Every Monday during the season, I will be releasing “The List” where I rank the current value of the Top 100 pitchers in fantasy baseball for the rest of the season. Use these rankings to help understand what to expect from pitchers for 2017 and as a tool to gauge trade value in your fantasy leagues.
Let’s see how the SP landscape has changed:
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Notes
- Before we get into it, I want to note that there will not be an update next week as only three days’ worth of games will have been played.
- Not too many movements this week, with the most significant move coming from Alex Wood entering the Top 10. His performance certainly has earned it and as we’re into the second half, it’s time to give him the proper boost.
- Meanwhile, Jon Lester falls after a pair of very disappointing starts. It was looking like he could be that anchor for your staff, but a permanent home near #30 seems likely.
- What are we to do with Gerrit Cole? Part of me had him in the 50s while it’s apparent that he’s been on a tear lately outside of one really bad day. I just can’t see him making the leap to hint at Top 20 again, but instead bouncing around from great to moments of ineffectiveness that has him settling right around 40.
- The biggest area of discussion will be the collection of Spice Girls located in the 40s and 50s. This was easily the toughest part of the rankings this week as I wouldn’t have a problem with some people moving these around here and there. Brad Peacock and Eduardo Rodriguez are near the backs because of Peacock’s walk problems and Eduardo maybe needing some time before finding his spring groove, while Jacob Faria has been having plenty of success already in the bigs. I swapped around Luis Castillo, Charlie Morton, and Trevor Cahill at least three times, but in the end Cahill’s walk history with Castillo’s incredible command were the final words.
- Plenty of pitchers took falls this week who simply aren’t producing at a level where they help your team. These include Jake Odorizzi, John Lackey, Johnny Cueto, Marco Estrada, and Michael Pineda. If some of the pitchers in the 40s/50s are available, forget the name and grab the upside option instead.
- Newcomers this week are few. Vince Velasquez is closing in on a return and while there is discussion if he will be a reliever instead, he’s still an intriguing upside flier if none of the later options are relevant in your league. Patrick Corbin has run into plenty of strikeouts earlier and while I have my doubts that you’ll enjoy starting him, there’s a clear benefit to be had if you need it.
- Leaving The List this week are just two players, Hyun-Jin Ryu and German Marquez. Ryu found himself another injury because that’s what he does and Marquez might be moving to the bullpen soon like Antonio Senzatela did before him.
Thanks for all the write ups! Would you be looking to sell high on Rich Hill before the inevitable injuries pop back up? Looking to possibly swap for a top closer like Chapman.
My pleasure!
Definitely a good idea. He’s certainly in a groove now and could see a solid month of success, but you’ll raise your floor with a deal like that.
Thanks for the lists.
I have a surplus of SPs and really need holds.
I moved Porcello and CJ edwards for Betances. Did I do well?
I prefer Betances over CJ and Porcello is Waiver Wire Fodder, so yes you did!
Geez … Sonny Gray has an ERA under 3.50 and a K per inning over the last five weeks or so. And he could be headed to a contender, helping his W total. (Admittedly, maybe moving to a park not as pitcher-friendly.) Why so bleagh?
I know what the list says, but would you really drop Verlander for Morton? Probably answering my own question, but I guess it depends on if you need Verlander’s upside or Morton’s likelihood to contribute better in the short term.
Hey Nick,
What is your outlook on Verlander for the second half? I drafted him in both my leagues as per your preseason draft strategy, but your comment, “If some of the pitchers in the 40s/50s are available, forget the name and grab the upside option instead,” is making me think that it might finally be time to cut ties…
In league #1 (8 team H2H one-win): Nelson, Nola, Samardzija and Duffy are all available. Do I drop Verlander and pick up Nelson?
In league #2 (10 team H2H): Montgomery, Faria, and Castillo are available. Cahill and Verlander are my two worst pitchers based on your rankings. I’m going to drop Cahill for Montgomery, but the question is, do I drop Verlander for Faria?
I know that I’m still valuing the name, but I’m torn about dropping Verlander because I know that somebody will inevitably pick him up right away. And if he does well in the second half I’ll be kicking myself big time.
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read. Enjoy the HR Derby tonight!
Great question on Verlander….as he keeps dropping in your rankings (5 to 56 is pretty big fall). though he does seem at times to have some gas left in his tank. I have him in two leagues also and itching to drop him for Castillo or Faria. Unfortunately I don’t have as many options as tIwaniuk has. Please let us know your opinion on Verlander for ROS….thanks Nick!
Didn’t you just talk trash about Lamet and then move him up a bunch?!
What’s your outlook on Jacob Faria going forward this year and after?
Just how low are you on Cueto? I’m eager to add Castillo in my 12-team dynasty league, if only to flip him at the trade deadline.
My SP right now are: Kluber, Tanaka, Cueto, Verlander, J Montgomery, Duffy, Folty and Pivetta
I’m also carrying a ton of RP (NS+H league): Britton, Knebel, Norris, Bedrosian, Madson, Kelly, Rosenthal.
I’m not inclined to drop Cueto, as he’ll get snapped immediately, and think Pivetta might be the right choice due to his inconsistency and inability to pitch on the road at the moment.
I could also drop a bench bat like Semien or Pujols, but again, they’d get picked up immediately.
I think you can drop Folty first, actually. I just finished up a report on him diving into his recent success and it’s a ton of smoke and mirrors with a slight improvement with his breaking pitches’ locations. I really don’t see Foltynewicz being more than a PEAS and I’d drop him.
Love this list – look forward to it each week.
Not sure how hard it would be but what if you coloured the number in the rank column to correspond to a ‘tier’?
So if the first 8 pitchers were a tier, their number is blue.
If the next 23 pitchers were in a tier, their number is yellow, and so on………………..
Might be beneficial to the users of the list. Just a thought.
Matz seems like he didn’t go down enough. His fip is much higher than his era. He isn’t throwing his slider and isn’t striking guys out. K rate is way down and not throwing an out pitch probably has something to do with it. I know it is only a couple of starts but I am bearish on matz ros despite having a couple of good starts under his belt.
Chase Anderson worth a stash in a 13 team dynasty league?
I have an open DL spot
Will Keuchel be top 15 upon his return?
when does the new list come up?
Almost there…It’ll be up before 7:00pm EST.