Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings

by
July 17, 2020

We’re a week away from baseball. I unloaded the chamber and dropped 181 names here (and probably still missed SOMEONE). As with the last update, I’ll have a podcast or column out on Monday covering specifics, but for today here are the rankings with the comparison to the last list.

Let’s talk about these rankings the comments!

(Blue indicates a new tier starting)

60-Game Season SP Ranks
PLAYER TM LAST DIFF
1 Jacob deGrom NYM 1 0
2 Max Scherzer WAS 2 0
3 Justin Verlander HOU 3 0
4 Gerrit Cole NYY 4 0
5 Stephen Strasburg WAS 6 1
6 Mike Clevinger CLE 7 1
7 Shane Bieber CLE 9 2
8 Luis Castillo CIN 12 4
9 Clayton Kershaw LAD 10 1
10 Blake Snell TB 11 1
11 Jack Flaherty STL 13 2
12 Walker Buehler LAD 5 -7
13 Patrick Corbin WAS 8 -5
14 Charlie Morton TB 15 1
15 Lucas Giolito CWS 14 -1
16 Yu Darvish CHC 16 0
17 Zack Greinke HOU 17 0
18 Frankie Montas OAK 18 0
19 Sonny Gray CIN 23 4
20 Chris Paddack SD 19 -1
21 James Paxton NYY 21 0
22 José Berríos MIN 24 2
23 Corey Kluber TEX 25 2
24 Brandon Woodruff MIL 26 2
25 Carlos Carrasco CLE 59 34
26 Aaron Nola PHI 22 -4
27 Lance Lynn TEX 28 1
28 Shohei Ohtani LAA 30 2
29 Hyun-Jin Ryu 류현진 TOR 29 0
30 Tyler Glasnow TB 20 -10
31 Kyle Hendricks CHC 31 0
32 Max Fried ATL 27 -5
33 Mike Soroka ATL 32 -1
34 Jake Odorizzi MIN 33 -1
35 Kenta Maeda MIN 34 -1
36 Joe Musgrove PIT 37 1
37 Trevor Bauer CIN 38 1
38 Matthew Boyd DET 44 6
39 Luke Weaver ARI 41 2
40 Julio Urías LAD 35 -5
41 Ross Stripling LAD 103 62
42 Zac Gallen ARI 42 0
43 Lance McCullers Jr. HOU 51 8
44 Jesús Luzardo OAK 43 -1
45 Mike Minor TEX 46 1
46 Zack Wheeler PHI 36 -10
47 Mike Foltynewicz ATL 47 0
48 Aaron Civale CLE 53 5
49 Madison Bumgarner ARI 45 -4
50 Carlos Martinez STL 39 -11
51 Robbie Ray ARI 49 -2
52 Garrett Richards SD 81 29
53 German Márquez COL 52 -1
54 A.J. Puk OAK 85 31
55 Mitch Keller PIT 55 0
56 Josh James HOU 79 23
57 Nathan Eovaldi BOS 86 29
58 Dinelson Lamet SD 50 -8
59 Jon Gray COL 54 -5
60 Eduardo Rodriguez BOS 48 -12
61 Sandy Alcantara MIA 62 1
62 Homer Bailey MIN 65 3
63 Alex Wood LAD 127 64
64 Jose Urquidy HOU 56 -8
65 Steven Matz NYM 72 7
66 Andrew Heaney LAA 60 -6
67 Ryan Yarbrough TB 67 0
68 Marcus Stroman NYM 63 -5
69 Dylan Cease CWS 71 2
70 Rich Hill MIN 64 -6
71 Dylan Bundy LAA 61 -10
72 Kyle Gibson TEX 69 -3
73 Pablo López MIA 75 2
74 Sean Manaea OAK 58 -16
75 Adrian Houser MIL 73 -2
76 Caleb Smith MIA 68 -8
77 Josh Lindblom 린드블럼 MIL 78 1
78 Masahiro Tanaka NYY 57 -21
79 John Means BAL 93 14
80 Spencer Turnbull DET 80 0
81 Miles Mikolas STL 92 11
82 Joey Lucchesi SD 77 -5
83 Anthony DeSclafani CIN 88 5
84 Yonny Chirinos TB 66 -18
85 Jordan Lyles TEX 70 -15
86 Jordan Montgomery NYY 91 5
87 Wade Miley CIN 83 -4
88 Reynaldo López CWS 84 -4
89 Marco Gonzales SEA 87 -2
90 Austin Voth WAS 138 48
91 Aníbal Sánchez WAS 94 3
92 Corbin Burnes MIL 145 53
93 Yusei Kikuchi SEA 102 9
94 Jeff Samardzija SF 76 -18
95 Nate Pearson TOR 134 39
96 Griffin Canning LAA 97 1
97 Matt Shoemaker TOR 96 -1
98 Cole Hamels ATL 74 -24
99 Zach Plesac CLE 98 -1
100 Freddy Peralta MIL 118 18
101 Spencer Howard PHI 158 57
102 Zach Eflin PHI 100 -2
103 Danny Duffy KC 147 44
104 Johnny Cueto SF 95 -9
105 Taijuan Walker SEA 120 15
106 J.A. Happ NYY 104 -2
107 Alec Mills CHC N/A N/A
108 Chris Bassitt OAK 116 8
109 Tanner Roark TOR 105 -4
110 Dustin May LAD 107 -3
111 Derek Holland PIT N/A N/A
112 Kwang Hyun Kim 김광현 STL 110 -2
113 Dallas Keuchel CWS 119 6
114 Daniel Norris DET 90 -24
115 MacKenzie Gore SD 112 -3
116 Mike Fiers OAK 115 -1
117 Merrill Kelly 켈리 ARI 143 26
118 Brad Peacock HOU 109 -9
119 Kyle Wright ATL 166 47
120 Forrest Whitley HOU 111 -9
121 Jordan Yamamoto MIA 126 5
122 Michael Fulmer DET 101 -21
123 Rick Porcello NYM 167 44
124 Tyler Mahle CIN 142 18
125 Chad Kuhl PIT N/A N/A
126 Vince Velasquez PHI 113 -13
127 Brendan McKay TB 139 12
128 Julio Teheran LAA 89 -39
129 Chase Anderson TOR 106 -23
130 Michael Wacha NYM 159 29
131 Dakota Hudson STL 114 -17
132 Bryse Wilson ATL 169 37
133 Kevin Gausman SF 123 -10
134 Alex Young ARI 144 10
135 Jonathan Loaisiga NYY 129 -6
136 Jose Quintana CHC 99 -37
137 Patrick Sandoval LAA 117 -20
138 Brady Singer KC N/A N/A
139 Trent Thornton TOR N/A N/A
140 Michael Pineda MIN 125 -15
141 Elieser Hernandez MIA N/A N/A
142 Clarke Schmidt NYY N/A N/A
143 Brad Keller KC 133 -10
144 Carlos Rodón CWS N/A N/A
145 Nick Pivetta PHI 108 -37
146 Jon Lester CHC 121 -25
147 Tony Gonsolin LAD 131 -16
148 Casey Mize DET 136 -12
149 Jake Arrieta PHI 146 -3
150 Adam Wainwright STL N/A N/A
151 Trevor Richards TB N/A N/A
152 Drew Smyly SF 124 -28
153 Alex Cobb BAL N/A N/A
154 Martín Pérez BOS 141 -13
155 Gio González CWS 128 -27
156 Félix Peña LAA 173 17
157 Justus Sheffield SEA 156 -1
158 Logan Webb SF 155 -3
159 Collin McHugh BOS N/A N/A
160 Randy Dobnak MIN 152 -8
161 Zach Davies SD 130 -31
162 Tarik Skubal DET 163 1
163 Jaime Barria LAA N/A N/A
164 Justin Dunn SEA 162 -2
165 Jorge López KC 157 -8
166 Matt Manning DET 135 -31
167 Deivi Garcia NYY 137 -30
168 Sixto Sanchez MIA 140 -28
169 Mike Montgomery KC 160 -9
170 Brusdar Graterol LAD 161 -9
171 Jakob Junis KC 148 -23
172 Eric Lauer MIL 149 -23
173 Brett Anderson MIL 150 -23
174 Sean Newcomb ATL 153 -21
175 Ian Anderson ATL 154 -21
176 Erick Fedde WAS N/A N/A
177 Devin Smeltzer MIN 165 -12
178 Matt Andriese LAA N/A N/A
179 Daniel Ponce de Leon STL 168 -11
180 Iván Nova DET 171 -9
181 Mitchell White LAD 172 -9





 

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

40 Comments
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vanno64Member since 2025
4 years ago

Hi Paul, thanks for the deep list! Why is Carrasco up so much despite being an at-risk player? I’m just worried that he will have to check out at some point in the season. What has Eovaldi done to jump so much? And what’s up with RHill? Most people seem to love him but you edged him down…and even a little *behind* Matz and Bailey.

4
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
4 years ago
Reply to  vanno64

He was only down on concern of an opt-out. He has opted in so moved back to where he belongs, IMO. Eovaldi’s healthy & pitching.

Hill barely moved down. He’s 40 with a godawful injury profile. I can’t imagine loving him in a season like this. I’m not against drafting him, but having any confidence in him is tough.

2
vanno64Member since 2025
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Gotcha – thx! I’ve been caught up in the “Hill is healthy” mania but certainly see the risk that A) he isn’t REALLY ok, or B) elbow blows out at any time.

1
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
4 years ago
Reply to  vanno64

He’s a massive hassle in normal seasons so throw a bunch of extra volatility and I’m not super psyched to go for him. I acknowledge he’s very good on a per inning basis and I love getting guys in that Central, but I’m playing it a bit cautiously with Hill

1
Pat ListachioMember since 2020
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Doesn’t volatility go both ways? I feel that Hill’s type of volatility – that he is dominant, but can’t be relied on for 150 innings – could work in his favor in this case. Similar to his former teammate Ryu.

5
Paul SporerFanGraphs Staff
4 years ago
Reply to  Pat Listachio

Ya it goes both ways, but we’ve seen both ways with him. I’m accounting for it in my ranking. I mean, he’s 40 with terrible health, there really isn’t much positive volatility with that. He’s good per inning, has been for years.

2