This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
As always, remember that rotations are subject to change, so if you see something that isn't correct, assume that it was a change that has occurred since this was written and feel free to politely bring it up in the comments, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.
For the week April 14-27
AMERICAN LEAGUE
For the week April 14-27
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
| 1. Yu Darvish - at OAK, at SEA Note: If you drafted in window where he was DL'd and there was panic about his neck, you got a helluva discount |
| 2. Justin Verlander - CWS, at MIN |
| 3. Felix Hernandez - HOU, TEX |
| 4. Masahiro Tanaka - at BOS, LAA Note: Exceeded my expectations early, particularly with the 33.7-percent K rate |
| 5. James Shields - at CLE, at BAL Note: Among the most underrated frontline arms in the game |
| 6. Chris Sale - at DET, TB |
| 7. Jon Lester - NYY, at TOR Note: Quietly off to brilliant start, could this finally be the Cy-caliber season we've dreamt of? |
| 8. Anibal Sanchez - CWS, at MIN |
| 9. Max Scherzer - CWS |
| 10. David Price - MIN Note: See if 4.39 ERA can bring a discount via trade; he's fine |
| 11. Sonny Gray - TEX Note: Conversely, consider selling high on 1.80 ERA; he's good, but not this good |
| 12. Chris Archer - at CWS |
| 13. Scott Kazmir - at HOU Note: Seems poised for a huge season if he can stay healthy, but it's a big "if" |
| 14. Yordano Ventura - |
As always, remember that rotations are subject to change, so if you see something that isn't correct, assume that it was a change that has occurred since this was written and feel free to politely bring it up in the comments, and I'll let you know where the new arm slots.
For the week April 14-27
AMERICAN LEAGUE
SIT
NATIONAL LEAGUE
SIT
MLB TOP 100
For the week April 14-27
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
| 1. Yu Darvish - at OAK, at SEA Note: If you drafted in window where he was DL'd and there was panic about his neck, you got a helluva discount |
| 2. Justin Verlander - CWS, at MIN |
| 3. Felix Hernandez - HOU, TEX |
| 4. Masahiro Tanaka - at BOS, LAA Note: Exceeded my expectations early, particularly with the 33.7-percent K rate |
| 5. James Shields - at CLE, at BAL Note: Among the most underrated frontline arms in the game |
| 6. Chris Sale - at DET, TB |
| 7. Jon Lester - NYY, at TOR Note: Quietly off to brilliant start, could this finally be the Cy-caliber season we've dreamt of? |
| 8. Anibal Sanchez - CWS, at MIN |
| 9. Max Scherzer - CWS |
| 10. David Price - MIN Note: See if 4.39 ERA can bring a discount via trade; he's fine |
| 11. Sonny Gray - TEX Note: Conversely, consider selling high on 1.80 ERA; he's good, but not this good |
| 12. Chris Archer - at CWS |
| 13. Scott Kazmir - at HOU Note: Seems poised for a huge season if he can stay healthy, but it's a big "if" |
| 14. Yordano Ventura - at BAL |
| 15. Michael Pineda - at BOS Note: Three straight 6-IP outings, including against these Red Sox on April 10 |
| 16. Hiroki Kuroda - LAA Note: Hasn't taken off yet, but he'll be fine |
| 17. Jesse Chavez - at HOU Note: A revelation in the RP-to-SP transition carried by an impressive cutter |
| 18. Dan Straily - TEX, at HOU Note: If he was at TEX, he'd be a lot lower as the HR has sunk him thus far |
| 19. R.A. Dickey - BAL, BOS |
| 20. Clay Buchholz - BAL, at TOR Note: Back-to-back QS hopefully puts Buchholz back on track |
| 21. Jake Odorizzi - MIN, at CWS |
| 22. Corey Kluber - KC Note: Buying opportunity will soon pass, he's getting better each start |
| 23. Chris Tillman - at TOR |
| 24. Justin Masterson - KC Note: Bizarre start to the season, but was excellent against TOR last time out |
| 25. CC Sabathia - at BOS |
| 26. Jered Weaver - at WAS Note: HOU, NYM push him around, he stifles DET ... of course; you just have to leave him in, let it play out |
| 27. Ivan Nova - LAA |
| 28. C.J. Wilson - at NYY |
| 29. Martin Perez - at OAK Note: Young lefty is poised for growth; we're seeing some early on |
| 30. John Lackey - NYY |
| 31. Jose Quintana - at DET |
| 32. Jason Vargas - at CLE Note: Right matchups and venues have gotten Vargas off to a great start |
| 33. Zach McAllister - KC, at SF |
| 34. Danny Salazar - KC, at SF Note: HR are his big problem, but KC doesn't hit those so I'm starting him |
| 35. John Danks - at DET, TB |
| 36. Garrett Richards - at WAS, at NYY Note: Flame-throwing righty offers big K potential in a 2-start week |
| 37. Tommy Milone - TEX, at HOU Note: Matchups have to be right to start him, and these two work |
| 38. Dallas Keuchel - at SEA, OAK |
| 39. Scott Feldman - at SEA, OAK Note: Skills say the ERA is headed upward, but he can be useful in a 2-start week |
| 40. Rick Porcello - at MIN |
| 41. Tyler Skaggs - at WAS Note: One good start and it was at HOU so the excitement be a bit high |
| 42. Drew Smyly - CWS Note: Rough first start, but he's better than what we saw against LAA |
| 43. Kyle Gibson - at TB Note: Still need to see more Ks, but he's looked sharp early |
| 44. Brett Oberholtzer - OAK |
| 45. Hector Santiago - at NYY |
| 46. Colby Lewis - at SEA |
| 47. Erasmo Ramirez - HOU Note: A "Sit" with basically any other matchup |
| 48. Roenis Elias - TEX Note: Way better than I expected, so let's give him a shot in a rematch vs. TEX |
| 49. Mark Buehrle - BOS |
SIT
| 50. Phil Hughes - DET Note: Next step: lasting more than 5 IP |
| 51. Ubaldo Jimenez - KC Note: Ugh, guess if you have him you might have to start him, but I'm passing |
| 52. Jake Peavy - at TOR |
| 53. Dustin McGowan - BAL Note: Don't know what to make of all three Jays just yet, but the matchups are fierce |
| 54. Drew Hutchison - BAL |
| 55. Brandon Morrow - BOS |
| 56. Wei-Yin Chen - at BOS, KC |
| 57. Ricky Nolasco - at TB Note: Can't be this bad, right? He just can't be |
| 58. Robbie Ross - at SEA |
| 59. Jeremy Guthrie - at CLE, at BAL |
| 60. Jarred Cosart - at SEA Note: 2 good, 2 bad starts, but the 2 bad are so bad that they erase all the good |
| 61. Chris Young - HOU |
| 62. Erik Bedard - MIN |
| 63. Miguel Gonzalez - at TOR |
| 64. Bud Norris - at TOR |
| 65. Felix Doubront - NYY |
| 66. Brad Peacock - OAK |
| 67. Cesar Ramos - at CWS |
| 68. Bruce Chen - at CLE |
| 69. Nick Martinez - at OAK |
| 70. Mike Pelfrey - at TB, DET |
| 71. Erik Johnson - TB |
| 72. Kevin Correia - DET |
| 73. Carlos Carrasco - at SF |
| 74. Mariners Fifth - TEX |
| 75. Felipe Paulino - at DET |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
START
| 1. Jose Fernandez - at ATL, at NYM Note: Unsurprisingly bounced back beautifully after that dud at PHI |
| 2. Adam Wainwright - at NYM, PIT |
| 3. Andrew Cashner - at MIL, at WAS |
| 4. Johnny Cueto - at PIT, at ATL Note: It's never been about skill with Cueto, but rather health; enjoy while he's upright |
| 5. Julio Teheran - MIA, CIN Note: Skills don't back the ERA yet, but the talent is obvious and plentiful |
| 6. Cliff Lee - at LAD, at ARI |
| 7. Hyun-Jin Ryu - PHI, COL Note: Brilliant since the shellacking against SF, including a gem against them the next time |
| 8. Francisco Liriano - CIN, at STL |
| 9. Jordan Zimmermann - SD Note: Each WAS stud has been trounced by MIA, but they should be able to handle SD |
| 10. Stephen Strasburg - SD |
| 11. Gerrit Cole - at STL |
| 12. Ervin Santana - CIN Note: Who needs a full spring training?? |
| 13. Zack Greinke - PHI |
| 14. Michael Wacha - at NYM |
| 15. Gio Gonzalez - LAA |
| 16. Dan Haren - PHI Note: Not quite as skilled as Cueto, but similar issue where it's more about health than anything else |
| 17. Alex Wood - MIA Note: Wasn't a believer, but I'm starting to come around |
| 18. Marco Estrada - CHC Note: Brewers can pitch! |
| 19. Matt Garza - CHC |
| 20. Zack Wheeler - MIA |
| 21. Lance Lynn - at NYM Note: Buy now while the ERA is still at 4.00; the skills portend much more |
| 22. Homer Bailey - at ATL Note: Speaking of buying, I'm still doing so with Bailey and the discount should be severe |
| 23. A.J. Burnett - at LAD, at ARI Note: Ironed out his mechanics a bit in his latest outing with positive results |
| 24. Wily Peralta - SD, CHC |
| 25. Jeff Samardzija - ARI Note: Ks not plentiful yet, but everything else is great including four straight 7-IP outings |
| 26. Tyson Ross - at MIL |
| 27. Tony Cingrani - at PIT |
| 28. Cole Hamels - at LAD Note: Not a great first outing, likely to be held down IP-wise, so playing it safe with this ranking |
| 29. Nathan Eovaldi - at ATL |
| 30. Yovani Gallardo - SD |
| 31. Kyle Lohse - SD |
| 32. Jenrry Mejia - STL, MIA Note: Hard to turn down K potential in a two-start week |
| 33. Jason Hammel - ARI, at MIL Note: Both of these Cubs have impressed early |
| 34. Travis Wood - ARI, at MIL |
| 35. Mike Leake - at PIT, at ATL |
| 36. Dillon Gee - STL, MIA Note: Perhaps NYM is learning of his deficiency after 75 pitches given when they removed him in ARI |
| 37. Aaron Harang - MIA Note: Feels dirty trusting him and yet he's earned it ... especially with this matchup |
| 38. Wade Miley - at CHC |
| 39. Madison Bumgarner - at COL Note: A little nervous with the two Giants in Coors, especially after their efforts there last year |
| 40. Matt Cain - at COL |
| 41. Tom Koehler - at ATL, at NYM Note: Quietly been fantastic to start the season |
| 42. Robbie Erlin - at WAS |
| 43. Shelby Miller - PIT Note: Remedy for the broken curveball? Just don't use it! Can that work against a more mixed lineup than the righty-heavy Brewers? |
| 44. Tim Hudson - CLE |
| 45. Edinson Volquez - CIN, at STL Note: Starting to believe ... Ray Searage is a wizard! |
| 46. Alfredo Simon - at PIT Note: Go check out his work, he's been great filling in for Mat Latos |
| 47. Jon Niese - STL |
| 48. Wandy Rodriguez - CIN |
| 49. Bartolo Colon - STL |
| 50. Tyler Chatwood - SF Note: Has the groundball game to survive in Coors |
| 51. Charlie Morton - CIN |
| 52. Tyler Lyons - at NYM, PIT Note:Joe Kelly's replacement gets a soft two-start landing |
| 53. Tanner Roark - LAA, SD Note: Ugly ERA, but he has out-pitched Jordan in the fight for the fifth spot |
| 54. Tim Lincecum - CLE Note: Kept switching him between start and sit ... I'm torn |
SIT
| 55. Ian Kennedy - at MIL, at WAS Note: Can he be trusted out of Petco? I'd rather find out on my reserve roster |
| 56. Josh Beckett - COL |
| 57. Taylor Jordan - LAA, SD Note: Not making a great case to hold a spot when Fister returns |
| 58. David Hale - CIN |
| 59. Juan Nicasio - at LAD |
| 60. Eric Stults - at WAS Note: Can't be trusted out of Petco |
| 61. Henderson Alvarez - at NYM |
| 62. Carlos Villanueva - ARI |
| 63. Edwin Jackson - at MIL |
| 64. Mike Bolsinger - at CHC |
| 65. Josh Collmenter - PHI |
| 66. Franklin Morales - SF |
| 67. Kyle Kendrick - at LAD |
| 68. Jordan Lyles - at LAD |
| 69. Roberto Hernandez - at ARI |
| 70. Ryan Vogelsong - at COL, CLE |
| 71. Paul Maholm - PHI, COL |
| 72. Jorge De La Rosa - SF, at LAD |
| 73. Brandon McCarthy - at CHC, PHI |
| 74. Bronson Arroyo - at CHC, PHI |
| 75. Kevin Slowey - Marlins don't need a fifth |
MLB TOP 100
| 1. Yu Darvish - at OAK, at SEA |
| 2. Justin Verlander - CWS, at MIN |
| 3. Felix Hernandez - HOU, TEX |
| 4. Jose Fernandez - at ATL, at NYM |
| 5. Adam Wainwright - at NYM, PIT |
| 6. Andrew Cashner - at MIL, at WAS |
| 7. Johnny Cueto - at PIT, at ATL |
| 8. Masahiro Tanaka - at BOS, LAA |
| 9. James Shields - at CLE, at BAL |
| 10. Chris Sale - at DET, TB |
| 11. Jon Lester - NYY, at TOR |
| 12. Anibal Sanchez - CWS, at MIN |
| 13. Julio Teheran - MIA, CIN |
| 14. Cliff Lee - at LAD, at ARI |
| 15. Hyun-Jin Ryu - PHI, COL |
| 16. Francisco Liriano - CIN, at STL |
| 17. Max Scherzer - CWS |
| 18. Jordan Zimmermann - SD |
| 19. Stephen Strasburg - SD |
| 20. Gerrit Cole - at STL |
| 21. Ervin Santana - CIN |
| 22. Zack Greinke - PHI |
| 23. Michael Wacha - at NYM |
| 24. Gio Gonzalez - LAA |
| 25. David Price - MIN |
| 26. Sonny Gray - TEX |
| 27. Chris Archer - at CWS |
| 28. Scott Kazmir - at HOU |
| 29. Dan Haren - PHI |
| 30. Alex Wood - MIA |
| 31. Marco Estrada - CHC |
| 32. Matt Garza - CHC |
| 33. Zack Wheeler - MIA |
| 34. Yordano Ventura - at BAL |
| 35. Michael Pineda - at BOS |
| 36. Hiroki Kuroda - LAA |
| 37. Lance Lynn - at NYM |
| 38. Homer Bailey - at ATL |
| 39. A.J. Burnett - at LAD, at ARI |
| 40. Wily Peralta - SD, CHC |
| 41. Jeff Samardzija - ARI |
| 42. Tony Cingrani - at PIT |
| 43. Tyson Ross - at MIL |
| 44. Cole Hamels - at LAD |
| 45. Nathan Eovaldi - at ATL |
| 46. Jesse Chavez - at HOU |
| 47. Yovani Gallardo - SD |
| 48. Kyle Lohse - SD |
| 49. Dan Straily - TEX, at HOU |
| 50. Jenrry Mejia - STL, MIA |
| 51. Jason Hammel - ARI, at MIL |
| 52. Travis Wood - ARI, at MIL |
| 53. Mike Leake - at PIT, at ATL |
| 54. Dillon Gee - STL, MIA |
| 55. R.A. Dickey - BAL, BOS |
| 56. Clay Buchholz - BAL, at TOR |
| 57. Jake Odorizzi - MIN, at CWS |
| 58. Aaron Harang - MIA |
| 59. Corey Kluber - KC |
| 60. Chris Tillman - at TOR |
| 61. Justin Masterson - KC |
| 62. CC Sabathia - at BOS |
| 63. Jered Weaver - at WAS |
| 64. Ivan Nova - LAA |
| 65. C.J. Wilson - at NYY |
| 66. Martin Perez - at OAK |
| 67. John Lackey - NYY |
| 68. Jose Quintana - at DET |
| 69. Jason Vargas - at CLE |
| 70. Wade Miley - at CHC |
| 71. Madison Bumgarner - at COL |
| 72. Matt Cain - at COL |
| 73. Tom Koehler - at ATL, at NYM |
| 74. Robbie Erlin - at WAS |
| 75. Zach McAllister - KC, at SF |
| 76. Danny Salazar - KC, at SF |
| 77. John Danks - at DET, TB |
| 78. Garrett Richards - at WAS, at NYY |
| 79. Tommy Milone - TEX, at HOU |
| 80. Dallas Keuchel - at SEA, OAK |
| 81. Scott Feldman - at SEA, OAK |
| 82. Shelby Miller - PIT |
| 83. Tim Hudson - CLE |
| 84. Edinson Volquez - CIN, at STL |
| 85. Rick Porcello - at MIN |
| 86. Tyler Skaggs - at WAS |
| 87. Drew Smyly - CWS |
| 88. Kyle Gibson - at TB |
| 89. Brett Oberholtzer - OAK |
| 90. Jon Niese - STL |
| 91. Alfredo Simon - at PIT |
| 92. Wandy Rodriguez - CIN |
| 93. Bartolo Colon - STL |
| 94. Tyler Chatwood - SF |
| 95. Charlie Morton - CIN |
| 96. Tyler Lyons - at NYM, PIT |
| 97. Tanner Roark - LAA, SD |
| 98. Hector Santiago - at NYY |
| 99. Colby Lewis - at SEA |
| 100. Erasmo Ramirez - HOU |
