Fantasy managers and fans of the three first-place NL teams got a boost last week when Max Fried, Brandon Woodruff, and Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound. Their returns were offset by Joe Ryan, Shane McClanahan, Joe Musgrove, and Carlos Rodon hitting the IL. The injuries to Musgrove and McClanahan are the most severe. Musgrove may not return until mid-September, while McClanahan is likely done for the season. The Rays can’t get a break, having already lost Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs for 2023.

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Top-50 Starting Pitchers: Aug. 14 – 20

To refresh, we begin our weekly rankings with the rest-of-season Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) and adjust them based on the Pitcher Planner, the players’ season-to-date stats, and recent performance. Rotations change often, so 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 Schedules We Like Next Week

Several off days dot the schedule next week as MLB schedulers did their best to give players a break from the summer heat. As a result, there are fewer two-start pitchers than usual, with only eight in our Top 50. Of those, three have pretty good matchups ahead, starting with Bobby Miller. The Dodgers’ rookie gets two home starts against the Brewers and the Marlins. Framber Valdez and Logan Gilbert have decent schedules also, though not as juicy as Millers’. Valdez will face the Marlins in Miami and then return home for a tilt against the red-hot Seattle Mariners. Gilbert gets two road starts against the Royals and Astros. The Astros matchup isn’t particularly favorable, but the champs haven’t scored runs at a high pace at home this year.

Two-Start Starters With Schedules We Don’t Like Next Week

Conversely, two-start hurlers Yu Darvish, Merrill Kelly, and JP Sears have rougher roads ahead, though not too terrible. Darvish gets the Orioles and Diamondbacks, but at least the games are at home. Kelly has to travel to Denver to face the Rockies before meeting the Padres in San Diego. Sears gets the Cardinals in St. Louis before taking on the Orioles at home.

Single-Start Starters With Schedules We Like Next Week

Several pitchers in our Top 50 face an opponent next week who is offensively challenged. Bailey Ober, Kenta Maeda, and Tanner Bibee all have home dates scheduled against the Tigers. Baltimore’s Jack Flaherty and Kyle Bradish get the A’s in Oakland, while Justin Steele has a home date against the Royals. Bobby Miller isn’t the only Dodgers with appealing matchups next week, as the club is home against Milwaukee and Miami all week. Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn will get the Brewers, and Julio Urias will face the Marlins. Elsewhere, Tarik Skubal and Eduardo Rodriguez travel to Cleveland to take on the Guardians, while Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez play host to the Pirates.

Single-Start Starters With Schedules We Don’t Like Next Week

Ten of our Top 50 starters are good enough to make the list despite less-than-ideal matchups next week. The Brewers have the brutal task of traveling to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers and Arlington to face the Rangers. Corbin Burnes gets a start in Chavez Ravine, while Brandon Woodruff (SP – MIL) and Freddy Peralta take on the Texas heat. They won’t be alone in their misery as Sandy Alcantara also faces the Dodgers in L.A., and the Angels’ duo of Shohei Ohtani and Lucas Giolito will take on the Rangers on the road. Also facing a difficult challenge next week are Logan Webb, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, and Dylan Cease. Webb is scheduled to face the Braves in Atlanta, Bassitt and Berrios travel to Cincinnati, and Cease has a date with the Rockies in the thin Denver air.

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