Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Running Out of Time

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Running Out of Time

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Yes, we're all running out of time this season from a fantasy sense. Unfortunately, time is regrettably getting short for Adam Wainwright's quest for 200 wins. He sits at 198 wins, and also sits near the bottom of the rankings where he's resided most of the season.

It wasn't always that way. There was a time Wainwright was a fantasy monster. Then he fell off a cliff before reviving his career. 

By all accounts, Wainwright is an even better pro off the field. His charity efforts are well-known, including some connected to fantasy football.

Wainwright is also a fantasy baseball fan, but I have a bone to pick with him. Several years ago, I was alongside the late Lawr Michaels, representing Mastersball for a FSTA draft. We were about to be interviewed by fledgling media mogul Kay Adams on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports radio. Kay was talking to the producer through her headset when we heard her say, "Who? No way!" Kay turned to us and said, "Sorry guys, we're bumped. Adam Wainwright called to complain about where he was picked." The broadcast was almost over, so they eschewed the defending champs to speak with the Cardinals ace.

While I've jokingly repeated the story over the years, the top of this week's rankings is no laughing matter. There is a plethora of solid two-start hurlers, buoyed by a busy 99-game schedule.

As always, I cull the matchups from the Probable Pitchers page so please send specific rotation questions to those

Yes, we're all running out of time this season from a fantasy sense. Unfortunately, time is regrettably getting short for Adam Wainwright's quest for 200 wins. He sits at 198 wins, and also sits near the bottom of the rankings where he's resided most of the season.

It wasn't always that way. There was a time Wainwright was a fantasy monster. Then he fell off a cliff before reviving his career. 

By all accounts, Wainwright is an even better pro off the field. His charity efforts are well-known, including some connected to fantasy football.

Wainwright is also a fantasy baseball fan, but I have a bone to pick with him. Several years ago, I was alongside the late Lawr Michaels, representing Mastersball for a FSTA draft. We were about to be interviewed by fledgling media mogul Kay Adams on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports radio. Kay was talking to the producer through her headset when we heard her say, "Who? No way!" Kay turned to us and said, "Sorry guys, we're bumped. Adam Wainwright called to complain about where he was picked." The broadcast was almost over, so they eschewed the defending champs to speak with the Cardinals ace.

While I've jokingly repeated the story over the years, the top of this week's rankings is no laughing matter. There is a plethora of solid two-start hurlers, buoyed by a busy 99-game schedule.

As always, I cull the matchups from the Probable Pitchers page so please send specific rotation questions to those fine folks. I'm happy to address rankings questions below.

UPDATED: Monday September 11, 12:20 AM ET

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPCommentsMIX12MIX15
1Framber ValdezHOUOAK, @KCDo the matchups get any easier?  
2Brandon WoodruffMILMIA, WAS2.78 ERA and .76 WHIP with 43 K in 35.2 IP since returning 
3Tyler GlasnowTB@MIN, @BALRays should put him in bubble wrap until the playoffs  
4Freddy PeraltaMILMIA, WASBrewers have a Big-3  
5Logan GilbertSEALAA, LAD   
6Sonny GrayMINTB, @CWS   
7Gerrit ColeNYY@PIT   
8Corbin BurnesMILWAS   
9Luis CastilloSEALAA   
10Justin VerlanderHOUOAK   
11Clayton KershawLAD@SEA   
12Justin SteeleCHC@ARI   
13Jesus LuzardoMIA@MIL, ATL   
14Zac GallenARI@NYM   
15Tarik SkubalDET@LAA   
16Spencer StriderATL@PHI2.47 xFIP, but 3.83 has him out of Cy Young discussion for some. Sigh.
17Kyle BradishBALTB   
18Seth LugoSD@OAK   
19Chris BassittTORTEX, BOS   
20Zack WheelerPHIATL   
21Joe RyanMINTB, @CWSNot going deep, but effective again.  
22Aaron NolaPHI@STLCounting the days until I draft the dip next season  
23Charlie MortonATL@PHI, @MIAAvoiding Father Time once again  
24Bobby MillerLAD@SEA   
25Max FriedATL@PHI   
26Merrill KellyARI@NYM   
27Jose QuintanaNYMARI, CIN   
28Max ScherzerTEX@TOR   
29Andrew AbbottCIN@DET   
30Kevin GausmanTORTEX   
31Eduardo RodriguezDETCIN   
32Griffin CanningLAADET0-2 over last 3 GS, but 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 19 K in 18.1 IP deserves better
33Blake SnellSD@LAD   
34Kodai SengaNYMARI27 K over previous 19.2 IP  
35Reese OlsonDETCINMaking a case for 2024 rotation48% 
36Braxton GarrettMIA@MILNice breakthrough on a staff with more highly acclaimed arms 
37Gavin WilliamsCLE@SF, TEXHitting rookie wall? 5.23 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over last 10.1 IP with 9 K and 7 BB
38Cristian JavierHOU@KC   
39Brandon WilliamsonCIN@DET   
40Bryce ElderATL@MIA   
41Nick PivettaBOSNYY, @TOR   
42Wade MileyMILMIA   
43Zach EflinTB@BAL   
44Mitch KellerPITWAS   
45Pablo LopezMIN@CWS   
46George KirbySEALAD   
47Nathan EovaldiTEX@TOR   
48Jon GrayTEX@CLE   
49Mike ClevingerCWSKC   
50Kutter CrawfordBOSNYY, @TOR   
51Bryce MillerSEALAD   
52Reid DetmersLAA@SEA   
53Chris SaleBOSNYYStuff is there, stamina isn't  
54Logan AllenCLE@SF   
55Bryan WooSEALAA   
56Patrick SandovalLAA@SEA   
57Hyun Jin RyuTORTEX, BOS   
58Brayan BelloBOS@TOR   
59Tanner BibeeCLETEX   
60Cole RagansKCHOUJust keep in mind he's had 2 TJS  
61Dean KremerBALSTL, TB   
62Lance LynnLADSD, @SEAOn no, he just gave up another homer  
63Dylan CeaseCWSKC, MIN   
64Eury PerezMIA@MIL   
65Cal QuantrillCLE@SF 8%42%
66Joey LucchesiNYMARI 1%4%
67Chase SilsethLAA@SEA 50% 
68Logan WebbSF@COLSafe play is benching for Coors start  
69Hunter BrownHOUOAK   
70Aaron CivaleTB@BAL   
71Kenta MaedaMIN@CWS   
72Kyle HendricksCHC@ARI   
73Hunter GreeneCIN@NYM   
74Mix 12 Reliever     
75Grayson RodriguezBALTB   
76Michael KingNYY@BOS 33% 
77Kyle WrightATL@MIA, @PHI 25% 
78Ranger SuarezPHI@STL   
79Taijuan WalkerPHIATL, @STL   
80Jose BerriosTORBOS   
81Kyle HarrisonSFCLE   
82Cristopher SanchezPHIATL   
83Zack LittellTB@MIN, @BAL   
84Mix 15 Reliever     
85Yusei KikuchiTORTEX   
86Tyler AndersonLAADET 7% 
87Jordan MontgomeryTEX@TOR   
88Alex FaedoDETCIN, @LAA 6%49%
89Ben LivelyCIN@DET, @NYMMarginal arm, but sweet matchups9%49%
90John MeansBALSTL 0%0%
91Tanner HouckBOSNYY 27% 
92Johan OviedoPITNYY   
93Jordan WicksCHC@COL, @ARI   
94Touki ToussaintCWSKC, MIN 6%47%
95Bailey FalterPITWAS 1%40%
96Colin ReaMILMIA 2%15%
97Andrew HeaneyTEX@CLE   
98Clarke SchmidtNYY@BOS, @PIT   
99Carlos RodonNYY@BOS, @PIT   
100J.P. FranceHOU@KC   
101NL Reliever     
102AL Reliever     
103Alex CobbSFCLE, @COL   
104Ryan PepiotLADSD 37% 
105Sean ManaeaSFCLE 4%43%
106Taj BradleyTB@MIN   
107Kyle GibsonBALSTL   
108Ryne NelsonARI@NYM, CHC 6%42%
109Dane DunningTEX@TOR, @CLE   
110Lucas GiolitoCLETEX   
111David PetersonNYMCIN 7% 
112Edward CabreraMIA@MIL, ATL   
113Michael LorenzenPHIATL   
114Jordan LylesKC@CWS 0%4%
115Jake IrvinWAS@MIL 7% 
116Brady SingerKC@CWS, HOU   
117Matt WaldronSD@OAK 0%0%
118Michael WachaSD@LAD   
119Thad WardWAS@PIT 0%0%
120Gavin StoneLADSD 7%11%
121Miles MikolasSTLPHI   
122Brandon PfaadtARICHC   
123Dakota HudsonSTL@BAL, PHI 7% 
124Jack FlahertyBALTB   
125Kenny RosenbergLAADET 1%4%
126Javier AssadCHC@COL   
127Jose ButtoNYMARI 0%0%
128Pedro AvilaSD@LAD, @OAK 2%26%
129Dallas KeuchelMINTB 0%4%
130Quinn PriesterPITWAS 0%0%
131Josiah GrayWAS@PIT   
132Joan AdonWAS@PIT 0%11%
133Peter LambertCOLSF 2%9%
134Alec MarshKC@CWS 2%26%
135Andre JacksonPITWAS, NYY 4% 
136Joey WentzDET@LAA 0%0%
137Johnny CuetoMIAATL 3%38%
138Tylor MegillNYMCIN 17% 
139Jhony BritoNYY@BOS 2%2%
140Jameson TaillonCHC@COL   
141Alex WoodSF@COL 11%45%
142Luis OrtizPITNYY 0%0%
143Zach DaviesARI@NYM, CHC 1%30%
144Luis MedinaOAKSD 4%26%
145Zack GreinkeKCHOU 2%9%
146Carson SpiersCIN@NYM 0%0%
147Kyle FreelandCOLCHC, SF 6%23%
148Zack ThompsonSTLPHI 15% 
149JP SearsOAK@HOU   
150Keaton WinnSF@COL 1%2%
151Jesse ScholtensCWSMIN 16% 
152Patrick CorbinWAS@PIT, @MIL 2%28%
153Chase AndersonCOLSF 0%0%
154Ken WaldichukOAK@HOU, SD 2%26%
155Chris FlexenCOLCHC, SF 0%4%
156Drew RomSTL@BAL 0%0%
157Trevor WilliamsWAS@MIL 0%11%
158Jose UrenaCWSMIN 0%0%
159Ty BlachCOLCHC 0%0%
160Paul BlackburnOAK@HOU 36% 
161Adam WainwrightSTL@BAL 5%0%
162Kyle MullerOAKSD 0%0%

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Framber ValdezHOUOAK, @KCDo the matchups get any easier?
2Tyler GlasnowTB@MIN, @BALRays should put him in bubble wrap until the playoffs
3Logan GilbertSEALAA, LAD 
4Sonny GrayMINTB, @CWS 
5Gerrit ColeNYY@PIT 
6Luis CastilloSEALAA 
7Justin VerlanderHOUOAK 
8Tarik SkubalDET@LAA 
9Kyle BradishBALTB 
10Chris BassittTORTEX, BOS 
11Joe RyanMINTB, @CWSNot going deep, but effective again.
12Max ScherzerTEX@TOR 
13Kevin GausmanTORTEX 
14Eduardo RodriguezDETCIN 
15Griffin CanningLAADET0-2 over last 3 GS, but 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 19 K in 18.1 IP deserves better
16Reese OlsonDETCINMaking a case for 2024 rotation
17Gavin WilliamsCLE@SF, TEXHitting rookie wall? 5.23 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over last 10.1 IP with 9 K and 7 BB
18Cristian JavierHOU@KC 
19Nick PivettaBOSNYY, @TOR 
20Zach EflinTB@BAL 
21Pablo LopezMIN@CWS 
22George KirbySEALAD 
23Nathan EovaldiTEX@TOR 
24Jon GrayTEX@CLE 
25Mike ClevingerCWSKC 
26Kutter CrawfordBOSNYY, @TOR 
27Bryce MillerSEALAD 
28Reid DetmersLAA@SEA 
29Chris SaleBOSNYYStuff is there, stamina isn't
30Logan AllenCLE@SF 
31Bryan WooSEALAA 
32Patrick SandovalLAA@SEA 
33Hyun Jin RyuTORTEX, BOS 
34Brayan BelloBOS@TOR 
35Tanner BibeeCLETEX 
36Cole RagansKCHOUJust keep in mind he's had 2 TJS
37Dean KremerBALSTL, TB 
38Dylan CeaseCWSKC, MIN 
39Cal QuantrillCLE@SF 
40Chase SilsethLAA@SEA 
41Hunter BrownHOUOAK 
42Aaron CivaleTB@BAL 
43Kenta MaedaMIN@CWS 
44Grayson RodriguezBALTB 
45Michael KingNYY@BOS 
46Jose BerriosTORBOS 
47Zack LittellTB@MIN, @BAL 
48Yusei KikuchiTORTEX 
49Tyler AndersonLAADET 
50Jordan MontgomeryTEX@TOR 
51Alex FaedoDETCIN, @LAA 
52John MeansBALSTL 
53Tanner HouckBOSNYY 
54Touki ToussaintCWSKC, MIN 
55Andrew HeaneyTEX@CLE 
56Clarke SchmidtNYY@BOS, @PIT 
57Carlos RodonNYY@BOS, @PIT 
58J.P. FranceHOU@KC 
59AL Reliever   
60Taj BradleyTB@MIN 
61Kyle GibsonBALSTL 
62Dane DunningTEX@TOR, @CLE 
63Lucas GiolitoCLETEX 
64Jordan LylesKC@CWS 
65Brady SingerKC@CWS, HOU 
66Jack FlahertyBALTB 
67Kenny RosenbergLAADET 
68Dallas KeuchelMINTB 
69Alec MarshKC@CWS 
70Joey WentzDET@LAA 
71Jhony BritoNYY@BOS 
72Luis MedinaOAKSD 
73Zack GreinkeKCHOU 
74JP SearsOAK@HOU 
75Jesse ScholtensCWSMIN 
76Ken WaldichukOAK@HOU, SD 
77Jose UrenaCWSMIN 
78Paul BlackburnOAK@HOU 
79Kyle MullerOAKSD 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Brandon WoodruffMILMIA, WAS2.78 ERA and .76 WHIP with 43 K in 35.2 IP since returning
2Freddy PeraltaMILMIA, WASBrewers have a Big-3
3Corbin BurnesMILWAS 
4Clayton KershawLAD@SEA 
5Justin SteeleCHC@ARI 
6Jesus LuzardoMIA@MIL, ATL 
7Zac GallenARI@NYM 
8Spencer StriderATL@PHI2.47 xFIP, but 3.83 has him out of Cy Young discussion for some. Sigh.
9Seth LugoSD@OAK 
10Zack WheelerPHIATL 
11Aaron NolaPHI@STLCounting the days until I draft the dip next season
12Charlie MortonATL@PHI, @MIAAvoiding Father Time once again
13Bobby MillerLAD@SEA 
14Max FriedATL@PHI 
15Merrill KellyARI@NYM 
16Jose QuintanaNYMARI, CIN 
17Andrew AbbottCIN@DET 
18Blake SnellSD@LAD 
19Kodai SengaNYMARI27 K over previous 19.2 IP
20Braxton GarrettMIA@MILNice breakthrough on a staff with more highly acclaimed arms
21Brandon WilliamsonCIN@DET 
22Bryce ElderATL@MIA 
23Wade MileyMILMIA 
24Mitch KellerPITWAS 
25Lance LynnLADSD, @SEAOn no, he just gave up another homer
26Eury PerezMIA@MIL 
27Joey LucchesiNYMARI 
28Logan WebbSF@COLSafe play is benching for Coors start
29Kyle HendricksCHC@ARI 
30Hunter GreeneCIN@NYM 
31Kyle WrightATL@MIA, @PHI 
32Ranger SuarezPHI@STL 
33Taijuan WalkerPHIATL, @STL 
34Kyle HarrisonSFCLE 
35Cristopher SanchezPHIATL 
36Ben LivelyCIN@DET, @NYMMarginal arm, but sweet matchups
37Johan OviedoPITNYY 
38Jordan WicksCHC@COL, @ARI 
39Bailey FalterPITWAS 
40Colin ReaMILMIA 
41NL Reliever   
42Alex CobbSFCLE, @COL 
43Ryan PepiotLADSD 
44Sean ManaeaSFCLE 
45Ryne NelsonARI@NYM, CHC 
46David PetersonNYMCIN 
47Edward CabreraMIA@MIL, ATL 
48Michael LorenzenPHIATL 
49Jake IrvinWAS@MIL 
50Matt WaldronSD@OAK 
51Michael WachaSD@LAD 
52Thad WardWAS@PIT 
53Gavin StoneLADSD 
54Miles MikolasSTLPHI 
55Brandon PfaadtARICHC 
56Dakota HudsonSTL@BAL, PHI 
57Javier AssadCHC@COL 
58Jose ButtoNYMARI 
59Pedro AvilaSD@LAD, @OAK 
60Quinn PriesterPITWAS 
61Josiah GrayWAS@PIT 
62Joan AdonWAS@PIT 
63Peter LambertCOLSF 
64Andre JacksonPITWAS, NYY 
65Johnny CuetoMIAATL 
66Tylor MegillNYMCIN 
67Jameson TaillonCHC@COL 
68Alex WoodSF@COL 
69Luis OrtizPITNYY 
70Zach DaviesARI@NYM, CHC 
71Carson SpiersCIN@NYM 
72Kyle FreelandCOLCHC, SF 
73Zack ThompsonSTLPHI 
74Keaton WinnSF@COL 
75Patrick CorbinWAS@PIT, @MIL 
76Chase AndersonCOLSF 
77Chris FlexenCOLCHC, SF 
78Drew RomSTL@BAL 
79Trevor WilliamsWAS@MIL 
80Ty BlachCOLCHC 
81Adam WainwrightSTL@BAL 

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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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