Weekly Pitcher Rankings: It's Showtime

For the week June 7-13

Disclaimer: Rankings are based on information through Friday evening. We will update this piece with comments at the bottom of the article as new information becomes available but recommend keeping up to date with the latest player news.

Always appreciate comments on the rankings, and I expect some disagreement. I'd love to explain the rankings in more detail if you have specific questions, and if there's something in particular that you disagree with, feel free to comment below with your reasoning.

(Stephen Strasburg plus the rest of the) NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em:





1. Chris Carpenter - @LAD, @ARI
2. Ubaldo Jimenez - TOR
3. Matt Cain - @CIN, OAK
4. Ryan Dempster - @PIT, CHW


5. Stephen Strasburg - PIT, @CLE (trust me, I was tempted to put him No. 1)
6. Yovani Gallardo - CHC, TEX
7. Roy Halladay - FLA
8. Mike Pelfrey - SD, @BAL
9. Cole Hamels - SD, @BOS


10. Adam Wainwright - @LAD
11. Johan Santana - SD
12. Tim Lincecum - OAK
13. Johnny Cueto - SF, KC
14. Kris Medlen - @ARI, @MIN


15. Dan Haren - ATL, STL
16. Clayton Kershaw - STL
17. Derek Lowe - @ARI, @MIN
18. Josh Johnson - @PHI
19. Clayton Richard - @NYM, SEA


20. Hiroki Kuroda - STL, LAA
21. Mike Leake - SF
22. Chad Billingsley - LAA
23. Tim Hudson - @MIN
24. John Ely - LAA


25. Edwin Jackson - ATL, STL (tough starts)
26. Roy Oswalt - @COL
27. Barry Zito - @CIN, OAK
28. Tommy Hanson - @ARI
29. Randy Wells - @MIL, CHW


30. Mat Latos - @NYM
31. Ricky Nolasco - @TB
32. Ted Lilly - CHW
33. Jeff Francis - HOU, TOR
34. Bronson Arroyo - KC


35. Jamie Garcia - @ARI
36. Ian Kennedy - ATL
37. Jhoulys Chacin - HOU
38. Anibal Sanchez - @PHI
39. Jonathan Sanchez - @CIN




Borderline





40. Wade LeBlanc - @PHI, SEA
41. Randy Wolf - TEX
42. Carlos Zambrano - @MIL
43. Aaron Harang - SF


44. Jason Hammel - HOU, TOR
45. Kenshin Kawakami - @ARI
46. Joe Blanton - @BOS
47. Jon Niese - @BAL
48. Jamie Moyer - FLA


49. John Lannan - PIT
50. Luis Atilano - @CLE
51. Jon Garland - @NYM
52. Livan Hernandez - PIT
53. Carlos Silva - @MIL


54. Homer Bailey - SF, KC (tentative two-start starter)
55. Zach Duke - @WAS
56. Craig Stammen - @CLE
57. Paul Maholm - @WAS
58. Aaron Cook - HOU


59. Rodrigo Lopez - STL
60. Kevin Correia - SEA


Extreme Caution Advised





61. Chris Volstad - @PHI, @TB
62. Hisanori Takahashi - @BAL


63. Kyle Kendrick - FLA, @BOS
64. R.A. Dickey - SD
65. Wandy Rodriguez - @COL, @NYY
66. David Bush - CHC
67. Ross Ohlendorf - @DET


68. Carlos Monasterios - STL
69. Nate Robertson - @TB
70. Brett Myers - @NYY
71. Dontrelle Willis - ATL
72. Bud Norris - @COL, @NYY (tentative two-start starter)


73. Felipe Paulino - @COL
74. Chris Capuano - CHC
75. Chris Narveson - TEX
76. Jeffrey Karstens - @WAS, @DET (tentative two-start starter)
77. P.J. Walters - @LAD, @ARI (tentative two-start starter)


78. Dana Eveland - CHC, @DET
79. Todd Wellemeyer - @CIN

Projected No. 5 starters skipped: Cardinals No. 5 starter (Adam Ottavino)

Two-start starters:Derek Lowe, Kris Medlen, Chris Volstad, Mike Pelfrey, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Johnny Cueto, Sam LeCure, Wandy Rodriguez, Bud Norris (tentative), Yovani Gallardo, Dana Eveland (tentative), Jeffrey Karstens (tentative), P.J. Walters (tentative), Chris Carpenter, Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Jeff Francis, Hiroki Kuroda, Wade LeBlanc, Clayton Richard, Barry Zito, Matt Cain.

Notes: He's heeeeeere!!! Stephen Strasburg makes his much-anticipated major league debut on Tuesday, June 8, at home against the Pirates. Much has been written, so no more will be said here other than if you've been rostering him all year, now is the time to cash in. As an added bonus, he gets two starts this week against seemingly favorable opponents. … Homer Bailey (shoulder) is eligible to come off the DL on June 8, so I have him penciled in for two starts. That could easily change, with Sam LeCure possibly starting on Tuesday and Bailey on Sunday (6/13). … I have P.J. Walters getting two starts in St. Louis, but if you saw Walters pitch lat time out, you know this is tentative as well. Adam Ottavino could get one or both of Walters' starts. … A Super-Two type situation seems to be the only reason the Giants are keeping Madison Bumgarner in Triple-A. He has a 1.29 ERA in his last nine starts and should be replacing Todd Wellemeyer any day. … I can't believe the Pirates are actually using Dana Eveland every fifth day. Brad Lincoln has a 2.03 ERA and 37:5 K:BB in his last six starts (40 innings) for Triple-A Indianapolis. I have to think Lincoln replaces Eveland, perhaps as early as this week. … Bud Norris (biceps) is eligible to return June 8, and though I have him as a two-start starter, it's likely Brian Moehler gets one of those starts. Either way, that slot in the rotation is scheduled to pitch in Colorado and in New York against the Yankees, so don't use either of these guys this week. … Tim Lincecum finished fourth in the NL in WHIP last year but is just 17th in 2010. Wondering if he's even going to be a top-10 NL starter this year. I could easily see him outside of the top 5. … Clayton Kershaw has a 1.08 ERA in his last five starts. He won't win a Cy Young this year, but it's pretty easy to see him ripping off a couple in a row in the next five years. … Adam Wainwright led the NL in strikeouts in May with 47. Safe to say he's taken another step forward in his development. … Chris Capuano's return from Tommy John surgery is a nice story, and he'll get a real chance at securing a rotation slot despite his subpar first outing. After all, it's not like any of the non-Gallardo starters are doing much. … I'm not sure I'm going out on a limb in saying that Kris Medlen is the Braves' second-best starter behind Tommy Hanson right now. Medlen doesn't strike out a ton of guys, but a 36:9 K:BB in 48.1 innings is still quite good. … Kudos to you if you had patience with Edwin Jackson as he opened at 1-5 with a 7.44 ERA in his first eight starts. In his last four, Jackson is 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA, including nine shutout innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em:





1. Jered Weaver - @OAK, @LAD
2. Philip Hughes - @BAL, HOU
3. Felix Hernandez - @TEX, @SD


4. Cliff Lee - @TEX, @SD
5. Jon Lester - @CLE
6. Colby Lewis - SEA, @MIL
7. Jeff Niemann - TOR, FLA
8. Justin Verlander - PIT


9. CC Sabathia - @BAL
10. Shaun Marcum - @TB
11. James Shields - FLA
12. Clay Buchholz - @CLE
13. David Price - TOR


14. Matt Garza - FLA
15. Kevin Slowey - KC, ATL
16. John Danks - DET
17. Andy Pettitte - HOU
18. Zack Greinke - @MIN (guessing no Cy Young repeat in the AL)


19. Scott Baker - KC
20. Francisco Liriano - ATL
21. Daisuke Matsuzaka - @CLE, PHI
22. Armando Galarraga - @CHW, PIT
23. A.J. Burnett - @BAL


24. Max Scherzer - @CHW
25. Jason Vargas - @SD
26. Fausto Carmona - BOS, WAS
27. Rick Porcello - @CHW
28. Jeremy Bonderman - PIT


29. Carl Pavano - KC
30. Ervin Santana - @OAK
31. Jake Peavy - @CHC
32. Brian Matusz - NYM
33. Gio Gonzalez - @SF


34. C.J. Wilson - SEA
35. Dallas Braden - LAA
36. Doug Fister - @TEX
37. Ben Sheets - LAA, @SF
38. Jeremy Guthrie - NYM


39. Javier Vazquez - HOU


Borderline




40. John Lackey – PHI (guess you probably have to use him, but what a disappointment)
41. Nick Blackburn - ATL
42. Trevor Cahill - LAA


43. Jake Westbrook - WAS
44. Wade Davis - TOR
45. Ricky Romero - @COL
46. Mark Buehrle - @CHC
47. Rich Harden - @MIL


48. Freddy Garcia - DET
49. Joel Pineiro - @LAD
50. Chris Tillman - NYY
51. Brett Cecil - @TB
52. Gavin Floyd - DET, @CHC


53. Scott Kazmir - @OAK, @LAD
54. Justin Masterson - BOS
55. Luke Hochevar - @CIN
56. Brian Bannister - @CIN

Extreme Caution Advised





57. Kyle Davies - @MIN, @CIN
58. Vincent Mazzaro - LAA, @SF (tentative two-start starter)
59. Scott Feldman - SEA, @MIL
60. Kevin Millwood - NYY


61. Tim Wakefield - @CLE, PHI
62. Brandon Morrow - @COL
63. David Huff - BOS, WAS
64. Mitch Talbot - BOS
65. Gil Meche - @MIN


66. Joe Saunders - @OAK
67. Bradley Bergensen - NYY, NYM (tentative two-start starter)
68. Ian Snell - @TEX
69. Tommy Hunter – SEA
70. Brian Tallet - @TB, @COL (tentative two-start starter)

Projected No. 5 starters skipped: None

Two-start starters: Bradley Bergensen (tentative), Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Philip Hughes, Jeff Niemann, Brian Tallet (tentative), Gavin Floyd, Fausto Carmona, David Huff, Armando Galarraga, Kyle Davies, Kevin Slowey, Scott Kazmir, Jered Weaver, Ben Sheets, Vincent Mazzaro (tentative), Cliff Lee, Felix Hernandez, Scott Feldman, Colby Lewis

Notes: Even if Bradley Bergensen does start Tuesday, it's against the Yankees, so that should result in a performance that hastens a call to Triple-A Norfolk for Jake Arrietta. Arrietta has a 1.77 ERA in 11 starts and is the team's No. 1 pitching prospect still in the minors. … Tim Wakefield has allowed 15 runs in 9.2 innings over his last two starts, so with Josh Beckett (back) out another 3-to-4 weeks, the Sox could turn to Boof Bonser. It being hard to see that going well, keep Michael Bowden in mind, though Bowden has a 5.10 ERA for Triple-A Pawtucket. … With the return of Brett Anderson's troublesome left elbow, the A's are going to turn to either Tyson Ross or Vincent Mazzaro this week. Both have struggled recently, but I'll roll the dice on Mazzaro who seemingly has a bit more upside. … Jason Vargas has a 9:9 K:BB in 25.2 innings over his last four starts. I have to think that 2.92 ERA is about to take a major hit. … Jeremy Hellickson has a 1.08 ERA an 29:3 K:BB in 25 innings over his last four starts. There isn't a more major-league ready pitcher currently in the minors, but unless Wade Davis' 36:29 K:BB catches up to him, Hellickson is stuck waiting for a trade or injury. … It's hard to not like the Detroit rotation right now.Its No. 5 starter was robbed of a perfect game, Max Scherzer struck out 14 in his return to the rotation and Jeremy Bonderman had a 1.33 ERA in May. Next to the Rays, this is the deepest rotation in the AL. … Still wondering whether Ricky Romero is for real, but the jump in his dominance sure appears to be – 9.2 K/9 vs. 7.1 a year ago. … Shaun Marcum and David Price are scheduled to hook up Tuesday. Might watch that one around the Strasburg debut. … Jesse Litsch (Tommy John surgery) struggled in his last Triple-A rehab outing and will need at least one more start there before the Jays consider him for their rotation. … No structural damage for Derek Holland (shoulder), but he'll obviously be out awhile. I wouldn't expect much from his replacement, Tommy Hunter. … Jon Lester was 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts in May. Jered Weaver is probably the early AL Cy Young favorite, but Lester has plenty of time to make a run at the award.

TOP 100 (12-Team Mixed Leagues, assuming five starters per team)

1. Chris Carpenter - @LAD, @ARI
2. Jered Weaver - @OAK, @LAD


3. Philip Hughes - @BAL, HOU
4. Felix Hernandez - @TEX, @SD
5. Cliff Lee - @TEX, @SD
6. Ubaldo Jimenez - TOR
7. Matt Cain - @CIN, OAK


8. Ryan Dempster - @PIT, CHW
9. Stephen Strasburg - PIT, @CLE (trust me, I was tempted to put him No. 1)
10. Yovani Gallardo - CHC, TEX
11. Roy Halladay - FLA
12. Jon Lester - @CLE


13. Mike Pelfrey - SD, @BAL
14. Cole Hamels - SD, @BOS
15. Colby Lewis - SEA, @MIL
16. Adam Wainwright - @LAD
17. Jeff Niemann - TOR, FLA


18. Justin Verlander - PIT
19. Johan Santana - SD
20. Tim Lincecum - OAK
21. CC Sabathia - @BAL
22. Johnny Cueto - SF, KC


23. Kris Medlen - @ARI, @MIN
24. Dan Haren - ATL, STL
25. Shaun Marcum - @TB
26. Clayton Kershaw - STL
27. Derek Lowe - @ARI, @MIN


28. Josh Johnson - @PHI
29. James Shields - FLA
30. Clay Buchholz - @CLE
31. David Price - TOR
32. Clayton Richard - @NYM, SEA


33. Matt Garza - FLA
34. Kevin Slowey - KC, ATL
35. Hiroki Kuroda - STL, LAA
36. John Danks - DET
37. Andy Pettitte - HOU


38. Mike Leake - SF
39. Zack Greinke - @MIN (guessing no Cy Young repeat in the AL)
40. Chad Billingsley - LAA
41. Tim Hudson - @MIN
42. Scott Baker - KC


43. John Ely - LAA
44. Edwin Jackson - ATL, STL (tough starts)
45. Francisco Liriano - ATL
46. Roy Oswalt - @COL
47. Barry Zito - @CIN, OAK


48. Tommy Hanson - @ARI
49. Daisuke Matsuzaka - @CLE, PHI
50. Armando Galarraga - @CHW, PIT
51. A.J. Burnett - @BAL
52. Randy Wells - @MIL, CHW


53. Max Scherzer - @CHW
54. Mat Latos - @NYM
55. Jason Vargas - @SD
56. Fausto Carmona - BOS, WAS
57. Rick Porcello - @CHW


58. Jeremy Bonderman - PIT
59. Ricky Nolasco - @TB
60. Carl Pavano - KC
61. Ted Lilly - CHW
62. Jeff Francis - HOU, TOR


63. Ervin Santana - @OAK
64. Bronson Arroyo - KC
65. Jamie Garcia - @ARI
66. Ian Kennedy - ATL
67. Jhoulys Chacin - HOU


68. Jake Peavy - @CHC
69. Anibal Sanchez - @PHI
70. Jonathan Sanchez - @CIN
71. Brian Matusz - NYM
72. Gio Gonzalez - @SF


73. C.J. Wilson - SEA
74. Dallas Braden - LAA
75. Doug Fister - @TEX
76. Ben Sheets - LAA, @SF
77. Jeremy Guthrie - NYM


78. Wade LeBlanc - @PHI, SEA
79. Randy Wolf - TEX
80. Javier Vazquez - HOU
81. Carlos Zambrano - @MIL
82. Aaron Harang - SF


83. John Lackey – PHI (guess you probably have to use him, but what a disappointment)
84. Nick Blackburn - ATL
85. Trevor Cahill - LAA
86. Jason Hammel - HOU, TOR
87. Jake Westbrook - WAS


88. Wade Davis - TOR
89. Kenshin Kawakami - @ARI
90. Joe Blanton - @BOS
91. Jon Niese - @BAL
92. Jamie Moyer - FLA


93. John Lannan - PIT
94. Luis Atilano - @CLE
95. Jon Garland - @NYM
96. Livan Hernandez - PIT
97. Carlos Silva - @MIL


98. Ricky Romero - @COL
99. Mark Buehrle - @CHC
100. Rich Harden - @MIL