Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Let's Play Two

Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Let's Play Two

This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.

In what's going to be the norm the rest of the season, there are seven doubleheaders on the docket, five on Friday with the other pair on Saturday. It's conjecture, but it can be argued pitchers scheduled to work in a twin bill have a better chance for a win since they'll only need one or two relievers to seal the deal, avoiding the usual soft underbelly of many bullpens.

Complicating matters this period is the impending trade deadline. We're already seen one deal as the Blue Jays fortified their rotation with Taijuan Walker, there will likely be more deals, shuffling things up mid-week.

Despite a record number of pitchers being ranked, the two-start selection isn't great, though there are a handful possibly available, obviously dependent on the depth of your league.

As always, these are preliminary rankings. The final set will be updated Sunday night, after we have a better feel for how rotations will flesh out. That said, with so many late-week doubleheaders, the plans for the involved teams are in flux, especially over the weekend.

For the week Aug. 31 - Sept. 6

UPDATED: Monday August 31, 1 AM ET

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPP 
1Gerrit ColeNYYTB, @BAL 
2Shane BieberCLE@KC, MILYes, hard hit rate is high, but only 4 HR allowed in 46.2 IP
3Jacob deGromNYMMIA, PHICould double his win total in one week
4Sonny GrayCINSTL, @PITGreat matchups
5

In what's going to be the norm the rest of the season, there are seven doubleheaders on the docket, five on Friday with the other pair on Saturday. It's conjecture, but it can be argued pitchers scheduled to work in a twin bill have a better chance for a win since they'll only need one or two relievers to seal the deal, avoiding the usual soft underbelly of many bullpens.

Complicating matters this period is the impending trade deadline. We're already seen one deal as the Blue Jays fortified their rotation with Taijuan Walker, there will likely be more deals, shuffling things up mid-week.

Despite a record number of pitchers being ranked, the two-start selection isn't great, though there are a handful possibly available, obviously dependent on the depth of your league.

As always, these are preliminary rankings. The final set will be updated Sunday night, after we have a better feel for how rotations will flesh out. That said, with so many late-week doubleheaders, the plans for the involved teams are in flux, especially over the weekend.

For the week Aug. 31 - Sept. 6

UPDATED: Monday August 31, 1 AM ET

Mixed

RankPitcherTMOPP 
1Gerrit ColeNYYTB, @BAL 
2Shane BieberCLE@KC, MILYes, hard hit rate is high, but only 4 HR allowed in 46.2 IP
3Jacob deGromNYMMIA, PHICould double his win total in one week
4Sonny GrayCINSTL, @PITGreat matchups
5Lucas GiolitoCWS@MIN, @KC 
6Aaron NolaPHIWAS, @NYM 
7Max FriedATL@BOS, WAS3-0 with .81 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last three starts
8Framber ValdezHOUTEX, @LAA 
9Max ScherzerWAS@PHI 
10Jesus LuzardoOAK@SEA, SD 
11Yu DarvishCHC@PIT 
12Trevor BauerCIN@PIT 
13Clayton KershawLADARI 
14Hyun-Jin RyuTOR@MIA 
15Blake SnellTBMIA 
16Marco GonzalesSEA@LAA, TEXBenefits from lesser lineups and good parks
17Patrick CorbinWAS@PHI, @ATLControl and command a bit off so far
18Lance LynnTEX@SEA 
19Kenta MaedaMIN@DET 
20German MarquezCOLSD, @LAD 
21Luis CastilloCINPIT.400 BABIP - that seems… high
22Michael PinedaMINCWS, DETReturning from suspension
23Zack GreinkeHOU@LAA 
24Mike ClevingerCLE@KC 
25Walker BuehlerLADARI 
26Aaron CivaleCLEMIL 
27Kwang-Hyun KimSTL@CIN, @CHC 
28Cristian JavierHOUTEX 
29Kyle HendricksCHC@PIT 
30Julio UriasLADARI, COLMake good week, couldn't have a better setup
31Sean ManaeaOAK@SEAAlready looking forward to drafting Manaea in 2021 with a big discount
32Masahiro TanakaNYYTB, @BAL 
33Rich HillMINCWS, DET 
34Dylan BundyLAASD 
35Frankie MontasOAKSD 
36Jose BerriosMINCWSAdmittedly, a leap of faith but control historically too good to continue walking so many
37Ian AndersonATL@BOS, WASEven with tempered expectations, outlook is rosey
38Brad KellerKCCLE, CWSNeeds better control
39Randy DobnakMINDET 
40Chase AndersonTORBAL, @BOSSneaky good matchups
41Carlos CarrascoCLEMIL 
42Adrian HouserMILDET 
43Danny DuffyKCCLE 
44Seth LugoNYMPHI 
45Jack FlahertySTL@CHC 
46Chris PaddackSD@OAK 
47John MeansBALNYM 
48Anthony DeSclafaniCINSTL, @PITVelo still there, expecting an improvement
49Spencer TurnbullDET@MIL 
50Dallas KeuchelCWS@MIN, @KCLow strikeouts hindering rank a bit
51Triston McKenzieCLE@KC 
52Tyler GlasnowTB@NYY, MIARays rolling even with Glasnow struggling
53Casey MizeDET@MIN 
54Chris BassittOAKSD 
55Justin DunnSEATEX 
56Taylor RogersMIA@NYM 
57Josh FlemingTBMIA 
58Charlie MortonTB@NYY 
59Zack WheelerPHIWAS 
60Mike MinorTEX@HOUStarting to get it in gear, unfortunately, not enough time left to repair damage
61Dustin MayLADCOL 
62Andrew HeaneyLAASD 
63Jon GrayCOLSFStrikeouts have vanished
64Anthony KayTOR@MIA, @BOSCould lose rotation spot with a deadline deal (or two)
65Spencer HowardPHIWAS, @NYM 
66Brandon WoodruffMIL@CLE 
67Matthew BoydDET@MIN 
68Zac GallenARI@LADGreat test, Dodgers crushing RHP
69Nathan EovaldiBOSTOR 
70Cody PoncePITCIN 
71Yusei KikuchiSEAOAK 
72Dakota HudsonSTL@CIN, CHC 
73Ross StriplingLADCOL 
74Justus SheffieldSEATEX 
75Alex CobbBALNYY 
76Ljay NewsomeSEAOAK 
77Lance McCullersHOUTEX 
78Jordan LylesTEX@HOU, @SEA 
79Nick MargeviciusSEAOAK 
80Jose UrquidyHOU@LAA 
81Kyle GibsonTEX@SEA 
82Mike FiersOAK@SEA 
83Sixto SanchezMIA@TB 
84Griffin CanningLAAHOU 
85Luke WeaverARI@SF 
86JT BrubakerPITCHC 
87Dane DunningCWS@KC 
88Corbin BurnesMIL@CLE 
89Taijuan WalkerTOR@BOS 
90Shun YamaguchiTORBOS 
91Dinelson LametSD@LAA 
92Pablo LopezMIA@TB 
93Tyler AndersonSFARI 
94Alec MillsCHCSTL 
95Jordan MontgomeryNYYTB 
96Brady SingerKCCWS 
97Trevor WilliamsPIT@MIL, CIN 
98Elieser HernandezMIATORNice pair to continue roll
99Jon LesterCHC@PIT, STL 
100Zach EflinPHIWAS 
101J.A. HappNYY@NYM 
102Josh LindblomMILDET 
103Asher WojciechowskiBALNYM, NYY 
104Madison BumgarnerARI@SF 
105Tyler MahleCINSTL 
106Jakob JunisKCCLE, CWS 
107Julio TeheranLAAHOU 
108Kyle HartBOSATL 
109Chris MazzaBOS@TOR 
110Dylan CeaseCWS@KC 
111Tarik SkubalDETMIN 
112Adrian MorejonSD@OAK 
113Matt AndrieseLAAHOU 
114Kolby AllardTEX@HOU 
115Anibal SanchezWAS@PHI 
116Robbie ErlinATL@BOS 
117Robbie RayARI@LAD 
118Kyle FreelandCOLSF 
119Daniel NorrisDET@MIL, @MIN 
120Jose QuintanaCHCSTL 
121Caleb SmithMIATOR 
122Zack GodleyBOSTOR 
123Johnny CuetoSFARI 
124Chad KuhlPITCHC, CIN 
125Antonio SenzatelaCOL@LAD 
126Adam WainwrightSTL@CHC 
127Jonathan LoaisigaNYY@BAL 
128Garrett RichardsSD@COL, @OAK 
129Trevor RichardsTB@NYY 
130Austin VothWAS@ATL 
131Reynaldo LopezCWS@MIN 
132Josh TomlinATLWAS 
133David PetersonNYMNYY 
134Erick FeddeWAS@PHI, @ATL 
135Colten BrewerBOSATL, TOR 
136Rick PorcelloNYMPHI 
137Ryan WeberBOSATL 
138Deivi GarciaNYY@BAL 
139Jorge LopezBALNYY 
140Alex YoungARI@LAD, @SF 
141Keegan AkinBAL@TOR, NYY 
142Jaime BarriaLAASEA, @HOU 
143Martin PerezBOSTOR 
144Jake ArrietaPHI@NYM 
145Tommy MiloneATLWAS 
146Sandy AlcantaraMIA@TB 
147Wil CroweWAS@ATL 
148Kris BubicKCCWS 
149Tanner RoarkTOR@BOS 
150Brett AndersonMIL@CLE 
151Derek HollandPITCHC 
152Zach DaviesSD@LAA 
153Eric LauerMILPIT 
154Drew SmylySFARI 
155Kevin GausmanSF@COL 
156Brandon BielakHOULAA 
157Ryan CastellaniCOL@LAD 
158Steven BraultPIT@CIN 
159Logan WebbSF@COL 
160Johan OviedoSTL@CIN 
161Adbert AlzolayCHC@STL 
162Franklyn KilomeNYM@BAL 
163Michael WachaNYM@BAL 

American League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Gerrit ColeNYYTB, @BAL 
2Shane BieberCLE@KC, MILYes, hard hit rate is high, but only 4 HR allowed in 46.2 IP
3Lucas GiolitoCWS@MIN, @KC 
4Framber ValdezHOUTEX, @LAA 
5Jesus LuzardoOAK@SEA, SD 
6Hyun-Jin RyuTOR@MIA 
7Blake SnellTBMIA 
8Marco GonzalesSEA@LAA, TEXBenefits from lesser lineups and good parks
9Lance LynnTEX@SEA 
10Kenta MaedaMIN@DET 
11Michael PinedaMINCWS, DETReturning from suspension
12Zack GreinkeHOU@LAA 
13Mike ClevingerCLE@KC 
14Aaron CivaleCLEMIL 
15Cristian JavierHOUTEX 
16Sean ManaeaOAK@SEAAlready looking forward to drafting Manaea in 2021 with a big discount
17Masahiro TanakaNYYTB, @BAL 
18Rich HillMINCWS, DET 
19Dylan BundyLAASD 
20Frankie MontasOAKSD 
21Jose BerriosMINCWSAdmittedly, a leap of faith but control historically too good to continue walking so many
22Brad KellerKCCLE, CWSNeeds better control
23Randy DobnakMINDET 
24Chase AndersonTORBAL, @BOSSneaky good matchups
25Carlos CarrascoCLEMIL 
26Danny DuffyKCCLE 
27John MeansBALNYM 
28Spencer TurnbullDET@MIL 
29Dallas KeuchelCWS@MIN, @KCLow strikeouts hindering rank a bit
30Triston McKenzieCLE@KC 
31Tyler GlasnowTB@NYY, MIARays rolling even with Glasnow struggling
32Casey MizeDET@MIN 
33Chris BassittOAKSD 
34Justin DunnSEATEX 
35Josh FlemingTBMIA 
36Charlie MortonTB@NYY 
37Mike MinorTEX@HOUStarting to get it in gear, unfortunately, not enough time left to repair damage
38Andrew HeaneyLAASD 
39Anthony KayTOR@MIA, @BOSCould lose rotation spot with a deadline deal (or two)
40Matthew BoydDET@MIN 
41Nathan EovaldiBOSTOR 
42Yusei KikuchiSEAOAK 
43Justus SheffieldSEATEX 
44Alex CobbBALNYY 
45Ljay NewsomeSEAOAK 
46Lance McCullersHOUTEX 
47Jordan LylesTEX@HOU, @SEA 
48Nick MargeviciusSEAOAK 
49Jose UrquidyHOU@LAA 
50Kyle GibsonTEX@SEA 
51Mike FiersOAK@SEA 
52Griffin CanningLAAHOU 
53Dane DunningCWS@KC 
54Taijuan WalkerTOR@BOS 
55Shun YamaguchiTORBOS 
56Jordan MontgomeryNYYTB 
57Brady SingerKCCWS 
58J.A. HappNYY@NYM 
59Asher WojciechowskiBALNYM, NYY 
60Jakob JunisKCCLE, CWS 
61Julio TeheranLAAHOU 
62Kyle HartBOSATL 
63Chris MazzaBOS@TOR 
64Dylan CeaseCWS@KC 
65Tarik SkubalDETMIN 
66Matt AndrieseLAAHOU 
67Kolby AllardTEX@HOU 
68Daniel NorrisDET@MIL, @MIN 
69Zack GodleyBOSTOR 
70Jonathan LoaisigaNYY@BAL 
71Trevor RichardsTB@NYY 
72Reynaldo LopezCWS@MIN 
73Colten BrewerBOSATL, TOR 
74Ryan WeberBOSATL 
75Deivi GarciaNYY@BAL 
76Jorge LopezBALNYY 
77Keegan AkinBAL@TOR, NYY 
78Jaime BarriaLAASEA, @HOU 
79Martin PerezBOSTOR 
80Kris BubicKCCWS 
81Tanner RoarkTOR@BOS 
82Brandon BielakHOULAA 

National League

RankPitcherTMOPPComment
1Jacob deGromNYMMIA, PHICould double his win total in one week
2Sonny GrayCINSTL, @PITGreat matchups
3Aaron NolaPHIWAS, @NYM 
4Max FriedATL@BOS, WAS3-0 with .81 ERA and 1.07 WHIP last three starts
5Max ScherzerWAS@PHI 
6Yu DarvishCHC@PIT 
7Trevor BauerCIN@PIT 
8Clayton KershawLADARI 
9Patrick CorbinWAS@PHI, @ATLControl and command a bit off so far
10German MarquezCOLSD, @LAD 
11Luis CastilloCINPIT.400 BABIP - that seems… high
12Walker BuehlerLADARI 
13Kwang-Hyun KimSTL@CIN, @CHC 
14Kyle HendricksCHC@PIT 
15Julio UriasLADARI, COLMake good week, couldn't have a better setup
16Ian AndersonATL@BOS, WASEven with tempered expectations, outlook is rosey
17Adrian HouserMILDET 
18Seth LugoNYMPHI 
19Jack FlahertySTL@CHC 
20Chris PaddackSD@OAK 
21Anthony DeSclafaniCINSTL, @PITVelo still there, expecting an improvement
22Taylor RogersMIA@NYM 
23Zack WheelerPHIWAS 
24Dustin MayLADCOL 
25Jon GrayCOLSFStrikeouts have vanished
26Spencer HowardPHIWAS, @NYM 
27Brandon WoodruffMIL@CLE 
28Zac GallenARI@LADGreat test, Dodgers crushing RHP
29Cody PoncePITCIN 
30Dakota HudsonSTL@CIN, CHC 
31Ross StriplingLADCOL 
32Sixto SanchezMIA@TB 
33Luke WeaverARI@SF 
34JT BrubakerPITCHC 
35Corbin BurnesMIL@CLE 
36Dinelson LametSD@LAA 
37Pablo LopezMIA@TB 
38Tyler AndersonSFARI 
39Alec MillsCHCSTL 
40Trevor WilliamsPIT@MIL, CIN 
41Elieser HernandezMIATORNice pair to continue roll
42Jon LesterCHC@PIT, STL 
43Zach EflinPHIWAS 
44Josh LindblomMILDET 
45Madison BumgarnerARI@SF 
46Tyler MahleCINSTL 
47Adrian MorejonSD@OAK 
48Anibal SanchezWAS@PHI 
49Robbie ErlinATL@BOS 
50Robbie RayARI@LAD 
51Kyle FreelandCOLSF 
52Jose QuintanaCHCSTL 
53Caleb SmithMIATOR 
54Johnny CuetoSFARI 
55Chad KuhlPITCHC, CIN 
56Antonio SenzatelaCOL@LAD 
57Adam WainwrightSTL@CHC 
58Garrett RichardsSD@COL, @OAK 
59Austin VothWAS@ATL 
60Josh TomlinATLWAS 
61David PetersonNYMNYY 
62Erick FeddeWAS@PHI, @ATL 
63Rick PorcelloNYMPHI 
64Alex YoungARI@LAD, @SF 
65Jake ArrietaPHI@NYM 
66Tommy MiloneATLWAS 
67Sandy AlcantaraMIA@TB 
68Wil CroweWAS@ATL 
69Brett AndersonMIL@CLE 
70Derek HollandPITCHC 
71Zach DaviesSD@LAA 
72Eric LauerMILPIT 
73Drew SmylySFARI 
74Kevin GausmanSF@COL 
75Ryan CastellaniCOL@LAD 
76Steven BraultPIT@CIN 
77Logan WebbSF@COL 
78Johan OviedoSTL@CIN 
79Adbert AlzolayCHC@STL 
80Franklyn KilomeNYM@BAL 
81Michael WachaNYM@BAL 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Todd Zola
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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