This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
Expect more in-week changes than normal to occur next week as clubs opt to shut down young hurlers and not take chances with those with health issues. Focus on teams in the playoff hunt, including teams battling for home-field advantage. Not only are these clubs more apt to stick with their scheduled starters, they're likely to let them pitch deep into important games.
UPDATED Sunday, September 17 8:45 PM ET
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Ervin Santana | MIN | at NYY, at DET | |
2 | Jose Berrios | MIN | at NYY, at DET | Passed 175 IP this season and still going strong |
3 | Corey Kluber | CLE | at SEA | |
4 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at LAA, at SEA | Great setup, average offenses in pitcher's parks |
5 | Chris Archer | TB | vs. CHC, at BAL | |
6 | Luis Severino | NYY | at TOR | Neck and neck with Verlander for best AL pitcher in 2H…after Kluber |
7 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. BOS, vs. TB | 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP with 66 K and 15 BB last 57 1/3 IP |
8 | Chris Sale | BOS | at BAL | |
9 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. LAA | |
10 | Brad Peacock | HOU | vs. CWS | 2.98 ERA a little lucky, but you can't fake an 11.4 K/9 |
11 | Collin McHugh | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. LAA | |
12 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs. KC, vs. NYY | Solid floor, but ceiling capped with low whiffs and IP/G |
13 |
Expect more in-week changes than normal to occur next week as clubs opt to shut down young hurlers and not take chances with those with health issues. Focus on teams in the playoff hunt, including teams battling for home-field advantage. Not only are these clubs more apt to stick with their scheduled starters, they're likely to let them pitch deep into important games.
UPDATED Sunday, September 17 8:45 PM ET
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Ervin Santana | MIN | at NYY, at DET | |
2 | Jose Berrios | MIN | at NYY, at DET | Passed 175 IP this season and still going strong |
3 | Corey Kluber | CLE | at SEA | |
4 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at LAA, at SEA | Great setup, average offenses in pitcher's parks |
5 | Chris Archer | TB | vs. CHC, at BAL | |
6 | Luis Severino | NYY | at TOR | Neck and neck with Verlander for best AL pitcher in 2H…after Kluber |
7 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. BOS, vs. TB | 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP with 66 K and 15 BB last 57 1/3 IP |
8 | Chris Sale | BOS | at BAL | |
9 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. LAA | |
10 | Brad Peacock | HOU | vs. CWS | 2.98 ERA a little lucky, but you can't fake an 11.4 K/9 |
11 | Collin McHugh | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. LAA | |
12 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs. KC, vs. NYY | Solid floor, but ceiling capped with low whiffs and IP/G |
13 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | at SEA | |
14 | Mike Leake | SEA | vs. TEX, vs. CLE | Home starts helps, but low K-rate drops rankings |
15 | Dallas Keuchel | HOU | vs. CWS | |
16 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | vs. MIN | |
17 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at HOU, vs. KC | Pedestrian K-rate, but stuff and pedigree to improve |
18 | Sonny Gray | NYY | at TOR | Currently slated for one, but could pick up second start |
19 | Martin Perez | TEX | at SEA, at OAK | |
20 | James Paxton | SEA | vs. TEX | Threw 50 pitches in 1 1/3 IP in his return, really struggled vs. Astros |
21 | Alex Cobb | TB | at BAL | Set career high in innings, getting better as season progresses |
22 | Drew Pomeranz | BOS | at BAL | |
23 | Doug Fister | BOS | at BAL, at CIN | Pixie dust ran out last start |
24 | Charlie Morton | HOU | vs. LAA | |
25 | Cole Hamels | TEX | at SEA | |
26 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at CIN | |
27 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs. TEX | Looked good in return, could ramp up to 65-70 pitches this time |
28 | Danny Duffy | KC | at CWS | |
29 | J.A. Happ | TOR | vs. KC | |
30 | Jason Vargas | KC | at TOR | |
31 | Jordan Montgomery | NYY | at TOR | Don't expect more than 4 or 5 frames |
32 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | at LAA | |
33 | Josh Tomlin | CLE | at LAA | |
34 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs. CLE, at HOU | |
35 | Sean Manaea | OAK | vs. TEX | |
36 | Erasmo Ramirez | SEA | vs. CLE | |
37 | Kendall Graveman | OAK | vs. TEX | |
38 | Parker Bridwell | LAA | vs. CLE | |
39 | Jason Hammel | KC | at CWS | |
40 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at CIN | |
41 | CC Sabathia | NYY | vs. MIN | |
42 | Jake Junis | KC | at TOR | |
43 | Garrett Richards | LAA | at HOU | |
44 | Jharel Cotton | OAK | at DET, vs. TEX | 13 HR allowed in previous 38 2/3 IP |
45 | Kevin Gausman | BAL | vs. BOS | |
46 | Andrew Cashner | TEX | at SEA | |
47 | Matt Andriese | TB | at BAL | |
48 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. KC | |
49 | Miguel Gonzalez | TEX | at OAK | |
50 | Nick Martinez | TEX | at OAK | |
51 | Ian Kennedy | KC | at CWS | Strikeouts way down, squashing any potential help |
52 | Jake Odorizzi | TB | at BAL | |
53 | Jeremy Hellickson | BAL | vs. TB | |
54 | Blake Snell | TB | vs. CHC | |
55 | Buck Farmer | DET | vs. OAK, vs. MIN | |
56 | Ricky Nolasco | LAA | vs. CLE | |
57 | Jaime Garcia | NYY | vs. MIN | |
58 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
59 | Chad Bell | DET | vs. OAK | |
60 | Daniel Gossett | OAK | at DET | |
61 | Ubaldo Jimenez | BAL | vs. TB | |
62 | Daniel Mengden | OAK | at DET | |
63 | Joe Biagini | TOR | vs. NYY | |
64 | Anibal Sanchez | DET | vs. OAK | |
65 | Sam Gaviglio | SEA | at TOR | |
66 | Brett Anderson | TOR | vs. KC | |
67 | Matt Boyd | DET | vs. MIN | |
68 | Marco Estrada | TOR | vs. NYY | |
69 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | vs. TB | |
70 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | at HOU | |
71 | Myles Jaye | DET | vs. MIN | |
72 | Adalberto Mejia | MIN | at DET | |
73 | Wade Miley | BAL | vs. BOS | |
74 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. MIN | |
75 | James Shields | CWS | at HOU | |
76 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. CLE | |
77 | Dylan Covey | CWS | vs. KC | |
78 | Bartolo Colon | MIN | at NYY | |
79 | Carson Fulmer | CWS | at HOU |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Rank | Pitcher | TEAM | Opponent(s) | Comments |
1 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at PHI, vs. SF | Many head to head playoffs hoping Kershaw wins them their title |
2 | Gio Gonzalez | WAS | at ATL, at NYM | ERA and WHIP high lately, but skills exactly the same |
3 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at PIT, vs. CHC | Helping to make up for the loss of Jimmy Nelson |
4 | Patrick Corbin | ARI | at SD, vs. MIA | Continues to throw well, draws a pair of beatable lineups |
5 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at ATL | |
6 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SD | 1.42 ERA, .75 WHIP with 45 K and 6 BB last 25 1/3 IP |
7 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
8 | Alex Wood | LAD | at PHI | Workload seems to be catching up |
9 | Zack Greinke | ARI | vs. MIA | |
10 | Jon Lester | CHC | at TB, at MIL | |
11 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | at LAD | |
12 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. WAS | |
13 | Rich Hill | LAD | vs. SF | |
14 | Zack Godley | ARI | at SD | |
15 | Jon Gray | COL | at SD | |
16 | Yu Darvish | LAD | at PHI | |
17 | Aaron Nola | PHI | vs. LAD | |
18 | Carlos Martinez | STL | at CIN | Weekly reminder Reds excellent vs. RHP |
19 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | at LAD | |
20 | Julio Teheran | ATL | vs. PHI | Pitched reasonably well for last two months |
21 | Dan Straily | MIA | vs. NYM, at ARI | In a rut but hs been solid all season |
22 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | at PHI | |
23 | Luke Weaver | STL | at CIN | Only 4 HR alllowed in 47 2/3 IP |
24 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | vs. MIL, vs. STL | |
25 | Tyler Anderson | COL | at SD | |
26 | German Marquez | COL | at SF, at SD | Two weak offenses in great pitcher's parks |
27 | Jake Arrieta | CHC | at MIL | Tentative, will know more after Saturday bullpen |
28 | Gerrit Cole | PIT | vs. STL | |
29 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | at MIL | |
30 | Brent Suter | MIL | at PIT, vs. CHC | 3.94 FIP/4.30 xFIP suggests actual 3.66 artifically low |
31 | Michael Wacha | STL | at PIT | |
32 | Lance Lynn | STL | at PIT | |
33 | Jose Quintana | CHC | at MIL | |
34 | Chad Bettis | COL | at SD | |
35 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs. COL | |
36 | Jose Urena | MIA | vs. NYM | |
37 | Mark Leiter | PHI | vs. LAD | |
38 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs. SF | |
39 | Ivan Nova | PIT | vs. STL | |
40 | Luiz Gohara | ATL | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | Could help with K's, but ratios are risky |
41 | Luis Perdomo | SD | vs. ARI, vs. COL | |
42 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. MIL | |
43 | John Lackey | CHC | at TB | |
44 | Taijuan Walker | ARI | vs. MIA | |
45 | R.A. Dickey | ATL | vs. PHI | |
46 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | vs. ARI | |
47 | Tyler Chatwood | COL | at SF | |
48 | Tanner Roark | WAS | at ATL | |
49 | Nick Pivetta | PHI | vs. LAD, at ATL | |
50 | Jackson Stephens | CIN | vs. STL, vs. BOS | |
51 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | vs. CHC | |
52 | Seth Lugo | NYM | at MIA | |
53 | Zach Davies | MIL | vs. CHC | |
54 | Matt Garza | MIL | at PIT | |
55 | Sean Newcomb | ATL | vs. WAS | |
56 | Jhoulys Chacin | SD | vs. COL | |
57 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. MIL | |
58 | Jake Thompson | PHI | vs. LAD | |
59 | Adam Conley | MIA | at ARI | |
60 | Clayton Richard | SD | vs. ARI | |
61 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at CIN, at PIT | |
62 | Ben Lively | PHI | at ATL | |
63 | Dillon Peters | MIA | at ARI | |
64 | Matt Harvey | NYM | at MIA, vs. WAS | |
65 | Odrisamer Despaigne | MIA | vs. NYM | |
66 | Chris Stratton | SF | at LAD | |
67 | Homer Bailey | CIN | vs. STL | |
68 | Sal Romano | CIN | vs. BOS | |
69 | Robert Gsellman | NYM | vs. WAS | |
70 | Matt Moore | SF | vs. COL | |
71 | Henderson Alvarez | PHI | at ATL | |
72 | Robert Stephenson | CIN | vs. BOS | |
73 | Rookie Davis | CIN | vs. STL | |
74 | Rafael Montero | NYM | at MIA | |
75 | Travis Wood | SD | vs. COL | |
76 | Edwin Jackson | WAS | at NYM | |
77 | Max Fried | ATL | vs. WAS | |
78 | Jordan Lyles | SD | vs. COL |
MLB
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at PHI, vs. SF | Many head to head playoffs hoping Kershaw wins them their title |
2 | Gio Gonzalez | WAS | at ATL, at NYM | ERA and WHIP high lately, but skills exactly the same |
3 | Ervin Santana | MIN | at NYY, at DET | |
4 | Jose Berrios | MIN | at NYY, at DET | Passed 175 IP this season and still going strong |
5 | Corey Kluber | CLE | at SEA | |
6 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at PIT, vs. CHC | Helping to make up for the loss of Jimmy Nelson |
7 | Patrick Corbin | ARI | at SD, vs. MIA | Continues to throw well, draws a pair of beatable lineups |
8 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at ATL | |
9 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SD | 1.42 ERA, .75 WHIP with 45 K and 6 BB last 25 1/3 IP |
10 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at LAA, at SEA | Great setup, average offenses in pitcher's parks |
11 | Chris Archer | TB | vs. CHC, at BAL | |
12 | Luis Severino | NYY | at TOR | Neck and neck with Verlander for best AL pitcher in 2H…after Kluber |
13 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. BOS, vs. TB | 3.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP with 66 K and 15 BB last 57 1/3 IP |
14 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
15 | Chris Sale | BOS | at BAL | |
16 | Alex Wood | LAD | at PHI | Workload seems to be catching up |
17 | Zack Greinke | ARI | vs. MIA | |
18 | Jon Lester | CHC | at TB, at MIL | |
19 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. LAA | |
20 | Brad Peacock | HOU | vs. CWS | 2.98 ERA a little lucky, but you can't fake an 11.4 K/9 |
21 | Collin McHugh | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. LAA | |
22 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs. KC, vs. NYY | Solid floor, but ceiling capped with low whiffs and IP/G |
23 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | at SEA | |
24 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | at LAD | |
25 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. WAS | |
26 | Rich Hill | LAD | vs. SF | |
27 | Zack Godley | ARI | at SD | |
28 | Jon Gray | COL | at SD | |
29 | Yu Darvish | LAD | at PHI | |
30 | Aaron Nola | PHI | vs. LAD | |
31 | Carlos Martinez | STL | at CIN | Weekly reminder Reds excellent vs. RHP |
32 | Mike Leake | SEA | vs. TEX, vs. CLE | Home starts helps, but low K-rate drops rankings |
33 | Dallas Keuchel | HOU | vs. CWS | |
34 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | at LAD | |
35 | Julio Teheran | ATL | vs. PHI | Pitched reasonably well for last two months |
36 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | vs. MIN | |
37 | Dan Straily | MIA | vs. NYM, at ARI | In a rut but hs been solid all season |
38 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | at PHI | |
39 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at HOU, vs. KC | Pedestrian K-rate, but stuff and pedigree to improve |
40 | Luke Weaver | STL | at CIN | Only 4 HR alllowed in 47 2/3 IP |
41 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | vs. MIL, vs. STL | |
42 | Tyler Anderson | COL | at SD | |
43 | German Marquez | COL | at SF, at SD | Two weak offenses in great pitcher's parks |
44 | Jake Arrieta | CHC | at MIL | Tentative, will know more after Saturday bullpen |
45 | Sonny Gray | NYY | at TOR | Currently slated for one, but could pick up second start |
46 | Martin Perez | TEX | at SEA, at OAK | |
47 | James Paxton | SEA | vs. TEX | Threw 50 pitches in 1 1/3 IP in his return, really struggled vs. Astros |
48 | Gerrit Cole | PIT | vs. STL | |
49 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | at MIL | |
50 | Brent Suter | MIL | at PIT, vs. CHC | 3.94 FIP/4.30 xFIP suggests actual 3.66 artifically low |
51 | Alex Cobb | TB | at BAL | Set career high in innings, getting better as season progresses |
52 | Drew Pomeranz | BOS | at BAL | |
53 | Michael Wacha | STL | at PIT | |
54 | Lance Lynn | STL | at PIT | |
55 | Doug Fister | BOS | at BAL, at CIN | Pixie dust ran out last start |
56 | Charlie Morton | HOU | vs. LAA | |
57 | Cole Hamels | TEX | at SEA | |
58 | Jose Quintana | CHC | at MIL | |
59 | Chad Bettis | COL | at SD | |
60 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at CIN | |
61 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs. TEX | Looked good in return, could ramp up to 65-70 pitches this time |
62 | Danny Duffy | KC | at CWS | |
63 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs. COL | |
64 | Jose Urena | MIA | vs. NYM | |
65 | J.A. Happ | TOR | vs. KC | |
66 | Mark Leiter | PHI | vs. LAD | |
67 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs. SF | |
68 | Ivan Nova | PIT | vs. STL | |
69 | Luiz Gohara | ATL | vs. WAS, vs. PHI | Could help with K's, but ratios are risky |
70 | Luis Perdomo | SD | vs. ARI, vs. COL | |
71 | Jason Vargas | KC | at TOR | |
72 | Jordan Montgomery | NYY | at TOR | Don't expect more than 4 or 5 frames |
73 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | at LAA | |
74 | Josh Tomlin | CLE | at LAA | |
75 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs. CLE, at HOU | |
76 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. MIL | |
77 | Sean Manaea | OAK | vs. TEX | |
78 | Erasmo Ramirez | SEA | vs. CLE | |
79 | John Lackey | CHC | at TB | |
80 | Kendall Graveman | OAK | vs. TEX | |
81 | Parker Bridwell | LAA | vs. CLE | |
82 | Taijuan Walker | ARI | vs. MIA | |
83 | R.A. Dickey | ATL | vs. PHI | |
84 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | vs. ARI | |
85 | Tyler Chatwood | COL | at SF | |
86 | Jason Hammel | KC | at CWS | |
87 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at CIN | |
88 | CC Sabathia | NYY | vs. MIN | |
89 | Jake Junis | KC | at TOR | |
90 | Garrett Richards | LAA | at HOU | |
91 | Jharel Cotton | OAK | at DET, vs. TEX | 13 HR allowed in previous 38 2/3 IP |
92 | Tanner Roark | WAS | at ATL | |
93 | Kevin Gausman | BAL | vs. BOS | |
94 | Nick Pivetta | PHI | vs. LAD, at ATL | |
95 | Jackson Stephens | CIN | vs. STL, vs. BOS | |
96 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | vs. CHC | |
97 | Andrew Cashner | TEX | at SEA | |
98 | Seth Lugo | NYM | at MIA | |
99 | Matt Andriese | TB | at BAL | |
100 | Zach Davies | MIL | vs. CHC | |
101 | Matt Garza | MIL | at PIT | |
102 | Sean Newcomb | ATL | vs. WAS | |
103 | Jhoulys Chacin | SD | vs. COL | |
104 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. MIL | |
105 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. KC | |
106 | Miguel Gonzalez | TEX | at OAK | |
107 | Nick Martinez | TEX | at OAK | |
108 | Ian Kennedy | KC | at CWS | Strikeouts way down, squashing any potential help |
109 | Jake Odorizzi | TB | at BAL | |
110 | Jeremy Hellickson | BAL | vs. TB | |
111 | Jake Thompson | PHI | vs. LAD | |
112 | Blake Snell | TB | vs. CHC | |
113 | Buck Farmer | DET | vs. OAK, vs. MIN | |
114 | Adam Conley | MIA | at ARI | |
115 | Ricky Nolasco | LAA | vs. CLE | |
116 | Clayton Richard | SD | vs. ARI | |
117 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at CIN, at PIT | |
118 | Ben Lively | PHI | at ATL | |
119 | Dillon Peters | MIA | at ARI | |
120 | Matt Harvey | NYM | at MIA, vs. WAS | |
121 | Jaime Garcia | NYY | vs. MIN | |
122 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
123 | Odrisamer Despaigne | MIA | vs. NYM | |
124 | Chad Bell | DET | vs. OAK | |
125 | Chris Stratton | SF | at LAD | |
126 | Daniel Gossett | OAK | at DET | |
127 | Homer Bailey | CIN | vs. STL | |
128 | Ubaldo Jimenez | BAL | vs. TB | |
129 | Daniel Mengden | OAK | at DET | |
130 | Joe Biagini | TOR | vs. NYY | |
131 | Sal Romano | CIN | vs. BOS | |
132 | Anibal Sanchez | DET | vs. OAK | |
133 | Sam Gaviglio | SEA | at TOR | |
134 | Brett Anderson | TOR | vs. KC | |
135 | Matt Boyd | DET | vs. MIN | |
136 | Robert Gsellman | NYM | vs. WAS | |
137 | Marco Estrada | TOR | vs. NYY | |
138 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | vs. TB | |
139 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | at HOU | |
140 | Matt Moore | SF | vs. COL | |
141 | Myles Jaye | DET | vs. MIN | |
142 | Henderson Alvarez | PHI | at ATL | |
143 | Robert Stephenson | CIN | vs. BOS | |
144 | Rookie Davis | CIN | vs. STL | |
145 | Rafael Montero | NYM | at MIA | |
146 | Travis Wood | SD | vs. COL | |
147 | Adalberto Mejia | MIN | at DET | |
148 | Wade Miley | BAL | vs. BOS | |
149 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. MIN | |
150 | Edwin Jackson | WAS | at NYM | |
151 | James Shields | CWS | at HOU | |
152 | Max Fried | ATL | vs. WAS | |
153 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. CLE | |
154 | Jordan Lyles | SD | vs. COL | |
155 | Dylan Covey | CWS | vs. KC | |
156 | Bartolo Colon | MIN | at NYY | |
157 | Carson Fulmer | CWS | at HOU |