The match ups and data you see below were pulled Friday night. The data is for the 2015 season. Please be aware the match ups are subject to change. If you have any questions about the rankings hit me up Twitter @MattCommins
These are rankings for the entire week so I give the edge to a lot of fantasy pitchers who pitch twice. Also, the rankings are based on traditional 5×5 categories. I also provide write-ups for a few pitchers. My hope is after you read them you have a better understanding of why I ranked them.
If you’re a Corey Kluber owner do not lose faith. All of his rate stats are almost identical to last season. The swing and miss rate is three percentage points higher than last year. The ground ball rate is four percentage points higher than last year. Lastly, the walk rate is essentially the same as last year. The reason why his ERA is high is due to the .373 BABIP. As the season progresses the BABIP will positively regress and he’ll start to put up the number similar to last season.
Dillon Gee went on the DL, which has made room for Noah Syndergaard in the Mets rotation. My ranking of him may be overly optimistic, but he’s pitched great in Triple-A Reno, which is a hitters paradise. He’s striking batters out and he’s limiting the walks. Also, he’s a two start pitcher and he gets to face the Cubs who have the highest strikeout rate in the majors and the struggling Brewers. If Syndergaard struggles I wouldn’t be surprised if they send him back down to Triple-A and give the rotation spot back to Gee. The odds of that happening are slim and I expect Gee to be traded in the coming weeks.
Chase Anderson doesn’t have a high upside (his ceiling is a good number four starter), but I love the matchup against the Phillies. He’s walking less batters than last year – from 8.2 percent to 6.1 percent. The lower walk rate isn’t coming at the expense of the strikeout rate. In fact the strikeout rate has improved two percentage points. If he limits the walks the odds are extremely high he’ll provide a quality start
I’m not a big believer in Travis Wood, but I love the matchup with the Mets and how most likely Lucas Duda, the Mets best hitter, will be out of the lineup. Since the Cubs bullpen is below average I wouldn’t be surprised if they blow a lead for Wood, but the percentages are high he’ll provide a quality start.
Mike Leake has pitched great in his past two outings, but those starts have come on the road. His career road numbers are 3.49 ERA and 1.247 WHIP. His career home numbers 4.22 ERA and 1.302 WHIP. With two home starts and two great matchups in the Braves and Giants I still wouldn’t get overly excited
If you remove the disastrous first outing Mat Latos 3.38 ERA and a 1.350 WHIP. With a WHIP that high he’s been lucky to have an ERA that low, but he’s gotten better as the season has progressed.
Chris Tillman is going to continue to be ranked this low until he stops walking batters. If you haven’t seen his walk rate it’s almost 13 percent. I do not care how good a pitcher is but no one is going to perform well consistently with a walk rate that high
Depending on how Jarrod Parker pitched tonight in his first rehab start of the year it’s possible this is the last week Drew Pomeranz is in the starting rotation. I’ve said for two years he’s a reliever and not a starter and with the bullpen in shambles the A’s would be smart to put him in the bullpen.
