Fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings

Share

By David Ferris
CSNChicago.com

The ranks below consider a 5x5 scoring system (wins, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and saves) for the remainder of the season.

1. Justin Verlander, Tigers
2. Matt Cain, Giants
3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
4. Jered Weaver, Angels
5. Cole Hamels, Phillies
6. R.A. Dickey, Mets
NOTE: This run really started at end of 2011.
7. Gio Gonzalez, Nationals
8. Johnny Cueto, Reds
9. James McDonald, Pirates
NOTE: Improved slider, improved control.
10. Zack Greinke, Brewers
11. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
12. Madison Bumgarner, Giants
13. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
NOTE: He's Top 5 without a workload cap.
14. David Price, Rays
15. CC Sabathia, Yankees
16. Chris Sale, White Sox
17. C.J. Wilson, Angels
18. Cliff Lee, Phillies
NOTE: Largely unlucky, but he's made some of the bad luck, too.
19. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
NOTE: All signs point to strong second half.
20. Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
21. Ryan Vogelsong, Giants
NOTE: He's outperformed his peripherals for a year and a half.
22. A.J. Burnett, Pirates
23. Yu Darvish, Rangers
24. Tommy Hanson, Braves
25. Jake Peavy, White Sox
26. Josh Johnson, Marlins
27. Mat Latos, Reds
NOTE: Increased reliance on slider is bringing results.
28. Johan Santana, Mets
29. Matt Garza, Cubs
30. James Shields, Rays
NOTE: Sometimes plus control works against you.
31. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
32. Jon Lester, Red Sox
33. Chris Capuano, Dodgers
34. Matt Harrison, Rangers
35. Colby Lewis, Rangers
36. Edwin Jackson, Nationals
NOTE: A heck of a support arm for the Nats.
37. Jason Hammel, Orioles
NOTE: Escaping Coors has done wonders.
38. Max Scherzer, Tigers
39. Ryan Dempster, Cubs
NOTE: Excellent chance he's moved to a contender.
40. Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
NOTE: Change-up master might make career of being underrated.
41. Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks
42. Lance Lynn, Cardinals
43. Kyle Lohse, Cardinals
44. Josh Beckett, Red Sox
45. Anibal Sanchez, Marlins
46. Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees
47. Ivan Nova, Yankees
NOTE: Don't let ERA fool you, he's improved significantly.
48. Jarrod Parker, Athletics
49. Jeff Samardzija, Cubs
NOTE: Some disaster starts, but KBB rate is in a good place.
50. Dan Haren, Angels
NOTE: At least it's a back injury, nothing arm related.
51. Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays
52. Wade Miley, Diamondbacks
NOTE: This deep into the run, it's okay to trust him.
53. Shaun Marcum, Brewers
54. Jonathon Niese, Mets
55. Brandon McCarthy, Athletics
NOTE: Legit skills, but trouble staying healthy.
56. Gavin Floyd, White Sox
57. Tim Hudson, Braves
58. Wandy Rodrguez, Astros
59. Trevor Cahill, Diamondbacks
NOTE: Hard to trust in that ballpark.
60. Justin Masterson, Indians
61. Phil Hughes, Yankees
NOTE: A shame he's tied to Yankee Stadium.
62. Tommy Milone, Athletics
63. Michael Fiers, Brewers
64. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins
65. Roy Halladay, Phillies
NOTE: Don't expect a second-half miracle.
66. Matt Moore, Rays
67. Ricky Romero, Blue Jays
68. Vance Worley, Phillies
69. Doug Fister, Tigers
70. Bud Norris, Astros
71. Jose Quintana, White Sox
NOTE: So far, so good for strike-throwing ace.
72. Jair Jurrjens, Braves
73. Mike Leake, Reds
NOTE: Pitches to contact but he's making strides, too.
74. Mark Buehrle, Marlins
75. Derek Holland, Rangers
NOTE: He's been overbid for two years.
76. Edinson Volquez, Padres
77. Francisco Liriano, Twins
78. Clayton Richard, Padres
79. Bartolo Colon, Athletics
80. Franklin Morales, Red Sox
81. Trevor Bauer, Diamondbacks
NOTE: Discount the good start - it was the Dodgers.
82. Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians
83. Scott Diamond, Twins
84. Joe Blanton, Phillies
NOTE: Despite tidy KBB rate, ERA is a mess.
85. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
86. Felix Doubront, Red Sox
87. Homer Bailey, Reds
88. Joe Saunders, Diamondbacks
89. Tim Lincecum, Giants
NOTE: Don't pay for an ERA below 4 in second half.
90. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
91. Jason Vargas, Mariners
92. Carlos Zambrano, Marlins
93. Travis Wood, Cubs
94. Dillon Gee, Mets
95. Roy Oswalt, Rangers
96. Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles
97. Erik Bedard, Pirates
NOTE: One Pittsburgh story that hasn't worked out.
98. Andrew Cashner, Padres
NOTE: They won't take any chances with his health.
99. Travis Blackley, Athletics
100. Nathan Eovaldi, Dodgers
101. Ross Detwiler, Nationals
102. Barry Zito, Giants
103. Bronson Arroyo, Reds
NOTE: Junk-master is fun to watch, anyway.
104. Henderson alvarez, Blue Jays
105. Chris Tillman, Orioles
106. Ervin Santana, Angels
107. Jake Westbrook, Cardinals
108. Aaron Harang, Dodgers
109. Derek Lowe, Indians
NOTE: Can't trust someone with those KBB numbers.
110. Luke Hochevar, Royals
NOTE: Looks good under the hood, but not in stats that roto leagues count.
111. J.A. Happ, Astros
112. Alex Cobb, Rays
113. Brad Lincoln, Pirates
114. Kevin Millwood, Mariners
115. Jason Marquis, Padres
NOTE: Petco will hide some mistakes.
116. Andy Pettitte, Yankees
117. John Danks, White Sox
118. Drew Smyly, Tigers
119. Rick Porcello, Tigers
120. Bruce Chen, Royals
NOTE: Maybe could be a No. 5 for a contender.
121. Josh Collmenter, Diamondbacks
122. Chris Young, Mets
123. Lucas Harrell, Astros
124. Danny Hultzen, Mariners
125. Paul Maholm, Cubs
126. Mike Minor, Braves
127. Philip Humber, White Sox
128. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox
NOTE: At this point, a sunk cost.

Contact Us