Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Two Wheelering

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Updated on August 30, 2021 2:12AM EST

August turns to September and we're heading down the stretch. Normally, September is one of the better months to stream pitching since the league ERA usually drops. It remains to be seen what happens this year considering roster expansion only entails two additional spots. It's unclear how this will affect how teams manage their pitching, especially since workload concerns will be front and center.

This week is pretty quiet with only 94 games, helped by a weekend doubleheader between the Mets and Nationals. As has been the case all season, finding two-start options to grab off waivers of via FAAB is tough. However, there are several talented hurlers slated to return from an absence to deepen the pool. Examples are Trevor Rogers, Jose Urquidy, Ian Anderson, Matthew Boyd and (drum roll please) Corey Kluber!

Here is your weekly reminder I cull the schedule from the Projected Starters page, so all rotation questions should be sent in the direction. I'm happy to handle all rankings-specific questions below.

UPDATED: Monday August 30 2:15 AM ET

Week of August 30 - September 5

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@WAS, @MIA	0-3 last three starts, 23 K with just 2 BB in last 20.2 IP but 4 HR allowed
2	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SF, STL
3	Robbie Ray	TOR	BAL, OAK	Getting even better… 33 K, 2 BB in last 22 IP
4	Julio Urias	LAD	ATL, @SF
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@LAA

UPDATED: Monday August 30 2:15 AM ET

Week of August 30 - September 5

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@WAS, @MIA	0-3 last three starts, 23 K with just 2 BB in last 20.2 IP but 4 HR allowed
2	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SF, STL
3	Robbie Ray	TOR	BAL, OAK	Getting even better… 33 K, 2 BB in last 22 IP
4	Julio Urias	LAD	ATL, @SF
5	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@LAA
6	Walker Buehler	LAD	ATL
7	Max Scherzer	LAD	ATL
8	Luis Castillo	CIN	STL, DET
9	Kevin Gausman	SF	MIL
10	Lucas Giolito	CWS	PIT
11	Carlos Rodon	CWS	PIT
12	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@SF
13	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@NYM
14	Taijuan Walker	NYM	MIA, @WAS
15	Yu Darvish	SD	@ARI
16	Chris Sale	BOS	@TB	Quite the immaculate return
17	German Marquez	COL	@TEX, ATL
18	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@SEA
19	Adam Wainwright	STL	@MIL
20	Joe Musgrove	SD	HOU
21	Alex Wood	SF	MIL, LAD	Probably already surpassed expected number of starts with 23
22	Jose Berrios	TOR	OAK
23	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU, @ARI	12 QS in 24 GS
24	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@MIA
25	Freddy Peralta	MIL	STL
26	Logan Webb	SF	MIL
27	Lance Lynn	CWS	@KC
28	Tyler Mahle	CIN	DET
29	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	MIA
30	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	NYY	MVP? Yes. Cy Young? Sorry, no.
31	John Means	BAL	@NYY
32	Alek Manoah	TOR	OAK	Hitting the wall? 5.17 ERA with 1.40 WHIP previous 15.2 IP
33	Wade Miley	CIN	STL
34	Mike Minor	KC	CLE, CWS
35	Luis Garcia	HOU	@SEA
36	Aaron Nola	PHI	@WAS	Clubhouse leader for my favorite "value" pitcher next season
37	Corey Kluber	NYY	@LAA, BAL	Returns with great matchups, but will he throw five frames?
38	Framber Valdez	HOU	@SD
39	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	SEA
40	Charlie Morton	ATL	@LAD, @COL
41	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	BAL
42	Rich Hill	NYM	MIA
43	Max Fried	ATL	@LAD
44	Trevor Rogers	MIA	PHI
45	Zach Plesac	CLE	@KC, @BOS
46	Zack Greinke	HOU	@SD
47	Sonny Gray	CIN	STL
48	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	CLE
49	Edward Cabrera	MIA	@NYM	Another stellar young Marlins hurler
50	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@TB, CLE
51	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@WAS
52	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	LAD
53	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	BAL
54	Tyler Gilbert	ARI	SD, SEA
55	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	PHI
56	Casey Mize	DET	MIN, @CIN
57	Dylan Cease	CWS	@KC
58	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@SEA
59	Frankie Montas	OAK	@TOR
60	Shane McClanahan	TB	BOS
61	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SD
62	Taylor Hearn	TEX	@LAA
63	Chris Archer	TB	MIN
64	Carlos Hernandez	KC	CLE
65	Johnny Cueto	SF	MIL, LAD
66	Glenn Otto	TEX	@LAA
67	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@LAA
68	Austin Gomber	COL	@TEX, ATL
69	Chris Paddack	SD	@ARI, HOU
70	Josiah Gray	WAS	PHI, NYM	Scherzer is crushing it with LAD, but Gray is holding his own too
71	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@MIA
72	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	PIT
73	Cole Irvin	OAK	@DET, @TOR
74	Zac Gallen	ARI	SD
75	David Price	LAD	@SF
76	James Kaprielian	OAK	@DET
77	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@TB
78	Blake Snell	SD	@ARI	Gaining consistency with 3.06 ERA and .85 WHIP with 25 K over last 17.2 IP
79	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	BOS
80	Bailey Ober	MIN	@DET, @TB
81	Sean Manaea	OAK	@DET	9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in August
82	Drew Rasmussen	TB	BOS
83	Mix 12 Reliever
84	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@ARI
85	Adrian Houser	MIL	STL
86	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
87	Bryse Wilson	PIT	@CWS, @CHC
88	Tarik Skubal	DET	OAK
89	Zach Thompson	MIA	@NYM
90	Tanner Houck	BOS	CLE
91	Tyler Anderson	SEA	@ARI
92	Mix 15 Reliever
93	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@MIL
94	Miles Mikolas	STL	@CIN
95	Kyle Freeland	COL	@TEX
96	Steven Matz	TOR	BAL
97	Kolby Allard	TEX	@LAA
98	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@BOS
99	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	DET
100	Logan Gilbert	SEA	HOU
101	Eric Lauer	MIL	@SF
102	Jose Suarez	LAA	TEX
103	A.J. Alexy	TEX	COL
104	Matt Manning	DET	OAK
105	Patrick Corbin	WAS	PHI
106	Steven Brault	PIT	@CHC
107	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	PHI
108	Luis Patino	TB	BOS, MIN
109	Nestor Cortes	NYY	BAL
110	Matthew Boyd	DET	@CIN
111	Mitch White	LAD	@SF
112	Humberto Mejia	ARI	SEA
113	Andrew Albers	MIN	@TB
114	Jose Quintana	LAA	NYY, TEX
115	Randy Dobnak	MIN	CHC
116	Seth Romero	WAS	NYM
117	Drew Smyly	ATL	@LAD, @COL
118	John Gant	MIN	CHC
119	Packy Naughton	LAA	TEX
120	Alec Mills	CHC	PIT
121	Brett Anderson	MIL	@SF
122	Logan Allen	CLE	@KC
123	Brady Singer	KC	CWS
124	Jon Gray	COL	ATL
125	J.A. Happ	STL	@CIN
126	Griffin Jax	MIN	@TB
127	Daniel Lynch	KC	CWS
128	Tylor Megill	NYM	@WAS
129	Zach Davies	CHC	@MIN
130	Jake Latz	TEX	COL
131	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@KC
132	Michael Wacha	TB	MIN
133	Erick Fedde	WAS	NYM
134	Jon Lester	STL	@CIN, @MIL
135	Martin Perez	BOS	@TB
136	Tyler Alexander	DET	@CIN
137	Kris Bubic	KC	CLE
138	Ian Anderson	ATL	@COL
139	Ryan Weathers	SD	HOU
140	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
141	Paul Blackburn	OAK	@TOR
142	Eli Morgan	CLE	@BOS
143	Trevor Williams	NYM	@WAS
144	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	PIT
145	Wil Crowe	PIT	@CHC
146	Wily Peralta	DET	OAK
147	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@COL
148	Cody Ponce	PIT	@CHC
149	Keegan Thompson	CHC	PIT
150	Keegan Akin	BAL	@TOR
151	Alexander Wells	BAL	@NYY
152	Jordan Lyles	TEX	COL
153	Antonio Senzatela	COL	ATL
154	Matt Harvey	BAL	@TOR
155	Jaime Barria	LAA	NYY
156	Mitch Keller	PIT	@CWS
157	Sam Hentges	CLE	@KC
158	Justin Steele	CHC	@MIN
159	Chris Ellis	BAL	@TOR, @NYY
160	Paolo Espino	WAS	PHI
161	Matt Moore	PHI	@WAS
162	Sean Nolin	WAS	NYM

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Robbie Ray	TOR	BAL, OAK	Getting even better… 33 K, 2 BB in last 22 IP
2	Gerrit Cole	NYY	@LAA
3	Lucas Giolito	CWS	PIT
4	Carlos Rodon	CWS	PIT
5	Chris Sale	BOS	@TB	Quite the immaculate return
6	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	@SEA
7	Jose Berrios	TOR	OAK
8	Chris Flexen	SEA	HOU, @ARI	12 QS in 24 GS
9	Lance Lynn	CWS	@KC
10	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	NYY	MVP? Yes. Cy Young? Sorry, no.
11	John Means	BAL	@NYY
12	Alek Manoah	TOR	OAK	Hitting the wall? 5.17 ERA with 1.40 WHIP previous 15.2 IP
13	Mike Minor	KC	CLE, CWS
14	Luis Garcia	HOU	@SEA
15	Corey Kluber	NYY	@LAA, BAL	Returns with great matchups, but will he throw five frames?
16	Framber Valdez	HOU	@SD
17	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	BAL
18	Zach Plesac	CLE	@KC, @BOS
19	Zack Greinke	HOU	@SD
20	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	CLE
21	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@TB, CLE
22	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	BAL
23	Casey Mize	DET	MIN, @CIN
24	Dylan Cease	CWS	@KC
25	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@SEA
26	Frankie Montas	OAK	@TOR
27	Shane McClanahan	TB	BOS
28	Jose Urquidy	HOU	@SD
29	Taylor Hearn	TEX	@LAA
30	Chris Archer	TB	MIN
31	Carlos Hernandez	KC	CLE
32	Glenn Otto	TEX	@LAA
33	Jameson Taillon	NYY	@LAA
34	Cole Irvin	OAK	@DET, @TOR
35	James Kaprielian	OAK	@DET
36	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	@TB
37	Ryan Yarbrough	TB	BOS
38	Bailey Ober	MIN	@DET, @TB
39	Sean Manaea	OAK	@DET	9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in August
40	Drew Rasmussen	TB	BOS
41	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@ARI
42	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	HOU
43	Tarik Skubal	DET	OAK
44	Tanner Houck	BOS	CLE
45	Tyler Anderson	SEA	@ARI
46	Steven Matz	TOR	BAL
47	Kolby Allard	TEX	@LAA
48	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@BOS
49	Logan Gilbert	SEA	HOU
50	Jose Suarez	LAA	TEX
51	A.J. Alexy	TEX	COL
52	AL Reliever
53	Matt Manning	DET	OAK
54	Luis Patino	TB	BOS, MIN
55	Nestor Cortes	NYY	BAL
56	Matthew Boyd	DET	@CIN
57	Andrew Albers	MIN	@TB
58	Jose Quintana	LAA	NYY, TEX
59	Randy Dobnak	MIN	CHC
60	John Gant	MIN	CHC
61	Packy Naughton	LAA	TEX
62	Logan Allen	CLE	@KC
63	Brady Singer	KC	CWS
64	Griffin Jax	MIN	@TB
65	Daniel Lynch	KC	CWS
66	Jake Latz	TEX	COL
67	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	@KC
68	Michael Wacha	TB	MIN
69	Martin Perez	BOS	@TB
70	Tyler Alexander	DET	@CIN
71	Kris Bubic	KC	CLE
72	Paul Blackburn	OAK	@TOR
73	Eli Morgan	CLE	@BOS
74	Wily Peralta	DET	OAK
75	Keegan Akin	BAL	@TOR
76	Alexander Wells	BAL	@NYY
77	Jordan Lyles	TEX	COL
78	Matt Harvey	BAL	@TOR
79	Jaime Barria	LAA	NYY
80	Sam Hentges	CLE	@KC
81	Chris Ellis	BAL	@TOR, @NYY

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@WAS, @MIA	0-3 last three starts, 23 K with just 2 BB in last 20.2 IP but 4 HR allowed
2	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@SF, STL
3	Julio Urias	LAD	ATL, @SF
4	Walker Buehler	LAD	ATL
5	Max Scherzer	LAD	ATL
6	Luis Castillo	CIN	STL, DET
7	Kevin Gausman	SF	MIL
8	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@SF
9	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	@NYM
10	Taijuan Walker	NYM	MIA, @WAS
11	Yu Darvish	SD	@ARI
12	German Marquez	COL	@TEX, ATL
13	Adam Wainwright	STL	@MIL
14	Joe Musgrove	SD	HOU
15	Alex Wood	SF	MIL, LAD	Probably already surpassed expected number of starts with 23
16	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@MIA
17	Freddy Peralta	MIL	STL
18	Logan Webb	SF	MIL
19	Tyler Mahle	CIN	DET
20	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	MIA
21	Wade Miley	CIN	STL
22	Aaron Nola	PHI	@WAS	Clubhouse leader for my favorite "value" pitcher next season
23	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	SEA
24	Charlie Morton	ATL	@LAD, @COL
25	Rich Hill	NYM	MIA
26	Max Fried	ATL	@LAD
27	Trevor Rogers	MIA	PHI
28	Sonny Gray	CIN	STL
29	Edward Cabrera	MIA	@NYM	Another stellar young Marlins hurler
30	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@WAS
31	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	LAD
32	Tyler Gilbert	ARI	SD, SEA
33	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	PHI
34	Johnny Cueto	SF	MIL, LAD
35	Austin Gomber	COL	@TEX, ATL
36	Chris Paddack	SD	@ARI, HOU
37	Josiah Gray	WAS	PHI, NYM	Scherzer is crushing it with LAD, but Gray is holding his own too
38	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@MIA
39	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	PIT
40	Zac Gallen	ARI	SD
41	David Price	LAD	@SF
42	Blake Snell	SD	@ARI	Gaining consistency with 3.06 ERA and .85 WHIP with 25 K over last 17.2 IP
43	Adrian Houser	MIL	STL
44	Bryse Wilson	PIT	@CWS, @CHC
45	Zach Thompson	MIA	@NYM
46	Kwang Hyun Kim	STL	@MIL
47	Miles Mikolas	STL	@CIN
48	Kyle Freeland	COL	@TEX
49	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	DET
50	Eric Lauer	MIL	@SF
51	NL Reliever
52	Patrick Corbin	WAS	PHI
53	Steven Brault	PIT	@CHC
54	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	PHI
55	Mitch White	LAD	@SF
56	Humberto Mejia	ARI	SEA
57	Seth Romero	WAS	NYM
58	Drew Smyly	ATL	@LAD, @COL
59	Alec Mills	CHC	PIT
60	Brett Anderson	MIL	@SF
61	Jon Gray	COL	ATL
62	J.A. Happ	STL	@CIN
63	Tylor Megill	NYM	@WAS
64	Zach Davies	CHC	@MIN
65	Erick Fedde	WAS	NYM
66	Jon Lester	STL	@CIN, @MIL
67	Ian Anderson	ATL	@COL
68	Ryan Weathers	SD	HOU
69	Taylor Widener	ARI	SD
70	Trevor Williams	NYM	@WAS
71	Adbert Alzolay	CHC	PIT
72	Wil Crowe	PIT	@CHC
73	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@COL
74	Cody Ponce	PIT	@CHC
75	Keegan Thompson	CHC	PIT
76	Antonio Senzatela	COL	ATL
77	Mitch Keller	PIT	@CWS
78	Justin Steele	CHC	@MIN
79	Paolo Espino	WAS	PHI