Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Interleague Play is Back

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Updated on June 12, 2010 2:43PM EST

For the week June 14-20

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.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Adam Wainwright - SEA, OAK
2. Josh Johnson - TEX, TB
3. Roy Halladay - @NYY, MIN
4. Johan Santana - @CLE, @NYY
5. Ubaldo Jimenez - @MIN
6. Stephen Strasburg – CHW (vs. Gavin Floyd)
7. Jonathan Sanchez - BAL, @TOR
8. Tim Lincecum - BAL
9. Chris Carpenter - OAK
10. Clayton Kershaw - @CIN
11. Matt Cain - @TOR
12. Tommy Hanson - TB
13. Cole Hamels - MIN
14. Felipe Paulino - @KC, TEX
15. Roy Oswalt - @KC
16. Anibal Sanchez - TEX, TB
17. Ryan Dempster - OAK
18. Johnny Cueto - @SEA
19. Jon Niese - @CLE
20. Tim Hudson - TB
21. Mat Latos - TOR
22. Dan Haren - @DET
23. Ian Kennedy - @BOS, @DET (not liking the matchups here)
24. Yovani Gallardo - @COL
25. Kris Medlen - KC
26. Ricky Nolasco - TB
27. Hiroki Kuroda - @CIN, @BOS
28. Carlos Silva - LAA
29.

For the week June 14-20

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em

Borderline

39. Barry Zito - @TOR
40. Carlos Zambrano - OAK, LAA
41. Livan Hernandez - @DET
42. John Ely - @BOS
43. Wandy Rodriguez - TEX
44. R.A. Dickey - @CLE
45. Brad Lincoln - CHW, CLE
46. Aaron Harang - LAD, @SEA
47. Jhoulys Chacin - @MIN
48. Brett Myers - @KC
49. Jeff Francis - MIL
50. Randy Wells - OAK
51. Joe Blanton - MIN
52. Zach Duke - CHW
53. Paul Maholm - CLE
54. Clayton Richard - BAL
55. Kenshin Kawakami – TB, KC (could skip him for one of these)
56. Chris Volstad - TB
57. Jason Hammel - MIL
58. Ross Ohlendorf - CHW
59. Luis Atilano - @DET

Extreme Caution Advised

60. Randy Wolf - @LAA, @COL
61. Kevin Correia - TOR
62. Jeffrey Karstens - CLE
63. John Lannan - @DET, CHW
64. Sam LeCure - @SEA
65. Nate Robertson - TEX, TB
66. Kyle Kendrick - @NYY
67. Hisanori Takahashi - @NYY
68. Rodrigo Lopez - @BOS
69. J.D. Martin - CHW
70. Brian Moehler - TEX
71. David Bush - @LAA
72. Chris Narveson - @LAA
73. Manny Parra - @COL (could get skipped)
74. Adam Ottavino - OAK
75. Aaron Cook - @MIN, MIL
76. Jamie Moyer - @NYY
77. Vicente Padilla - @BOS
78. Joe Martinez – BAL
79. Jeff Suppan - SEA
80. Dontrelle Willis - @BOS

Projected No. 5 starters skipped:Kenshin Kawakami

Two-start starters:Kenshin Kawakami (tentative), Josh Johnson, Johan Santana, John Lannan, Carlos Zambrano, Aaron Harang, Felipe Paulino, Randy Wolf, Brad Lincoln, Adam Wainwright, Ian Kennedy, Aaron Cook, Jon Garland, Jonathan Sanchez

Notes: The Stephen Strasburg traveling circus heads home this week where he'll take on Gavin Floyd and the White Sox. He won't throw one this year due to innings/pitch-count restrictions, but over/under on career no-hitters at 3.5? Reasonable? … Jordan Zimmerman (Tommy John surgery) is reportedly hitting 94 mph already in his rehab. He could be joining Strasburg in August if all goes well. … I have Joseph Martinez, best known for taking a ball off his dome last year, as taking over for Todd Wellemeyer. Madison Bumgarner had a meltdown with the umpires in his last Triple-A start, otherwise he probably would have been the guy. … Jeff Suppan should make his first St. Louis start of this year either Monday or Tuesday at home against the Mariners. Good opponent to debut against, but I don't care how magical Dave Duncan is – don't use Suppan. … Brad Lincoln is no Strasburg, but he was a victim of some poor defense last time out. I still think can be a solid No. 3 starter and is certainly worth using this week with two home starts against the White Sox and Indians. … Felipe Paulino isn't without his warts (4.5 BB/9), but he's the third hardest throwing starter in the NL behind Ubaldo Jimenez and Strasburg and just put up an 8-8-2-2-2-7 in Coors Field in his last start. I'll have him ranked very high this week. … Prospect update: The Astros' best prospect has to be Jordan Lyles. Lyles, just 19, was the club's first round supplemental pick (No. 38 overall) in 2008 and has a 2.70 ERA and 59:17 K:BB in 73.1 innings. That's he's doing it in Double-A against older hitters makes it that much more impressive. I can count on one hand the number of minor league pitching prospects (still in the minors) I'd rather have. … Time to blow up the D-backs. When your Dontrelle Willis fall-back is Kris Benson, it's time to throw in the towel. … Now is THIS the real Manny Parra (10 strikeouts against the Cardinals) or are we going to be disappointed again? I can't recommend him in Coors Field this week, but then again, if the does well Saturday (6/12 – after this piece is published), perhaps I can be convinced. It is worth noting his 9.2 K/9 and .373 BABIP. … It will be interesting to see how Mike Leake rebounds from his worst professional start. His 6.1 K/9 is nothing special and at 77.1 innings already, the Reds have to be cognizant about his workload. Fortunately they have the right man for monitoring him – Dusty Baker. … It was pretty obvious even before Thursday's one-hit shutout that Jonathan Niese was the third most attractive (no, not attractive in THAT way) fantasy option in the Mets organization. Bid aggressively in NL-only leagues this week.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. CC Sabathia - PHI, NYM
2. David Price - @ATL, @FLA
3. Clay Buchholz - ARI, LAD
4. Justin Verlander - WAS
5. Cliff Lee - CIN
6. Philip Hughes - NYM
7. Felix Hernandez - CIN
8. Jon Lester - ARI
9. Jered Weaver - @CHC
10. Jeff Niemann - @FLA
11. Zack Greinke - @ATL
12. Francisco Liriano - COL
13. Matt Garza - @FLA
14. C.J. Wilson - @FLA, @HOU
15. Shaun Marcum - @SD, SF
16. Justin Masterson - NYM, @PIT
17. Brett Cecil - @SD
18. Max Scherzer – WAS, ARI
19. Ricky Romero - @SD
20. John Danks - @PIT
21. Javier Vazquez - NYM
22. Trevor Cahill - @CHC, @ATL
23. Andy Pettitte - PHI
24. John Lackey - ARI
25. Colby Lewis - @HOU
26. A.J. Burnett - PHI
27. Jake Peavy - @PIT
28. Brandon Morrow - SF
29. Fausto Carmona - @PIT
30. Jeremy Bonderman - ARI
31. Ervin Santana - MIL
32. Gio Gonzalez - @CHC
33. James Shields - @ATL
34. Dallas Braden - @CHC

Borderline

35. Doug Fister - CIN
36. Scott Baker - COL
37. Brian Matusz - @SD
38. Jeremy Guthrie - @SF
39. Kevin Millwood - @SD
40. Wade Davis - @ATL
41. Daisuke Matsuzaka - LAD
42. Jake Arrieta - @SF
43. Jason Vargas - @STL
44. Gavin Floyd - @WAS
45. David Huff - @PIT
46. Freddy Garcia - @PIT, @WAS
47. Mitch Talbot - NYM
48. Mark Buehrle - @WAS
49. Armando Galarraga - ARI
50. Kevin Slowey - @PHI
51. Carl Pavano - COL, @PHI
52. Joel Pineiro - MIL
53. Chris Tillman - @SF, @SD
54. Ben Sheets - @STL
55. Rich Harden - @FLA
56. Tim Wakefield - LAD
57. Jesse Litsch - SF

Extreme Caution Advised

58. Bruce Chen - HOU
59. Luke Hochevar - HOU
60. Joe Saunders - MIL, @CHC
61. Kyle Davies - HOU, @ATL
62. Rick Porcello - ARI (WAS start was skipped due to his struggles)
63. Brian Bannister - @ATL
64. Luke French - @STL, CIN
65. Jake Westbrook - NYM
66. Scott Kazmir - @CHC
67. Vincent Mazzaro - @STL
68. Ryan Rowland-Smith - @STL
69. Nick Blackburn - @PHI
70. Scott Feldman - @HOU
71. Tommy Hunter - @FLA

Projected No. 5 starters skipped:Rick Porcello

Two-start starters:Chris Tillman, Clay Buchholz, CC Sabathia, David Price, Shaun Marcum, Freddy Garcia, Justin Masterson, Kyle Davies, Carl Pavano, Joe Saunders, C.J. Wilson, Max Scherzer, Trevor Cahill, Luke French (tentative)

Notes: Two of his four walks were of the intentional variety, making Jake Arrieta's 6-4-3-3-4-6 big league debut against the Yankees that much more impressive. That Baltimore rotation is really starting to take shape with Arrieta, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman now all together for the first time. There's also more on the way, as Zack Britton has a 2.96 ERA in Double-A. … Bruce Chen has 16 strikeouts in 15.1 innings as a starter and is a decent play this week against Houston. … Trevor Cahill has shown better command this year (3.1 BB/9 vs. 3.6 in 2010). Keep in mind though he's just 22, so it may be a couple years before we see Cahill approach the dominance he showed in the minors. … Rick Porcello has struck out more than three batters once (five) in his 12 starts this year, and after allowing eight runs in Chicago last time out, there's talk of a Triple-A stint. Porcello will have his next start skipped. I wouldn't use him until we see some progress. … Not the K/9 trend you want to see for Scott Kazmir: 10.4, 9.8, 7.4, 6.0. I can't justify recommending him right now. … Scott Baker has been a huge disappointment (4.81 ERA) this year, and though the command is still there (2.1 BB/9), the consistency is not. I still remain optimistic, but not as much as I was in March. … Coming into the season, I figured David Price and Jeff Niemann (in that order) would be the third and fourth best starters on the Tampa Bay staff. Now I'm not sure how to order 1-4. Price's peripherals (6.4 K/9, 3.6 BB/9) are hardly spectacular, but fantasy owners will take nine wins. Just don't expect smooth sailing the rest of the way. … Max Scherzer has 24 strikeouts in 18 innings since returning from Triple-A. I can see top-10 AL talent there, but I'm still waiting for the consistency. … Kenny Williams is going to figure out a way to get Dan Hudson into the rotation soon, and probably via a trade of one of the current five. Hudson has a 77:18 K:BB in 65.1 innings in Triple-A and is clearly ready for the next step. Trading Freddy Garcia would be a good start to a rebuild. … Daisuke Matsuzaka's K/9 rate has dipped to 6.8 this year, but he's coming off back-to-back quality starts, so maybe he's setting in finally. … It wouldn't be a surprise if Josh Beckett (back/lat) were out until after the All-Star break. I like a rested and motivated Beckett as a buy-low guy. … Doug Fister is out with shoulder fatigue but is expected to return this week. Go ahead and use him at home against the Reds.

MIXED LEAGUE TOP 100

1. Adam Wainwright - SEA, OAK
2. Josh Johnson - TEX, TB
3. Roy Halladay - @NYY, MIN
4. CC Sabathia - PHI, NYM
5. Johan Santana - @CLE, @NYY
6. David Price - @ATL, @FLA
7. Ubaldo Jimenez - @MIN
8. Stephen Strasburg - CHW
9. Clay Buchholz - ARI, LAD
10. Jonathan Sanchez - BAL, @TOR
11. Tim Lincecum - BAL
12. Chris Carpenter - OAK
13. Justin Verlander - WAS
14. Cliff Lee - CIN
15. Clayton Kershaw - @CIN
16. Philip Hughes - NYM
17. Felix Hernandez - CIN
18. Jon Lester - ARI
19. Matt Cain - @TOR
20. Jered Weaver - @CHC
21. Tommy Hanson - TB
22. Cole Hamels - MIN
23. Felipe Paulino - @KC, TEX
24. Roy Oswalt - @KC
25. Anibal Sanchez - TEX, TB
26. Jeff Niemann - @FLA
27. Ryan Dempster - OAK
28. Zack Greinke - @ATL
29. Francisco Liriano - COL
30. Matt Garza - @FLA
31. Johnny Cueto - @SEA
32. C.J. Wilson - @FLA, @HOU
33. Shaun Marcum - @SD, SF
34. Jon Niese - @CLE
35. Tim Hudson - TB
36. Justin Masterson - NYM, @PIT
37. Brett Cecil - @SD
38. Max Scherzer – WAS, ARI
39. Ricky Romero - @SD
40. John Danks - @PIT
41. Javier Vazquez - NYM
42. Mat Latos - TOR
43. Dan Haren - @DET
44. Ian Kennedy - @BOS, @DET (not liking the matchups here)
45. Trevor Cahill - @CHC, @ATL
46. Yovani Gallardo - @COL
47. Kris Medlen - KC
48. Ricky Nolasco - TB
49. Andy Pettitte - PHI
50. John Lackey - ARI
51. Colby Lewis - @HOU
52. Hiroki Kuroda - @CIN, @BOS
53. A.J. Burnett - PHI
54. Carlos Silva - LAA
55. Jake Peavy - @PIT
56. Brandon Morrow - SF
57. Fausto Carmona - @PIT
58. Jeremy Bonderman - ARI
59. Chad Billingsley - @CIN
60. Ervin Santana - MIL
61. Mike Pelfrey - @NYY
62. Jon Garland - TOR, BAL
63. Ted Lilly - LAA
64. Mike Leake - LAD
65. Jamie Garcia - SEA
66. Bronson Arroyo - LAD
67. Edwin Jackson - @DET (payback time?)
68. Gio Gonzalez - @CHC
69. James Shields - @ATL
70. Wade LeBlanc - BAL
71. Dallas Braden - @CHC
72. Doug Fister - CIN
73. Scott Baker - COL
74. Derek Lowe - KC
75. Barry Zito - @TOR
76. Carlos Zambrano - OAK, LAA
77. Brian Matusz - @SD
78. Livan Hernandez - @DET
79. Jeremy Guthrie - @SF
80. John Ely - @BOS
81. Wandy Rodriguez - TEX
82. R. A. Dickey - @CLE
83. Brad Lincoln - CHW, CLE
84. Aaron Harang - LAD, @SEA
85. Jhoulys Chacin - @MIN
86. Brett Myers - @KC
87. Jeff Francis - MIL
88. Randy Wells - OAK
89. Kevin Millwood - @SD
90. Wade Davis - @ATL
91. Daisuke Matsuzaka - LAD
92. Jake Arrieta - @SF
93. Jason Vargas - @STL
94. Gavin Floyd - @WAS
95. Joe Blanton - MIN
96. David Huff - @PIT
97. Freddy Garcia - @PIT, @WAS
98. Zach Duke - CHW
99. Paul Maholm – CLE
100. Clayton Richard - BAL