Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Red Dawn

For the week Aug. 13-19

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Cole Hamels - MIA, MIL
2. Gio Gonzalez - @SF, NYM
3. Stephen Strasburg - @SF
4. Clayton Kershaw - @PIT
5. Mat Latos - NYM, CHC
6. Matt Cain - @SD
7. Jordan Zimmermann - @SF
8. Johnny Cueto - CHC
9. Ryan Vogelsong - WAS, @SD
10. R.A. Dickey - @CIN
11. Madison Bumgarner - WAS
12. Roy Halladay - MIA
13. Cliff Lee - MIL
14. Ian Kennedy - @STL, @HOU
15. Jon Niese - @WAS
16. Jeff Samardzija - HOU, @CIN
17. Lance Lynn - PIT
18. Josh Johnson - PHI, @COL
19. Mike Minor - SD, LAD
20. Michael Fiers - @COL, PHI
21. Adam Wainwright - ARI
22. Tommy Hanson - SD
23. Vance Worley - MIL
24. Chad Billingsley - @PIT, @ATL
25. Wade Miley - @HOU
26. Edwin Jackson - NYM
27. Ben Sheets - LAD
28. Clayton Richard - @ATL, SF
29. Yovani Gallardo - PHI
30. Bronson Arroyo - CHC
31. Tim Hudson - SD
32. Patrick Corbin - @HOU
33. Mike Leake - NYM, CHC
34. Johan Santana - @WAS
35. Edinson Volquez - @ATL
36. Kyle Lohse - ARI
37. A.J. Burnett - LAD
38. Homer Bailey - NYM
39. Paul Maholm - SD
40. Ross Detwiler - NYM
41. Joe Blanton - @PIT
42. Chris Capuano - @ATL
43. Joe Saunders - @STL
44. Tim Lincecum - WAS
45. Kris Medlen - LAD
46. James McDonald - LAD
47. Jeff Karstens - LAD, @STL
48. Jake Westbrook - PIT
49. Trevor Cahill - @STL
50. Wandy Rodriguez - LAD, @STL

Borderline Depending on League Format

51. Erik Bedard - @STL
52. Drew Pomeranz - MIA
53. Barry Zito - @SD
54. Mark Buehrle - PHI
55. Marco Estrada - PHI
56. Ricky Nolasco - @COL
57. Lucas Harrell - @CHC
58. Matt Harvey - @CIN
59. Bud Norris - @CHC
60. Kyle Kendrick - MIA, MIL
61. Travis Wood - @CIN
62. Chris Young - @CIN, @WAS
63. Randy Wolf - @COL, PHI
64. Mark Rogers - @COL
65. Alex White - MIA
66. Nathan Eovaldi - PHI, @COL
67. Wade LeBlanc - @COL
68. Aaron Harang - @PIT, @ATL
69. Joe Kelly - ARI, PIT (tentative)
70. Jordan Lyles - ARI

Extreme Caution Advised

71. Jeff Francis - MIL, MIA
72. Jason Marquis - @ATL
73. Armando Galarraga - @CHC, ARI
74. Dallas Keuchel - ARI
75. Justin Germano - HOU
76. Brooks Raley - @CIN
77. Chris Volstad - HOU, @CIN
78. Jhoulys Chacin - MIL, MIA (tentative)
79. Tyler Chatwood - MIL
80. Ross Ohlendorf - SF
81. Eric Stults – SF

Notes: Appears as if Tommy Hanson will return from his latest injury this week, likely leaving the Braves with a six-man rotation, at least for the time being. At some point either Kris Medlen or Mike Minor could shift to the bullpen, but both are pitching well now. ... Jaime Garcia could return from a shoulder injury this week, but I am guessing he needs at least one more rehab start. I have Joe Kelly slotted for two starts, but that might not happen. ... Jhoulys Chacin (chest) probably returns this week, but it's not certain. Still, a Chacin who throws underhand would be a better option than Jonathan Sanchez, who was placed on the (phantom) DL this week. ... Johan Santana is set to return from an ankle injury this week, so make sure you get him back in there. ... Clayton Richard is a two-start starter this week. He's allowed just one run in his last 16 innings, so go ahead and use him in all but the shallowest formats. ... It's official (we think): Stephen Strasburg will be capped at 180 innings this year. Tough break in H2H formats should you have Strasburg on a playoff team (as I do). ... Tyler Skaggs is on the radar for a call-up. For me, among prospects yet to make their big league debuts, Skaggs is ranks No. 2 behind Dylan Bundy. Skaggs could get the nod for an Aug. 22 doubleheader. ... Sad to see Cleveland pitching coach Scott Radinsky take the fall for the suckitude of Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson. Radinsky is from my hometown and lists his main hobby outside of baseball as punk rock. ... R.A. Dickey has slowed down a bit, but he still leads the NL in strikeouts and ranks fourth in ERA. A Cy Young trophy is possible, but Johnny Cueto and Jordan Zimmermann are also in the mix. ... I was skeptical, but Mike Fiers' 1.08 ERA after the break leads baseball. His innings could get curtained down the stretch, but he's locked into a 2013 rotation spot.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Justin Verlander - BAL
2. David Price - @LAA
3. Zack Greinke - CLE, TB
4. Jered Weaver - TB
5. Felix Hernandez - TB
6. CC Sabathia - TEX, BOS
7. Chris Sale - @KC
8. Doug Fister - @MIN
9. James Shields - @LAA
10. Matt Moore - @SEA, @LAA
11. Jake Peavy - @TOR, @KC
12. Max Scherzer - @MIN
13. Bartolo Colon - @KC, CLE
14. Jarrod Parker - CLE
15. Hiroki Kuroda - TEX, BOS
16. Jeremy Hellickson - @SEA
17. C.J. Wilson - CLE, TB
18. Anibal Sanchez - @MIN, BAL
19. Josh Beckett - @BAL, @NYY
20. Dan Haren - TB
21. Matt Harrison - @NYY, @TOR
22. Ryan Dempster - @NYY, @TOR
23. Clay Buchholz - @BAL
24. Phil Hughes - BOS
25. Tom Milone - CLE
26. Jason Vargas - MIN
27. Jon Lester - @NYY
28. Francisco Liriano - @TOR
29. Dan Straily - @KC
30. Scott Diamond - @SEA
31. Alex Cobb - @SEA, @LAA
32. Gavin Floyd - @TOR
33. Carlos Villanueva - CHW, TEX

Borderline Depending on League Format

34. Wei-Yin Chen - BOS, @DET
35. Derek Holland - @NYY
36. Justin Masterson - @LAA, @OAK
37. Ivan Nova - TEX
38. Jose Quintana - @TOR, @KC
39. Ubaldo Jimenez - @LAA
40. Freddy Garcia - TEX
41. Rick Porcello - BAL
42. Blake Beavan - TB, MIN
43. Hisashi Iwakuma - MIN
44. Ricky Romero - CHW
45. Jeremy Guthrie - OAK, CHW
46. Brandon McCarthy - @KC
47. Scott Feldman - @NYY
48. Yu Darvish - @TOR
49. Chris Tillman - BOS
50. Bruce Chen - CHW
51. Sam Deduno - DET, @SEA
52. Franklin Morales - @NYY
53. Luke Hochevar - OAK
54. Nick Blackburn - @SEA
55. Kevin Millwood - TB

Extreme Caution Advised

56. Brian Duensing - DET
57. Miguel Gonzalez - BOS
58. Tommy Hunter - @DET
59. Henderson Alvarez - CHW, TEX
60. Luis Mendoza - CHW
61. Cole DeVries - DET
62. Ervin Santana - CLE
63. Zach Britton - @DET
64. Aaron Cook - @BAL
65. Aaron Laffey - CHW
66. Roberto Hernandez - @LAA (tentative)
67. Zach McAllister - @OAK
68. Will Smith - OAK
69. J.A. Happ - TEX
70. Corey Kluber - @OAK

Notes: I'm not really sure what to do with the Boston rotation. Aaron Cook is apparently still in it, and Bobby Valentine is saying good things about Franklin Morales. I guess I'll leave Morales off, but that could easily change. Felix Doubront is another candidate to be shipped to the bullpen. ... The pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, Roberto Hernandez, looks likely to return this week. His debut date is not set in stone, but we'll guess Wednesday at the Angels. ... Derek Holland has allowed nine home runs over his last four starts and this week he goes into Yankee Stadium to pitch against the Yankees, who lead baseball in home runs. This could get ugly or Holland could toss a gem. That's baseball. ... Yu Darvish has allowed at least five runs in each of his last three starts, so he may be wearing down a bit. ... It probably won't be this week, but Brandon Morrow (oblique) is closing in on a return. He should replace Aaron Laffey sometime during the week of Aug. 20. Morrow could net a nice batch of Ks down the stretch. ... Jeremy Guthrie has tossed back-to-back starts, but if you're buying into him based on that, good luck. ... Is there any doubt that the top two AL Cy Young candidates are named Jered Weaver and David Price? This race looks too close to call. ... Doug Fister had a 2.47 ERA after the break last year, and he's doing it again with a 1.79 ERA in his last six starts. ... Matt Moore has a 1.47 ERA in his last five starts and could very well be a top-10 AL starter the rest of the way, he's that talented. ... Jon Lester has a 5.36 ERA versus a 3.68 xFIP, so he should be better down the stretch, but I just can't rank him too high now.

MIXED LEAGUE TOP 100

1. Cole Hamels - MIA, MIL
2. Gio Gonzalez - @SF, NYM
3. Stephen Strasburg - @SF
4. Justin Verlander - BAL
5. Clayton Kershaw - @PIT
6. Mat Latos - NYM, CHC
7. Matt Cain - @SD
8. David Price - @LAA
9. Zack Greinke - CLE, TB
10. Jered Weaver - TB
11. Felix Hernandez - TB
12. CC Sabathia - TEX, BOS
13. Jordan Zimmermann - @SF
14. Johnny Cueto - CHC
15. Chris Sale - @KC
16. Ryan Vogelsong - WAS, @SD
17. R.A. Dickey - @CIN
18. Madison Bumgarner - WAS
19. Roy Halladay - MIA
20. Cliff Lee - MIL
21. Ian Kennedy - @STL, @HOU
22. Doug Fister - @MIN
23. James Shields - @LAA
24. Jon Niese - @WAS
25. Jeff Samardzija - HOU, @CIN
26. Lance Lynn - PIT
27. Matt Moore - @SEA, @LAA
28. Josh Johnson - PHI, @COL
29. Jake Peavy - @TOR, @KC
30. Max Scherzer - @MIN
31. Mike Minor - SD, LAD
32. Bartolo Colon - @KC, CLE
33. Jarrod Parker - CLE
34. Hiroki Kuroda - TEX, BOS
35. Jeremy Hellickson - @SEA
36. C.J. Wilson - CLE, TB
37. Michael Fiers - @COL, PHI
38. Anibal Sanchez - @MIN, BAL
39. Josh Beckett - @BAL, @NYY
40. Adam Wainwright - ARI
41. Tommy Hanson - SD
42. Dan Haren - TB
43. Vance Worley - MIL
44. Chad Billingsley - @PIT, @ATL
45. Wade Miley - @HOU
46. Edwin Jackson - NYM
47. Ben Sheets - LAD
48. Clayton Richard - @ATL, SF
49. Matt Harrison - @NYY, @TOR
50. Ryan Dempster - @NYY, @TOR
51. Yovani Gallardo - PHI
52. Bronson Arroyo - CHC
53. Tim Hudson - SD
54. Clay Buchholz - @BAL
55. Patrick Corbin - @HOU
56. Mike Leake - NYM, CHC
57. Johan Santana - @WAS
58. Edinson Volquez - @ATL
59. Kyle Lohse - ARI
60. A.J. Burnett - LAD
61. Phil Hughes - BOS
62. Homer Bailey - NYM
63. Paul Maholm - SD
64. Tom Milone - CLE
65. Jason Vargas - MIN
66. Ross Detwiler - NYM
67. Jon Lester - @NYY
68. Francisco Liriano - @TOR
69. Dan Straily - @KC
70. Scott Diamond - @SEA
71. Alex Cobb - @SEA, @LAA
72. Joe Blanton - @PIT
73. Chris Capuano - @ATL
74. Joe Saunders - @STL
75. Tim Lincecum - WAS
76. Kris Medlen - LAD
77. James McDonald - LAD
78. Jeff Karstens - LAD, @STL
79. Jake Westbrook - PIT
80. Gavin Floyd - @TOR
81. Carlos Villanueva - CHW, TEX
82. Trevor Cahill - @STL
83. Wei-Yin Chen - BOS, @DET
84. Derek Holland - @NYY
85. Wandy Rodriguez - LAD, @STL
86. Justin Masterson - @LAA, @OAK
87. Ivan Nova - TEX
88. Jose Quintana - @TOR, @KC
89. Erik Bedard - @STL
90. Drew Pomeranz - MIA
91. Barry Zito - @SD
92. Mark Buehrle - PHI
93. Marco Estrada - PHI
94. Ricky Nolasco - @COL
95. Lucas Harrell - @CHC
96. Matt Harvey - @CIN
97. Bud Norris - @CHC
98. Ubaldo Jimenez - @LAA
99. Freddy Garcia - TEX
100. Kyle Kendrick - MIA, MIL

Regan, a five-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association award winner, was named the 2010 Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year.

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