Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings: Javier Assad, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha (Week 24)

We’re getting down to the wire, with only two weeks remaining in the regular season. Outside of the teams still fighting for a playoff spot, rotations are very fluid this time of year. Starters on squads already destined for the post-season may pitch limited innings and skip starts, while veterans on eliminated teams may not pitch at all. Keep a close eye on the schedule before making any decisions – it could make or break your team down the stretch.

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Top 50 Starting Pitchers: Sept. 18 – Sept. 24

As always, our weekly rankings start with FantasyPros’ rest-of-season Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) and are fine-tuned based on the Pitcher Planner, the players’ season-to-date stats, and their recent performance. It’s worth mentioning again to double-check the planner before making any roster decisions based on the schedule this time of year.

The complete top 50 is below, but let’s review a few of next week’s more interesting matchups first:

Double-Start Starters with Good Matchups Next Week

Twelve of our Top 50 starters next week appear headed for a two-start week. Four of them have pretty favorable matchups for both games. Freddy Peralta (SP – MIL) is our number-one ranked starter next week, partly due to road matchups against the Cardinals and Marlins. Michael Wacha (SP – SD) gets the “road Rockies” and will also host the Cardinals in San Diego. Lance Lynn (SP – LAD) and the Cubs’ Javier Assad (SP,RP – CHC) have the best schedules on paper. Both starters have two home games on tap: Lynn against the Tigers and Giants and Assad versus the Pirates and Rockies.

Double-Start Starters with a Good and a Bad Matchup Next Week

Three of the remaining two-start starters next week have a mixed path in front of them. Justin Verlander (SP – HOU) has two home contests, the first vs. the Orioles, who thrive on the road, and the second against the Royals, who do not. Zack Wheeler (SP – PHI) has to face Atlanta at Truist Park but then gets the Mets in Philly. Bryan Woo (SP – SEA), whose club desperately needs wins, will go on the road to face two AL West foes. First, he’ll take on the Athletics (Yay!). Next, he’ll challenge the Rangers (Boo!).

Single-Start Starters with Good Matchups Next Week

As is typically the case, several pitchers on our list fall into the “one good matchup” category. First up are Blake Snell (SP – SD) and Seth Lugo (SP,RP – SD) of the Padres, who will host the Rockies. Also hosting a not-very-scary offense at home are Framber Valdez (SP – HOU), who gets the Royals, and Zach Eflin (SP,RP – TB), who will square off against the Angels. Speaking of the Halos, they’ll also travel to Minnesota, where Pablo Lopez (SP – MIN) and Sonny Gray (SP – MIN) will be waiting and hoping that Shohei Ohtani (SP,DH – LAA) remains sidelined.

The Giants will be in Arizona and L.A., where Zac Gallen (SP – ARI), Merrill Kelly (SP – ARI), and perhaps Clayton Kershaw (SP – LAD) will be waiting. Be wary of Kershaw as he’s not guaranteed to go, given an achy shoulder and the Dodger’s position in the standings.

Single-Start Starters with Bad Matchups Next Week

Five of our 50 who made the list but have to face opponents we’d prefer they didn’t. Kyle Bradish (SP – BAL) and Cole Ragans (RP,SP – KC) have been pitching well, but traveling to Houston is no easy task. Conversely, Hunter Brown (SP,RP – HOU) will have to face the Orioles in that series early next week. Aaron Nola (SP – PHI), who’s had a disappointing season by his standards, goes on the road to take on Atlanta, while Eduardo Rodriguez (SP – DET) must face the Dodgers, whom he spurned at the trade deadline, in Chavez Ravine.

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