CivaleMILMIA 
31Jameson TaillonCHCMIL 
32Matt WaldronSD@WAS 
33DJ HerzWASSD, @STL 
34Luis SeverinoNYMATL 
35Hayden BirdsongSFCOL 
36Jake IrvinWAS@STL 
37Miles MikolasSTLWAS 
38Luis OrtizPIT@ARI 
39Sean ManaeaNYM@NYY 
40Jose QuintanaNYM@NYY 
41Tyler PhillipsPHICLE 
42Christian ScottNYMATL 
43Spencer SchwellenbachATL@NYM 
44Frankie MontasCIN@ATL 
45Colin ReaMIL@CHC 
46Jordan MontgomeryARI@KC 
47Joe RossMIL@CHC 
48NL Reliever   
49Tobias MyersMIL@CHC, MIA 
50Kyle GibsonSTLWAS 
51Landon KnackLADSF 
52River RyanLADSF 
53Andre PallanteSTL@PIT 
54Mitchell ParkerWASSD 
55Kyle HarrisonSF@LAD 
56Martin PerezPITSTL 
57Ryan FeltnerCOL@SF 
58Yilber DiazARI@KC, PIT 
59Justin WrobleskiLAD@HOU 
60Max MeyerMIA@MIL 
61Matthew LiberatoreSTL@PIT 
62Lance LynnSTL@PIT 
63Ryne NelsonARI@KC 
64Edward CabreraMIABAL 
65Trevor RogersMIA@MIL 
66Kyle HendricksCHC@KC 
67Tanner GordonCOL@SF 
68Gavin StoneLAD@HOU 
69Austin GomberCOLBOS, @SF 
70Kyle TylerMIABAL 
71Randy VasquezSD@WAS, @BAL 
72Javier AssadCHCMIL, @KC 
73Robbie RaySF@LAD 
74Kyle FreelandCOL@SF 
75James PaxtonLAD@HOU 
76German MarquezCOLBOS 
77Dylan DoddATLCIN 
78Cal QuantrillCOLBOS 
79Yonny ChirinosMIANYM, @MIL 
80Roddery MunozMIABAL 
81Patrick CorbinWASSD 
82Adam MazurSD@BAL 
83Marco GonzalesPIT@ARI 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Todd Zola
Todd has been writing about fantasy baseball since 1997. He won NL Tout Wars and Mixed LABR in 2016 as well as a multi-time league winner in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship. Todd is now setting his sights even higher: The Rotowire Staff League. Lord Zola, as he's known in the industry, won the 2013 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Article of the Year award and was named the 2017 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year. Todd is a five-time FSWA awards finalist.
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