Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Yeah, But

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Yeah, But

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

The last week of the season always brings last-minute shuffling of pitching rotations. Some changes are out of the blue, but some are predictable under certain circumstances. For instance:

  • Kyle Bradish has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Justin Steele has two starts, yeah but he won't start Sunday if the Cubs have clinched a wild-card spot
  • Justin Verlander has two starts, yeah but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Ryan Pepiot has two starts, yeah, but he could piggyback with Bobby Miller in the last game
  • Braxton Garrett has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Marlins have clinched a wild-card spot
  • Kenta Maeda has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Aaron Nola has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Phillies have clinched a wild-card spot
  • George Kirby has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game if the Mariners have clinched a playoff spot
  • Kevin Gausman has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Blue Jays have clinched a wild-card spot

As always, the schedule is pulled from the Probable Starters grid, so I am not responsible for rotations, yeah, but you can direct questions to that page.

I can't guarantee accuracy, yeah, but you can ask my thinking below.

UPDATED: Sunday September 24, 11:15 PM ET

Week of September 25 -

The last week of the season always brings last-minute shuffling of pitching rotations. Some changes are out of the blue, but some are predictable under certain circumstances. For instance:

  • Kyle Bradish has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Justin Steele has two starts, yeah but he won't start Sunday if the Cubs have clinched a wild-card spot
  • Justin Verlander has two starts, yeah but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Ryan Pepiot has two starts, yeah, but he could piggyback with Bobby Miller in the last game
  • Braxton Garrett has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Marlins have clinched a wild-card spot
  • Kenta Maeda has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game
  • Aaron Nola has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Phillies have clinched a wild-card spot
  • George Kirby has two starts, yeah, but he isn't likely to go deep into the Sunday game if the Mariners have clinched a playoff spot
  • Kevin Gausman has two starts, yeah, but he won't start Sunday if the Blue Jays have clinched a wild-card spot

As always, the schedule is pulled from the Probable Starters grid, so I am not responsible for rotations, yeah, but you can direct questions to that page.

I can't guarantee accuracy, yeah, but you can ask my thinking below.

UPDATED: Sunday September 24, 11:15 PM ET

Week of September 25 - October 1

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPPCommentsMIX12MIX15
1Blake SnellSD@SF, @CWSLooking to add NL Cy Young to his 2018 award  
2Kevin GausmanTORNYY, TBMay not pitch on Sunday of playoffs are clinched  
3Sonny GrayMINOAK   
4Brandon WoodruffMILCHCLayoff has him fresh for the playoffs  
5Corbin BurnesMILSTL   
6Luis CastilloSEAHOU, TEXHuge week in a tight race  
7Tarik SkubalDETKC   
8Hunter GreeneCIN@CLE, @STL   
9Framber ValdezHOU@SEA   
10Logan WebbSFSD, LAD   
11Kyle BradishBALWAS, BOSShould start Sunday, but likely won't go deep  
12Braxton GarrettMIA@NYM, @PIT   
13Pablo LopezMINOAK   
14Freddy PeraltaMILCHC   
15Aaron NolaPHIPIT, @NYMSecond start in jeopardy  
16Justin VerlanderHOU@SEA, @ARI   
17Gerrit ColeNYY@TOR   
18Justin SteeleCHC@ATL, @MIL   
19Kodai SengaNYMMIA   
20George KirbySEAHOU, TEX   
21Zack WheelerPHIPIT   
22Bryce ElderATLCHC, WASProbably the No. 4 if Braves make the NLCS  
23Reese OlsonDETKC   
24Merrill KellyARI@NYY, HOU   
25Jordan MontgomeryTEX@SEA   
26Michael KingNYY@TOR, @KCEarned a full-fledges starter role  
27Cole RagansKC@DET   
28Bailey OberMINOAK, @COL   
29Jesus LuzardoMIA@NYM   
30Clayton KershawLAD@SF   
31Zac GallenARIHOU   
32Cristian JavierHOU@SEA   
33Mitch KellerPIT@PHI, MIA   
34Allan WinansATLWAS 4%25%
35Nathan EovaldiTEX@SEA   
36Lucas GiolitoCLECIN   
37Logan GilbertSEATEX   
38Triston McKenzieCLE@DET 16%34%
39Jose BerriosTORNYY   
40Chris SaleBOS@BAL   
41Eduardo RodriguezDETCLE   
42Chris BassittTORNYY   
43Shane BieberCLECIN 44%47%
44Nick PivettaBOS@BAL   
45Cristopher SanchezPHI@NYM   
46Grayson RodriguezBALWAS   
47Spencer StriderATLWAS   
48Jon GrayTEX@LAA, @SEAReally struggling, needs to step up in the final week  
49Mike ClevingerCWSSD   
50Lance LynnLAD@SF   
51Tanner HouckBOSTB, @BAL 34% 
52Seth LugoSD@SF   
53Taijuan WalkerPHI@NYM   
54Tyler GlasnowTB@BOS   
55Hyun Jin RyuTORTB   
56Gavin WilliamsCLE@DET   
57Aaron CivaleTB@TOR   
58Joey LucchesiNYMMIA 8%34%
59Andrew AbbottCIN@CLE   
60Jose QuintanaNYMPHI   
61Kutter CrawfordBOS@BAL   
62Zach EflinTB@BOS   
63Zack LittellTB@TOR   
64Cal QuantrillCLE@DET 47% 
65Sean ManaeaSFSD 4%36%
66Bryan WooSEATEX   
67Dylan CeaseCWSSD   
68Carlos RodonNYY@KC   
69Mix 12 Reliever     
70Martin PerezTEX@LAA, @SEA 46%30%
71Brayan BelloBOSTB   
72Wade MileyMILSTL   
73Dane DunningTEX@LAA   
74Ranger SuarezPHIPIT   
75Clarke SchmidtNYYARI, @KC   
76Kyle HendricksCHC@MIL   
77Chase SilsethLAAOAK 32% 
78Sawyer Gipson-LongDETKC   
79Mix 15 Reliever     
80Reid DetmersLAATEX   
81Alex FaedoDETCLE 4%43%
82Yusei KikuchiTORTB   
83Brandon WilliamsonCIN@STL 38% 
84JP SearsOAK@LAA   
85Jordan WicksCHC@MIL   
86Ryan PepiotLAD@COL, @SF   
87Patrick SandovalLAATEX, OAK   
88John MeansBALBOS 27% 
89Bryce MillerSEAHOU   
90Edward CabreraMIA@PIT   
91Hunter BrownHOU@ARI   
92Darius VinesATLCHC 3%15%
93Bobby MillerLAD@COL   
94Griffin CanningLAATEX   
95J.P. FranceHOU@ARI   
96Adrian HouserMILSTL, CHC 14% 
97Kenta MaedaMIN@COL   
98David PetersonNYMMIA 15% 
99Connor PhillipsCIN@STL 0%0%
100Ross StriplingSFLAD 7%28%
101Michael WachaSD@CWS   
102Johan OviedoPIT@PHI   
103Joe RyanMIN@COL   
104Zack GreinkeKC@DET, NYY 2%9%
105Kyle GibsonBALBOS   
106Kyle HarrisonSFSD 42%43%
107Alex WoodSFLAD 11%45%
108Johnny CuetoMIA@NYM 3%32%
109Jameson TaillonCHC@ATL   
110Jordan LylesKCNYY 0%0%
111Nick MartinezSD@CWS 3%9%
112Miles MikolasSTL@MIL   
113Jose ButtoNYMPHI 10% 
114Kenny RosenbergLAAOAK 1%6%
115Javier AssadCHC@ATL   
116Taj BradleyTB@TOR   
117Alec MarshKCNYY 2%40%
118Anthony VenezianoKC@DET 0%0%
119Joe BoyleOAK@LAA 0%0%
120Matt WaldronSD@SF 0%0%
121Ken WaldichukOAK@MIN 4%36%
122Emmet SheehanLAD@COL 29% 
123Osvaldo BidoPITMIA 1%2%
124Drew RomSTLCIN 2%15%
125Paul BlackburnOAK@MIN, @LAA 45% 
126Zack ThompsonSTL@MIL, CIN 14% 
127Jared ShusterATLCHC 8%13%
128Quinn PriesterPITMIA 0%0%
129Slade CecconiARI@CWS 1%4%
130Dean KremerBALBOS   
131Touki ToussaintCWSARI 11% 
132Bryan HoeingMIA@PIT 1%2%
133Josiah GrayWAS@BAL   
134Zach DaviesARI@CWS, HOU 1%21%
135Chase AndersonCOLLAD, MIN 0%2%
136Ryne NelsonARI@CWS 8% 
137Dakota HudsonSTL@MIL 7% 
138Tylor MegillNYMPHI 21% 
139Karl KauffmannCOLMIN 0%0%
140Luke WeaverNYY@TOR 0%13%
141Luis OrtizPIT@PHI 0%0%
142Luis MedinaOAK@MIN 4%23%
143Joey WentzDETCLE 0%0%
144Luis PatinoCWSARI 0%0%
145Ryan FeltnerCOLLAD 0%0%
146Ty BlachCOLMIN 1%4%
147Jose UrenaCWSARI, SD 0%0%
148Noah DavisCOLLAD 0%0%
149Michael GroveLAD@COL 2%9%
150Trevor WilliamsWAS@BAL 0%11%
151Joan AdonWAS@ATL 2%13%
152Jackson RutledgeWAS@ATL 0%0%
153Patrick CorbinWAS@ATL 1%30%
154Adam WainwrightSTLCIN 5%6%
155Chris FlexenCOLLAD 0%4%

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Kevin GausmanTORNYY, TBMay not pitch on Sunday of playoffs are clinched
2Sonny GrayMINOAK 
3Luis CastilloSEAHOU, TEXHuge week in a tight race
4Tarik SkubalDETKC 
5Framber ValdezHOU@SEA 
6Kyle BradishBALWAS, BOSShould start Sunday, but likely won't go deep
7Pablo LopezMINOAK 
8Justin VerlanderHOU@SEA, @ARI 
9Gerrit ColeNYY@TOR 
10George KirbySEAHOU, TEX 
11Reese OlsonDETKC 
12Jordan MontgomeryTEX@SEA 
13Michael KingNYY@TOR, @KCEarned a full-fledges starter role
14Cole RagansKC@DET 
15Bailey OberMINOAK, @COL 
16Cristian JavierHOU@SEA 
17Nathan EovaldiTEX@SEA 
18Lucas GiolitoCLECIN 
19Logan GilbertSEATEX 
20Triston McKenzieCLE@DET 
21Jose BerriosTORNYY 
22Chris SaleBOS@BAL 
23Eduardo RodriguezDETCLE 
24Chris BassittTORNYY 
25Shane BieberCLECIN 
26Nick PivettaBOS@BAL 
27Grayson RodriguezBALWAS 
28Jon GrayTEX@LAA, @SEAReally struggling, needs to step up in the final week
29Mike ClevingerCWSSD 
30Tanner HouckBOSTB, @BAL 
31Tyler GlasnowTB@BOS 
32Hyun Jin RyuTORTB 
33Gavin WilliamsCLE@DET 
34Aaron CivaleTB@TOR 
35Kutter CrawfordBOS@BAL 
36Zach EflinTB@BOS 
37Zack LittellTB@TOR 
38Cal QuantrillCLE@DET 
39Bryan WooSEATEX 
40Dylan CeaseCWSSD 
41Carlos RodonNYY@KC 
42Martin PerezTEX@LAA, @SEA 
43Brayan BelloBOSTB 
44Dane DunningTEX@LAA 
45Clarke SchmidtNYYARI, @KC 
46Chase SilsethLAAOAK 
47Sawyer Gipson-LongDETKC 
48Reid DetmersLAATEX 
49Alex FaedoDETCLE 
50Yusei KikuchiTORTB 
51JP SearsOAK@LAA 
52Patrick SandovalLAATEX, OAK 
53John MeansBALBOS 
54Bryce MillerSEAHOU 
55Hunter BrownHOU@ARI 
56Griffin CanningLAATEX 
57AL Reliever   
58J.P. FranceHOU@ARI 
59Kenta MaedaMIN@COL 
60Joe RyanMIN@COL 
61Zack GreinkeKC@DET, NYY 
62Kyle GibsonBALBOS 
63Jordan LylesKCNYY 
64Kenny RosenbergLAAOAK 
65Taj BradleyTB@TOR 
66Alec MarshKCNYY 
67Anthony VenezianoKC@DET 
68Joe BoyleOAK@LAA 
69Ken WaldichukOAK@MIN 
70Paul BlackburnOAK@MIN, @LAA 
71Dean KremerBALBOS 
72Touki ToussaintCWSARI 
73Luke WeaverNYY@TOR 
74Luis MedinaOAK@MIN 
75Joey WentzDETCLE 
76Luis PatinoCWSARI 
77Jose UrenaCWSARI, SD 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Blake SnellSD@SF, @CWSLooking to add NL Cy Young to his 2018 award
2Brandon WoodruffMILCHCLayoff has him fresh for the playoffs
3Corbin BurnesMILSTL 
4Hunter GreeneCIN@CLE, @STL 
5Logan WebbSFSD, LAD 
6Braxton GarrettMIA@NYM, @PIT 
7Freddy PeraltaMILCHC 
8Aaron NolaPHIPIT, @NYMSecond start in jeopardy
9Justin SteeleCHC@ATL, @MIL 
10Kodai SengaNYMMIA 
11Zack WheelerPHIPIT 
12Bryce ElderATLCHC, WASProbably the No. 4 if Braves make the NLCS
13Merrill KellyARI@NYY, HOU 
14Jesus LuzardoMIA@NYM 
15Clayton KershawLAD@SF 
16Zac GallenARIHOU 
17Mitch KellerPIT@PHI, MIA 
18Allan WinansATLWAS 
19Cristopher SanchezPHI@NYM 
20Spencer StriderATLWAS 
21Lance LynnLAD@SF 
22Seth LugoSD@SF 
23Taijuan WalkerPHI@NYM 
24Joey LucchesiNYMMIA 
25Andrew AbbottCIN@CLE 
26Jose QuintanaNYMPHI 
27Sean ManaeaSFSD 
28Wade MileyMILSTL 
29Ranger SuarezPHIPIT 
30Kyle HendricksCHC@MIL 
31Brandon WilliamsonCIN@STL 
32Jordan WicksCHC@MIL 
33Ryan PepiotLAD@COL, @SF 
34Edward CabreraMIA@PIT 
35Darius VinesATLCHC 
36Bobby MillerLAD@COL 
37NL Reliever   
38Adrian HouserMILSTL, CHC 
39David PetersonNYMMIA 
40Connor PhillipsCIN@STL 
41Ross StriplingSFLAD 
42Michael WachaSD@CWS 
43Johan OviedoPIT@PHI 
44Kyle HarrisonSFSD 
45Alex WoodSFLAD 
46Johnny CuetoMIA@NYM 
47Jameson TaillonCHC@ATL 
48Nick MartinezSD@CWS 
49Miles MikolasSTL@MIL 
50Jose ButtoNYMPHI 
51Javier AssadCHC@ATL 
52Matt WaldronSD@SF 
53Emmet SheehanLAD@COL 
54Osvaldo BidoPITMIA 
55Drew RomSTLCIN 
56Zack ThompsonSTL@MIL, CIN 
57Jared ShusterATLCHC 
58Quinn PriesterPITMIA 
59Slade CecconiARI@CWS 
60Bryan HoeingMIA@PIT 
61Josiah GrayWAS@BAL 
62Zach DaviesARI@CWS, HOU 
63Chase AndersonCOLLAD, MIN 
64Ryne NelsonARI@CWS 
65Dakota HudsonSTL@MIL 
66Tylor MegillNYMPHI 
67Karl KauffmannCOLMIN 
68Luis OrtizPIT@PHI 
69Ryan FeltnerCOLLAD 
70Ty BlachCOLMIN 
71Noah DavisCOLLAD 
72Michael GroveLAD@COL 
73Trevor WilliamsWAS@BAL 
74Joan AdonWAS@ATL 
75Jackson RutledgeWAS@ATL 
76Patrick CorbinWAS@ATL 
77Adam WainwrightSTLCIN 
78Chris FlexenCOLLAD 

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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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