Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Don't Walk This Way

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Updated on April 26, 2021 2:04AM EST

A walk is as good as a hit, right? Well, maybe to an 11-year-older in Little League, but Corbin Burnes and Walker Buehler apparently don't like issuing free passes as they have one between them, courtesy of Buehler. It's no surprise the pair sit atop the rankings. In fact, the Dodgers and Brewers square off over the weekend, though Burnes and Buehler aren't slated to face each other.

The rest of the slate has the usual mix of capable two-start options with a handful worthy of a pickup.

UPDATED: Monday April 26 1:00 AM ET

Week of April 26- May 2

Mixed Leagues

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	MIA, LAD	Next free pass he issues will be his first of the season
2	Walker Buehler	LAD	CIN, @MIL	At least 6 IP in all 4 GS
3	Lucas Giolito	CWS	DET, CLE
4	Jacob deGrom	NYM	BOS
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	DET
6	Jose Berrios	MIN	@CLE, KC	Great pair to keep on early season roll
7	Charlie Morton	ATL	CHC, @TOR
8	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@STL, NYM	Back to getting strikeouts but also allowing homers
9	Max Scherzer	WAS	@TOR
10	Cristian Javier	HOU	SEA, @TB	Helping a depleted rotation stay afloat
11	Shane Bieber	CLE	@CWS
12	Aaron Nola	PHI	@STL
13	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	COL, @SD	Could be available in shallow formats -- take advantage
14	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SD, COL	Ranking driven by bullish expectation

The rest of the slate has the usual mix of capable two-start options with a handful worthy of a pickup.

UPDATED: Monday April 26 1:00 AM ET

Week of April 26- May 2

Mixed Leagues

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	MIA, LAD	Next free pass he issues will be his first of the season
2	Walker Buehler	LAD	CIN, @MIL	At least 6 IP in all 4 GS
3	Lucas Giolito	CWS	DET, CLE
4	Jacob deGrom	NYM	BOS
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	DET
6	Jose Berrios	MIN	@CLE, KC	Great pair to keep on early season roll
7	Charlie Morton	ATL	CHC, @TOR
8	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@STL, NYM	Back to getting strikeouts but also allowing homers
9	Max Scherzer	WAS	@TOR
10	Cristian Javier	HOU	SEA, @TB	Helping a depleted rotation stay afloat
11	Shane Bieber	CLE	@CWS
12	Aaron Nola	PHI	@STL
13	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	COL, @SD	Could be available in shallow formats -- take advantage
14	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SD, COL	Ranking driven by bullish expectation
15	Tyler Glasnow	TB	OAK
16	Zac Gallen	ARI	COL
17	Julio Urias	LAD	CIN, @MIL	Dodgers patience has paid off big time
18	Jose Urquidy	HOU	SEA, @TB	.333 BABIP and 64.9% LOB suggest staying patient
19	Jack Flaherty	STL	@PIT
20	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@SEA
21	Trevor Bauer	LAD	@MIL
22	Sean Manaea	OAK	@TB, BAL	Showing some skills growth, cautiously optimistic he maintains the gains
23	Kevin Gausman	SF	@SD	Solid test on the road
24	Zach Eflin	PHI	@STL, NYM	Last season's spike in K% appears to be an outlier
25	Zack Greinke	HOU	SEA
26	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	LAD
27	Adam Wainwright	STL	PHI, @PIT	Regression catching up from last season
28	Yu Darvish	SD	SF
29	Michael Wacha	TB	OAK, HOU
30	Andrew Heaney	LAA	@SEA
31	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	CIN
32	Griffin Canning	LAA	@SEA
33	Carlos Rodon	CWS	DET	High walks will catch up, but otherwise pitching well
34	Lance McCullers	HOU	@TB
35	Rich Hill	TB	OAK, HOU	Has Father Time finally caught up?
36	Sonny Gray	CIN	@LAD	Not the ideal lineup to draw when still not sharp
37	Carlos Martinez	STL	PHI
38	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	KC
39	David Peterson	NYM	BOS, @PHI
40	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@PHI
41	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	ATL
42	Freddy Peralta	MIL	LAD
43	Aaron Sanchez	SF	COL
44	Mike Minor	KC	@PIT
45	Alex Wood	SF	COL
46	Taijuan Walker	NYM	@PHI
47	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@HOU	6 HR in 22.1 IP, allowed just 8 last season
48	Spencer Turnbull	DET	KC, @NYY	Sneaky pickup in deeper leagues
49	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
50	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@LAD, CHC
51	Brad Keller	KC	@DET, @MIN	One of the biggest non-injury disappointments in the early going
52	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@MIL, @WAS	So much to like, but walks high and venues very hitter friendly
53	Joe Musgrove	SD	SF
54	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@HOU
55	Jesus Luzardo	OAK	BAL	0
56	Zach Plesac	CLE	MIN, @CWS	Tough pair against which to right the ship
57	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	PHI
58	Luis Castillo	CIN	CHC	More often than not just narrative, but Castillo could truly be a warm weather pitcher
59	Justus Sheffield	SEA	@HOU, LAA
60	German Marquez	COL	@SF
61	Patrick Corbin	WAS	MIA
62	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	OAK
63	Josh Fleming	TB	HOU
64	John Means	BAL	@OAK
65	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	COL
66	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@CLE
67	Michael Pineda	MIN	KC	Solid early on, good chance to further the momentum
68	Luke Weaver	ARI	COL
69	Dylan Cease	CWS	DET
70	Blake Snell	SD	SF
71	Tyler Anderson	PIT	KC
72	John Gant	STL	@PIT
73	Dustin May	LAD	@MIL
74	Jameson Taillon	NYY	DET
75	Adrian Houser	MIL	MIA, LAD
76	Deivi Garcia	NYY	@BAL, DET
77	Austin Gomber	COL	@SF, @ARI	Could be top target to pick up, beatable lineups in good pitching venues
78	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@TB
79	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@NYM
80	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@ATL
81	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	LAA, BOS	8 HR in 22 IP -- yikes
82	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@MIL
83	Justin Dunn	SEA	@HOU
84	Chris Paddack	SD	@ARI	Control uncharacteristically shaky to begin the season
85	Ryan Weathers	SD	@ARI
86	Garrett Richards	BOS	@NYM, @TEX	More walks than whiffs, viable to reserve, but could miss rebound
87	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	CLE
88	Frankie Montas	OAK	@TB, BAL	.345 BABIP and 19.2 % HR/FB fueling early season woes
89	Mitch Keller	PIT	KC
90	Aaron Civale	CLE	MIN
91	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@WAS
92	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
93	Steven Matz	TOR	WAS
94	Johan Oviedo	STL	PHI
95	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS
96	Ian Anderson	ATL	CHC	Walks continue to be an issue
97	Jakob Junis	KC	@PIT
98	Mix 12 Reliever
99	Logan Webb	SF	@SD
100	Eric Lauer	MIL	MIA
101	Matthew Boyd	DET	@CWS
102	Mix 15 Reliever
103	Kent Emanuel	HOU	SEA
104	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@TEX
105	JT Brubaker	PIT	STL
106	Dane Dunning	TEX	LAA	Encouraging start to the season, Angels hitting RHP well
107	Ljay Newsome	SEA	LAA
108	Danny Duffy	KC	@MIN	Buying into early season success: velo and spin up
109	Joe Ross	WAS	MIA
110	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@BAL
111	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@TEX
112	Robbie Ray	TOR	ATL
113	Trevor Williams	CHC	@ATL, @CIN
114	Cole Irvin	OAK	@TB
115	Jordan Lyles	TEX	LAA, BOS
116	Daniel Castano	MIA	@MIL, @WAS
117	Corey Kluber	NYY	@BAL	Perfect pair to get right - assuming he can
118	Kohei Arihara	TEX	BOS
119	Domingo German	NYY	@BAL	Victim of small sample with .349 BABIP and 20% HR/FB
120	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@TEX
121	Jon Gray	COL	@ARI
122	Zach Davies	CHC	@ATL, @CIN
123	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	CHC
124	Jose Urena	DET	@CWS, @NYY
125	Brady Singer	KC	@MIN
126	Drew Smyly	ATL	@TOR
127	Trevor Cahill	PIT	STL
128	J.A. Happ	MIN	@CLE
129	Chase Anderson	PHI	NYM
130	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	NYY, @OAK
131	Jose Quintana	LAA	@TEX
132	Kyle Gibson	TEX	BOS
133	Ross Stripling	TOR	ATL	.423 BABIP fueling rough start
134	Matt Harvey	BAL	NYY, @OAK
135	Tommy Milone	TOR	WAS
136	Jon Lester	WAS	MIA
137	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@ATL
138	Alex Cobb	LAA	@TEX	Cobb had no Thing last start
139	Logan Allen	CLE	MIN
140	Wade Miley	CIN	CHC
141	Chad Kuhl	PIT	STL
142	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	@SF, @ARI
143	Casey Mize	DET	@CWS
144	Bryse Wilson	ATL	@TOR
145	Matt Moore	PHI	@STL
146	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@CIN
147	Michael Fulmer	DET	@NYY
148	Kyle Wright	ATL	CHC
149	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	@LAD
150	Erick Fedde	WAS	@TOR
151	Dean Kremer	BAL	NYY
152	Antonio Senzatela	COL	@ARI
153	Chris Flexen	SEA	LAA
154	Martin Perez	BOS	@TEX
155	Jorge Lopez	BAL	NYY

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Lucas Giolito	CWS	DET, CLE
2	Gerrit Cole	NYY	DET
3	Jose Berrios	MIN	@CLE, KC	Great pair to keep on early season roll
4	Cristian Javier	HOU	SEA, @TB	Helping a depleted rotation stay afloat
5	Shane Bieber	CLE	@CWS
6	Tyler Glasnow	TB	OAK
7	Jose Urquidy	HOU	SEA, @TB	.333 BABIP and 64.9% LOB suggest staying patient
8	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@SEA
9	Sean Manaea	OAK	@TB, BAL	Showing some skills growth, cautiously optimistic he maintains the gains
10	Zack Greinke	HOU	SEA
11	Michael Wacha	TB	OAK, HOU
12	Andrew Heaney	LAA	@SEA
13	Griffin Canning	LAA	@SEA
14	Carlos Rodon	CWS	DET	High walks will catch up, but otherwise pitching well
15	Lance McCullers	HOU	@TB
16	Rich Hill	TB	OAK, HOU	Has Father Time finally caught up?
17	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	KC
18	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	ATL
19	Mike Minor	KC	@PIT
20	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@HOU	6 HR in 22.1 IP, allowed just 8 last season
21	Spencer Turnbull	DET	KC, @NYY	Sneaky pickup in deeper leagues
22	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
23	Brad Keller	KC	@DET, @MIN	One of the biggest non-injury disappointments in the early going
24	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@HOU
25	Jesus Luzardo	OAK	BAL	0
26	Zach Plesac	CLE	MIN, @CWS	Tough pair against which to right the ship
27	Justus Sheffield	SEA	@HOU, LAA
28	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	OAK
29	Josh Fleming	TB	HOU
30	John Means	BAL	@OAK
31	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@CLE
32	Michael Pineda	MIN	KC	Solid early on, good chance to further the momentum
33	Dylan Cease	CWS	DET
34	Jameson Taillon	NYY	DET
35	Deivi Garcia	NYY	@BAL, DET
36	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@TB
37	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@NYM
38	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	LAA, BOS	8 HR in 22 IP -- yikes
39	Justin Dunn	SEA	@HOU
40	Garrett Richards	BOS	@NYM, @TEX	More walks than whiffs, viable to reserve, but could miss rebound
41	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	CLE
42	Frankie Montas	OAK	@TB, BAL	.345 BABIP and 19.2 % HR/FB fueling early season woes
43	Aaron Civale	CLE	MIN
44	Steven Matz	TOR	WAS
45	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS
46	Jakob Junis	KC	@PIT
47	Matthew Boyd	DET	@CWS
48	Kent Emanuel	HOU	SEA
49	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@TEX
50	Dane Dunning	TEX	LAA	Encouraging start to the season, Angels hitting RHP well
51	Ljay Newsome	SEA	LAA
52	Danny Duffy	KC	@MIN	Buying into early season success: velo and spin up
53	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@BAL
54	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@TEX
55	Robbie Ray	TOR	ATL
56	AL Reliever
57	Cole Irvin	OAK	@TB
58	Jordan Lyles	TEX	LAA, BOS
59	Corey Kluber	NYY	@BAL	Perfect pair to get right - assuming he can
60	Kohei Arihara	TEX	BOS
61	Domingo German	NYY	@BAL	Victim of small sample with .349 BABIP and 20% HR/FB
62	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@TEX
63	Jose Urena	DET	@CWS, @NYY
64	Brady Singer	KC	@MIN
65	J.A. Happ	MIN	@CLE
66	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	NYY, @OAK
67	Jose Quintana	LAA	@TEX
68	Kyle Gibson	TEX	BOS
69	Ross Stripling	TOR	ATL	.423 BABIP fueling rough start
70	Matt Harvey	BAL	NYY, @OAK
71	Tommy Milone	TOR	WAS
72	Alex Cobb	LAA	@TEX	Cobb had no Thing last start
73	Logan Allen	CLE	MIN
74	Casey Mize	DET	@CWS
75	Michael Fulmer	DET	@NYY
76	Dean Kremer	BAL	NYY

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	MIA, LAD	Next free pass he issues will be his first of the season
2	Walker Buehler	LAD	CIN, @MIL	At least 6 IP in all 4 GS
3	Jacob deGrom	NYM	BOS
4	Charlie Morton	ATL	CHC, @TOR
5	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@STL, NYM	Back to getting strikeouts but also allowing homers
6	Max Scherzer	WAS	@TOR
7	Aaron Nola	PHI	@STL
8	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	COL, @SD	Could be available in shallow formats -- take advantage
9	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SD, COL	Ranking driven by bullish expectation
10	Zac Gallen	ARI	COL
11	Julio Urias	LAD	CIN, @MIL	Dodgers patience has paid off big time
12	Jack Flaherty	STL	@PIT
13	Trevor Bauer	LAD	@MIL
14	Kevin Gausman	SF	@SD	Solid test on the road
15	Zach Eflin	PHI	@STL, NYM	Last season's spike in K% appears to be an outlier
16	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	LAD
17	Adam Wainwright	STL	PHI, @PIT	Regression catching up from last season
18	Yu Darvish	SD	SF
19	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	CIN
20	Sonny Gray	CIN	@LAD	Not the ideal lineup to draw when still not sharp
21	Carlos Martinez	STL	PHI
22	David Peterson	NYM	BOS, @PHI
23	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@PHI
24	Freddy Peralta	MIL	LAD
25	Aaron Sanchez	SF	COL
26	Alex Wood	SF	COL
27	Taijuan Walker	NYM	@PHI
28	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@LAD, CHC
29	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@MIL, @WAS	So much to like, but walks high and venues very hitter friendly
30	Joe Musgrove	SD	SF
31	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	PHI
32	Luis Castillo	CIN	CHC	More often than not just narrative, but Castillo could truly be a warm weather pitcher
33	German Marquez	COL	@SF
34	Patrick Corbin	WAS	MIA
35	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	COL
36	Luke Weaver	ARI	COL
37	Blake Snell	SD	SF
38	Tyler Anderson	PIT	KC
39	John Gant	STL	@PIT
40	Dustin May	LAD	@MIL
41	Adrian Houser	MIL	MIA, LAD
42	Austin Gomber	COL	@SF, @ARI	Could be top target to pick up, beatable lineups in good pitching venues
43	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@ATL
44	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@MIL
45	Chris Paddack	SD	@ARI	Control uncharacteristically shaky to begin the season
46	Ryan Weathers	SD	@ARI
47	Mitch Keller	PIT	KC
48	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@WAS
49	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
50	Johan Oviedo	STL	PHI
51	Ian Anderson	ATL	CHC	Walks continue to be an issue
52	Logan Webb	SF	@SD
53	Eric Lauer	MIL	MIA
54	JT Brubaker	PIT	STL
55	Joe Ross	WAS	MIA
56	Trevor Williams	CHC	@ATL, @CIN
57	NL Reliever
58	Daniel Castano	MIA	@MIL, @WAS
59	Jon Gray	COL	@ARI
60	Zach Davies	CHC	@ATL, @CIN
61	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	CHC
62	Drew Smyly	ATL	@TOR
63	Trevor Cahill	PIT	STL
64	Chase Anderson	PHI	NYM
65	Jon Lester	WAS	MIA
66	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@ATL
67	Wade Miley	CIN	CHC
68	Chad Kuhl	PIT	STL
69	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	@SF, @ARI
70	Bryse Wilson	ATL	@TOR
71	Matt Moore	PHI	@STL
72	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@CIN
73	Kyle Wright	ATL	CHC
74	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	@LAD
75	Erick Fedde	WAS	@TOR