Weekly Pitcher Rankings: Welcome Back

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Updated on August 16, 2021 2:37AM EST

The theme to the rankings seems to be, "Welcome back." Sure, Chris Sale and Elieser Hernandez returned over the weekend, but Gerrit Cole is coming off the COVID-19 IL to top the list. Provided he doesn't start throwing hands with the bench, Huascar Ynoa has a double dip on tap in his return. Miles Mikolas and Luke Weaver also should take the hill after long rehabs.

In general, it's another light week with two-start options, but we knew this would be the case all season. We're also at the point pitching plans could change on a whim. Well, that's been the case all season, but even more so now with workload concerns. For instance, the Tigers have already announced their young arms will all be working on extra rest for the remainder of the season. Matthew Boyd and Jose Urena should be back by the end of the month, but in the interim, Detroit will need a bullpen game of call upon, wait for it, Drew Hutchison to extend the rotation.

Please remember the schedule is drawn from the Projected Starters grid, so any rotation-specific inquiries should be directed to that page. As always, I'm ready to address any rankings concerns in the comments.

UPDATED: Monday August 16 2:00 AM ET

For the week of Aug. 16-22

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	LAA, MIN	Team made up a lot in the wild card race during his absence
2	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@STL, WAS
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UPDATED: Monday August 16 2:00 AM ET

For the week of Aug. 16-22

Mixed

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comments
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	LAA, MIN	Team made up a lot in the wild card race during his absence
2	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@STL, WAS
3	Kevin Gausman	SF	NYM, @OAK
4	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@CWS, SF	One of a few with a shot at 200 IP
5	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	ATL, @CIN
6	Wade Miley	CIN	CHC, MIA	Not this good, but the matchups are
7	Framber Valdez	HOU	@KC, SEA
8	Adam Wainwright	STL	MIL, PIT	The renaissance continues
9	Walker Buehler	LAD	NYM
10	Max Scherzer	LAD	NYM
11	Frankie Montas	OAK	@CWS, SF	11 HR allowed first 53 IP, just 5 HR allowed next 78 IP
12	Robbie Ray	TOR	DET
13	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@ARI
14	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@NYY, TEX
15	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@STL
16	Charlie Morton	ATL	@MIA
17	John Means	BAL	@TB, ATL
18	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@STL	Never know when Craig Counsell will limit workload
19	Joe Musgrove	SD	PHI
20	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@SF, @LAD
21	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	MIN, BOS
22	Lance Lynn	CWS	OAK
23	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	SEA
24	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	DET
25	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@TB
26	Jack Flaherty	STL	MIL
27	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	NYM
28	David Price	LAD	PIT, NYM	Club needs vet to step up, ideal spot with two at home
29	Aaron Nola	PHI	@SD
30	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@ARI, @SD
31	Tyler Mahle	CIN	CHC
32	Chris Sale	BOS	TEX
33	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	OAK, @TB
34	Logan Webb	SF	NYM
35	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@DET	To the point we've forgotten how good he is on the mound
36	Zack Greinke	HOU	@KC
37	Rich Hill	NYM	@SF, @LAD
38	Jose Berrios	TOR	@WAS
39	Luis Garcia	HOU	@KC
40	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	OAK, @TB
41	Dylan Cease	CWS	OAK
42	Alek Manoah	TOR	@WAS
43	Shane McClanahan	TB	BAL
44	Sonny Gray	CIN	MIA
45	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@MIN, LAA	6 QS in last 7 GS
46	Zach Plesac	CLE	@MIN
47	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	PHI
48	Tyler Anderson	SEA	@TEX, @HOU
49	Luis Castillo	CIN	MIA
50	Alex Wood	SF	@OAK
51	Jameson Taillon	NYY	MIN
52	James Kaprielian	OAK	@CWS
53	Cole Irvin	OAK	@CWS
54	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TEX
55	Miles Mikolas	STL	MIL
56	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@TEX
57	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@NYY
58	Carlos Hernandez	KC	HOU, @CHC	Low strikeouts but only 4 HR alloed in 46 IP
59	Max Fried	ATL	@BAL
60	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@KC, SEA
61	Triston McKenzie	CLE	LAA
62	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	CHC, MIA	Boosted my matchups
63	Steven Brault	PIT	@LAD, @STL
64	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@MIA	Slated to return for road pair
65	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@HOU
66	Johnny Cueto	SF	@OAK
67	Eric Lauer	MIL	WAS
68	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	SEA
69	Logan Gilbert	SEA	@HOU
70	Touki Toussaint	ATL	@MIA, @BAL
71	Casey Mize	DET	LAA
72	Mix 12 Reliever
73	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	@CIN
74	Andre Jackson	LAD	PIT, NYM
75	Sean Manaea	OAK	SF
76	Tanner Houck	BOS	@NYY
77	Josh Fleming	TB	BAL, CWS	Should rebound from last week's "Take one for the team" effort
78	Luis Gil	NYY	BOS
79	Chris Flexen	SEA	@TEX
80	Mix 15 Reliever
81	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@CIN
82	Steven Matz	TOR	DET
83	Mike Minor	KC	HOU
84	Taylor Hearn	TEX	SEA, @BOS	Tandem duo with Spence Howard starting
85	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	@DET
86	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@NYY
87	Brett Anderson	MIL	WAS
88	Tyler Gilbert	ARI	PHI
89	Drew Rasmussen	TB	BAL, CWS
90	JT Brubaker	PIT	@LAD
91	Tylor Megill	NYM	@SF
92	Dane Dunning	TEX	SEA
93	Taijuan Walker	NYM	@LAD
94	Tarik Skubal	DET	LAA
95	Jaime Barria	LAA	@CLE
96	Andrew Heaney	NYY	BOS
97	Bailey Ober	MIN	CLE, @NYY
98	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	@LAD
99	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@ARI
100	J.A. Happ	STL	PIT
101	Mitch White	LAD	PIT
102	Jose Suarez	LAA	@NYY, @CLE
103	Griffin Jax	MIN	CLE, @NYY
104	Alec Mills	CHC	KC
105	Luis Patino	TB	CWS
106	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@DET
107	Jon Gray	COL	ARI
108	German Marquez	COL	SD
109	Patrick Corbin	WAS	@MIL
110	Nestor Cortes	NYY	MIN
111	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	ATL
112	Michael Wacha	TB	BAL
113	Drew Smyly	ATL	@BAL
114	Kris Bubic	KC	@CHC
115	Jon Lester	STL	PIT
116	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@TB
117	Matt Manning	DET	LAA
118	Reid Detmers	LAA	@CLE
119	Keegan Thompson	CHC	@CIN
120	Kolby Allard	TEX	@BOS
121	Erick Fedde	WAS	TOR, @MIL
122	Antonio Senzatela	COL	SD, ARI
123	Paolo Espino	WAS	@MIL
124	Josiah Gray	WAS	TOR
125	Zach Thompson	MIA	@CIN
126	Matt Harvey	BAL	@TB, ATL
127	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@TB
128	Eli Morgan	CLE	@MIN
129	Zach Davies	CHC	KC
130	Justin Steele	CHC	@CIN, KC
131	Zac Gallen	ARI	@COL
132	Brad Keller	KC	@CHC
133	Tyler Alexander	DET	@TOR
134	Lewis Thorpe	MIN	CLE
135	Caleb Smith	ARI	PHI, @COL
136	Mitch Keller	PIT	@STL
137	Daniel Lynch	KC	HOU
138	Austin Gomber	COL	SD
139	Braxton Garrett	MIA	ATL, @CIN
140	Matt Moore	PHI	@SD
141	Ryan Weathers	SD	@COL, PHI
142	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@BOS
143	Charlie Barnes	MIN	@NYY
144	Wily Peralta	DET	@TOR
145	Dillon Peters	PIT	@STL
146	Wil Crowe	PIT	@LAD
147	Blake Snell	SD	@COL
148	Sam Hentges	CLE	LAA
149	Nabil Crismatt	SD	@COL, PHI
150	Kyle Freeland	COL	ARI
151	Brady Singer	KC	HOU
152	Keegan Akin	BAL	ATL
153	Luke Weaver	ARI	@COL
154	Drew Hutchison	DET	@TOR

American League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Gerrit Cole	NYY	LAA, MIN	Team made up a lot in the wild card race during his absence
2	Chris Bassitt	OAK	@CWS, SF	One of a few with a shot at 200 IP
3	Framber Valdez	HOU	@KC, SEA
4	Frankie Montas	OAK	@CWS, SF	11 HR allowed first 53 IP, just 5 HR allowed next 78 IP
5	Robbie Ray	TOR	DET
6	Nathan Eovaldi	BOS	@NYY, TEX
7	John Means	BAL	@TB, ATL
8	Jordan Montgomery	NYY	MIN, BOS
9	Lance Lynn	CWS	OAK
10	Lance McCullers Jr.	HOU	SEA
11	Hyun Jin Ryu	TOR	DET
12	Lucas Giolito	CWS	@TB
13	Chris Sale	BOS	TEX
14	Dallas Keuchel	CWS	OAK, @TB
15	Shohei Ohtani	LAA	@DET	To the point we've forgotten how good he is on the mound
16	Zack Greinke	HOU	@KC
17	Jose Berrios	TOR	@WAS
18	Luis Garcia	HOU	@KC
19	Reynaldo Lopez	CWS	OAK, @TB
20	Dylan Cease	CWS	OAK
21	Alek Manoah	TOR	@WAS
22	Shane McClanahan	TB	BAL
23	Cal Quantrill	CLE	@MIN, LAA	6 QS in last 7 GS
24	Zach Plesac	CLE	@MIN
25	Tyler Anderson	SEA	@TEX, @HOU
26	Jameson Taillon	NYY	MIN
27	James Kaprielian	OAK	@CWS
28	Cole Irvin	OAK	@CWS
29	Eduardo Rodriguez	BOS	TEX
30	Marco Gonzales	SEA	@TEX
31	Nick Pivetta	BOS	@NYY
32	Carlos Hernandez	KC	HOU, @CHC	Low strikeouts but only 4 HR alloed in 46 IP
33	Jake Odorizzi	HOU	@KC, SEA
34	Triston McKenzie	CLE	LAA
35	Yusei Kikuchi	SEA	@HOU
36	Mike Foltynewicz	TEX	SEA
37	Logan Gilbert	SEA	@HOU
38	Casey Mize	DET	LAA
39	Sean Manaea	OAK	SF
40	Tanner Houck	BOS	@NYY
41	Josh Fleming	TB	BAL, CWS	Should rebound from last week's "Take one for the team" effort
42	Luis Gil	NYY	BOS
43	Chris Flexen	SEA	@TEX
44	Steven Matz	TOR	DET
45	Mike Minor	KC	HOU
46	Taylor Hearn	TEX	SEA, @BOS	Tandem duo with Spence Howard starting
47	Patrick Sandoval	LAA	@DET
48	Kenta Maeda	MIN	@NYY
49	Drew Rasmussen	TB	BAL, CWS
50	Dane Dunning	TEX	SEA
51	Tarik Skubal	DET	LAA
52	AL Reliever
53	Jaime Barria	LAA	@CLE
54	Andrew Heaney	NYY	BOS
55	Bailey Ober	MIN	CLE, @NYY
56	Jose Suarez	LAA	@NYY, @CLE
57	Griffin Jax	MIN	CLE, @NYY
58	Luis Patino	TB	CWS
59	Dylan Bundy	LAA	@DET
60	Nestor Cortes	NYY	MIN
61	Michael Wacha	TB	BAL
62	Kris Bubic	KC	@CHC
63	Spenser Watkins	BAL	@TB
64	Matt Manning	DET	LAA
65	Reid Detmers	LAA	@CLE
66	Kolby Allard	TEX	@BOS
67	Matt Harvey	BAL	@TB, ATL
68	Jorge Lopez	BAL	@TB
69	Eli Morgan	CLE	@MIN
70	Brad Keller	KC	@CHC
71	Tyler Alexander	DET	@TOR
72	Lewis Thorpe	MIN	CLE
73	Daniel Lynch	KC	HOU
74	Jordan Lyles	TEX	@BOS
75	Charlie Barnes	MIN	@NYY
76	Wily Peralta	DET	@TOR
77	Sam Hentges	CLE	LAA
78	Brady Singer	KC	HOU
79	Keegan Akin	BAL	ATL
80	Drew Hutchison	DET	@TOR

National League

Rank	Pitcher	TM	OPP	Comment
1	Corbin Burnes	MIL	@STL, WAS
2	Kevin Gausman	SF	NYM, @OAK
3	Sandy Alcantara	MIA	ATL, @CIN
4	Wade Miley	CIN	CHC, MIA	Not this good, but the matchups are
5	Adam Wainwright	STL	MIL, PIT	The renaissance continues
6	Walker Buehler	LAD	NYM
7	Max Scherzer	LAD	NYM
8	Zack Wheeler	PHI	@ARI
9	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	@STL
10	Charlie Morton	ATL	@MIA
11	Freddy Peralta	MIL	@STL	Never know when Craig Counsell will limit workload
12	Joe Musgrove	SD	PHI
13	Marcus Stroman	NYM	@SF, @LAD
14	Jack Flaherty	STL	MIL
15	Anthony DeSclafani	SF	NYM
16	David Price	LAD	PIT, NYM	Club needs vet to step up, ideal spot with two at home
17	Aaron Nola	PHI	@SD
18	Kyle Gibson	PHI	@ARI, @SD
19	Tyler Mahle	CIN	CHC
20	Logan Webb	SF	NYM
21	Rich Hill	NYM	@SF, @LAD
22	Sonny Gray	CIN	MIA
23	Madison Bumgarner	ARI	PHI
24	Luis Castillo	CIN	MIA
25	Alex Wood	SF	@OAK
26	Miles Mikolas	STL	MIL
27	Max Fried	ATL	@BAL
28	Vladimir Gutierrez	CIN	CHC, MIA	Boosted my matchups
29	Steven Brault	PIT	@LAD, @STL
30	Huascar Ynoa	ATL	@MIA	Slated to return for road pair
31	Johnny Cueto	SF	@OAK
32	Eric Lauer	MIL	WAS
33	Touki Toussaint	ATL	@MIA, @BAL
34	Elieser Hernandez	MIA	@CIN
35	Andre Jackson	LAD	PIT, NYM
36	Kyle Hendricks	CHC	@CIN
37	Brett Anderson	MIL	WAS
38	Tyler Gilbert	ARI	PHI
39	JT Brubaker	PIT	@LAD
40	Tylor Megill	NYM	@SF
41	Taijuan Walker	NYM	@LAD
42	NL Reliever
43	Carlos Carrasco	NYM	@LAD
44	Ranger Suarez	PHI	@ARI
45	J.A. Happ	STL	PIT
46	Mitch White	LAD	PIT
47	Alec Mills	CHC	KC
48	Jon Gray	COL	ARI
49	German Marquez	COL	SD
50	Patrick Corbin	WAS	@MIL
51	Jesus Luzardo	MIA	ATL
52	Drew Smyly	ATL	@BAL
53	Jon Lester	STL	PIT
54	Keegan Thompson	CHC	@CIN
55	Erick Fedde	WAS	TOR, @MIL
56	Antonio Senzatela	COL	SD, ARI
57	Paolo Espino	WAS	@MIL
58	Josiah Gray	WAS	TOR
59	Zach Thompson	MIA	@CIN
60	Zach Davies	CHC	KC
61	Justin Steele	CHC	@CIN, KC
62	Zac Gallen	ARI	@COL
63	Caleb Smith	ARI	PHI, @COL
64	Mitch Keller	PIT	@STL
65	Austin Gomber	COL	SD
66	Braxton Garrett	MIA	ATL, @CIN
67	Matt Moore	PHI	@SD
68	Ryan Weathers	SD	@COL, PHI
69	Dillon Peters	PIT	@STL
70	Wil Crowe	PIT	@LAD
71	Blake Snell	SD	@COL
72	Nabil Crismatt	SD	@COL, PHI
73	Kyle Freeland	COL	ARI
74	Luke Weaver	ARI	@COL