Weekly Pitcher Rankings: The Second Half Kicks Off

Todd Zola ranks the starting pitchers for this weekend's first post-break games. Corey Kluber lands in the top spot with start at the A's.

Updated on July 13, 2017 3:20PM EST

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: The Second Half Kicks Off

By:

Todd Zola

Updated on July 13, 2017 3:20PM EST

Weekly Pitcher Rankings

While we understand some leagues wrap the post-break series into next week, more keep the scoring periods separate, hence a ranking for this weekend then the normal posting Saturday morning for next week.

UPDATED FRIDAY, July 14 2:00 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Corey Kluber	CLE	at OAK	Gave up three homers opening day, only five since
2	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. NYY	Walked more than two only twice all season, last on June 7
3	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at OAK	Coming off consecutive solid seven innings efforts against the Tigers
4	Chris Archer	TB	at LAA	Only recent blemish a couple of multiple homer games
5	Michael Fulmer	DET	vs. TOR	Quietly following up nicely on his rookie-of-the-year campaign
6	Jacob Faria	TB	at LAA	Six career starts, six career quality starts
7	Yu Darvish	TEX	at KC	Royals weak versus RHP
8	Danny Duffy	KC	vs. TEX	Odd outing vs. Dodgers before the break, 9 K, 0 BB but 3 HR
9	David Price	BOS	vs. NYY	Settling into a groove, but now more a 6 IP guy than 7 IP stud
10	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. NYY	Not hearing many Anderson Espinosa lamentations anymore
11	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at OAK	Defense has been letting him down, look for a strong second half for Bauer
12	Alex Cobb	TB	at LAA	Pitched into the 7th last five outings
13	Justin Verlander	DET	vs. TOR	Skills sliding, uncharacteristically inconsistent, but don't count him out

UPDATED FRIDAY, July 14 2:00 PM ET

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Corey Kluber	CLE	at OAK	Gave up three homers opening day, only five since
2	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. NYY	Walked more than two only twice all season, last on June 7
3	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at OAK	Coming off consecutive solid seven innings efforts against the Tigers
4	Chris Archer	TB	at LAA	Only recent blemish a couple of multiple homer games
5	Michael Fulmer	DET	vs. TOR	Quietly following up nicely on his rookie-of-the-year campaign
6	Jacob Faria	TB	at LAA	Six career starts, six career quality starts
7	Yu Darvish	TEX	at KC	Royals weak versus RHP
8	Danny Duffy	KC	vs. TEX	Odd outing vs. Dodgers before the break, 9 K, 0 BB but 3 HR
9	David Price	BOS	vs. NYY	Settling into a groove, but now more a 6 IP guy than 7 IP stud
10	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. NYY	Not hearing many Anderson Espinosa lamentations anymore
11	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at OAK	Defense has been letting him down, look for a strong second half for Bauer
12	Alex Cobb	TB	at LAA	Pitched into the 7th last five outings
13	Justin Verlander	DET	vs. TOR	Skills sliding, uncharacteristically inconsistent, but don't count him out yet
14	Cole Hamels	TEX	at KC	Strikeouts on the rise, Royals weak vs. LHP
15	Charlie Morton	HOU	vs. MIN	Looking to get back in first half groove
16	James Paxton	SEA	at CWS	White Sox of of best teams versus southpaws
17	Sean Manaea	OAK	vs. CLE	Walks high but still fine sophomore campaign
18	Sonny Gray	OAK	vs. CLE	The rebound is real, but tough draw
19	Mike Fiers	HOU	vs. MIN	Homers WAY down, but walks up a bit lately
20	JC Ramirez	LAA	vs. TB
21	Aaron Sanchez	TOR	at DET	Coming off shellacking from the Astros
22	Carlos Rodon	CWS	vs. SEA
23	Rick Porcello	BOS	vs. NYY
24	Felix Hernandez	SEA	at CWS
25	Anibal Sanchez	DET	vs. TOR
26	Joe Musgrove	HOU	vs. MIN
27	Kevin Gausman	BAL	vs. CHC
28	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	at BOS
29	Jason Hammel	KC	vs. TEX
30	Luis Severino	NYY	at BOS
31	Paul Blackburn	OAK	vs. CLE
32	Ricky Nolasco	LAA	vs. TB
33	Andrew Moore	SEA	at CWS
34	Marco Estrada	TOR	at DET
35	Ervin Santana	MIN	at HOU
36	Jose Berrios	MIN	at HOU
37	Ubaldo Jimenez	BAL	vs. CHC
38	Derek Holland	CWS	vs. SEA
39	Martin Perez	TEX	at KC
40	James Shields	CWS	vs. SEA
41	Parker Bridwell	LAA	vs. TB
42	Francisco Liriano	TOR	at DET
43	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	at BOS
44	Ian Kennedy	KC	vs. TEX
45	Bryan Mitchell	NYY	at BOS
46	Wade Miley	BAL	vs. CHC
47	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at HOU

NATIONAL LEA NATIONAL LEAGUE
Rank Pitcher TEAM Opponent(s) Comments
1 Max Scherzer WAS at CIN Should rebound from only his second non-quality start last time out
2 Jeff Samardzija SF at SD Can't imagine the Padres figured out how to hit over the break
3 Madison Bumgarner SF at SD Expected to come off the DL over the weekend to face weak foe
4 Jimmy Nelson MIL vs. PHI Great chance to open post-break on a high note
5 Alex Wood LAD at MIA Innings may eventually be a concern
6 Jacob deGrom NYM vs. COL Great season getting lost in the Mets struggles
7 Carlos Martinez STL at PIT Sputtering heading into break, hasn't lasted more than 6 IP since June 10
8 Johnny Cueto SF at SD Concerned long-term, but this is a prime matchup
9 Trevor Cahill SD vs. SF Expecting big second half
10 Jeff Hoffman COL at NYM Much better on the road
11 Steven Matz NYM vs. COL Rockies have trouble with LHP away from Coors
12 Jon Gray COL at NYM Still working out the kinks, but control has been excellent
13 Zach Davies MIL vs. PHI Disappointing first half, chance to start post-break off strong
14 Mike Leake STL at PIT Soft matchup but look for a post-break ERA correction
15 Jameson Taillon PIT vs. STL
16 Rich Hill LAD at MIA Approaching ace status, but still a risk
17 Dan Straily MIA vs. LAD Better at home, but Dodgers crush RHP
18 Zack Godley ARI at ATL Expect ERA correction in 2H, but landing point still solid
19 Aaron Nola PHI at MIL On a roll entering break, 34 K in last 4 games, spanning 29 1/3 IP
20 Lance Lynn STL at PIT Homers an issue but Bucs not built to take advantage
21 Gerrit Cole PIT vs. STL Last 7 outings, three with 7 ER allowed, four with two ER of fewer
22 Jake Arrieta CHC at BAL Battle of disappointments
23 Jose Quintana CHC at BAL
24 Jaime Garcia ATL vs. ARI Diamondbacks surprisingly weak versus LHP
25 Matt Garza MIL vs. PHI Phillies third lowest wOBA vs. RHP
26 Brandon McCarthy LAD at MIA
27 Mike Foltynewicz ATL vs. ARI
28 Gio Gonzalez WAS at CIN
29 Jhoulys Chacin SD vs. SF 3.57 ERA/1.25 WHIP over last two months
30 Seth Lugo NYM vs. COL
31 Trevor Williams PIT vs. STL
32 Tyler Chatwood COL at NYM
33 Taijuan Walker ARI at ATL
34 Jose Urena MIA vs. LAD
35 Nick Pivetta PHI at MIL
36 Tanner Roark WAS at CIN
37 R.A. Dickey ATL vs. ARI
38 Mike Montgomery CHC at BAL
39 Edinson Volquez MIA vs. LAD
40 Clayton Richard SD vs. SF
41 Jeremy Hellickson PHI at MIL
42 Luis Castillo CIN vs. WAS
43 Tim Adleman CIN vs. WAS
44 Homer Bailey CIN vs. WAS
45 Patrick Corbin ARI at ATL
MLB MLB

RANK	PITCHER	TEAM	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Corey Kluber	CLE	at OAK	Gave up three homers opening day, only five since
2	Max Scherzer	WAS	at CIN	Should rebound from only his second non-quality start last time out
3	Chris Sale	BOS	vs. NYY	Walked more than two only twice all season, last on June 7
4	Jeff Samardzija	SF	at SD	Can't imagine the Padres figured out how to hit over the break
5	Carlos Carrasco	CLE	at OAK	Coming off consecutive solid seven innings efforts against the Tigers
6	Madison Bumgarner	SF	at SD	Expected to come off the DL over the weekend to face weak foe
7	Chris Archer	TB	at LAA	Only recent blemish a couple of multiple homer games
8	Jimmy Nelson	MIL	vs. PHI	Great chance to open post-break on a high note
9	Alex Wood	LAD	at MIA	Innings may eventually be a concern
10	Michael Fulmer	DET	vs. TOR	Quietly following up nicely on his rookie-of-the-year campaign
11	Jacob deGrom	NYM	vs. COL	Great season getting lost in the Mets struggles
12	Carlos Martinez	STL	at PIT	Sputtering heading into break, hasn't lasted more than 6 IP since June 10
13	Johnny Cueto	SF	at SD	Concerned long-term, but this is a prime matchup
14	Jacob Faria	TB	at LAA	Six career starts, six career quality starts
15	Yu Darvish	TEX	at KC	Royals weak versus RHP
16	Danny Duffy	KC	vs. TEX	Odd outing vs. Dodgers before the break, 9 K, 0 BB but 3 HR
17	David Price	BOS	vs. NYY	Settling into a groove, but now more a 6 IP guy than 7 IP stud
18	Drew Pomeranz	BOS	vs. NYY	Not hearing many Anderson Espinosa lamentations anymore
19	Trevor Cahill	SD	vs. SF	Expecting big second half
20	Trevor Bauer	CLE	at OAK	Defense has been letting him down, look for a strong second half for Bauer
21	Jeff Hoffman	COL	at NYM	Much better on the road
22	Alex Cobb	TB	at LAA	Pitched into the 7th last five outings
23	Justin Verlander	DET	vs. TOR	Skills sliding, uncharacteristically inconsistent, but don't count him out yet
24	Steven Matz	NYM	vs. COL	Rockies have trouble with LHP away from Coors
25	Jon Gray	COL	at NYM	Still working out the kinks, but control has been excellent
26	Zach Davies	MIL	vs. PHI	Disappointing first half, chance to start post-break off strong
27	Mike Leake	STL	at PIT	Soft matchup but look for a post-break ERA correction
28	Jameson Taillon	PIT	vs. STL
29	Rich Hill	LAD	at MIA	Approaching ace status, but still a risk
30	Cole Hamels	TEX	at KC	Strikeouts on the rise, Royals weak vs. LHP
31	Dan Straily	MIA	vs. LAD	Better at home, but Dodgers crush RHP
32	Zack Godley	ARI	at ATL	Expect ERA correction in 2H, but landing point still solid
33	Charlie Morton	HOU	vs. MIN	Looking to get back in first half groove
34	Aaron Nola	PHI	at MIL	On a roll entering break, 34 K in last 4 games, spanning 29 1/3 IP
35	Lance Lynn	STL	at PIT	Homers an issue but Bucs not built to take advantage
36	Gerrit Cole	PIT	vs. STL	Last 7 outings, three with 7 ER allowed, four with two ER of fewer
37	James Paxton	SEA	at CWS	White Sox of of best teams versus southpaws
38	Sean Manaea	OAK	vs. CLE	Walks high but still fine sophomore campaign
39	Jake Arrieta	CHC	at BAL	Battle of disappointments
40	Sonny Gray	OAK	vs. CLE	The rebound is real, but tough draw
41	Jose Quintana	CHC	at BAL
42	Mike Fiers	HOU	vs. MIN	Homers WAY down, but walks up a bit lately
43	Jaime Garcia	ATL	vs. ARI	Diamondbacks surprisingly weak versus LHP
44	JC Ramirez	LAA	vs. TB
45	Aaron Sanchez	TOR	at DET	Coming off shellacking from the Astros
46	Matt Garza	MIL	vs. PHI	Phillies third lowest wOBA vs. RHP
47	Carlos Rodon	CWS	vs. SEA
48	Brandon McCarthy	LAD	at MIA
49	Mike Foltynewicz	ATL	vs. ARI
50	Rick Porcello	BOS	vs. NYY
51	Gio Gonzalez	WAS	at CIN
52	Felix Hernandez	SEA	at CWS
53	Anibal Sanchez	DET	vs. TOR
54	Joe Musgrove	HOU	vs. MIN
55	Jhoulys Chacin	SD	vs. SF	3.57 ERA/1.25 WHIP over last two months
56	Kevin Gausman	BAL	vs. CHC
57	Seth Lugo	NYM	vs. COL
58	Masahiro Tanaka	NYY	at BOS
59	Jason Hammel	KC	vs. TEX
60	Luis Severino	NYY	at BOS
61	Trevor Williams	PIT	vs. STL
62	Tyler Chatwood	COL	at NYM
63	Taijuan Walker	ARI	at ATL
64	Paul Blackburn	OAK	vs. CLE
65	Ricky Nolasco	LAA	vs. TB
66	Andrew Moore	SEA	at CWS
67	Jose Urena	MIA	vs. LAD
68	Nick Pivetta	PHI	at MIL
69	Tanner Roark	WAS	at CIN
70	R.A. Dickey	ATL	vs. ARI
71	Mike Montgomery	CHC	at BAL
72	Edinson Volquez	MIA	vs. LAD
73	Marco Estrada	TOR	at DET
74	Ervin Santana	MIN	at HOU
75	Jose Berrios	MIN	at HOU
76	Clayton Richard	SD	vs. SF
77	Jeremy Hellickson	PHI	at MIL
78	Ubaldo Jimenez	BAL	vs. CHC
79	Derek Holland	CWS	vs. SEA
80	Luis Castillo	CIN	vs. WAS
81	Martin Perez	TEX	at KC
82	Tim Adleman	CIN	vs. WAS
83	James Shields	CWS	vs. SEA
84	Homer Bailey	CIN	vs. WAS
85	Parker Bridwell	LAA	vs. TB
86	Francisco Liriano	TOR	at DET
87	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	at BOS
88	Patrick Corbin	ARI	at ATL
89	Ian Kennedy	KC	vs. TEX
90	Bryan Mitchell	NYY	at BOS
91	Wade Miley	BAL	vs. CHC
92	Kyle Gibson	MIN	at HOU