Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Decision Time

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Updated on May 23, 2022 1:34AM EST

Scoring is up this month. In April, teams averaged 4.03 runs per game, as opposed to 4.34 so far in May. However, through the same date in May last season, teams averaged 4.57 runs per game. It appears the standard trend of increased offense as the weather warms is transpiring, but the baseline is lower, likely due to the unintended effect of humidors.

The burning question is if MLB will let things play out naturally, or do something to increase the scoring beyond the expected organic effects. If you expect MLB to do something, continuing to liberally stream is the play. However, if you suspect this is MLB's intention, it's time to pick and choose starting pitching with more scrutiny. Personally, I'm leaning to the latter, so I'll be more conservative with streaming. Your team, your call.

Please remember I pull the schedule from the Probable Starters grid at posting time. Please feel free to pose rankings questions below, but direct scheduling inquiries to the Probable Starters page.

UPDATED Sunday May 23 1:30 AM ET

For the week of May 23 - May 29

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SD, @STL
2	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@ATL, @NYM	Rewarding those who bought the the dip at the end of drafting season
3	Gerrit Cole	NYY	BAL, @TB
4	Luis Garcia	HOU	CLE, @SEA
5	Max Fried	ATL	PHI, MIA
6	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@TB, @ATL	Can he shoulder the load of a

Please remember I pull the schedule from the Probable Starters grid at posting time. Please feel free to pose rankings questions below, but direct scheduling inquiries to the Probable Starters page.

UPDATED Sunday May 23 1:30 AM ET

For the week of May 23 - May 29

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SD, @STL
2	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@ATL, @NYM	Rewarding those who bought the the dip at the end of drafting season
3	Gerrit Cole	NYY	BAL, @TB
4	Luis Garcia	HOU	CLE, @SEA
5	Max Fried	ATL	PHI, MIA
6	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@TB, @ATL	Can he shoulder the load of a full season?
7	Shane McClanahan	TB	MIA, NYY
8	Justin Verlander	HOU	@SEA	Getting by despite low K%, but for how long?
9	Zac Gallen	ARI	KC
10	Sonny Gray	MIN	DET, KC
11	Joe Musgrove	SD	PIT
12	Kevin Gausman	TOR	@STL
13	Robbie Ray	SEA	OAK
14	Frankie Montas	OAK	TEX
15	Walker Buehler	LAD	@WAS, @ARI	Only 39 K in 46 IP
16	Lucas Giolito	CWS	BOS
17	Alek Manoah	TOR	@LAA
18	Sean Manaea	SD	PIT
19	Luis Severino	NYY	@TB
20	Miles Mikolas	STL	TOR, MIL	Pitch to contact guys always a risk, but keeping the ball in the yard
21	Logan Webb	SF	NYM	Slider not as effective as last season
22	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@STL
23	Yu Darvish	SD	MIL
24	Eric Lauer	MIL	@STL	HR an issue, but otherwise solid
25	Chris Bassitt	NYM	@SF
26	Drew Rasmussen	TB	MIA
27	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	PHI
28	Logan Gilbert	SEA	HOU
29	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	TOR
30	Nestor Cortes Jr.	NYY	@TB
31	Adam Wainwright	STL	MIL
32	Aaron Nola	PHI	@ATL	24.9% K-BB% is the ninth best among qualifies starters
33	Michael Kopech	CWS	CHC
34	Dane Dunning	TEX	@LAA, @OAK
35	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	TOR
36	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@ATL
37	James Kaprielian	OAK	@SEA, TEX
38	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@CWS, BAL	Not a bad pair to keep the roll going
39	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TB
40	Carlos Rodon	SF	@CIN
41	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	BAL
42	Framber Valdez	HOU	CLE
43	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	BAL
44	George Kirby	SEA	OAK
45	Paul Blackburn	OAK	@SEA
46	Zach Logue	OAK	@SEA, TEX
47	Cristian Javier	HOU	CLE
48	Marco Gonzales	SEA	OAK, HOU
49	Jon Gray	TEX	@OAK
50	Noah Syndergaard	LAA	TEX
51	Yusei Kikuchi	TOR	@LAA
52	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@HOU, @DET
53	Tyler Mahle	CIN	CHC, SF
54	Garrett Whitlock	BOS	BAL
55	Martin Perez	TEX	@OAK
56	Dylan Cease	CWS	BOS
57	Shane Bieber	CLE	@DET
58	Jose Berrios	TOR	@STL, @LAA
59	Charlie Morton	ATL	PHI
60	Taijuan Walker	NYM	PHI
61	Marcus Stroman	CHC	@CIN
62	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@TB	6 HR over last 18.2 IP, buy low candidate
63	Bailey Ober	MIN	KC
64	Alex Cobb	SF	NYM, @CIN
65	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@LAA
66	Zach Eflin	PHI	@NYM
67	Tarik Skubal	DET	CLE	Only 2 HR allowed in 44 IP, new approach is working
68	Kyle Wright	ATL	PHI
69	Connor Overton	CIN	SF
70	Jordan Hicks	STL	TOR, MIL
71	Luis Castillo	CIN	CHC
72	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SEA
73	Ian Anderson	ATL	MIA
74	Joe Ryan	MIN	KC
75	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@HOU
76	Zach Plesac	CLE	@HOU, @DET
77	Clarke Schmidt	NYY	BAL
78	Blake Snell	SD	MIL	Need more than 3.2 IP to track, but curiously threw some change-ups after bagging them late last season
79	Adrian Houser	MIL	@SD, @STL
80	Jakob Junis	SF	NYM
81	Mix 12 Reliever
82	Reid Detmers	LAA	TEX
83	David Peterson	NYM	@SF
84	Jeffrey Springs	TB	NYY
85	Tony Gonsolin	LAD	@ARI
86	Rich Hill	BOS	@CWS
87	Trevor Williams	NYM	PHI
88	Aaron Ashby	MIL	@SD
89	Julio Urias	LAD	@WAS
90	MacKenzie Gore	SD	PIT
91	Mix 15 Reliever
92	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@ATL, @NYM
93	Zack Greinke	KC	@ARI, @MIN
94	Wade Miley	CHC	@CWS
95	Tyler Anderson	LAD	@WAS, @ARI
96	Tyler Wells	BAL	@NYY
97	Tucker Davidson	ATL	PHI, MIA
98	Dakota Hudson	STL	MIL
99	Taylor Hearn	TEX	@OAK
100	Michael Wacha	BOS	@CWS
101	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@CIN
102	JT Brubaker	PIT	COL, @SD
103	Merrill Kelly	ARI	LAD
104	Jose Quintana	PIT	@SD
105	Dylan Bundy	MIN	DET
106	Cole Irvin	OAK	TEX
107	Chris Archer	MIN	DET, KC
108	Michael Lorenzen	LAA	TOR
109	Graham Ashcraft	CIN	SF
110	Johnny Cueto	CWS	CHC
111	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	NYY
112	Chad Kuhl	COL	@PIT, @WAS
113	Nick Martinez	SD	MIL
114	Roansy Contreras	PIT	COL
115	Drew Smyly	CHC	@CIN, @CWS
116	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@ATL
117	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
118	Corey Kluber	TB	NYY
119	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	LAD
120	Zach Thompson	PIT	@SD
121	Justin Steele	CHC	@CIN
122	Brady Singer	KC	@MIN
123	Alex Wood	SF	@CIN
124	Brad Keller	KC	@MIN
125	Hunter Greene	CIN	CHC
126	Josiah Gray	WAS	LAD, COL
127	German Marquez	COL	@WAS
128	Aaron Civale	CLE	@DET
129	Alex Faedo	DET	CLE
130	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	@ATL
131	Chase Silseth	LAA	TOR
132	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	@NYY, @BOS
133	Humberto Castellanos	ARI	LAD
134	Glenn Otto	TEX	@LAA
135	Jordan Lyles	BAL	@NYY, @BOS
136	Zach Davies	ARI	KC, LAD
137	Kyle Freeland	COL	@PIT, @WAS
138	Josh Winckowski	BOS	BAL
139	Mitch Keller	PIT	COL
140	Kyle Bradish	BAL	@BOS
141	Jonathan Heasley	KC	@ARI
142	Austin Gomber	COL	@WAS
143	Patrick Corbin	WAS	COL
144	Beau Brieske	DET	@MIN, CLE
145	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	BOS
146	Thomas Szapucki	NYM	@SF
147	Joey Wentz	DET	@MIN
148	Ryan Pepiot	LAD	@ARI
149	Erick Fedde	WAS	LAD
150	Daniel Lynch	KC	@MIN
151	Elvin Rodriguez	DET	@MIN, CLE
152	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	CHC
153	Joan Adon	WAS	LAD, COL
154	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@BOS
155	Aaron Sanchez	WAS	COL
156	Ty Blach	COL	@PIT

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	BAL, @TB
2	Luis Garcia	HOU	CLE, @SEA
3	Shane McClanahan	TB	MIA, NYY
4	Justin Verlander	HOU	@SEA	Getting by despite low K%, but for how long?
5	Sonny Gray	MIN	DET, KC
6	Kevin Gausman	TOR	@STL
7	Robbie Ray	SEA	OAK
8	Frankie Montas	OAK	TEX
9	Lucas Giolito	CWS	BOS
10	Alek Manoah	TOR	@LAA
11	Luis Severino	NYY	@TB
12	Drew Rasmussen	TB	MIA
13	Logan Gilbert	SEA	HOU
14	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	TOR
15	Nestor Cortes Jr.	NYY	@TB
16	Michael Kopech	CWS	CHC
17	Dane Dunning	TEX	@LAA, @OAK
18	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	TOR
19	James Kaprielian	OAK	@SEA, TEX
20	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@CWS, BAL	Not a bad pair to keep the roll going
21	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@TB
22	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	BAL
23	Framber Valdez	HOU	CLE
24	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	BAL
25	George Kirby	SEA	OAK
26	Paul Blackburn	OAK	@SEA
27	Zach Logue	OAK	@SEA, TEX
28	Cristian Javier	HOU	CLE
29	Marco Gonzales	SEA	OAK, HOU
30	Jon Gray	TEX	@OAK
31	Noah Syndergaard	LAA	TEX
32	Yusei Kikuchi	TOR	@LAA
33	Triston McKenzie	CLE	@HOU, @DET
34	Garrett Whitlock	BOS	BAL
35	Martin Perez	TEX	@OAK
36	Dylan Cease	CWS	BOS
37	Shane Bieber	CLE	@DET
38	Jose Berrios	TOR	@STL, @LAA
39	Bailey Ober	MIN	KC
40	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@LAA
41	Tarik Skubal	DET	CLE	Only 2 HR allowed in 44 IP, new approach is working
42	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SEA
43	Joe Ryan	MIN	KC
44	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@HOU
45	Zach Plesac	CLE	@HOU, @DET
46	Clarke Schmidt	NYY	BAL
47	Reid Detmers	LAA	TEX
48	Jeffrey Springs	TB	NYY
49	Rich Hill	BOS	@CWS
50	Zack Greinke	KC	@ARI, @MIN
51	Tyler Wells	BAL	@NYY
52	Taylor Hearn	TEX	@OAK
53	Michael Wacha	BOS	@CWS
54	Dylan Bundy	MIN	DET
55	Cole Irvin	OAK	TEX
56	Chris Archer	MIN	DET, KC
57	Michael Lorenzen	LAA	TOR
58	Johnny Cueto	CWS	CHC
59	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	NYY
60	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU
61	Corey Kluber	TB	NYY
62	AL Reliever
63	Brady Singer	KC	@MIN
64	Brad Keller	KC	@MIN
65	Aaron Civale	CLE	@DET
66	Alex Faedo	DET	CLE
67	Chase Silseth	LAA	TOR
68	Bruce Zimmermann	BAL	@NYY, @BOS
69	Glenn Otto	TEX	@LAA
70	Jordan Lyles	BAL	@NYY, @BOS
71	Josh Winckowski	BOS	BAL
72	Kyle Bradish	BAL	@BOS
73	Jonathan Heasley	KC	@ARI
74	Beau Brieske	DET	@MIN, CLE
75	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	BOS
76	Joey Wentz	DET	@MIN
77	Daniel Lynch	KC	@MIN
78	Elvin Rodriguez	DET	@MIN, CLE
79	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@BOS

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SD, @STL
2	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@ATL, @NYM	Rewarding those who bought the the dip at the end of drafting season
3	Max Fried	ATL	PHI, MIA
4	Pablo Lopez	MIA	@TB, @ATL	Can he shoulder the load of a full season?
5	Zac Gallen	ARI	KC
6	Joe Musgrove	SD	PIT
7	Walker Buehler	LAD	@WAS, @ARI	Only 39 K in 46 IP
8	Sean Manaea	SD	PIT
9	Miles Mikolas	STL	TOR, MIL	Pitch to contact guys always a risk, but keeping the ball in the yard
10	Logan Webb	SF	NYM	Slider not as effective as last season
11	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@STL
12	Yu Darvish	SD	MIL
13	Eric Lauer	MIL	@STL	HR an issue, but otherwise solid
14	Chris Bassitt	NYM	@SF
15	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	PHI
16	Adam Wainwright	STL	MIL
17	Aaron Nola	PHI	@ATL	24.9% K-BB% is the ninth best among qualifies starters
18	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@ATL
19	Carlos Rodon	SF	@CIN
20	Tyler Mahle	CIN	CHC, SF
21	Charlie Morton	ATL	PHI
22	Taijuan Walker	NYM	PHI
23	Marcus Stroman	CHC	@CIN
24	Trevor Rogers	MIA	@TB	6 HR over last 18.2 IP, buy low candidate
25	Alex Cobb	SF	NYM, @CIN
26	Zach Eflin	PHI	@NYM
27	Kyle Wright	ATL	PHI
28	Connor Overton	CIN	SF
29	Jordan Hicks	STL	TOR, MIL
30	Luis Castillo	CIN	CHC
31	Ian Anderson	ATL	MIA
32	Blake Snell	SD	MIL	Need more than 3.2 IP to track, but curiously threw some change-ups after bagging them late last season
33	Adrian Houser	MIL	@SD, @STL
34	Jakob Junis	SF	NYM
35	David Peterson	NYM	@SF
36	Tony Gonsolin	LAD	@ARI
37	Trevor Williams	NYM	PHI
38	Aaron Ashby	MIL	@SD
39	Julio Urias	LAD	@WAS
40	MacKenzie Gore	SD	PIT
41	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@ATL, @NYM
42	Wade Miley	CHC	@CWS
43	Tyler Anderson	LAD	@WAS, @ARI
44	Tucker Davidson	ATL	PHI, MIA
45	Dakota Hudson	STL	MIL
46	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@CIN
47	JT Brubaker	PIT	COL, @SD
48	Merrill Kelly	ARI	LAD
49	Jose Quintana	PIT	@SD
50	Graham Ashcraft	CIN	SF
51	Chad Kuhl	COL	@PIT, @WAS
52	Nick Martinez	SD	MIL
53	Roansy Contreras	PIT	COL
54	Drew Smyly	CHC	@CIN, @CWS
55	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@ATL
56	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	LAD
57	Zach Thompson	PIT	@SD
58	Justin Steele	CHC	@CIN
59	NL Reliever
60	Alex Wood	SF	@CIN
61	Hunter Greene	CIN	CHC
62	Josiah Gray	WAS	LAD, COL
63	German Marquez	COL	@WAS
64	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	@ATL
65	Humberto Castellanos	ARI	LAD
66	Zach Davies	ARI	KC, LAD
67	Kyle Freeland	COL	@PIT, @WAS
68	Mitch Keller	PIT	COL
69	Austin Gomber	COL	@WAS
70	Patrick Corbin	WAS	COL
71	Thomas Szapucki	NYM	@SF
72	Ryan Pepiot	LAD	@ARI
73	Erick Fedde	WAS	LAD
74	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	CHC
75	Joan Adon	WAS	LAD, COL
76	Aaron Sanchez	WAS	COL
77	Ty Blach	COL	@PIT