Rest of Season Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Pitcher Hot Potato

Last week, we took a trip on the closer carousel. One thing we can say for certain is that it is never a dull ride. In the last week, we have seen several more relief pitchers who were unable to hold onto their closing gigs for various reasons. But this week I want to dive into starting pitchers. The following is more of a commentary on general strategy, but I believe it holds value concerning rest-of-season rankings as well. I will begin with a brief story from the way back machine.

My favorite type of season-long fantasy baseball league is the Salary Cap Challenge contest. If you have no idea what I am talking about, you are not alone. Fantrax used to run this type of league back in the day, as did CDM Sports. Its primary home is now on NFBC. Quite frankly I don’t think anyone has properly marketed the game for at least the past decade, and it will probably die out at some point as a result, but that’s neither here nor there. I will die on the hill that it is the most equitable style of fantasy baseball.

A staple in these challenge games is that you get a limited number of player adds and drops for the season. They designed this feature to prevent managers from abusing the waiver wire. The main problem with having a limited number of drops is that some managers would blow through their allotted moves early and be screwed later in the year. They would become disenfranchised and stop making roster moves altogether. To combat this, CDM allowed for two more players to be added for the final five weeks of the season. This helped keep more managers engaged throughout the season. Nobody likes it when managers ignore their teams down the stretch, especially in a Roto league.

I used to relish trying to figure out which two players I should add. I also enjoyed trying to figure out who other managers would be adding. More often than not, at least one of my two roster expansion players would be a starting pitcher. That is because you could usually find a quality pitcher with two two-start weeks in five weeks. As we all know, fantasy baseball managers highly covet two-start weeks. This was a huge edge down the stretch and helped me quite a bit. Shoutout to Andy Pettitte, Javier Vazquez, and a bunch of other starters who I am blanking on at the moment.

There is a reason I mention this, and it ties into my ROS rankings. We have roughly five weeks left in the regular season. However, it is going to be damn near impossible to find a starting pitcher who will make seven starts over the final five weeks. Teams treat starters completely differently than they did a generation ago. We have open admissions of innings limits, six-man rotations, and openers/bullpen games. Teams may rest starters once they have been eliminated from playoff competition. Others may do so once they have secured a playoff berth. I would be surprised if any pitcher in baseball threw more than 40 innings from this coming Monday until the end of the regular season.

So while I may have Pitcher A ahead of Pitcher B in this week’s rankings, take your specific situation into account. If you need wins and strikeouts and are not concerned with ratios, now is the time to churn and burn. If you have a fringe starter who makes two starts either next week or the week after, the odds are that he will have no more two-start weeks. At that point, you can drop him for another pitcher who does. There are very few pitchers who I would deem undroppable, especially after Labor Day. It is a mad dash to the finish line at this point. May the wind be at your back.

Rest of Season Fantasy Baseball Rankings

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION
1	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	SS
2	Shohei Ohtani	LAD	DH
3	Aaron Judge	NYY	OF
4	Juan Soto	NYY	OF
5	Jose Ramirez	CLE	3B
6	Elly De La Cruz	CIN	SS/3B
7	Yordan Alvarez	HOU	OF
8	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	SS/3B
9	Rafael Devers	BOS	3B
10	Bryce Harper	PHI	1B
11	Freddie Freeman	LAD	1B
12	Trea Turner	PHI	SS
13	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	TOR	1B
14	Francisco Lindor	NYM	SS
15	Corey Seager	TEX	SS
16	Zack Wheeler	PHI	SP
17	Mookie Betts	LAD	2B/SS/OF
18	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP
19	Corbin Burnes	BAL	SP
20	Marcell Ozuna	ATL	DH
21	Chris Sale	ATL	SP
22	Matt Olson	ATL	1B
23	CJ Abrams	WSH	SS
24	Jose Altuve	HOU	2B
25	Josh Hader	HOU	RP
26	Dylan Cease	SD	SP
27	George Kirby	SEA	SP
28	Pete Alonso	NYM	1B
29	Pablo Lopez	MIN	SP
30	Logan Gilbert	SEA	SP
31	Marcus Semien	TEX	2B
32	Aaron Nola	PHI	SP
33	Luis Castillo	SEA	SP
34	Cole Ragans	KC	SP
35	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	OF
36	Logan Webb	SF	SP
37	Jarren Duran	BOS	OF
38	Tarik Skubal	DET	SP
39	Zac Gallen	ARI	SP
40	Gerrit Cole	NYY	SP
41	Manny Machado	SD	3B
42	Oneil Cruz	PIT	SS
43	Kyle Schwarber	PHI	OF
44	Framber Valdez	HOU	SP
45	Teoscar Hernandez	LAD	OF
46	Adolis Garcia	TEX	OF
47	Alec Bohm	PHI	1B/3B
48	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SD	OF
49	Josh Naylor	CLE	1B
50	Luis Robert Jr.	CHW	OF
51	Corbin Carroll	ARI	OF
52	Freddy Peralta	MIL	SP
53	Michael Harris II	ATL	OF
54	Alex Bregman	HOU	3B
55	Paul Skenes	PIT	SP
56	Jazz Chisholm Jr.	NYY	3B/OF
57	Raisel Iglesias	ATL	RP
58	Sonny Gray	STL	SP
59	Kevin Gausman	TOR	SP
60	Randy Arozarena	SEA	OF
61	William Contreras	MIL	C
62	Seiya Suzuki	CHC	OF
63	Justin Steele	CHC	SP
64	Royce Lewis	MIN	3B
65	Blake Snell	SF	SP
66	Max Fried	ATL	SP
67	Anthony Santander	BAL	OF
68	Spencer Steer	CIN	1B/3B/OF
69	Edwin Diaz	NYM	RP
70	Bryan Reynolds	PIT	OF
71	Adley Rutschman	BAL	C
72	Jack Flaherty	LAD	SP
73	Ryan Helsley	STL	RP
74	Willy Adames	MIL	SS
75	Tanner Bibee	CLE	SP
76	Ezequiel Tovar	COL	SS
77	Shota Imanaga	CHC	SP
78	Carlos Rodon	NYY	SP
79	Bailey Ober	MIN	SP
80	Jhoan Duran	MIN	RP
81	Andres Munoz	SEA	RP
82	Steven Kwan	CLE	OF
83	Vinnie Pasquantino	KC	1B
84	Will Smith	LAD	C
85	Bryson Stott	PHI	2B/SS
86	Mason Miller	OAK	RP
87	Jackson Chourio	MIL	OF
88	George Springer	TOR	OF
89	Clay Holmes	NYY	RP
90	Tyler O’Neill	BOS	OF
91	Andres Gimenez	CLE	2B
92	Jeremy Pena	HOU	SS
93	Jackson Merrill	SD	SS/OF
94	Ian Happ	CHC	OF
95	Brandon Nimmo	NYM	OF
96	Cody Bellinger	CHC	1B/OF
97	Paul Goldschmidt	STL	1B
98	Hunter Brown	HOU	SP
99	Riley Greene	DET	OF
100	Nick Castellanos	PHI	OF
101	Brent Rooker	OAK	OF
102	Nico Hoerner	CHC	2B/SS
103	Brenton Doyle	COL	OF
104	Nolan Arenado	STL	3B
105	Salvador Perez	KC	C/1B
106	Kyle Tucker	HOU	OF
107	Devin Williams	MIL	RP
108	Anthony Volpe	NYY	SS
109	Christian Walker	ARI	1B
110	Nick Pivetta	BOS	SP
111	Robert Suarez	SD	RP
112	Lane Thomas	CLE	OF
113	Nathan Eovaldi	TEX	SP
114	Josh Jung	TEX	3B
115	Matt Chapman	SF	3B
116	Triston Casas	BOS	1B
117	Bryce Miller	SEA	SP
118	Luis Arraez	SD	1B/2B
119	Taj Bradley	TB	SP
120	Zach Neto	LAA	SS
121	Tyler Glasnow	LAD	SP
122	Xander Bogaerts	SD	2B/SS
123	Jorge Soler	ATL	OF
124	Michael King	SD	SP
125	Chris Bassitt	TOR	SP
126	Ranger Suarez	PHI	SP
127	Wyatt Langford	TEX	OF
128	David Bednar	PIT	RP
129	Brice Turang	MIL	2B/SS
130	Willson Contreras	STL	C
131	Cristopher Sanchez	PHI	SP
132	Ketel Marte	ARI	2B
133	Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	ARI	OF
134	TJ Friedl	CIN	OF
135	Mitch Keller	PIT	SP
136	Ryan Mountcastle	BAL	1B
137	Alexis Diaz	CIN	RP
138	J.T. Realmuto	PHI	C
139	Jeimer Candelario	CIN	1B/3B
140	Taylor Ward	LAA	OF
141	Yusei Kikuchi	HOU	SP
142	Jonathan India	CIN	2B
143	Seth Lugo	KC	SP
144	Tanner Houck	BOS	SP
145	Jake Burger	MIA	1B/3B
146	Jared Jones	PIT	SP
147	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP
148	Jose Berrios	TOR	SP
149	Kirby Yates	TEX	RP
150	Rhys Hoskins	MIL	1B
151	Ryan McMahon	COL	2B/3B
152	Yainer Diaz	HOU	C
153	Yandy Diaz	TB	1B
154	Garrett Crochet	CHW	SP
155	Gleyber Torres	NYY	2B
156	Maikel Garcia	KC	2B/3B
157	Kyle Finnegan	WSH	RP
158	Nick Lodolo	CIN	SP
159	Jake Cronenworth	SD	1B/2B
160	Ceddanne Rafaela	BOS	SS/OF
161	Masataka Yoshida	BOS	OF
162	Nathaniel Lowe	TEX	1B
163	Cedric Mullins	BAL	OF
164	Brandon Pfaadt	ARI	SP
165	Christopher Morel	TB	3B/OF
166	Isaac Paredes	CHC	1B/3B
167	Josh Lowe	TB	OF
168	Dansby Swanson	CHC	SS
169	James Wood	WSH	OF
170	Joe Musgrove	SD	SP
171	Charlie Morton	ATL	SP
172	Carlos Correa	MIN	SS
173	Justin Verlander	HOU	SP
174	Bryan Woo	SEA	SP
175	Kutter Crawford	BOS	SP
176	Masyn Winn	STL	SS
177	Luis Garcia	WSH	2B
178	Alec Burleson	STL	1B/OF
179	Daulton Varsho	TOR	OF
180	Brayan Bello	BOS	SP
181	Bobby Miller	LAD	SP
182	Gavin Stone	LAD	SP
183	Jason Foley	DET	RP
184	Ronel Blanco	HOU	SP
185	Gavin Williams	CLE	SP
186	Reynaldo Lopez	ATL	SP
187	Andrew Vaughn	CHW	1B
188	Nestor Cortes	NYY	SP
189	Brady Singer	KC	SP
190	Josh Bell	ARI	1B
191	Logan O’Hoppe	LAA	C
192	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	LAD	SP
193	Jeffrey Springs	TB	SP
194	Jurickson Profar	SD	OF
195	Giancarlo Stanton	NYY	OF
196	Michael Busch	CHC	1B/3B
197	Brendan Donovan	STL	2B/OF
198	Carlos Estevez	PHI	RP
199	Brendan Rodgers	COL	2B
200	Bryan De La Cruz	PIT	OF
201	Robbie Ray	SF	SP
202	Joc Pederson	ARI	OF
203	Byron Buxton	MIN	OF
204	J.D. Martinez	NYM	DH
205	Brandon Lowe	TB	2B
206	Ha-Seong Kim	SD	2B/3B/SS
207	Ryan Pepiot	TB	SP
208	Jordan Montgomery	ARI	SP
209	Michael Wacha	KC	SP
210	Clayton Kershaw	LAD	SP
211	Colton Cowser	BAL	OF
212	Zack Gelof	OAK	2B
213	Lars Nootbaar	STL	OF
214	Shane Baz	TB	SP
215	Daniel Hudson	LAD	RP
216	Max Muncy	LAD	3B
217	Eduardo Rodriguez	ARI	SP
218	Kyle Gibson	STL	SP
219	Merrill Kelly	ARI	SP
220	Aaron Civale	MIL	SP
221	Wilyer Abreu	BOS	OF
222	Ryan O’Hearn	BAL	1B/OF
223	Bo Bichette	TOR	SS
224	Heliot Ramos	SF	OF
225	Erick Fedde	STL	SP
226	Chad Green	TOR	RP
227	Luis Severino	NYM	SP
228	Jake McCarthy	ARI	OF
229	Cal Raleigh	SEA	C
230	Jarred Kelenic	ATL	OF
231	Mark Vientos	NYM	3B
232	Dean Kremer	BAL	SP
233	Xavier Edwards	MIA	2B/SS
234	Hunter Greene	CIN	SP
235	Colt Keith	DET	2B/3B
236	Jeff McNeil	NYM	2B/OF
237	Tyler Stephenson	CIN	C
238	Willi Castro	MIN	2B/SS/3B/OF
239	Nolan Jones	COL	OF
240	Brandon Marsh	PHI	OF
241	Grayson Rodriguez	BAL	SP
242	Sean Manaea	NYM	SP
243	Lawrence Butler	OAK	OF
244	Max Scherzer	TEX	SP
245	Miles Mikolas	STL	SP
246	Ryne Nelson	ARI	SP
247	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	C
248	Michael Massey	KC	2B
249	Lucas Erceg	KC	RP
250	Matt Vierling	DET	3B/OF
251	Nolan Schanuel	LAA	1B
252	Justin Martinez	ARI	RP
253	Ryan Walker	SF	RP
254	Sean Murphy	ATL	C
255	Noelvi Marte	CIN	3B
256	Justin Turner	SEA	1B
257	Eugenio Suarez	ARI	3B
258	Kerry Carpenter	DET	OF
259	Marcus Stroman	NYY	SP
260	Starling Marte	NYM	OF
261	Tommy Pham	STL	OF
262	Ryan Jeffers	MIN	C
263	Seranthony Dominguez	BAL	RP
264	David Hamilton	BOS	2B/SS
265	Michael Kopech	LAD	RP
266	Walker Buehler	LAD	SP
267	Matt Waldron	SD	SP
268	Jose Miranda	MIN	3B
269	MacKenzie Gore	WSH	SP
270	Shea Langeliers	OAK	C
271	Jon Gray	TEX	SP
272	Leody Taveras	TEX	OF
273	Calvin Faucher	MIA	RP
274	Josh Smith	TEX	SS/3B/OF
275	Keibert Ruiz	WSH	C
276	Tyler Fitzgerald	SF	SS/OF
277	Jorge Polanco	SEA	2B
278	Joey Ortiz	MIL	2B/3B
279	Paul Blackburn	NYM	SP
280	Tanner Scott	SD	RP
281	Tyler Anderson	LAA	SP
282	Jo Adell	LAA	OF
283	John Brebbia	CHW	RP
284	Jose Quintana	NYM	SP
285	Luis Gil	NYY	SP
286	Spencer Arrighetti	HOU	SP
287	Jameson Taillon	CHC	SP
288	Jesus Sanchez	MIA	OF
289	Spencer Schwellenbach	ATL	SP
290	Austin Wells	NYY	C
291	Andrew Abbott	CIN	SP
292	Evan Phillips	LAD	RP
293	Kyle Harrison	SF	SP
294	Orlando Arcia	ATL	SS
295	Jeff Hoffman	PHI	RP
296	Tommy Edman	LAD	2B/SS/OF
297	Craig Kimbrel	BAL	RP
298	Ozzie Albies	ATL	2B
299	Andrew Heaney	TEX	SP
300	Jonah Heim	TEX	C
301	Max Kepler	MIN	OF
302	Ben Joyce	LAA	RP
303	Edwin Uceta	TB	RP
304	Frankie Montas	MIL	SP
305	Gavin Lux	LAD	2B/OF
306	Alex Vesia	LAD	RP
307	Jackson Holliday	BAL	2B/SS
308	Charlie Blackmon	COL	OF
309	Connor Wong	BOS	C
310	Eloy Jimenez	BAL	UT
311	Alex Verdugo	NYY	OF
312	Jose Siri	TB	OF
313	Jacob deGrom	TEX	SP
314	James McArthur	KC	RP
315	Jesse Winker	NYM	OF
316	JP Sears	OAK	SP
317	Zack Littell	TB	SP
318	Ben Lively	CLE	SP
319	MJ Melendez	KC	OF
320	Zach Eflin	BAL	SP
321	David Peterson	NYM	SP
322	Jake Irvin	WSH	SP
323	Matt Strahm	PHI	RP
324	JJ Bleday	OAK	OF
325	Geraldo Perdomo	ARI	2B/SS
326	Danny Jansen	BOS	C
327	David Festa	MIN	SP
328	Anthony Rendon	LAA	3B
329	Drew Rasmussen	TB	SP
330	Junior Caminero	TB	3B
331	Carlos Santana	MIN	1B
332	Yennier Cano	BAL	RP
333	Bowden Francis	TOR	SP
334	Spencer Torkelson	DET	1B
335	Isiah Kiner-Falefa	PIT	2B/SS/3B/OF
336	Michael Toglia	COL	1B/OF
337	Nick Martinez	CIN	SP
338	Pete Crow-Armstrong	CHC	OF
339	Yu Darvish	SD	SP
340	Austin Riley	ATL	3B
341	Michael Lorenzen	KC	SP
342	Camilo Doval	SF	RP
343	Luke Raley	SEA	1B/OF
344	Max Meyer	MIA	SP
345	Jake Meyers	HOU	OF
346	Kevin Ginkel	ARI	RP
347	Gio Urshela	ATL	3B
348	Whit Merrifield	ATL	2B/OF
349	Will Brennan	CLE	OF
350	Shelby Miller	DET	RP
351	Thairo Estrada	SF	2B/SS
352	Luis Ortiz	PIT	SP
353	Colin Rea	MIL	SP
354	Matt McLain	CIN	2B/SS
355	Reid Detmers	LAA	SP
356	Hector Neris	HOU	RP
357	Pete Fairbanks	TB	RP
358	Jason Adam	SD	RP
359	Trevor Megill	MIL	RP
360	Andrew Benintendi	CHW	OF
361	David Robertson	TEX	RP
362	Reese Olson	DET	SP
363	Jacob Young	WSH	OF
364	Mitch Spence	OAK	SP
365	Alejandro Kirk	TOR	C