This article is part of our Weekly Pitcher Rankings series.
Twenty five down, one to go. Welcome to the final week of the season where all plans are written in pencil. As teams clinch, the focus shifts to aligning playoff rotations. Many aces make their final start but hit the showers early.
Both Central divisions are still up for grabs along with the four wild cards. These teams will keep starters on schedule so long as they're mathematically alive. If you're in need of wins and/or strikeouts, keep all this in mind.
As always, the staff will keep the Projected Starters grid updated in real time. Please address questions pertaining to the schedule to that page. Rankings questions will be addressed in the comments below.
For one last time, please come back Sunday night for the final version. Good luck everyone. Let's ship this thing.
For the week Sep. 23-29.
UPDATED: Sunday September 22 9:15 PM ET
MLB
Rank | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | at SEA, at LAA | May not make second start, at minimum it will be truncated |
2 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | vs. PHI, vs. CLE | Second start also in jeopardy, depending on wild card chase |
3 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | |
4 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at CWS, at WAS | Ditto |
5 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at TEX, vs. BAL | Chance at 20 wins with two victories |
6 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. COL, vs. LAD | |
7 | Sonny Gray | CIN | vs. MIL, at PIT | |
8 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA | |
9 | Shane |
Twenty five down, one to go. Welcome to the final week of the season where all plans are written in pencil. As teams clinch, the focus shifts to aligning playoff rotations. Many aces make their final start but hit the showers early.
Both Central divisions are still up for grabs along with the four wild cards. These teams will keep starters on schedule so long as they're mathematically alive. If you're in need of wins and/or strikeouts, keep all this in mind.
As always, the staff will keep the Projected Starters grid updated in real time. Please address questions pertaining to the schedule to that page. Rankings questions will be addressed in the comments below.
For one last time, please come back Sunday night for the final version. Good luck everyone. Let's ship this thing.
For the week Sep. 23-29.
UPDATED: Sunday September 22 9:15 PM ET
MLB
Rank | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | at SEA, at LAA | May not make second start, at minimum it will be truncated |
2 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | vs. PHI, vs. CLE | Second start also in jeopardy, depending on wild card chase |
3 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | |
4 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at CWS, at WAS | Ditto |
5 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at TEX, vs. BAL | Chance at 20 wins with two victories |
6 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. COL, vs. LAD | |
7 | Sonny Gray | CIN | vs. MIL, at PIT | |
8 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA | |
9 | Shane Bieber | CLE | at CWS | |
10 | Max Scherzer | WAS | vs. PHI, vs. CLE | Yet another guy with second start in doubt |
11 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | |
12 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at WAS, vs. MIA | 6.14 ERA, 1.64 WHIP in September |
13 | Charlie Morton | TB | vs. NYY | |
14 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | at SF | |
15 | Yu Darvish | CHC | at STL | 2.70 ERA, .80 WHIP with 106 K and 7 BB in 73.1 IP since the break |
16 | Luis Castillo | CIN | vs. MIL | |
17 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | at PIT, at STL | |
18 | Justin Verlander | HOU | at LAA | |
19 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | vs. PHI | |
20 | Caleb Smith | MIA | at NYM, at PHI | Likely a popular "sleeper" in 2020 |
21 | Zack Greinke | HOU | at SEA | |
22 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. MIA | |
23 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at ARI | |
24 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at KC | |
25 | Walker Buehler | LAD | at SF | |
26 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at SD | |
27 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | at NYM | |
28 | Zach Eflin | PHI | at WAS, vs. MIA | Closing season on a strong note |
29 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | at DET, at KC | |
30 | Jose Berrios | MIN | at KC | |
31 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | at PIT | |
32 | Sean Manaea | OAK | at SEA | |
33 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | at TOR | |
34 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at NYM, at PHI | Strikeouts low, but looks like a solid rotation piece |
35 | Alex Young | ARI | vs. STL, vs. SD | |
36 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. COL | |
37 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. DET | |
38 | Matthew Boyd | DET | at CWS | |
39 | Robbie Ray | ARI | vs. SD | |
40 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at TB | 0 BB last 3 GS covering 16 IP |
41 | Homer Bailey | OAK | at LAA, at SEA | |
42 | Mike Fiers | OAK | at SEA | |
43 | Dallas Keuchel | ATL | at NYM | |
44 | Miles Mikolas | STL | vs. CHC | |
45 | Mike Minor | TEX | vs. BOS | |
46 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | vs. LAD | |
47 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | at PIT | |
48 | Aaron Civale | CLE | at CWS | |
49 | Marcus Stroman | NYM | vs. ATL | Whiffing over a hitter an inning since moving to the NL |
50 | James Paxton | NYY | at TEX | |
51 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at TB | |
52 | Tanner Roark | OAK | at SEA | |
53 | Jose Quintana | CHC | at PIT | |
54 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at PHI | |
55 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at KC | |
56 | Ross Stripling | LAD | at SD | |
57 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | vs. CHC | |
58 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. CIN | |
59 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | vs. MIA | |
60 | Lance Lynn | TEX | vs. NYY | |
61 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | vs. LAD | But not as popular as Lamet |
62 | Blake Snell | TB | vs. BOS, at TOR | Expected to be on a pitch count |
63 | Wade Miley | HOU | at LAA | |
64 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | vs. MIL | |
65 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | at TOR | |
66 | Adam Wainwright | STL | at ARI, vs. CHC | |
67 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at LAA | |
68 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | vs. PHI | |
69 | Max Fried | ATL | at NYM | |
70 | Jon Lester | CHC | at PIT | |
71 | Clay Buchholz | TOR | vs. BAL, vs. TB | |
72 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. OAK | |
73 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | vs. STL | |
74 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | vs. OAK | |
75 | Rich Hill | LAD | at SF | Could work as primary pitcher |
76 | Mike Shawaryn | BOS | at TB, vs. BAL | |
77 | Garrett Richards | SD | at ARI | |
78 | Martin Perez | MIN | at KC | |
79 | Tommy Milone | SEA | vs. HOU, vs. OAK | |
80 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at CIN | |
81 | Ivan Nova | CWS | vs. DET | |
82 | Nathan Eovaldi | BOS | vs. BAL | |
83 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. MIN, at CWS | |
84 | Randy Dobnak | MIN | at DET | |
85 | John Means | BAL | at BOS | |
86 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. CIN | |
87 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at TEX | |
88 | Anthony Kay | TOR | vs. BAL | |
89 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | at LAA | |
90 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | at SD | |
91 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs. ATL | |
92 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
93 | Jordan Lyles | MIL | at CIN | |
94 | Brendan McKay | TB | vs. NYY | |
95 | Mike Leake | ARI | vs. STL | |
96 | James Marvel | PIT | vs. CIN | |
97 | Hector Santiago | CWS | vs. CLE, vs. DET | |
98 | Robert Dugger | MIA | at NYM | |
99 | Luis Severino | NYY | at TEX | |
100 | Adrian Houser | MIL | at CIN, at COL | |
101 | Dylan Cease | CWS | vs. CLE | |
102 | Jordan Yamamoto | MIA | at NYM | |
103 | Dillon Peters | LAA | vs. OAK, vs. HOU | |
104 | Zach Plesac | CLE | at WAS | |
105 | Justus Sheffield | SEA | vs. OAK | |
106 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | vs. HOU | |
107 | Trent Thornton | TOR | vs. TB | |
108 | Adam Plutko | CLE | at WAS | |
109 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. CHC | |
110 | Cal Quantrill | SD | at ARI | |
111 | Ronald Bolanos | SD | vs. LAD | |
112 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs. OAK | |
113 | Mitch Keller | PIT | vs. CHC | |
114 | T.J. Zeuch | TOR | vs. TB | |
115 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | at TOR | |
116 | Alec Mills | CHC | at STL | |
117 | Jacob Waguespack | TOR | vs. BAL | |
118 | Jaime Barria | LAA | vs. HOU | |
119 | Chandler Shepherd | BAL | at TOR | |
120 | Mike Montgomery | KC | vs. ATL | |
121 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | at COL | |
122 | CC Sabathia | NYY | at TEX | |
123 | Tyler Alexander | DET | at CWS | |
124 | Dario Agrazal | PIT | vs. CHC | |
125 | Michael Wacha | STL | at ARI | |
126 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs. LAD | |
127 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | vs. HOU | |
128 | Jeff Hoffman | COL | at SF, vs. MIL | |
129 | Cole Irvin | PHI | at WAS | |
130 | Chi Chi Gonzalez | COL | at SF | |
131 | Logan Webb | SF | vs. LAD | |
132 | Edwin Jackson | DET | at CWS | |
133 | Taylor Clarke | ARI | vs. SD | |
134 | Drew VerHagen | DET | vs. MIN | |
135 | Carson Fulmer | CWS | vs. DET | |
136 | Erick Fedde | WAS | vs. PHI | |
137 | Eric Lauer | SD | at ARI | |
138 | Jose Suarez | LAA | vs. HOU | |
139 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | at BOS | |
140 | Kolby Allard | TEX | vs. BOS | |
141 | Tim Melville | COL | at SF | |
142 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | at TOR | |
143 | Jason Vargas | PHI | at WAS | |
144 | Austin Voth | WAS | vs. CLE | |
145 | Brock Burke | TEX | vs. NYY | |
146 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. MIN | |
147 | Tyler Beede | SF | vs. COL | |
148 | Drew Smyly | PHI | at WAS | |
149 | Zach Davies | MIL | at COL | |
150 | Brian Johnson | BOS | at TEX | |
151 | Glenn Sparkman | KC | vs. MIN | |
152 | Joe Palumbo | TEX | vs. NYY | |
153 | Jorge Lopez | KC | vs. MIN | |
154 | Eric Skoglund | KC | vs. MIN | |
155 | Peter Lambert | COL | vs. MIL | |
156 | Aaron Brooks | BAL | at BOS | |
157 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | vs. MIL | |
158 | Ross Detwiler | CWS | vs. CLE | |
159 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | vs. BOS |
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | at SEA, at LAA | May not make second start, at minimum it will be truncated |
2 | Mike Clevinger | CLE | at CWS, at WAS | Ditto |
3 | Eduardo Rodriguez | BOS | at TEX, vs. BAL | Chance at 20 wins with two victories |
4 | Shane Bieber | CLE | at CWS | |
5 | Charlie Morton | TB | vs. NYY | |
6 | Justin Verlander | HOU | at LAA | |
7 | Zack Greinke | HOU | at SEA | |
8 | Jake Odorizzi | MIN | at DET, at KC | |
9 | Jose Berrios | MIN | at KC | |
10 | Sean Manaea | OAK | at SEA | |
11 | Tyler Glasnow | TB | at TOR | |
12 | Reynaldo Lopez | CWS | vs. DET | |
13 | Matthew Boyd | DET | at CWS | |
14 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | at TB | 0 BB last 3 GS covering 16 IP |
15 | Homer Bailey | OAK | at LAA, at SEA | |
16 | Mike Fiers | OAK | at SEA | |
17 | Mike Minor | TEX | vs. BOS | |
18 | Aaron Civale | CLE | at CWS | |
19 | James Paxton | NYY | at TEX | |
20 | J.A. Happ | NYY | at TB | |
21 | Tanner Roark | OAK | at SEA | |
22 | Lance Lynn | TEX | vs. NYY | |
23 | Blake Snell | TB | vs. BOS, at TOR | Expected to be on a pitch count |
24 | Wade Miley | HOU | at LAA | |
25 | Ryan Yarbrough | TB | at TOR | |
26 | Brett Anderson | OAK | at LAA | |
27 | Clay Buchholz | TOR | vs. BAL, vs. TB | |
28 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | vs. OAK | |
29 | Andrew Heaney | LAA | vs. OAK | |
30 | Mike Shawaryn | BOS | at TB, vs. BAL | |
31 | Martin Perez | MIN | at KC | |
32 | Tommy Milone | SEA | vs. HOU, vs. OAK | |
33 | Ivan Nova | CWS | vs. DET | |
34 | Nathan Eovaldi | BOS | vs. BAL | |
35 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | vs. MIN, at CWS | |
36 | Randy Dobnak | MIN | at DET | |
37 | John Means | BAL | at BOS | |
38 | Rick Porcello | BOS | at TEX | |
39 | Anthony Kay | TOR | vs. BAL | |
40 | Jose Urquidy | HOU | at LAA | |
41 | Danny Duffy | KC | vs. ATL | |
42 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | at DET | |
43 | Brendan McKay | TB | vs. NYY | |
44 | Hector Santiago | CWS | vs. CLE, vs. DET | |
45 | Luis Severino | NYY | at TEX | |
46 | Dylan Cease | CWS | vs. CLE | |
47 | Dillon Peters | LAA | vs. OAK, vs. HOU | |
48 | Zach Plesac | CLE | at WAS | |
49 | Justus Sheffield | SEA | vs. OAK | |
50 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | vs. HOU | |
51 | Trent Thornton | TOR | vs. TB | |
52 | Adam Plutko | CLE | at WAS | |
53 | Felix Hernandez | SEA | vs. OAK | |
54 | T.J. Zeuch | TOR | vs. TB | |
55 | Dylan Bundy | BAL | at TOR | |
56 | Jacob Waguespack | TOR | vs. BAL | |
57 | Jaime Barria | LAA | vs. HOU | |
58 | Chandler Shepherd | BAL | at TOR | |
59 | Mike Montgomery | KC | vs. ATL | |
60 | CC Sabathia | NYY | at TEX | |
61 | Tyler Alexander | DET | at CWS | |
62 | Patrick Sandoval | LAA | vs. HOU | |
63 | Edwin Jackson | DET | at CWS | |
64 | Drew VerHagen | DET | vs. MIN | |
65 | Carson Fulmer | CWS | vs. DET | |
66 | Jose Suarez | LAA | vs. HOU | |
67 | Asher Wojciechowski | BAL | at BOS | |
68 | Kolby Allard | TEX | vs. BOS | |
69 | Gabriel Ynoa | BAL | at TOR | |
70 | Brock Burke | TEX | vs. NYY | |
71 | Jordan Zimmermann | DET | vs. MIN | |
72 | Brian Johnson | BOS | at TEX | |
73 | Glenn Sparkman | KC | vs. MIN | |
74 | Joe Palumbo | TEX | vs. NYY | |
75 | Jorge Lopez | KC | vs. MIN | |
76 | Eric Skoglund | KC | vs. MIN | |
77 | Aaron Brooks | BAL | at BOS | |
78 | Ross Detwiler | CWS | vs. CLE | |
79 | Ariel Jurado | TEX | vs. BOS |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
RANK | PITCHER | TM | OPP | COMMENT |
1 | Patrick Corbin | WAS | vs. PHI, vs. CLE | Second start also in jeopardy, depending on wild card chase |
2 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | |
3 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | vs. COL, vs. LAD | |
4 | Sonny Gray | CIN | vs. MIL, at PIT | |
5 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | vs. MIA | |
6 | Max Scherzer | WAS | vs. PHI, vs. CLE | Yet another guy with second start in doubt |
7 | Steven Matz | NYM | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | |
8 | Aaron Nola | PHI | at WAS, vs. MIA | 6.14 ERA, 1.64 WHIP in September |
9 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | at SF | |
10 | Yu Darvish | CHC | at STL | 2.70 ERA, .80 WHIP with 106 K and 7 BB in 73.1 IP since the break |
11 | Luis Castillo | CIN | vs. MIL | |
12 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | at PIT, at STL | |
13 | Stephen Strasburg | WAS | vs. PHI | |
14 | Caleb Smith | MIA | at NYM, at PHI | Likely a popular "sleeper" in 2020 |
15 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | vs. MIA | |
16 | Jack Flaherty | STL | at ARI | |
17 | Mike Soroka | ATL | at KC | |
18 | Walker Buehler | LAD | at SF | |
19 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | at SD | |
20 | Mike Foltynewicz | ATL | at NYM | |
21 | Zach Eflin | PHI | at WAS, vs. MIA | Closing season on a strong note |
22 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | at PIT | |
23 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | at NYM, at PHI | Strikeouts low, but looks like a solid rotation piece |
24 | Alex Young | ARI | vs. STL, vs. SD | |
25 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | vs. COL | |
26 | Robbie Ray | ARI | vs. SD | |
27 | Dallas Keuchel | ATL | at NYM | |
28 | Miles Mikolas | STL | vs. CHC | |
29 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | vs. LAD | |
30 | Anthony DeSclafani | CIN | at PIT | |
31 | Marcus Stroman | NYM | vs. ATL | Whiffing over a hitter an inning since moving to the NL |
32 | Jose Quintana | CHC | at PIT | |
33 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | at PHI | |
34 | Julio Teheran | ATL | at KC | |
35 | Ross Stripling | LAD | at SD | |
36 | Joe Musgrove | PIT | vs. CHC | |
37 | Trevor Williams | PIT | vs. CIN | |
38 | Vince Velasquez | PHI | vs. MIA | |
39 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | vs. LAD | But not as popular as Lamet |
40 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | vs. MIL | |
41 | Adam Wainwright | STL | at ARI, vs. CHC | |
42 | Anibal Sanchez | WAS | vs. PHI | |
43 | Max Fried | ATL | at NYM | |
44 | Jon Lester | CHC | at PIT | |
45 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | vs. STL | |
46 | Rich Hill | LAD | at SF | Could work as primary pitcher |
47 | Garrett Richards | SD | at ARI | |
48 | Chase Anderson | MIL | at CIN | |
49 | Steven Brault | PIT | vs. CIN | |
50 | Tony Gonsolin | LAD | at SD | |
51 | Jordan Lyles | MIL | at CIN | |
52 | Mike Leake | ARI | vs. STL | |
53 | James Marvel | PIT | vs. CIN | |
54 | Robert Dugger | MIA | at NYM | |
55 | Adrian Houser | MIL | at CIN, at COL | |
56 | Jordan Yamamoto | MIA | at NYM | |
57 | Dakota Hudson | STL | vs. CHC | |
58 | Cal Quantrill | SD | at ARI | |
59 | Ronald Bolanos | SD | vs. LAD | |
60 | Mitch Keller | PIT | vs. CHC | |
61 | Alec Mills | CHC | at STL | |
62 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | at COL | |
63 | Dario Agrazal | PIT | vs. CHC | |
64 | Michael Wacha | STL | at ARI | |
65 | Johnny Cueto | SF | vs. LAD | |
66 | Jeff Hoffman | COL | at SF, vs. MIL | |
67 | Cole Irvin | PHI | at WAS | |
68 | Chi Chi Gonzalez | COL | at SF | |
69 | Logan Webb | SF | vs. LAD | |
70 | Taylor Clarke | ARI | vs. SD | |
71 | Erick Fedde | WAS | vs. PHI | |
72 | Eric Lauer | SD | at ARI | |
73 | Tim Melville | COL | at SF | |
74 | Jason Vargas | PHI | at WAS | |
75 | Austin Voth | WAS | vs. CLE | |
76 | Tyler Beede | SF | vs. COL | |
77 | Drew Smyly | PHI | at WAS | |
78 | Zach Davies | MIL | at COL | |
79 | Peter Lambert | COL | vs. MIL | |
80 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | vs. MIL |