Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Aces Flying Solo

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Updated on July 26, 2021 12:58AM EST

This could be lightest week all season in terms of upper-end pitchers with two starts. As such, it's an ideal opportunity to reiterate what the rankings reflect and how that should be applied on a week-to-week basis.

In short, the rankings order how much each hurler will benefit typical 5x5 standings relative to the others in the pool. Having two starts helps the potential for wins as well as strikeouts. In many cases, this overshadows the possible damage to ratios. The chief repercussion is not to use the list verbatim, especially if your ratios are in a spot where you can lose points. That is, it may be better to eschew a weaker two-start guy for a lower-ranked but better-skilled one-start guy to protect ratios. Conversely, if you feel your ratios can absorb a decent hit without any damage, chasing wins and strikeouts from a lower-ranked double dipper can be advantageous.

The other thing to keep in mind this week in we're on hug watch alert so be prudent with trade candidates as they may lose their second start.

By means of reminder, the schedule is pulled from the world's best Projected Starters grid so please direct specific rotation question over there.

UPDATED: Sunday July 26 12:45 AM ET

Week of July 26 - August 1

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Julio Urias	LAD	@SF, @ARI	Nifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2	Marcus Stroman	NYM	ATL, CIN	Only seven wins, what is with the Mets and not

The other thing to keep in mind this week in we're on hug watch alert so be prudent with trade candidates as they may lose their second start.

By means of reminder, the schedule is pulled from the world's best Projected Starters grid so please direct specific rotation question over there.

UPDATED: Sunday July 26 12:45 AM ET

Week of July 26 - August 1

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Julio Urias	LAD	@SF, @ARI	Nifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2	Marcus Stroman	NYM	ATL, CIN	Only seven wins, what is with the Mets and not scoring for aces
3	Charlie Morton	ATL	@NYM, MIL	Hug watch candidate? Could lose second start if traded.
4	Robbie Ray	TOR	@BOS, KC	Homers continue to be high while walks remain amazingly low
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TB	I think he's figured things out
6	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	COL, OAK	Tough decision for those needing Ohtani's offense
7	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@ATL
8	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@ATL
9	Luis Garcia	HOU	@SEA, @SF
10	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@ATL
11	Walker Buehler	LAD	@SF
12	German Marquez	COL	@LAA, @SD
13	Zack Wheeler	PHI	WAS
14	Max Scherzer	WAS	@PHI	4 HR allowed over prior 10.2 IP
15	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@TB, @MIA
16	Jose Berrios	MIN	@STL
17	Carlos Rodon	CWS	@KC	Getting better as the season progresses
18	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@KC
19	Yu Darvish	SD	COL
20	Wade Miley	CIN	@CHC, @NYM	Aided by facing lesser lineups
21	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
22	Joe Musgrove	SD	COL
23	Austin Gomber	COL	@LAA, @SD
24	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@SEA
25	Aaron Nola	PHI	@PIT
26	Kevin Gausman	SF	HOU
27	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@LAA
28	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@TB
29	Dylan Cease	CWS	@KC, CLE
30	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	CIN, @WAS
31	James Kaprielian	OAK	@SD, @LAA	Good test for the ROY candidate
32	Shane McClanahan	TB	NYY, BOS	Home field helps a lot, but not assured to stay in for 5 IP
33	Zack Greinke	HOU	@SF
34	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	LAD
35	Zach Plesac	CLE	STL
36	Mike Minor	KC	CWS, @TOR
37	Logan Gilbert	SEA	@TEX
38	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	CIN, @WAS
39	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@BAL, NYY
40	Alex Wood	SF	HOU
41	Michael Pineda	MIN	DET, @STL
42	Domingo German	NYY	@MIA
43	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
44	Sean Manaea	OAK	@SD	Strikeouts up, not an ace, but getting close
45	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@KC, CLE	Low strikeouts aided by two-step
46	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@MIA
47	Kenta Maeda	MIN	DET
48	Tylor Megill	NYM	ATL	ERA estimators peg mark closer to 3.75 (which is still obviously very good)
49	Alek Manoah	TOR	KC
50	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@CLE
51	Rich Hill	NYM	CIN	Possible victim of not using grip enhancer
52	Sonny Gray	CIN	@NYM
53	Luis Castillo	CIN	@CHC
54	Framber Valdez	HOU	@SF
55	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	CIN
56	Adam Wainwright	STL	@CLE
57	Nick Pivetta	BOS	TOR, @TB
58	Cole Irvin	OAK	@LAA
59	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@SEA
60	Chris Paddack	SD	OAK, COL	Two starts masks ratio risk
61	John Means	BAL	@DET
62	Max Fried	ATL	@NYM
63	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	OAK
64	Tyler Anderson	PIT	MIL, PHI
65	Taijuan Walker	NYM	ATL
66	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@BOS
67	Zac Gallen	ARI	LAD
68	Alex Cobb	LAA	OAK
69	Kyle Muller	ATL	@NYM, MIL
70	Frankie Montas	OAK	@LAA
71	Logan Webb	SF	LAD, HOU
72	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	BOS
73	Zach Eflin	PHI	@PIT
74	Jon Gray	COL	@SD
75	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
76	Casey Mize	DET	BAL
77	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS
78	Brad Keller	KC	CWS, @TOR	2.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 22 K in last 20.2 IP, over 3 QS
79	David Price	LAD	@SF
80	Joe Ross	WAS	@PHI, CHC
81	Tony Gonsolin	LAD	@ARI
82	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@CHC
83	Tarik Skubal	DET	BAL
84	JT Brubaker	PIT	PHI
85	Johnny Cueto	SF	LAD
86	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TOR
87	Merrill Kelly	ARI	LAD
88	Andrew Heaney	LAA	COL
89	Mix 12 Reliever
90	Ryan Weathers	SD	COL
91	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	@TEX
92	Kyle Gibson	TEX	SEA
93	Spencer Howard	PHI	WAS
94	Blake Snell	SD	OAK
95	Dane Dunning	TEX	ARI
96	Drew Smyly	ATL	@NYM
97	Mix 15 Reliever
98	Kolby Allard	TEX	SEA
99	Josh Fleming	TB	BOS
100	Tanner Houck	BOS	TOR
101	Chad Kuhl	PIT	MIL
102	Matt Manning	DET	@MIN, BAL
103	Jose Suarez	LAA	COL
104	Nestor Cortes	NYY	@TB
105	Ross Stripling	TOR	KC
106	Bryse Wilson	ATL	@NYM
107	Touki Toussaint	ATL	MIL
108	Erick Fedde	WAS	@PHI, CHC
109	Patrick Corbin	WAS	@PHI
110	Jaime Barria	LAA	OAK
111	Martin Perez	BOS	@TB
112	Bailey Ober	MIN	@STL
113	Adrian Houser	MIL	@PIT
114	Josiah Gray	LAD	@ARI
115	Darren McCaughan	SEA	HOU, @TEX
116	Cal Quantrill	CLE	STL, @CWS
117	J.A. Happ	MIN	DET
118	Eric Lauer	MIL	@PIT
119	Daniel Lynch	KC	@TOR
120	Kyle Freeland	COL	@SD
121	Jake Woodford	STL	MIN
122	Alexander Wells	BAL	@DET
123	Nick Tropeano	NYM	ATL
124	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	SEA
125	Michael Wacha	TB	NYY
126	Caleb Smith	ARI	LAD
127	Zach Davies	CHC	CIN
128	Brett Anderson	MIL	@PIT
129	Vince Velasquez	PHI	WAS
130	Zach Thompson	MIA	NYY
131	Nick Neidert	MIA	NYY
132	J.C. Mejia	CLE	@CWS
133	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@TEX
134	Taylor Widener	ARI	@TEX
135	Jordan Holloway	MIA	@BAL
136	Alec Mills	CHC	CIN
137	Steven Matz	TOR	@BOS
138	Carlos Hernandez	KC	CWS
139	Jordan Lyles	TEX	ARI
140	Spenser Watkins	BAL	MIA, @DET
141	Johan Oviedo	STL	MIN
142	Kris Bubic	KC	CWS
143	Mitch Keller	PIT	MIL
144	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	@CHC, @NYM
145	Garrett Richards	BOS	TOR
146	Matt Moore	PHI	WAS, @PIT
147	Luis Patino	TB	NYY
148	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	@LAA
149	Wily Peralta	DET	@MIN
150	Jon Lester	WAS	CHC
151	Matt Harvey	BAL	@DET
152	Wade LeBlanc	STL	MIN
153	Wil Crowe	PIT	PHI
154	Tyler Alexander	DET	@MIN, BAL
155	Trevor Williams	CHC	@WAS
156	Jorge Lopez	BAL	MIA
157	Thomas Hatch	TOR	@BOS
158	Anthony Banda	NYM	ATL

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Robbie Ray	TOR	@BOS, KC	Homers continue to be high while walks remain amazingly low
2	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@TB	I think he's figured things out
3	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	COL, OAK	Tough decision for those needing Ohtani's offense
4	Luis Garcia	HOU	@SEA, @SF
5	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	@TB, @MIA
6	Jose Berrios	MIN	@STL
7	Carlos Rodon	CWS	@KC	Getting better as the season progresses
8	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@KC
9	Lance Lynn	CWS	CLE
10	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@SEA
11	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@LAA
12	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@TB
13	Dylan Cease	CWS	@KC, CLE
14	James Kaprielian	OAK	@SD, @LAA	Good test for the ROY candidate
15	Shane McClanahan	TB	NYY, BOS	Home field helps a lot, but not assured to stay in for 5 IP
16	Zack Greinke	HOU	@SF
17	Zach Plesac	CLE	STL
18	Mike Minor	KC	CWS, @TOR
19	Logan Gilbert	SEA	@TEX
20	Michael Pineda	MIN	DET, @STL
21	Domingo German	NYY	@MIA
22	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
23	Sean Manaea	OAK	@SD	Strikeouts up, not an ace, but getting close
24	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@KC, CLE	Low strikeouts aided by two-step
25	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@MIA
26	Kenta Maeda	MIN	DET
27	Alek Manoah	TOR	KC
28	Framber Valdez	HOU	@SF
29	Nick Pivetta	BOS	TOR, @TB
30	Cole Irvin	OAK	@LAA
31	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@SEA
32	John Means	BAL	@DET
33	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	OAK
34	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@BOS
35	Alex Cobb	LAA	OAK
36	Frankie Montas	OAK	@LAA
37	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	BOS
38	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
39	Casey Mize	DET	BAL
40	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@CWS
41	Brad Keller	KC	CWS, @TOR	2.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP with 22 K in last 20.2 IP, over 3 QS
42	Tarik Skubal	DET	BAL
43	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TOR
44	Andrew Heaney	LAA	COL
45	Kyle Gibson	TEX	SEA
46	Dane Dunning	TEX	ARI
47	Kolby Allard	TEX	SEA
48	Josh Fleming	TB	BOS
49	Tanner Houck	BOS	TOR
50	Matt Manning	DET	@MIN, BAL
51	Jose Suarez	LAA	COL
52	Nestor Cortes	NYY	@TB
53	AL Reliever
54	Ross Stripling	TOR	KC
55	Jaime Barria	LAA	OAK
56	Martin Perez	BOS	@TB
57	Bailey Ober	MIN	@STL
58	Darren McCaughan	SEA	HOU, @TEX
59	Cal Quantrill	CLE	STL, @CWS
60	J.A. Happ	MIN	DET
61	Daniel Lynch	KC	@TOR
62	Alexander Wells	BAL	@DET
63	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	SEA
64	Michael Wacha	TB	NYY
65	J.C. Mejia	CLE	@CWS
66	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@TEX
67	Steven Matz	TOR	@BOS
68	Carlos Hernandez	KC	CWS
69	Jordan Lyles	TEX	ARI
70	Spenser Watkins	BAL	MIA, @DET
71	Kris Bubic	KC	CWS
72	Garrett Richards	BOS	TOR
73	Luis Patino	TB	NYY
74	Wily Peralta	DET	@MIN
75	Matt Harvey	BAL	@DET
76	Tyler Alexander	DET	@MIN, BAL
77	Jorge Lopez	BAL	MIA
78	Thomas Hatch	TOR	@BOS

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Julio Urias	LAD	@SF, @ARI	Nifty 26.5% K-BB% for the season
2	Marcus Stroman	NYM	ATL, CIN	Only seven wins, what is with the Mets and not scoring for aces
3	Charlie Morton	ATL	@NYM, MIL	Hug watch candidate? Could lose second start if traded.
4	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@ATL
5	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@ATL
6	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@ATL
7	Walker Buehler	LAD	@SF
8	German Marquez	COL	@LAA, @SD
9	Zack Wheeler	PHI	WAS
10	Max Scherzer	WAS	@PHI	4 HR allowed over prior 10.2 IP
11	Yu Darvish	SD	COL
12	Wade Miley	CIN	@CHC, @NYM	Aided by facing lesser lineups
13	Joe Musgrove	SD	COL
14	Austin Gomber	COL	@LAA, @SD
15	Aaron Nola	PHI	@PIT
16	Kevin Gausman	SF	HOU
17	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	CIN, @WAS
18	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	LAD
19	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	CIN, @WAS
20	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@BAL, NYY
21	Alex Wood	SF	HOU
22	Tylor Megill	NYM	ATL	ERA estimators peg mark closer to 3.75 (which is still obviously very good)
23	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@CLE
24	Rich Hill	NYM	CIN	Possible victim of not using grip enhancer
25	Sonny Gray	CIN	@NYM
26	Luis Castillo	CIN	@CHC
27	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	CIN
28	Adam Wainwright	STL	@CLE
29	Chris Paddack	SD	OAK, COL	Two starts masks ratio risk
30	Max Fried	ATL	@NYM
31	Tyler Anderson	PIT	MIL, PHI
32	Taijuan Walker	NYM	ATL
33	Zac Gallen	ARI	LAD
34	Kyle Muller	ATL	@NYM, MIL
35	Logan Webb	SF	LAD, HOU
36	Zach Eflin	PHI	@PIT
37	Jon Gray	COL	@SD
38	David Price	LAD	@SF
39	Joe Ross	WAS	@PHI, CHC
40	Tony Gonsolin	LAD	@ARI
41	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@CHC
42	JT Brubaker	PIT	PHI
43	Johnny Cueto	SF	LAD
44	Merrill Kelly	ARI	LAD
45	Ryan Weathers	SD	COL
46	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	@TEX
47	Spencer Howard	PHI	WAS
48	Blake Snell	SD	OAK
49	Drew Smyly	ATL	@NYM
50	Chad Kuhl	PIT	MIL
51	NL Reliever
52	Bryse Wilson	ATL	@NYM
53	Touki Toussaint	ATL	MIL
54	Erick Fedde	WAS	@PHI, CHC
55	Patrick Corbin	WAS	@PHI
56	Adrian Houser	MIL	@PIT
57	Josiah Gray	LAD	@ARI
58	Eric Lauer	MIL	@PIT
59	Kyle Freeland	COL	@SD
60	Jake Woodford	STL	MIN
61	Nick Tropeano	NYM	ATL
62	Caleb Smith	ARI	LAD
63	Zach Davies	CHC	CIN
64	Brett Anderson	MIL	@PIT
65	Vince Velasquez	PHI	WAS
66	Zach Thompson	MIA	NYY
67	Nick Neidert	MIA	NYY
68	Taylor Widener	ARI	@TEX
69	Jordan Holloway	MIA	@BAL
70	Alec Mills	CHC	CIN
71	Johan Oviedo	STL	MIN
72	Mitch Keller	PIT	MIL
73	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	@CHC, @NYM
74	Matt Moore	PHI	WAS, @PIT
75	Chi Chi Gonzalez	COL	@LAA
76	Jon Lester	WAS	CHC
77	Wade LeBlanc	STL	MIN
78	Wil Crowe	PIT	PHI
79	Trevor Williams	CHC	@WAS
80	Anthony Banda	NYM	ATL