Rotographs Midseason Rankings – Starting Pitcher

by
July 21, 2015

We made it to the mound. After touring the diamond for the position players, we finally reach the starting pitchers for our midseason rankings. I’m not sure any rankings are more disparate than pitching rankings. There aren’t too many ways to interpret Paul Goldschmidt’s success. He’s raking and just all-around dominant. Dallas Keuchel is doing the pitching equivalent of raking, but he isn’t universally seen as a top-flight, no-questions-asked pitcher in the fantasy baseball world just yet. Keuchel might not be the best example as he didn’t fall further than 12th in any of the four ranking sets (with a peak of 6), but what about somebody like Carlos Martinez?

He is pitching brilliantly and showing why he was so heralded as a prospect coming up with the Cardinals, but as of July 21st he already has a career-high 111.3 innings (99 last year, 104 in the minors back in 2012 as a previous career-high) and they’ve already shown how much they value protecting him by keeping him in the bullpen for virtually all of his 2013 MLB time and for 50 of his 57 MLB appearances last year. How far will they take him in the regular season?

The Cards have 70 games left which leaves approximately 14 turns left for Martinez or at least his spot. Even at 5 IP/start, that’s another 70 right there, let alone the fact that he’s averaging 6.3 IP/start so it’d be in the 85-90 range if he held that average and we’re talking almost 200 innings at that point which is not going to happen for the 23-year old righty. He is a remarkably tough rank for these reasons before you even touch his performance projections. A 23-year old hitter who is breaking out won’t get stopped at any sort PA limit so you just have to decide if you buy the performance or not, but with young arms there is so much more to factor in, especially in this era where the protection of arms is foremost on the minds of front offices.

Martinez is a special case with some interesting ramifications tied to his previous handling and age, but there are cases that aren’t loaded with those contextual factors, but still yield markedly different results in the rankings just because of how each ranker views the pitcher. There is no debate about Felix Hernandez as a stud and thus his four-spot split between his high and low rankings means nothing. I don’t look at Zach & Jeff’s #4 ranking for him and question it just because I have him at #7 myself. However, guys like Jason Hammel, Tyson Ross, and A.J. Burnett (among many others) get looked at very differently from ranker-to-ranker.

There is disparity among our rankings at every position, but nowhere is it more plentiful and disparate than starting pitchers. If you have any questions about where someone is ranked, please let us know in the comments. If you feel someone got severely over/under ranked, don’t hesitate to let us know, but state your case for the pitcher in question as well. I realize it’s fun to snarkily dismiss a ranking you disagree with, but it will drive the discussion more if you at least support the snark with some points (or just skip the snark, that’s cool, too, I promise!).

Small scheduling update: the reliever ranks will be out THURSDAY with the Bullpen Report crew and myself doing those.

For this update, you will have the rankings from me, Zach Sanders, Jeff Zimmerman, and Dan Schwartz. Mike Podhorzer is currently on vacation. A 136 from me is essentially an unranked, it’s 127 for Zach, 120 for Jeff, and 97 for Dan.

Other positions:

Rank Player Team League Paul Zach Jeff Dan AVG
1 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers NL 1 1 1 3 1.5
2 Max Scherzer Nationals NL 2 2 2 1 1.8
3 Chris Sale White Sox AL 3 3 3 2 2.8
4 Zack Greinke Dodgers NL 4 5 5 6 5.0
5 Felix Hernandez Mariners AL 7 4 4 8 5.8
6 Gerrit Cole Pirates NL 5 6 8 5 6.0
7 Corey Kluber Indians AL 6 10 12 4 8.0
8 Jacob deGrom Mets NL 8 9 7 10 8.5
9 Dallas Keuchel Astros AL 10 12 6 11 9.8
10 Jake Arrieta Cubs NL 11 7 9 12 9.8
11 David Price Tigers AL 9 14 13 7 10.8
12 Madison Bumgarner Giants NL 12 8 11 18 12.3
13 Chris Archer Rays AL 13 11 26 9 14.8
14 Johnny Cueto Reds NL 15 15 19 13 15.5
15 Cole Hamels Phillies NL 17 18 21 17 18.3
16 Jon Lester Cubs NL 20 22 10 23 18.8
17 Carlos Carrasco Indians AL 16 17 22 21 19.0
18 Sonny Gray Athletics AL 21 16 25 14 19.0
19 Lance Lynn Cardinals NL 19 24 16 22 20.3
20 Francisco Liriano Pirates NL 18 26 20 20 21.0
21 Matt Harvey Mets NL 31 13 27 15 21.5
22 Michael Wacha Cardinals NL 14 20 34 19 21.8
23 Jordan Zimmermann Nationals NL 28 21 18 27 23.5
24 Jose Fernandez Marlins NL 30 19 29 16 23.5
25 Stephen Strasburg Nationals NL 22 23 28 26 24.8
26 James Shields Padres NL 32 29 14 24 24.8
27 Garrett Richards Angels AL 29 25 24 25 25.8
28 Tyson Ross Padres NL 23 32 15 37 26.8
29 Masahiro Tanaka Yankees AL 25 30 23 39 29.3
30 Jason Hammel Cubs NL 26 31 40 30 31.8
31 Michael Pineda Yankees AL 33 33 33 28 31.8
32 A.J. Burnett Pirates NL 24 36 47 31 34.5
33 Danny Salazar Indians AL 43 40 17 38 34.5
34 Jeff Samardzija White Sox AL 34 37 30 47 37.0
35 Shelby Miller Braves NL 42 38 37 32 37.3
36 Scott Kazmir Athletics AL 27 45 45 34 37.8
37 Noah Syndergaard Mets NL 36 35 41 41 38.3
38 John Lackey Cardinals NL 35 41 35 45 39.0
39 Gio Gonzalez Nationals NL 39 42 36 50 41.8
40 Clay Buchholz Red Sox AL 69 34 31 35 42.3
41 Alex Wood Braves NL 51 39 38 42 42.5
42 Jose Quintana White Sox AL 38 50 39 51 44.5
43 Jake Odorizzi Rays AL 40 28 68 43 44.8
44 Anibal Sanchez Tigers AL 45 79 42 29 48.8
45 Taijuan Walker Mariners AL 59 49 53 40 50.3
46 Mike Fiers Brewers NL 52 43 50 57 50.5
47 Chris Heston Giants NL 53 46 49 59 51.8
48 Andrew Cashner Padres NL 46 65 48 53 53.0
49 Julio Teheran Braves NL 37 91 32 55 53.8
50 Hector Santiago Angels AL 54 54 61 48 54.3
51 Collin McHugh Astros AL 55 63 44 58 55.0
52 Hisashi Iwakuma Mariners AL 47 53 52 70 55.5
53 Lance McCullers Astros AL 44 27 120 36 56.8
54 Ubaldo Jimenez Orioles AL 48 68 70 44 57.5
55 Steven Matz Mets NL 75 47 81 33 59.0
56 Mat Latos Marlins NL 49 58 67 65 59.8
57 Wei-Yin Chen Orioles AL 65 48 58 71 60.5
58 Trevor Bauer Indians AL 70 62 73 46 62.8
59 Carlos Martinez Cardinals NL 50 52 54 97 63.3
60 Yovani Gallardo Rangers AL 56 72 75 52 63.8
61 Yordano Ventura Royals AL 83 66 51 56 64.0
62 Nate Karns Rays AL 58 44 99 62 65.8
63 Jesse Chavez Athletics AL 98 51 65 49 65.8
64 Rubby de la Rosa Diamondbacks NL 67 61 72 75 68.8
65 Ian Kennedy Padres NL 76 59 71 73 69.8
66 Ervin Santana Twins AL 41 55 118 67 70.3
67 Brett Anderson Dodgers NL 61 64 93 63 70.3
68 Doug Fister Nationals NL 82 70 79 54 71.3
69 C.J. Wilson Angels AL 62 88 55 82 71.8
70 Patrick Corbin Diamondbacks NL 72 56 76 89 73.3
71 Kyle Hendricks Cubs NL 77 69 56 91 73.3
72 Marco Estrada Blue Jays AL 63 74 91 72 75.0
73 Drew Hutchison Blue Jays AL 64 90 59 87 75.0
74 Phil Hughes Twins AL 87 96 46 74 75.8
75 Dan Haren Marlins NL 78 82 88 61 77.3
76 Bartolo Colon Mets NL 94 81 60 78 78.3
77 Matt Shoemaker Angels AL 95 78 66 77 79.0
78 Justin Verlander Tigers AL 79 83 69 86 79.3
79 Andrew Heaney Angels AL 68 60 95 97 80.0
80 Erasmo Ramirez Rays AL 57 71 96 97 80.3
81 Jimmy Nelson Brewers NL 81 84 77 81 80.8
82 Wade Miley Red Sox AL 60 105 62 97 81.0
83 Mike Leake Reds NL 80 97 64 97 84.5
84 Rick Porcello Red Sox AL 86 127 43 97 88.3
85 J.A. Happ Mariners AL 106 87 83 84 90.0
86 Mike Montgomery Mariners AL 71 102 120 69 90.5
87 Aaron Nola Phillies NL 89 57 120 97 90.8
88 Nathan Eovaldi Yankees AL 88 85 103 97 93.3
89 Chris Tillman Orioles AL 100 113 63 97 93.3
90 Miguel Gonzalez Orioles AL 107 89 98 79 93.3
91 Eduardo Rodriguez Red Sox AL 74 127 106 68 93.8
92 Matt Cain Giants NL 85 114 89 95 95.8
93 Mike Bolsinger Dodgers NL 103 103 86 92 96.0
94 Edinson Volquez Royals AL 93 127 101 66 96.8
95 Carlos Rodon White Sox AL 113 95 94 85 96.8
96 Jeremy Hellickson Diamondbacks NL 84 127 80 97 97.0
97 Anthony DeSclafani Reds NL 120 67 104 97 97.0
98 Jaime Garcia Cardinals NL 105 109 120 60 98.5
99 Colby Lewis Rangers AL 112 75 110 97 98.5
100 Jake Peavy Giants NL 97 115 87 97 99.0
101 Kyle Gibson Twins AL 66 127 107 97 99.3
102 Kevin Gausman Orioles AL 73 107 120 97 99.3
103 Jered Weaver Angels AL 104 127 78 90 99.8
104 CC Sabathia Yankees AL 92 127 85 97 100.3
105 Chase Anderson Diamondbacks NL 118 76 120 88 100.5
106 Kyle Lohse Brewers NL 117 106 84 96 100.8
107 Mark Buehrle Blue Jays AL 121 99 90 94 101.0
108 Kendall Graveman Athletics AL 128 80 119 80 101.8
109 R.A. Dickey Blue Jays AL 123 116 74 97 102.5
110 Alfredo Simon Tigers AL 116 100 120 76 103.0
111 Danny Duffy Royals AL 108 98 111 97 103.5
112 Jesse Hahn Athletics AL 115 127 108 64 103.5
113 Trevor May Twins AL 90 108 120 97 103.8
114 Jeff Locke Pirates NL 101 127 92 97 104.3
115 Kyle Kendrick Rockies NL 136 127 57 97 104.3
116 Wily Peralta Brewers NL 91 111 120 97 104.8
117 Derek Holland Rangers AL 132 73 117 97 104.8
118 Jon Niese Mets NL 131 124 82 83 105.0
119 Jorge de la Rosa Rockies NL 96 127 109 97 107.3
120 Tom Koehler Marlins NL 127 86 120 97 107.5
121 Aaron Harang Phillies NL 136 77 120 97 107.5
122 Robbie Ray Diamondbacks NL 99 127 114 97 109.3
123 Henderson Alvarez Marlins NL 129 94 120 97 110.0
124 Brandon Beachy Dodgers NL 136 92 120 97 111.3
125 Matt Wisler Braves NL 102 127 120 97 111.5
126 Kris Medlen Royals AL 136 93 120 97 111.5
127 Taylor Jungmann Brewers NL 109 127 120 97 113.3
128 Raisel Iglesias Reds NL 110 127 120 97 113.5
129 Brandon Morrow Padres NL 136 101 120 97 113.5
130 Chris Young Royals AL 111 127 120 97 113.8
131 Bud Norris Orioles AL 136 127 97 97 114.3
132 Carlos Frias Dodgers NL 136 104 120 97 114.3
133 Charlie Morton Pirates NL 114 127 120 97 114.5
134 Shane Greene Tigers AL 130 112 120 97 114.8
135 Tanner Roark Nationals NL 136 127 100 97 115.0
136 James Paxton Mariners AL 119 125 120 97 115.3
137 Ivan Nova Yankees AL 125 119 120 97 115.3
138 Rafael Montero Mets NL 136 127 102 97 115.5
139 David Phelps Marlins NL 136 110 120 97 115.8
140 Tim Hudson Giants NL 136 118 113 97 116.0
141 Odrisamer Despaigne Padres NL 136 127 105 97 116.3
142 Chad Bettis Rockies NL 122 127 120 97 116.5
143 Wandy Rodriguez Rangers AL 124 127 120 97 117.0
144 Jose Berrios Twins AL 126 126 120 97 117.3
145 Joe Kelly Red Sox AL 136 117 120 97 117.5
146 Drew Smyly Rays AL 133 121 120 97 117.8
147 Justin Masterson Red Sox AL 136 127 112 97 118.0
148 Tim Lincecum Giants NL 136 120 120 97 118.3
149 Travis Wood Cubs NL 136 127 115 97 118.8
150 Matt Garza Brewers NL 136 122 120 97 118.8
151 Brandon Finnegan Royals AL 136 127 120 93 119.0
152 Vance Worley Pirates NL 136 127 116 97 119.0
153 Matt Moore Rays AL 136 123 120 97 119.0
154 Roenis Elias Mariners AL 134 127 120 97 119.5
155 David Buchanan Phillies NL 135 127 120 97 119.8
156 Tommy Milone Twins AL 136 127 120 97 120.0

 





 

Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

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PuddleMonkey
9 years ago

Wow, Jeff loves himself some Danny Salazar.

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