So, I could have devoted my time to trying to get into the minds of every manager in major league baseball. That sounds pretty fun, right?

I say this because trying to figure out who will be starting for each team the weekend after the All-Star Game can be living hell. A.J. Hinch is a maniac. Scott Servais is confusing as hell. The Rays already have no idea who’s going to start on a particular day. It would have been foolish for me to try to do a weekend update for the pitching planner.

Instead, I decided to do something a bit more beneficial to the readers. We all have questions on who in our pitching staff is the real deal or the fake snake. Who can we count on down the stretch to either turn their season around or continue their success? Which guys could potentially hit innings limits or get bumped out of rotations due to a trade?

In an attempt to start the pitching planner rankings on the right foot for the second half, I have completed my midseason starting pitcher rankings. Not only will this help you evaluate your staff, but it should help you in your trades in redraft leagues.

Click here to view the featured chart

Midseason Starting Pitcher Rankings

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Rankings

Alright, the chart is pretty self-explanatory. The ‘Wody’ rankings are my own and I will be comparing my rankings to the ‘FantasyPros’ experts using the ‘diff’ column. The other four columns represent how many times a player landed in the four tiers in my weekly pitching planner. ‘AS1’ and ‘AS2’ are the Auto-Start and Auto-Stream tiers. Lastly, ‘DS’ and ‘BB’ are of course the Dream Stream and Buyer Beware tiers.

Name Team Wody FP Diff AS1 AS2 DS BB Chris Sale Red Sox 1 2 1 16 Max Scherzer Nationals 2 1 -1 16 Corey Kluber Indians 3 3 0 16 Jacob deGrom Mets 4 6 2 9 7 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 5 7 2 11 Luis Severino Yankees 6 4 -2 9 7 Justin Verlander Astros 7 5 -2 9 7 Noah Syndergaard Mets 8 10 2 6 5 Gerrit Cole Astros 9 14 5 9 4 3 Trevor Bauer Indians 10 15 5 5 11 James Paxton Mariners 11 9 -2 15 Aaron Nola Phillies 12 8 -4 16 Stephen Strasburg Nationals 13 11 -2 1 11 Zack Greinke Diamondbacks 14 12 -2 14 2 Carlos Carrasco Indians 15 16 1 14 Blake Snell Rays 16 19 3 5 9 2 Jose Berrios Twins 17 23 6 4 12 Charlie Morton Astros 18 21 3 12 3 Lance McCullers Astros 19 22 3 8 8 Patrick Corbin Diamondbacks 20 20 0 9 7 Ross Stripling Dodgers 21 39 18 8 Miles Mikolas Cardinals 22 38 16 14 1 Kenta Maeda Dodgers 23 45 22 14 Alex Wood Dodgers 24 29 5 3 13 Tyler Skaggs Angels 25 46 21 12 3 Jameson Taillon Pirates 26 34 8 2 13 Madison Bumgarner Giants 27 17 -11 6 Mike Foltynewicz Braves 28 43 14 12 4 Jack Flaherty Cardinals 29 49 19 8 3 Robbie Ray Diamondbacks 30 18 -13 8 Andrew Heaney Angels 31 57 25 7 6 Mike Clevinger Indians 32 33 0 14 1 Rick Porcello Red Sox 33 36 2 15 1 Carlos Martinez Cardinals 34 13 -22 6 7 Walker Buehler Dodgers 35 48 12 5 2 Nick Pivetta Phillies 36 56 19 14 2 J.A. Happ Blue Jays 37 41 3 15 1 Masahiro Tanaka Yankees 38 32 -7 3 10 Shane Bieber Indians 39 67 26 3 2 David Price Red Sox 39 40 0 15 1 Johnny Cueto Giants 40 58 16 6 Chris Archer Rays 41 26 -17 6 6 Michael Fulmer Tigers 42 44 0 8 8 Dallas Keuchel Astros 43 28 -17 4 12 Dylan Bundy Orioles 44 30 -16 7 8 Nick Kingham Pirates 45 74 27 6 1 Sean Manaea Athletics 46 37 -11 13 3 Yu Darvish Cubs 47 31 -18 7 2 Eduardo Rodriguez Red Sox 49 42 -7 12 1 Jon Lester Cubs 50 24 -26 15 1 Marco Gonzales Mariners 51 68 17 5 7 Vince Velasquez Phillies 52 81 29 12 3 Jose Quintana Cubs 53 35 -18 16 Rich Hill Dodgers 54 50 -4 5 6 Domingo German Yankees 55 77 22 5 4 Nathan Eovaldi Rays 56 72 16 3 5 Kyle Gibson Twins 57 66 9 6 10 Jake Arrieta Phillies 58 27 -31 14 Kevin Gausman Orioles 59 61 2 5 10 Zack Wheeler Mets 60 91 31 7 6 Zach Eflin Phillies 61 84 23 5 5 Joey Lucchesi Padres 62 80 18 7 3 Sean Newcomb Braves 63 53 -10 11 4 Kyle Hendricks Cubs 64 25 -39 16 Joe Musgrove Pirates 65 70 5 4 2 Gio Gonzalez Nationals 66 52 -14 15 Luis Castillo Reds 67 60 -7 13 3 Tyler Anderson Rockies 68 92 24 5 11 Andrew Suarez Giants 69 104 35 6 4 Marcus Stroman Blue Jays 70 47 -23 8 2 Steven Matz Mets 71 76 5 12 4 Cole Hamels Rangers 72 54 -18 5 11 Freddy Peralta Brewers 73 62 -11 5 Carlos Rodon White Sox 74 75 1 3 2 Jonathan Gray Rockies 75 65 -10 16 Luke Weaver Cardinals 76 55 -21 16 CC Sabathia Yankees 77 89 12 5 10 Junior Guerra Brewers 78 79 1 5 8 German Marquez Rockies 79 99 20 7 9 Zack Godley Diamondbacks 80 51 -29 12 3 Anibal Sanchez Braves 81 105 24 3 5 Tyson Ross Padres 82 69 -13 7 6 Mike Minor Rangers 83 95 12 6 10 Felix Pena Angels 84 106 22 1 2 Tyler Mahle Reds 85 83 -2 7 9 Wade LeBlanc Mariners 86 107 21 1 7 Jordan Zimmermann Tigers 87 108 21 6 Sonny Gray Yankees 88 71 -17 12 4 Mike Leake Mariners 89 85 -4 3 9 Jeff Samardzija Giants 90 63 -27 5 3 Danny Duffy Royals 91 73 -18 8 8 Ivan Nova Pirates 92 101 9 9 5 Trevor Cahill Athletics 93 97 4 3 4 Jose Urena Marlins 94 109 15 1 13 Frankie Montas Athletics 95 110 15 3 3 Brent Suter Brewers 96 111 15 4 10 Dereck Rodriguez Giants 97 112 15 2 2 Jake Odorizzi Twins 98 64 -34 2 14 Tanner Roark Nationals 99 78 -21 9 6 Chase Anderson Brewers 100 59 -41 6 9 Felix Hernandez Mariners 101 113 12 4 12 Hyun-Jin Ryu Dodgers 102 100 -2 5 Matt Harvey Reds 103 82 -21 9 Jimmy Nelson Brewers 104 86 -18 Kyle Freeland Rockies 105 90 -15 13 Jeremy Hellickson Nationals 106 114 8 1 7 Max Fried Braves 107 115 8 2 Jhoulys Chacin Brewers 108 93 -15 2 11 John Gant Cardinals 109 116 7 1 2 Clayton Richard Padres 110 117 7 2 14 Mike Fiers Tigers 111 88 -23 7 Brandon McCarthy Braves 112 102 -10 4 7 Marco Estrada Blue Jays 113 103 -10 1 12 Jakob Junis Royals 114 118 4 6 9 Julio Teheran Braves 115 87 -28 2 13 Lance Lynn Twins 116 94 -22 4 8 Jake Faria Rays 117 119 2 5 4 Matt Boyd Tigers 118 120 2 1 14 Fernando Romero Twins 119 98 -21 5 3 Aaron Sanchez Blue Jays 120 96 -24 1 8

Guys that I’m high on…

I’m not Dodging any starters in Los Angeles as I am somehow the high man on Ross Stripling , Kenta Maeda , and Walker Buehler . As long as none of them get crazy innings limits, I’m feeling good about my aggressive ranking.

, , and . As long as none of them get crazy innings limits, I’m feeling good about my aggressive ranking. How is the fantasy community STILL underrating Miles Mikolas ? The dude’s been an animal this year and really has pieced together a nice season.

? The dude’s been an animal this year and really has pieced together a nice season. Please, Pittsburgh, let Nick Kingham pitch in the majors interrupted for the remainder of 2018. He’s deserved it and is a much better option than the Trevor Williamses of the world.

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I love what I’ve seen from Domingo German despite the elevated ERA. However, I am concerned that the Yankees make a move to acquire a starting pitcher before the trade deadline. That would effectively knock German back down to a mid-relief role, sadly.

despite the elevated ERA. However, I am concerned that the Yankees make a move to acquire a starting pitcher before the trade deadline. That would effectively knock German back down to a mid-relief role, sadly. If Nathan Eovaldi keeps doing what he’s doing, the Rays could turn a low-risk contract from a year ago into a nice prospect. Eovaldi would be a rental for a potential contender and that would raise his eye value quite a bit for most rankers. I’ve decided to be proactively aggressive.

keeps doing what he’s doing, the Rays could turn a low-risk contract from a year ago into a nice prospect. Eovaldi would be a rental for a potential contender and that would raise his eye value quite a bit for most rankers. I’ve decided to be proactively aggressive. C’mon, Joey Lucchesi, time to stay healthy and dominate down the stretch!

Not so much…

The guys I’m low on all have a theme: great ERA, terrible underlying metrics.

We’ve seen flashes of the old Madison Bumgarner , but not the full picture. Maybe the All-Star Break will help him refresh.

, but not the full picture. Maybe the All-Star Break will help him refresh. I kept throwing Robbie Ray and Carlos Martinez in the Auto-Stream tier out of trust and stubbornness, but that time ends now. They’ve got to prove to me that they can regain their 2017 form.

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It’s funny to me that Dallas Keuchel is the worst Houston starter and he’s still ranked in the top 50. Good luck everyone else in the American League.

is the worst Houston starter and he’s still ranked in the top 50. Good luck everyone else in the American League. Southpaws Sean Manaea and Jon Lester both have nice ERA’s, but where have the strikeouts gone? You can’t keep expecting these results with a K% under 20%.

and both have nice ERA’s, but where have the strikeouts gone? You can’t keep expecting these results with a K% under 20%. My ranking on Jake Arrieta will throw off the most readers. I don’t know, I’m just thinking he’s at the Cole Hamels stage of his career. I could be COMPLETELY wrong, but he’s become very hittable and his 9.2% K-BB% is incredibly mediocre.

Watch List

There were some players that were left off of the list above that I wanted to at least mention. I grouped them into three sections: injured, minors, and reliever. Each of these guys has the chance to be viable streamers given the opportunity and/or bill of health.

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Name Team Category Note Shohei Ohtani Angels Injured Hitting, elbow issue lingers Mike Soroka Braves Injured 60-day DL, retro to 6/20 Michael Wacha Cardinals Injured 10-day DL, retro to 6/21 Kolby Allard Braves Minors Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A) Luiz Gohara Braves Minors Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A) Enyel De Los Santos Phillies Minors Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Triple-A) Jalen Beeks Red Sox Minors Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A) Michael Kopech White Sox Minors Charlotte Knights (Triple-A) Jonathan Loaisiga Yankees Minors Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A) Justus Sheffield Yankees Minors Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A) Mike Montgomery Cubs Reliever 3.20 ERA as starter in 2018 Clay Buchholz Diamondbacks Reliever 2.56 ERA as starter in 2018 Seth Lugo Mets Reliever 3.52 ERA as starter in 2018

Notables

It doesn’t appear that the Angels are rushing Shohei Ohtani back to the mound anytime soon. While he is hitting regularly now, the Angels are falling out of the playoff race and could just decide to save his arm for 2019.

back to the mound anytime soon. While he is hitting regularly now, the Angels are falling out of the playoff race and could just decide to save his arm for 2019. Michael Wacha and Mike Soroka could both be out until mid-to-late August. I don’t know your league format, but I would be moving on in most redraft leagues.

and could both be out until mid-to-late August. I don’t know your league format, but I would be moving on in most redraft leagues. Of the minor league arms, I believe in Kolby Allard and Justus Sheffield the most on a talent basis. Both southpaws have incredible repertoires and should have no qualms about adjusting to the next level.

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However, the minor leaguer that I believe gets the most extended look of the group is Michael Kopech . There will be growing pains, but there’s no reason that Kopech couldn’t put up nice strikeout numbers right away.

. There will be growing pains, but there’s no reason that Kopech couldn’t put up nice strikeout numbers right away. If you have read my recent pitching planners, you know that I’m upset by the Mets. The reason behind moving Seth Lugo back to the bullpen did not sit well with me. Nonetheless, as the sun rises and sets, Mets starters get hurt and Lugo should have another shot soon.

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