Last week I gave you my top 99 hitters for points leagues. This week I will shift to pitchers. After all, pitchers are generally the bread winners in points leagues as scoring systems tend to be skewed towards starting pitchers. Like my rankings for hitters, this list is based on a formula that combines year-to-date performance with preseason expectations. The primary metric I am using is points per start as I feel like that is the best stat to use to evaluate a how a pitcher is doing in points leagues.
Here are my top 99 pitchers in points leagues:
| Rank | Name | FPTS | PPS | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | 209 | 26.13 | 24.45 |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | 163 | 27.17 | 24.40 |
| 3 | Carlos Rodon | 132 | 22.00 | 22.00 |
| 4 | Shane Bieber | 173 | 21.63 | 21.13 |
| 5 | Trevor Bauer | 197 | 21.89 | 20.85 |
| 6 | Max Scherzer | 174 | 21.75 | 20.84 |
| 7 | Tyler Glasnow | 198 | 22.00 | 20.21 |
| 8 | Kevin Gausman | 177 | 22.13 | 19.67 |
| 9 | Freddy Peralta | 155 | 19.38 | 19.38 |
| 10 | Alex Wood | 126 | 21.00 | 19.20 |
| 11 | John Means | 180 | 22.50 | 19.13 |
| 12 | Lance Lynn | 122 | 20.33 | 19.08 |
| 13 | Brandon Woodruff | 165 | 20.63 | 19.07 |
| 14 | Jack Flaherty | 163 | 20.38 | 19.03 |
| 15 | Corbin Burnes | 125 | 20.83 | 18.99 |
| 16 | Yu Darvish | 149 | 18.63 | 18.40 |
| 17 | Shohei Ohtani | 107 | 21.40 | 18.31 |
| 18 | Walker Buehler | 127 | 18.14 | 17.84 |
| 19 | Julio Urias | 155 | 19.38 | 17.76 |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | 154 | 17.11 | 17.29 |
| 21 | Zack Wheeler | 146 | 18.25 | 17.23 |
| 22 | Joe Musgrove | 141 | 17.63 | 16.54 |
| 23 | Aaron Nola | 139 | 15.44 | 16.21 |
| 24 | Trevor Rogers | 145 | 18.13 | 16.14 |
| 25 | Nick Pivetta | 128 | 16.00 | 16.00 |
| 26 | Lance McCullers | 117 | 16.71 | 15.92 |
| 27 | Huascar Ynoa | 129 | 18.43 | 15.90 |
| 28 | Aaron Civale | 138 | 17.25 | 15.87 |
| 29 | Taijuan Walker | 120 | 17.14 | 15.53 |
| 30 | Danny Duffy | 120 | 17.14 | 15.38 |
| 31 | Cristian Javier | 113 | 16.14 | 15.36 |
| 32 | Eduardo Rodriguez | 113 | 16.14 | 15.28 |
| 33 | Anthony DeSclafani | 136 | 17.00 | 15.26 |
| 34 | Vince Velasquez | 76 | 15.20 | 15.20 |
| 35 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | 107 | 15.29 | 15.19 |
| 36 | Kyle Gibson | 135 | 16.88 | 15.10 |
| 37 | Chris Bassitt | 124 | 15.50 | 14.84 |
| 38 | Jose Berrios | 118 | 14.75 | 14.82 |
| 39 | Ian Anderson | 119 | 14.88 | 14.58 |
| 40 | Robbie Ray | 91 | 15.17 | 14.46 |
| 41 | J.T. Brubaker | 101 | 14.43 | 14.43 |
| 42 | Tyler Mahle | 122 | 15.25 | 14.39 |
| 43 | Michael Pineda | 105 | 15.00 | 14.29 |
| 44 | Zach Eflin | 119 | 14.88 | 14.28 |
| 45 | Zac Gallen | 68 | 13.60 | 14.15 |
| 46 | Madison Bumgarner | 119 | 14.88 | 13.85 |
| 47 | Marcus Stroman | 101 | 14.43 | 13.76 |
| 48 | Zach Plesac | 110 | 13.75 | 13.73 |
| 49 | Lucas Giolito | 86 | 10.75 | 13.70 |
| 50 | Blake Snell | 86 | 10.75 | 13.60 |
| 51 | Dylan Cease | 103 | 14.71 | 13.58 |
| 52 | Domingo German | 95 | 13.57 | 13.57 |
| 53 | Jordan Montgomery | 99 | 14.14 | 13.48 |
| 54 | Zack Greinke | 112 | 12.44 | 13.36 |
| 55 | Yusei Kikuchi | 101 | 14.43 | 13.34 |
| 56 | Jon Gray | 116 | 14.50 | 13.34 |
| 57 | Matthew Boyd | 95 | 13.57 | 13.25 |
| 58 | Cole Irvin | 106 | 13.25 | 13.25 |
| 59 | Jose Urquidy | 107 | 13.38 | 13.18 |
| 60 | Nathan Eovaldi | 107 | 13.38 | 13.08 |
| 61 | Tyler Anderson | 115 | 14.38 | 13.03 |
| 62 | Griffin Canning | 78 | 13.00 | 12.79 |
| 63 | Steven Matz | 109 | 13.63 | 12.79 |
| 64 | Andrew Heaney | 85 | 12.14 | 12.72 |
| 65 | Adbert Alzolay | 76 | 12.67 | 12.67 |
| 66 | Sean Manaea | 101 | 12.63 | 12.55 |
| 67 | Kwang Hyun Kim | 62 | 12.40 | 12.54 |
| 68 | Chris Flexen | 87 | 12.43 | 12.43 |
| 69 | Mike Minor | 98 | 12.25 | 12.39 |
| 70 | Johnny Cueto | 64 | 12.80 | 12.35 |
| 71 | Frankie Montas | 97 | 12.13 | 12.29 |
| 72 | Wade Miley | 92 | 13.14 | 12.18 |
| 73 | Corey Kluber | 90 | 11.25 | 12.12 |
| 74 | Rich Hill | 97 | 12.13 | 12.06 |
| 75 | Sandy Alcantara | 105 | 11.67 | 11.90 |
| 76 | Luis Garcia | 65 | 10.83 | 11.48 |
| 77 | J.A. Happ | 67 | 11.17 | 11.46 |
| 78 | Pablo Lopez | 87 | 10.88 | 11.38 |
| 79 | Charlie Morton | 78 | 9.75 | 11.23 |
| 80 | Jake Arrieta | 80 | 11.43 | 11.16 |
| 81 | Garrett Richards | 87 | 10.88 | 10.99 |
| 82 | Sonny Gray | 47 | 9.40 | 10.96 |
| 83 | Adam Wainwright | 81 | 10.13 | 10.81 |
| 84 | Jameson Taillon | 70 | 10.00 | 10.76 |
| 85 | David Peterson | 69 | 9.86 | 10.71 |
| 86 | Spencer Turnbull | 52 | 10.40 | 10.61 |
| 87 | Drew Smyly | 58 | 9.67 | 10.53 |
| 88 | Kenta Maeda | 59 | 8.43 | 10.52 |
| 89 | Logan Webb | 73 | 10.43 | 10.44 |
| 90 | Luke Weaver | 71 | 10.14 | 10.34 |
| 91 | Dallas Keuchel | 75 | 9.38 | 10.30 |
| 92 | Justus Sheffield | 67 | 9.57 | 10.12 |
| 93 | Patrick Corbin | 56 | 8.00 | 10.08 |
| 94 | Triston McKenzie | 54 | 9.00 | 10.05 |
| 95 | Aaron Sanchez | 60 | 10.00 | 10.00 |
| 96 | Mike Foltynewicz | 77 | 9.63 | 9.99 |
| 97 | Carlos Martinez | 66 | 9.43 | 9.89 |
| 98 | Marco Gonzales | 41 | 8.20 | 9.80 |
| 99 | Dylan Bundy | 64 | 8.00 | 9.79 |
So let’s discuss this list a little bit as I’m sure I’m going to get beat over the head in the comments. First of all, I just noticed that Vince Velasquez is 34th on the list. He should actually be 60th. It was just too much work to rearrange that table, so I left it as is. This is my first attempt at putting together these rankings. I expect the process to be a bit bumpy over the next few weeks. So bear with me.
Gerrit Cole – It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see him at the top. Although, if Jacob deGrom wasn’t on the IL right now I think you would have seen him in the top spot. Regardless, Cole has been a pitcher possessed. He is striking out over 13 batters per nine, but his biggest improvement this season is his walk rate. Everyone is talking about Corbin Burnes not walking a batter, but in case you weren’t aware, Cole has issued three free passes in 52.6 innings pitched and Burnes has one in 34.3. Just saying…
Carlos Rodon – He finally had a not so great outing on Saturday resulting in only 2 points. Doh! On the whole, however, Rodon has been outstanding and has certainly helped a ton of fantasy teams to this point. With that said I’d also like to suggest you sell high. I just don’t see him staying at his current level. And do we trust him not to get hurt.
Freddy Peralta – Only Jacob deGrom (14.6) and Shane Bieber (13.9) have a higher K/9 than Peralta (13.8). Freddy seems like the real deal. I can see him holding steady on this list and with RP eligibility he’s a pitcher I think you are going to find on a lot of championship rosters.
Alex Wood – The “wood” puns are practically unlimited. I will spare you today. I woodn’t want to offend you. Alex has been superb giving owners about 21 points per start. I’m not confident he can keep that up, so I’d sell high if you can. The fact that I picked up Rodon, Peralta and Wood off of waivers is most likely why I’m in first place.
Kevin Gausman – Here’s another name you’re going to see on a lot of first place teams. Considering his ADP (175), Gausman has proved quite the bargain. I’m holding. I did pick him as a preseason value suggesting he be drafted in the 12th. I hope you listened.
Here are a few starting pitchers that have to start doing better sooner than later.
Luis Castillo – If you can buy low I think this is the time. I’m not sure he will rebound to be a top fifteen SP, but he’s going to rebound to some degree. If you can get him a discount, I say go for it.
I’ve got 99 pitchers and a German Marquez ain’t one. I was really looking forward to him taking a step forward this season. Now I’m on the verge of dropping him! I’m likely to hold him until he can string together a few good starts and then try and unload him.
Some other pitchers that are hopefully just underperforming: Lucas Giolito, Dylan Bundy, Sonny Gray, Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, Kenta Maeda, Chris Paddack and Patrick Corbin.
Follow malamoney on Twitter at @malamoney
