Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Second-Half Kickoff

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Updated on July 17, 2015 1:32PM 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 July 17-19

(Note: The Pitching Value Meter will preview next week's schedule in its usual Saturday article.)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
1	Chris Sale	KC	The streak of 10+ K games was snapped at 8, but he's still done it in 10 of his last 12 starts (131 Ks in 92 IP, only six SPs have 131+ all year)
2	Felix Hernandez	at NYY
3	Corey Kluber	at CIN	Allowed 8.6 H/9 before arrival of Lindor & Urshela; just 6.6 H/9 in five starts w/the pair
4	David Price	BAL	K/9 still lagging from 4 in 15 IP v. KC in back-to-back outings, but in 11 starts since it's up from 6.4 to 9.4
5	Sonny Gray	MIN
6	Dallas Keuchel	TEX	To say he doesn't strikeout guys is overstating it; he's not elite there, but his K/9 and K% are both above average
7	Masahiro Tanaka	SEA
8	Chris Archer	at TOR	Has allowed 2 runs (1 ER) in 22 IP v. TOR this year (now down to 2.51 ERA in 75 career IP v. TOR, incl. 8.7 K/9 and 3.5 K:BB)
9	Carlos Carrasco	at CIN	I can't imagine a discount really available,

(Note: The Pitching Value Meter will preview next week's schedule in its usual Saturday article.)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
1	Chris Sale	KC	The streak of 10+ K games was snapped at 8, but he's still done it in 10 of his last 12 starts (131 Ks in 92 IP, only six SPs have 131+ all year)
2	Felix Hernandez	at NYY
3	Corey Kluber	at CIN	Allowed 8.6 H/9 before arrival of Lindor & Urshela; just 6.6 H/9 in five starts w/the pair
4	David Price	BAL	K/9 still lagging from 4 in 15 IP v. KC in back-to-back outings, but in 11 starts since it's up from 6.4 to 9.4
5	Sonny Gray	MIN
6	Dallas Keuchel	TEX	To say he doesn't strikeout guys is overstating it; he's not elite there, but his K/9 and K% are both above average
7	Masahiro Tanaka	SEA
8	Chris Archer	at TOR	Has allowed 2 runs (1 ER) in 22 IP v. TOR this year (now down to 2.51 ERA in 75 career IP v. TOR, incl. 8.7 K/9 and 3.5 K:BB)
9	Carlos Carrasco	at CIN	I can't imagine a discount really available, but he's worth buying even at market value - he's a second half buy target (2HBT)
10	Michael Pineda	SEA	All of his skills suggest he is as much as a run better than his 3.62 ERA (2HBT)
11	Jeff Samardzija	KC	(2HBT)
12	Jose Quintana	KC
13	Scott Kazmir	MIN
14	Jake Odorizzi	at TOR	Looked sharp in his return from the DL (5.7 scoreless w/2 H & 5 Ks v. HOU)
15	Erasmo Ramirez	at TOR
16	Garrett Richards	BOS	This feels like a lower percentile outcome for Richards so far, there is definitely serious potential to turn it up here (2HBT)
17	Eduardo Rodriguez	at LAA	(2HBT)
18	Anibal Sanchez	BAL	Has to keep the ball in the yard, but was best in baseball at it from 2013-14 (2HBT)
19	Hector Santiago	BOS	Skills say he's 2013-14 version still, gaudy ERA is heavily influenced by 89% LOB rate - he's a second half sell target (2HST)
20	Kyle Gibson	at OAK	Officially on a run: 2.76 ERA in 65.3 IP w/8.1 K/9 and 3.1 K:BB; ERA has been there all year, but skills now following (2HBT)
21	Ubaldo Jimenez	at DET	I still worry that we're living on a wire w/Ubaldo as that 1.27 WHIP is still pretty high for a 2.81 ERA (2HST)
22	Hisashi Iwakuma	at NYY	Eight innings of three-hit ball doesn't erase his last 11 starts (dating back to last seven of '14), but showed he can still do it
23	Yovani Gallardo	at HOU
24	Ervin Santana	at OAK	Might take a few starts to iron it out, but I think he'll be a positive down the stretch (2HBT)
25	Collin McHugh	TEX
26	Trevor Bauer	at CIN
27	Justin Verlander	BAL	Big start in MIN is promising, but doesn't erase all the damage; still need to see more before fully trusting in all formats
28	Drew Hutchison	TB
29	Marco Estrada	TB	Seems to have regained his MIL form of 2012-13; still had 6 Shellackings (5+ ER) those two seasons
30	C.J. Wilson	BOS
31	Wade Miley	at LAA	Skills are improving, but results haven't followed including a 6.88 ERA in three July starts against a 3.90 FIP; keep an eye on him
32	Edinson Volquez	at CWS
33	Miguel Gonzalez	at DET
34	Mike Montgomery	at NYY	Eager to see how he responds from his first clunker, especially in a difficult environment at NYY
35	Phil Hughes	at OAK	Finding his form a bit, but it's still a lesser version than '14 as he just doesn't induce swings & misses
36	Jesse Chavez	MIN	Had a 5.20 ERA last July before moving back to the pen, has a 6.55 ERA in his last four starts (2HST)
37	R.A. Dickey	TB

SIT

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
38	Chris Young	at CWS	Has a 3.47 ERA in 12 starts since fully joining the rotation, that's the upside; downside is about a run higher
39	Rick Porcello	at LAA
40	Chris Tillman	at DET
41	Scott Feldman	TEX
42	Danny Duffy	at CWS
43	CC Sabathia	SEA
44	Martin Perez	at HOU
45	John Danks	KC
46	Jeremy Guthrie	at CWS
47	Colby Lewis	at HOU

NATIONAL LEAGUE

START

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
1	Max Scherzer	LAD	The most aspect of his season is also exhibit 4,739,019 why W-L records mean jack: he has seven losses
2	Clayton Kershaw	at WAS	So stupid that he had fight his way into the All-Star Game; even if you only go off of '15, his ERA is 10th in NL
3	Gerrit Cole	at MIL
4	Zack Greinke	at WAS	Analysis saying Greinke won't hold his .233 BABIP & 90% LOB is useless; plan for a 2.75 ERA the rest of the way which is still elite
5	Madison Bumgarner	at ARI	Your league may vary, but it seems perception has Bumgarner having a worse season than reality; still an easy ace (2HBT)
6	Johnny Cueto	CLE
7	Jake Arrieta	at ATL	A veritable carbon copy of last year's excellence, Arrieta is for real
8	Jose Fernandez	at PHI
9	Cole Hamels	MIA
10	Michael Wacha	NYM	Been backing him from the jump, but while some might be ready to sell out of this ERA, I think he can continue on this level (2HBT)
11	Francisco Liriano	at MIL	Liriano is a scary name in the market which tamps down his value regardless of performance; use that for a discount (2HBT)
12	Lance Lynn	NYM
13	John Lackey	NYM	Not the toxic name value of Liriano, but often underrated; likely a 3.30ish ERA rest of way, but you can buy for 4.00 ERA prices (2HBT)
14	Noah Syndergaard	at STL	The only real concern is innings which makes it too hard to make him a buy target, especially for re-draft leagues
15	Jon Lester	at ATL	It wasn't all bad in April, but just wipe it off the slate to get a better idea of him right now: 2.94 ERA, 85 Ks, 3.4 K:BB in 88.7 IP
16	Tyson Ross	COL	Has been relatively successful despite the ugly BB rate; if he can slice into it at all, he's on track for 2014-level numbers (2HBT)
17	Shelby Miller	CHC
18	Jordan Zimmermann	LAD
19	James Shields	COL
20	Julio Teheran	CHC	Maybe it's foolish, but the quality home numbers give me hope (2.04 ERA, 2.9 K:BB in 53 IP); 13 HRs in 10 road starts are killing him
21	Andrew Cashner	COL	His .403 BABIP at home seems out of sorts against a .284 career mark; crazy BABIP is hiding a 6.5 K:BB at home (2HBT)
22	Bartolo Colon	at STL
23	Dan Haren	at PHI
24	Mike Leake	CLE	In the midst of another high: 3.35 ERA in last eight, but there will be an inevitable couple start crash; just ride it out if you have him
25	Jorge De La Rosa	at SD
26	Patrick Corbin	SF
27	Kyle Hendricks	at ATL	If you don't like those Mike Fiers/Chris Heston types, then Hendricks and his 89 MPH (9th-slowest) aren't for you
28	Mike Fiers	PIT	These soft-tossers have different routes to success, but the lack of overpowering stuff leaves them ever-susceptible to a Shellacking
29	Jimmy Nelson	PIT
30	Matt Cain	at ARI	As with Iwakuma & Verlander in the AL one big start doesn't erase worry, but it's nice to see he can still do it, now let's see more
31	Doug Fister	LAD
32	Manny Banuelos	CHC	At 95 IP already, Banuelos isn't long for 2015 w/a rough cap around 120-130 so use him while you can in appropriate leagues
33	Robbie Ray	SF	Playing above his head, but has experienced real gains in stuff and feel for pitching
34	Chase Anderson	SF
35	Jake Peavy	at ARI
36	Taylor Jungmann	PIT	BBs were a major issue for most of '14 and all of '15 in minors, but 7% rate so far; meager 56% 1st-pitch Strike Rate says be careful
37	Chad Bettis	at SD

SIT

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
38	Charlie Morton	at MIL	Has gone 6 IP in each of his three starts since the 0.7 IP/9 ER nightmare, chopping a run off each time w/4, 3, and 2 ER
39	Tom Koehler	at PHI
40	Mike Bolsinger	at WAS
41	Anthony DeSclafani	CLE
42	Jon Niese	at STL
43	Adam Morgan	MIA
44	Kyle Kendrick	at SD
45	Chad Billingsley	MIA

MLB TOP 50

Rank	Pitcher	Opp	Comments
1	Max Scherzer	LAD	The most aspect of his season is also exhibit 4,739,019 why W-L records mean jack: he has seven losses
2	Clayton Kershaw	at WAS	So stupid that he had fight his way into the All-Star Game; even if you only go off of '15, his ERA is 10th in NL
3	Chris Sale	KC	The streak of 10+ K games was snapped at 8, but he's still done it in 10 of his last 12 starts (131 Ks in 92 IP, only six SPs have 131+ all year)
4	Felix Hernandez	at NYY
5	Corey Kluber	at CIN	Allowed 8.6 H/9 before arrival of Lindor & Urshela; just 6.6 H/9 in five starts w/the pair
6	David Price	BAL	K/9 still lagging from 4 in 15 IP v. KC in back-to-back outings, but in 11 starts since it's up from 6.4 to 9.4
7	Gerrit Cole	at MIL
8	Zack Greinke	at WAS	Analysis saying Greinke won't hold his .233 BABIP & 90% LOB is useless; plan for a 2.75 ERA the rest of the way which is still elite
9	Madison Bumgarner	at ARI	Your league may vary, but it seems perception has Bumgarner having a worse season than reality; still an easy ace (2HBT)
10	Sonny Gray	MIN
11	Dallas Keuchel	TEX	To say he doesn't strikeout guys is overstating it; he's not elite there, but his K/9 and K% are both above average
12	Johnny Cueto	CLE
13	Jake Arrieta	at ATL	A veritable carbon copy of last year's excellence, Arrieta is for real
14	Jose Fernandez	at PHI
15	Cole Hamels	MIA
16	Michael Wacha	NYM	Been backing him from the jump, but while some might be ready to sell out of this ERA, I think he can continue on this level (2HBT)
17	Francisco Liriano	at MIL	Liriano is a scary name in the market which tamps down his value regardless of performance; use that for a discount (2HBT)
18	Masahiro Tanaka	SEA
19	Chris Archer	at TOR	Has allowed 2 runs (1 ER) in 22 IP v. TOR this year (now down to 2.51 ERA in 75 career IP v. TOR, incl. 8.7 K/9 and 3.5 K:BB)
20	Carlos Carrasco	at CIN	I can't imagine a discount really available, but he's worth buying even at market value - he's a second half buy target (2HBT)
21	Lance Lynn	NYM
22	John Lackey	NYM	Not the toxic name value of Liriano, but often underrated; likely a 3.30ish ERA rest of way, but you can buy for 4.00 ERA prices (2HBT)
23	Noah Syndergaard	at STL	The only real concern is innings which makes it too hard to make him a buy target, especially for re-draft leagues
24	Jon Lester	at ATL	It wasn't all bad in April, but just wipe it off the slate to get a better idea of him right now: 2.94 ERA, 85 Ks, 3.4 K:BB in 88.7 IP
25	Tyson Ross	COL	Has been relatively successful despite the ugly BB rate; if he can slice into it at all, he's on track for 2014-level numbers (2HBT)
26	Shelby Miller	CHC
27	Jordan Zimmermann	LAD
28	James Shields	COL
29	Michael Pineda	SEA	All of his skills suggest he is as much as a run better than his 3.62 ERA (2HBT)
30	Jeff Samardzija	KC	(2HBT)
31	Jose Quintana	KC
32	Scott Kazmir	MIN
33	Jake Odorizzi	at TOR	Looked sharp in his return from the DL (5.7 scoreless w/2 H & 5 Ks v. HOU)
34	Erasmo Ramirez	at TOR
35	Garrett Richards	BOS	This feels like a lower percentile outcome for Richards so far, there is definitely serious potential to turn it up here (2HBT)
36	Eduardo Rodriguez	at LAA	(2HBT)
37	Anibal Sanchez	BAL	Has to keep the ball in the yard, but was best in baseball at it from 2013-14 (2HBT)
38	Hector Santiago	BOS	Skills say he's 2013-14 version still, gaudy ERA is heavily influenced by 89% LOB rate - he's a second half sell target (2HST)
39	Kyle Gibson	at OAK	Officially on a run: 2.76 ERA in 65.3 IP w/8.1 K/9 and 3.1 K:BB; ERA has been there all year, but skills now following (2HBT)
40	Ubaldo Jimenez	at DET	I still worry that we're living on a wire w/Ubaldo as that 1.27 WHIP is still pretty high for a 2.81 ERA (2HST)
41	Hisashi Iwakuma	at NYY	Eight innings of three-hit ball doesn't erase his last 11 starts (dating back to last seven of '14), but showed he can still do it
42	Julio Teheran	CHC	Maybe it's foolish, but the quality home numbers give me hope (2.04 ERA, 2.9 K:BB in 53 IP); 13 HRs in 10 road starts are killing him
43	Andrew Cashner	COL	His .403 BABIP at home seems out of sorts against a .284 career mark; crazy BABIP is hiding a 6.5 K:BB at home (2HBT)
44	Yovani Gallardo	at HOU
45	Ervin Santana	at OAK	Might take a few starts to iron it out, but I think he'll be a positive down the stretch (2HBT)
46	Collin McHugh	TEX
47	Bartolo Colon	at STL
48	Dan Haren	at PHI
49	Mike Leake	CLE	In the midst of another high: 3.35 ERA in last eight, but there will be an inevitable couple start crash; just ride it out if you have him
50	Jorge De La Rosa	at SD