Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Perfect Cy Young Candidate

Cy Young Tracker

NL:

1. R.A. Dickey
2. Johnny Cueto
3. Clayton Kershaw

In the conversation: Jordan Zimmermann, Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel

AL:

1. Justin Verlander
2. David Price
3. Felix Hernandez

In the conversation: Jered Weaver, Chris Sale

For the week Aug. 20-26

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Start 'Em

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

Borderline Depending on League Format

45. Wandy Rodriguez - @SD, MIL
46. Wade LeBlanc - @ARI
47. Mark Buehrle - @ARI, @LAD
48. Ricky Nolasco - @ARI
49. Jason Marquis - PIT
50. Jaime Garcia - @CIN
51. Travis Wood - @MIL
52. Chris Young - COL
53. Lucas Harrell - @STL, @NYM
54. Tyler Chatwood - @CHC
55. Trevor Bauer - MIA (tentative - doubleheader)
56. Jeremy Hefner - HOU
57. Bronson Arroyo - @PHI
58. Drew Pomeranz - @NYM
59. Aaron Harang - MIA
60. Clayton Richard - @ARI
61. Kyle Kendrick - WAS
62. Homer Bailey - @PHI
63. Barry Zito - ATL
64. Jacob Turner - @ARI (tentative)
65. Marco Estrada - CHC, @PIT
66. Alex White - @NYM, @CHC
67. James McDonald - @SD (tentative)
68. Nathan Eovaldi - @LAD

Extreme Caution Advised

69. Joe Blanton - SF
70. Mark Rogers - CHC, @PIT
71. Chris Volstad - COL
72. Johan Santana - COL
73. Bud Norris - @STL
74. Jordan Lyles - @NYM
75. Randy Wolf - @PIT
76. Jeff Francis - @NYM
77. Edinson Volquez - PIT, @ARI
78. Justin Germano - @MIL, COL
79. Jhoulys Chacin - @NYM
80. Brooks Raley - COL
81. Dallas Keuchel - @STL
82. Eric Stults - @ARI
83. Armando Galarraga - @NYM
84. Ross Ohlendorf - PIT

Notes: Shaun Marcum (elbow) could return this week, and the Brewers are contemplating a six-man rotation the rest of the way. I'm going to leave him off for now, but monitor his status over the weekend. ... I really don't know how to forecast the Colorado rotation this week. Jhoulys Chacin (chest) returns, but do the Rockies stick with their bizarre four-man rotation? Do they bump Tyler Chatwood who has been pitching well? What of Jeff Francis? Best to just avoid the bunch, I guess. Drew Pomeranz probably sees his innings limited the rest of the way as well. ... Tommy Hanson should return from a back injury this week. I'm going with a six-man Atlanta rotation until I hear otherwise. ... I'm going to go ahead and say that after his last start Johan Santana has hit a wall. ... James McDonald looked to be in danger of getting skipped this week, but then he pitched six scoreless innings Friday at St. Louis . ... We could get a look at both Jacob Turner and Trevor Bauer in Wednesday's doubleheader. Tyler Skaggs is another option, but he's coming off his first poor start for Triple-A Reno. ... Marco Estrada has an 8.7 K/9IP and 1.9 BB/9IP, but given he's 0-5 with a 4.52 ERA, is he just one of those guys who fails to see his results match his underlying peripherals? ... Homer Bailey has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts. Hopefully you dealt him while he was hot. ... Classic Jason Marquis lately: a two-hit shutout against the Pirates and a blasting at the hands of the Braves. He gets the Pirates at home this week, but if you have to use him, good luck. ... Cliff Lee has walked just five batters over his last eight starts. I still wonder whether we'll see him in Dodger blue next year.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Start 'Em

1. Justin Verlander - TOR
2. David Price - KC
3. Felix Hernandez - CLE
4. Jered Weaver - @BOS
5. Max Scherzer - TOR, LAA
6. James Shields - KC
7. Doug Fister - LAA
8. Jeremy Hellickson - KC, OAK
9. Matt Moore - OAK
10. CC Sabathia - @CLE
11. Jake Peavy - SEA
12. Chris Sale - NYY
13. Hiroki Kuroda - @CLE
14. Alex Cobb - OAK
15. Bartolo Colon - @TB
16. Zack Greinke - @DET
17. Clay Buchholz - LAA
18. Matt Harrison - MIN
19. Ryan Dempster - MIN
20. C.J. Wilson - @DET
21. Dan Straily - MIN
22. Jason Vargas - @CHW
23. Jon Lester - LAA
24. Freddy Garcia - @CHW, @CLE
25. Gavin Floyd - NYY, SEA
26. Anibal Sanchez - TOR
27. Jose Quintana - SEA
28. Blake Beavan - @CHW
29. Rick Porcello - LAA
30. Wei-Yin Chen - TOR
31. Ivan Nova - @CHW
32. Ricky Romero - @DET, @BAL
33. Brandon Morrow - @BAL
34. Ervin Santana - @BOS, @DET
35. Phil Hughes - @CHW
36. Derek Holland - BAL, MIN
37. Josh Beckett - KC
38. Dan Haren - @BOS
39. Brandon McCarthy - MIN
40. Yu Darvish - BAL

Borderline Depending on League Format

41. Jarrod Parker - @TB (tentative)
42. Francisco Liriano - NYY
43. Justin Masterson - NYY
44. Miguel Gonzalez - @TEX, TOR
45. Scott Diamond - @TEX
46. Ubaldo Jimenez - @SEA, NYY
47. Luis Mendoza - @TB
48. Jeremy Guthrie - @BOS
49. Luke Hochevar - @TB
50. Scott Feldman - BAL, MIN
51. Tom Milone - @TB
52. Hisashi Iwakuma - CLE
53. Kevin Millwood - CLE, @CHW
54. Roberto Hernandez - @SEA
55. Bruce Chen - @BOS
56. Brett Anderson - MIN
57. Sam Deduno - @TEX

Extreme Caution Advised

58. Aaron Laffey - @DET (tentative)
59. Henderson Alvarez - @BAL
60. Steve Johnson - TOR
61. Tommy Hunter - @TEX
62. Felix Doubront - KC
63. Zach McAllister - @SEA
64. Will Smith - @TB, @BOS
65. Chris Tillman - @TEX
66. Aaron Cook - LAA, KC
67. J.A. Happ - @DET
68. Corey Kluber - NYY
69. Brian Duensing - @OAK, @TEX
70. Nick Blackburn - @OAK
71. Cole DeVries - @OAK, @TEX

Notes: August 24 is the target date for Brandon Morrow's return from an oblique injury. If he's on your waiver wire, this might be a good week to give him a look. With the Blue Jays looking to limit Carlos Villanueva's innings, I'm leaving Aaron Laffey in the rotation this week, though this is certainly subject to change. ... I'm pretty sure Brett Anderson will return from Tommy John surgery this week, so going with a six-man rotation for the A's this week. That may not happen, so monitor their news over the weekend. ... Matt Harrison leads the Rangers in wins, quality starts. He's done that despite accumulating 73 fewer strikeouts than Yu Darvish. ... I'm pretty down on Dan Harenthe rest of the way. The Angels have a $12 million decision ($15.5M option, $3.5M buyout) on Haren this offseason. ... Francisco Liriano walked just one and fanned six last time out. Maybe he's "back"? ...or not. ... Roberto Hernandez was predictably hammered by the Angles in his first start back, but he could be decent AL-only play in Seattle this week. ... Chris Sale will be a Verducci candidate next spring, as he's already at 138.2 innings versus 71 the year before. The White Sox, however, don't appear all that interested in limiting his innings. ... Alex Cobb is pitching well, recording four quality starts in a row. He should be guaranteed a rotation spot next year, particularly once the Rays deal James Shields, which seems likely. ... Max Scherzer leads all baseball with 178 strikeouts. He's fanned at least eight in six straight starts. With probably eight starts left, he could match the 250 put up by teammate Justin Verlander last year. ... What are the Twins going to do with their rotation next year? Scott Diamond is probably the only lock for a spot right now.

MIXED LEAGUE TOP 100

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

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

Follow @vtadave on Twitter.