Weekly Pitcher Rankings: What Have You Done Lately?

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: What Have You Done Lately?

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

How to incorporate streaks into analysis is up for debate. Those in daily leagues and DFS players deal with it on a daily basis. While I trust the research suggesting hot and cold streaks are largely non-predictive, there is some solid work (most notably from BaseballHQ) demonstrating there is something real about a pitcher with a string of solid efforts. With starters having three or four starts on the docket, there is enough sample to be actionable. As such, this week's rankings reflect recent outings. The Sunday night update uses the most recent data, so the rankings for this week's Saturday and Sunday starters could move a little.

I'm always happy to address (and sometimes change) rankings. However, please direct scheduling rotation questions to the Probable Pitchers page.

UPDATED: Monday May 2 1:00 AM ET

Week of May 2 - 8

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Alek ManoahTORNYY, @CLEEasily Top-10 starter if drafting now
2Brandon WoodruffMILCIN, @ATL 
3Pablo LopezMIAARI, @SD2.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 24 starts since beginning of last season
4Max FriedATL@NYM, MIL 
5Gerrit ColeNYYTEX 
6Joe MusgroveSDMIA 
7Logan GilbertSEATB 
8Joe RyanMIN@BAL, OAKWill deception continue to be effective as teams see him more?
9Kevin GausmanTOR@CLE 
10Drew RasmussenTB@OAK, @SEAOn the road, but good pitcher's park and manageable lineups

How to incorporate streaks into analysis is up for debate. Those in daily leagues and DFS players deal with it on a daily basis. While I trust the research suggesting hot and cold streaks are largely non-predictive, there is some solid work (most notably from BaseballHQ) demonstrating there is something real about a pitcher with a string of solid efforts. With starters having three or four starts on the docket, there is enough sample to be actionable. As such, this week's rankings reflect recent outings. The Sunday night update uses the most recent data, so the rankings for this week's Saturday and Sunday starters could move a little.

I'm always happy to address (and sometimes change) rankings. However, please direct scheduling rotation questions to the Probable Pitchers page.

UPDATED: Monday May 2 1:00 AM ET

Week of May 2 - 8

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPComments
1Alek ManoahTORNYY, @CLEEasily Top-10 starter if drafting now
2Brandon WoodruffMILCIN, @ATL 
3Pablo LopezMIAARI, @SD2.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 24 starts since beginning of last season
4Max FriedATL@NYM, MIL 
5Gerrit ColeNYYTEX 
6Joe MusgroveSDMIA 
7Logan GilbertSEATB 
8Joe RyanMIN@BAL, OAKWill deception continue to be effective as teams see him more?
9Kevin GausmanTOR@CLE 
10Drew RasmussenTB@OAK, @SEAOn the road, but good pitcher's park and manageable lineups
11Dylan CeaseCWSLAA, @BOSLower BB% and we're talking elite
12Robbie RaySEATB 
13Zac GallenARI@MIA, COL 
14Miles MikolasSTL@SF 
15Tylor MegillNYMATL 
16Shane McClanahanTB@SEA 
17Kyle WrightATL@NYM34 K in 24 IP
18Max ScherzerNYM@PHI 
19Walker BuehlerLAD@CHC 
20Aaron NolaPHINYM 
21Nestor Cortes Jr.NYY@TORNice test - 28 K, 3 BB in first 20 IP
22Logan WebbSFSTL 
23Carlos RodonSF@LAD, STL 
24Yu DarvishSDMIABack on track? 20 K, 4 BB over last 18.2 IP
25Frankie MontasOAKTB 
26Corbin BurnesMIL@ATL 
27Clayton KershawLAD@CHC 
28Julio UriasLADSF 
29Shane BieberCLETOR 
30Sean ManaeaSDMIANice spot to rebound after LAD hit him hard
31Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TOR, TEXat TOR never easy, but underrated arm deserves high rank regardless
32Tony GonsolinLADSF 
33Chris BassittNYMATL, @PHIQuietly dominant 26 K in 24 IP
34Sandy AlcantaraMIA@SD 
35Adrian HouserMILCIN 
36Luis SeverinoNYYTEX 
37Madison BumgarnerARI@MIA 
38Trevor RogersMIAARI, @SDControl off early
39Corey KluberTB@OAK 
40Dakota HudsonSTL@KC, @SF 
41Zack WheelerPHITEX 
42Lucas GiolitoCWS@CHC 
43Jose BerriosTOR@CLE 
44Patrick SandovalLAA@CWS, WASHuge test for fledgling ace
45Michael WachaBOSLAA, CWSIncreasing reliance on improved changeup
46Cristian JavierHOUSEA 
47Sonny GrayMINOAK 
48Ian AndersonATL@NYM 
49Brad KellerKCSTL 
50Justin VerlanderHOUSEA 
51Chris PaddackMIN@BAL, OAK 
52Michael KopechCWS@CHC 
53David PetersonNYMATL 
54Nathan EovaldiBOSCWS 
55Michael PinedaDETPIT, @HOU 
56Bruce ZimmermannBALMIN, KCChanging grips/repertoire, with encouraging results
57Alex CobbSFSTL 
58Shohei OhtaniLAA@BOS 
59Charlie MortonATL@NYM, MILEarly command and control woes
60Framber ValdezHOUDET 
61Carlos CarrascoNYMATL, @PHI23 K with 4 BB in 22 IP
62Ranger SuarezPHITEX, NYMERA artificially low, but peripherals should improve
63Garrett WhitlockBOSLAA 
64Freddy PeraltaMILCIN 
65Paul BlackburnOAKTB 
66Michael LorenzenLAAWASLucky so far, but still transition to SP encouraging
67Cal QuantrillCLESD 
68Steven MatzSTLKC, @SF 
69MacKenzie GoreSD@CLE 
70Merrill KellyARICOL 
71Jose UrquidyHOUDET 
72Sam LongSFSTL 
73Luis GarciaHOUDET 
74Chad KuhlCOL@ARI 
75Tarik SkubalDETPIT 
76Beau BrieskeDET@HOU 
77Elieser HernandezMIAARI 
78Eric LauerMIL@ATL 
79Marco GonzalesSEA@HOU, TB 
80Chris FlexenSEA@HOU, TB 
81Mix 12 Reliever   
82Eduardo RodriguezDET@HOU 
83Kyle GibsonPHINYM 
84Dylan BundyMIN@BAL 
85Jordan HicksSTL@SF 
86Zack GreinkeKC@STL, @BAL 
87Connor OvertonCINPIT 
88Rich HillBOSLAA 
89Tyler WellsBALMIN, KC 
90Huascar YnoaATLMIL 
91Triston McKenzieCLETOR 
92Jesus LuzardoMIA@SD 
93Adam WainwrightSTL@KC 
94Noah SyndergaardLAA@BOS 
95Mix 15 Reliever   
96Ryan YarbroughTB@OAK, @SEA 
97Nick LodoloCINPIT 
98Jake OdorizziHOUSEA, DET 
99Zach EflinPHINYM 
100Nick MartinezSDMIA 
101JT BrubakerPIT@CIN 
102Zach PlesacCLESD, TOR 
103Kyle HendricksCHCCWS 
104German MarquezCOLWAS, @ARIAverage fly ball distance in Coors WAY down
105Nick PivettaBOSCWS 
106Daniel LynchKC@BAL 
107Tyler MahleCIN@MIL 
108Alex WoodSF@LAD 
109Jaime BarriaLAAWAS 
110Mike ClevingerSD@CLEDecent matchups, but may not work long enough for a win
111Jameson TaillonNYY@TOR 
112Yusei KikuchiTORNYY 
113Glenn OttoTEX@PHI, @NYY 
114Josiah GrayWAS@LAA 
115Kris BubicKCSTL 
116Daulton JefferiesOAKTB, @MIN 
117Kyle FreelandCOL@ARI 
118Drew SmylyCHCCWS, LAD 
119Ross StriplingTORNYY, @CLE 
120Josh FlemingTB@SEA 
121Humberto CastellanosARI@MIA 
122Marcus StromanCHCLAD 
123Hunter GreeneCIN@MIL 
124Jose QuintanaPIT@DET 
125Cole IrvinOAK@MIN 
126Kyle BradishBALMIN 
127Vince VelasquezCWS@BOS 
128Martin PerezTEX@PHI 
129Tyler AndersonLAD@CHC 
130Taijuan WalkerNYM@PHI 
131Matt BrashSEA@HOU 
132Chris ArcherMIN@BAL 
133Jordan LylesBALKC 
134Vladimir GutierrezCIN@MIL, PIT 
135Dane DunningTEX@NYY 
136Bryse WilsonPIT@DET, @CIN 
137Reiver SanmartinCINPIT 
138Reid DetmersLAA@BOS 
139Mitch KellerPIT@CIN 
140Aaron CivaleCLETOR 
141James KaprielianOAK@MIN 
142Zach DaviesARICOL 
143Antonio SenzatelaCOLWAS 
144Carlos HernandezKC@BAL 
145Tyler AlexanderDET@HOU 
146Joan AdonWAS@LAA 
147Austin GomberCOLWAS 
148Spenser WatkinsBALMIN 
149Erick FeddeWAS@COL, @LAA 
150Zach ThompsonPIT@CIN 
151Justin SteeleCHCLAD 
152Taylor HearnTEX@NYY 
153Patrick CorbinWAS@COL 
154Aaron SanchezWAS@COL 
155Dallas KeuchelCWS@BOS 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Alek ManoahTORNYY, @CLEEasily Top-10 starter if drafting now
2Gerrit ColeNYYTEX 
3Logan GilbertSEATB 
4Joe RyanMIN@BAL, OAKWill deception continue to be effective as teams see him more?
5Kevin GausmanTOR@CLE 
6Drew RasmussenTB@OAK, @SEAOn the road, but good pitcher's park and manageable lineups
7Dylan CeaseCWSLAA, @BOSLower BB% and we're talking elite
8Robbie RaySEATB 
9Shane McClanahanTB@SEA 
10Nestor Cortes Jr.NYY@TORNice test - 28 K, 3 BB in first 20 IP
11Frankie MontasOAKTB 
12Shane BieberCLETOR 
13Jordan MontgomeryNYY@TOR, TEXat TOR never easy, but underrated arm deserves high rank regardless
14Luis SeverinoNYYTEX 
15Corey KluberTB@OAK 
16Lucas GiolitoCWS@CHC 
17Jose BerriosTOR@CLE 
18Patrick SandovalLAA@CWS, WASHuge test for fledgling ace
19Michael WachaBOSLAA, CWSIncreasing reliance on improved changeup
20Cristian JavierHOUSEA 
21Sonny GrayMINOAK 
22Brad KellerKCSTL 
23Justin VerlanderHOUSEA 
24Chris PaddackMIN@BAL, OAK 
25Michael KopechCWS@CHC 
26Nathan EovaldiBOSCWS 
27Michael PinedaDETPIT, @HOU 
28Bruce ZimmermannBALMIN, KCChanging grips/repertoire, with encouraging results
29Shohei OhtaniLAA@BOS 
30Framber ValdezHOUDET 
31Garrett WhitlockBOSLAA 
32Paul BlackburnOAKTB 
33Michael LorenzenLAAWASLucky so far, but still transition to SP encouraging
34Cal QuantrillCLESD 
35Jose UrquidyHOUDET 
36Luis GarciaHOUDET 
37Tarik SkubalDETPIT 
38Beau BrieskeDET@HOU 
39Marco GonzalesSEA@HOU, TB 
40Chris FlexenSEA@HOU, TB 
41Eduardo RodriguezDET@HOU 
42Dylan BundyMIN@BAL 
43Zack GreinkeKC@STL, @BAL 
44Rich HillBOSLAA 
45Tyler WellsBALMIN, KC 
46Triston McKenzieCLETOR 
47Noah SyndergaardLAA@BOS 
48Ryan YarbroughTB@OAK, @SEA 
49Jake OdorizziHOUSEA, DET 
50Zach PlesacCLESD, TOR 
51AL Reliever   
52Nick PivettaBOSCWS 
53Daniel LynchKC@BAL 
54Jaime BarriaLAAWAS 
55Jameson TaillonNYY@TOR 
56Yusei KikuchiTORNYY 
57Glenn OttoTEX@PHI, @NYY 
58Kris BubicKCSTL 
59Daulton JefferiesOAKTB, @MIN 
60Ross StriplingTORNYY, @CLE 
61Josh FlemingTB@SEA 
62Cole IrvinOAK@MIN 
63Kyle BradishBALMIN 
64Vince VelasquezCWS@BOS 
65Martin PerezTEX@PHI 
66Matt BrashSEA@HOU 
67Chris ArcherMIN@BAL 
68Jordan LylesBALKC 
69Dane DunningTEX@NYY 
70Reid DetmersLAA@BOS 
71Aaron CivaleCLETOR 
72James KaprielianOAK@MIN 
73Carlos HernandezKC@BAL 
74Tyler AlexanderDET@HOU 
75Spenser WatkinsBALMIN 
76Taylor HearnTEX@NYY 
77Dallas KeuchelCWS@BOS 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Brandon WoodruffMILCIN, @ATL 
2Pablo LopezMIAARI, @SD2.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 24 starts since beginning of last season
3Max FriedATL@NYM, MIL 
4Joe MusgroveSDMIA 
5Zac GallenARI@MIA, COL 
6Miles MikolasSTL@SF 
7Tylor MegillNYMATL 
8Kyle WrightATL@NYM34 K in 24 IP
9Max ScherzerNYM@PHI 
10Walker BuehlerLAD@CHC 
11Aaron NolaPHINYM 
12Logan WebbSFSTL 
13Carlos RodonSF@LAD, STL 
14Yu DarvishSDMIABack on track? 20 K, 4 BB over last 18.2 IP
15Corbin BurnesMIL@ATL 
16Clayton KershawLAD@CHC 
17Julio UriasLADSF 
18Sean ManaeaSDMIANice spot to rebound after LAD hit him hard
19Tony GonsolinLADSF 
20Chris BassittNYMATL, @PHIQuietly dominant 26 K in 24 IP
21Sandy AlcantaraMIA@SD 
22Adrian HouserMILCIN 
23Madison BumgarnerARI@MIA 
24Trevor RogersMIAARI, @SDControl off early
25Dakota HudsonSTL@KC, @SF 
26Zack WheelerPHITEX 
27Ian AndersonATL@NYM 
28David PetersonNYMATL 
29Alex CobbSFSTL 
30Charlie MortonATL@NYM, MILEarly command and control woes
31Carlos CarrascoNYMATL, @PHI23 K with 4 BB in 22 IP
32Ranger SuarezPHITEX, NYMERA artificially low, but peripherals should improve
33Freddy PeraltaMILCIN 
34Steven MatzSTLKC, @SF 
35MacKenzie GoreSD@CLE 
36Merrill KellyARICOL 
37Sammy LongSFSTL 
38Chad KuhlCOL@ARI 
39Elieser HernandezMIAARI 
40Eric LauerMIL@ATL 
41Kyle GibsonPHINYM 
42Jordan HicksSTL@SF 
43Connor OvertonCINPIT 
44Huascar YnoaATLMIL 
45Jesus LuzardoMIA@SD 
46Adam WainwrightSTL@KC 
47Nick LodoloCINPIT 
48Zach EflinPHINYM 
49Nick MartinezSDMIA 
50JT BrubakerPIT@CIN 
51Kyle HendricksCHCCWS 
52NL Reliever   
53German MarquezCOLWAS, @ARIAverage fly ball distance in Coors WAY down
54Tyler MahleCIN@MIL 
55Alex WoodSF@LAD 
56Mike ClevingerSD@CLEDecent matchups, but may not work long enough for a win
57Josiah GrayWAS@LAA 
58Kyle FreelandCOL@ARI 
59Drew SmylyCHCCWS, LAD 
60Humberto CastellanosARI@MIA 
61Marcus StromanCHCLAD 
62Hunter GreeneCIN@MIL 
63Jose QuintanaPIT@DET 
64Tyler AndersonLAD@CHC 
65Taijuan WalkerNYM@PHI 
66Vladimir GutierrezCIN@MIL, PIT 
67Bryse WilsonPIT@DET, @CIN 
68Reiver SanmartinCINPIT 
69Mitch KellerPIT@CIN 
70Zach DaviesARICOL 
71Antonio SenzatelaCOLWAS 
72Joan AdonWAS@LAA 
73Austin GomberCOLWAS 
74Erick FeddeWAS@COL, @LAA 
75Zach ThompsonPIT@CIN 
76Justin SteeleCHCLAD 
77Patrick CorbinWAS@COL 
78Aaron SanchezWAS@COL 

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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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