Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Roaring Thunder

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Updated on April 16, 2016 3:15PM EST

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. I'll let you know where the new arm slots.

For the week April 18-24

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Chris Sale	LAA	If this improved walk rate sticks (3.5%), we could see a sub-1.00 WHIP like 2014
2	David Price	TB
3	Cole Hamels	HOU
4	Danny Salazar	SEA	One of the few arms who could realistically push a 30% K rate
5	Corey Kluber	at DET
6	Dallas Keuchel	at TEX
7	Carlos Carrasco	SEA, at DET	The two 2-start studs both have a really tough matchup on the road so they don't really jump the 1-start guys…
8	Marcus Stroman	at BAL, OAK	…especially because Stroman isn't a strikeout stud in the first place
9	Garrett Richards	at CWS
10	Felix Hernandez	at LAA
11	Ervin Santana	MIL, at WAS	Looks sharp early on, though the K% will likely meander back toward his usual 19-20% level
12	Carlos Rodon	LAA, TEX	One of those guys who can be successful w/the BBs because he's so tough to hit
13	Chris Archer	at BOS
14	Jake Odorizzi	at BOS
15	Justin Verlander	CLE
16	Jose Quintana	LAA	His early season K% spike (25%) isn't supported by SwStr% (9.7%); LAA not K'ing, either (15%)
17	Taijuan Walker	at

For the week April 18-24

AMERICAN LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Chris Sale	LAA	If this improved walk rate sticks (3.5%), we could see a sub-1.00 WHIP like 2014
2	David Price	TB
3	Cole Hamels	HOU
4	Danny Salazar	SEA	One of the few arms who could realistically push a 30% K rate
5	Corey Kluber	at DET
6	Dallas Keuchel	at TEX
7	Carlos Carrasco	SEA, at DET	The two 2-start studs both have a really tough matchup on the road so they don't really jump the 1-start guys…
8	Marcus Stroman	at BAL, OAK	…especially because Stroman isn't a strikeout stud in the first place
9	Garrett Richards	at CWS
10	Felix Hernandez	at LAA
11	Ervin Santana	MIL, at WAS	Looks sharp early on, though the K% will likely meander back toward his usual 19-20% level
12	Carlos Rodon	LAA, TEX	One of those guys who can be successful w/the BBs because he's so tough to hit
13	Chris Archer	at BOS
14	Jake Odorizzi	at BOS
15	Justin Verlander	CLE
16	Jose Quintana	LAA	His early season K% spike (25%) isn't supported by SwStr% (9.7%); LAA not K'ing, either (15%)
17	Taijuan Walker	at CLE
18	Masahiro Tanaka	TB	Solid if unspectacular first 2 starts; TB could be the perfect remedy: they're not hitting & he dominates them
19	Hisashi Iwakuma	at LAA
20	Yordano Ventura	DET, BAL	Ventura & Smyly each get a gross pair of starts, but each is tough to sit, generally speaking
21	Drew Smyly	at BOS, at NYY
22	Sonny Gray	at TOR
23	Aaron Sanchez	OAK	Very interesting test for Sanchez as OAK will stack w/lefties, but they also don't walk much
24	Anibal Sanchez	CLE
25	Michael Pineda	OAK, TB	Looks like last year early on: strong skills but too hittable; love these matchups, though
26	Jordan Zimmermann	at KC	Unlikely to improve that 14% K% at KC!
27	Shane Greene	at KC, CLE
28	Kyle Gibson	at WAS
29	Cody Anderson	SEA	All of the Spring Training velo hasn't held (96.3), but he's still up about 0.8 MPH on the yr (94 MPH)
30	Nick Tropeano	SEA
31	Nathan Eovaldi	OAK
32	Luis Severino	OAK
33	Mat Latos	LAA, TEX	Skills aren't yet backing the fast start, but he's back on the radar now
34	A.J. Griffin	HOU, at CWS
35	Hector Santiago	at CWS, SEA
36	Wade Miley	at CLE, at LAA	A 14:0 K:BB is only so good when you're also allowing 17 H in 12 IP; just be careful
37	Kris Medlen	BAL	Really like Medlen this year, but I'm leery of any mid-tier options v. BAL this year
38	Ian Kennedy	DET
39	Nate Karns	at CLE
40	Matt Moore	at NYY	With BBs being his biggest issue, a trip to NYY isn't the best setup, but I'm still OK starting him
41	Collin McHugh	BOS
42	Phil Hughes	MIL, at WAS	I like the early spike in SwStr% from 5.5% to 8.3%; if it sticks, he can maintain an 18-21% K%
43	J.A. Happ	at BOS, OAK	Isn't showing the same pitch usage that made him successful in PIT, but still pitchable for sure
44	Mike Fiers	BOS
45	Edinson Volquez	DET
46	Derek Holland	at CWS
47	Erasmo Ramirez	at NYY	Joins the rotation with a tough matchup, but I'm putting him right in my lineup
48	Rick Porcello	TB
49	Ricky Nolasco	at MIL	Has always been better v. RHP and MIL still features a righty-heavy lineup
50	CC Sabathia	TB
51	Rich Hill	at NYY	He made me look like an overreactionary clown at SEA, but then flopped v. KC; he's a streamer at-best
52	Matt Shoemaker	at CWS, SEA

SIT

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
53	Martin Perez	HOU	The 60% GB rate has carried over so far, but more BBs than Ks has me tapping the brakes
54	Marco Estrada	at BAL	Big opener after that killer 2015, but I'm not sending him in at BAL
55	R.A. Dickey	at BAL	In fact, Estrada and these next 9 arms have brutal matchups & aren't good enough to start
56	Chris Young	BAL
57	Chris Tillman	TOR
58	Yovani Gallardo	at KC
59	Kendall Graveman	at NYY, at TOR
60	Clay Buchholz	TOR, at HOU
61	Chris Bassitt	at TOR
62	Doug Fister	at TEX
63	Josh Tomlin	at DET
64	Ubaldo Jimenez	TOR, at KC
65	Mike Pelfrey	at KC
66	Colby Lewis	at CWS
67	Scott Feldman	at TEX, BOS
68	Eric Surkamp	at NYY
69	Joe Kelly	TB, at HOU
70	Jered Weaver	at CWS
71	Steven Wright	at HOU
72	Mike Wright	at KC
73	Vance Worley	TOR
74	John Danks	TEX
75	Tommy Milone	at MIL

NATIONAL LEAGUE

START

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Noah Syndergaard	at PHI, at ATL	Could he get 30 Ks this week? He could… which is just insane
2	Stephen Strasburg	at MIA, MIN
3	Jose Fernandez	WAS, at SF	The only bummer so far is that he has two sub-6 IP outings which is problematic w/that ugly MIA pen
4	Clayton Kershaw	at ATL	The NL studs get some really sexy matchups this week, huh?
5	Max Scherzer	at MIA
6	Matt Harvey	at ATL
7	Jake Arrieta	at CIN	Seems comfortable trading some Ks for efficiency: two 7 IP starts on <100 pitches, but just 7.7 K/9; still a superstar
8	Michael Wacha	at SD	Only 6% SwStr in his first two starts, but he started slowly w/Ks last year, too; love the matchup
9	Gerrit Cole	at SD
10	Francisco Liriano	at SD, at ARI
11	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	Neither Bummy nor Greinke is close to a sit, but both look like less than the automatic studs they were last year
12	Zack Greinke	at SF
13	Raisel Iglesias	COL, CHC	Velo is down nearly 3 MPH and even 1.6 MPH down April-to-April; let's keep a close eye on that
14	Patrick Corbin	PIT
15	Jon Lester	at CIN
16	Adam Wainwright	at SD	BBs are high, but his first-pitch strike rate is higher than his career mark; in other words don't worry
17	Johnny Cueto	ARI
18	Carlos Martinez	CHC
19	Vince Velasquez	NYM	I put him near CarMart on purpose because he could do something similar to his 2015, albeit in fewer IP (closer to 140-150)
20	Jason Hammel	at STL, at CIN
21	Jaime Garcia	CHC	Tough matchup, but skills aren't the issue, it's all about health and he's healthy right now so enjoy
22	Gio Gonzalez	MIN
23	Aaron Nola	at MIL	Same SwStr% rate as last suggests that this K surge is probably opponent-influenced (SD, at CIN)
24	James Shields	PIT
25	Joe Ross	at MIA	Opening MIA, at PHI, at MIA is why the NL East SPs were so appealing
26	Steven Matz	at ATL	Blasted badly in his debut, but a trip to ATL is a nice remedy
27	Shelby Miller	at SF
28	Wei-Yin Chen	WAS	That bullpen. My goodness, that bullpen.
29	Mike Leake	CHC, at SD	These next four are your shallow league 2-start streamers; don't love 'em ALL the time, but Leake v. CHC is the only tough one
30	Tanner Roark	at MIA, MIN
31	Jerad Eickhoff	NYM, at MIL	MIL is a nice matchup for Eickhoff because he dominates righties (.445 career OPS)
32	John Lackey	at STL, at CIN
33	Julio Teheran	LAD	Made it through 7 IP in a 6 ER outing because he wasn't getting crushed (save the Harper slam), but each mistake was being punished
34	Juan Nicasio	at ARI	A trip to DET deflated all the hype, but one bad start doesn't erase all the good we've seen this spring
35	Jimmy Nelson	MIN
36	Kyle Hendricks	at STL
37	Brandon Finnegan	CHC
38	Adam Conley	WAS, at SF	You saw why I've been so hyped on Conley coming into the year
39	Drew Pomeranz	PIT
40	Andrew Cashner	STL	It's been frustrating, but K and BB rates are better this year; .429 BABIP & 55% LOB rates can't stay that bad
41	Bartolo Colon	at PHI
42	Tom Koehler	WAS	He has a 3.63 ERA, 7.2 K/9 at home in 257.7 IP
43	Jon Niese	at ARI
44	Ross Stripling	at ATL	Could be this year's Chris Heston, which isn't necessarily a negative
45	Logan Verrett	at PHI
46	Jeff Samardzija	MIA	Finally get to see him in AT&T Park! I refused to use him in Coors, but he dominated, something he's always done oddly enough (2.01 ERA in 22.3 IP)
47	Charlie Morton	at MIL
48	Robbie Ray	at SF, PIT
49	Jorge De La Rosa	at CIN
50	Rubby De La Rosa	at SF, PIT
51	Matt Wisler	LAD, NYM
52	Robbie Erlin	STL	I've always liked Erlin, so I'm interested to see what he can do in Ross's stead
53	Jeff Locke	at SD	An interesting spot-start because of how horrible SD is, but you can still get burned w/4th-5th SP types regardless of opponent

SIT

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
54	Wily Peralta	at MIN, PHI
55	Chase Anderson	at MIN, PHI
56	Jhoulys Chacin	NYM
57	Jeremy Hellickson	NYM
58	Kenta Maeda	at COL	Sitting out this week with Maeda and Kazmir in Coors this week for what I hope are obvious reasons
59	Scott Kazmir	at COL
60	Chad Bettis	LAD
61	Jon Gray	LAD
62	Alex Wood	at ATL, at COL	Spot-start for ATL, but then bench for COL; if your only choice is none or both, then it's none
63	Zach Davies	PHI
64	Tyler Chatwood	at CIN, LAD
65	Jake Peavy	ARI, MIA
66	Matt Cain	ARI, MIA
67	Colin Rea	PIT, STL
68	Jon Moscot	CHC
69	Taylor Jungmann	MIN
70	Alfredo Simon	COL, CHC
71	Jarred Cosart	at SF
72	Williams Perez	LAD
73	Bud Norris	NYM
74	Tim Melville	COL
75	Jordan Lyles	at CIN
73	Tyler Cravy	at PIT	In for Matt Garza, expected out 4-6 weeks
74	Jordan Lyles	SF

MLB TOP 100

RANK	PITCHER	OPPONENT	COMMENT
1	Noah Syndergaard	at PHI, at ATL	Could he get 30 Ks this week? He could… which is just insane
2	Stephen Strasburg	at MIA, MIN
3	Jose Fernandez	WAS, at SF	The only bummer so far is that he has two sub-6 IP outings which is problematic w/that ugly MIA pen
4	Clayton Kershaw	at ATL	The NL studs get some really sexy matchups this week, huh?
5	Max Scherzer	at MIA
6	Matt Harvey	at ATL
7	Chris Sale	LAA	If this improved walk rate sticks (3.5%), we could see a sub-1.00 WHIP like 2014
8	David Price	TB
9	Jake Arrieta	at CIN	Seems comfortable trading some Ks for efficiency: two 7 IP starts on <100 pitches, but just 7.7 K/9; still a superstar
10	Cole Hamels	HOU
11	Danny Salazar	SEA	One of the few arms who could realistically push a 30% K rate
12	Corey Kluber	at DET
13	Dallas Keuchel	at TEX
14	Carlos Carrasco	SEA, at DET	The two 2-start studs both have a really tough matchup on the road so they don't really jump the 1-start guys…
15	Michael Wacha	at SD	Only 6% SwStr in his first two starts, but he started slowly w/Ks last year, too; love the matchup
16	Gerrit Cole	at SD
17	Francisco Liriano	at SD, at ARI
18	Marcus Stroman	at BAL, OAK	…especially because Stroman isn't a strikeout stud in the first place
19	Garrett Richards	at CWS
20	Felix Hernandez	at LAA
21	Ervin Santana	MIL, at WAS	Looks sharp early on, though the K% will likely meander back toward his usual 19-20% level
22	Carlos Rodon	LAA, TEX	One of those guys who can be successful w/the BBs because he's so tough to hit
23	Chris Archer	at BOS
24	Jake Odorizzi	at BOS
25	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	Neither Bummy nor Greinke is close to a sit, but both look like less than the automatic studs they were last year
26	Zack Greinke	at SF
27	Raisel Iglesias	COL, CHC	Velo is down nearly 3 MPH and even 1.6 MPH down April-to-April; let's keep a close eye on that
28	Patrick Corbin	PIT
29	Jon Lester	at CIN
30	Justin Verlander	CLE
31	Jose Quintana	LAA	His early season K% spike (25%) isn't supported by SwStr% (9.7%); LAA not K'ing, either (15%)
32	Taijuan Walker	at CLE
33	Masahiro Tanaka	TB	Solid if unspectacular first 2 starts; TB could be the perfect remedy: they're not hitting & he dominates them
34	Adam Wainwright	at SD	BBs are high, but his first-pitch strike rate is higher than his career mark; in other words don't worry
35	Johnny Cueto	ARI
36	Carlos Martinez	CHC
37	Vince Velasquez	NYM	I put him near CarMart on purpose because he could do something similar to his 2015, albeit in fewer IP (closer to 140-150)
38	Jason Hammel	at STL, at CIN
39	Jaime Garcia	CHC	Tough matchup, but skills aren't the issue, it's all about health and he's healthy right now so enjoy
40	Gio Gonzalez	MIN
41	Hisashi Iwakuma	at LAA
42	Yordano Ventura	DET, BAL	Ventura & Smyly each get a gross pair of starts, but each is tough to sit, generally speaking
43	Drew Smyly	at BOS, at NYY
44	Sonny Gray	at TOR
45	Aaron Nola	at MIL	Same SwStr% rate as last suggests that this K surge is probably opponent-influenced (SD, at CIN)
46	James Shields	PIT
47	Joe Ross	at MIA	Opening MIA, at PHI, at MIA is why the NL East SPs were so appealing
48	Steven Matz	at ATL	Blasted badly in his debut, but a trip to ATL is a nice remedy
49	Shelby Miller	at SF
50	Wei-Yin Chen	WAS	That bullpen. My goodness, that bullpen.
51	Aaron Sanchez	OAK	Very interesting test for Sanchez as OAK will stack w/lefties, but they also don't walk much
52	Anibal Sanchez	CLE
53	Michael Pineda	OAK, TB	Looks like last year early on: strong skills but too hittable; love these matchups, though
54	Mike Leake	CHC, at SD	These next four are your shallow league 2-start streamers; don't love 'em ALL the time, but Leake v. CHC is the only tough one
55	Tanner Roark	at MIA, MIN
56	Jerad Eickhoff	NYM, at MIL	MIL is a nice matchup for Eickhoff because he dominates righties (.445 career OPS)
57	John Lackey	at STL, at CIN
58	Jordan Zimmermann	at KC	Unlikely to improve that 14% K% at KC!
59	Shane Greene	at KC, CLE
60	Kyle Gibson	at WAS
61	Nick Tropeano	SEA
62	Julio Teheran	LAD	Made it through 7 IP in a 6 ER outing because he wasn't getting crushed (save the Harper slam), but each mistake was being punished
63	Juan Nicasio	at ARI	A trip to DET deflated all the hype, but one bad start doesn't erase all the good we've seen this spring
64	Jimmy Nelson	MIN
65	Cody Anderson	SEA	All of the Spring Training velo hasn't held (96.3), but he's still up about 0.8 MPH on the yr (94 MPH)
66	Kyle Hendricks	at STL
67	Brandon Finnegan	CHC
68	Adam Conley	WAS, at SF	You saw why I've been so hyped on Conley coming into the year
69	Nathan Eovaldi	OAK
70	Luis Severino	OAK
71	Drew Pomeranz	PIT
72	Mat Latos	LAA, TEX	Skills aren't yet backing the fast start, but he's back on the radar now
73	A.J. Griffin	HOU, at CWS
74	Hector Santiago	at CWS, SEA
75	Wade Miley	at CLE, at LAA	A 14:0 K:BB is only so good when you're also allowing 17 H in 12 IP; just be careful
76	Andrew Cashner	STL	It's been frustrating, but K and BB rates are better this year; .429 BABIP & 55% LOB rates can't stay that bad
77	Bartolo Colon	at PHI
78	Tom Koehler	WAS	He has a 3.63 ERA, 7.2 K/9 at home in 257.7 IP
79	Jon Niese	at ARI
80	Ross Stripling	at ATL	Could be this year's Chris Heston, which isn't necessarily a negative
81	Logan Verrett	at PHI
82	Kris Medlen	BAL	Really like Medlen this year, but I'm leery of any mid-tier options v. BAL this year
83	Ian Kennedy	DET
84	Nate Karns	at CLE
85	Matt Moore	at NYY	With BBs being his biggest issue, a trip to NYY isn't the best setup, but I'm still OK starting him
85	Erasmo Ramirez	at NYY	Joins the rotation with a tough matchup, but I'm putting him right in my lineup
86	Collin McHugh	BOS
87	Jeff Samardzija	MIA	Finally get to see him in AT&T Park! I refused to use him in Coors, but he dominated, something he's always done oddly enough (2.01 ERA in 22.3 IP)
88	Charlie Morton	at MIL
89	Robbie Ray	at SF, PIT
90	Phil Hughes	MIL, at WAS	I like the early spike in SwStr% from 5.5% to 8.3%; if it sticks, he can maintain an 18-21% K%
91	J.A. Happ	at BOS, OAK	Isn't showing the same pitch usage that made him successful in PIT, but still pitchable for sure
92	Mike Fiers	BOS
93	Edinson Volquez	DET
94	Derek Holland	at CWS
96	Rick Porcello	TB
97	Jorge De La Rosa	at CIN
98	Rubby De La Rosa	at SF, PIT
99	Ricky Nolasco	at MIL	Has always been better v. RHP and MIL still features a righty-heavy lineup
100	CC Sabathia	TB