Starting pitchers get you 40% of the key stats in 5x5 leagues, and are sometimes even more important in H2H and points leagues.  Our starting pitcher depth charts have a special fantasy baseball focus, to let you know which pitchers are worth owning and which aren't. MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance all the time, so stay on top of all MLB starting pitcher depth charts for the AL and NL, and dominate in pitching this year.

We will be updating the MLB Starting Pitcher Depth Charts for Fantasy Baseball all season long. Below you'll find our Week 12 depth charts. Make sure to stay on top of the hierarchies when setting your lineups and planning your weekly starts/sits.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller offers the best Premium MLB Subscription - only $1.99 per week. All the tools you need to help win your seasonal and daily leagues: Hitter & Pitcher Streamers, Matchup Ratings for every player, Under-the-Radar Surgers for AVG, HR, Ks, plus daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

 

Week 12 Starting Pitcher Playbook and Planner

Some big things happened this week.  Blake Snell was called up on Thursday for the Rays and made a mediocre start against the sneaky-powerful Mariners, and although his second start was poor, it is believed that Snell will be hanging around the big league club for an extended period of time.

Cody Reed was called up for the Reds, and made a promising start against the Astros in Minute Maid Park going seven innings, allowing four earned runs, and striking out nine batters. Also, two-time Cy Young award winner "The Freak" Tim Lincecum made his debut in the Angels rotation; pitching six innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and just one earned run on a 9:7 ground ball to fly ball ratio.

A couple of controversial young arms made some waves as well. For instance, Indians RHP Trevor Bauer has had five straight quality starts since May 27th and in his last two starts he has pitched 15 innings and allowed just three earned runs, four walks, and struck out 12 batters.

Yordano Ventura has miraculously avoided trying to harm another player in his last two starts and in that time, he has looked as good on the mound as he is talented. In those two starts Ventura has pitched 13.1 innings, has allowed just one earned run, eleven hits, one walk, and struck out 15 batters. Maybe after his most recent of hot-headed antics, his teammates got through to him and convinced him to use his 99 MPH fastball for good instead of evil.

Here is some fun trivia: Name the top three pitchers in the AL in terms of ERA. Did you guess guys like Cole Hamels, Masahiro Tanaka, and Chris Sale? You would've guessed correctly... numbers 7, 8, and 9. The top three ERA in the AL are Steven Wright of Boston with a 2.22, Danny Salazar of Cleveland with a 2.23, and Marco Estrada of Toronto with a 2.58. What was the betting line on those three to win the ERA title at the start of the season?

Other surprises include Colby Lewis at 5th with a 2.81, Chris Tillman at 6th with a 2.87, Doug Fister at 10th with a 3.26, and Josh Tomlin at 11th with a 3.27. With guys like Carlos Rodon, David Price, Chris Archer, Marcus Stroman, Felix Hernandez, Sonny Gray, James Shields, and Dallas Keuchel sitting very un-pretty with disappointing performances in 2016, it is clearer than ever why time should be taken to review the SP Depth Charts for every MLB team so that you are ready to act when your old reliable aces down pan out in the way that you thought.

 

Week 12 Starting Pitcher Depth Charts

AL EAST: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Yankees	Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia	Luis Severino (INJ)	Nathan Eovaldi, Ivan Nova	Michael Pineda	Jacob Lindgren, Chad Green
Red Sox	David Price	Steven Wright, Rick Porcello	Eduardo Rodrgiuez	Joe Kelly, Clay Buchholz	Michael Kopech
Blue Jays	Marco Estrada, Aaron Sanchez	J.A. Happ, Marcus Stroman	R.A. Dickey		N/A
Orioles	Chris Tillman	Kevin Gausman	Yovani Gallardo (INJ)	Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Ubaldo Jimenez	Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey
Rays	N/A	Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, Chris Archer	Matt Moore, Blake Snell	Erasmo Ramirez	N/A

 

AL Central: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Tigers	Michael Fulmer, Jordan Zimmerman	Justin Verlander	N/A	Shane Greene, Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey	Matt Boyd, Daniel Norris
Royals	N/A	Ian Kennedy, Edinson Volquez	Kris Medlen (INJ)	Chris Young, Dillon Gee, Yordano Ventura	Mike Minor (INJ), Kyle Zimmer
Indians	Danny Salazar, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco	Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin	Cody Anderson	N/A	Rob Kaminsky
White Sox	Chris Sale, Jose Quintana	N/A	Carlos Rodon, Miguel Gonzalez	James Shields, John Danks	Frankie Montas
Twins	N/A	N/A	Ervin Santana	Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson, Tyler Duffey, Tommy Milone, Ricky Nolasco	Jose Berrios

 

AL West: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Astros	N/A	Lance McCullers, Doug Fister,  Dallas Keuchel	Mike Fiers,  Collin McHugh	Scott Feldman	N/A
Rangers	Yu Darvish(INJ), Cole Hamels	Colby Lewis	Derek Holland, Martin Perez,  A.J Griffin (INJ)	Nick Martinez	Chi Chi Gonzalez
Mariners	Felix Hernandez (INJ)	Taijuan Walker (INJ), Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton	Nate Karns,	Wade Miley	Edwin Diaz
Athletics	Rich Hill (INJ)	Sonny Gray	Jesse Hahn, Sean Manaea (INJ)	Chris Bassitt, Kendall Graveman	Henderson Alvarez (INJ), Felix Doubront (INJ)
Angels	Matt Shoemaker	Hector Santiago	Tim Lincecum	Jered Weaver, Tyler Skaggs (INJ)	Andrew Heaney (INJ)

 

NL EAST: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Mets	Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Jacob DeGrom	N/A	Bartolo Colon	N/A	Zack Wheeler (INJ)
Braves	Julio Teheran	N/A	Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler	Williams Perez, Bud Norris	Manny Banuelos (INJ)
Nationals	Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg	Tanner Roark, Joe Ross	Gio Gonzalez	N/A	Lucas Giolito
Marlins	Jose Fernandez	N/A	Tom Koehler, Adam Conley, Wei-Yin Chen	Jarred Cosart	N/A
Phillies	Aaron Nola	Jeremy Hellickson, Vincent Velasquez	Jerad Eickhoff, Charlie Morton	Brett Oberholtzer	Jake Thompson, Zach Eflin

 

NL Central: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Pirates	Gerrit Cole (INJ)	Jameson Taillon	Francisco Liriano	Jon Niese, Jeff Locke, Juan Nicasio	Tyler Glasnow
Cubs	Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester	Jason Hammel, John Lackey, Kyle Hendricks	N/A	Trevor Cahill	Duane Underwood
Cardinals	Carlos Martinez	Adam Wainwright, Mike Leake	Jaime Garcia, Michael Wacha	N/A	Marco Gonzales, Tim Cooney, Tyler Lyons
Reds	N/A	Dan Straily	Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb, Anthony DeSclafani, Cody Reed	Jon Moscot, Alfredo Simon	Robert Stephenson, Michael Lorenzen (INJ), Homer Bailey (INJ)
Brewers	N/A	Zach Davies, Jimmy Nelson	Chase Anderson	Wily Peralta, Matt Garza (INJ)	Tyler Cravy, Taylor Jungmann

 

NL West: 2016 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Team Name	Fantasy Aces	Solid Options	Deeper Options / Streamers	Ignore	Watch List
Dodgers	Clayton Kershaw	Kenta Maeda, Julio Urias	Scott Kazmir, Alex Wood (INJ)	Ross Stripling (INJ), Mike Bolsinger	Hyun Jin Ryu (INJ), Brandon McCarthy (INJ)
Padres	Drew Pomeranz	Tyson Ross (INJ)	Andrew Cashner,  Colin Rea	Jeremy Guthrie, Robbie Erlin	N/A
Rockies	N/A	Jon Gray, Tyler Chatwood	N/A	Jorge De La Rosa, Chad Bettis, Jordan Lyles, Yohan Flande, Christian Bergman	Jeff Hoffman
Giants	Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto	Jeff Samardzija	Jake Peavy	Matt Cain (INJ)	Tyler Beede
Diamondbacks	Zack Greinke	Archie Bradley	Patrick Corbin, Robbie Ray, Rubby De La Rosa (INJ)	Shelby Miller	Braden Shipley

 

Depth Chart Definitions:

• Fantasy Aces - Pitchers to anchor a rotation, a #1 or #2 fantasy starter
• Solid Options - The meat of your rotation, a #3 - #5 type fantasy starter
• Deeper Options / Streamers - All pitchers with value, but depending on your league size these are bottom rotation types or players worth streaming
• Ignore - Unless you're in NL / AL only leagues, you shoudn't really touch these guys
• Watch List - Your list of prospects or injured pitchers who might soon hold value

 

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