February Rankings – Starting Pitcher

by
February 15, 2017

We’re going position by position this week and next with our initial roll out of rankings. We will update these in March based on Spring Training activity and injuries. We took yesterday off because of the uncertainty around Alex Reyes. Now that he’s officially out with Tommy John surgery (:sadface:), he has been removed from the rankings.

We’re using Yahoo! eligibility requirements which is 5 starts or 10 appearances. These rankings assume the standard 5×5 categories and a re-draft league. If we forgot someone, please let us know in the comments and we’ll make sure he’s added for the updates. If you have questions for a specific ranker on something he did, let us know in the comments. We can also be reached via Twitter:

Eno did his standalone SP Rankings which you can find here.

There will be differences, sharp differences, within the rankings. The rankers have different philosophies when it comes to ranking, some of which you’re no doubt familiar with through previous iterations. Of course the idea that we’d all think the same would be silly because then what would be the point of including multiple rankers?! Think someone should be higher or lower? Make a case. Let us know why you think that. The chart is sortable. If a ranker didn’t rank someone that the others did, he was given that ranker’s last rank +1.

Key:

  • AVG– just the average of the seven ranking sets
  • AVG– the average minus the high and low rankings
  • SPLIT– the difference between the high and low rankings

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February SP Rankings
Rk NAME Paul S Brad Mike Jeff Al Justin AVG Adj. AVG Split
1 Clayton Kershaw 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
2 Max Scherzer 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0
3 Madison Bumgarner 3 5 5 3 3 3 3.7 3.5 2
4 Noah Syndergaard 4 4 3 4 5 5 4.2 4.3 2
5 Chris Sale 5 3 6 5 6 4 4.8 5 3
6 Corey Kluber 6 7 4 6 4 6 5.5 5.5 3
7 Yu Darvish 7 6 13 9 7 8 8.3 7.8 7
8 Justin Verlander 8 10 11 7 10 10 9.3 9.5 4
9 Jon Lester 11 13 10 10 9 7 10 10 6
10 Stephen Strasburg 12 8 9 8 13 18 11.3 10.5 10
11 Johnny Cueto 10 11 14 14 11 9 11.5 11.5 5
12 Jake Arrieta 13 9 7 15 14 11 11.5 11.8 8
13 David Price 9 16 8 11 12 15 11.8 11.8 8
14 Chris Archer 15 17 15 12 8 12 13.2 13.5 9
15 Carlos Carrasco 14 12 17 13 16 13 14.2 14 5
16 Jacob deGrom 19 19 16 17 15 20 17.7 17.8 5
17 Masahiro Tanaka 16 18 21 22 18 16 18.5 18.3 6
18 Carlos Martinez 20 23 25 19 24 14 20.8 21.5 11
19 Kyle Hendricks 28 15 12 33 17 26 21.8 21.5 21
20 Danny Duffy 17 38 33 20 19 17 24 22.3 21
21 Cole Hamels 22 24 23 26 26 29 25 24.8 7
22 Zack Greinke 23 26 31 29 20 22 25.2 25 11
23 Jose Quintana 26 20 29 25 29 23 25.3 25.8 9
24 Rich Hill 21 22 18 27 25 47 26.7 23.8 29
25 Gerrit Cole 27 21 44 28 21 21 27 24.3 23
26 Rick Porcello 25 25 27 36 27 35 29.2 28.5 11
27 Kenta Maeda 18 34 20 45 23 38 29.7 28.8 27
28 Aaron Sanchez 24 14 42 51 36 19 31 30.3 37
29 Lance McCullers 36 33 26 16 42 33 31 32 26
30 Julio Teheran 32 37 19 46 28 25 31.2 30.5 27
31 Danny Salazar 30 31 52 23 30 24 31.7 28.8 29
32 James Paxton 33 32 24 34 41 34 33 33.3 17
33 Marcus Stroman 29 28 36 54 32 28 34.5 31.3 26
34 Felix Hernandez 35 29 28 40 34 41 34.5 34.5 13
35 Dallas Keuchel 49 44 34 18 22 43 35 35.8 31
36 Aaron Nola 43 27 39 39 33 32 35.5 35.8 16
37 Steven Matz 42 49 32 30 39 37 38.2 37.5 19
38 Matt Harvey 41 36 30 58 40 30 39.2 36.8 28
39 Kevin Gausman 34 47 41 43 49 27 40.2 41.3 22
40 Michael Fulmer 31 30 56 52 46 31 41 40 26
41 Jon Gray 38 52 37 37 44 42 41.7 40.3 15
42 Matt Shoemaker 58 39 38 24 48 48 42.5 43.3 34
43 Robbie Ray 46 40 59 21 50 49 44.2 46.3 38
44 Jeff Samardzija 54 48 22 32 57 62 45.8 47.8 40
45 John Lackey 60 41 54 38 45 45 47.2 46.3 22
46 Tanner Roark 50 45 40 70 31 52 48 46.8 39
47 Jameson Taillon 62 51 53 35 37 54 48.7 48.8 27
48 Matt Moore 47 42 43 49 64 55 50 48.5 22
49 Carlos Rodon 37 54 70 57 43 44 50.8 49.5 33
50 Sean Manaea 51 46 46 73 35 61 52 51 38
51 J.A. Happ 56 43 63 60 60 40 53.7 54.8 23
52 Vince Velasquez 52 70 72 41 62 36 55.5 56.3 36
53 Jake Odorizzi 39 75 47 61 52 66 56.7 56.5 36
54 Marco Estrada 53 50 51 98 53 39 57.3 51.8 59
55 Anthony DeSclafani 57 73 64 53 51 50 58 56.3 23
56 Julio Urias 71 35 50 87 55 56 59 58 52
57 Garrett Richards 61 53 75 56 61 59 60.8 59.3 22
58 Adam Wainwright 63 61 58 63 58 72 62.5 61.3 14
59 Joe Ross 48 83 68 67 54 58 63 61.8 35
60 Taijuan Walker 45 55 61 89 65 64 63.2 61.3 44
61 Drew Smyly 79 74 49 42 56 83 63.8 64.5 41
62 Jerad Eickhoff 65 58 60 82 75 46 64.3 64.5 36
63 Michael Pineda 40 84 35 31 72 124 64.3 57.8 93
64 Sonny Gray 44 59 77 72 38 98 64.7 63 60
65 Drew Pomeranz 74 60 81 68 59 67 68.2 67.3 22
66 Hisashi Iwakuma 68 68 67 65 70 81 69.8 68.3 16
67 Blake Snell 73 65 69 62 67 91 71.2 68.5 29
68 Jharel Cotton 64 81 80 75 77 51 71.3 74 30
69 Ivan Nova 55 69 89 76 71 79 73.2 73.8 34
70 Tyler Skaggs 94 97 73 44 79 60 74.5 76.5 53
71 Wei-Yin Chen 76 107 76 47 85 57 74.7 73.5 60
72 Gio Gonzalez 85 101 65 48 84 68 75.2 75.5 53
73 Jeremy Hellickson 88 62 84 80 66 75 75.8 76.3 26
74 Tyler Anderson 80 71 88 74 63 84 76.7 77.3 25
75 Collin McHugh 96 100 45 50 101 88 80 83.5 56
76 Alex Cobb 67 63 101 112 47 99 81.5 82.5 65
77 Jason Hammel 75 79 99 90 80 69 82 81 30
78 Michael Wacha 59 85 92 91 78 90 82.5 86 33
79 Ervin Santana 91 99 79 69 86 74 83 82.5 30
80 Ian Kennedy 89 105 71 55 99 92 85.2 87.8 50
81 Francisco Liriano 92 56 82 77 107 106 86.7 89.3 51
82 Jordan Zimmermann 77 78 62 102 95 107 86.8 88 45
83 Mike Leake 86 66 103 79 104 89 87.8 89.3 38
84 Junior Guerra 66 67 125 92 98 87 89.2 86 59
85 Adam Conley 72 122 94 120 68 70 91 89 54
86 Lance Lynn 81 72 114 96 90 96 91.5 90.8 42
87 Mike Foltynewicz 78 109 104 84 81 95 91.8 91 31
88 Daniel Norris 82 106 96 122 69 82 92.8 91.5 53
89 Dylan Bundy 83 115 98 107 105 53 93.5 98.3 62
90 Trevor Bauer 120 82 85 105 108 63 93.8 95 57
91 Chris Tillman 84 112 86 111 96 85 95.7 94.5 28
92 Jaime Garcia 114 102 55 86 100 120 96.2 100.5 65
93 Eduardo Rodriguez 122 90 95 99 110 65 96.8 98.5 57
94 Brandon Finnegan 70 111 117 101 117 71 97.8 100 47
95 Matt Andriese 117 126 66 59 102 117 97.8 100.5 67
96 Zach Davies 69 114 111 106 103 100 100.5 105 45
97 Tyler Glasnow 128 123 122 83 76 77 101.5 101.3 52
98 Bartolo Colon 111 88 109 94 112 104 103 104.5 24
99 Luis Severino 119 93 87 108 119 93 103.2 103.3 32
100 Alex Wood 105 87 148 78 92 118 104.7 100.5 70
101 Tyson Ross 139 117 108 121 74 76 105.8 105.5 65
102 Joe Musgrove 87 89 148 151 82 80 106.2 101.5 71
103 Dan Straily 97 98 91 116 116 128 107.7 106.8 37
104 Mike Montgomery 101 80 83 127 106 151 108 104.3 71
105 Mike Fiers 98 130 93 81 123 125 108.3 109.8 49
106 Shelby Miller 90 108 119 115 126 97 109.2 109.8 36
107 Scott Kazmir 137 124 57 93 131 119 110.2 116.8 80
108 Luke Weaver 93 77 148 151 88 105 110.3 108.5 74
109 Steven Wright 95 64 148 151 87 123 111.3 113.3 87
110 Jose Berrios 99 134 126 132 109 73 112.2 116.5 61
111 Archie Bradley 123 76 105 88 154 135 113.5 112.8 78
112 R.A. Dickey 110 140 90 95 135 113 113.8 113.3 50
113 Jose De Leon 140 121 139 64 89 130 113.8 119.8 76
114 Ricky Nolasco 121 146 97 71 128 126 114.8 118 75
115 Patrick Corbin 116 96 148 151 73 134 119.7 123.5 78
116 Edinson Volquez 141 129 106 97 125 131 121.5 122.8 44
117 Brandon McCarthy 129 57 148 126 144 129 122.2 132 91
118 Nate Karns 127 143 78 103 142 140 122.2 128 65
119 Zack Wheeler 133 91 148 129 91 151 123.8 125.3 60
120 Clay Buchholz 143 104 115 141 134 109 124.3 124.8 39
121 Jimmy Nelson 113 86 141 151 154 103 124.7 127 68
122 CC Sabathia 112 146 100 117 122 151 124.7 124.3 51
123 Robert Gsellman 103 92 148 151 154 101 124.8 125.8 62
124 Andrew Triggs 115 144 148 134 97 116 125.7 127.3 51
125 Lucas Giolito 125 146 145 151 115 78 126.7 132.8 73





 

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

37 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
James
9 years ago

So, Justin … when Michael Pineda punched your dog, did he use his right hand or his left?

16
Brad JohnsonMember
9 years ago
Reply to  James

Woof, and I thought I was negative…

1
SnerdMember since 2026
9 years ago
Reply to  James

Pineda barely squeezed into the back end of the top-100 SPs in most formats last year. Not saying 124 isn’t a lowball ranking, but to be fair he hasn’t really shown an ability to not be objectively bad for the last couple years. Glad to know you’ll be overpaying for his services so I don’t have to.

-1
James
9 years ago
Reply to  Snerd

My remark was based on Justin’s ranking of Pineda relative to the rest of the group. But presumptions ARE fun.

4
Justin MasonFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  James

Your remark was also hilarious. I just had to jump off the bandwagon this year. Dude is just too frustrating to own.

2
OTMHeartBBCMember since 2025
9 years ago
Reply to  James

at what point do we take Pineda’s results seriously and ignore the “stuff” and peripherals? He has good metrics but yet He constantly puts up numbers that warrant him to barely be rosterable. He is overrated

8
MattabattacolaMember since 2026
9 years ago
Reply to  OTMHeartBBC

Pineda is weird that’s why he has the biggest split out of everyone. Either he changes something and is great or he remains the same and sucks like you said.

1
dudleyMember since 2026
9 years ago
Reply to  James

Pineda’s floor is a lot higher in formats like FG Pts, where it’s close to FIP, than in standard 5×5 ERA formats.

1
bcpkid
9 years ago
Reply to  James

If he used his right, the dog might have hit a home run.

14
AnonMember since 2025
9 years ago

Trying to think – who are the pitchers on the DL that you can draft and stash? Last year it was Darvish and the year before it was Jose Fernandez and Kenley Jansen.

1
kdallas
9 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Not sure there really are any [yet] this year worth taking up a DL spot.

0
AnonMember since 2025
9 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Actually I did think of one – Tyson Ross. Not expected to be ready until May at the earliest. Of course he’s moving from the NL to AL and a pitcher’s park to a hitter’s park so he’s got some things working against him besides injuries.

0
balancedman178
9 years ago
Reply to  Anon

Tropeano and Heaney but that’s only for AL-only’s.

0
MattabattacolaMember since 2026
9 years ago

I was looking back at the Contact Management posts for starting pitchers and after going through it I may have bumped Thor up to #2. Similar K rates as Scherzer, better walk rates, and even similar overall contact management! Scherzer has continued to be an extreme fly ball guy so those homer woes from the beginning of the season aren’t a a total outlier. Whereas Thor’s high grounder rate provides a safer floor in the contact managment area. I understand the stability of Scherzer is still very appealing, and he probably deserves the #2 spot but I think Syndergaard is closer than it appears, and isn’t extremely more risky than Scherzer. ( I know nobody is sleeping on Thor, just thought I’d point this out).

2
Brad JohnsonMember
9 years ago
Reply to  Mattabattacola

Remember, because of his age, stuff, and bone spurs, Syndergaard is a big injury risk. Easily 10% more likely to have a major injury than Scherzer, Sale, or other similar vets. However, he’s so good that those are the only two I’d take ahead of him (besides Kershaw).

2
MS97
9 years ago

Hey Paul – Is there any particular reason that you didn’t consider Darvish in the 3rd round of your LABR draft as your SP1? I heard you mention Price, Verlander, and Cueto as your top three options at that time, and Darvish slipped past your 4th pick. Does Jason not like him? Still worried about health issues?

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  MS97

It was more that Jason wasn’t as high on him, so we focused on the other 3

0
igloo
9 years ago

Jeff, wondering what your reasoning is for having Robbie Ray that high ahead of other similarish lefties like Rodon and Paxton.

4
kdallas
9 years ago

Maybe more of a keeper question for Yu, but if the Rangers aren’t in contention this year, do you see any chance of them flipping Darvish around ASB, since the rumblings are that extension is looking unlikely? If so, I can’t imagine him going to a home park that’s worse than TEX.

1
NDfan
9 years ago

Mike, Samardzija #22 is bold.

1
Mike PodhorzerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  NDfan

Just where my projections placed him. Pitching in a great home park in front of an always solid defense is huge.

0
AnonMember since 2025
9 years ago

Doesn’t 24 seem high for a guy (Rich HIll) who last threw more than 110 IP at any level when George W Bush was President? He’s 37 and is suddenly being pushed into the “ace” category based on a mere 139 IP over the last 2 years when he was either mediocre or injured for the entire 10 years before that.

Not seeing him being worth the gamble quite that high. . . .

2
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  Anon

It’s a different kind of play. In his 110 IP, he was 22nd on ESPN’s player rater for SPs. So you plan for the muted IP total, but really good numbers

5
Brad JohnsonMember
9 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Seconded.

2
Nasty Nate
9 years ago

Thanks for all the work that goes into these rankings!

They are very helpful.

10
Benchwarmers
9 years ago

Paul you have me sold on Hill and since I am in a ten team league I think he is worth it due to the fact so many good guys are on the waiver wire. I am thinking I can get 1. Kluber 2. JV/Cueto/Lester 3. Hill 4. Porcello to start my staff. Do you see any issues with those four as a whole. Working on BUILDING a staff and not just taking the top guy on my list.

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  Benchwarmers

I definitely think that’s a strong core. I’m not huge on Porcello in a vacuum, but pairing him w/Hill is really smart.

0
bigriggs42
9 years ago

I’m surprised Daniel Norris is getting no love. He was a K machine towards the end of the year with solid peripherals and an uptick in FB velocity. I think he is at least top-70

5
Brad JohnsonMember
9 years ago
Reply to  bigriggs42

I meant to move him up. Didn’t get around to it. I like him as a late game flier.

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  bigriggs42

agreed, though like last year there are big chunks of pitchers this yr meaning I could see Norris as high as 60. I actually don’t see a ton of difference between 60 and about 85

0
MoreCowbell
9 years ago

No disrespect to the others, but I will always miss Eno’s rankings.

5
Eno SarrisMember since 2020
9 years ago
Reply to  MoreCowbell

I’ll post soon!

4
RobertMember since 2017
9 years ago

Surprised how low Eduardo Rodriguez is ranked. He was a stud prospect. I’m guessing it’s because of the knee?

0
balancedman178
9 years ago
Reply to  Robert

Not sure that guy can put pants on without tweaking a knee. I’ve been following him for a few years, so frustrating he isn’t living up to awesome potential!

1
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  Robert

Definitely for me

0
heistyman
9 years ago

Paul Who were the 9 pitchers you had in the Top 125 that missed the groups top 125? Picks 100,102,104,106,107,108,109,118,124

0
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
9 years ago
Reply to  heistyman

Figured I’d just give you 100 to 125 all told:

100 Wily Peralta
Mike Montgomery
Luis Perdomo
Robert Gsellman
Seth Lugo
Alex Wood
Christopher Devenski
Drew Hutchison
Martin Perez
Matt Boyd
110 R.A. Dickey
Bartolo Colon
CC Sabathia
Jimmy Nelson
Jaime Garcia
Andrew Triggs
Patrick Corbin
Matt Andriese
Tyler Chatwood
Luis Severino
120 Trevor Bauer
Ricky Nolasco
Eduardo Rodriguez
Archie Bradley
Charlie Morton
Lucas Giolito

0