Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Mad Max Road Fury

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Updated on August 9, 2021 1:23AM EST

It's another poor week for two-start options with only 93 games on the docket, buoyed by a doubleheader between the Blue Jays and Angels. However, the pitching inventory regained a couple of stalwarts with Chris Sale set to make his 2021 debut and Jack Flaherty returning from a three-month plus absence with an oblique injury.

Max Scherzer tops the rankings for the first time in a Dodgers uniform. He impressed in his debut with the defending champs and now gets a pair of road starts against a pair of familiar NL East foes.

The trading deadline madness may be behind us, but the short notice shuffling of rotations isn't going anywhere. As such, please direct questions regarding scheduled starts to our Projected Starters, kept up to date by the hardest-working group in the business. I'm always happy to address rankings questions in the comments.

UPDATED Monday August 9 1:20 PM ET

Week of Aug. 9-15

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Max Scherzer	LAD	@PHI, @NYM	Seems to be able to handle the pressure of LA
2	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@CHC, @PIT
3	Joe Musgrove	SD	MIA, @ARI
4	Aaron Nola	PHI	LAD, CIN
5	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@MIN, NYY	Homers continue to be a problem
6	Sean Manaea	OAK	@CLE, @TEX
7	Walker Buehler	LAD	@NYM
8	Robbie Ray	TOR	@SEA
9	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@CHC
10	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@CHC
11	Carlos Rodon	CWS	NYY
12	Zac Gallen

Max Scherzer tops the rankings for the first time in a Dodgers uniform. He impressed in his debut with the defending champs and now gets a pair of road starts against a pair of familiar NL East foes.

UPDATED Monday August 9 1:20 PM ET

Week of Aug. 9-15

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Max Scherzer	LAD	@PHI, @NYM	Seems to be able to handle the pressure of LA
2	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@CHC, @PIT
3	Joe Musgrove	SD	MIA, @ARI
4	Aaron Nola	PHI	LAD, CIN
5	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@MIN, NYY	Homers continue to be a problem
6	Sean Manaea	OAK	@CLE, @TEX
7	Walker Buehler	LAD	@NYM
8	Robbie Ray	TOR	@SEA
9	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@CHC
10	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@CHC
11	Carlos Rodon	CWS	NYY
12	Zac Gallen	ARI	@SF, SD	Hasn't been able to settle in a groove all season leading to high walk rate
13	Kevin Gausman	SF	ARI	In a rut, but should rebound at home against middling lineups
14	Zack Wheeler	PHI	CIN
15	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@CWS
16	Yu Darvish	SD	@ARI
17	Jack Flaherty	STL	@KC	Welcome back!
18	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@SEA
19	Jose Berrios	TOR	@LAA
20	Luis Castillo	CIN	@CLE, @PHI	And now the strikeouts are back too
21	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@CLE
22	Alex Wood	SF	ARI, COL
23	Marcus Stroman	NYM	WAS
24	Logan Gilbert	SEA	TEX, TOR	Blue Jays tough, but two at home helps
25	Jon Gray	COL	@HOU, @SF
26	German Marquez	COL	@SF
27	Julio Urias	LAD	@PHI
28	Charlie Morton	ATL	@WAS
29	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@KC, @CWS	The unlikely glue holding Yankees rotation together
30	Alek Manoah	TOR	@LAA
31	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	TOR
32	John Means	BAL	DET
33	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	WAS, LAD	Length still a concern
34	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@LAA
35	Trevor Rogers	MIA	CHC
36	Framber Valdez	HOU	COL
37	Lance Lynn	CWS	@MIN
38	Chris Sale	BOS	BAL	No biggie, just a critical matchup with an AL East foe
39	Tyler Anderson	SEA	TEX
40	Austin Gomber	COL	@SF
41	Joe Ross	WAS	@NYM
42	Casey Mize	DET	@BAL, CLE	ERA artificially low, but wait at least a week before deciding to tempt fate any longer
43	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	TOR
44	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@MIA
45	Triston McKenzie	CLE	OAK, @DET	Control has improved since being reinserted into the rotation
46	Zack Greinke	HOU	@LAA
47	Luis Garcia	HOU	@LAA
48	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	COL
49	Sonny Gray	CIN	@ATL, @PHI
50	Mike Minor	KC	STL
51	Rich Hill	NYM	WAS
52	JT Brubaker	PIT	STL	Well, he was having a nice little season…
53	Johnny Cueto	SF	COL
54	Frankie Montas	OAK	@CLE	Recent surge due to big increase in split finger
55	Steven Matz	TOR	LAA, @SEA
56	Merrill Kelly	ARI	@SF	Fifth overall in IP through Fri Aug 6
57	Zach Plesac	CLE	@DET
58	Adam Wainwright	STL	@PIT
59	Marco Gonzales	SEA	TEX
60	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@SD
61	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TB, BAL
62	Cole Irvin	OAK	@TEX
63	James Kaprielian	OAK	@TEX
64	Dylan Cease	CWS	NYY
65	Taijuan Walker	NYM	LAD
66	Ross Stripling	TOR	@LAA	Strong last few outings could have saved his rotation spot
67	Kyle Muller	ATL	CIN
68	Luis Patino	TB	@BOS, @MIN
69	Logan Webb	SF	COL
70	Kolby Allard	TEX	@SEA, OAK
71	Craig Stammen	SD	MIA
72	Kyle Gibson	PHI	LAD
73	Nick Pivetta	BOS	TB
74	Cal Quantrill	CLE	OAK	Has Cleveland fixed another one? .72 ERA, .92 WHIP with 23 K over last 25 IP
75	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	SD
76	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	TB
77	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	MIL
78	Kenta Maeda	MIN	TB
79	Zach Thompson	MIA	@SD, CHC
80	Mix 12 Reliever
81	Tylor Megill	NYM	LAD
82	Michael Pineda	MIN	TB
83	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	@SEA
84	Drew Smyly	ATL	CIN, @WAS
85	Steven Brault	PIT	STL, MIL
86	Wade Miley	CIN	@ATL
87	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	HOU	10 HR allowed first 63 IP, none in his last 3 GS covering 19.1 IP
88	Nestor Cortes	NYY	@KC
89	Mix 15 Reliever
90	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@PHI
91	Andrew Heaney	NYY	@CWS
92	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	COL
93	Dane Dunning	TEX	OAK
94	Erick Fedde	WAS	@NYM
95	Tarik Skubal	DET	@BAL
96	Kyle Freeland	COL	@SF
97	Chris Flexen	SEA	TOR
98	Touki Toussaint	ATL	CIN
99	Ryan Pepiot	LAD	@NYM
100	Shane McClanahan	TB	@MIN
101	Eric Lauer	MIL	@PIT
102	Ryan Weathers	SD	MIA
103	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	CHC
104	Ranger Suarez	PHI	LAD
105	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	@BOS
106	Max Fried	ATL	@WAS
107	David Price	LAD	@PHI
108	Kris Bubic	KC	STL
109	Spencer Howard	TEX	@SEA
110	Josiah Gray	WAS	ATL
111	Daniel Lynch	KC	NYY
112	Dylan Bundy	LAA	TOR
113	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@MIN
114	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@KC
115	Blake Snell	SD	@ARI
116	Eli Morgan	CLE	OAK
117	Jose Suarez	LAA	TOR
118	Zach Davies	CHC	@MIA
119	Brett Anderson	MIL	@PIT
120	Antonio Senzatela	COL	@HOU
121	Alec Mills	CHC	MIL, @MIA
122	Carlos Hernandez	KC	NYY
123	Bailey Ober	MIN	CWS
124	Chase Anderson	PHI	CIN
125	Deivi Garcia	NYY	@KC
126	Josh Fleming	TB	@BOS
127	Jaime Barria	LAA	HOU
128	Paolo Espino	WAS	@NYM, ATL
129	Bryse Wilson	PIT	MIL
130	Griffin Jax	MIN	CWS
131	Reiss Knehr	SD	@ARI
132	Reid Detmers	LAA	HOU
133	Patrick Corbin	WAS	ATL
134	Brady Singer	KC	NYY
135	Matt Manning	DET	@BAL
136	Matt Harvey	BAL	DET
137	Garrett Richards	BOS	BAL
138	Chris Rodriguez	LAA	@TOR
139	Jordan Lyles	TEX	OAK
140	Brad Keller	KC	STL
141	Wade LeBlanc	STL	@PIT
142	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	@ATL
143	Keegan Akin	BAL	DET, @BOS
144	Sam Hentges	CLE	CIN, @DET
145	Aaron Ashby	MIL	@CHC
146	Wily Peralta	DET	CLE
147	Wil Crowe	PIT	STL
148	Tyler Alexander	DET	CLE
149	Caleb Smith	ARI	SD
150	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
151	Mitch Keller	PIT	MIL
152	J.A. Happ	STL	@PIT
153	Jon Lester	STL	@KC
154	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@BOS
155	Jake Arrieta	CHC	MIL
156	Michael Wacha	TB	@MIN
157	Braxton Garrett	MIA	@SD
158	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@BOS
159	Beau Burrows	MIN	CWS
160	Charlie Barnes	MIN	TB
161	Justin Steele	CHC	MIL

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@MIN, NYY	Homers continue to be a problem
2	Sean Manaea	OAK	@CLE, @TEX
3	Robbie Ray	TOR	@SEA
4	Carlos Rodon	CWS	NYY
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@CWS
6	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	@SEA
7	Jose Berrios	TOR	@LAA
8	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@CLE
9	Logan Gilbert	SEA	TEX, TOR	Blue Jays tough, but two at home helps
10	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@KC, @CWS	The unlikely glue holding Yankees rotation together
11	Alek Manoah	TOR	@LAA
12	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	TOR
13	John Means	BAL	DET
14	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@LAA
15	Framber Valdez	HOU	COL
16	Lance Lynn	CWS	@MIN
17	Chris Sale	BOS	BAL	No biggie, just a critical matchup with an AL East foe
18	Tyler Anderson	SEA	TEX
19	Casey Mize	DET	@BAL, CLE	ERA artificially low, but wait at least a week before deciding to tempt fate any longer
20	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	TOR
21	Triston McKenzie	CLE	OAK, @DET	Control has improved since being reinserted into the rotation
22	Zack Greinke	HOU	@LAA
23	Luis Garcia	HOU	@LAA
24	Mike Minor	KC	STL
25	Frankie Montas	OAK	@CLE	Recent surge due to big increase in split finger
26	Steven Matz	TOR	LAA, @SEA
27	Zach Plesac	CLE	@DET
28	Marco Gonzales	SEA	TEX
29	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TB, BAL
30	Cole Irvin	OAK	@TEX
31	James Kaprielian	OAK	@TEX
32	Dylan Cease	CWS	NYY
33	Ross Stripling	TOR	@LAA	Strong last few outings could have saved his rotation spot
34	Luis Patino	TB	@BOS, @MIN
35	Kolby Allard	TEX	@SEA, OAK
36	Nick Pivetta	BOS	TB
37	Cal Quantrill	CLE	OAK	Has Cleveland fixed another one? .72 ERA, .92 WHIP with 23 K over last 25 IP
38	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	TB
39	Kenta Maeda	MIN	TB
40	Michael Pineda	MIN	TB
41	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	@SEA
42	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	HOU	10 HR allowed first 63 IP, none in his last 3 GS covering 19.1 IP
43	Nestor Cortes	NYY	@KC
44	Andrew Heaney	NYY	@CWS
45	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	COL
46	Dane Dunning	TEX	OAK
47	Tarik Skubal	DET	@BAL
48	Chris Flexen	SEA	TOR
49	Shane McClanahan	TB	@MIN
50	AL Reliever
51	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	@BOS
52	Kris Bubic	KC	STL
53	Spencer Howard	TEX	@SEA
54	Daniel Lynch	KC	NYY
55	Dylan Bundy	LAA	TOR
56	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@MIN
57	Eli Morgan	CLE	OAK
58	Jose Suarez	LAA	TOR
59	Carlos Hernandez	KC	NYY
60	Bailey Ober	MIN	CWS
61	Deivi Garcia	NYY	@KC
62	Josh Fleming	TB	@BOS
63	Jaime Barria	LAA	HOU
64	Griffin Jax	MIN	CWS
65	Reid Detmers	LAA	HOU
66	Brady Singer	KC	NYY
67	Matt Manning	DET	@BAL
68	Matt Harvey	BAL	DET
69	Garrett Richards	BOS	BAL
70	Chris Rodriguez	LAA	@TOR
71	Jordan Lyles	TEX	OAK
72	Brad Keller	KC	STL
73	Keegan Akin	BAL	DET, @BOS
74	Sam Hentges	CLE	CIN, @DET
75	Wily Peralta	DET	CLE
76	Tyler Alexander	DET	CLE
77	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@BOS
78	Michael Wacha	TB	@MIN
79	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@BOS
80	Beau Burrows	MIN	CWS
81	Charlie Barnes	MIN	TB

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Max Scherzer	LAD	@PHI, @NYM	Seems to be able to handle the pressure of LA
2	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@CHC, @PIT
3	Joe Musgrove	SD	MIA, @ARI
4	Aaron Nola	PHI	LAD, CIN
5	Walker Buehler	LAD	@NYM
6	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@CHC
7	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@CHC
8	Zac Gallen	ARI	@SF, SD	Hasn't been able to settle in a groove all season leading to high walk rate
9	Kevin Gausman	SF	ARI	In a rut, but should rebound at home against middling lineups
10	Zack Wheeler	PHI	CIN
11	Yu Darvish	SD	@ARI
12	Jack Flaherty	STL	@KC	Welcome back!
13	Luis Castillo	CIN	@CLE, @PHI	And now the strikeouts are back too
14	Alex Wood	SF	ARI, COL
15	Marcus Stroman	NYM	WAS
16	Jon Gray	COL	@HOU, @SF
17	German Marquez	COL	@SF
18	Julio Urias	LAD	@PHI
19	Charlie Morton	ATL	@WAS
20	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	WAS, LAD	Length still a concern
21	Trevor Rogers	MIA	CHC
22	Austin Gomber	COL	@SF
23	Joe Ross	WAS	@NYM
24	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	@MIA
25	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	COL
26	Sonny Gray	CIN	@ATL, @PHI
27	Rich Hill	NYM	WAS
28	JT Brubaker	PIT	STL	Well, he was having a nice little season…
29	Johnny Cueto	SF	COL
30	Merrill Kelly	ARI	@SF	Fifth overall in IP through Fri Aug 6
31	Adam Wainwright	STL	@PIT
32	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@SD
33	Taijuan Walker	NYM	LAD
34	Kyle Muller	ATL	CIN
35	Logan Webb	SF	COL
36	Craig Stammen	SD	MIA
37	Kyle Gibson	PHI	LAD
38	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	SD
39	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	MIL
40	Zach Thompson	MIA	@SD, CHC
41	Tylor Megill	NYM	LAD
42	Drew Smyly	ATL	CIN, @WAS
43	Steven Brault	PIT	STL, MIL
44	Wade Miley	CIN	@ATL
45	Tyler Mahle	CIN	@PHI
46	Erick Fedde	WAS	@NYM
47	Kyle Freeland	COL	@SF
48	Touki Toussaint	ATL	CIN
49	Ryan Pepiot	LAD	@NYM
50	Eric Lauer	MIL	@PIT
51	Ryan Weathers	SD	MIA
52	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	CHC
53	NL Reliever
54	Ranger Suarez	PHI	LAD
55	Max Fried	ATL	@WAS
56	David Price	LAD	@PHI
57	Josiah Gray	WAS	ATL
58	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@KC
59	Blake Snell	SD	@ARI
60	Zach Davies	CHC	@MIA
61	Brett Anderson	MIL	@PIT
62	Antonio Senzatela	COL	@HOU
63	Alec Mills	CHC	MIL, @MIA
64	Chase Anderson	PHI	CIN
65	Paolo Espino	WAS	@NYM, ATL
66	Bryse Wilson	PIT	MIL
67	Reiss Knehr	SD	@ARI
68	Patrick Corbin	WAS	ATL
69	Wade LeBlanc	STL	@PIT
70	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	@ATL
71	Aaron Ashby	MIL	@CHC
72	Wil Crowe	PIT	STL
73	Caleb Smith	ARI	SD
74	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
75	Mitch Keller	PIT	MIL
76	J.A. Happ	STL	@PIT
77	Jon Lester	STL	@KC
78	Jake Arrieta	CHC	MIL
79	Braxton Garrett	MIA	@SD
80	Justin Steele	CHC	MIL