Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Storm Before the Calm

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Storm Before the Calm

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

Trust me, there will be movement in the ratio categories through the last day of the season. That said, schedules during the last week of the season are always in flux as playoff contenders line up their rotations for the postseason while everyone else makes sure their arms remain healthy.

However, this is the week to exert the most influence. Teams are still battling for a playoff berth or improved seeding. There are a healthy 97 games on the schedule, with a slew of solid two-start upper-echelon options. As usual, there isn't much by way of pickups, but there are a couple of candidates in shallower leagues.

Good luck down the stretch. Our baseball crew remains diligent with tracking rotation and lineup changes. Please direct questions of that nature to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm always willing to explain rankings below.

UPDATED: Monday September 16, 1:10 AM ET

Week of September 16 - 22

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Zack WheelerPHI@MIL, @NYMShould have no restrictions
2Luis GilNYY@SEA, @OAKStroman to the bullpen leaves Gil in the rotation
3Paul SkenesPIT@STL, @CINMay have innings managed
4Chris SaleATL@CIN 
5Blake SnellSF@BAL, @KC 
6Nick PivettaBOS@TB, MIN 
7Seth LugoKCDET, SF23 K with 2 BB over last 21 IP
8Max FriedATLLAD, @MIA 
9Tarik SkubalDET@KC 
10Sean ManaeaNYMWAS, PHIEmerged

Trust me, there will be movement in the ratio categories through the last day of the season. That said, schedules during the last week of the season are always in flux as playoff contenders line up their rotations for the postseason while everyone else makes sure their arms remain healthy.

However, this is the week to exert the most influence. Teams are still battling for a playoff berth or improved seeding. There are a healthy 97 games on the schedule, with a slew of solid two-start upper-echelon options. As usual, there isn't much by way of pickups, but there are a couple of candidates in shallower leagues.

Good luck down the stretch. Our baseball crew remains diligent with tracking rotation and lineup changes. Please direct questions of that nature to the Probable Pitchers page. I'm always willing to explain rankings below.

UPDATED: Monday September 16, 1:10 AM ET

Week of September 16 - 22

Mixed League

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Zack WheelerPHI@MIL, @NYMShould have no restrictions
2Luis GilNYY@SEA, @OAKStroman to the bullpen leaves Gil in the rotation
3Paul SkenesPIT@STL, @CINMay have innings managed
4Chris SaleATL@CIN 
5Blake SnellSF@BAL, @KC 
6Nick PivettaBOS@TB, MIN 
7Seth LugoKCDET, SF23 K with 2 BB over last 21 IP
8Max FriedATLLAD, @MIA 
9Tarik SkubalDET@KC 
10Sean ManaeaNYMWAS, PHIEmerged as the ace
11Gerrit ColeNYY@OAK 
12Pablo LopezMIN@CLE, @BOS3-0 with 1.27 ERA and 1.08 ERA over last 21.1 IP
13Cole RagansKCDETProved he can handle the rigors of a full season
14Shota ImanagaCHCOAK, WAS3-0 with 2.70 ERA and .70 WHIP over last 20 IP and has two great matchups
15Corbin BurnesBALDET 
16Sonny GraySTLPIT 
17Joe MusgroveSDCWS 
18Bailey OberMIN@CLE 
19Zach EflinBALSF 
20Jack FlahertyLAD@MIA 
21Tanner HouckBOS@TBTentative, nursing a sore shoulder
22Jose BerriosTOR@TB 
23Bryan WooSEANYY, @TEX 
24Nestor CortesNYY@SEA 
25Framber ValdezHOU@SD 
26Hunter GreeneCINPIT 
27Andrew HeaneyTEXSEA 
28Justin SteeleCHCWASInjuries curtailed a borderline SP1 season
29Reid DetmersLAACWS, @HOU 
30Nick MartinezCINPIT 
31Zac GallenARI@MIL 
32Matthew BoydCLEMIN, @STL1.65 ERA, .92 WHIP with 23 K and 2 BB over last 16.1 IP
33Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD@ATL, COLDodgers would like to see 5 IP per game, then back him off in the final week
34Chris BassittTOR@TEX, @TB 
35Ranger SuarezPHI@MIL, @NYM 
36George KirbySEA@TEX 
37Shane BazTBBOS, TOR 
38Logan GilbertSEANYY 
39Michael WachaKCSF 
40Dylan CeaseSDHOU 
41Jacob deGromTEXSEAInnings still could be limited
42Carlos RodonNYY@OAK 
43Yusei KikuchiHOULAA 
44Mitch KellerPIT@CIN 
45Kevin GausmanTOR@TEX 
46Tanner BibeeCLEMIN 
47Ronel BlancoHOULAA 
48Martin PerezSDCWS 
49Bobby MillerLAD@MIA, COLPerfect pair to salvage season. Well, not salvage, but end on a high note.
50Clarke SchmidtNYY@SEA 
51Jared JonesPIT@CINFinishing strong with 13 K to 1 BB over last 13.1 IP
52Spencer SchwellenbachATL@CIN 
53Cristopher SanchezPHI@NYM 
54Bowden FrancisTOR@TEX1.50 ERA and .44 WHIP over last 7 GS with 46 K to 5 BB over last 48 IP.
55Max ScherzerTEXSEA 
56Jameson TaillonCHCWAS 
57Merrill KellyARI@COL, @MIL 
58Nathan EovaldiTEXTOR 
59Gavin WilliamsCLEMIN, @STL 
60Charlie MortonATL@MIA 
61Logan WebbSF@BAL 
62Erick FeddeSTLPIT 
63Jose QuintanaNYMWAS 
64Freddy PeraltaMILPHI 
65Aaron NolaPHI@MIL 
66Reese OlsonDET@KC, @BAL 
67Brady SingerKCSF 
68Kumar RockerTEXTOR 
69Joey CantilloCLEMIN 
70Garrett CrochetCWS@LAA 
71Bryce MillerSEANYY 
72Jake IrvinWAS@NYM, @CHC 
73Aaron CivaleMILPHI, ARI 
74Yu DarvishSDHOU, CWS 
75Justin VerlanderHOULAA 
76Michael KingSDHOU 
77Cody BradfordTEXTOR 
78Frankie MontasMILPHI, ARI 
79Dean KremerBALSF 
80Kutter CrawfordBOSMIN 
81Simeon Woods RichardsonMIN@CLE 
82Mix 12 Reliever   
83Kyle GibsonSTLCLE 
84Yariel RodriguezTOR@TB 
85Ryan PepiotTBBOS 
86Landon KnackLAD@MIA 
87Cooper CriswellBOS@TB 
88Luis SeverinoNYMPHI 
89Lance LynnSTLPIT 
90Brady BassoOAK@CHC 
91Walker BuehlerLADCOL 
92MacKenzie GoreWAS@CHC 
93Bailey FalterPIT@STL 
94Jordan WicksCHCOAK, WAS 
95Mix 15 Reliever   
96Spencer ArrighettiHOU@SD, LAA 
97Taj BradleyTBTOR 
98Robbie RaySF@KC 
99Tyler AlexanderTBTOR 
100Hunter BrownHOU@SD 
101JP SearsOAKNYY 
102Cade PovichBALDET 
103Javier AssadCHCOAK 
104Eduardo RodriguezARI@COL 
105Griffin CanningLAACWS 
106Tylor MegillNYMWAS, PHI 
107Albert SuarezBALSF, DET 
108DJ HerzWAS@NYM 
109Mitchell ParkerWAS@NYM 
110Valente BellozoMIAATL 
111Edward CabreraMIALAD 
112Ian AndersonATL@CIN, @MIA 
113Ben LivelyCLE@STL 
114Colin ReaMILARI 
115Miles MikolasSTLCLE 
116Brandon PfaadtARI@MIL 
117Andre PallanteSTLPIT, CLE 
118Jordan MontgomeryARI@COL, @MIL 
119Brayan BelloBOSMIN 
120Davis MartinCWS@LAA 
121Zebby MatthewsMIN@CLE, @BOS 
122Hayden BirdsongSF@BAL 
123Rhett LowderCINPIT 
124Joey WentzPIT@STL 
125David FestaMIN@BOS 
126Joey EstesOAK@CHC, NYY 
127Jakob JunisCINATL 
128Mitch SpenceOAK@CHC 
129Luis OrtizPIT@STL 
130Brant HurterDET@BAL 
131David PetersonNYMPHI 
132Alec MarshKCDET 
133Tobias MyersMILARI 
134J.T. GinnOAKNYY 
135Tyler AndersonLAA@HOU 
136Zack LittellTBBOS 
137Ryan FeltnerCOLARI 
138Keider MonteroDET@BAL 
139Casey MizeDET@KC 
140Jonathan CannonCWS@LAA, @SD 
141Mason BlackSF@KC 
142Adam OllerMIAATL 
143Trevor WilliamsWAS@CHC 
144Patrick CorbinWAS@CHC 
145Austin GomberCOLARI 
146Emerson HancockSEA@TEX 
147Caden DanaLAA@HOU 
148Jack KochanowiczLAACWS 
149Darren McCaughanMIALAD, ATL 
150Julian AguiarCINATL 
151Brandon WilliamsonCINATL 
152Cal QuantrillCOL@LAD 
153Kyle FreelandCOL@LAD 
154Jose SuarezLAA@HOU 
155Antonio SenzatelaCOLARI, @LAD 
156Kolby AllardPHI@NYM 
157Sean BurkeCWS@SD 
158Ryan WeathersMIALAD 
159Chris FlexenCWS@SD 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Luis GilNYY@SEA, @OAKStroman to the bullpen leaves Gil in the rotation
2Nick PivettaBOS@TB, MIN 
3Seth LugoKCDET, SF23 K with 2 BB over last 21 IP
4Tarik SkubalDET@KC 
5Gerrit ColeNYY@OAK 
6Pablo LopezMIN@CLE, @BOS3-0 with 1.27 ERA and 1.08 ERA over last 21.1 IP
7Cole RagansKCDETProved he can handle the rigors of a full season
8Corbin BurnesBALDET 
9Bailey OberMIN@CLE 
10Zach EflinBALSF 
11Tanner HouckBOS@TBTentative, nursing a sore shoulder
12Jose BerriosTOR@TB 
13Bryan WooSEANYY, @TEX 
14Nestor CortesNYY@SEA 
15Framber ValdezHOU@SD 
16Andrew HeaneyTEXSEA 
17Reid DetmersLAACWS, @HOU 
18Matthew BoydCLEMIN, @STL1.65 ERA, .92 WHIP with 23 K and 2 BB over last 16.1 IP
19Chris BassittTOR@TEX, @TB 
20George KirbySEA@TEX 
21Shane BazTBBOS, TOR 
22Logan GilbertSEANYY 
23Michael WachaKCSF 
24Jacob deGromTEXSEAInnings still could be limited
25Carlos RodonNYY@OAK 
26Yusei KikuchiHOULAA 
27Kevin GausmanTOR@TEX 
28Tanner BibeeCLEMIN 
29Ronel BlancoHOULAA 
30Clarke SchmidtNYY@SEA 
31Bowden FrancisTOR@TEX1.50 ERA and .44 WHIP over last 7 GS with 46 K to 5 BB over last 48 IP.
32Max ScherzerTEXSEA 
33Nathan EovaldiTEXTOR 
34Gavin WilliamsCLEMIN, @STL 
35Reese OlsonDET@KC, @BAL 
36Brady SingerKCSF 
37Kumar RockerTEXTOR 
38Joey CantilloCLEMIN 
39Garrett CrochetCWS@LAA 
40Bryce MillerSEANYY 
41Justin VerlanderHOULAA 
42Cody BradfordTEXTOR 
43Dean KremerBALSF 
44Kutter CrawfordBOSMIN 
45Simeon Woods RichardsonMIN@CLE 
46Yariel RodriguezTOR@TB 
47Ryan PepiotTBBOS 
48Cooper CriswellBOS@TB 
49Brady BassoOAK@CHC 
50Spencer ArrighettiHOU@SD, LAA 
51Taj BradleyTBTOR 
52Tyler AlexanderTBTOR 
53Hunter BrownHOU@SD 
54JP SearsOAKNYY 
55Cade PovichBALDET 
56Griffin CanningLAACWS 
57Albert SuarezBALSF, DET 
58Ben LivelyCLE@STL 
59AL Reliever   
60Brayan BelloBOSMIN 
61Davis MartinCWS@LAA 
62Zebby MatthewsMIN@CLE, @BOS 
63David FestaMIN@BOS 
64Joey EstesOAK@CHC, NYY 
65Mitch SpenceOAK@CHC 
66Brant HurterDET@BAL 
67Alec MarshKCDET 
68J.T. GinnOAKNYY 
69Tyler AndersonLAA@HOU 
70Zack LittellTBBOS 
71Keider MonteroDET@BAL 
72Casey MizeDET@KC 
73Jonathan CannonCWS@LAA, @SD 
74Emerson HancockSEA@TEX 
75Caden DanaLAA@HOU 
76Jack KochanowiczLAACWS 
77Jose SuarezLAA@HOU 
78Sean BurkeCWS@SD 
79Chris FlexenCWS@SD 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Zack WheelerPHI@MIL, @NYMShould have no restrictions
2Paul SkenesPIT@STL, @CINMay have innings managed
3Chris SaleATL@CIN 
4Blake SnellSF@BAL, @KC 
5Max FriedATLLAD, @MIA 
6Sean ManaeaNYMWAS, PHIEmerged as the ace
7Shota ImanagaCHCOAK, WAS3-0 with 2.70 ERA and .70 WHIP over last 20 IP and has two great matchups
8Sonny GraySTLPIT 
9Joe MusgroveSDCWS 
10Jack FlahertyLAD@MIA 
11Hunter GreeneCINPIT 
12Justin SteeleCHCWASInjuries curtailed a borderline SP1 season
13Nick MartinezCINPIT 
14Zac GallenARI@MIL 
15Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD@ATL, COLDodgers would like to see 5 IP per game, then back him off in the final week
16Ranger SuarezPHI@MIL, @NYM 
17Dylan CeaseSDHOU 
18Mitch KellerPIT@CIN 
19Martin PerezSDCWS 
20Bobby MillerLAD@MIA, COLPerfect pair to salvage season. Well, not salvage, but end on a high note.
21Jared JonesPIT@CINFinishing strong with 13 K to 1 BB over last 13.1 IP
22Spencer SchwellenbachATL@CIN 
23Cristopher SanchezPHI@NYM 
24Jameson TaillonCHCWAS 
25Merrill KellyARI@COL, @MIL 
26Charlie MortonATL@MIA 
27Logan WebbSF@BAL 
28Erick FeddeSTLPIT 
29Jose QuintanaNYMWAS 
30Freddy PeraltaMILPHI 
31Aaron NolaPHI@MIL 
32Jake IrvinWAS@NYM, @CHC 
33Aaron CivaleMILPHI, ARI 
34Yu DarvishSDHOU, CWS 
35Michael KingSDHOU 
36Frankie MontasMILPHI, ARI 
37Kyle GibsonSTLCLE 
38Landon KnackLAD@MIA 
39Luis SeverinoNYMPHI 
40Lance LynnSTLPIT 
41Walker BuehlerLADCOL 
42MacKenzie GoreWAS@CHC 
43Bailey FalterPIT@STL 
44Jordan WicksCHCOAK, WAS 
45Robbie RaySF@KC 
46Javier AssadCHCOAK 
47Eduardo RodriguezARI@COL 
48Tylor MegillNYMWAS, PHI 
49DJ HerzWAS@NYM 
50Mitchell ParkerWAS@NYM 
51Valente BellozoMIAATL 
52Edward CabreraMIALAD 
53Ian AndersonATL@CIN, @MIA 
54Colin ReaMILARI 
55Miles MikolasSTLCLE 
56Brandon PfaadtARI@MIL 
57Andre PallanteSTLPIT, CLE 
58Jordan MontgomeryARI@COL, @MIL 
59NL Reliever   
60Hayden BirdsongSF@BAL 
61Rhett LowderCINPIT 
62Joey WentzPIT@STL 
63Jakob JunisCINATL 
64Luis OrtizPIT@STL 
65David PetersonNYMPHI 
66Tobias MyersMILARI 
67Ryan FeltnerCOLARI 
68Mason BlackSF@KC 
69Adam OllerMIAATL 
70Trevor WilliamsWAS@CHC 
71Patrick CorbinWAS@CHC 
72Austin GomberCOLARI 
73Darren McCaughanMIALAD, ATL 
74Julian AguiarCINATL 
75Brandon WilliamsonCINATL 
76Cal QuantrillCOL@LAD 
77Kyle FreelandCOL@LAD 
78Antonio SenzatelaCOLARI, @LAD 
79Kolby AllardPHI@NYM 
80Ryan WeathersMIALAD 

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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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