A quartet of lefties – Blake Snell (SP – SD), Braxton Garrett (SP – MIA), Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD), and Ranger Suarez (SP – PHI) – had dominant Junes. Only Suarez doesn’t crack our Top 50 this week, and perhaps he should have, given his upcoming matchup at Miami.

Kershaw is our top-ranked starter for next week if he makes both starts. His shoulder felt “cranky” after his last one, so keep tabs on him if he’s on your roster. Below are our top starters for next week based on ability, matchups, number of scheduled starts, and momentum.

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Top-50 Starting Pitchers: July 3 – July 9

For those new to this column, our planning starts with the rest-of-season Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) and is adjusted based on FantasyPros’ Pitcher Planner, their season-to-date stats, and recent performance. As rotations change frequently, double-check the planner before setting your lineup.

The complete Top 50 is below, but first, let’s review some of next week’s more intriguing matchups.

Two-Start Starters with Tough Matchups Next Week

Typically we start with our two-start starters that have two good matchups upcoming. However, there really aren’t any on the current slate except for perhaps Logan Webb (SP – SF), who has home dates against the Mariners and Rockies. So we’ll jump in with the nail-biters – players you have to start since they have two games but will be nervous due to the schedule.

The worst schedule of the week award goes to Mitch Keller (SP – PIT), who is having a fine year but will have to face two tough NL West teams on the road in the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. The next three hurlers have one toughie and one neutral matchup. Cristian Javier (SP – HOU) will take on the Rangers in Arlington before facing the Mariners at home. Snell gets the Angels and Mets at home, and Zach Eflin (SP – TB) will face the Phillies and Braves in Tampa.

Two-Start Starters with Mixed Matchups Next Week

Several pitchers will toe the rubber against one good and one not-so-good offense next week. Aaron Nola (SP – PHI) has had a disappointing 2023 and will try to get on track with two road starts in Florida next week. He’ll face the Rays early in the week before taking on the Marlins on the weekend.

Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (SP – ATL) also has two road starts scheduled against the Guardians and Rays – two teams on the polar opposite of the offensive spectrum. Brayan Bello (SP – BOS), Shane Bieber (SP – CLE), and Joe Ryan (SP – MIN) have two home starts in the week to come. Bello will face the Rangers and A’s, Bieber the Braves and Royals, and Ryan the Royals and Orioles.

Solo Starters with Cherry Matchups Next Week

On the single-start spectrum, we love Pablo Lopez (SP – MIN), Kenta Maeda (SP – MIN), and Tanner Bibee (SP – CLE) next week, as they all have home dates against the Royals. Elsewhere, two Cy Young contenders will face mediocre offenses on the road. Kevin Gausman (SP – TOR) gets the Tigers in Detroit, while Zack Wheeler (SP – PHI) will try to outduel the Marlins in Miami.

Solo Starters with Onerous Matchups Next Week

On the flip side, Spencer Strider (SP – ATL) and Charlie Morton (SP – ATL) will try to take the sting out of the Rays in Tampa. Also pitching in that series, on the other side, is Tyler Glasnow (SP – TB), who has struggled with his control since his activation but is striking out 13.35 batters per nine. Last up is Nathan Eovaldi (SP – TEX), who will face his old team in Fenway Park, where the Red Sox are a completely different offense than on the road.

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