This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
Welcome to Week 2 of the regular season where we already have injury concerns for Rich Hill and Garrett Richards. Several rainouts in Week 1 forced clubs to shuffle their rotations. We'll update the ranks if anything further develops this weekend. Please feel free to hit me up in the comments with a specific question not answered via the weekly rankings.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Chris Sale | BOS | at DET, vs TB | Looked filthy in debut, on road for a pair |
2 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs CWS, vs DET | Still not completely stretched out but looked sharp |
3 | James Paxton | SEA | vs HOU, vs TEX | A sleeper no more |
4 | Cole Hamels | TEX | at LAA, at SEA | On the road but in favorable venues |
5 | Justin Verlander | DET | vs BOS, at CLE | Faces two of top lineups in the game |
6 | J.A. Happ | TOR | vs MIL, vs BAL | 7 IP with only 1 K in opener, but 65 of 89 pitches were strikes |
7 | Michael Pineda | NYY | vs TB, vs STL | Typical start, 6 K, 0 BB but 4 ER in 3.2 IP |
8 | Drew Pomeranz | BOS | vs BAL, vs TB | Red Sox could use a lift with David Price out |
9 | Corey Kluber | CLE | vs DET | |
10 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | vs TB | Facing team that lit him up in opener |
11 | Yu Darvish | TEX | at LAA | |
12 | Jharel Cotton | OAK | at KC, vs HOU | One of best change-ups in the league |
13 | Michael Fulmer |
Welcome to Week 2 of the regular season where we already have injury concerns for Rich Hill and Garrett Richards. Several rainouts in Week 1 forced clubs to shuffle their rotations. We'll update the ranks if anything further develops this weekend. Please feel free to hit me up in the comments with a specific question not answered via the weekly rankings.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
MLB
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Chris Sale | BOS | at DET, vs TB | Looked filthy in debut, on road for a pair |
2 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs CWS, vs DET | Still not completely stretched out but looked sharp |
3 | James Paxton | SEA | vs HOU, vs TEX | A sleeper no more |
4 | Cole Hamels | TEX | at LAA, at SEA | On the road but in favorable venues |
5 | Justin Verlander | DET | vs BOS, at CLE | Faces two of top lineups in the game |
6 | J.A. Happ | TOR | vs MIL, vs BAL | 7 IP with only 1 K in opener, but 65 of 89 pitches were strikes |
7 | Michael Pineda | NYY | vs TB, vs STL | Typical start, 6 K, 0 BB but 4 ER in 3.2 IP |
8 | Drew Pomeranz | BOS | vs BAL, vs TB | Red Sox could use a lift with David Price out |
9 | Corey Kluber | CLE | vs DET | |
10 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | vs TB | Facing team that lit him up in opener |
11 | Yu Darvish | TEX | at LAA | |
12 | Jharel Cotton | OAK | at KC, vs HOU | One of best change-ups in the league |
13 | Michael Fulmer | DET | vs MIN | Picking up where he left off last season |
14 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs MIL | |
15 | Ian Kennedy | KC | vs OAK, vs LAA | |
16 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs TEX | Should be recovered from groin issue, velocity up a tick from last season |
17 | Danny Salazar | CLE | vs CWS | |
18 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs OAK | |
19 | Lance McCullers | HOU | at OAK | Nasty curve doing it's thing |
20 | Rick Porcello | BOS | vs TB | |
21 | Hisashi Iwakuma | SEA | vs TEX | |
22 | Marco Estrada | TOR | vs BAL | |
23 | Dallas Keuchel | HOU | at OAK | |
24 | Charlie Morton | HOU | at SEA, at OAK | Couple of great parks to show off new found velocity |
25 | Hector Santiago | MIN | at DET, vs CWS | |
26 | Jesse Chavez | LAA | vs TEX | |
27 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs MIN | |
28 | Joe Musgrove | HOU | at SEA | Rematch with Mariners, needs to improve control |
29 | Steven Wright | BOS | vs BAL | |
30 | Jose Quintana | CWS | at MIN | |
31 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | at BOS, at TOR | High risk, high reward double dip. Tough parks, tough teams. |
32 | Ervin Santana | MIN | vs CWS | |
33 | Josh Tomlin | CLE | vs CWS | |
34 | Kevin Gausman | BAL | at TOR | |
35 | Luis Severino | NYY | vs TB | |
36 | Alex Cobb | TB | at NYY, at BOS | |
37 | Matt Boyd | DET | vs MIN, at CLE | Disappointing opener, look for a rebound |
38 | James Shields | CWS | at CLE, at MIN | |
39 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs TEX | Needs to improve control and keep the ball on the ground |
40 | Sean Manaea | OAK | vs HOU | |
41 | Adalberto Mejia | MIN | vs CWS | |
42 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | vs DET | |
43 | Chris Archer | TB | at BOS | |
44 | Francisco Liriano | TOR | vs BAL | |
45 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | vs PIT | |
46 | Garrett Richards | LAA | at KC | Tentative, on 10-day DL with biceps irritation |
47 | Matt Shoemaker | LAA | at KC | |
48 | Chad Green | NYY | vs STL | |
49 | Andrew Triggs | OAK | at KC | Such a different guy in PNC Park |
50 | Ricky Nolasco | LAA | vs TEX | |
51 | Mike Fiers | HOU | at SEA | Electric stuff but still raw |
52 | Jason Hammel | KC | vs OAK | |
53 | Blake Snell | TB | at NYY | Couple of great parks to show off new found velocity |
54 | Anibal Sanchez | DET | vs BAL | |
55 | Kendall Graveman | OAK | vs HOU | |
56 | CC Sabathia | NYY | vs STL | |
57 | Nathan Karns | KC | vs LAA | |
58 | Jake Odorizzi | TB | at BOS | |
59 | Yovani Gallardo | SEA | vs HOU | |
60 | Matt Andriese | TB | at NYY | |
61 | Yusmeiro Petit | LAA | at KC | |
62 | Martin Perez | TEX | at SEA | |
63 | Ariel Miranda | SEA | vs HOU | |
64 | Phil Hughes | MIN | at DET | |
65 | A.J. Griffin | TEX | at LAA | |
66 | Dylan Covey | CWS | at MIN | |
67 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
68 | Jason Vargas | KC | vs LAA | |
69 | Wade Miley | BAL | at TOR | |
70 | Dillon Gee | TEX | at SEA | |
71 | Daniel Norris | DET | at CLE | |
72 | Miguel Gonzalez | CWS | at CLE | |
73 | Raul Alcantara | OAK | at KC | |
73 | Jayson Aquino | BAL | at TOR | |
74 | Ubaldo Jimenez | BAL | at BOS | |
74 | Derek Holland | CWS | at CLE |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Rank | Pitcher | TEAM | Opponent(s) | Comments |
1 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs LAD, vs PIT | Historically, Wrigley favors pitching at home in April |
2 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | at PHI, at MIA | Off to a great start, just needs to stay healthy |
3 | Tanner Roark | WAS | vs STL, vs PHI | Epitome of solid |
4 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs ARI, vs COL | Huge home park boost |
5 | Matt Moore | SF | vs ARI, vs COL | Pitching at AT&T is a wonderful thing |
6 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | vs CIN, at CHC | Poised to take the next step |
7 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at CHC | No surprise, top ranked one-start arm |
8 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs COL | Being No. 2 to Kershaw nothing to be ashamed about |
9 | Max Scherzer | WAS | vs STL | No sign of knuckle issue |
10 | Rich Hill | LAD | vs ARI | Tentantive, on DL with blister |
11 | Matt Harvey | NYM | at PHI, at MIA | Velocity back but still not of the woods yet |
12 | Jake Arrieta | CHC | vs PIT | Promising first start, 6 IP, 6 K, 2BB |
13 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs COL | So steady, so good |
14 | Jerad Eickhoff | PHI | vs NYM, at WAS | Better than innings eater but not an ace |
15 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | at MIA | |
16 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | vs PHI | |
17 | Dan Straily | MIA | vs ATL, vs NYM | Good chance to see if Marlins Park helps Straily |
18 | Julio Teheran | ATL | vs SD | Unfairly punished from last season's low win total |
19 | Brandon Finnegan | CIN | at PIT, vs MIL | If Finnegan can keep the walks down, look out |
20 | Tyler Chatwood | COL | vs SD, at SF | |
21 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | vs ARI | |
22 | John Lackey | CHC | vs LAD | |
23 | Taijuan Walker | ARI | at SF, at LAD | Rare case where road starts are better than home starts |
24 | Gio Gonzalez | WAS | vs STL, vs PHI | |
25 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs PIT | |
26 | Carlos Martinez | STL | at NYY | Good enough to challenge for the NL Cy Young |
27 | Tyler Glasnow | PIT | vs CIN, at CHC | |
28 | Ivan Nova | PIT | vs CIN | Such a different guy in PNC Park |
29 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | vs NYM | Electric stuff but still raw |
30 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs ARI | |
31 | R.A. Dickey | ATL | vs SD | |
32 | Wei-Yin Chen | MIA | vs NYM | |
33 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | vs SD | Rough start to season but better days lie ahead |
34 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | vs SD, at SF | Impressive debut, worth starting even with one on Coors |
35 | Adam Wainwright | STL | at WAS, at NYY | Not as optimistic as some the old Waino returns |
36 | Clay Buchholz | PHI | vs NYM | |
37 | Rookie Davis | CIN | at PIT, vs MIL | Allowed two HR to Nava in opener, all it rookie jitters |
38 | Zack Greinke | ARI | at LAD | |
39 | Gerrit Cole | PIT | at CHC | |
40 | Robert Gsellman | NYM | at MIA | |
41 | Trevor Cahill | SD | at COL, at ATL | |
42 | Wily Peralta | MIL | at TOR, at CIN | |
43 | Jon Gray | COL | at SF | |
44 | Zach Davies | MIL | at CIN | |
45 | Jaime Garcia | ATL | at MIA | |
46 | Michael Wacha | STL | at NYY | |
47 | Tyler Anderson | COL | at SF | |
48 | Edinson Volquez | MIA | vs NYM | |
49 | Bartolo Colon | ATL | at MIA | |
50 | Tom Koehler | MIA | vs ATL | |
51 | Lance Lynn | STL | at WAS | |
52 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SF | |
53 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | at PHI | |
54 | Tommy Milone | MIL | at CIN | |
55 | Bronson Arroyo | CIN | vs MIL | |
56 | Scott Feldman | CIN | vs MIL | |
57 | Adam Conley | MIA | vs NYM | |
58 | Jimmy Nelson | MIL | at CIN | |
59 | Patrick Corbin | ARI | at LAD | |
60 | Alex Wood | LAD | at CHC | |
61 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at WAS | |
62 | Shelby Miller | ARI | at SF | |
63 | Jeremy Hellickson | PHI | at WAS | |
64 | Clayton Richard | SD | at ATL | |
65 | Matt Cain | SF | vs ARI | |
66 | Brandon McCarthy | LAD | at CHC | |
67 | Kyle Freeland | COL | vs SD | |
68 | Chad Kuhl | PIT | at BOS | |
69 | Luis Perdomo | SD | at COL | |
70 | Jhoulys Chacin | SD | at ATL | |
71 | Amir Garrett | CIN | at PIT | |
72 | Mike Leake | STL | at WAS | |
73 | Brett Anderson | CHC | vs LAD | |
74 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at TOR | |
75 | Jered Weaver | SD | at COL |
MLB
RANK | PITCHER | TEAM | OPPONENT | COMMENT |
1 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs LAD, vs PIT | Historically, Wrigley favors pitching at home in April |
2 | Chris Sale | BOS | at DET, vs TB | Looked filthy in debut, on road for a pair |
3 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs CWS, vs DET | Still not completely stretched out but looked sharp |
4 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | at PHI, at MIA | Off to a great start, just needs to stay healthy |
5 | Tanner Roark | WAS | vs STL, vs PHI | Epitome of solid |
6 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs ARI, vs COL | Huge home park boost |
7 | James Paxton | SEA | vs HOU, vs TEX | A sleeper no more |
8 | Cole Hamels | TEX | at LAA, at SEA | On the road but in favorable venues |
9 | Justin Verlander | DET | vs BOS, at CLE | Faces two of top lineups in the game |
10 | J.A. Happ | TOR | vs MIL, vs BAL | 7 IP with only 1 K in opener, but 65 of 89 pitches were strikes |
11 | Matt Moore | SF | vs ARI, vs COL | Pitching at AT&T is a wonderful thing |
12 | Jameson Taillon | PIT | vs CIN, at CHC | Poised to take the next step |
13 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at CHC | No surprise, top ranked one-start arm |
14 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs COL | Being No. 2 to Kershaw nothing to be ashamed about |
15 | Michael Pineda | NYY | vs TB, vs STL | Typical start, 6 K, 0 BB but 4 ER in 3.2 IP |
16 | Max Scherzer | WAS | vs STL | No sign of knuckle issue |
17 | Rich Hill | LAD | vs ARI | Tentantive, on DL with blister |
18 | Matt Harvey | NYM | at PHI, at MIA | Velocity back but still not of the woods yet |
19 | Drew Pomeranz | BOS | vs BAL, vs TB | Red Sox could use a lift with David Price out |
20 | Jake Arrieta | CHC | vs PIT | Promising first start, 6 IP, 6 K, 2BB |
21 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs COL | So steady, so good |
22 | Jerad Eickhoff | PHI | vs NYM, at WAS | Better than innings eater but not an ace |
23 | Corey Kluber | CLE | vs DET | |
24 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | at MIA | |
25 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | vs PHI | |
26 | Dan Straily | MIA | vs ATL, vs NYM | Good chance to see if Marlins Park helps Straily |
27 | Julio Teheran | ATL | vs SD | Unfairly punished from last season's low win total |
28 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | vs TB | Facing team that lit him up in opener |
29 | Yu Darvish | TEX | at LAA | |
30 | Brandon Finnegan | CIN | at PIT, vs MIL | If Finnegan can keep the walks down, look out |
31 | Jharel Cotton | OAK | at KC, vs HOU | One of best change-ups in the league |
32 | Michael Fulmer | DET | vs MIN | Picking up where he left off last season |
33 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs MIL | |
34 | Tyler Chatwood | COL | vs SD, at SF | |
35 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | vs ARI | |
36 | John Lackey | CHC | vs LAD | |
37 | Ian Kennedy | KC | vs OAK, vs LAA | |
38 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs TEX | Should be recovered from groin issue, velocity up a tick from last season |
39 | Taijuan Walker | ARI | at SF, at LAD | Rare case where road starts are better than home starts |
40 | Danny Salazar | CLE | vs CWS | |
41 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs OAK | |
42 | Gio Gonzalez | WAS | vs STL, vs PHI | |
43 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs PIT | |
44 | Carlos Martinez | STL | at NYY | Good enough to challenge for the NL Cy Young |
45 | Lance McCullers | HOU | at OAK | Nasty curve doing it's thing |
46 | Rick Porcello | BOS | vs TB | |
47 | Hisashi Iwakuma | SEA | vs TEX | |
48 | Tyler Glasnow | PIT | vs CIN, at CHC | |
49 | Ivan Nova | PIT | vs CIN | Such a different guy in PNC Park |
50 | Marco Estrada | TOR | vs BAL | |
51 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | vs NYM | Electric stuff but still raw |
52 | Dallas Keuchel | HOU | at OAK | |
53 | Charlie Morton | HOU | at SEA, at OAK | Couple of great parks to show off new found velocity |
54 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | vs ARI | |
55 | Hector Santiago | MIN | at DET, vs CWS | |
56 | R.A. Dickey | ATL | vs SD | |
57 | Wei-Yin Chen | MIA | vs NYM | |
58 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | vs SD | Rough start to season but better days lie ahead |
59 | Jesse Chavez | LAA | vs TEX | |
60 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | vs SD, at SF | Impressive debut, worth starting even with one on Coors |
61 | Adam Wainwright | STL | at WAS, at NYY | Not as optimistic as some the old Waino returns |
62 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs MIN | |
63 | Joe Musgrove | HOU | at SEA | Rematch with Mariners, needs to improve control |
64 | Steven Wright | BOS | vs BAL | |
65 | Clay Buchholz | PHI | vs NYM | |
66 | Jose Quintana | CWS | at MIN | |
67 | Rookie Davis | CIN | at PIT, vs MIL | Allowed two HR to Nava in opener, all it rookie jitters |
68 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | at BOS, at TOR | High risk, high reward double dip. Tough parks, tough teams. |
69 | Ervin Santana | MIN | vs CWS | |
70 | Josh Tomlin | CLE | vs CWS | |
71 | Zack Greinke | ARI | at LAD | |
72 | Kevin Gausman | BAL | at TOR | |
73 | Luis Severino | NYY | vs TB | |
74 | Gerrit Cole | PIT | at CHC | |
75 | Alex Cobb | TB | at NYY, at BOS | |
76 | Matt Boyd | DET | vs MIN, at CLE | Disappointing opener, look for a rebound |
77 | Robert Gsellman | NYM | at MIA | |
78 | James Shields | CWS | at CLE, at MIN | |
79 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs TEX | Needs to improve control and keep the ball on the ground |
80 | Sean Manaea | OAK | vs HOU | |
81 | Trevor Cahill | SD | at COL, at ATL | |
82 | Wily Peralta | MIL | at TOR, at CIN | |
83 | Adalberto Mejia | MIN | vs CWS | |
84 | Jon Gray | COL | at SF | |
85 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | vs DET | |
86 | Zach Davies | MIL | at CIN | |
87 | Jaime Garcia | ATL | at MIA | |
88 | Michael Wacha | STL | at NYY | |
89 | Chris Archer | TB | at BOS | |
90 | Francisco Liriano | TOR | vs BAL | |
91 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | vs PIT | |
92 | Garrett Richards | LAA | at KC | Tentative, on 10-day DL with biceps irritation |
93 | Tyler Anderson | COL | at SF | |
94 | Edinson Volquez | MIA | vs NYM | |
95 | Bartolo Colon | ATL | at MIA | |
96 | Matt Shoemaker | LAA | at KC | |
97 | Chad Green | NYY | vs STL | |
98 | Andrew Triggs | OAK | at KC | |
99 | Ricky Nolasco | LAA | vs TEX | |
100 | Mike Fiers | HOU | at SEA | |
101 | Jason Hammel | KC | vs OAK | |
102 | Blake Snell | TB | at NYY | |
103 | Tom Koehler | MIA | vs ATL | |
104 | Lance Lynn | STL | at WAS | |
105 | Anibal Sanchez | DET | vs BAL | |
106 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SF | |
107 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | at PHI | |
108 | Tommy Milone | MIL | at CIN | |
109 | Bronson Arroyo | CIN | vs MIL | |
110 | Scott Feldman | CIN | vs MIL | |
111 | Kendall Graveman | OAK | vs HOU | |
112 | Adam Conley | MIA | vs NYM | |
113 | CC Sabathia | NYY | vs STL | |
114 | Jimmy Nelson | MIL | at CIN | |
115 | Patrick Corbin | ARI | at LAD | |
116 | Nathan Karns | KC | vs LAA | |
117 | Jake Odorizzi | TB | at BOS | |
118 | Yovani Gallardo | SEA | vs HOU | |
119 | Matt Andriese | TB | at NYY | |
120 | Alex Wood | LAD | at CHC | |
121 | Yusmeiro Petit | LAA | at KC | |
122 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at WAS | |
123 | Shelby Miller | ARI | at SF | |
124 | Jeremy Hellickson | PHI | at WAS | |
125 | Martin Perez | TEX | at SEA | |
126 | Ariel Miranda | SEA | vs HOU | |
127 | Phil Hughes | MIN | at DET | |
128 | Clayton Richard | SD | at ATL | |
129 | A.J. Griffin | TEX | at LAA | |
130 | Dylan Covey | CWS | at MIN | |
131 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
132 | Matt Cain | SF | vs ARI | |
133 | Brandon McCarthy | LAD | at CHC | |
134 | Jason Vargas | KC | vs LAA | |
135 | Kyle Freeland | COL | vs SD | |
136 | Chad Kuhl | PIT | at BOS | |
137 | Luis Perdomo | SD | at COL | |
138 | Jhoulys Chacin | SD | at ATL | |
139 | Amir Garrett | CIN | at PIT | |
140 | Mike Leake | STL | at WAS | |
141 | Wade Miley | BAL | at TOR | |
142 | Brett Anderson | CHC | vs LAD | |
143 | Dillon Gee | TEX | at SEA | |
144 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at TOR | |
145 | Daniel Norris | DET | at CLE | |
146 | Miguel Gonzalez | CWS | at CLE | |
147 | Raul Alcantara | OAK | at KC | |
148 | Jayson Aquino | BAL | at TOR | |
149 | Ubaldo Jimenez | BAL | at BOS | |
150 | Derek Holland | CWS | at CLE | |
151 | Jered Weaver | SD | at COL |