Weekly Pitcher Rankings: One Start at a Time

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: One Start at a Time

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Huh? Where did all the two-start pitchers go? Granted, it's a slow week with only 92 games, but still. Clearly, we're at the time of the season when MLB managers are monitoring workloads, either for a playoff run or to assure health for next season. A few pitchers are also returning from the injured list (IL), with their clubs going to a six-man rotation.

From a strategic perspective, this could be the best chance to use an extra closer or two if saves are a priority. With fewer aces in the double-dip realm, you won't lose as much ground in strikeouts and possibly wins.

The schedules remain in flux. As usual, please direct rotation questions to the crack staff crew on the Probable Pitchers page. I'm happy to handle rankings questions below. 

UPDATED: Monday September 9 1:15 AM ET

Week of September 9 - 15

Mixed Leagues

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Tarik SkubalDETCOLRate one-start week making the top spot
2Pablo LopezMINLAABack on track with a 1.27 ERA and .89 WHIP over last 21.1 IP
3Zack WheelerPHITBMr. Consistency
4Sonny GraySTLCIN 
5Framber ValdezHOUOAK 
6Bailey OberMINCINMr. Inconsistency
7Corbin BurnesBAL@DET 
8Max FriedATL@WAS 
9Tanner BibeeCLETB 
10Zach EflinBAL@DET 
11Paul SkenesPITMIAStill going strong
12George KirbySEASD, TEX 
13Andrew

Huh? Where did all the two-start pitchers go? Granted, it's a slow week with only 92 games, but still. Clearly, we're at the time of the season when MLB managers are monitoring workloads, either for a playoff run or to assure health for next season. A few pitchers are also returning from the injured list (IL), with their clubs going to a six-man rotation.

From a strategic perspective, this could be the best chance to use an extra closer or two if saves are a priority. With fewer aces in the double-dip realm, you won't lose as much ground in strikeouts and possibly wins.

The schedules remain in flux. As usual, please direct rotation questions to the crack staff crew on the Probable Pitchers page. I'm happy to handle rankings questions below. 

UPDATED: Monday September 9 1:15 AM ET

Week of September 9 - 15

Mixed Leagues

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Tarik SkubalDETCOLRate one-start week making the top spot
2Pablo LopezMINLAABack on track with a 1.27 ERA and .89 WHIP over last 21.1 IP
3Zack WheelerPHITBMr. Consistency
4Sonny GraySTLCIN 
5Framber ValdezHOUOAK 
6Bailey OberMINCINMr. Inconsistency
7Corbin BurnesBAL@DET 
8Max FriedATL@WAS 
9Tanner BibeeCLETB 
10Zach EflinBAL@DET 
11Paul SkenesPITMIAStill going strong
12George KirbySEASD, TEX 
13Andrew HeaneyTEX@SEA 
14Logan GilbertSEATEX 
15Reynaldo LopezATL@WAS 
16Jacob deGromTEX@SEAWelcome back (welcome back)
17Dylan CeaseSD@SF 
18Joe MusgroveSD@SF 
19Bryce MillerSEATEX 
20Sean ManaeaNYM@TOROne of the best pitchers over the second half
21Chris SaleATLLADPlayoff preview?
22Zac GallenARITEXWalks a little high
23Gerrit ColeNYYBOS 
24Cristopher SanchezPHITB, NYMSeems to be over the hump with 23 K, 2 BB over last 18.2 IP
25Gavin WilliamsCLETB 
26Matthew BoydCLE@CWSMore Guardians voodoo, 1.50 ERA, .61 WHIP over 18 IP
27Freddy PeraltaMIL@ARI 
28Luis CastilloSEATEX 
29Carlos RodonNYYKC, BOSOn a nice run, 3.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP with 24 K over last 17.2 IP
30DJ HerzWASMIAMaking a case for nest season's rotation
31David FestaMINLAA, CINNice home pair
32Hunter BrownHOUOAK 
33Yoshinobu YamamotoLADCHCOkaeri (welcome back)
34Aaron NolaPHINYM 
35Cole RagansKC@NYY 
36Max ScherzerTEX@SEA 
37Nathan EovaldiTEX@ARI 
38Charlie MortonATLCIN, LAD 
39Alex CobbCLE@CWS, TB 
40Michael WachaKC@PIT 
41Simeon Woods RichardsonMINCIN 
42Aaron CivaleMIL@SF, @ARI 
43Kevin GausmanTORNYM 
44Nestor CortesNYYBOS 
45Michael KingSD@SF 
46Bryan WooSEASD 
47Logan WebbSFSD 
48Ranger SuarezPHITB 
49Blake SnellSFMIL 
50Yu DarvishSD@SEA 
51Ryan PepiotTB@CLE 
52Jack FlahertyLAD@ATL 
53Justin VerlanderHOU@LAA 
54Brady SingerKC@NYY, @PIT 
55Yusei KikuchiHOU@LAA 
56MacKenzie GoreWASATL, MIA 
57Merrill KellyARITEX 
58Bowden FrancisTORNYM 
59Joey CantilloCLE@CWS 
60Kutter CrawfordBOSBAL, @NYY 
61Lance LynnSTLCIN 
62Ronel BlancoHOU@LAA 
63Chris BassittTORNYM, STL 
64David PetersonNYM@TOR 
65Nick PivettaBOSBAL 
66Mitchell ParkerWASMIA 
67Bobby MillerLADCHC 
68Erick FeddeSTL@TOR 
69Jose BerriosTORSTL 
70Andre PallanteSTLCIN 
71Luis GilNYYKC 
72Ben LivelyCLETB 
73Tanner HouckBOS@NYY 
74Shota ImanagaCHC@LAD 
75Taj BradleyTB@PHI, @CLE 
76Nick MartinezCIN@ATL, @MIN 
77Frankie MontasMIL@SF 
78Shane BazTB@PHI 
79Jack LeiterTEX@SEA 
80Garrett CrochetCWSOAK 
81Jameson TaillonCHC@COL 
82Spencer ArrighettiHOUOAK 
83Martin PerezSD@SEA 
84Cody BradfordTEX@ARI 
85Valente BellozoMIA@PIT, @WAS 
86Colin ReaMIL@SF 
87Seth LugoKC@NYY 
88Mix 12 Reliever   
89Spencer SchwellenbachATLLAD 
90Miles MikolasSTL@TOR 
91Walker BuehlerLADCHC 
92Zebby MatthewsMINLAA 
93Adam OllerMIA@PIT, @WAS 
94Reid DetmersLAA@MIN 
95Osvaldo BidoOAK@HOU, @CWS 
96Edward CabreraMIA@WAS 
97Austin GomberCOL@DET 
98Jared JonesPITKC 
99J.T. GinnOAK@CWS 
100Mix 15 Reliever   
101Brandon WilliamsonCIN@STL 
102Bailey FalterPITMIA 
103Eduardo RodriguezARIMIL 
104Patrick CorbinWASMIA 
105Casey MizeDETCOL 
106Clarke SchmidtNYYBOS 
107Brandon PfaadtARIMIL 
108Jakob JunisCIN@STL 
109Landon KnackLAD@ATL 
110Mitch KellerPITKC 
111Seth JohnsonPHINYM 
112Kyle GibsonSTL@TOR 
113Brayan BelloBOSBAL, @NYY 
114Luis OrtizPITKC 
115Hayden BirdsongSFMIL, SD 
116Joey WentzPITMIA 
117Griffin CanningLAA@MIN 
118Ryan FeltnerCOL@DET 
119Marcus StromanNYYKC 
120Luis SeverinoNYM@PHI 
121Clayton KershawLAD@ATL 
122Ryne NelsonARIMIL 
123JP SearsOAK@HOU 
124Mitch SpenceOAK@CWS 
125Zack LittellTB@CLE 
126Samuel AldegheriLAAHOU 
127Nick NastriniCWSCLE, OAK 
128Cade PovichBAL@BOS, @DET 
129Jake IrvinWASATL 
130Davis MartinCWSCLE 
131Alec MarshKC@PIT 
132Tobias MyersMIL@ARI 
133Javier AssadCHC@COL 
134Rhett LowderCIN@STL, @MIN 
135Dean KremerBAL@BOS 
136Jordan WicksCHC@LAD 
137Caden DanaLAAHOU 
138Yariel RodriguezTORSTL 
139Mason BlackSFMIL 
140Tyler AndersonLAAHOU 
141Adam MazurMIA@PIT 
142Keider MonteroDETCOL, BAL 
143Jose QuintanaNYM@PHI 
144Brant HurterDETBAL 
145Tyler AlexanderTB@PHI, @CLE 
146Bradley BlalockCOL@DET, CHC 
147Paul BlackburnNYM@TOR, @PHI 
148Jonathan CannonCWSCLE 
149Albert SuarezBAL@BOS 
150Cooper CriswellBOS@NYY 
151Ty MaddenDETBAL 
152Joey EstesOAK@HOU 
153Spencer BivensSFSD 
154Kyle FreelandCOLCHC 
155Julian AguiarCIN@MIN 
156Kyle HendricksCHC@LAD, @COL 
157Chris FlexenCWSOAK 
158Darren McCaughanMIA@WAS 
159Jack KochanowiczLAA@MIN 
160Antonio SenzatelaCOLCHC 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Tarik SkubalDETCOLRate one-start week making the top spot
2Pablo LopezMINLAABack on track with a 1.27 ERA and .89 WHIP over last 21.1 IP
3Framber ValdezHOUOAK 
4Bailey OberMINCINMr. Inconsistency
5Corbin BurnesBAL@DET 
6Tanner BibeeCLETB 
7Zach EflinBAL@DET 
8George KirbySEASD, TEX 
9Andrew HeaneyTEX@SEA 
10Logan GilbertSEATEX 
11Jacob deGromTEX@SEAWelcome back (welcome back)
12Bryce MillerSEATEX 
13Gerrit ColeNYYBOS 
14Gavin WilliamsCLETB 
15Matthew BoydCLE@CWSMore Guardians voodoo, 1.50 ERA, .61 WHIP over 18 IP
16Luis CastilloSEATEX 
17Carlos RodonNYYKC, BOSOn a nice run, 3.06 ERA, 1.02 WHIP with 24 K over last 17.2 IP
18David FestaMINLAA, CINNice home pair
19Hunter BrownHOUOAK 
20Cole RagansKC@NYY 
21Max ScherzerTEX@SEA 
22Nathan EovaldiTEX@ARI 
23Alex CobbCLE@CWS, TB 
24Michael WachaKC@PIT 
25Simeon Woods RichardsonMINCIN 
26Kevin GausmanTORNYM 
27Nestor CortesNYYBOS 
28Bryan WooSEASD 
29Ryan PepiotTB@CLE 
30Justin VerlanderHOU@LAA 
31Brady SingerKC@NYY, @PIT 
32Yusei KikuchiHOU@LAA 
33Bowden FrancisTORNYM 
34Joey CantilloCLE@CWS 
35Kutter CrawfordBOSBAL, @NYY 
36Ronel BlancoHOU@LAA 
37Chris BassittTORNYM, STL 
38Nick PivettaBOSBAL 
39Jose BerriosTORSTL 
40Luis GilNYYKC 
41Ben LivelyCLETB 
42Tanner HouckBOS@NYY 
43Taj BradleyTB@PHI, @CLE 
44Shane BazTB@PHI 
45Jack LeiterTEX@SEA 
46Garrett CrochetCWSOAK 
47Spencer ArrighettiHOUOAK 
48Cody BradfordTEX@ARI 
49Seth LugoKC@NYY 
50Zebby MatthewsMINLAA 
51Reid DetmersLAA@MIN 
52Osvaldo BidoOAK@HOU, @CWS
53J.T. GinnOAK@CWS 
54Casey MizeDETCOL 
55Clarke SchmidtNYYBOS 
56AL Reliever   
57Brayan BelloBOSBAL, @NYY 
58Griffin CanningLAA@MIN 
59Marcus StromanNYYKC 
60JP SearsOAK@HOU 
61Mitch SpenceOAK@CWS 
62Zack LittellTB@CLE 
63Samuel AldegheriLAAHOU 
64Nick NastriniCWSCLE, OAK 
65Cade PovichBAL@BOS, @DET 
66Davis MartinCWSCLE 
67Alec MarshKC@PIT 
68Dean KremerBAL@BOS 
69Caden DanaLAAHOU 
70Yariel RodriguezTORSTL 
71Tyler AndersonLAAHOU 
72Keider MonteroDETCOL, BAL 
73Brant HurterDETBAL 
74Tyler AlexanderTB@PHI, @CLE 
75Jonathan CannonCWSCLE 
76Albert SuarezBAL@BOS 
77Cooper CriswellBOS@NYY 
78Ty MaddenDETBAL 
79Joey EstesOAK@HOU 
80Chris FlexenCWSOAK 
81Jack KochanowiczLAA@MIN 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Zack WheelerPHITBMr. Consistency
2Sonny GraySTLCIN 
3Max FriedATL@WAS 
4Paul SkenesPITMIAStill going strong
5Reynaldo LopezATL@WAS 
6Dylan CeaseSD@SF 
7Joe MusgroveSD@SF 
8Sean ManaeaNYM@TOROne of the best pitchers over the second half
9Chris SaleATLLADPlayoff preview?
10Zac GallenARITEXWalks a little high
11Cristopher SanchezPHITB, NYMSeems to be over the hump with 23 K, 2 BB over last 18.2 IP
12Freddy PeraltaMIL@ARI 
13DJ HerzWASMIAMaking a case for nest season's rotation
14Yoshinobu YamamotoLADCHCOkaeri (welcome back)
15Aaron NolaPHINYM 
16Charlie MortonATLCIN, LAD 
17Aaron CivaleMIL@SF, @ARI 
18Michael KingSD@SF 
19Logan WebbSFSD 
20Ranger SuarezPHITB 
21Blake SnellSFMIL 
22Yu DarvishSD@SEA 
23Jack FlahertyLAD@ATL 
24MacKenzie GoreWASATL, MIA 
25Merrill KellyARITEX 
26Lance LynnSTLCIN 
27David PetersonNYM@TOR 
28Mitchell ParkerWASMIA 
29Bobby MillerLADCHC 
30Erick FeddeSTL@TOR 
31Andre PallanteSTLCIN 
32Shota ImanagaCHC@LAD 
33Nick MartinezCIN@ATL, @MIN 
34Frankie MontasMIL@SF 
35Jameson TaillonCHC@COL 
36Martin PerezSD@SEA 
37Valente BellozoMIA@PIT, @WAS 
38Colin ReaMIL@SF 
39Spencer SchwellenbachATLLAD 
40Miles MikolasSTL@TOR 
41Walker BuehlerLADCHC 
42Adam OllerMIA@PIT, @WAS 
43Edward CabreraMIA@WAS 
44Austin GomberCOL@DET 
45Jared JonesPITKC 
46Brandon WilliamsonCIN@STL 
47Bailey FalterPITMIA 
48Eduardo RodriguezARIMIL 
49Patrick CorbinWASMIA 
50Brandon PfaadtARIMIL 
51Jakob JunisCIN@STL 
52Landon KnackLAD@ATL 
53NL Reliever   
54Mitch KellerPITKC 
55Seth JohnsonPHINYM 
56Kyle GibsonSTL@TOR 
57Luis OrtizPITKC 
58Hayden BirdsongSFMIL, SD 
59Joey WentzPITMIA 
60Ryan FeltnerCOL@DET 
61Luis SeverinoNYM@PHI 
62Clayton KershawLAD@ATL 
63Ryne NelsonARIMIL 
64Jake IrvinWASATL 
65Tobias MyersMIL@ARI 
66Javier AssadCHC@COL 
67Rhett LowderCIN@STL, @MIN 
68Jordan WicksCHC@LAD 
69Mason BlackSFMIL 
70Adam MazurMIA@PIT 
71Jose QuintanaNYM@PHI 
72Bradley BlalockCOL@DET, CHC 
73Paul BlackburnNYM@TOR, @PHI 
74Spencer BivensSFSD 
75Kyle FreelandCOLCHC 
76Julian AguiarCIN@MIN 
77Kyle HendricksCHC@LAD, @COL 
78Darren McCaughanMIA@WAS 
79Antonio SenzatelaCOLCHC 

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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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