Weekly Pitcher Rankings: This Week's Rankings

For the week Aug. 2-8

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.Roy Halladay - @FLA, NYM
2.Josh Johnson - STL
3.Tommy Hanson - NYM, SF
4.Yovani Gallardo - @CHC, HOU
5.Johan Santana - @ATL, @PHI
6.Adam Wainwright - @FLA
7.Clayton Kershaw - WAS
8.Chris Carpenter - HOU
9.Tim Lincecum - @COL
10.Tim Hudson - SF
11.Brett Myers - @STL, @MIL
12.Mat Latos - @LAD, @ARI (2nd start a little tentative)
13.Ubaldo Jimenez - SF
14.Jaime Garcia - HOU, @FLA
15.Ricky Nolasco - STL
16.Cole Hamels - NYM
17.Hiroki Kuroda - SD, WAS
18.Roy Oswalt - @FLA
19.Matt Cain - @ATL
20.Vicente Padilla - SD, WAS
21.Ryan Dempster - MIL
22.Ted Lilly - MIL, CIN
23.Kris Medlen - NYM
24.Joe Saunders - WAS, SD
25.Jair Jurrjens - SF
26.Chad Billingsley - SD
27.Anibal Sanchez - PHI
28.Johnny Cueto - @PIT
29.Madison Bumgarner - @ATL
30.Jonathon Niese - @PHI
31.Tom Gorzelanny - CIN
32.Bronson Arroyo - @CHC
33.Ian Kennedy - WAS
34.Edinson Volquez - @CHC
35.Dan Hudson - WAS, SD
36.Clayton Richard - @LAD, @ARI
37.Derek Lowe - NYM, SF
38.R.A. Dickey - @ATL
39.Joe Blanton - NYM
40.Wandy Rodriguez - @MIL
41.Mike Pelfrey - @ATL
42.Randy Wells - MIL
43.Travis Wood - @PIT, @CHC
44.Mike Leake - @PIT
45.Barry Zito - @ATL

Borderline

46.Jorge De La Rosa - @PIT
47.Carlos Silva - CIN
48.Paul Maholm - CIN, COL
49.Rodrigo Lopez - SD
50.Wade LeBlanc - @LAD
51.Jonathan Sanchez - @COL, @ATL
52.Livan Hernandez - @ARI, @LAD
53.Scott Olsen - @ARI, @LAD
54.Barry Enright - WAS
55.Jeff Francis - @PIT
56.Kevin Correia - @LAD
57.Jon Garland - @ARI
58.Jason Hammel - @PIT
59.J.A. Happ - @STL
60.Ross Detwiler - @ARI
61.Manny Parra - @CHC
62.Carlos Monasterios - SD
63.Bud Norris - @STL

Extreme Caution Advised

64.Craig Stammen - @ARI
65.Randy Wolf - HOU
66.Kyle Kendrick - @FLA
67.Chris Volstad - PHI
68.Daniel McCutchen - COL
69.Hisanori Takahashi - @PHI
70.Zach Duke - COL
71.Ross Ohlendorf - CIN, COL
72.Blake Hawksworth - HOU, @FLA
73.Aaron Cook - SF, @PIT
74.Sean West - STL, PHI
75.Jason Marquis - @LAD
76.David Bush - HOU
77.Chris Narveson - @CHC
78.Jeffrey Karstens - CIN
79.Brian Moehler - @MIL

Two-Start Starters:

Tim Hudson
Derek Lowe
Sean West – TENTATIVE could be some other mediocre option instead
Johan Santana
R.A. Dickey
Roy Halladay
Livan Hernandez
Scott Olsen – TENTATIVE – assuming he returns Tuesday
Ted Lilly – TENTATIVE – trade candidate
Travis Wood – TENTATIVE – likely a 2 start guy, but Bailey and Harang lurk
Brett Myers
Yovani Gallardo
Ross Ohlendorf
Paul Maholm
Jaime Garcia
Blake Hawksworth – TENTATIVE – assumes Jeff Suppan skipped and no trades
Dan Hudson – TENTATIVE – no word yet on debut for new team
Joe Saunders
Aaron Cook
Hiroki Kuroda
Vicente Padilla
Clayton Richard
Mat Latos – TENTATIVE – could he be skipped again to limit innings?
Jonathan Sanchez

Notes:Alejandro Sanabia lines up for two starts this week, but after allowing seven runs last time out, it appears he's being replaced by Sean West. Avoid both these guys, though, as the Marlins face the Phillies and Cardinals this week. Sanabia had a 2.11 ERA prior to his last start, and his K:BB remains a respectable 20:7 in 23.1 innings, so he's a decent long-term bet. Just not this week. … Let's not go all Mark Prior on Stephen Strasburg. This just appears to be the Nats protecting their substantial investment/future of the franchise. John Lannan is a slight downgrade, however. … J.A. Happ's second start for Houston will be in St. Louis against Chris Carpenter. Good luck. … Rather than a three-headed closer situation, I really think Drew Storen is just being eased into the role. Of him, Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard, Storen is the guy to pursue the most heavily. … Mike Leake's ERA sits at 5.63 in eight starts since June 2. I like him as a strong No. 3 in the future, but remember, this is a pitcher with zero pro experience prior to making the team out of spring training. … Jamie Garcia threw a grand total of 37.2 innings last year due to 2008 Tommy John surgery, so that he's up to 116 in 2010 gives me some pause. … With an off-day Thursday, how do the Cards NOT bypass Jeff Suppan? Better yet, how do they not trade for a veteran starter by the time this is published? … Dan Hudson was a nice return for Edwin Jackson, especially compared to the Dan Haren return, but it still begs the question as to why Max Scherzer was dealt over the winter. … Joe Saunders and his flyball tendencies in Chase Field has disaster written all over it. Saunders might be in line for a $6 million payday in arbitration this winter, so don't be surprised if he's on the move again in a few months. … I just dropped Anibal Sanchez in a shallow mixed league. Fortunately I did this after my Thursday lineup was already locked in, but now I get to scramble to bring him back. Sanchez has just a 6.5 K/9, but he's looking like that rare pitcher who is going to have a solid career after having his labrum operated on. … You've probably already written him off, but Brandon Webb (shoulder) scratched himself from a recent bullpen session because he "couldn't get loose." Clearly not looking good for a return this year. … No immediate returns in sight for Homer Bailey (shoulder) and Aaron Harang (back). Should be interesting to see how they are mixed back into a full rotation. … Brad Penny (back) is looking less and less likely to return in 2010. Not good for the Cards considering they are operating with 60 percent of a starting rotation. … Jordan Zimmerman (shoulder) was hit hard in his last rehab start, but the Nats aren't concerned. Get ready to pounce in NL-only leagues come mid-August or so. … Chad Billingsley will be working on three days' rest this Saturday in San Francisco. I'd still use him this week against the Padres, but be aware he could be tired coming off of that one. He's never started on his short of rest in his career.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1.David Price - MIN, @TOR
2.Cliff Lee - @OAK
3.Jon Lester - CLE
4.CC Sabathia - BOS
5.Justin Verlander - LAA
6.Jered Weaver - @DET
7.Trevor Cahill - KC, TEX
8.Colby Lewis - @SEA, @OAK
9.Felix Hernandez - KC
10.Josh Beckett - CLE, @NYY
11.Brett Anderson - KC, TEX
12.Zack Greinke - @SEA
13.Gavin Floyd - @BAL
14.Matt Garza - MIN
15.Francisco Liriano - @CLE
16.Dan Haren - @BAL
17.Philip Hughes - TOR
18.Clay Buchholz - @NYY
19.John Lackey - CLE, @NYY
20.Brandon Morrow - @NYY, TB
21.John Danks - @DET
22.Jason Vargas - TEX, KC
23.Max Scherzer - CHW
24.James Shields - @TOR
25.Mark Buehrle - @DET, @BAL
26.Jeff Niemann - MIN, @TOR
27.Shaun Marcum - @NYY
28.Rick Porcello - CHW, LAA
29.A.J. Burnett - TOR, BOS
30.Jeremy Bonderman - CHW, LAA
31.Carl Pavano - @TB, @CLE
32.Javier Vazquez - BOS
33.Wade Davis - MIN
34.Ervin Santana - @BAL
35.C.J. Wilson - @SEA
36.Daisuke Matsuzaka - CLE
37.Brett Cecil - TB

Borderline

38.Vincent Mazzaro - KC
39.Ricky Romero - @NYY
40.Edwin Jackson - @DET
41.Freddy Garcia - @DET, @BAL
42.Rich Harden - @OAK
43.Fausto Carmona - @BOS, MIN
44.Sean O'Sullivan - @OAK
45.Scott Baker - @TB
46.Brian Duensing - @TB, @CLE
47.Dallas Braden - TEX
48.Gio Gonzalez - TEX
49.Tommy Hunter - @SEA
50.Brian Matusz - LAA, CHW
51.Jeremy Guthrie - LAA, CHW
52.Kevin Slowey - @TB
53.Dustin Moseley - TOR

Extreme Caution Advised

54.Jesse Litsch - TB
55.Jake Westbrook - @BOS
56.Doug Fister - TEX
57.Josh Tomlin - MIN
58.Mitch Talbot - @BOS, MIN
59.Armando Galarraga - CHW
60.Justin Masterson - @BOS
61.Brian Bannister - @OAK, @SEA
62.Kyle Davies - @OAK
63.Jake Arrieta - LAA
64.Bruce Chen - @SEA
65.Scott Kazmir - @DET
66.Trevor Bell - @BAL, @DET
67.Bradley Bergesen - CHW
68.David Pauley - TEX
69.Luke French – KC

Two-Start Starters:

Jeremy Guthrie
John Lackey
Josh Beckett
A.J. Burnett
Jeff Niemann
David Price
Brandon Morrow
Mark Buehrle
Fausto Carmona
Mitch Talbot
Jeremy Bonderman
Rick Porcello
Brian Bannister
Carl Pavano
Brian Duensing
Trevor Bell – TENTATIVE – could be anyone really, but he's the logical choice
Trevor Cahill
Jason Vargas
Colby Lewis

Notes: With Edwin Jackson en route to Chicago, Lucas Harrell is temporarily filling Dan Hudson's vacation rotation slot. Harrell has a wholly unimpressive 73:53 K:BB in 119 Triple-A innings, so he's likely not an option should Jackson be swapped for Adam Dunn. More likely Carlos Torres becomes the No. 5 starter in that scenario. … Nice try, but the Marlins said "thanks, but not thanks" to the Rangers offering any three prospects for Josh Johnson. … With a 5.46 ERA, Brian Matusz (along with Chris Tillman) has been a disappointment, but perhaps the grind of a big league season is getting to him. I still expect big things starting in 2011. … One ugly start last time out for Vincent Mazzaro, but also recall the 1.94 ERA in six starts preceding that one. He's still got decent upside, but cutting down on the home runs (11 in 75.2 innings this year) would be a good place to start. … Zach Britton isn't a candidate to join the Baltimore rotation in the near-term, but one wonders why? All Britton has done is post a 2.43 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A. … Expect Andy Pettitte to return from his groin injury in the early part of the week of 8/9. We're guessing Dustin Moseley and not CC Sabathia gets to boot to make room. … Brian Duensing has allowed just three runs in 11 innings since moving to the rotation. Factor in just five strikeouts and his opponents in those outings (KC, BAL) and you get less excited. … I liked what I saw from Rick Porcello in his last start against the Rays. He lost, but the eight strikeouts tied a career high, and Porcello has a 3.38 ERA in three starts since returning from a brief Triple-A stint. … Fister, French and Pauley sounds more like a law firm than 60 percent of a big league rotation, but that's what the Mariners are facing right now. Fortunately they've received a huge year from Jason Vargas, but one wonders how long a 5.9 K/9 will keep Vargas' ERA hovering near 3.00. … Derek Holland (knee/shoulder) tossed a sold five innings in his last minor league rehab start. Holland is probably a week or so from being ready to return, but unless Rich Harden implodes/gets hurt or Tommy Hunter comes back down to Earth, Holland may return as a reliever. Still, I like his upside, but this is about opportunity.

MIXED LEAGUE TOP 100

1.Roy Halladay - @FLA, NYM
2.David Price - MIN, @TOR
3.Cliff Lee - @OAK
4.Josh Johnson - STL
5.Jon Lester - CLE
6.CC Sabathia - BOS
7.Tommy Hanson - NYM, SF
8.Justin Verlander - LAA
9.Yovani Gallardo - @CHC, HOU
10.Johan Santana - @ATL, @PHI
11.Adam Wainwright - @FLA
12.Jered Weaver - @DET
13.Clayton Kershaw - WAS
14.Chris Carpenter - HOU
15.Tim Lincecum - @COL
16.Trevor Cahill - KC, TEX
17.Colby Lewis - @SEA, @OAK
18.Felix Hernandez - KC
19.Tim Hudson - SF
20.Brett Myers - @STL, @MIL
21.Mat Latos - @LAD, @ARI (2nd start a little tentative)
22.Ubaldo Jimenez - SF
23.Jamie Garcia - HOU, @FLA
24.Josh Beckett - CLE, @NYY
25.Brett Anderson - KC, TEX
26.Zack Greinke - @SEA
27.Gavin Floyd - @BAL
28.Ricky Nolasco - STL
29.Matt Garza - MIN
30.Francisco Liriano - @CLE
31.Cole Hamels - NYM
32.Hiroki Kuroda - SD, WAS
33.Dan Haren - @BAL
34.Philip Hughes - TOR
35.Roy Oswalt - @FLA
36.Matt Cain - @ATL
37.Clay Buchholz - @NYY
38.John Lackey - CLE, @NYY
39.Brandon Morrow - @NYY, TB
40.Vicente Padilla - SD, WAS
41.Ryan Dempster - MIL
42.Ted Lilly - MIL, CIN
43.Kris Medlen - NYM
44.Joe Saunders - WAS, SD
45.Jair Jurrjens - SF
46.John Danks - @DET
47.Jason Vargas - TEX, KC
48.Max Scherzer - CHW
49.Chad Billingsley - SD
50.James Shields - @TOR
51.Mark Buehrle - @DET, @BAL
52.Jeff Niemann - MIN, @TOR
53.Shaun Marcum - @NYY
54.Anibal Sanchez - PHI
55.Rick Porcello - CHW, LAA
56.A.J. Burnett - TOR, BOS
57.Johnny Cueto - @PIT
58.Madison Bumgarner - @ATL
59.Jeremy Bonderman - CHW, LAA
60.Jonathon Niese - @PHI
61.Tom Gorzelanny - CIN
62.Bronson Arroyo - @CHC
63.Ian Kennedy - WAS
64.Edinson Volquez - @CHC
65.Carl Pavano - @TB, @CLE
66.Dan Hudson - WAS, SD
67.Clayton Richard - @LAD, @ARI
68.Derek Lowe - NYM, SF
69.R.A. Dickey - @ATL
70.Joe Blanton - NYM
71.Javier Vazquez - BOS
72.Wandy Rodriguez - @MIL
73.Mike Pelfrey - @ATL
74.Randy Wells - MIL
75.Wade Davis - MIN
76.Travis Wood - @PIT, @CHC
77.Ervin Santana - @BAL
78.C.J. Wilson - @SEA
79.Mike Leake - @PIT
80.Barry Zito - @ATL
81.Daisuke Matsuzaka - CLE
82.Jorge De La Rosa - @PIT
83.Brett Cecil - TB
84.Carlos Silva - CIN
85.Paul Maholm - CIN, COL
86.Rodrigo Lopez - SD
87.Wade LeBlanc - @LAD
88.Jonathan Sanchez - @COL, @ATL
89.Livan Hernandez - @ARI, @LAD
90.Vincent Mazzaro - KC
91.Ricky Romero - @NYY
92.Edwin Jackson - @DET
93.Freddy Garcia - @DET, @BAL
94.Scott Olsen - @ARI, @LAD
95.Rich Harden - @OAK
96.Fausto Carmona - @BOS, MIN
97.Sean O'Sullivan - @OAK
98.Scott Baker - @TB
99.Brian Duensing - @TB, @CLE
100.Dallas Braden - TEX