The Baller Ranks: Weekly Top 101 Starting Pitcher Rankings

Rejoice, for we have reached May! Cry, for we've also lost Dustin May. The injuries are rolling over all of us, but we must breathe and try to be grateful that we get to play our little game within a game. Frustration is natural and you have to let yourself vent it out, but then we press forward with my 2021 Starting Pitcher Baller Ranks, where we take stock of my top 101 SPs moving forward.

You know the deal, as the ranks table below comes with this google sheet that accompanies the table and adds a smattering of stats. Do note that I leave off most injured players, and removing those injured players can give an illusion that others have risen despite mediocre performances.

On that sheet, you will find the usual 5x5 categories, strikeout and walk rates, BABIP, and CSW% for now. Do note that other stats and time windows will be added, but I don't want to clog it up with noise while we're this early in the young season. Let's just get onto my Top 101 SPs!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:

Top 101 Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 6

(+/-)	Tier	Player	Rank	$	EV	$PV	Trend	Notes
0	1	Jacob deGrom	1	43.0	17.2	43.0	0.0 ▬
0	1	Gerrit Cole	2	39.0	19.1	39.0	0.0 ▬	If you took any of these 3 in Tier 1 then you're happy
0	1	Shane Bieber	3	38.0	10.4	38.0	0.0 ▬
0	2	Trevor Bauer	4	34.0	5.6	34.0	0.0 ▬	You don't need to care about the antics, just the stats
0	2	Yu Darvish	5	33.0	8.1	33.0	0.0 ▬
1	2	Max Scherzer	6	30.0	5.9	29.0	1.0 ▲
-1	2	Aaron Nola	7	29.0	9.8	30.0	-1.0 ▼
0	2	Clayton Kershaw	8	28.0	10.9	28.0	0.0 ▬	No complaints from me if you stuck him up at No. 4
2	2	Brandon Woodruff	9	28.0	10.2	25.0	3.0 ▲
2	2	Tyler Glasnow	10	26.0	13.2	24.0	2.0 ▲	Tier 1-esque whiffs and ratios, can he keep working deep?
2	2	Lance Lynn	11	25.0	6.8	24.0	1.0 ▲
-3	2	Lucas Giolito	12	24.0	2.6	28.0	-4.0 ▼	We know what the ceiling is, though that OF is trouble now
1	2	Walker Buehler	13	24.0	6.4	22.0	2.0 ▲
7	2	Jack Flaherty	14	22.0	5.9	16.5	5.5 ▲
0	3	Jose Berrios	15	22.0	8.4	22.0	0.0 ▬
0	3	Luis Castillo	16	21.0	1.8	21.0	0.0 ▬	One bad April doesn't have me jumping ship
3	3	Zack Wheeler	17	21.0	7.2	19.0	2.0 ▲
7	3	Kevin Gausman	18	19.0	6.5	14.0	5.0 ▲	There's some luck in that BABIP but lots of earned success
0	3	Blake Snell	19	19.0	3.2	19.0	0.0 ▬
2	3	Dylan Bundy	20	19.0	4.3	16.0	3.0 ▲
3	3	Zac Gallen	21	17.0	4.6	14.0	3.0 ▲
-5	4	Joe Musgrove	22	16.0	7.8	21.0	-5.0 ▼	Some sputters but he's earned this; SD strong environment
7	4	Sandy Alcantara	23	15.0	5.6	10.5	4.5 ▲
11	4	Trevor Rogers	24	14.0	7.6	9.0	5.0 ▲	Are you happy now? He's incredible, but it's still 1 month
13	4	Julio Urias	25	14.0	8.4	9.0	5.0 ▲	Southpaw is hitting the afterburners of late
2	4	Ian Anderson	26	13.0	5.1	11.0	2.0 ▲
14	4	Lance McCullers Jr.	27	12.0	3.7	8.5	3.5 ▲	3 BBs in 4-of-5 starts; season-high 9 Ks, 7 shutout IP on 4/30
3	4	Marcus Stroman	28	11.0	6.6	10.0	1.0 ▲
3	4	Tyler Mahle	29	11.0	4.9	9.5	1.5 ▲
-7	5	Zack Greinke	30	10.5	3.6	15.0	-4.5 ▼
2	5	Zach Eflin	31	10.0	10.6	9.5	0.5 ▲
2	5	Eduardo Rodriguez	32	9.5	3.3	9.5	0.0 ▬
7	5	Charlie Morton	33	9.5	4.8	8.5	1.0 ▲
--	5	Max Fried	34	9.5	-1.0	0.0	9.5 ▲	Returning from the IL on 5/5; laughable .513 BABIP
4	5	Sonny Gray	35	9.0	1.3	8.5	0.5 ▲	11-K day at LAD, hopefully that signals the rust is leaving
1	5	Pablo Lopez	36	9.0	6.6	9.0	0.0 ▬
5	5	Aaron Civale	37	9.0	3.0	8.0	1.0 ▲
10	5	John Means	38	9.0	7.1	5.5	3.5 ▲	Continues to succeed within the ALE, respect
14	5	Carlos Rodon	39	8.5	7.3	4.0	4.5 ▲	This is what we've been waiting for, that health needs to hold
5	5	Cristian Javier	40	8.5	6.0	8.0	0.5 ▲	1 bad inning undid 5/2 start; believe in the rising talent
-15	5	Kenta Maeda	41	8.5	-1.9	13.0	-4.5 ▼
2	6	Freddy Peralta	42	8.0	6.2	8.0	0.0 ▬
26	6	Huascar Ynoa	43	8.0	3.6	2.0	6.0 ▲	Dominated CHC in rematch; whiffs and plus control. Mm-mm
3	6	Michael Pineda	44	8.0	2.4	6.5	1.5 ▲	4 strong starts, 1 dud - gets TEX at home next
-2	6	Zach Plesac	45	8.0	3.1	8.0	0.0 ▬
27	6	Corey Kluber	46	8.0	2.9	1.5	6.5 ▲	Crushed BAL & DET; is he back or do they stink? A little of both
13	6	Jose Urquidy	47	6.5	4.8	3.5	3.0 ▲
35	6	Danny Duffy	48	5.5	7.5	1.0	4.5 ▲
-20	7	Kyle Hendricks	49	5.0	-5.5	11.0	-6.0 ▼
6	7	Shohei Ohtani	50	4.5	1.4	4.0	0.5 ▲	Scratched from 5/3 start after HBP on elbow; monitor
12	7	Chris Bassitt	51	4.5	3.9	2.5	2.0 ▲	3 straight QS with at least 8 K in each outing; coming alive
16	7	Jameson Taillon	52	4.0	2.6	2.0	2.0 ▲	Hasn't worked past 5 IP yet, seems to fade facing LU 2nd time
-1	7	Sean Manaea	53	4.0	4.9	4.0	0.0 ▬
-8	7	Frankie Montas	54	4.0	-0.4	8.0	-4.0 ▼
-5	7	Nathan Eovaldi	55	4.0	9.9	4.5	-0.5 ▼
6	7	Andrew Heaney	56	4.0	2.8	3.0	1.0 ▲
--	7	Shane McClanahan	57	4.0	0.3	0.0	4.0 ▲
16	7	JT Brubaker	58	4.0	3.0	1.5	2.5 ▲	That slider/sinker combo is looking sharp, PIT limits things
5	7	Brady Singer	59	2.0	3.4	2.5	-0.5 ▼
-6	8	Triston McKenzie	60	3.5	-1.8	4.0	-0.5 ▼	Strikeouts are cool but overall command is inconsistent
0	8	German Marquez	61	3.0	3.9	3.0	0.0 ▬
8	8	Yusei Kikuchi	62	3.0	0.7	1.5	1.5 ▲
22	8	Alex Wood	63	2.5	4.9	1.0	1.5 ▲	Can he walk out of Coors with similar ratios and Ks?
--	8	Robbie Ray	64	2.5	0.5	0.0	2.5 ▲
-10	8	Jordan Montgomery	65	2.5	0.6	4.0	-1.5 ▼
-7	8	Patrick Corbin	66	2.0	-3.8	2.0	0.0 ▬
20	8	Adam Wainwright	67	2.0	3.0	1.0	1.0 ▲	7 IP, 10 K on 4/20; CG, 8 K, 2 ER after that; crafty at 39 y.o.
--	8	Daniel Lynch	68	2.0	0.0	0.0	2.0 ▲	We lose Junis to the 'pen, but Lynch is very exciting
-4	8	Taijuan Walker	69	2.0	4.9	2.5	-0.5 ▼
-3	9	Steven Matz	70	1.5	2.5	2.0	-0.5 ▼
22	9	Madison Bumgarner	71	1.5	4.2	1.0	0.5 ▲
10	9	Adbert Alzolay	72	1.5	2.8	1.0	0.5 ▲
-2	9	Dallas Keuchel	73	1.5	1.8	1.5	0.0 ▬
2	9	Dylan Cease	74	1.5	4.1	1.5	0.0 ▬	Like Kluber, how excited can you get when crushing DET?
9	9	Kyle Gibson	75	1.5	7.2	1.0	0.5 ▲
4	9	Griffin Canning	76	1.5	-0.6	1.5	0.0 ▬
14	9	David Peterson	77	1.5	1.2	1.0	0.5 ▲	3 of his last 4 starts have been solid, whiffs picking up
--	9	Domingo German	78	1.5	1.4	0.0	1.5 ▲
--	9	Garrett Richards	79	1.5	2.7	0.0	1.5 ▲
--	9	Kwang-Hyun Kim	80	1.5	4.0	0.0	1.5 ▲	Showing great control despite late start to 2021
--	9	Carlos Martinez	81	1.0	4.9	0.0	1.0 ▲	You'll take the low K totals if he's commanding the zone
--	10	Justin Dunn	82	1.0	0.7	0.0	1.0 ▲
-4	10	Anthony DeSclafani	83	1.0	6.6	1.5	-0.5 ▼
--	10	Rich Hill	84	1.0	0.5	0.0	1.0 ▲	Last 2 starts have been clean; @OAK next is a +stream
4	10	J.A. Happ	85	1.0	1.8	1.0	0.0 ▬	I don't trust this, but veteran does get TEX at home next
9	10	Wade Miley	86	1.0	3.5	1.0	0.0 ▬
-15	10	Ryan Yarbrough	87	1.0	5.0	1.5	-0.5 ▼
-22	10	Dane Dunning	88	1.0	6.0	2.0	-1.0 ▼
5	10	Cole Irvin	89	1.0	3.6	1.0	0.0 ▬	Great control, but I'm often scared of the contact yielded
--	10	Nick Pivetta	90	1.0	3.0	0.0	1.0 ▲
--	10	Luis Garcia	91	1.0	0.7	0.0	1.0 ▲
5	10	Mike Minor	92	1.0	-0.3	1.0	0.0 ▬
-16	10	Jon Gray	93	1.0	4.9	1.5	-0.5 ▼	4.44 SIERA and Coors keeps me away
-6	10	Casey Mize	94	1.0	-0.5	1.0	0.0 ▬
4	10	Jake Arrieta	95	1.0	1.5	1.0	0.0 ▬
-18	10	Alex Cobb	96	1.0	3.9	1.5	-0.5 ▼
--	10	Jose Urena	97	1.0	6.3	0.0	1.0 ▲	I don't like it, but the results are enough for AL-only's
--	10	Justus Sheffield	98	1.0	1.7	0.0	1.0 ▲	Maddening with inconsistency
--	10	Tyler Anderson	99	1.0	4.2	0.0	1.0 ▲
-10	10	Chris Flexen	100	1.0	4.2	1.0	0.0 ▬
0	10	Aaron Sanchez	101	1.0	3.5	1.0	0.0 ▬

What about the injured players?

For context's sake, here is the range I'd throw most relevant injured pitchers that aren't dealing with known significant long-term injuries:

-Corbin Burnes, 12-15
-Carlos Carrasco, 18-20
-Hyun-Jin Ryu, 22-25
-Stephen Strasburg, 28-30
-Dinelson Lamet, 34-36
-Jesus Luzardo, 44-48
-Framber Valdez, 46-50
-Chris Paddack, 54-58
-Tony Gonsolin, 68-72
-Marco Gonzales, 76-80

Quick Notes on Movers

-After a sketchy six walks over his first 10 1/3 IP, Jack Flaherty has buckled down and issued a mere four free passes across his last four starts combined. He's won his last five outings with four quality starts in that span as well, as the 26/4 K/BB ratio really sticks as a healthy indicator of reliability. The NL Central helps, too.

-Kevin Gausman also rebounded from his own six walks within a two-start stretch by crushing the Marlins and Padres in his last two games. He walked only one in each of those and notched a season-high 11 strikeouts against Miami, which is what he'll need to help offset that .210 BABIP as it crawls back to normalcy.

-Lance McCullers Jr. went from a combined 13 2/3 IP in his first three outings to 13 IP in his last two, twirling a QS against the Halos and Rays in the process. Opponents have only mustered more than three hits against him once, but he lives dangerously by attacking the edges. This is evidenced by his track record and having multiple walks in each start thus far. However, you can get away with that when you throw an incredible amount of breaking and secondary pitches! Just note it makes the line between dominant and painful thinner.

-Julio Urías has a beautiful 2.82 FIP, 3.08 xFIP, and 3.08 SIERA underneath his 2.87 ERA, due in large part to cutting his usual 8% walk rate in half for 2021. He's done so while maintaining his swinging strikes and avoiding an uptick in homers, which is not a given by any means. That 78.1% first-strike rate shows him coming right at hitters and them not being able to execute. It's unclear how many innings they'll squeeze out of him, but with so many other pitchers injured, they may be conservative come summertime.

-Corey Kluber toyed with the Tigers with vintage-Kluber changeups and now we're left wondering how much of the stat line is the Klubot being "back" and how much is Baltimore and Detroit being subpar. As with most "A or B" questions, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I'll be most interested in how he attacks more disciplined batters moving forward, but I remain encouraged by the lack of loud contact surrendered overall.

-Buy into Huascar Ynoa's slider that he feels comfortable throwing to left- and right-handed batters alike. His Savant page will show you that it's his primary pitch at 44.2% and that his low .163 batting average against isn't driven by four-leaf clovers. No, that paltry .196 xBA is backed by a wicked 41.7% whiff rate that pays the bottom line. As long as the heater can effectively be commanded and touch upper-90s, then I'm in.

-No critical "Fallers" here that haven't already been a theme in past weeks. Kyle Hendricks needs to get it together. I remain hopeful for Frankie Montas, but I understand cutting bait for hot streamers and injury fill-ins. Many of you have likely cut Patrick Corbin already. Triston McKenzie remains unable to consistently hit his spots. I'd still be holding these guys if you believed in them enough to draft, but I respect that needs are needs when it comes to the lower end of the roster.

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