Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Flourishing Freshmen

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Flourishing Freshmen

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

RankPitcherTMOPP 
1Max ScherzerWASTB, ATLNot the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too
2Zac GallenARI@SF, SEAToo bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season…
3Lance LynnTEXLAA, OAKGood pair to rebound from recent rough stretch
4Kyle HendricksCHCSTL, @MIL 
5Gerrit ColeNYYBAL 
6Zack WheelerPHI@NYM, @MIAQuietly having an outstanding season
7Mike ClevingerSDCOL, SF 
8Hyun-Jin RyuTORNYY, NYMAfter early hiccups, back to 2019 form
9Clayton KershawLAD@ARI 
10Charlie MortonTB@WAS, BOS 
11Lucas GiolitoCWSDET 
12Yu DarvishCHCCIN 
13Aaron NolaPHI@MIA 
14Zack GreinkeHOUOAK 
15Carlos CarrascoCLEKCWalks 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

RankPitcherTMOPP 
1Max ScherzerWASTB, ATLNot the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too
2Zac GallenARI@SF, SEAToo bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season…
3Lance LynnTEXLAA, OAKGood pair to rebound from recent rough stretch
4Kyle HendricksCHCSTL, @MIL 
5Gerrit ColeNYYBAL 
6Zack WheelerPHI@NYM, @MIAQuietly having an outstanding season
7Mike ClevingerSDCOL, SF 
8Hyun-Jin RyuTORNYY, NYMAfter early hiccups, back to 2019 form
9Clayton KershawLAD@ARI 
10Charlie MortonTB@WAS, BOS 
11Lucas GiolitoCWSDET 
12Yu DarvishCHCCIN 
13Aaron NolaPHI@MIA 
14Zack GreinkeHOUOAK 
15Carlos CarrascoCLEKCWalks high but rounding into form
16Blake SnellTBBOS 
17Zach EflinPHIBOS, @MIATidy 25% K%-BB% hurt by bloated .354 BABIP
18Jacob deGromNYM@TOR 
19Triston McKenzieCLEKC, @MINImpressive start to career, 19 K in 16 IP
20Patrick CorbinWASATL 
21Shane BieberCLE@MIN 
22Kenta MaedaMINCLE 
23Jose BerriosMIN@STL 
24Brad KellerKC@CLE, PITGood spot to continue breakout season
25Walker BuehlerLAD@ARI 
26Luis CastilloCIN@STL2.81 FIP and 2.97 xFIP say better days ahead
27Ian AndersonATLMIA, @WASNats will be a good test for the rookie
28Zach PlesacCLEKC, @MINContinuing to carry high strikeout rate
29Jesus LuzardoOAKHOU 
30Cristian JavierHOU@OAK, @LAD 
31Dylan BundyLAA@TEXGood thing for fantasy teams he wasn't traded
32Michael PinedaMINDET 
33Jack FlahertySTLDETStill babying innings
34Trevor BauerCIN@CHC 
35Aaron CivaleCLEKC 
36Carlos MartinezSTLCIN, MIN 
37Randy DobnakMINCLE 
38Dylan CeaseCWS@PIT, DET 
39Corbin BurnesMIL@DETPitching well, but a high 12.3% BB% mitigated by lucky .253 BABIP
40Sonny GrayCIN@CHCLook for a rebound after last week's disaster
41Chris PaddackSDSF 
42Brandon WoodruffMILCHC 
43Sixto SanchezMIA@ATL, PHILooks composed for a rookie
44Dinelson LametSDCOL, SF 
45Rich HillMINCLE 
46John MeansBAL@NYM, @NYY 
47Chris BassittOAK@HOU, @TEXIn a rut, hope for the best vs. Astros
48Mike MinorOAKHOUStruggles continue
49Tyler GlasnowTBBOS 
50Casey MizeDET@CWS 
51Marco GonzalesSEATEX 
52Frankie MontasOAKHOU, @TEX 
53German MarquezCOLLAA 
54Kolby AllardTEX@SEA, OAK 
55Andrew HeaneyLAA@TEX2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and .98 WHIP over last 3 with 22 K in 19.1 IP
56Matthew BoydDETMIL 
57Seth LugoNYM@TOR 
58Alec MillsCHCCIN, @MIL 
59Kyle FreelandCOL@SD, LAA 
60Daniel CastanoMIAPHI 
61Vince VelasquezPHIBOS, @MIA 
62Jose UrquidyHOU@OAK 
63Masahiro TanakaNYYBAL 
64Dane DunningCWS@PITWalks a little high, but 18 K in 14 IP makes up for it
65Spencer TurnbullDETMIL, @CWSShowing signs of improvement but needs to work on 23 BB in 34.2 IP
66Jose MujicaCOL@SD 
67Danny DuffyKC@CLE 
68Spencer HowardPHI@MIA 
69Adrian HouserMIL@DET 
70Jakob JunisKC@CLE, PIT 
71Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TOR, BAL 
72JT BrubakerPITCWS 
73Caleb SmithARISEA 
74Madison BumgarnerARILAD 
75Josh FlemingTBBOS 
76Joe MusgrovePITCWS 
77Sean ManaeaOAKHOU 
78Framber ValdezHOU@LAD 
79Max FriedATL@WAS 
80Ljay NewsomeSEA@SF 
81Chase AndersonTORNYM 
82Tyler AndersonSFSEA 
83James KaprielianOAK@TEX 
84Kyle CodyTEXLAA 
85Chris MazzaBOS@TB 
86Mike FiersOAK@TEX 
87Nathan EovaldiBOS@TB 
88Tarik SkubalDET@STL 
89Yusei KikuchiSEA@ARI 
90Tommy MiloneATLMIA 
91Dustin MayLAD@ARI 
92Robbie ErlinATLMIA, @WAS 
93Devin SmeltzerMIN@STL 
94Justin DunnSEA@ARI 
95Kevin GausmanSFARI, @SD 
96Anthony DeSclafaniCIN@STL 
97Julio UriasLADHOU 
98Jordan LylesTEXOAK 
99Julio TeheranLAA@TEX, @COL 
100Taijuan WalkerTORNYY 
101Dallas KeuchelCWSDET 
102J.A. HappNYY@TOR, BAL 
103Luke WeaverARILAD 
104Justus SheffieldSEA@ARI 
105Adam WainwrightSTLDET 
106Brady SingerKC@CLE 
107Anibal SanchezWASTB 
108Nick NeidertMIAPHI 
109Kyle GibsonTEXLAA 
110Tony GonsolinLADHOU 
111Martin PerezBOS@PHI, @TB 
112Pablo LopezMIA@ATL 
113Robbie RayTORNYM 
114Asher WojciechowskiBAL@NYM 
115Alex YoungARISEA 
116Brandon BaileyHOU@OAK 
117Johan OviedoSTL@CHC, CIN 
118Austin VothWASATL 
119Kris BubicKCPIT 
120Luis GarciaHOU@OAK 
121Griffin CanningLAA@COL 
122Sandy AlcantaraMIAPHI 
123Tyler MahleCIN@CHC, @STL 
124Zack GodleyBOS@TB 
125Nick MargeviciusSEA@SF 
126Josh LindblomMILCHC 
127Tyler AlexanderDET@STL 
128Tanner RoarkTORNYY 
129Rick PorcelloNYMBAL 
130Dean KremerBAL@NYY 
131Logan WebbSFSEA, @SD 
132David PetersonNYMPHI, @TOR 
133Jon LesterCHC@MIL 
134Antonio SenzatelaCOL@SD 
135Daniel NorrisDET@MIN, @CWS 
136Zach DaviesSDCOL 
137Dakota HudsonSTLCIN 
138Ryan YarbroughTB@WAS 
139Nick PivettaBOS@PHI 
140Garrett RichardsSDSF 
141Brett AndersonMILCHC 
142Trevor RogersMIAPHI 
143Keegan AkinBAL@NYY 
144Trevor WilliamsPIT@KC 
145Jerad EickhoffTEXOAK 
146Deivi GarciaNYY@TOR 
147Jake ArrietaPHI@MIA 
148Johnny CuetoSF@SD 
149Josh TomlinATL@WAS 
150Chad KuhlPIT@KC 
151Jose UrenaMIA@ATL, PHI 
152Jorge LopezBAL@NYY 
153Trevor CahillSF@SD 
154Taylor ClarkeARILAD 
155Jake WoodfordSTLMIN 
156Erick FeddeWASATL 
157Colin ReaCHCCIN 
158Michael WachaNYMBAL 
159Steven BraultPIT@KC 
160Jaime BarriaLAA@COL 
161Ryan CastellaniCOLLAA 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Lance LynnTEXLAA, OAKGood pair to rebound from recent rough stretch
2Gerrit ColeNYYBAL 
3Hyun-Jin RyuTORNYY, NYMAfter early hiccups, back to 2019 form
4Charlie MortonTB@WAS, BOS 
5Lucas GiolitoCWSDET 
6Zack GreinkeHOUOAK 
7Carlos CarrascoCLEKCWalks high but rounding into form
8Blake SnellTBBOS 
9Triston McKenzieCLEKC, @MINImpressive start to career, 19 K in 16 IP
10Shane BieberCLE@MIN 
11Kenta MaedaMINCLE 
12Jose BerriosMIN@STL 
13Brad KellerKC@CLE, PITGood spot to continue breakout season
14Zach PlesacCLEKC, @MINContinuing to carry high strikeout rate
15Jesus LuzardoOAKHOU 
16Cristian JavierHOU@OAK, @LAD 
17Dylan BundyLAA@TEXGood thing for fantasy teams he wasn't traded
18Michael PinedaMINDET 
19Aaron CivaleCLEKC 
20Randy DobnakMINCLE 
21Dylan CeaseCWS@PIT, DET 
22Rich HillMINCLE 
23John MeansBAL@NYM, @NYY 
24Chris BassittOAK@HOU, @TEXIn a rut, hope for the best vs. Astros
25Mike MinorOAKHOUStruggles continue
26Tyler GlasnowTBBOS 
27Casey MizeDET@CWS 
28Marco GonzalesSEATEX 
29Frankie MontasOAKHOU, @TEX 
30Kolby AllardTEX@SEA, OAK 
31Andrew HeaneyLAA@TEX2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and .98 WHIP over last 3 with 22 K in 19.1 IP
32Matthew BoydDETMIL 
33Jose UrquidyHOU@OAK 
34Masahiro TanakaNYYBAL 
35Dane DunningCWS@PITWalks a little high, but 18 K in 14 IP makes up for it
36Spencer TurnbullDETMIL, @CWSShowing signs of improvement but needs to work on 23 BB in 34.2 IP
37Danny DuffyKC@CLE 
38Jakob JunisKC@CLE, PIT 
39Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TOR, BAL 
40Josh FlemingTBBOS 
41Sean ManaeaOAKHOU 
42Framber ValdezHOU@LAD 
43Ljay NewsomeSEA@SF 
44Chase AndersonTORNYM 
45James KaprielianOAK@TEX 
46Kyle CodyTEXLAA 
47Chris MazzaBOS@TB 
48Mike FiersOAK@TEX 
49Nathan EovaldiBOS@TB 
50Tarik SkubalDET@STL 
51Yusei KikuchiSEA@ARI 
52Devin SmeltzerMIN@STL 
53Justin DunnSEA@ARI 
54Jordan LylesTEXOAK 
55Julio TeheranLAA@TEX, @COL 
56Taijuan WalkerTORNYY 
57Dallas KeuchelCWSDET 
58J.A. HappNYY@TOR, BAL 
59Justus SheffieldSEA@ARI 
60Brady SingerKC@CLE 
61Kyle GibsonTEXLAA 
62Martin PerezBOS@PHI, @TB 
63Robbie RayTORNYM 
64Asher WojciechowskiBAL@NYM 
65Brandon BaileyHOU@OAK 
66Kris BubicKCPIT 
67Luis GarciaHOU@OAK 
68Griffin CanningLAA@COL 
69Zack GodleyBOS@TB 
70Nick MargeviciusSEA@SF 
71Tyler AlexanderDET@STL 
72Tanner RoarkTORNYY 
73Dean KremerBAL@NYY 
74Daniel NorrisDET@MIN, @CWS 
75Ryan YarbroughTB@WAS 
76Nick PivettaBOS@PHI 
77Keegan AkinBAL@NYY 
78Jerad EickhoffTEXOAK 
79Deivi GarciaNYY@TOR 
80Jorge LopezBAL@NYY 
81Jaime BarriaLAA@COL 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Max ScherzerWASTB, ATLNot the same Mad Max, but .365 BABIP and 3.26 xFIP say he's been unlucky too
2Zac GallenARI@SF, SEAToo bad no one in the industry was on Gallen this season…
3Kyle HendricksCHCSTL, @MIL 
4Zack WheelerPHI@NYM, @MIAQuietly having an outstanding season
5Mike ClevingerSDCOL, SF 
6Clayton KershawLAD@ARI 
7Yu DarvishCHCCIN 
8Aaron NolaPHI@MIA 
9Zach EflinPHIBOS, @MIATidy 25% K%-BB% hurt by bloated .354 BABIP
10Jacob deGromNYM@TOR 
11Patrick CorbinWASATL 
12Walker BuehlerLAD@ARI 
13Luis CastilloCIN@STL2.81 FIP and 2.97 xFIP say better days ahead
14Ian AndersonATLMIA, @WASNats will be a good test for the rookie
15Jack FlahertySTLDETStill babying innings
16Trevor BauerCIN@CHC 
17Carlos MartinezSTLCIN, MIN 
18Corbin BurnesMIL@DETPitching well, but a high 12.3% BB% mitigated by lucky .253 BABIP
19Sonny GrayCIN@CHCLook for a rebound after last week's disaster
20Chris PaddackSDSF 
21Brandon WoodruffMILCHC 
22Sixto SanchezMIA@ATL, PHILooks composed for a rookie
23Dinelson LametSDCOL, SF 
24German MarquezCOLLAA 
25Seth LugoNYM@TOR 
26Alec MillsCHCCIN, @MIL 
27Kyle FreelandCOL@SD, LAA 
28Daniel CastanoMIAPHI 
29Vince VelasquezPHIBOS, @MIA 
30Jose MujicaCOL@SD 
31Spencer HowardPHI@MIA 
32Adrian HouserMIL@DET 
33JT BrubakerPITCWS 
34Caleb SmithARISEA 
35Madison BumgarnerARILAD 
36Joe MusgrovePITCWS 
37Max FriedATL@WAS 
38Tyler AndersonSFSEA 
39Tommy MiloneATLMIA 
40Dustin MayLAD@ARI 
41Robbie ErlinATLMIA, @WAS 
42Kevin GausmanSFARI, @SD 
43Anthony DeSclafaniCIN@STL 
44Julio UriasLADHOU 
45Luke WeaverARILAD 
46Adam WainwrightSTLDET 
47Anibal SanchezWASTB 
48Nick NeidertMIAPHI 
49Tony GonsolinLADHOU 
50Pablo LopezMIA@ATL 
51Alex YoungARISEA 
52Johan OviedoSTL@CHC, CIN 
53Austin VothWASATL 
54Sandy AlcantaraMIAPHI 
55Tyler MahleCIN@CHC, @STL 
56Josh LindblomMILCHC 
57Rick PorcelloNYMBAL 
58Logan WebbSFSEA, @SD 
59David PetersonNYMPHI, @TOR 
60Jon LesterCHC@MIL 
61Antonio SenzatelaCOL@SD 
62Zach DaviesSDCOL 
63Dakota HudsonSTLCIN 
64Garrett RichardsSDSF 
65Brett AndersonMILCHC 
66Trevor RogersMIAPHI 
67Trevor WilliamsPIT@KC 
68Jake ArrietaPHI@MIA 
69Johnny CuetoSF@SD 
70Josh TomlinATL@WAS 
71Chad KuhlPIT@KC 
72Jose UrenaMIA@ATL, PHI 
73Trevor CahillSF@SD 
74Taylor ClarkeARILAD 
75Jake WoodfordSTLMIN 
76Erick FeddeWASATL 
77Colin ReaCHCCIN 
78Michael WachaNYMBAL 
79Steven BraultPIT@KC 
80Ryan CastellaniCOLLAA 

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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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