May Starter Rankings
Welcome to the May starter rankings. As always, players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 scoring over the rest of the season. Included along with the position rankings is an updated top 300 list.
Click to see other May rankings:
Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH
Follow us at @Rotoworld_BB and @matthewpouliot on Twitter.
Starting pitcher rankings
May | SP | Team | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers | 1 |
2 | Cliff Lee | Phillies | 2 |
3 | Adam Wainwright | Cardinals | 7 |
4 | Felix Hernandez | Mariners | 5 |
5 | Madison Bumgarner | Giants | 6 |
6 | Justin Verlander | Tigers | 4 |
7 | Jose Fernandez | Marlins | 11 |
8 | Max Scherzer | Tigers | 8 |
9 | Stephen Strasburg | Nationals | 3 |
10 | Yu Darvish | Rangers | 10 |
11 | Zack Greinke | Dodgers | 17 |
12 | Masahiro Tanaka | Yankees | 20 |
13 | David Price | Rays | 9 |
14 | Michael Wacha | Cardinals | 15 |
15 | James Shields | Royals | 16 |
16 | Jordan Zimmermann | Nationals | 18 |
17 | Sonny Gray | Athletics | 32 |
18 | Johnny Cueto | Reds | 30 |
19 | Gio Gonzalez | Nationals | 23 |
20 | Doug Fister | Nationals | 22 |
21 | Alex Cobb | Rays | 12 |
22 | Homer Bailey | Reds | 19 |
23 | Cole Hamels | Phillies | 21 |
24 | Andrew Cashner | Padres | 31 |
25 | Jon Lester | Red Sox | 34 |
26 | Matt Cain | Giants | 14 |
27 | Julio Teheran | Braves | 26 |
28 | Chris Sale | White Sox | 13 |
29 | Mike Minor | Braves | 27 |
30 | Ervin Santana | Braves | 47 |
31 | Gerrit Cole | Pirates | 24 |
32 | Jeff Samardzija | Cubs | 37 |
33 | Tim Hudson | Giants | 61 |
34 | John Lackey | Red Sox | 45 |
35 | C.J. Wilson | Angels | 39 |
36 | Anibal Sanchez | Tigers | 42 |
37 | Ian Kennedy | Padres | 40 |
38 | Hisashi Iwakuma | Mariners | 52 |
39 | Dan Haren | Dodgers | 53 |
40 | Yordano Ventura | Royals | 71 |
41 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | Dodgers | 28 |
42 | Chris Archer | Rays | 36 |
43 | Alex Wood | Braves | 48 |
44 | R.A. Dickey | Blue Jays | 29 |
45 | Garrett Richards | Angels | 113 |
46 | Nathan Eovaldi | Marlins | 83 |
47 | Lance Lynn | Cardinals | 46 |
48 | Tyson Ross | Padres | 57 |
49 | Mat Latos | Reds | 25 |
50 | Jesse Chavez | Athletics | 137 |
51 | Corey Kluber | Indians | 60 |
52 | Kyle Lohse | Brewers | 85 |
53 | Francisco Liriano | Pirates | 41 |
54 | Tony Cingrani | Reds | 33 |
55 | Danny Salazar | Indians | 38 |
56 | Clay Buchholz | Red Sox | 35 |
57 | Marco Estrada | Brewers | 64 |
58 | Jake Peavy | Red Sox | 63 |
59 | Rick Porcello | Tigers | 55 |
60 | Justin Masterson | Indians | 56 |
61 | Wily Peralta | Brewers | 117 |
62 | CC Sabathia | Yankees | 54 |
63 | Jose Quintana | White Sox | 58 |
64 | Scott Kazmir | Athletics | 81 |
65 | Jered Weaver | Angels | 44 |
66 | A.J. Burnett | Phillies | 69 |
67 | Matt Garza | Brewers | 72 |
68 | Drew Smyly | Tigers | 62 |
69 | Hiroki Kuroda | Yankees | 50 |
70 | Shelby Miller | Cardinals | 51 |
71 | Trevor Bauer | Indians | 205 |
72 | Mike Leake | Reds | 66 |
73 | Yovani Gallardo | Brewers | 79 |
74 | Martin Perez | Rangers | 122 |
75 | Dan Straily | Athletics | 43 |
76 | Zack Wheeler | Mets | 65 |
77 | Travis Wood | Cubs | 93 |
78 | Brandon McCarthy | Diamondbacks | 90 |
79 | Derek Holland | Rangers | 86 |
80 | Charlie Morton | Pirates | 76 |
81 | Drew Hutchison | Blue Jays | 108 |
82 | Dillon Gee | Mets | 82 |
83 | Jon Niese | Mets | 109 |
84 | Robbie Erlin | Padres | 101 |
85 | Robbie Ross | Rangers | 77 |
86 | Tim Lincecum | Giants | 70 |
87 | Aaron Harang | Braves | 171 |
88 | Bartolo Colon | Mets | 74 |
89 | Henderson Alvarez | Marlins | 88 |
90 | Tanner Roark | Nationals | 135 |
91 | Chris Tillman | Orioles | 100 |
92 | Wade Miley | Diamondbacks | 67 |
93 | Archie Bradley | Diamondbacks | 89 |
94 | Dallas Keuchel | Astros | 126 |
95 | Jason Vargas | Royals | 112 |
96 | John Danks | White Sox | 87 |
97 | Jeremy Hellickson | Rays | 84 |
98 | Josh Beckett | Dodgers | 123 |
99 | Jaime Garcia | Cardinals | 97 |
100 | Marcus Stroman | Blue Jays | 158 |
101 | Danny Duffy | Royals | 127 |
102 | Wei-Yin Chen | Orioles | 99 |
103 | Mark Buehrle | Blue Jays | 104 |
104 | Carlos Martinez | Cardinals | 95 |
105 | Jason Hammel | Cubs | 141 |
106 | Miguel Gonzalez | Orioles | 73 |
107 | Drew Pomeranz | Athletics | 157 |
108 | Jenrry Mejia | Mets | 105 |
109 | Kevin Gausman | Orioles | 115 |
110 | Edwin Jackson | Cubs | 91 |
111 | Tyler Skaggs | Angels | 125 |
112 | Roenis Elias | Mariners | 280 |
113 | Felix Doubront | Red Sox | 92 |
114 | Erasmo Ramirez | Mariners | 68 |
115 | Ubaldo Jimenez | Orioles | 106 |
116 | Michael Pineda | Yankees | 119 |
117 | Jhoulys Chacin | Rockies | 130 |
118 | Alfredo Simon | Reds | 135 RP |
119 | Phil Hughes | Twins | 94 |
120 | Yusmeiro Petit | Giants | 155 |
121 | Gavin Floyd | Braves | 128 |
122 | Joe Kelly | Cardinals | 132 |
123 | Hector Santiago | Angels | 107 |
124 | Kyle Gibson | Twins | 134 |
125 | Tommy Milone | Athletics | 80 |
126 | Trevor Cahill | Diamondbacks | 103 |
127 | James Paxton | Mariners | 118 |
128 | Taijuan Walker | Mariners | 96 |
129 | Ricky Nolasco | Twins | 110 |
130 | Roberto Hernandez | Phillies | 146 |
131 | Matt Harrison | Rangers | 143 |
132 | Jake Arrieta | Cubs | 151 |
133 | Zach McAllister | Indians | 148 |
134 | Tom Koehler | Marlins | 156 |
135 | Eric Stults | Padres | 98 |
136 | Edinson Volquez | Pirates | 193 |
137 | Vidal Nuno | Yankees | 122 RP |
138 | Jorge De La Rosa | Rockies | 142 |
139 | Chad Billingsley | Dodgers | 139 |
140 | Chris Capuano | Red Sox | 145 |
141 | Brett Anderson | Rockies | 111 |
142 | David Hale | Braves | 144 |
143 | Bronson Arroyo | Diamondbacks | 116 |
144 | Jeremy Guthrie | Royals | 147 |
145 | Scott Feldman | Astros | 149 |
146 | Andrew Heaney | Marlins | 165 |
147 | Jacob Turner | Marlins | 131 |
148 | Brandon Cumpton | Pirates | 231 |
149 | Bud Norris | Orioles | 163 |
150 | Kyle Kendrick | Phillies | 150 |
Dropping off: Matt Moore (49th), A.J. Griffin (59th), Ivan Nova (75th), Josh Johnson (78th), Carlos Carrasco (102nd), Tanner Scheppers (114th), Taylor Jordan (120th), Jeff Locke (121st), Erik Johnson (124th), Randall Delgado (129th), Brandon Morrow (133rd), Wandy Rodriguez (136th), Alexi Ogando (138th), Jake Odorizzi (140th)
Starters in the middle of the rankings who would be higher if not for the injury risk include Kazmir, McCarthy and Niese. I’d also have Burnett a bit higher if not the hernia.
Martin Perez has ridden his changeup to two early shutouts, but not to the top of the rankings here. For one thing, his velocity is way down this year, and while part of that appears to be a conscious effort to induce sinking action, he’s getting fewer swings and misses and strikeouts. It’s obviously working for him so far, but it’s not going to be easy for him to remain successful for the long haul while striking out 5.5 batters per nine innings.
Straily and Milone were both on my buy list this spring, but neither has shown the kind of stuff each possessed in past years. Straily’s average fastball has come in at 88.3 mph, down from 91.3 in 2012 and 90.3 last year, according to Fangraphs data. Milone has always been a soft-tosser, but he’s at 86.2 right now, down from 87.7 in 2012 and 87.2 last year. Velocity can pick up as the year goes on, so I haven’t completely written off either. However, they are among the biggest tumblers in this month’s rankings. Pomeranz is the new big-time sleeper; he might get a chance to replace Milone before long.
Padres prospect Matt Wisler and Tigers prospect Robbie Ray were the most difficult cuts from the top 150. Wisler, who was just promoted from Double- to Triple-A, looks like he could be a threat to replace Stults in the San Diego rotation next month. Ray will make his major league debut this week in Anibal Sanchez’s place, but it figures to be a short-term stay this time around.
