Raise your hand if you’ve had constant headaches in the pitching department this season. If your hand is up (you know it is) then hopefully my daily starting pitcher rankings can help set things right.
While pitching is always a bit of a minefield to navigate, 2023 has felt particularly trying. Constant injuries, openers, DFAs, innings rest in the minors, blisters, addiction struggles, role changes…if you could think of a way to disrupt a fantasy staff, it’s probably already happened. Fantasy ILs are at max capacity right now.
This leads us to the unenviable position of streaming. To stream or not to stream is an age-old fantasy dilemma. However, that question is one for the beginning of the season not for when your squad is clawing and scratching to get into the playoffs. This is the time when risk and reward are at their maximum, some dreams may be realized while others are certain to be crushed. It’s a bumpy road that’s filled with potholes and booby traps and one that is not for the faint of heart, but with some courage and know-how and not an insignificant amount of good luck, you can come out on the other side with some wins in your pocket and a smile on your face.
In an effort to aid your quest, we’ve put together some daily starting pitcher ranks. Good luck with those waiver wires!
More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers
Daily Starting Pitcher Rankings for August 14
The Sure Things
Riding with Logan Gilbert and his mustache in every matchup for the foreseeable future. Seattle’s young pitching is so damn fun.
Max Fried has had one stinker to go with one quality start since he has been back from the IL. Don’t think that there should be any hesitation in putting him in against the Yankees at home.
What’s the over/under on strikeouts for Tyler Glasnow tonight? Love this start if I am a Glasnow owner.
If you have Max Scherzer on a roster, you’re starting him in every game. So stoked that he is on a real contender, this is when he shines.
That Framber Valdez no-hitter sure feels like an aberration, as it was bookended by two six-run shellings at the hands of the Rangers and Orioles. Still think he is a must-start against the Marlins.
Yu Darvish definitely has another one or two stellar starts in him before being bad for a game, stay on the train for the time being.
The Fun Dice Roll
Taking Grayson Rodriguez over the Padres today. He’s looked pretty damn good since coming back from AAA, sporting a 3.45 ERA while his opponents are only hitting .206. These numbers look even better considering the schedule he’s faced: vs LAD, @TBR, vs NYY, @TOR, vs HOU.
The Not-So-Sure Things
As a Cardinals fan, it pains me to admit this, but I struggled to place Miles Mikolas in this section, even against the Athletics. He’s be lower if it wasn’t for the opponents facing the next two pitchers.
Braxton Garrett seems to have come out of his post-All-Star Game slump and I think that I would start him more often than not.
Speaking of heaters, Brady Singer has finally found whatever it was that he had going for him last year. In 2023, he grew into the type of that the Royals dreamed of, when they drafted him 18th overall way back in 2018. He’s been great lately, rocking a 31:5 K:BB rate and a 3,29 FIP over his last five starts. Seattle is a tough tough matchup but I’d give it a go.
The Only If You Musts
Honestly, the rest of the pitchers on the docket deserve to be in the next two sections.
The Hail Marys
Maybe, if I squint very very hard, I could see a way where I would start JP Sears against the Cardinals. I’d probably tell myself that I just want to start my week with some Ks on a light pitching slate. And that I can make up the ratios because the rest of my staff has a strong schedule ahead. But, honestly, you and I would be better served by allocating any waiver wire resources to a reliever or hitter.
Just Don’t Do It
Carlos Carrasco has been awful this season and I don’t want to start him, or even have him on a roster for that matter.
The rest of these guys aren’t worth discussing, not when they’re facing Texas and Atlanta or pitching in Coors.
Thanks as always for stopping by, we’ll be back tomorrow! If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas, or just want to drop a virtual high-five, send a note to [email protected] and give us a follow on Twitter @LDeePee