Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Aces Not High

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Aces Not High

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Updated on May 10, 2021 12:06AM EST

And you get a no-hitter and you get a no-hitter, and you get a no-hitter ...

Strikeouts are up, batting average is down. Curiously, BABIP in ground balls is also down. Shift data might not show a huge advantage, but remember classifying a shift doesn't always capture defensive positioning such as either the shortstop or second baseman shading the bag, but still on their side of the keystone. This isn't classified as a shift, but think about how many hits have been taken away on grounders up the middle.

This week's slate is devoid of elite options with two starts. This could affect how you manage your team in head-to-head formats since pitching-heavy teams may not have the same advantage as usual.

As always, please address rotation-specific questions to the Probable Pitchers page.

Week of May 10-16

Updated: Monday May 10 12:05 AM ET

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Shane Bieber	CLE	CHC, @SEA	Only blemish is 6 HR in 48 IP
2	Walker Buehler	LAD	SEA, MIA
3	John Means	BAL	@NYM, NYY	Insert Meansingful pun here
4	Jacob deGrom	NYM	@TB
5	Marcus Stroman	NYM	BAL, @TB
6	Freddy Peralta	MIL	STL, ATL	53 K in 32 IP
7	Trevor Bauer	LAD	MIA
8	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TB
9	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	MIA
10	Tyler Glasnow	TB	NYM
11	Max Scherzer	WAS	@ARI
12	Julio Urias	LAD	SEA
13	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	LAA, TEX	Three straight

And you get a no-hitter and you get a no-hitter, and you get a no-hitter ...

Strikeouts are up, batting average is down. Curiously, BABIP in ground balls is also down. Shift data might not show a huge advantage, but remember classifying a shift doesn't always capture defensive positioning such as either the shortstop or second baseman shading the bag, but still on their side of the keystone. This isn't classified as a shift, but think about how many hits have been taken away on grounders up the middle.

This week's slate is devoid of elite options with two starts. This could affect how you manage your team in head-to-head formats since pitching-heavy teams may not have the same advantage as usual.

As always, please address rotation-specific questions to the Probable Pitchers page.

Week of May 10-16

Updated: Monday May 10 12:05 AM ET

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Shane Bieber	CLE	CHC, @SEA	Only blemish is 6 HR in 48 IP
2	Walker Buehler	LAD	SEA, MIA
3	John Means	BAL	@NYM, NYY	Insert Meansingful pun here
4	Jacob deGrom	NYM	@TB
5	Marcus Stroman	NYM	BAL, @TB
6	Freddy Peralta	MIL	STL, ATL	53 K in 32 IP
7	Trevor Bauer	LAD	MIA
8	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TB
9	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	MIA
10	Tyler Glasnow	TB	NYM
11	Max Scherzer	WAS	@ARI
12	Julio Urias	LAD	SEA
13	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	LAA, TEX	Three straight QS
14	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	STL
15	Corbin Burnes	MIL	STL
16	Alex Wood	SF	TEX, @PIT	Pitching well and draws a couple lesser lineups
17	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	MIA, WAS	19.6% K-BB% highest since 2016
18	Cristian Javier	HOU	TEX	Pitching well but only one outing more than 5 IP
19	Zach Plesac	CLE	@SEA	Appears to be over early season woes
20	Lance Lynn	CWS	KC
21	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	OAK, LAA
22	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@TB, @BAL
23	Taijuan Walker	NYM	BAL
24	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@CWS, OAK
25	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@LAD, CLE
26	Kyle Gibson	TEX	@SF, @HOU
27	Aaron Nola	PHI	@TOR
28	Aaron Civale	CLE	@SEA	Only 28 K in 39 IP
29	Joe Musgrove	SD	STL
30	Jack Flaherty	STL	@MIL	No kid gloves this season, 5 QS in 7 GS
31	Lucas Giolito	CWS	KC
32	Kevin Gausman	SF	@PIT
33	Carlos Rodon	CWS	MIN
34	JT Brubaker	PIT	CIN, SF	Big boost from pair at home
35	Sonny Gray	CIN	@PIT	Racking up punch outs with high two-seamer
36	Jose Berrios	MIN	OAK
37	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@ARI, @LAD
38	Dylan Cease	CWS	MIN, KC	Walks still high, but only 2 HR allowed in 30 IP
39	Danny Duffy	KC	@DET	One of the biggest early surprises in a great spot to keep it going
40	Brady Singer	KC	@DET, @CWS
41	Matthew Boyd	DET	KC, CHC
42	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@WAS
43	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@BOS, @MIN	Tough road pair against potent lineups
44	Luis Garcia	HOU	LAA, TEX	Astros are being careful with innings
45	Zac Gallen	ARI	MIA
46	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	@PIT
47	Ian Anderson	ATL	@MIL
48	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	NYY, NYM
49	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@MIL
50	J.A. Happ	MIN	@CWS	Great ratios but only 16 K in 28 IP
51	Zack Greinke	HOU	TEX
52	Jose Urquidy	HOU	LAA
53	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@SEA
54	Rich Hill	TB	NYY
55	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TB
56	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@ATL
57	Chris Paddack	SD	STL
58	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@PIT, @COL
59	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@LAD
60	Robbie Ray	TOR	@ATL, PHI	0 BB in last 18 IP is impressive -- 5 HR, not so much
61	Charlie Morton	ATL	TOR	The runs may not have been earned, but WHIP still took a beating
62	Yu Darvish	SD	@COL
63	Sean Manaea	OAK	@BOS
64	Michael Pineda	MIN	@CWS
65	Michael Kopech	CWS	KC
66	Andrew Heaney	LAA	@HOU
67	Chris Flexen	SEA	CLE
68	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	OAK
69	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@MIL, @SD
70	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@BOS
71	Mike Minor	KC	@CWS
72	Tyler Anderson	PIT	SF
73	Jon Gray	COL	SD, CIN	Home success impressive, but not to be counted on to continue
74	Dinelson Lamet	SD	@COL, STL
75	Josh Fleming	TB	NYY
76	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	MIN
77	Johnny Cueto	SF	@PIT
78	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@ARI
79	Merrill Kelly	ARI	MIA
80	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@HOU
81	Corey Kluber	NYY	@BAL
82	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	OAK
83	Garrett Richards	BOS	OAK
84	Adrian Houser	MIL	ATL
85	Erick Fedde	WAS	PHI, @ARI
86	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	@HOU
87	Shane McClanahan	TB	NYM
88	Mix 12 Reliever
89	Carlos Martinez	STL	@SD
90	Luke Weaver	ARI	MIA, WAS
91	Dane Dunning	TEX	@HOU
92	Mix 15 Reliever
93	Adam Wainwright	STL	@SD
94	Logan Webb	SF	TEX
95	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@CLE
96	Nick Pivetta	BOS	LAA
97	Martin Perez	BOS	@BAL, LAA
98	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@DET	11 HR in 27 IP. Will get better, but damage has been done
99	Erik Swanson	SEA	CLE
100	Max Fried	ATL	TOR
101	Steven Matz	TOR	PHI
102	Spencer Turnbull	DET	KC
103	Drew Smyly	ATL	TOR, @MIL
104	Zach Eflin	PHI	@WAS
105	Matt Harvey	BAL	@NYM
106	Domingo German	NYY	@BAL
107	Patrick Corbin	WAS	PHI
108	Joe Ross	WAS	@ARI
109	Griffin Canning	LAA	@BOS
110	Mitch Keller	PIT	CIN, SF
111	David Peterson	NYM	@TB
112	John Gant	STL	@MIL
113	Chase Anderson	PHI	@WAS, @TOR
114	Justus Sheffield	SEA	CLE
115	Casey Mize	DET	KC
116	Luis Castillo	CIN	@COL
117	Nate Pearson	TOR	PHI
118	Taylor Widener	ARI	WAS
119	Trevor Cahill	PIT	CIN
120	Jorge Lopez	BAL	BOS, NYY
121	Zach Davies	CHC	@CLE
122	Jordan Holloway	MIA	@ARI, @LAD
123	Jose Urena	DET	CHC
124	Justin Dunn	SEA	@LAD
125	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@SF
126	Brad Keller	KC	@DET
127	James Kaprielian	OAK	@BOS
128	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@DET
129	Tarik Skubal	DET	CHC
130	Hyeon-jong Yang	TEX	@HOU
131	Jakob Junis	KC	@CWS
132	Daniel Lynch	KC	@CWS
133	Brett Anderson	MIL	ATL
134	Vince Velasquez	PHI	@TOR
135	Cole Irvin	OAK	@MIN
136	Jose Suarez	LAA	@HOU
137	Frankie Montas	OAK	@MIN
138	Jon Lester	WAS	PHI
139	Blake Snell	SD	@COL
140	German Marquez	COL	CIN
141	Antonio Senzatela	COL	SD, CIN
142	Jose Quintana	LAA	@BOS
143	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	@PIT, @COL
144	Trevor Williams	CHC	@DET
145	Ross Stripling	TOR	@ATL
146	Wade Miley	CIN	@COL
147	Dean Kremer	BAL	NYY
148	Nick Neidert	MIA	@ARI
149	Wil Crowe	PIT	SF
150	Austin Gomber	COL	SD
151	Sam Hentges	CLE	CHC
152	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	CIN

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Shane Bieber	CLE	CHC, @SEA	Only blemish is 6 HR in 48 IP
2	John Means	BAL	@NYM, NYY	Insert Meansingful pun here
3	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TB
4	Tyler Glasnow	TB	NYM
5	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	LAA, TEX	Three straight QS
6	Cristian Javier	HOU	TEX	Pitching well but only one outing more than 5 IP
7	Zach Plesac	CLE	@SEA	Appears to be over early season woes
8	Lance Lynn	CWS	KC
9	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	OAK, LAA
10	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@TB, @BAL
11	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@CWS, OAK
12	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@LAD, CLE
13	Kyle Gibson	TEX	@SF, @HOU
14	Aaron Civale	CLE	@SEA	Only 28 K in 39 IP
15	Lucas Giolito	CWS	KC
16	Carlos Rodon	CWS	MIN
17	Jose Berrios	MIN	OAK
18	Dylan Cease	CWS	MIN, KC	Walks still high, but only 2 HR allowed in 30 IP
19	Danny Duffy	KC	@DET	One of the biggest early surprises in a great spot to keep it going
20	Brady Singer	KC	@DET, @CWS
21	Matthew Boyd	DET	KC, CHC
22	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@BOS, @MIN	Tough road pair against potent lineups
23	Luis Garcia	HOU	LAA, TEX	Astros are being careful with innings
24	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	NYY, NYM
25	J.A. Happ	MIN	@CWS	Great ratios but only 16 K in 28 IP
26	Zack Greinke	HOU	TEX
27	Jose Urquidy	HOU	LAA
28	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@SEA
29	Rich Hill	TB	NYY
30	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TB
31	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@ATL
32	Robbie Ray	TOR	@ATL, PHI	0 BB in last 18 IP is impressive -- 5 HR, not so much
33	Sean Manaea	OAK	@BOS
34	Michael Pineda	MIN	@CWS
35	Michael Kopech	CWS	KC
36	Andrew Heaney	LAA	@HOU
37	Chris Flexen	SEA	CLE
38	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	OAK
39	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@BOS
40	Mike Minor	KC	@CWS
41	Josh Fleming	TB	NYY
42	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	MIN
43	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@HOU
44	Corey Kluber	NYY	@BAL
45	Matt Shoemaker	MIN	OAK
46	Garrett Richards	BOS	OAK
47	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	@HOU
48	Shane McClanahan	TB	NYM
49	Dane Dunning	TEX	@HOU
50	Nick Pivetta	BOS	LAA
51	Martin Perez	BOS	@BAL, LAA
52	Erik Swanson	SEA	CLE
53	Steven Matz	TOR	PHI
54	Spencer Turnbull	DET	KC
55	Matt Harvey	BAL	@NYM
56	Domingo German	NYY	@BAL
57	AL Reliever
58	Griffin Canning	LAA	@BOS
59	Justus Sheffield	SEA	CLE
60	Casey Mize	DET	KC
61	Nate Pearson	TOR	PHI
62	Jorge Lopez	BAL	BOS, NYY
63	Jose Urena	DET	CHC
64	Justin Dunn	SEA	@LAD
65	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@SF
66	Brad Keller	KC	@DET
67	James Kaprielian	OAK	@BOS
68	Tarik Skubal	DET	CHC
69	Hyeon-jong Yang	TEX	@HOU
70	Jakob Junis	KC	@CWS
71	Daniel Lynch	KC	@CWS
72	Cole Irvin	OAK	@MIN
73	Jose Suarez	LAA	@HOU
74	Frankie Montas	OAK	@MIN
75	Jose Quintana	LAA	@BOS
76	Ross Stripling	TOR	@ATL
77	Dean Kremer	BAL	NYY
78	Sam Hentges	CLE	CHC

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Walker Buehler	LAD	SEA, MIA
2	Jacob deGrom	NYM	@TB
3	Marcus Stroman	NYM	BAL, @TB
4	Freddy Peralta	MIL	STL, ATL	53 K in 32 IP
5	Trevor Bauer	LAD	MIA
6	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	MIA
7	Max Scherzer	WAS	@ARI
8	Julio Urias	LAD	SEA
9	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	STL
10	Corbin Burnes	MIL	STL
11	Alex Wood	SF	TEX, @PIT	Pitching well and draws a couple lesser lineups
12	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	MIA, WAS	19.6% K-BB% highest since 2016
13	Taijuan Walker	NYM	BAL
14	Aaron Nola	PHI	@TOR
15	Joe Musgrove	SD	STL
16	Jack Flaherty	STL	@MIL	No kid gloves this season, 5 QS in 7 GS
17	Kevin Gausman	SF	@PIT
18	JT Brubaker	PIT	CIN, SF	Big boost from pair at home
19	Sonny Gray	CIN	@PIT	Racking up punch outs with high two-seamer
20	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@ARI, @LAD
21	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@WAS
22	Zac Gallen	ARI	MIA
23	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	@PIT
24	Ian Anderson	ATL	@MIL
25	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@MIL
26	Chris Paddack	SD	STL
27	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@PIT, @COL
28	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@LAD
29	Charlie Morton	ATL	TOR	The runs may not have been earned, but WHIP still took a beating
30	Yu Darvish	SD	@COL
31	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@MIL, @SD
32	Tyler Anderson	PIT	SF
33	Jon Gray	COL	SD, CIN	Home success impressive, but not to be counted on to continue
34	Dinelson Lamet	SD	@COL, STL
35	Johnny Cueto	SF	@PIT
36	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@ARI
37	Merrill Kelly	ARI	MIA
38	Adrian Houser	MIL	ATL
39	Erick Fedde	WAS	PHI, @ARI
40	Carlos Martinez	STL	@SD
41	Luke Weaver	ARI	MIA, WAS
42	Adam Wainwright	STL	@SD
43	Logan Webb	SF	TEX
44	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@CLE
45	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@DET	11 HR in 27 IP. Will get better, but damage has been done
46	Max Fried	ATL	TOR
47	Drew Smyly	ATL	TOR, @MIL
48	Zach Eflin	PHI	@WAS
49	Patrick Corbin	WAS	PHI
50	Joe Ross	WAS	@ARI
51	NL Reliever
52	Mitch Keller	PIT	CIN, SF
53	David Peterson	NYM	@TB
54	John Gant	STL	@MIL
55	Chase Anderson	PHI	@WAS, @TOR
56	Luis Castillo	CIN	@COL
57	Taylor Widener	ARI	WAS
58	Trevor Cahill	PIT	CIN
59	Zach Davies	CHC	@CLE
60	Jordan Holloway	MIA	@ARI, @LAD
61	Jake Arrieta	CHC	@DET
62	Brett Anderson	MIL	ATL
63	Vince Velasquez	PHI	@TOR
64	Jon Lester	WAS	PHI
65	Blake Snell	SD	@COL
66	German Marquez	COL	CIN
67	Antonio Senzatela	COL	SD, CIN
68	Jeff Hoffman	CIN	@PIT, @COL
69	Trevor Williams	CHC	@DET
70	Wade Miley	CIN	@COL
71	Nick Neidert	MIA	@ARI
72	Wil Crowe	PIT	SF
73	Austin Gomber	COL	SD
74	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	CIN

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Todd Zola

@toddzola

Todd has been writing about fantasy baseball since 1997. He won NL Tout Wars and Mixed LABR in 2016 as well as a multi-time league winner in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship. Todd is now setting his sights even higher: The Rotowire Staff League. Lord Zola, as he's known in the industry, won the 2013 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Article of the Year award and was named the 2017 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year. Todd is a five-time FSWA awards finalist.

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