What is happening!
It’s that time of the year where we shift from the traditional Top 100 ranking of The List to a stupid long article outlining every single expected Starting Pitcher start and ranking them all together in one smattering that kinda makes sense and should help your team.
It’s the third week we’re doing this (and final as next week turns into individual Sit/Start tables for the final 14 days) and we’re now pivoting to a full-on SIT/START for the entire week of games. It just felt like the most helpful thing to do.
First thing’s first, I want to thank James Schiano for creating the offensive hitter tiers below and creating the individual team tables. I then went in, added notes to each team, then created a table of nearly 160 pitchers and ranking them + added highlights to great and terrible schedules at the very bottom.
These schedules are going to change. Heck, the daily streaming pitchers article I write often changes and that’s published just hours before game time. Use this article as a guide to understand the flow of rotations and move the respective pitchers around as needed.
Alright, I hope you enjoy this giant piece. Don’t forget to hang out on Twitch next week and hang out with me as I craft it next Monday from 12-4 EST.
With that in mind, now let’s have a foundation of what each schedule is like per team + what changes could be made in the final two weeks:
OFF = The team has an off-day the previous day of that start.
DH = This is one game of a doubleheader.
It looks like the Diamondbacks are going with a six-man rotation the rest of the way, which is great news for Zac Gallen as his final start turns from the Giants into Rockie Road.
Atlanta
As of the time of writing, Bryce Adler looks like the mystery starter for Atlanta this week, but it’s not something to consider in fantasy. Everything looks squared away otherwise.
For now, the Orioles look set on these five starters. All that matters is John Means going every five days and I don’t see any roadblocks there.
The Red Sox don’t need a fifth starter until – the final Saturday of the season against the Nationals. I imagine Tanner Houck will get that outing, pushing Nick Pivetta out of that final outing (just three days rest, anyway) and Chris Sale is slated to end the season. However, if the Red Sox have clinched by then, I’d imagine Sale doesn’t make his start and is instead saved for the Wild Card game. Plan accordingly.
Nothing too weird here. There’s a doubleheader that would normally disrupt a rotation but the pair of off-days sandwiching the Cardinals series saves them from needing an extra starter.
It’s unclear if the White Sox will continue using Reynaldo López in the rotation to limit innings across their rotation or if they want them to get into a proper four-days rest groove before the playoffs. Adding Reynaldo for the extra start could mean Rodón does not make his final start (they would likely have Keuchel toss it on normal rest and save Rodón for the playoffs). At the same time, Rodón would be on normal rest as a #3 starter for the opening series, so it’s up to LaRussa and crew to figure out what’s best.
Nothing to see here save for the off chance Vladimir Gutiérrez gets ousted at some point as he’s been shaky with his fastball command across the last few weeks.
Cleveland
Okay stay with me here. Cleveland has a doubleheader today with Francisco Perez starting, pushing Logan Allen to Wednesday. In the next turn for Perez, it’s expected for Shane Bieber to finally return from the IL to start against the White Sox, effectively pushing Allen out of the rotation to condense it back to a regular six-man rotation. It makes sense, I promise.
It could be Peter Lambert making his return on Friday for the Rockies and regardless if it is or someone else, they shouldn’t be on your radar. The other four are locked in place.
Oddly enough, this is what we should expect through the end for the Tigers. Just don’t anticipate more than 55 pitches from Tarik Skubal or Casey Mize.
We expect a six-man rotation in Houston but that could change at a moment’s notice. Monitor this.
The Royals need another starter for the doubleheader today but should be smooth sailing after that with Brady Singer returning to the team today.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
This could be a six-man rotation with Janson Junk getting another shot in between Packy Naughton and Alex Cobb, which would remove Cobb’s final start against Seattle. We could also see Reid Detmers make a return over the weekend and knock Naughton out of the rotation. I’d be surprised if this schedule stayed the same through the end.
This one is pretty straightforward, save for the final weekend of the season. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Dodgers went David Price or a rookie in their final weekend series to replace Julio Urías or Walker Buehler to preserve them for the playoffs.
Keep in mind, there is a doubleheader for Trevor Rogers‘ first start against the Mets and because of the two days off, the Marlins can pull it off without adding another starter to the crew. They could still call upon someone like Daniel Castano, though, so be on the lookout.
Keep in mind, Brett Anderson could return in the middle of the Cardinals series this week, turning Eric Lauer’s @STL start into @LAD. I wouldn’t be shocked if they did this to limit Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, and Corbin Burnes before their playoff run. We could also see some Aaron Ashby in the mix as well, possible at the end of the year to prevent an ace from going against the Dodgers before a playoff start.
It’s unclear if it’s John Gant or Charlie Barnes as the fifth man for the Twins, but it doesn’t really matter. Avoid them both. Otherwise, with the Joe Ryan injury scare behind us, we’re all set for a solid schedule rest of the way. Grab Joe Ryan for all three games if you haven’t already.
The Mets have a doubleheader against the Marlins but with two days off, they’re able to keep the normal rotation. If not, they can turn to Trevor Williams for a start, removing Tylor Megill from his final outing against Atlanta and moving Carlos Carrasco to a @ATL instead of MIA. Please keep the normal schedule, New York.
It’s likely a four-man rotation until the final weekend, where Corey Kluber and Gerrit Cole will likely need some help instead of tossing on three-days rest. Luis Gil could return after being demoted to the minors, Domingo Germán could make a return, or it could be a bullpen game in one of those starts. Either way, the whole rotation has a tough AL East schedule to endure the rest of the way.
There’s hope that Chris Bassitt can make his return this week in the Athletics rotation, and if he does, it could be a six-man…or push out James Kaprielian who initially was slated to head to the bullpen. Keep an eye on this as it could grant Sean Manaea another start against Seattle instead of facing the Astros twice down the stretch.
Is it really Adonis Medina in the fifth spot of the Phillies rotation? Whoever gets it is not someone to target while the other options should be started the rest of the way…save for Kyle Gibson against Atlanta. I’d have some major concerns there.
With Bryse Wilson being placed on the IL, it could be Connor Overton replacing him in the rotation moving forward.
Who knows if it’ll be Nabil Crismatt starting that game, not to mention if Jake Arrieta is making his start with his groin strain. We could see some CC Sabathia–esque acts down the stretch here if the Padres truly want to make the playoffs with Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish needing to take on a bit more of the load to pull the Padres to the end. And don’t forget about Blake Snell, who we hope to see return before the next two weeks are up.
The rotation will likely shuffle when Johnny Cueto returns shortly, bumping Dominic Leone back to the pen, but not soon enough to have Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani avoid Coors. You should be fine starting the regular four against the other squads.
This looks perfectly normal with no changes expect to be made. Ah. A peaceful rotation.
You’re reading that right, Dakota Hudson could return for that doubleheader and make a play to enter the Cardinals rotation with just a week left to go. Given how hot the Cardinals are at the moment, they could find themselves in the playoffs and relying on Hudson for a start. Can’t say I expected such a rapid return for Hudson and I’m excited to see him pitch…but he’s not a smart grab given the complete unknown of his condition.
Keep in mind, it’s not confirmed that the Rays are going six-man + Dietrich Enns could find his way in here somehow, but this looks like the current rotation at least for the next week.
This could easily be a six-man rotation with Kolby Allard fitting in between Taylor Hearn and Spencer Howard, with the impact coming at the expense of Hearn. His LAA + CLE starts turn into just one against @BAL. It isn’t fair.
With Hyun Jin Ryu hitting the IL, Ross Stripling likely takes his place. I wouldn’t consider him save for a desperate shot against the Orioles.
This looks like the five we should be seeing the rest of the way for the Nationals, with the only considerable starts coming from Erick Fedde and Josh Rogers against the Marlins. Sorry, Josiah Gray, you’re just not where you need to be right now.
Full Week 25 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Now that we understand the final two weeks of the year, it’s time to take a look at the week ahead and separate all starters into individual tables. Check out updated ranks daily in my morning streaming ranking posts that come out each morning at 10:45 am EST.
Tuesday 9/21 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Wednesday 9/22 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Thursday 9/23 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Friday 9/24 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Saturday 9/25 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Sunday 9/26 Starting Pitcher Rankings
And finally, I’ve combined them all into one giant, super subjective ranking to help you plan the week ahead. For notes on these matchups, read the morning streaming articles through the week.
EVERY Starting Pitcher Matchup For Week 25
Just wanted to say thanks for helping me win my dynasty league this year, largely in part to my pitching, which I attribute my success to these articles. While my hitters floundered most of the year (Betts, C Seager, Bregman, Moncada, Marte) due to injuries and under performance, my pitchers were a stable of studs (Rodon, Peralta, Ohtani, L Webb, S Gray, Mahle, Berrios, Alcatara, Nola (sorta?), Fried and T Rogers), putting me at the top of nearly every pitching category for the year.
Sincerely, your friend forever
Sweet Chin Music