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
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comments | MIX12 | MIX15 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Framber Valdez | HOU | OAK, @KC | Do the matchups get any easier? | ||
2 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | MIA, WAS | 2.78 ERA and .76 WHIP with 43 K in 35.2 IP since returning | ||
3 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | @MIN, @BAL | Rays should put him in bubble wrap until the playoffs | ||
4 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | MIA, WAS | Brewers have a Big-3 | ||
5 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | LAA, LAD | |||
6 | Sonny Gray | MIN | TB, @CWS | |||
7 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | @PIT | |||
8 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | WAS | |||
9 | Luis Castillo | SEA | LAA | |||
10 | Justin Verlander | HOU | OAK | |||
11 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @SEA | |||
12 | Justin Steele | CHC | @ARI | |||
13 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | @MIL, ATL | |||
14 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @NYM | |||
15 | Tarik Skubal | DET | @LAA | |||
16 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @PHI | 2.47 xFIP, but 3.83 has him out of Cy Young discussion for some. Sigh. | ||
17 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | TB | |||
18 | Seth Lugo | SD | @OAK | |||
19 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | TEX, BOS | |||
20 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | ATL | |||
21 | Joe Ryan | MIN | TB, @CWS | Not going deep, but effective again. | ||
22 | Aaron Nola | PHI | @STL | Counting the days until I draft the dip next season | ||
23 | Charlie Morton | ATL | @PHI, @MIA | Avoiding Father Time once again | ||
24 | Bobby Miller | LAD | @SEA | |||
25 | Max Fried | ATL | @PHI | |||
26 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | @NYM | |||
27 | Jose Quintana | NYM | ARI, CIN | |||
28 | Max Scherzer | TEX | @TOR | |||
29 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | @DET | |||
30 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | TEX | |||
31 | Eduardo Rodriguez | DET | CIN | |||
32 | Griffin Canning | LAA | DET | 0-2 over last 3 GS, but 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 19 K in 18.1 IP deserves better | ||
33 | Blake Snell | SD | @LAD | |||
34 | Kodai Senga | NYM | ARI | 27 K over previous 19.2 IP | ||
35 | Reese Olson | DET | CIN | Making a case for 2024 rotation | 48% | |
36 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | @MIL | Nice breakthrough on a staff with more highly acclaimed arms | ||
37 | Gavin Williams | CLE | @SF, TEX | Hitting rookie wall? 5.23 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over last 10.1 IP with 9 K and 7 BB | ||
38 | Cristian Javier | HOU | @KC | |||
39 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | @DET | |||
40 | Bryce Elder | ATL | @MIA | |||
41 | Nick Pivetta | BOS | NYY, @TOR | |||
42 | Wade Miley | MIL | MIA | |||
43 | Zach Eflin | TB | @BAL | |||
44 | Mitch Keller | PIT | WAS | |||
45 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | @CWS | |||
46 | George Kirby | SEA | LAD | |||
47 | Nathan Eovaldi | TEX | @TOR | |||
48 | Jon Gray | TEX | @CLE | |||
49 | Mike Clevinger | CWS | KC | |||
50 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | NYY, @TOR | |||
51 | Bryce Miller | SEA | LAD | |||
52 | Reid Detmers | LAA | @SEA | |||
53 | Chris Sale | BOS | NYY | Stuff is there, stamina isn't | ||
54 | Logan Allen | CLE | @SF | |||
55 | Bryan Woo | SEA | LAA | |||
56 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @SEA | |||
57 | Hyun Jin Ryu | TOR | TEX, BOS | |||
58 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @TOR | |||
59 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | TEX | |||
60 | Cole Ragans | KC | HOU | Just keep in mind he's had 2 TJS | ||
61 | Dean Kremer | BAL | STL, TB | |||
62 | Lance Lynn | LAD | SD, @SEA | On no, he just gave up another homer | ||
63 | Dylan Cease | CWS | KC, MIN | |||
64 | Eury Perez | MIA | @MIL | |||
65 | Cal Quantrill | CLE | @SF | 8% | 42% | |
66 | Joey Lucchesi | NYM | ARI | 1% | 4% | |
67 | Chase Silseth | LAA | @SEA | 50% | ||
68 | Logan Webb | SF | @COL | Safe play is benching for Coors start | ||
69 | Hunter Brown | HOU | OAK | |||
70 | Aaron Civale | TB | @BAL | |||
71 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | @CWS | |||
72 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @ARI | |||
73 | Hunter Greene | CIN | @NYM | |||
74 | Mix 12 Reliever | |||||
75 | Grayson Rodriguez | BAL | TB | |||
76 | Michael King | NYY | @BOS | 33% | ||
77 | Kyle Wright | ATL | @MIA, @PHI | 25% | ||
78 | Ranger Suarez | PHI | @STL | |||
79 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | ATL, @STL | |||
80 | Jose Berrios | TOR | BOS | |||
81 | Kyle Harrison | SF | CLE | |||
82 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | ATL | |||
83 | Zack Littell | TB | @MIN, @BAL | |||
84 | Mix 15 Reliever | |||||
85 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | TEX | |||
86 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | DET | 7% | ||
87 | Jordan Montgomery | TEX | @TOR | |||
88 | Alex Faedo | DET | CIN, @LAA | 6% | 49% | |
89 | Ben Lively | CIN | @DET, @NYM | Marginal arm, but sweet matchups | 9% | 49% |
90 | John Means | BAL | STL | 0% | 0% | |
91 | Tanner Houck | BOS | NYY | 27% | ||
92 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | NYY | |||
93 | Jordan Wicks | CHC | @COL, @ARI | |||
94 | Touki Toussaint | CWS | KC, MIN | 6% | 47% | |
95 | Bailey Falter | PIT | WAS | 1% | 40% | |
96 | Colin Rea | MIL | MIA | 2% | 15% | |
97 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @CLE | |||
98 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | @BOS, @PIT | |||
99 | Carlos Rodon | NYY | @BOS, @PIT | |||
100 | J.P. France | HOU | @KC | |||
101 | NL Reliever | |||||
102 | AL Reliever | |||||
103 | Alex Cobb | SF | CLE, @COL | |||
104 | Ryan Pepiot | LAD | SD | 37% | ||
105 | Sean Manaea | SF | CLE | 4% | 43% | |
106 | Taj Bradley | TB | @MIN | |||
107 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | STL | |||
108 | Ryne Nelson | ARI | @NYM, CHC | 6% | 42% | |
109 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @TOR, @CLE | |||
110 | Lucas Giolito | CLE | TEX | |||
111 | David Peterson | NYM | CIN | 7% | ||
112 | Edward Cabrera | MIA | @MIL, ATL | |||
113 | Michael Lorenzen | PHI | ATL | |||
114 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @CWS | 0% | 4% | |
115 | Jake Irvin | WAS | @MIL | 7% | ||
116 | Brady Singer | KC | @CWS, HOU | |||
117 | Matt Waldron | SD | @OAK | 0% | 0% | |
118 | Michael Wacha | SD | @LAD | |||
119 | Thad Ward | WAS | @PIT | 0% | 0% | |
120 | Gavin Stone | LAD | SD | 7% | 11% | |
121 | Miles Mikolas | STL | PHI | |||
122 | Brandon Pfaadt | ARI | CHC | |||
123 | Dakota Hudson | STL | @BAL, PHI | 7% | ||
124 | Jack Flaherty | BAL | TB | |||
125 | Kenny Rosenberg | LAA | DET | 1% | 4% | |
126 | Javier Assad | CHC | @COL | |||
127 | Jose Butto | NYM | ARI | 0% | 0% | |
128 | Pedro Avila | SD | @LAD, @OAK | 2% | 26% | |
129 | Dallas Keuchel | MIN | TB | 0% | 4% | |
130 | Quinn Priester | PIT | WAS | 0% | 0% | |
131 | Josiah Gray | WAS | @PIT | |||
132 | Joan Adon | WAS | @PIT | 0% | 11% | |
133 | Peter Lambert | COL | SF | 2% | 9% | |
134 | Alec Marsh | KC | @CWS | 2% | 26% | |
135 | Andre Jackson | PIT | WAS, NYY | 4% | ||
136 | Joey Wentz | DET | @LAA | 0% | 0% | |
137 | Johnny Cueto | MIA | ATL | 3% | 38% | |
138 | Tylor Megill | NYM | CIN | 17% | ||
139 | Jhony Brito | NYY | @BOS | 2% | 2% | |
140 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @COL | |||
141 | Alex Wood | SF | @COL | 11% | 45% | |
142 | Luis Ortiz | PIT | NYY | 0% | 0% | |
143 | Zach Davies | ARI | @NYM, CHC | 1% | 30% | |
144 | Luis Medina | OAK | SD | 4% | 26% | |
145 | Zack Greinke | KC | HOU | 2% | 9% | |
146 | Carson Spiers | CIN | @NYM | 0% | 0% | |
147 | Kyle Freeland | COL | CHC, SF | 6% | 23% | |
148 | Zack Thompson | STL | PHI | 15% | ||
149 | JP Sears | OAK | @HOU | |||
150 | Keaton Winn | SF | @COL | 1% | 2% | |
151 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | MIN | 16% | ||
152 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @PIT, @MIL | 2% | 28% | |
153 | Chase Anderson | COL | SF | 0% | 0% | |
154 | Ken Waldichuk | OAK | @HOU, SD | 2% | 26% | |
155 | Chris Flexen | COL | CHC, SF | 0% | 4% | |
156 | Drew Rom | STL | @BAL | 0% | 0% | |
157 | Trevor Williams | WAS | @MIL | 0% | 11% | |
158 | Jose Urena | CWS | MIN | 0% | 0% | |
159 | Ty Blach | COL | CHC | 0% | 0% | |
160 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | @HOU | 36% | ||
161 | Adam Wainwright | STL | @BAL | 5% | 0% | |
162 | Kyle Muller | OAK | SD | 0% | 0% |
American League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Framber Valdez | HOU | OAK, @KC | Do the matchups get any easier? |
2 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | @MIN, @BAL | Rays should put him in bubble wrap until the playoffs |
3 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | LAA, LAD | |
4 | Sonny Gray | MIN | TB, @CWS | |
5 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | @PIT | |
6 | Luis Castillo | SEA | LAA | |
7 | Justin Verlander | HOU | OAK | |
8 | Tarik Skubal | DET | @LAA | |
9 | Kyle Bradish | BAL | TB | |
10 | Chris Bassitt | TOR | TEX, BOS | |
11 | Joe Ryan | MIN | TB, @CWS | Not going deep, but effective again. |
12 | Max Scherzer | TEX | @TOR | |
13 | Kevin Gausman | TOR | TEX | |
14 | Eduardo Rodriguez | DET | CIN | |
15 | Griffin Canning | LAA | DET | 0-2 over last 3 GS, but 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 19 K in 18.1 IP deserves better |
16 | Reese Olson | DET | CIN | Making a case for 2024 rotation |
17 | Gavin Williams | CLE | @SF, TEX | Hitting rookie wall? 5.23 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over last 10.1 IP with 9 K and 7 BB |
18 | Cristian Javier | HOU | @KC | |
19 | Nick Pivetta | BOS | NYY, @TOR | |
20 | Zach Eflin | TB | @BAL | |
21 | Pablo Lopez | MIN | @CWS | |
22 | George Kirby | SEA | LAD | |
23 | Nathan Eovaldi | TEX | @TOR | |
24 | Jon Gray | TEX | @CLE | |
25 | Mike Clevinger | CWS | KC | |
26 | Kutter Crawford | BOS | NYY, @TOR | |
27 | Bryce Miller | SEA | LAD | |
28 | Reid Detmers | LAA | @SEA | |
29 | Chris Sale | BOS | NYY | Stuff is there, stamina isn't |
30 | Logan Allen | CLE | @SF | |
31 | Bryan Woo | SEA | LAA | |
32 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | @SEA | |
33 | Hyun Jin Ryu | TOR | TEX, BOS | |
34 | Brayan Bello | BOS | @TOR | |
35 | Tanner Bibee | CLE | TEX | |
36 | Cole Ragans | KC | HOU | Just keep in mind he's had 2 TJS |
37 | Dean Kremer | BAL | STL, TB | |
38 | Dylan Cease | CWS | KC, MIN | |
39 | Cal Quantrill | CLE | @SF | |
40 | Chase Silseth | LAA | @SEA | |
41 | Hunter Brown | HOU | OAK | |
42 | Aaron Civale | TB | @BAL | |
43 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | @CWS | |
44 | Grayson Rodriguez | BAL | TB | |
45 | Michael King | NYY | @BOS | |
46 | Jose Berrios | TOR | BOS | |
47 | Zack Littell | TB | @MIN, @BAL | |
48 | Yusei Kikuchi | TOR | TEX | |
49 | Tyler Anderson | LAA | DET | |
50 | Jordan Montgomery | TEX | @TOR | |
51 | Alex Faedo | DET | CIN, @LAA | |
52 | John Means | BAL | STL | |
53 | Tanner Houck | BOS | NYY | |
54 | Touki Toussaint | CWS | KC, MIN | |
55 | Andrew Heaney | TEX | @CLE | |
56 | Clarke Schmidt | NYY | @BOS, @PIT | |
57 | Carlos Rodon | NYY | @BOS, @PIT | |
58 | J.P. France | HOU | @KC | |
59 | AL Reliever | |||
60 | Taj Bradley | TB | @MIN | |
61 | Kyle Gibson | BAL | STL | |
62 | Dane Dunning | TEX | @TOR, @CLE | |
63 | Lucas Giolito | CLE | TEX | |
64 | Jordan Lyles | KC | @CWS | |
65 | Brady Singer | KC | @CWS, HOU | |
66 | Jack Flaherty | BAL | TB | |
67 | Kenny Rosenberg | LAA | DET | |
68 | Dallas Keuchel | MIN | TB | |
69 | Alec Marsh | KC | @CWS | |
70 | Joey Wentz | DET | @LAA | |
71 | Jhony Brito | NYY | @BOS | |
72 | Luis Medina | OAK | SD | |
73 | Zack Greinke | KC | HOU | |
74 | JP Sears | OAK | @HOU | |
75 | Jesse Scholtens | CWS | MIN | |
76 | Ken Waldichuk | OAK | @HOU, SD | |
77 | Jose Urena | CWS | MIN | |
78 | Paul Blackburn | OAK | @HOU | |
79 | Kyle Muller | OAK | SD |
National League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | MIA, WAS | 2.78 ERA and .76 WHIP with 43 K in 35.2 IP since returning |
2 | Freddy Peralta | MIL | MIA, WAS | Brewers have a Big-3 |
3 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | WAS | |
4 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @SEA | |
5 | Justin Steele | CHC | @ARI | |
6 | Jesus Luzardo | MIA | @MIL, ATL | |
7 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @NYM | |
8 | Spencer Strider | ATL | @PHI | 2.47 xFIP, but 3.83 has him out of Cy Young discussion for some. Sigh. |
9 | Seth Lugo | SD | @OAK | |
10 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | ATL | |
11 | Aaron Nola | PHI | @STL | Counting the days until I draft the dip next season |
12 | Charlie Morton | ATL | @PHI, @MIA | Avoiding Father Time once again |
13 | Bobby Miller | LAD | @SEA | |
14 | Max Fried | ATL | @PHI | |
15 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | @NYM | |
16 | Jose Quintana | NYM | ARI, CIN | |
17 | Andrew Abbott | CIN | @DET | |
18 | Blake Snell | SD | @LAD | |
19 | Kodai Senga | NYM | ARI | 27 K over previous 19.2 IP |
20 | Braxton Garrett | MIA | @MIL | Nice breakthrough on a staff with more highly acclaimed arms |
21 | Brandon Williamson | CIN | @DET | |
22 | Bryce Elder | ATL | @MIA | |
23 | Wade Miley | MIL | MIA | |
24 | Mitch Keller | PIT | WAS | |
25 | Lance Lynn | LAD | SD, @SEA | On no, he just gave up another homer |
26 | Eury Perez | MIA | @MIL | |
27 | Joey Lucchesi | NYM | ARI | |
28 | Logan Webb | SF | @COL | Safe play is benching for Coors start |
29 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | @ARI | |
30 | Hunter Greene | CIN | @NYM | |
31 | Kyle Wright | ATL | @MIA, @PHI | |
32 | Ranger Suarez | PHI | @STL | |
33 | Taijuan Walker | PHI | ATL, @STL | |
34 | Kyle Harrison | SF | CLE | |
35 | Cristopher Sanchez | PHI | ATL | |
36 | Ben Lively | CIN | @DET, @NYM | Marginal arm, but sweet matchups |
37 | Johan Oviedo | PIT | NYY | |
38 | Jordan Wicks | CHC | @COL, @ARI | |
39 | Bailey Falter | PIT | WAS | |
40 | Colin Rea | MIL | MIA | |
41 | NL Reliever | |||
42 | Alex Cobb | SF | CLE, @COL | |
43 | Ryan Pepiot | LAD | SD | |
44 | Sean Manaea | SF | CLE | |
45 | Ryne Nelson | ARI | @NYM, CHC | |
46 | David Peterson | NYM | CIN | |
47 | Edward Cabrera | MIA | @MIL, ATL | |
48 | Michael Lorenzen | PHI | ATL | |
49 | Jake Irvin | WAS | @MIL | |
50 | Matt Waldron | SD | @OAK | |
51 | Michael Wacha | SD | @LAD | |
52 | Thad Ward | WAS | @PIT | |
53 | Gavin Stone | LAD | SD | |
54 | Miles Mikolas | STL | PHI | |
55 | Brandon Pfaadt | ARI | CHC | |
56 | Dakota Hudson | STL | @BAL, PHI | |
57 | Javier Assad | CHC | @COL | |
58 | Jose Butto | NYM | ARI | |
59 | Pedro Avila | SD | @LAD, @OAK | |
60 | Quinn Priester | PIT | WAS | |
61 | Josiah Gray | WAS | @PIT | |
62 | Joan Adon | WAS | @PIT | |
63 | Peter Lambert | COL | SF | |
64 | Andre Jackson | PIT | WAS, NYY | |
65 | Johnny Cueto | MIA | ATL | |
66 | Tylor Megill | NYM | CIN | |
67 | Jameson Taillon | CHC | @COL | |
68 | Alex Wood | SF | @COL | |
69 | Luis Ortiz | PIT | NYY | |
70 | Zach Davies | ARI | @NYM, CHC | |
71 | Carson Spiers | CIN | @NYM | |
72 | Kyle Freeland | COL | CHC, SF | |
73 | Zack Thompson | STL | PHI | |
74 | Keaton Winn | SF | @COL | |
75 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | @PIT, @MIL | |
76 | Chase Anderson | COL | SF | |
77 | Chris Flexen | COL | CHC, SF | |
78 | Drew Rom | STL | @BAL | |
79 | Trevor Williams | WAS | @MIL | |
80 | Ty Blach | COL | CHC | |
81 | Adam Wainwright | STL | @BAL |