This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
In a season where every ace has either been bit by injury or hit a speed bump, the elder statesman, Justin Verlander, keeps rolling along. He's given up no more than one run in seven of his 10 starts, eight of the quality variety.
In general, this lays out to be an average week in terms of the number of two-start options. However, there aren't many likely available in mixed leagues with more than a dozen teams so it may be a good week to plan ahead with FAAB bids since the following week will have some double-dippers with almost every team in action Memorial Day.
Weather doesn't look to be as big of an issue this weekend as it's been the last few. However, there are several hurlers expected to return from injury, but not yet official so be sure to come back Sunday night after the weekend reports help firm up rotations plans.
For the week of May 20-26.
UPDATED: Sunday May 19, 11:30 PM ET
MLB
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. BOS | Homers high, but that's picking nits in today's landscape |
2 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | at NYM, vs. MIA | Some free agent signings work out, at least so far |
3 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. WAS, vs. DET | It'll take time, but 5.05 ERA will regress towards 3.52 xFIP/3.87 SIERA |
4 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs. OAK, vs. TB | Similarly, 5.86 ERA nearly twice 3.01 xFIP/2.88 SIERA |
5 | Trevor Bauer | CLE |
In a season where every ace has either been bit by injury or hit a speed bump, the elder statesman, Justin Verlander, keeps rolling along. He's given up no more than one run in seven of his 10 starts, eight of the quality variety.
In general, this lays out to be an average week in terms of the number of two-start options. However, there aren't many likely available in mixed leagues with more than a dozen teams so it may be a good week to plan ahead with FAAB bids since the following week will have some double-dippers with almost every team in action Memorial Day.
Weather doesn't look to be as big of an issue this weekend as it's been the last few. However, there are several hurlers expected to return from injury, but not yet official so be sure to come back Sunday night after the weekend reports help firm up rotations plans.
For the week of May 20-26.
UPDATED: Sunday May 19, 11:30 PM ET
MLB
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. BOS | Homers high, but that's picking nits in today's landscape |
2 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | at NYM, vs. MIA | Some free agent signings work out, at least so far |
3 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. WAS, vs. DET | It'll take time, but 5.05 ERA will regress towards 3.52 xFIP/3.87 SIERA |
4 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs. OAK, vs. TB | Similarly, 5.86 ERA nearly twice 3.01 xFIP/2.88 SIERA |
5 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | vs. OAK, vs. TB | Hopefully just in a rut |
6 | Zack Greinke | ARI | at SD, at SF | Also tentative, MRI came back clean, great setup |
7 | David Price | BOS | at TOR, at HOU | Tentative, but looks like he'll be back |
8 | Chris Paddack | SD | vs. ARI, at TOR | I guess he's mortal after all |
9 | Brad Peacock | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. BOS | |
10 | Domingo German | NYY | at BAL, at KC | Continues to cruise, great pair to keep it going, albeit on the road |
11 | Mike Minor | TEX | vs. SEA, at LAA | |
12 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at SF, at STL | |
13 | Jose Quintana | CHC | vs. PHI, vs. CIN | Boosted by home cooking |
14 | Chris Sale | BOS | at HOU | |
15 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | at LAA, vs. CWS | Hope he's lifted before third time through |
16 | German Marquez | COL | at PIT, vs. BAL | Facing Orioles helps mitigate Coors effect |
17 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | vs. CWS | |
18 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
19 | Caleb Smith | MIA | at DET, at WAS | Good test with a pair away from South Beach |
20 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at NYM | |
21 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at TOR, at HOU | Finally executing pitch efficiency, on verge of next level |
22 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. WAS | |
23 | Matthew Boyd | DET | vs. MIA | |
24 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at BAL, at KC | Nice pair to find a groove |
25 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. DET | |
26 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at SF, at STL | No homers last three games, spanning 17 IP |
27 | Gio Gonzalez | MIL | vs. CIN, vs. PHI | |
28 | Luis Castillo | CIN | at MIL | |
29 | Blake Snell | TB | at CLE | |
30 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at TB | |
31 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | at PIT | |
32 | Rich Hill | LAD | at TB | |
33 | Luke Weaver | ARI | at SD, at SF | Pitching well, beginning to go deeper into games |
34 | Jose Berrios | MIN | vs. CWS | |
35 | Charlie Morton | TB | at CLE | |
36 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs. CIN | |
37 | Walker Buehler | LAD | at PIT | |
38 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. ATL | |
39 | Martin Perez | MIN | at LAA | Angels fan the least in the league |
40 | Corbin Martin | HOU | vs. CWS | |
41 | Yu Darvish | CHC | vs. PHI, vs. CIN | Encouraging effort last time, 11 K, 0 BB in 5.1 IP |
42 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at BAL | |
43 | Jack Flaherty | STL | vs. ATL | 12 BB last three starts, covering 16.2 IP |
44 | Matt Strahm | SD | vs. ARI | |
45 | James Paxton | NYY | at KC | Tentative, but could be back |
46 | Miles Mikolas | STL | vs. ATL | Looking to rebound from disaster in Arlington |
47 | Chris Archer | PIT | vs. COL, vs. LAD | Too many walks and HR |
48 | Cole Hamels | CHC | vs. PHI | |
49 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs. BOS, vs. SD | |
50 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs. TEX | |
51 | Max Fried | ATL | at SF | Frustratingly inconsistent, part and parcel to maturing arms |
52 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | at STL | |
53 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | at TOR | Coming off gem versus Pirates |
54 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. MIA, at NYM | Approaching circle of trust |
55 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | at OAK | |
56 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | at CHC, at MIL | Usually rises to the occasion, good test |
57 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | vs. LAD | Appears to be over early may blip |
58 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at CHC | Not as sharp as last season and not fooling anyone |
59 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SF | |
60 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at TOR | |
61 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs. PHI | Continues to rack up K's despite lowest SwStr% since 2008 |
62 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | at PIT | IL stint expected to be the minimum, what a surprise |
63 | Frankie Montas | OAK | at CLE | |
64 | Zach Eflin | PHI | at CHC, at MIL | Tough pair but throwing well |
65 | Jason Vargas | NYM | vs. DET | |
66 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | vs. LAD | |
67 | Shane Bieber | CLE | vs. TB | |
68 | Daniel Mengden | OAK | vs. SEA | |
69 | CC Sabathia | NYY | at BAL | |
70 | Jordan Lyles | PIT | vs. COL | |
71 | Kevin Gausman | ATL | at SF | |
72 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | vs. CWS | |
73 | Zach Davies | MIL | vs. CIN | 4.68 xFIP/4.88 SIERA over three times actual 1.54 ERA |
74 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. WAS | |
75 | Felix Pena | LAA | vs. MIN, vs. TEX | Handling the primary pitcher role well |
76 | Michael Wacha | STL | vs. KC | |
77 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at WAS | |
78 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. ATL | |
79 | Jon Gray | COL | at PIT | |
80 | Trent Thornton | TOR | vs. SD | |
81 | Trevor Richards | MIA | at DET | |
82 | Mike Fiers | OAK | vs. SEA | |
83 | Michael Pineda | MIN | at LAA | |
84 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | at SD | |
85 | Jalen Beeks | TB | vs. LAD, at CLE | |
86 | Jeremy Hellickson | WAS | vs. MIA | |
87 | Jerad Eickhoff | PHI | at MIL | |
88 | Sonny Gray | CIN | at MIL | |
89 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | at PIT | |
90 | Trevor Cahill | LAA | vs. MIN | |
91 | Jhoulys Chacin | MIL | vs. PHI | |
92 | Mike Leake | SEA | at TEX, at OAK | |
93 | Wade LeBlanc | SEA | at OAK | |
94 | Jose Urena | MIA | at DET | |
95 | Wade Miley | HOU | vs. BOS | |
96 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | vs. PHI | |
97 | Jakob Junis | KC | vs. NYY | |
98 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | at CHC | |
99 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. NYY | |
100 | Hector Velazquez | BOS | at TOR | |
101 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs. NYY | |
102 | Cole Irvin | PHI | at CHC | |
103 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at CLE, vs. SEA | |
104 | Adam Wainwright | STL | vs. KC | |
105 | Shaun Anderson | SF | vs. ATL, vs. ARI | |
106 | Brad Keller | KC | at STL | |
107 | Andrew Suarez | SF | vs. ATL, vs. ARI | |
108 | Erick Fedde | WAS | at NYM, vs. MIA | |
109 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | at TEX | |
110 | Gregory Soto | DET | at NYM | |
111 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | at CHC | |
112 | Aaron Sanchez | TOR | vs. BOS | |
113 | Tanner Roark | CIN | at CHC | |
114 | Kyle Freeland | COL | vs. BAL | |
115 | Eric Lauer | SD | vs. ARI | |
116 | Cal Quantrill | SD | at TOR | |
117 | Andrew Cashner | BAL | vs. NYY, at COL | |
118 | Matt Harvey | LAA | vs. MIN | |
119 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | at CLE | |
120 | Lance Lynn | TEX | vs. SEA | |
121 | Daniel Norris | DET | vs. MIA | |
122 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | at MIN | |
123 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | at CLE | |
124 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at HOU | |
125 | Drew Smyly | TEX | at LAA | |
126 | Nick Kingham | PIT | vs. COL | |
127 | Edwin Jackson | TOR | vs. BOS, vs. SD | |
128 | Jefry Rodriguez | CLE | vs. OAK | |
129 | Griffin Canning | LAA | vs. TEX | |
130 | Neil Ramirez | CLE | at NYM | |
131 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at WAS | |
132 | Dan Straily | BAL | vs. NYY | |
133 | Drew Gagnon | NYM | vs. WAS | |
134 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. ATL | |
135 | Jordan Guerrero | CWS | at HOU, at MIN | |
136 | Drew Pomeranz | SF | vs. ARI | |
137 | Jorge Lopez | KC | vs. NYY | |
138 | Adam Plutko | CLE | vs. TB | |
139 | David Hess | BAL | vs. NYY, at COL | |
140 | Ivan Nova | CWS | at HOU | |
141 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. LAD | |
142 | Dylan Covey | CWS | at HOU, at MIN | |
143 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | at LAA | |
144 | Ryan Feierabend | TOR | vs. BOS | |
145 | Tommy Milone | SEA | at TEX | |
146 | John Means | BAL | at COL | |
147 | Homer Bailey | KC | at STL | |
148 | Adrian Sampson | TEX | vs. SEA | |
149 | Jeff Hoffman | COL | vs. BAL |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. BOS | Homers high, but that's picking nits in today's landscape |
2 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | vs. OAK, vs. TB | Similarly, 5.86 ERA nearly twice 3.01 xFIP/2.88 SIERA |
3 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | vs. OAK, vs. TB | Hopefully just in a rut |
4 | David Price | BOS | at TOR, at HOU | Tentative, but looks like he'll be back |
5 | Brad Peacock | HOU | vs. CWS, vs. BOS | |
6 | Domingo German | NYY | at BAL, at KC | Continues to cruise, great pair to keep it going, albeit on the road |
7 | Mike Minor | TEX | vs. SEA, at LAA | |
8 | Chris Sale | BOS | at HOU | |
9 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | at LAA, vs. CWS | Hope he's lifted before third time through |
10 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | vs. CWS | |
11 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at TOR, at HOU | Finally executing pitch efficiency, on verge of next level |
12 | Matthew Boyd | DET | vs. MIA | |
13 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at BAL, at KC | Nice pair to find a groove |
14 | Blake Snell | TB | at CLE | |
15 | Jose Berrios | MIN | vs. CWS | |
16 | Charlie Morton | TB | at CLE | |
17 | Martin Perez | MIN | at LAA | Angels fan the least in the league |
18 | Corbin Martin | HOU | vs. CWS | |
19 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at BAL | |
20 | James Paxton | NYY | at KC | Tentative, but could be back |
21 | Marcus Stroman | TOR | vs. BOS, vs. SD | |
22 | Tyler Skaggs | LAA | vs. TEX | |
23 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. MIA, at NYM | Approaching circle of trust |
24 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | at OAK | |
25 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at TOR | |
26 | Frankie Montas | OAK | at CLE | |
27 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | vs. LAD | |
28 | Shane Bieber | CLE | vs. TB | |
29 | Daniel Mengden | OAK | vs. SEA | |
30 | CC Sabathia | NYY | at BAL | |
31 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | vs. CWS | |
32 | Felix Pena | LAA | vs. MIN, vs. TEX | Handling the primary pitcher role well |
33 | Trent Thornton | TOR | vs. SD | |
34 | Mike Fiers | OAK | vs. SEA | |
35 | Michael Pineda | MIN | at LAA | |
36 | Jalen Beeks | TB | vs. LAD, at CLE | |
37 | Trevor Cahill | LAA | vs. MIN | |
38 | Mike Leake | SEA | at TEX, at OAK | |
39 | Wade LeBlanc | SEA | at OAK | |
40 | Wade Miley | HOU | vs. BOS | |
41 | Jakob Junis | KC | vs. NYY | |
42 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | vs. NYY | |
43 | Hector Velazquez | BOS | at TOR | |
44 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs. NYY | |
45 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at CLE, vs. SEA | |
46 | Brad Keller | KC | at STL | |
47 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | at TEX | |
48 | Gregory Soto | DET | at NYM | |
49 | Aaron Sanchez | TOR | vs. BOS | |
50 | Andrew Cashner | BAL | vs. NYY, at COL | |
51 | Matt Harvey | LAA | vs. MIN | |
52 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | at CLE | |
53 | Lance Lynn | TEX | vs. SEA | |
54 | Daniel Norris | DET | vs. MIA | |
55 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | at MIN | |
56 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | at CLE | |
57 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | at HOU | |
58 | Drew Smyly | TEX | at LAA | |
59 | Edwin Jackson | TOR | vs. BOS, vs. SD | |
60 | Jefry Rodriguez | CLE | vs. OAK | |
61 | Griffin Canning | LAA | vs. TEX | |
62 | Neil Ramirez | CLE | at NYM | |
63 | Dan Straily | BAL | vs. NYY | |
64 | Jordan Guerrero | CWS | at HOU, at MIN | |
65 | Jorge Lopez | KC | vs. NYY | |
66 | Adam Plutko | CLE | vs. TB | |
67 | David Hess | BAL | vs. NYY, at COL | |
68 | Ivan Nova | CWS | at HOU | |
69 | Dylan Covey | CWS | at HOU, at MIN | |
70 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | at LAA | |
71 | Ryan Feierabend | TOR | vs. BOS | |
72 | Tommy Milone | SEA | at TEX | |
73 | John Means | BAL | at COL | |
74 | Homer Bailey | KC | at STL | |
75 | Adrian Sampson | TEX | vs. SEA |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | at NYM, vs. MIA | Some free agent signings work out, at least so far |
2 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. WAS, vs. DET | It'll take time, but 5.05 ERA will regress towards 3.52 xFIP/3.87 SIERA |
3 | Zack Greinke | ARI | at SD, at SF | Also tentative, MRI came back clean, great setup |
4 | Chris Paddack | SD | vs. ARI, at TOR | I guess he's mortal after all |
5 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at SF, at STL | |
6 | Jose Quintana | CHC | vs. PHI, vs. CIN | Boosted by home cooking |
7 | German Marquez | COL | at PIT, vs. BAL | Facing Orioles helps mitigate Coors effect |
8 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | at NYM | |
9 | Caleb Smith | MIA | at DET, at WAS | Good test with a pair away from South Beach |
10 | Max Scherzer | WAS | at NYM | |
11 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. WAS | |
12 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. DET | |
13 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at SF, at STL | No homers last three games, spanning 17 IP |
14 | Gio Gonzalez | MIL | vs. CIN, vs. PHI | |
15 | Luis Castillo | CIN | at MIL | |
16 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at TB | |
17 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | at PIT | |
18 | Rich Hill | LAD | at TB | |
19 | Luke Weaver | ARI | at SD, at SF | Pitching well, beginning to go deeper into games |
20 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | vs. CIN | |
21 | Walker Buehler | LAD | at PIT | |
22 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. ATL | |
23 | Yu Darvish | CHC | vs. PHI, vs. CIN | Encouraging effort last time, 11 K, 0 BB in 5.1 IP |
24 | Jack Flaherty | STL | vs. ATL | 12 BB last three starts, covering 16.2 IP |
25 | Matt Strahm | SD | vs. ARI | |
26 | Miles Mikolas | STL | vs. ATL | Looking to rebound from disaster in Arlington |
27 | Chris Archer | PIT | vs. COL, vs. LAD | Too many walks and HR |
28 | Cole Hamels | CHC | vs. PHI | |
29 | Max Fried | ATL | at SF | Frustratingly inconsistent, part and parcel to maturing arms |
30 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | at STL | |
31 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | at TOR | Coming off gem versus Pirates |
32 | Jake Arrieta | PHI | at CHC, at MIL | Usually rises to the occasion, good test |
33 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | vs. LAD | Appears to be over early may blip |
34 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at CHC | Not as sharp as last season and not fooling anyone |
35 | Robbie Ray | ARI | at SF | |
36 | Jon Lester | CHC | vs. PHI | Continues to rack up K's despite lowest SwStr% since 2008 |
37 | Kenta Maeda | LAD | at PIT | IL stint expected to be the minimum, what a surprise |
38 | Zach Eflin | PHI | at CHC, at MIL | Tough pair but throwing well |
39 | Jason Vargas | NYM | vs. DET | |
40 | Jordan Lyles | PIT | vs. COL | |
41 | Kevin Gausman | ATL | at SF | |
42 | Zach Davies | MIL | vs. CIN | 4.68 xFIP/4.88 SIERA over three times actual 1.54 ERA |
43 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. WAS | |
44 | Michael Wacha | STL | vs. KC | |
45 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at WAS | |
46 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. ATL | |
47 | Jon Gray | COL | at PIT | |
48 | Trevor Richards | MIA | at DET | |
49 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | at SD | |
50 | Jeremy Hellickson | WAS | vs. MIA | |
51 | Jerad Eickhoff | PHI | at MIL | |
52 | Sonny Gray | CIN | at MIL | |
53 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | at PIT | |
54 | Jhoulys Chacin | MIL | vs. PHI | |
55 | Jose Urena | MIA | at DET | |
56 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | vs. PHI | |
57 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | at CHC | |
58 | Cole Irvin | PHI | at CHC | |
59 | Adam Wainwright | STL | vs. KC | |
60 | Shaun Anderson | SF | vs. ATL, vs. ARI | |
61 | Andrew Suarez | SF | vs. ATL, vs. ARI | |
62 | Erick Fedde | WAS | at NYM, vs. MIA | |
63 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | at CHC | |
64 | Tanner Roark | CIN | at CHC | |
65 | Kyle Freeland | COL | vs. BAL | |
66 | Eric Lauer | SD | vs. ARI | |
67 | Cal Quantrill | SD | at TOR | |
68 | Nick Kingham | PIT | vs. COL | |
69 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at WAS | |
70 | Drew Gagnon | NYM | vs. WAS | |
71 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. ATL | |
72 | Drew Pomeranz | SF | vs. ARI | |
73 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. LAD | |
74 | Jeff Hoffman | COL | vs. BAL |