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 looks incorrect, assume that it was a change that 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 13-19
AMERICAN LEAGUE
For the week April 13-19
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
| 1. Felix Hernandez - TEX Note: After a first-inning HR to Trout, LAA mustered 1 H, 9 K in his next 6.7 IP |
| 2. David Price - CWS Note: In control throughout opener; one out shy of a CG |
| 3. Corey Kluber - at MIN |
| 4. Michael Pineda - at BAL, at TB Note: Stuff is just so dirty; please stay healthy, please stay healthy ... |
| 5. Carlos Carrasco - CWS, at MIN |
| 6. Anibal Sanchez - at PIT, CWS Note: His impact may have been undersold by those overlooking DET |
| 7. Scott Kazmir - at HOU, at KC Note: Could drop another 10-K night on the other Texas team |
| 8. Collin McHugh - OAK |
| 9. Sonny Gray - at KC |
| 10. Chris Sale - at DET Note: Remaining somewhat cautious as I've ranked him twice now without seeing him even once |
| 11. Hisashi Iwakuma - at LAD Note: Regarding next four pitchers -- breathe, it's one start; not even in the general vicinity of panic zone yet |
| 12. Jose Quintana - at CLE, at DET |
| 13. Jeff Samardzija - at DET |
| 14. Masahiro Tanaka - at TB |
| 15. Drew Hutchison - |
As always, remember that rotations are subject to change, so if you see something that looks incorrect, assume that it was a change that 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 13-19
AMERICAN LEAGUE
SIT
NATIONAL LEAGUE
SIT
MLB TOP 100
For the week April 13-19
AMERICAN LEAGUE
START
| 1. Felix Hernandez - TEX Note: After a first-inning HR to Trout, LAA mustered 1 H, 9 K in his next 6.7 IP |
| 2. David Price - CWS Note: In control throughout opener; one out shy of a CG |
| 3. Corey Kluber - at MIN |
| 4. Michael Pineda - at BAL, at TB Note: Stuff is just so dirty; please stay healthy, please stay healthy ... |
| 5. Carlos Carrasco - CWS, at MIN |
| 6. Anibal Sanchez - at PIT, CWS Note: His impact may have been undersold by those overlooking DET |
| 7. Scott Kazmir - at HOU, at KC Note: Could drop another 10-K night on the other Texas team |
| 8. Collin McHugh - OAK |
| 9. Sonny Gray - at KC |
| 10. Chris Sale - at DET Note: Remaining somewhat cautious as I've ranked him twice now without seeing him even once |
| 11. Hisashi Iwakuma - at LAD Note: Regarding next four pitchers -- breathe, it's one start; not even in the general vicinity of panic zone yet |
| 12. Jose Quintana - at CLE, at DET |
| 13. Jeff Samardzija - at DET |
| 14. Masahiro Tanaka - at TB |
| 15. Drew Hutchison - ATL Note: Braves are rolling early, but it is a stone-cold fluke; still starting virtually anyone vs. ATL |
| 16. Drew Pomeranz - at HOU Note: Operated with three-, five-, 11-run leads in his final six (of seven) shutout innings |
| 17. Shane Greene -at PIT Note: 4 Ks in first 3 IP, but one in final five thanks to big lead as he dialed it down for efficiency instead of trying to overpower |
| 18. Dallas Keuchel - LAA |
| 19. Phil Hughes - CLE Note: Sharp drop is more an acknowledgment of last week's overrating rather than overreaction to debut |
| 20. Yordano Ventura - OAK |
| 21. Matt Shoemaker - at TEX, at HOU |
| 22. Danny Duffy - at MIN, OAK Note: 5-K, 0-BB debut, but also 8 H, including 4 XBH |
| 23. Wade Miley - WAS Note: Lost in madness of 19-inning marathon was his solid outing; great through five, sixth was more him than NYY hitting |
| 24. R.A. Dickey - TB |
| 25. Trevor Bauer - CWS Note: Debut was Baueriest of starts: 6 IP, 0 H, 11 K ... 5 BB, 111 pitches thus zero chance for no-no |
| 26. James Paxton - at LAD |
| 27. Daniel Norris - TB, ATL Note: Can't get too excited about three, four good innings out of the gate; it's fifth and sixth that really split wheat from chaff |
| 28. Rick Porcello - WAS, BAL |
| 29. Wei-Yin Chen - NYY, at BOS |
| 30. Justin Masterson - WAS, BAL Note: 2-start week drives value as I remain skeptical, but WAS isn't the challenge we envisioned; maybe he stays hot |
| 31. Justin Verlander - CWS Note: Flying blind here, but I'm starting him upon return |
| 32. Chris Tillman - at BOS |
| 33. Taijuan Walker - at LAD Note: Certainly wasn't good, but 9 ER elicits real overreactions; Wilhelmsen assisted several home |
| 34. Jesse Hahn - at KC |
| 35. Nathan Eovaldi - at BAL |
| 36. Clay Buchholz - BAL Note: Debut was sharp, but it was against PHI; still want to see more |
| 37. T.J. House - at MIN |
| 38. Jason Vargas - at MIN Note: Devastated MIN in 4 GS last year (0.96 ERA in 28 IP), three in MIN |
| 39. Aaron Sanchez - TB |
| 40. Kendall Graveman - at HOU Note: First MLB start Opening Week likely included lot of nerves; give him at least a couple more starts |
| 41. Kyle Gibson - KC Note: Supposed to get CWS last week, I think Santana suspension pushed him to DET |
| 42. Tommy Milone - KC Note: Intriguing debut in a hitter-friendly park; seven groundballs, strikeouts for usually soft-tossing, flyball-heavy lefty |
| 43. Jake Odorizzi - at TOR, NYY Note: 2-start saves him with TOR on slate |
| 44. Adam Warren - at TB |
| 45. C.J. Wilson - at HOU Note: Not really sold on debut as signifier that "he's back," but HOU makes him a start |
| 46. Yovani Gallardo - at SEA |
| 47. Alfredo Simon - at PIT |
| 48. J.A. Happ - TEX |
| 49. Jered Weaver - at HOU Note: Debut marked nearly a 4 MPH drop in velocity.; still a start here, but stay tuned |
SIT
| 50. Chris Archer - at TOR Note: Really want to avoid all non-superstars vs. TOR |
| 51. Trevor May - KC, CLE Note: Better than nightmare in 46 IP last year (7.88 ERA), but still needs to prove way into our lineups; watchlist him |
| 52. CC Sabathia - at BAL Note: I love the -0.10 FIP and 1 FIP- after debut |
| 53. Miguel Gonzalez - NYY Note: Yanks are more likely to punish him if he walks five; TB let him skate (5 BB, 3 H, 1 R) |
| 54. Mark Buehrle - TB |
| 55. Edinson Volquez - at MIN |
| 56. Nick Martinez - LAA Note: Sharp debut caught my attention; monitor this start closely |
| 57. Nate Karns - NYY |
| 58. John Danks - at CLE |
| 59. Bud Norris - NYY |
| 60. Joe Kelly - BAL Note: Debuting this weekend |
| 61. Ross Detwiler - LAA, at SEA |
| 62. Scott Feldman - OAK, LAA |
| 63. Asher Wojciechowski - OAK |
| 64. Hector Santiago - at TEX |
| 65. Ubaldo Jimenez - at BOS |
| 66. Erasmo Ramirez - at TOR |
| 67. Colby Lewis - at SEA |
| 68. Roberto Hernandez - LAA |
| 69. Mike Pelfrey - CLE |
| 70. Jeremy Guthrie - OAK |
| 71. Derek Holland Replacement - LAA Note: No one you want |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
START
| 1. Matt Harvey - PHI, MIA Note: Might've actually looked better than the '13 version in debut |
| 2. Stephen Strasburg - at BOS, PHI Note: How many runs will Desmond cost these three this week? |
| 3. Jordan Zimmermann - at BOS, PHI |
| 4. Max Scherzer - PHI |
| 5. Clayton Kershaw - COL Note: Scherzer vs. weak opponent is about only one who can vault ahead of Kershaw in one-start week |
| 6. Johnny Cueto - at STL |
| 7. Zack Greinke - COL |
| 8. Cole Hamels - at WAS Note: HR binge vs. BOS was odd, but the 3 BB might be even odder |
| 9. Jake Arrieta - CIN Note: Stuff is just incredible; '14 K rate could prove almost 100 percent real |
| 10. Madison Bumgarner - ARI |
| 11. James Shields - at CHC |
| 12. Tyson Ross - at CHC |
| 13. Gio Gonzalez - at BOS Note: Always good for handful of starts like his '15 debut (4 K, 4 BB) |
| 14. Michael Wacha - CIN |
| 15. Adam Wainwright - MIL, CIN Note: Excellent debut, not sold Ks are back after just one start |
| 16. Lance Lynn - MIL |
| 17. Jacob deGrom - PHI, MIA Note: Held skeptics at bay in first start; could turn some into believers with two-start slate |
| 18. Jon Lester - CIN, SD |
| 19. Gerrit Cole - DET, MIL Note: Doesn't get the normal 2-start boost thanks to DET, but absolutely good enough to still start |
| 20. Brandon McCarthy - SEA, COL Note: Not great in debut, but 9 Ks in 5 IP the real takeaway |
| 21. Andrew Cashner - at CHC |
| 22. Julio Teheran - at TOR Note: Obviously hate this matchup, but both too good to bench |
| 23. Alex Wood - at TOR |
| 24. Jason Hammel - SD |
| 25. Wily Peralta - at STL Note: Slowed buzzsaw Rockies offense before the pen blew it |
| 26. Brett Anderson - SEA |
| 27. Brandon Morrow - ARI Note: Seven scoreless in opener, though talent has never been issue |
| 28. John Lackey - MIL |
| 29. Mike Fiers - at STL Note: 8 K, 1 BB, but 7 H in 5 IP including 5 XBH |
| 30. Francisco Liriano - MIL |
| 31. Henderson Alvarez - at NYM Note: Quintessential Alvarez in debut -- 7 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 17 GB |
| 32. Doug Fister - PHI |
| 33. Anthony DeSclafani - at CHC Note: Knocked around a little after the hour-plus rain delay, but excellent before |
| 34. Jake Peavy - ARI |
| 35. Mike Leake - at CHC, at STL |
| 36. Aaron Harang - at NYM, at WAS |
| 37. Tom Koehler - at ATL, at MIA |
| 38. Mat Latos - at ATL, at NYM Note: If ready to bench after one start at his cost, never should've drafted him |
| 39. Rubby De La Rosa - at SD, at SF Note: Even with SD improvements, this might still be juiciest two-start trip for an NLer |
| 40. Tim Hudson - COL, ARI |
| 41. Shelby Miller - MIA, at TOR Note: Would really prefer to use just MIA and bench him at TOR |
| 42. Kyle Lohse - at PIT Note: Nightmarish debut lands him on wire in too many leagues; pick up and watch him chisel down 21.60 ERA |
| 43. Vance Worley - MIL |
| 44. Bartolo Colon - MIA |
| 45. Odrisamer Despaigne - ARI Note: Taking over for Ian Kennedy |
| 46. Jon Niese - PHI |
| 47. Dillon Gee - MIA |
| 48. Chase Anderson - at SD |
| 49. Dan Haren - at ATL Note: Left after 6 IP/1 ER with 8-1 lead; Marlins squeaked out 10-9 win in 10 |
| 50. Trevor Cahill - MIA |
| 51. Matt Garza - at STL, at PIT Note: COL demolished Garza and Lohse |
| 52. David Buchanan - at NYM, at WAS Note: Uninspiring opener vs. BOS, but a chance to bounce back |
| 53. Jeremy Hellickson - at SD, at SF Note: Great test of just how good this two-start slate is |
SIT
| 54. A.J. Burnett - DET Note: Looked a lot like PIT Burnett from '12-13 in debut, but DET is one t0 avoid |
| 55. Jeff Locke -DET |
| 56. Jimmy Nelson - at PIT |
| 57. Archie Bradley - at SF Note: Haven't seen anything from these next three yet |
| 58. Carlos Martinez - CIN |
| 59. Raisel Iglesias - at STL |
| 60. Chris Heston - COL, ARI |
| 61. Josh Collmenter - at SF |
| 62. Jarred Cosart - at NYM |
| 63. Tim Lincecum - COL |
| 64. Jordan Lyles - at LAD Note: Show me more, Rockies pitchers |
| 65. Kyle Kendrick - at LAD |
| 66. Tyler Matzek - at SF |
| 67. Eric Stults - MIA |
| 68. Scott Baker - COL |
| 69. Eddie Butler - at SF, at LAD |
| 70. Jerome Williams - at NYM |
| 71. Sean O'Sullivan - at WAS |
| 72. Travis Wood - CIN |
| 73. Jason Marquis - at CHC Note: Almost as if his 2.90 spring ERA meant nothing at all |
MLB TOP 100
| 1. Matt Harvey - PHI, MIA Note: Might've actually looked better than the '13 version in debut |
| 2. Stephen Strasburg - at BOS, PHI Note: How many runs will Desmond cost these three this week? |
| 3. Jordan Zimmermann - at BOS, PHI |
| 4. Max Scherzer - PHI |
| 5. Clayton Kershaw - COL Note: Scherzer vs. weak opponent is about only one who can vault ahead of Kershaw in one-start week |
| 6. Felix Hernandez - TEX Note: After a first-inning HR to Trout, LAA mustered 1 H, 9 K in his next 6.7 IP |
| 7. David Price - CWS Note: In control throughout opener; one out shy of a CG |
| 8. Corey Kluber - at MIN |
| 9. Johnny Cueto - at STL |
| 10. Zack Greinke - COL |
| 11. Cole Hamels - at WAS Note: HR binge vs. BOS was odd, but the 3 BB might be even odder |
| 12. Jake Arrieta - CIN Note: Stuff is just incredible; '14 K rate could prove almost 100 percent real |
| 13. Michael Pineda - at BAL, at TB Note: Stuff is just so dirty; please stay healthy, please stay healthy ... |
| 14. Carlos Carrasco - CWS, at MIN |
| 15. Anibal Sanchez - at PIT, CWS Note: His impact may have been undersold by those overlooking DET |
| 16. Scott Kazmir - at HOU, at KC Note: Could drop another 10-K night on the other Texas team |
| 17. Madison Bumgarner - ARI |
| 18. James Shields - at CHC |
| 19. Tyson Ross - at CHC |
| 20. Gio Gonzalez - at BOS Note: Always good for handful of starts like his '15 debut (4 K, 4 BB) |
| 21. Michael Wacha - CIN |
| 22. Adam Wainwright - MIL, CIN Note: Excellent debut, not sold Ks are back after just one start |
| 23. Collin McHugh - OAK |
| 24. Sonny Gray - at KC |
| 25. Chris Sale - at DET Note: Remaining somewhat cautious as I've ranked him twice now without seeing him even once |
| 26. Lance Lynn - MIL |
| 27. Hisashi Iwakuma - at LAD |
| 28. Jacob deGrom - PHI, MIA Note: Held skeptics at bay in first start; could turn some into believers with two-start slate |
| 29. Jon Lester - CIN, SD |
| 30. Gerrit Cole - DET, MIL Note: Doesn't get the normal 2-start boost thanks to DET, but absolutely good enough to still start |
| 31. Brandon McCarthy - SEA, COL Note: Not great in debut, but 9 Ks in 5 IP the real takeaway |
| 32. Jose Quintana - at CLE, at DET |
| 33. Jeff Samardzija - at DET |
| 34. Masahiro Tanaka - at TB |
| 35. Drew Hutchison - ATL Note: Braves are rolling early, but it is a stone-cold fluke; still starting virtually anyone vs. ATL |
| 36. Drew Pomeranz - at HOU Note: Operated with three-, five-, 11-run leads in his final six (of seven) shutout innings |
| 37. Shane Greene -at PIT Note: 4 Ks in first 3 IP, but one in final five thanks to big lead as he dialed it down for efficiency instead of trying to overpower |
| 38. Andrew Cashner - at CHC |
| 39. Dallas Keuchel - LAA |
| 40. Phil Hughes - CLE Note: Sharp drop is more an acknowledgment of last week's overrating rather than overreaction to debut |
| 41. Julio Teheran - at TOR Note: Obviously hate this matchup, but both too good to bench |
| 42. Alex Wood - at TOR |
| 43. Jason Hammel - SD |
| 44. Yordano Ventura - OAK |
| 45. Matt Shoemaker - at TEX, at HOU |
| 46. Danny Duffy - at MIN, OAK Note: 5-K, 0-BB debut, but also 8 H, including 4 XBH |
| 47. Wily Peralta - at STL Note: Slowed buzzsaw Rockies offense before the pen blew it |
| 48. Brett Anderson - SEA |
| 49. Brandon Morrow - ARI Note: Seven scoreless in opener, though talent has never been issue |
| 50. John Lackey - MIL |
| 51. Wade Miley - WAS Note: Lost in madness of 19-inning marathon was his solid outing; great through five, sixth was more him than NYY hitting |
| 52. R.A. Dickey - TB |
| 53. Trevor Bauer - CWS Note: Debut was Baueriest of starts: 6 IP, 0 H, 11 K ... 5 BB, 111 pitches thus zero chance for no-no |
| 54. James Paxton - at LAD |
| 55. Mike Fiers - at STL Note: 8 K, 1 BB, but 7 H in 5 IP including 5 XBH |
| 56. Francisco Liriano - MIL |
| 57. Henderson Alvarez - at NYM Note: Quintessential Alvarez in debut -- 7 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 17 GB |
| 58. Doug Fister - PHI |
| 59. Anthony DeSclafani - at CHC Note: Knocked around a little after the hour-plus rain delay, but excellent before |
| 60. Jake Peavy - ARI |
| 61. Mike Leake - at CHC, at STL |
| 62. Aaron Harang - at NYM, at WAS |
| 63. Tom Koehler - at ATL, at MIA |
| 64. Mat Latos - at ATL, at NYM Note: If ready to bench after one start at his cost, never should've drafted him |
| 65. Daniel Norris - TB, ATL Note: Can't get too excited about three, four good innings out of the gate; it's fifth and sixth that really split wheat from chaff |
| 66. Rick Porcello - WAS, BAL |
| 67. Wei-Yin Chen - NYY, at BOS |
| 68. Justin Masterson - WAS, BAL Note: 2-start week drives value as I remain skeptical, but WAS isn't the challenge we envisioned; maybe he stays hot |
| 69. Justin Verlander - CWS Note: Flying blind here, but I'm starting him upon return |
| 70. Chris Tillman - at BOS |
| 71. Taijuan Walker - at LAD Note: Certainly wasn't good, but 9 ER elicits real overreactions; Wilhelmsen assisted several home |
| 72. Jesse Hahn - at KC |
| 73. Nathan Eovaldi - at BAL |
| 74. Clay Buchholz - BAL Note: Debut was sharp, but it was against PHI; still want to see more |
| 75. T.J. House - at MIN |
| 76. Jason Vargas - at MIN Note: Devastated MIN in 4 GS last year (0.96 ERA in 28 IP), three in MIN |
| 77. Aaron Sanchez - TB |
| 39. Rubby De La Rosa - at SD, at SF Note: Even with SD improvements, this might still be juiciest two-start trip for an NLer |
| 79. Tim Hudson - COL, ARI |
| 80. Shelby Miller - MIA, at TOR Note: Would really prefer to use just MIA and bench him at TOR |
| 81. Kyle Lohse - at PIT Note: Nightmarish debut lands him on wire in too many leagues; pick up and watch him chisel down 21.60 ERA |
| 82. Vance Worley - MIL |
| 83. Bartolo Colon - MIA |
| 84. Odrisamer Despaigne - ARI Note: Taking over for Ian Kennedy |
| 85. Jon Niese - PHI |
| 86. Dillon Gee - MIA |
| 87. Chase Anderson - at SD |
| 88. Dan Haren - at ATL Note: Left after 6 IP/1 ER with 8-1 lead; Marlins squeaked out 10-9 win in 10 |
| 89. Kendall Graveman - at HOU Note: First MLB start Opening Week likely included lot of nerves; give him at least a couple more starts |
| 90. Kyle Gibson - KC Note: Supposed to get CWS last week, I think Santana suspension pushed him to DET |
| 91. Trevor Cahill - MIA |
| 92. Matt Garza - at STL, at PIT Note: COL demolished Garza and Lohse |
| 93. David Buchanan - at NYM, at WAS Note: Uninspiring opener vs. BOS, but a chance to bounce back |
| 94. Jeremy Hellickson - at SD, at SF Note: Great test of just how good this two-start slate is |
| 95. Tommy Milone - KC Note: Intriguing debut in a hitter-friendly park; seven groundballs, strikeouts for usually soft-tossing, flyball-heavy lefty |
| 96. Jake Odorizzi - at TOR, NYY Note: 2-start saves him with TOR on slate |
| 97. Adam Warren - at TB |
| 98. C.J. Wilson - at HOU Note: Not really sold on debut as signifier that "he's back," but HOU makes him a start |
| 99. Yovani Gallardo - at SEA |
| 100. Alfredo Simon - at PIT |
