This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
Despite the abbreviated season, or maybe because of it, teams aren't hesitant to promote their young arms and thrust them into battle. Several have two starts to build on their rookie-of-the year resume, including Triston McKenzie, Ian Anderson, Cristian Javier, Sixto Sanchez and Kolby Allard.
In general, it's a mediocre week for two-start options, even though seven doubleheaders augment the schedule.
As is always the case, teams clarify their plans over the weekend. As such, an update will be posted Sunday night.
For the week of Sept. 7-13
UPDATED: Monday 12:20 AM ET
MLB
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | |
1 | Max Scherzer | WAS | TB, ATL | Not the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too |
2 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @SF, SEA | Too bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season… |
3 | Lance Lynn | TEX | LAA, OAK | Good pair to rebound from recent rough stretch |
4 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | STL, @MIL | |
5 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | BAL | |
6 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | @NYM, @MIA | Quietly having an outstanding season |
7 | Mike Clevinger | SD | COL, SF | |
8 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | NYY, NYM | After early hiccups, back to 2019 form |
9 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @ARI | |
10 | Charlie Morton | TB | @WAS, BOS | |
11 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | DET | |
12 | Yu Darvish | CHC | CIN | |
13 | Aaron Nola | PHI | @MIA | |
14 | Zack Greinke | HOU | OAK | |
15 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | KC | Walks high but rounding into form |
16 |
Despite the abbreviated season, or maybe because of it, teams aren't hesitant to promote their young arms and thrust them into battle. Several have two starts to build on their rookie-of-the year resume, including Triston McKenzie, Ian Anderson, Cristian Javier, Sixto Sanchez and Kolby Allard.
In general, it's a mediocre week for two-start options, even though seven doubleheaders augment the schedule.
As is always the case, teams clarify their plans over the weekend. As such, an update will be posted Sunday night.
For the week of Sept. 7-13
UPDATED: Monday 12:20 AM ET
MLB
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | |
1 | Max Scherzer | WAS | TB, ATL | Not the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too |
2 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @SF, SEA | Too bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season… |
3 | Lance Lynn | TEX | LAA, OAK | Good pair to rebound from recent rough stretch |
4 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | STL, @MIL | |
5 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | BAL | |
6 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | @NYM, @MIA | Quietly having an outstanding season |
7 | Mike Clevinger | SD | COL, SF | |
8 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | NYY, NYM | After early hiccups, back to 2019 form |
9 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @ARI | |
10 | Charlie Morton | TB | @WAS, BOS | |
11 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | DET | |
12 | Yu Darvish | CHC | CIN | |
13 | Aaron Nola | PHI | @MIA | |
14 | Zack Greinke | HOU | OAK | |
15 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | KC | Walks high but rounding into form |
16 | Blake Snell | TB | BOS | |
17 | Zach Eflin | PHI | BOS, @MIA | Tidy 25% K%-BB% hurt by bloated .354 BABIP |
18 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | @TOR | |
19 | Triston McKenzie | CLE | KC, @MIN | Impressive start to career, 19 K in 16 IP |
20 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | ATL | |
21 | Shane Bieber | CLE | @MIN | |
22 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | CLE | |
23 | Jose Berrios | MIN | @STL | |
24 | Brad Keller | KC | @CLE, PIT | Good spot to continue breakout season |
25 | Walker Buehler | LAD | @ARI | |
26 | Luis Castillo | CIN | @STL | 2.81 FIP and 2.97 xFIP say better days ahead |
27 | Ian Anderson | ATL | MIA, @WAS | Nats will be a good test for the rookie |
28 | Zach Plesac | CLE | KC, @MIN | Continuing to carry high strikeout rate |
29 | Jesus Luzardo | OAK | HOU | |
30 | Cristian Javier | HOU | @OAK, @LAD | |
31 | Dylan Bundy | LAA | @TEX | Good thing for fantasy teams he wasn't traded |
32 | Michael Pineda | MIN | DET | |
33 | Jack Flaherty | STL | DET | Still babying innings |
34 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | @CHC | |
35 | Aaron Civale | CLE | KC | |
36 | Carlos Martinez | STL | CIN, MIN | |
37 | Randy Dobnak | MIN | CLE | |
38 | Dylan Cease | CWS | @PIT, DET | |
39 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | @DET | Pitching well, but a high 12.3% BB% mitigated by lucky .253 BABIP |
40 | Sonny Gray | CIN | @CHC | Look for a rebound after last week's disaster |
41 | Chris Paddack | SD | SF | |
42 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | CHC | |
43 | Sixto Sanchez | MIA | @ATL, PHI | Looks composed for a rookie |
44 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | COL, SF | |
45 | Rich Hill | MIN | CLE | |
46 | John Means | BAL | @NYM, @NYY | |
47 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | @HOU, @TEX | In a rut, hope for the best vs. Astros |
48 | Mike Minor | OAK | HOU | Struggles continue |
49 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | BOS | |
50 | Casey Mize | DET | @CWS | |
51 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | TEX | |
52 | Frankie Montas | OAK | HOU, @TEX | |
53 | German Marquez | COL | LAA | |
54 | Kolby Allard | TEX | @SEA, OAK | |
55 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | @TEX | 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and .98 WHIP over last 3 with 22 K in 19.1 IP |
56 | Matthew Boyd | DET | MIL | |
57 | Seth Lugo | NYM | @TOR | |
58 | Alec Mills | CHC | CIN, @MIL | |
59 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @SD, LAA | |
60 | Daniel Castano | MIA | PHI | |
61 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | BOS, @MIA | |
62 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | @OAK | |
63 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | BAL | |
64 | Dane Dunning | CWS | @PIT | Walks a little high, but 18 K in 14 IP makes up for it |
65 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | MIL, @CWS | Showing signs of improvement but needs to work on 23 BB in 34.2 IP |
66 | Jose Mujica | COL | @SD | |
67 | Danny Duffy | KC | @CLE | |
68 | Spencer Howard | PHI | @MIA | |
69 | Adrian Houser | MIL | @DET | |
70 | Jakob Junis | KC | @CLE, PIT | |
71 | Jordan Montgomery | NYY | @TOR, BAL | |
72 | JT Brubaker | PIT | CWS | |
73 | Caleb Smith | ARI | SEA | |
74 | Madison Bumgarner | ARI | LAD | |
75 | Josh Fleming | TB | BOS | |
76 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | CWS | |
77 | Sean Manaea | OAK | HOU | |
78 | Framber Valdez | HOU | @LAD | |
79 | Max Fried | ATL | @WAS | |
80 | Ljay Newsome | SEA | @SF | |
81 | Chase Anderson | TOR | NYM | |
82 | Tyler Anderson | SF | SEA | |
83 | James Kaprielian | OAK | @TEX | |
84 | Kyle Cody | TEX | LAA | |
85 | Chris Mazza | BOS | @TB | |
86 | Mike Fiers | OAK | @TEX | |
87 | Nathan Eovaldi | BOS | @TB | |
88 | Tarik Skubal | DET | @STL | |
89 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | @ARI | |
90 | Tommy Milone | ATL | MIA | |
91 | Dustin May | LAD | @ARI | |
92 | Robbie Erlin | ATL | MIA, @WAS | |
93 | Devin Smeltzer | MIN | @STL | |
94 | Justin Dunn | SEA | @ARI | |
95 | Kevin Gausman | SF | ARI, @SD | |
96 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | @STL | |
97 | Julio Urias | LAD | HOU | |
98 | Jordan Lyles | TEX | OAK | |
99 | Julio Teheran | LAA | @TEX, @COL | |
100 | Taijuan Walker | TOR | NYY | |
101 | Dallas Keuchel | CWS | DET | |
102 | J.A. Happ | NYY | @TOR, BAL | |
103 | Luke Weaver | ARI | LAD | |
104 | Justus Sheffield | SEA | @ARI | |
105 | Adam Wainwright | STL | DET | |
106 | Brady Singer | KC | @CLE | |
107 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | TB | |
108 | Nick Neidert | MIA | PHI | |
109 | Kyle Gibson | TEX | LAA | |
110 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | HOU | |
111 | Martin Perez | BOS | @PHI, @TB | |
112 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | @ATL | |
113 | Robbie Ray | TOR | NYM | |
114 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | @NYM | |
115 | Alex Young | ARI | SEA | |
116 | Brandon Bailey | HOU | @OAK | |
117 | Johan Oviedo | STL | @CHC, CIN | |
118 | Austin Voth | WAS | ATL | |
119 | Kris Bubic | KC | PIT | |
120 | Luis Garcia | HOU | @OAK | |
121 | Griffin Canning | LAA | @COL | |
122 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | PHI | |
123 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | @CHC, @STL | |
124 | Zack Godley | BOS | @TB | |
125 | Nick Margevicius | SEA | @SF | |
126 | Josh Lindblom | MIL | CHC | |
127 | Tyler Alexander | DET | @STL | |
128 | Tanner Roark | TOR | NYY | |
129 | Rick Porcello | NYM | BAL | |
130 | Dean Kremer | BAL | @NYY | |
131 | Logan Webb | SF | SEA, @SD | |
132 | David Peterson | NYM | PHI, @TOR | |
133 | Jon Lester | CHC | @MIL | |
134 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | @SD | |
135 | Daniel Norris | DET | @MIN, @CWS | |
136 | Zach Davies | SD | COL | |
137 | Dakota Hudson | STL | CIN | |
138 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | @WAS | |
139 | Nick Pivetta | BOS | @PHI | |
140 | Garrett Richards | SD | SF | |
141 | Brett Anderson | MIL | CHC | |
142 | Trevor Rogers | MIA | PHI | |
143 | Keegan Akin | BAL | @NYY | |
144 | Trevor Williams | PIT | @KC | |
145 | Jerad Eickhoff | TEX | OAK | |
146 | Deivi Garcia | NYY | @TOR | |
147 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | @MIA | |
148 | Johnny Cueto | SF | @SD | |
149 | Josh Tomlin | ATL | @WAS | |
150 | Chad Kuhl | PIT | @KC | |
151 | Jose Urena | MIA | @ATL, PHI | |
152 | Jorge Lopez | BAL | @NYY | |
153 | Trevor Cahill | SF | @SD | |
154 | Taylor Clarke | ARI | LAD | |
155 | Jake Woodford | STL | MIN | |
156 | Erick Fedde | WAS | ATL | |
157 | Colin Rea | CHC | CIN | |
158 | Michael Wacha | NYM | BAL | |
159 | Steven Brault | PIT | @KC | |
160 | Jaime Barria | LAA | @COL | |
161 | Ryan Castellani | COL | LAA |
American League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
1 | Lance Lynn | TEX | LAA, OAK | Good pair to rebound from recent rough stretch |
2 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | BAL | |
3 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | NYY, NYM | After early hiccups, back to 2019 form |
4 | Charlie Morton | TB | @WAS, BOS | |
5 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | DET | |
6 | Zack Greinke | HOU | OAK | |
7 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | KC | Walks high but rounding into form |
8 | Blake Snell | TB | BOS | |
9 | Triston McKenzie | CLE | KC, @MIN | Impressive start to career, 19 K in 16 IP |
10 | Shane Bieber | CLE | @MIN | |
11 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | CLE | |
12 | Jose Berrios | MIN | @STL | |
13 | Brad Keller | KC | @CLE, PIT | Good spot to continue breakout season |
14 | Zach Plesac | CLE | KC, @MIN | Continuing to carry high strikeout rate |
15 | Jesus Luzardo | OAK | HOU | |
16 | Cristian Javier | HOU | @OAK, @LAD | |
17 | Dylan Bundy | LAA | @TEX | Good thing for fantasy teams he wasn't traded |
18 | Michael Pineda | MIN | DET | |
19 | Aaron Civale | CLE | KC | |
20 | Randy Dobnak | MIN | CLE | |
21 | Dylan Cease | CWS | @PIT, DET | |
22 | Rich Hill | MIN | CLE | |
23 | John Means | BAL | @NYM, @NYY | |
24 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | @HOU, @TEX | In a rut, hope for the best vs. Astros |
25 | Mike Minor | OAK | HOU | Struggles continue |
26 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | BOS | |
27 | Casey Mize | DET | @CWS | |
28 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | TEX | |
29 | Frankie Montas | OAK | HOU, @TEX | |
30 | Kolby Allard | TEX | @SEA, OAK | |
31 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | @TEX | 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and .98 WHIP over last 3 with 22 K in 19.1 IP |
32 | Matthew Boyd | DET | MIL | |
33 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | @OAK | |
34 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | BAL | |
35 | Dane Dunning | CWS | @PIT | Walks a little high, but 18 K in 14 IP makes up for it |
36 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | MIL, @CWS | Showing signs of improvement but needs to work on 23 BB in 34.2 IP |
37 | Danny Duffy | KC | @CLE | |
38 | Jakob Junis | KC | @CLE, PIT | |
39 | Jordan Montgomery | NYY | @TOR, BAL | |
40 | Josh Fleming | TB | BOS | |
41 | Sean Manaea | OAK | HOU | |
42 | Framber Valdez | HOU | @LAD | |
43 | Ljay Newsome | SEA | @SF | |
44 | Chase Anderson | TOR | NYM | |
45 | James Kaprielian | OAK | @TEX | |
46 | Kyle Cody | TEX | LAA | |
47 | Chris Mazza | BOS | @TB | |
48 | Mike Fiers | OAK | @TEX | |
49 | Nathan Eovaldi | BOS | @TB | |
50 | Tarik Skubal | DET | @STL | |
51 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | @ARI | |
52 | Devin Smeltzer | MIN | @STL | |
53 | Justin Dunn | SEA | @ARI | |
54 | Jordan Lyles | TEX | OAK | |
55 | Julio Teheran | LAA | @TEX, @COL | |
56 | Taijuan Walker | TOR | NYY | |
57 | Dallas Keuchel | CWS | DET | |
58 | J.A. Happ | NYY | @TOR, BAL | |
59 | Justus Sheffield | SEA | @ARI | |
60 | Brady Singer | KC | @CLE | |
61 | Kyle Gibson | TEX | LAA | |
62 | Martin Perez | BOS | @PHI, @TB | |
63 | Robbie Ray | TOR | NYM | |
64 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | @NYM | |
65 | Brandon Bailey | HOU | @OAK | |
66 | Kris Bubic | KC | PIT | |
67 | Luis Garcia | HOU | @OAK | |
68 | Griffin Canning | LAA | @COL | |
69 | Zack Godley | BOS | @TB | |
70 | Nick Margevicius | SEA | @SF | |
71 | Tyler Alexander | DET | @STL | |
72 | Tanner Roark | TOR | NYY | |
73 | Dean Kremer | BAL | @NYY | |
74 | Daniel Norris | DET | @MIN, @CWS | |
75 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | @WAS | |
76 | Nick Pivetta | BOS | @PHI | |
77 | Keegan Akin | BAL | @NYY | |
78 | Jerad Eickhoff | TEX | OAK | |
79 | Deivi Garcia | NYY | @TOR | |
80 | Jorge Lopez | BAL | @NYY | |
81 | Jaime Barria | LAA | @COL |
National League
Rank | Pitcher | TM | OPP | Comment |
1 | Max Scherzer | WAS | TB, ATL | Not the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too |
2 | Zac Gallen | ARI | @SF, SEA | Too bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season… |
3 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | STL, @MIL | |
4 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | @NYM, @MIA | Quietly having an outstanding season |
5 | Mike Clevinger | SD | COL, SF | |
6 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | @ARI | |
7 | Yu Darvish | CHC | CIN | |
8 | Aaron Nola | PHI | @MIA | |
9 | Zach Eflin | PHI | BOS, @MIA | Tidy 25% K%-BB% hurt by bloated .354 BABIP |
10 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | @TOR | |
11 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | ATL | |
12 | Walker Buehler | LAD | @ARI | |
13 | Luis Castillo | CIN | @STL | 2.81 FIP and 2.97 xFIP say better days ahead |
14 | Ian Anderson | ATL | MIA, @WAS | Nats will be a good test for the rookie |
15 | Jack Flaherty | STL | DET | Still babying innings |
16 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | @CHC | |
17 | Carlos Martinez | STL | CIN, MIN | |
18 | Corbin Burnes | MIL | @DET | Pitching well, but a high 12.3% BB% mitigated by lucky .253 BABIP |
19 | Sonny Gray | CIN | @CHC | Look for a rebound after last week's disaster |
20 | Chris Paddack | SD | SF | |
21 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | CHC | |
22 | Sixto Sanchez | MIA | @ATL, PHI | Looks composed for a rookie |
23 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | COL, SF | |
24 | German Marquez | COL | LAA | |
25 | Seth Lugo | NYM | @TOR | |
26 | Alec Mills | CHC | CIN, @MIL | |
27 | Kyle Freeland | COL | @SD, LAA | |
28 | Daniel Castano | MIA | PHI | |
29 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | BOS, @MIA | |
30 | Jose Mujica | COL | @SD | |
31 | Spencer Howard | PHI | @MIA | |
32 | Adrian Houser | MIL | @DET | |
33 | JT Brubaker | PIT | CWS | |
34 | Caleb Smith | ARI | SEA | |
35 | Madison Bumgarner | ARI | LAD | |
36 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | CWS | |
37 | Max Fried | ATL | @WAS | |
38 | Tyler Anderson | SF | SEA | |
39 | Tommy Milone | ATL | MIA | |
40 | Dustin May | LAD | @ARI | |
41 | Robbie Erlin | ATL | MIA, @WAS | |
42 | Kevin Gausman | SF | ARI, @SD | |
43 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | @STL | |
44 | Julio Urias | LAD | HOU | |
45 | Luke Weaver | ARI | LAD | |
46 | Adam Wainwright | STL | DET | |
47 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | TB | |
48 | Nick Neidert | MIA | PHI | |
49 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | HOU | |
50 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | @ATL | |
51 | Alex Young | ARI | SEA | |
52 | Johan Oviedo | STL | @CHC, CIN | |
53 | Austin Voth | WAS | ATL | |
54 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | PHI | |
55 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | @CHC, @STL | |
56 | Josh Lindblom | MIL | CHC | |
57 | Rick Porcello | NYM | BAL | |
58 | Logan Webb | SF | SEA, @SD | |
59 | David Peterson | NYM | PHI, @TOR | |
60 | Jon Lester | CHC | @MIL | |
61 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | @SD | |
62 | Zach Davies | SD | COL | |
63 | Dakota Hudson | STL | CIN | |
64 | Garrett Richards | SD | SF | |
65 | Brett Anderson | MIL | CHC | |
66 | Trevor Rogers | MIA | PHI | |
67 | Trevor Williams | PIT | @KC | |
68 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | @MIA | |
69 | Johnny Cueto | SF | @SD | |
70 | Josh Tomlin | ATL | @WAS | |
71 | Chad Kuhl | PIT | @KC | |
72 | Jose Urena | MIA | @ATL, PHI | |
73 | Trevor Cahill | SF | @SD | |
74 | Taylor Clarke | ARI | LAD | |
75 | Jake Woodford | STL | MIN | |
76 | Erick Fedde | WAS | ATL | |
77 | Colin Rea | CHC | CIN | |
78 | Michael Wacha | NYM | BAL | |
79 | Steven Brault | PIT | @KC | |
80 | Ryan Castellani | COL | LAA |