This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
Usually, there are at least five double-dippers in the Top-10 overall, but this week there is just one with Zac Gallen on top, then the next highest guy with two starts, Blake Snell, checks in as No. 13. The fifth-highest ranked two-start hurler is Bailey Ober, way down at No. 41.
This is no doubt due a combination of the schedule, quality of two-start options as well as the quantity. More teams are using a six-man rotation, and/or deploying the opener and bulk reliever combo.
It irks me how some are blindly attributing cause and effect to the new rules, so I'll stop short of saying injuries and the other factors affecting rotations are offshoots of the changes to the game. But it certainly has to be considered, and not necessarily in a good way.
The rescheduling of three games in Southern California introduces even more questions to some rotations. We'll do the best to sort it out over the weekend. As usual, please direct scheduling question to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm here to answer all rankings questions posted below.
UPDATED: Monday August 21, 1:40 AM ET
Week of August 21 - 27
Mixed
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comments | MIX12 | MIX15 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zac Gallen | ARI | TEX, CIN | In the mix for NL Cy Young | ||
2 | Luis Castillo | SEA | @CWS, KC | |||
3 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @SF | 2.47 xFIP, should be running away with NL Young | ||
4 | Shohei Ohtani | LAA | CIN |
Usually, there are at least five double-dippers in the Top-10 overall, but this week there is just one with Zac Gallen on top, then the next highest guy with two starts, Blake Snell, checks in as No. 13. The fifth-highest ranked two-start hurler is Bailey Ober, way down at No. 41.
This is no doubt due a combination of the schedule, quality of two-start options as well as the quantity. More teams are using a six-man rotation, and/or deploying the opener and bulk reliever combo.
It irks me how some are blindly attributing cause and effect to the new rules, so I'll stop short of saying injuries and the other factors affecting rotations are offshoots of the changes to the game. But it certainly has to be considered, and not necessarily in a good way.
The rescheduling of three games in Southern California introduces even more questions to some rotations. We'll do the best to sort it out over the weekend. As usual, please direct scheduling question to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm here to answer all rankings questions posted below.
UPDATED: Monday August 21, 1:40 AM ET
Week of August 21 - 27
Mixed
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comments | MIX12 | MIX15 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zac Gallen | ARI | TEX, CIN | In the mix for NL Cy Young | ||
2 | Luis Castillo | SEA | @CWS, KC | |||
3 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @SF | 2.47 xFIP, should be running away with NL Young | ||
4 | Shohei Ohtani | LAA | CIN | |||
5 | Blake Snell | SD | MIA, @MIL | |||
6 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | WAS | |||
7 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | COL | |||
8 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | MIN | |||
9 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @CLE | |||
10 | Max Fried | ATL | @SF | |||
11 | Framber Valdez | HOU | @DET | |||
12 | Bryce Miller | SEA | KC | |||
13 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SF, STL | Enduring bad luck all season, but last 3 GS, .368 BABIP, 69.1% LOB has inflated ERA to 5.87 over last 15.1 IP, compared to 3.50 xFIP in that span | ||
14 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | KC | |||
15 | Max Scherzer | TEX | @MIN | 3-0 with 1.80 ERA, .80 WHIP and 26 K in 20 IP since the trade | ||
16 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | @SD | Pacing for >200 IP for third straight season | ||
17 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | STL | |||
18 | Mike Clevinger | CWS | SEA, OAK | 4.62 xFIP and 3.26 ERA indicates good fortune, but these matchups are too juicy | 39% | |
19 | Jordan Montgomery | TEX | @ARI, @MIN | |||
20 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SD | 5 HR allowed over last 16.2 IP inflating ERA | ||
21 | Zach Eflin | TB | NYY | |||
22 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | COL | |||
23 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | TEX | |||
24 | Cristian Javier | HOU | BOS, @DET | |||
25 | George Kirby | SEA | @CWS | |||
26 | Lance Lynn | LAD | @CLE | |||
27 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | @BAL, CLE | Quietly having a solid campaign | ||
28 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | @BAL | |||
29 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | SD | |||
30 | Cole Ragans | KC | @OAK | |||
31 | Justin Steele | CHC | @PIT | In a run, but should rebound here | ||
32 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | CIN | |||
33 | Tarik Skubal | DET | CHC | |||
34 | Michael Lorenzen | PHI | SF | Johnny Van de Meer's family can rest easy, record still intact | ||
35 | Kodai Senga | NYM | LAA | |||
36 | Bailey Ober | MIN | @MIL, TEX | |||
37 | Dylan Cease | CWS | OAK | |||
38 | Brady Singer | KC | @SEA | |||
39 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | @MIL | |||
40 | Sonny Gray | MIN | TEX | |||
41 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | WAS | 0% | ||
42 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | @TOR | |||
43 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | @LAA | |||
44 | Zack Littell | TB | COL, NYY | |||
45 | Aaron Civale | TB | COL | |||
46 | Julio Urias | LAD | @BOS | |||
47 | Jon Gray | TEX | @ARI | |||
48 | Bobby Miller | LAD | @CLE, @BOS | |||
49 | Graham Ashcraft | CIN | @LAA, @ARI | |||
50 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | CLE | |||
51 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @MIN | 29 K in last 20.2 IP, where did that come from? | ||
52 | Lucas Giolito | LAA | CIN | |||
53 | Justin Verlander | HOU | BOS | |||
54 | Javier Assad | CHC | @DET, @PIT | 5% | ||
55 | Logan Webb | SF | ATL | |||
56 | Chris Sale | BOS | @HOU | |||
57 | Johnny Cueto | MIA | @SD, WAS | 5% | ||
58 | James Paxton | BOS | @HOU, LAD | |||
59 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @PIT | |||
60 | Eury Perez | MIA | WAS | |||
61 | Hyun Jin Ryu | TOR | CLE | 42% | ||
62 | Eduardo Rodriguez | DET | HOU | |||
63 | Yu Darvish | SD | @MIL | |||
64 | Hunter Brown | HOU | @DET | |||
65 | Chase Silseth | LAA | @NYM | |||
66 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | STL | |||
67 | Angel Zerpa | KC | @OAK | 0% | 0% | |
68 | Cole Irvin | BAL | COL | 2% | 43% | |
69 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @NYM | |||
70 | Wade Miley | MIL | MIN | |||
71 | Bryce Elder | ATL | NYM | |||
72 | Michael Wacha | SD | @MIL | |||
73 | Joe Ryan | MIN | TEX | |||
74 | Jose Berrios | TOR | @BAL | |||
75 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | STL, CHC | |||
76 | Allan Winans | ATL | NYM, @SF | 9% | 49% | |
77 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @DET | |||
78 | Alec Marsh | KC | @OAK, @SEA | 1% | 15% | |
79 | Carlos Rodon | NYY | WAS, @TB | |||
80 | Mitch Keller | PIT | CHC | |||
81 | Mix 12 Reliever | |||||
82 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | @ARI | 37% | ||
83 | Gavin Williams | CLE | LAD | |||
84 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @SEA | 0% | 8% | |
85 | J.P. France | HOU | BOS | |||
86 | Tanner Houck | BOS | @HOU, LAD | 12% | ||
87 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @HOU | |||
88 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @MIN | |||
89 | Grayson Rodriguez | BAL | TOR | |||
90 | Brandon Pfaadt | ARI | CIN | |||
91 | Mix 15 Reliever | |||||
92 | Sean Manaea | SF | @PHI | 4% | 30% | |
93 | Seth Lugo | SD | MIA | |||
94 | Charlie Morton | ATL | NYM | |||
95 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | @SD | |||
96 | Reese Olson | DET | CHC | 32% | ||
97 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | KC, @CWS | 11% | ||
98 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | COL | |||
99 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | SF | |||
100 | Dean Kremer | BAL | TOR | |||
101 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | @NYM | 7% | ||
102 | MacKenzie Gore | WAS | @NYY | |||
103 | Reid Detmers | LAA | CIN | |||
104 | Austin Gomber | COL | @TB | 4% | 30% | |
105 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | LAD | |||
106 | Alex Faedo | DET | CHC, HOU | 8% | ||
107 | Nick Lodolo | CIN | @ARI | |||
108 | Hunter Greene | CIN | @ARI | Good to see him back | ||
109 | Logan Allen | CLE | @TOR | |||
110 | Erasmo Ramirez | TB | NYY | 0% | 0% | |
111 | Michael Kopech | CWS | SEA | |||
112 | Peter Lambert | COL | @TB | 0% | 0% | |
113 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | OAK | 5% | ||
114 | Touki Toussaint | CWS | SEA, OAK | 2% | ||
115 | JP Sears | OAK | @CWS | |||
116 | Ty Blach | COL | @TB, @BAL | 0% | 0% | |
117 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | BOS | |||
118 | Drew Smyly | CHC | @DET, @PIT | 33% | ||
119 | Jose Quintana | NYM | @ATL | 37% | ||
120 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @BAL | 5% | 26% | |
121 | Adrian Houser | MIL | SD | 3% | ||
122 | Jake Irvin | WAS | @MIA | 2% | 49% | |
123 | Jhony Brito | NYY | @TB | 2% | 8% | |
124 | Emmet Sheehan | LAD | @BOS | 21% | 28% | |
125 | Bryan Woo | SEA | @CWS | |||
126 | Luis Medina | OAK | KC | 15% | ||
127 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | @TB | |||
128 | Miles Mikolas | STL | @PHI | |||
129 | Matt Manning | DET | HOU | 27% | ||
130 | Kyle Harrison | SF | @PHI, ATL | 0% | 0% | |
131 | Drew Rom | STL | @PIT | 0% | 0% | |
132 | Josiah Gray | WAS | @NYY | |||
133 | Dakota Hudson | STL | @PHI | 18% | ||
134 | Jack Flaherty | BAL | TOR | |||
135 | Cal Quantrill | CLE | @TOR | 8% | 13% | |
136 | Xzavion Curry | CLE | LAD | 2% | 28% | |
137 | Luis Severino | NYY | WAS | |||
138 | Bailey Falter | PIT | STL, CHC | 0% | 13% | |
139 | Rich Hill | SD | MIA | 6% | ||
140 | Zach Davies | ARI | CIN | 0% | 4% | |
141 | Kyle Muller | OAK | KC, @CWS | 0% | 0% | |
142 | Matthew Liberatore | STL | @PIT | 27% | ||
143 | Alex Cobb | SF | @PHI | |||
144 | Osvaldo Bido | PIT | CHC | 1% | 2% | |
145 | Ken Waldichuk | OAK | @CWS | 1% | 9% | |
146 | David Peterson | NYM | @ATL, LAA | 16% | ||
147 | Joan Adon | WAS | @MIA | 0% | 4% | |
148 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @NYY | 0% | 11% | |
149 | Carlos Carrasco | NYM | LAA | 23% | ||
150 | Brett Kennedy | CIN | @LAA | 0% | 0% | |
151 | Trevor Williams | WAS | @MIA | 0% | 8% | |
152 | Jakob Junis | SF | ATL | 0% | 0% | |
153 | Noah Syndergaard | CLE | LAD | 6% | 30% | |
154 | Zack Thompson | STL | @PHI | 0% | 6% | |
155 | Chris Flexen | COL | @BAL | 0% | 0% | |
156 | Slade Cecconi | ARI | TEX | 0% | 0% | |
157 | Andre Jackson | PIT | STL | 0% | 0% | |
158 | Adam Wainwright | STL | @PIT | 5% | 0% | |
159 | Tylor Megill | NYM | @ATL | 14% | 26% |
American League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luis Castillo | SEA | @CWS, KC | |
2 | Shohei Ohtani | LAA | CIN | |
3 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | WAS | |
4 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | COL | |
5 | Framber Valdez | HOU | @DET | |
6 | Bryce Miller | SEA | KC | |
7 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | KC | |
8 | Max Scherzer | TEX | @MIN | 3-0 with 1.80 ERA, .80 WHIP and 26 K in 20 IP since the trade |
9 | Mike Clevinger | CWS | SEA, OAK | 4.62 xFIP and 3.26 ERA indicates good fortune, but these matchups are too juicy |
10 | Jordan Montgomery | TEX | @ARI, @MIN | |
11 | Zach Eflin | TB | NYY | |
12 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | COL | |
13 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | TEX | |
14 | Cristian Javier | HOU | BOS, @DET | |
15 | George Kirby | SEA | @CWS | |
16 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | @BAL, CLE | Quietly having a solid campaign |
17 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | @BAL | |
18 | Cole Ragans | KC | @OAK | |
19 | Tarik Skubal | DET | CHC | |
20 | Bailey Ober | MIN | @MIL, TEX | |
21 | Dylan Cease | CWS | OAK | |
22 | Brady Singer | KC | @SEA | |
23 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | @MIL | |
24 | Sonny Gray | MIN | TEX | |
25 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | @TOR | |
26 | Zack Littell | TB | COL, NYY | |
27 | Aaron Civale | TB | COL | |
28 | Jon Gray | TEX | @ARI | |
29 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | CLE | |
30 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @MIN | 29 K in last 20.2 IP, where did that come from? |
31 | Lucas Giolito | LAA | CIN | |
32 | Justin Verlander | HOU | BOS | |
33 | Chris Sale | BOS | @HOU | |
34 | James Paxton | BOS | @HOU, LAD | |
35 | Hyun Jin Ryu | TOR | CLE | |
36 | Eduardo Rodriguez | DET | HOU | |
37 | Hunter Brown | HOU | @DET | |
38 | Chase Silseth | LAA | @NYM | |
39 | Angel Zerpa | KC | @OAK | |
40 | Cole Irvin | BAL | COL | |
41 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @NYM | |
42 | Joe Ryan | MIN | TEX | |
43 | Jose Berrios | TOR | @BAL | |
44 | Alec Marsh | KC | @OAK, @SEA | |
45 | Carlos Rodon | NYY | WAS, @TB | |
46 | Gavin Williams | CLE | LAD | |
47 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @SEA | |
48 | J.P. France | HOU | BOS | |
49 | Tanner Houck | BOS | @HOU, LAD | |
50 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @HOU | |
51 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @MIN | |
52 | Grayson Rodriguez | BAL | TOR | |
53 | Reese Olson | DET | CHC | |
54 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | KC, @CWS | |
55 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | COL | |
56 | Dean Kremer | BAL | TOR | |
57 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | @NYM | |
58 | Reid Detmers | LAA | CIN | |
59 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | LAD | |
60 | Alex Faedo | DET | CHC, HOU | |
61 | AL Reliever | |||
62 | Logan Allen | CLE | @TOR | |
63 | Erasmo Ramirez | TB | NYY | |
64 | Michael Kopech | CWS | SEA | |
65 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | OAK | |
66 | Touki Toussaint | CWS | SEA, OAK | |
67 | JP Sears | OAK | @CWS | |
68 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | BOS | |
69 | Jhony Brito | NYY | @TB | |
70 | Bryan Woo | SEA | @CWS | |
71 | Luis Medina | OAK | KC | |
72 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | @TB | |
73 | Matt Manning | DET | HOU | |
74 | Jack Flaherty | BAL | TOR | |
75 | Cal Quantrill | CLE | @TOR | |
76 | Xzavion Curry | CLE | LAD | |
77 | Luis Severino | NYY | WAS | |
78 | Kyle Muller | OAK | KC, @CWS | |
79 | Ken Waldichuk | OAK | @CWS | |
80 | Noah Syndergaard | CLE | LAD |
National League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
1 | Zac Gallen | ARI | TEX, CIN | In the mix for NL Cy Young |
2 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @SF | 2.47 xFIP, should be running away with NL Young |
3 | Blake Snell | SD | MIA, @MIL | |
4 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | MIN | |
5 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @CLE | |
6 | Max Fried | ATL | @SF | |
7 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SF, STL | Enduring bad luck all season, but last 3 GS, .368 BABIP, 69.1% LOB has inflated ERA to 5.87 over last 15.1 IP, compared to 3.50 xFIP in that span |
8 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | @SD | Pacing for >200 IP for third straight season |
9 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | STL | |
10 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SD | 5 HR allowed over last 16.2 IP inflating ERA |
11 | Lance Lynn | LAD | @CLE | |
12 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | SD | |
13 | Justin Steele | CHC | @PIT | In a run, but should rebound here |
14 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | CIN | |
15 | Michael Lorenzen | PHI | SF | Johnny Van de Meer's family can rest easy, record still intact |
16 | Kodai Senga | NYM | LAA | |
17 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | WAS | 0 |
18 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | @LAA | |
19 | Julio Urias | LAD | @BOS | |
20 | Bobby Miller | LAD | @CLE, @BOS | |
21 | Graham Ashcraft | CIN | @LAA, @ARI | |
22 | Javier Assad | CHC | @DET, @PIT | |
23 | Logan Webb | SF | ATL | |
24 | Johnny Cueto | MIA | @SD, WAS | |
25 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @PIT | |
26 | Eury Perez | MIA | WAS | |
27 | Yu Darvish | SD | @MIL | |
28 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | STL | |
29 | Wade Miley | MIL | MIN | |
30 | Bryce Elder | ATL | NYM | |
31 | Michael Wacha | SD | @MIL | |
32 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | STL, CHC | |
33 | Allan Winans | ATL | NYM, @SF | |
34 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @DET | |
35 | Mitch Keller | PIT | CHC | |
36 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | @ARI | |
37 | Brandon Pfaadt | ARI | CIN | |
38 | Sean Manaea | SF | @PHI | |
39 | Seth Lugo | SD | MIA | |
40 | Charlie Morton | ATL | NYM | |
41 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | @SD | |
42 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | SF | |
43 | MacKenzie Gore | WAS | @NYY | |
44 | Austin Gomber | COL | @TB | |
45 | NL Reliever | |||
46 | Nick Lodolo | CIN | @ARI | |
47 | Hunter Greene | CIN | @ARI | Good to see him back |
48 | Peter Lambert | COL | @TB | |
49 | Ty Blach | COL | @TB, @BAL | |
50 | Drew Smyly | CHC | @DET, @PIT | |
51 | Jose Quintana | NYM | @ATL | |
52 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @BAL | |
53 | Adrian Houser | MIL | SD | |
54 | Jake Irvin | WAS | @MIA | |
55 | Emmet Sheehan | LAD | @BOS | |
56 | Miles Mikolas | STL | @PHI | |
57 | Kyle Harrison | SF | @PHI, ATL | |
58 | Drew Rom | STL | @PIT | |
59 | Josiah Gray | WAS | @NYY | |
60 | Dakota Hudson | STL | @PHI | |
61 | Bailey Falter | PIT | STL, CHC | |
62 | Rich Hill | SD | MIA | |
63 | Zach Davies | ARI | CIN | |
64 | Matthew Liberatore | STL | @PIT | |
65 | Alex Cobb | SF | @PHI | |
66 | Osvaldo Bido | PIT | CHC | |
67 | David Peterson | NYM | @ATL, LAA | |
68 | Joan Adon | WAS | @MIA | |
69 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @NYY | |
70 | Carlos Carrasco | NYM | LAA | |
71 | Brett Kennedy | CIN | @LAA | |
72 | Trevor Williams | WAS | @MIA | |
73 | Jakob Junis | SF | ATL | |
74 | Zack Thompson | STL | @PHI | |
75 | Chris Flexen | COL | @BAL | |
76 | Slade Cecconi | ARI | TEX | |
77 | Andre Jackson | PIT | STL | |
78 | Adam Wainwright | STL | @PIT | |
79 | Tylor Megill | NYM | @ATL |