This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
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, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.
For the week May 11-17
AMERICAN LEAGUE
For the week May 11-17
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
1. Chris Archer - NYY, at MIN Note: Don't sweat the back-to-back 4-BB games, he has those sometimes; still notched 13 Ks in 9.3 IP |
2. Jeff Samardzija - at MIL, at OAK Note: Weird season with 3 great, 3 bad starts; expect Ks to keep rising (5-plus in four starts) |
3. Felix Hernandez - BOS |
4. David Price - MIN Note: Friday hamstring scare unlikely to be an issue; stay tuned to RotoWire news just in case |
5. Collin McHugh - SF Note: 4-HR game vs. SEA suggests HR problem (1.2 HR/9) when there's not (0.3 HR/9 in other 5 starts) |
6. Michael Pineda - at KC Note: Shown he doesn't need Ks to succeed, but did log passable 6.2 K/9 vs. KC in couple starts last year |
7. Garrett Richards - at BAL |
8. Dallas Keuchel - TOR Note: Jays are AL's lefty mashers (142 wRC+), but starting to think a team only holds title until facing Keuchel |
9. Chris Sale - at MIL |
10. Corey Kluber - STL Note: Still buying, and probably getting discount; skills still great, suggest low-3.00 ERA rest of the way |
11. Scott Kazmir - |
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, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.
For the week May 11-17
AMERICAN LEAGUE
SIT
NATIONAL LEAGUE
SIT
MLB TOP 100
For the week May 11-17
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
1. Chris Archer - NYY, at MIN Note: Don't sweat the back-to-back 4-BB games, he has those sometimes; still notched 13 Ks in 9.3 IP |
2. Jeff Samardzija - at MIL, at OAK Note: Weird season with 3 great, 3 bad starts; expect Ks to keep rising (5-plus in four starts) |
3. Felix Hernandez - BOS |
4. David Price - MIN Note: Friday hamstring scare unlikely to be an issue; stay tuned to RotoWire news just in case |
5. Collin McHugh - SF Note: 4-HR game vs. SEA suggests HR problem (1.2 HR/9) when there's not (0.3 HR/9 in other 5 starts) |
6. Michael Pineda - at KC Note: Shown he doesn't need Ks to succeed, but did log passable 6.2 K/9 vs. KC in couple starts last year |
7. Garrett Richards - at BAL |
8. Dallas Keuchel - TOR Note: Jays are AL's lefty mashers (142 wRC+), but starting to think a team only holds title until facing Keuchel |
9. Chris Sale - at MIL |
10. Corey Kluber - STL Note: Still buying, and probably getting discount; skills still great, suggest low-3.00 ERA rest of the way |
11. Scott Kazmir - BOS, CWS Note: 6 ER vs. MIN, as many as in 5 starts; it was a rough start, but he's fine and pitching brilliantly (25% K) |
12. Carlos Carrasco - STL, at TEX Note: Another buy-low CLE SP, or even buy-at-market-value; not 4.71 ERA arm, pitching much better than that |
13. Sonny Gray - BOS |
14. Jake Odorizzi - NYY Note: Seventh consecutive start against a division opponent |
15. Anibal Sanchez - at STL Note: Since 9 ER nightmare vs. CWS: 3.05 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 23% K rate in 20.7 IP |
16. R.A. Dickey - at HOU |
17. Jose Quintana - at MIL Note: Since 9 ER nightmare at DET (not same game as Sanchez): 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24% K rate in 19 IP |
18. Rick Porcello - at OAK, at SEA Note: Outside of BAL shellacking (8 ER), has 2.91 ERA in 34 IP; 21 percent K rate is career high |
19. Alex Colome - NYY, at MIN Note: Cobb TJ all but ensures Colome's spot in the rotation the rest of the season |
20. Edinson Volquez - at TEX, NYY Note: Last outing was Vintage Volquez (6 BB), but I'm willing to give him one dud |
21. Yordano Ventura - at TEX |
22. Danny Salazar - at TEX Note: Still allowed a HR/game, which tempers excitement, but keeping guys off base to limit HR damage |
23. Danny Duffy - at TEX, NYY |
24. Phil Hughes - TB |
25. James Paxton - SD, BOS Note: 2.7 IP/7 ER dud left a bad taste, but looked like himself since: 2.41 ERA, 1.18 ERA, 18 Ks in 18.7 IP |
26. Nathan Eovaldi - at TB, at KC |
27. Trevor Bauer - STL Note: Just not a finished product yet: after 5 ER in April, allowed 11 ER in two May starts |
28. Jesse Chavez - CWS Note: He's more mid-3.00s than sub-3.00s, but remember had sub-3.00 ERA through first 16 starts last year |
29. Trevor May - TB |
30. Wei-Yin Chen - LAA |
31. Matt Shoemaker - at BAL Note: Command-and-control from last year isn't there consistently; 3 multi-HR games |
32. Alfredo Simon - MIN, at STL |
33. J.A. Happ - BOS Note: Last start balanced him out a bit; expect something like his 3.51 ERA from here on |
34. Miguel Gonzalez - TOR |
35. Jesse Hahn - CWS Note: Ks are returning after a really slow start (5 in his first 3 starts) |
36. Chase Whitley - at TB Note: Interested to see how he fares Saturday afternoon vs. BAL; showed some flashes last year, too |
37. Yovani Gallardo - KC Note: Solid, if unspectacular, but this ranking speaks more to the depth of AL pitching |
38. Chris Tillman - TOR |
39. Nate Karns - NYY |
40. Hector Santiago - COL Note: Living dangerously with 12 percent walk rate; unless maintains .237 BABIP, ERA will rise by at least a run |
41. C.J. Wilson - COL |
42. Mike Pelfrey - at DET Note:Mike Pelfrey is awesome now? That's the world we're living in? 1 K, 4 BB in last two; add 2 runs to ERA |
43. Ricky Nolasco - at DET |
44. Roenis Elias - SD Note: If new strikeout rate (up from 21 to 25 percent) is legit, could be a solid option for a while |
45. Chris Young - NYY |
46. Clay Buchholz - at SEA Note: K, BB rates draw attention, but you watch him pitch and you understand the volatility; be careful |
47. Joe Kelly - at SEA |
48. Drew Hutchison - at HOU |
49. Kyle Lobstein - MIN Note: 57 percent GB rate covers some K:BB weakness, but not sure it supports 1.4 K:BB; not a bad matchup |
SIT
50. CC Sabathia - at TB, at KC |
51. Justin Masterson - at OAK, at SEA |
52. Ubaldo Jimenez - TOR, LAA Note: Just can't buy in and these two offenses don't make for an appealing two-start slate |
53. Kyle Gibson - at DET, TB |
54. Marco Estrada - at BAL, at HOU Note: Homer-happy teams against homer-prone pitcher |
55. Shane Greene - at STL Note: Command is a complete mess, and I'm not sure it's set to get better at STL |
56. Drew Pomeranz - BOS |
57. Taijuan Walker - BOS |
58. Jered Weaver - at BAL |
59. Nick Martinez - KC, CLE Note: Still. Not. Buying. |
60. Mark Buehrle - at BAL, at HOU |
61. Bud Norris - LAA |
62. Scott Feldman - TOR |
63. Adam Warren - at TB |
64. Matt Andriese - at MIN Note: Just speculating on who might take Smyly's spot; such a bummer that Smyly is hurt again |
65. Bruce Chen - at TEX |
66. John Danks - at OAK |
67. Wandy Rodriguez - CLE |
68. Ross Detwiler - KC |
69. Aaron Sanchez - at BAL |
70. Wade Miley - at OAK |
71. Roberto Hernandez - TOR |
72. Jeremy Guthrie - at TEX |
73. Hector Noesi - at OAK |
74. Colby Lewis - KC, CLE |
75. Samuel Deduno - SF, TOR |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
START
1. Max Scherzer - at ARI, at SD Note: Not sure why he was out for 8th in last outing, it marred a gem, but nothing to worry about long-term |
2. Gerrit Cole - at PHI, at CHC Note: If gotta go on road twice, might as well get league's worst team vs. RHP and highest K rate vs. RHP |
3. Clayton Kershaw - COL Note: About only blemish on Kershaw's record is HR rate (1.2); allowed 9 last year, has 5 already this year |
4. Johnny Cueto - SF |
5. Matt Harvey - at CHC Note: Could see a season high in Ks from Harvey (currently 9) |
6. Zack Greinke - COL |
7. James Shields - WAS Note: Absolutely loving the K rate (30 percent), but what's with all the homers? (7 in his last 2; 11 all year) |
8. Jake Arrieta - NYM, PIT |
9. Lance Lynn - at CLE, DET Note: Don't really understand volatility, but at least getting Ks even in duds (career-high 28 percent K rate) |
10. Madison Bumgarner - at CIN |
11. Andrew Cashner - WAS Note: Pitched much better than his 1-5 record; I'm buying the new K rate, too |
12. Jon Lester - NYM, PIT |
13. Stephen Strasburg - at ARI, at SD Note: Apparently he was chiropracted back to health |
14. A.J. Burnett - at PHI, at CHC Note: Pittsburgh Burnett is the best Burnett |
15. Jacob deGrom - at CHC, MIL |
16. Shelby Miller - at CIN, at MIN Note: K rate hasn't quite returned to 2013, but 49 percent GB rate is a career high |
17. Bartolo Colon - at CHC, MIL Note: Has a 0.6 percent walk rate. Point. Six. Percent. |
18. Francisco Liriano - at PHI |
19. Cole Hamels - PIT Note: Three homer-free outings in last four, 25 percent K rate is a three-year high |
20. Julio Teheran - at MIA |
21. Michael Wacha - at CLE Note: Love results (5-0, 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP), but 12 percent K rate won't cut it over long haul; has stuff for more |
22. Jordan Zimmermann - at SD |
23. Gio Gonzalez - at ARI Note: Excellent in three of last four and will continue to shave his ERA |
24. Tyson Ross - WAS Note: Walk rate is alarming, but still getting Ks, and willing to give him some leeway |
25. Jason Hammel - NYM |
26. John Lackey - at CLE Note: Made up for weird 1-K outing vs. PHI with 10-spot against Cubs; great in four of six starts |
27. Chase Anderson - at PHI |
28. Mike Leake - ATL, SF Note: Sort of like Wacha except we know strikeout rate isn't headed upward with a career 16 percent rate |
29. Ian Kennedy - at SEA, WAS |
30. Wily Peralta - CWS, at NYM |
31. Carlos Martinez - DET Note: The NL's Trevor Bauer, we want to declare him a finished product after every good start; it takes time |
32. Alex Wood - at MIA |
33. Anthony DeSclafani - ATL, SF Note: Walks have been the big issue in last two (9) after just six in his first four starts |
34. Jimmy Nelson - CWS Note: One bad outing (2.3 IP/7 ER) can really smash bottom line numbers; Nelson's been mostly good |
35. Travis Wood - NYM |
36. Rubby De La Rosa - WAS Note: Finally turning corner? 25 percent K rate is nice, but we knew it was there; 7 percent BB rate is real key |
37. Mat Latos - ATL Note: Just don't think he's as bad as we've seen through six starts |
38. Aaron Harang - PIT |
39. Archie Bradley - at PHI |
40. Jorge De La Rosa - at LAD Note: That dirty first outing will weigh on numbers for another month, but the surge in K rate is enticing |
41. Mike Fiers - CWS |
42. Carlos Frias - MIA, COL Note: Still being stretched out so we've only seen 5 and 5.3 IP, but they'll keep working him up |
43. Chris Heston - at HOU, at CIN Note: Still a little unknown, but we've seen best, worst; probably will be a 3.40-3.70ish guy with big WHIP |
44. Tim Lincecum - at CIN Note: OK, I'm kinda starting to buy a little something; I like the 54 percent GB rate for sure |
45. Kyle Lohse - at NYM Note: Slowly chiseling ERA down; think he'll be at least a 3.80ish arm the rest of way |
46. Dan Haren - at LAD |
47. Brett Anderson - MIA Note: Hasn't fanned more than 4 in a single outing yet, but at least that 63 percent GB rate rules |
48. Doug Fister - at SD |
49. Vance Worley - at PHI Note: After 6 ER in first start, allowed just 7 ER in his last 4 starts (2.66 ERA in 23.7 IP) |
50. Jon Niese - at CHC |
51. Kyle Hendricks - PIT Note: Not sure if I buy the improved K rate yet as it's been inconsistent: 3, 8, 2, 6, 1 |
52. Josh Collmenter - WAS |
53. Tim Hudson - at HOU Note: One of his best chances to pump his K rate |
54. Matt Garza - at NYM |
55. Jarred Cosart - at LAD |
56. Michael Lorenzen - SF Note: Matchup is right to continue riding the rookie, but we're still dealing with an unknown |
57. Mike Foltynewicz - at CIN |
58. Dillon Gee - MIL Note: He's kinda whatever, but you can start him here against the Brewers |
SIT
59. Jeff Locke - at CHC |
60. Tom Koehler - at LAD, ATL |
61. David Phelps - ATL |
62. Joe Wieland - MIA, COL |
63. Odrisamer Despaigne - at SEA Note: Skills have just cratered and they weren't good enough to sustain a real drop |
64. Robbie Ray - WAS |
65. Jason Marquis - ATL |
66. Tyler Lyons - DET |
67. Jeremy Hellickson - at PHI |
68. Eric Stults - at CIN |
69. Ryan Vogelsong - at CIN |
70. Chad Billingsley - ARI |
71. Christian Bergman - at LAA, at LAD Note: Will take over for Matzek, who was sent down |
72. Eddie Butler - at LAD |
73. Jordan Lyles - at LAA |
74. Kyle Kendrick - at LAD |
75. Jerome Williams - PIT, ARI |
76. Sean O'Sullivan - PIT, ARI |
MLB TOP 100
1. Max Scherzer - at ARI, at SD Note: Not sure why he was out for 8th in last outing, it marred a gem, but nothing to worry about long-term |
2. Gerrit Cole - at PHI, at CHC Note: If gotta go on road twice, might as well get league's worst team vs. RHP and highest K rate vs. RHP |
3. Clayton Kershaw - COL Note: About only blemish on Kershaw's record is HR rate (1.2); allowed 9 last year, has 5 already this year |
4. Johnny Cueto - SF |
5. Matt Harvey - at CHC Note: Could see a season high in Ks from Harvey (currently 9) |
6. Chris Archer - NYY, at MIN Note: Don't sweat the back-to-back 4-BB games, he has those sometimes; still notched 13 Ks in 9.3 IP |
7. Jeff Samardzija - at MIL, at OAK Note: Weird season with 3 great, 3 bad starts; expect Ks to keep rising (5-plus in four starts) |
8. Felix Hernandez - BOS |
9. David Price - MIN Note: Friday hamstring scare unlikely to be an issue; stay tuned to RotoWire news just in case |
10. Zack Greinke - COL |
11. James Shields - WAS Note: Absolutely loving the K rate (30 percent), but what's with all the homers? (7 in his last 2; 11 all year) |
12. Jake Arrieta - NYM, PIT |
13. Lance Lynn - at CLE, DET Note: Don't really understand volatility, but at least getting Ks even in duds (career-high 28 percent K rate) |
14. Madison Bumgarner - at CIN |
15. Andrew Cashner - WAS Note: Pitched much better than his 1-5 record; I'm buying the new K rate, too |
16. Jon Lester - NYM, PIT |
17. Stephen Strasburg - at ARI, at SD Note: Apparently he was chiropracted back to health |
18. A.J. Burnett - at PHI, at CHC Note: Pittsburgh Burnett is the best Burnett |
19. Jacob deGrom - at CHC, MIL |
20. Collin McHugh - SF Note: 4-HR game vs. SEA suggests HR problem (1.2 HR/9) when there's not (0.3 HR/9 in other 5 starts) |
21. Michael Pineda - at KC Note: Shown he doesn't need Ks to succeed, but did log passable 6.2 K/9 vs. KC in couple starts last year |
22. Garrett Richards - at BAL |
23. Dallas Keuchel - TOR Note: Jays are AL's lefty mashers (142 wRC+), but starting to think a team only holds title until facing Keuchel |
24. Chris Sale - at MIL |
25. Corey Kluber - STL Note: Still buying, and probably getting discount; skills still great, suggest low-3.00 ERA rest of the way |
26. Scott Kazmir - BOS, CWS Note: 6 ER vs. MIN, as many as in 5 starts; it was a rough start, but he's fine and pitching brilliantly (25% K) |
27. Carlos Carrasco - STL, at TEX Note: Another buy-low CLE SP, or even buy-at-market-value; not 4.71 ERA arm, pitching much better than that |
28. Shelby Miller - at CIN, at MIN Note: K rate hasn't quite returned to 2013, but 49 percent GB rate is a career high |
29. Bartolo Colon - at CHC, MIL Note: Has a 0.6 percent walk rate. Point. Six. Percent. |
30. Francisco Liriano - at PHI |
31. Cole Hamels - PIT Note: Three homer-free outings in last four, 25 percent K rate is a three-year high |
32. Julio Teheran - at MIA |
33. Sonny Gray - BOS |
34. Jake Odorizzi - NYY Note: Seventh consecutive start against a division opponent |
35. Anibal Sanchez - at STL Note: Since 9 ER nightmare vs. CWS: 3.05 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 23% K rate in 20.7 IP |
36. R.A. Dickey - at HOU |
37. Jose Quintana - at MIL Note: Since 9 ER nightmare at DET (not same game as Sanchez): 2.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24% K rate in 19 IP |
38. Rick Porcello - at OAK, at SEA Note: Outside of BAL shellacking (8 ER), has 2.91 ERA in 34 IP; 21 percent K rate is career high |
39. Alex Colome - NYY, at MIN Note: Cobb TJ all but ensures Colome's spot in the rotation the rest of the season |
40. Edinson Volquez - at TEX, NYY Note: Last outing was Vintage Volquez (6 BB), but I'm willing to give him one dud |
41. Michael Wacha - at CLE Note: Love results (5-0, 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP), but 12 percent K rate won't cut it over long haul; has stuff for more |
42. Jordan Zimmermann - at SD |
43. Gio Gonzalez - at ARI Note: Excellent in three of last four and will continue to shave his ERA |
44. Tyson Ross - WAS Note: Walk rate is alarming, but still getting Ks, and willing to give him some leeway |
45. Jason Hammel - NYM |
46. John Lackey - at CLE Note: Made up for weird 1-K outing vs. PHI with 10-spot against Cubs; great in four of six starts |
47. Chase Anderson - at PHI |
48. Mike Leake - ATL, SF Note: Sort of like Wacha except we know strikeout rate isn't headed upward with a career 16 percent rate |
49. Ian Kennedy - at SEA, WAS |
50. Wily Peralta - CWS, at NYM |
51. Yordano Ventura - at TEX |
52. Danny Salazar - at TEX Note: Still allowed a HR/game, which tempers excitement, but keeping guys off base to limit HR damage |
53. Danny Duffy - at TEX, NYY |
54. Phil Hughes - TB |
55. James Paxton - SD, BOS Note: 2.7 IP/7 ER dud left a bad taste, but looked like himself since: 2.41 ERA, 1.18 ERA, 18 Ks in 18.7 IP |
56. Carlos Martinez - DET Note: The NL's Trevor Bauer, we want to declare him a finished product after every good start; it takes time |
57. Alex Wood - at MIA |
58. Anthony DeSclafani - ATL, SF Note: Walks have been the big issue in last two (9) after just six in his first four starts |
59. Jimmy Nelson - CWS Note: One bad outing (2.3 IP/7 ER) can really smash bottom line numbers; Nelson's been mostly good |
60. Travis Wood - NYM |
61. Rubby De La Rosa - WAS Note: Finally turning corner? 25 percent K rate is nice, but we knew it was there; 7 percent BB rate is real key |
62. Mat Latos - ATL Note: Just don't think he's as bad as we've seen through six starts |
63. Aaron Harang - PIT |
64. Archie Bradley - at PHI |
65. Jorge De La Rosa - at LAD Note: That dirty first outing will weigh on numbers for another month, but the surge in K rate is enticing |
66. Nathan Eovaldi - at TB, at KC |
67. Trevor Bauer - STL Note: Just not a finished product yet: after 5 ER in April, allowed 11 ER in two May starts |
68. Jesse Chavez - CWS Note: He's more mid-3.00s than sub-3.00s, but remember had sub-3.00 ERA through first 16 starts last year |
69. Trevor May - TB |
70. Wei-Yin Chen - LAA |
71. Matt Shoemaker - at BAL Note: Command-and-control from last year isn't there consistently; 3 multi-HR games |
72. Alfredo Simon - MIN, at STL |
73. J.A. Happ - BOS Note: Last start balanced him out a bit; expect something like his 3.51 ERA from here on |
74. Miguel Gonzalez - TOR |
75. Jesse Hahn - CWS Note: Ks are returning after a really slow start (5 in his first 3 starts) |
76. Chase Whitley - at TB Note: Interested to see how he fares Saturday afternoon vs. BAL; showed some flashes last year, too |
77. Yovani Gallardo - KC Note: He's been solid, if unspectacular, but this ranking speaks more to the depth of AL pitching right now |
78. Chris Tillman - TOR |
79. Nate Karns - NYY |
80. Hector Santiago - COL Note: Living dangerously with 12 percent walk rate; unless maintains .237 BABIP, ERA will rise by at least a run |
81. Mike Fiers - CWS |
82. Carlos Frias - MIA, COL Note: Still being stretched out so we've only seen 5 and 5.3 IP, but they'll keep working him up |
83. Chris Heston - at HOU, at CIN Note: Still a little unknown, but we've seen best, worst; probably will be a 3.40-3.70ish guy with big WHIP |
84. Tim Lincecum - at CIN Note: OK, I'm kinda starting to buy a little something; I like the 54 percent GB rate for sure |
85. Kyle Lohse - at NYM Note: Slowly chiseling ERA down; think he'll be at least a 3.80ish arm the rest of way |
86. Dan Haren - at LAD |
87. Brett Anderson - MIA Note: Hasn't fanned more than 4 in a single outing yet, but at least that 63 percent GB rate rules |
88. Doug Fister - at SD |
89. Vance Worley - at PHI Note: After 6 ER in first start, allowed just 7 ER in his last 4 starts (2.66 ERA in 23.7 IP) |
90. Jon Niese - at CHC |
91. Kyle Hendricks - PIT Note: Not sure if I buy the improved K rate yet as it's been inconsistent: 3, 8, 2, 6, 1 |
92. Josh Collmenter - WAS |
93. Tim Hudson - at HOU Note: One of his best chances to pump his K rate |
94. Matt Garza - at NYM |
95. Jarred Cosart - at LAD |
96. C.J. Wilson - COL |
97. Michael Lorenzen - SF Note: Matchup is right to continue riding the rookie, but we're still dealing with an unknown |
98. Mike Foltynewicz - at CIN |
99. Dillon Gee - MIL Note: He's kinda whatever, but you can start him here against the Brewers |
100. Jeff Locke - at CHC |