Welcome to the FantasyPros Week 9 starting pitcher fantasy baseball rankings. Every Friday, we’ll take a closer look at the upcoming week and rank every starting pitcher based on their overall skills, recent production, head-to-head matchup and park factor. These rankings are for Monday, May 19th through Sunday, May 25th.
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Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers Guide: Week 9
Be sure to take a look at expert consensus rankings (ECR) as a helpful tool when setting your lineups. You can also take advantage of our Pitcher Planner’s resource for probable pitchers as well as our streaming pitcher rankings.
Top 50 Starting Pitchers (May 19th to May 25th)
| Rank | Pitcher | Matchup(s) |
| 1 | Tarik Skubal | @ STL, vs. CLE |
| 2 | Cole Ragans | @ SF |
| 3 | Paul Skenes | vs. MIL |
| 4 | Garrett Crochet | vs. NYM |
| 5 | Bailey Ober | vs. CLE, vs. KC |
| 6 | Bryan Woo | @ CWS, @ HOU |
| 7 | Framber Valdez | @ TB, vs. SEA |
| 8 | Kris Bubic | @ SF, @ MIN |
| 9 | Robbie Ray | vs. KC, @ WAS |
| 10 | Luis Castillo | @ CHW, @ HOU |
| 11 | Nick Lodolo | @ PIT, vs. CHC |
| 12 | Dylan Cease | @ TOR, @ ATL |
| 13 | Kodai Senga | @ BOS, vs. LAD |
| 14 | Ryan Pepiot | vs. HOU, vs. TOR |
| 15 | Logan Webb | vs. KC |
| 16 | Freddy Peralta | @ PIT |
| 17 | Chris Sale | vs. SD |
| 18 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | vs. ARI |
| 19 | Pablo Lopez | vs. KC |
| 20 | Joe Ryan | vs. CLE |
| 21 | Sonny Gray | vs. DET |
| 22 | Jack Flaherty | @ STL |
| 23 | Michael King | @ ATL |
| 24 | Hunter Brown | @ TB |
| 25 | Spencer Schwellenbach | vs. SD |
| 26 | Kevin Gausman | vs. SD |
| 27 | Carlos Rodon | vs. TEX |
| 28 | Zack Wheeler | @ COL |
| 29 | Max Fried | @ COL |
| 30 | Nathan Eovaldi | @ NYY |
| 31 | Tanner Bibee | @ MIN |
| 32 | Seth Lugo | @ MIN |
| 33 | Tyler Mahle | @ CWS |
| 34 | Ben Brown | @ MIA, @ CIN |
| 35 | Chris Bassitt | vs. SD, @ TB |
| 36 | Mitch Keller | vs. CIN, vs. MIL |
| 37 | Gavin Williams | @ MIN, @ DET |
| 38 | Will Warren | vs. TEX, @ COL |
| 39 | MacKenzie Gore | vs. ATL |
| 40 | Zac Gallen | @ STL |
| 41 | Jacob deGrom | @ NYY |
| 42 | Nick Pivetta | @ ATL |
| 43 | Shane Baz | vs. TOR |
| 44 | Spencer Strider | @ WAS |
| 45 | Cristopher Sanchez | @ ATH |
| 46 | Corbin Burnes | @ LAD |
| 47 | Nick Martinez | @ PIT |
| 48 | Jesus Luzardo | @ COL, @ ATH |
| 49 | Aaron Nola | @ COL, @ ATH |
| 50 | Brandon Pfaadt | @ LAD, @ STL |
Smash Spots
Tarik Skubal (SP – DET) @ STL, vs. CLE
Tarik Skubal has been the best pitcher once again this season, registering a 2.67 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with six walks and 71 strikeouts in 54 innings. This includes at least 11 strikeouts in three of his last four outings.
Expect the good times to roll, even against the Cardinals (103 wRC+ vs. lefties) and Guardians (83 wRC+ vs. lefties).
Cole Ragans has posted a 4.20 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 38% strikeout rate and a 7.6% walk rate in 40.2 innings.
But the Royals lefty deserves better results, as highlighted by his 2.33 SIERA, which ranks second behind only Skubal.
Freddy Peralta (SP – MIL) @ PIT
Freddy Peralta has put up a 2.66 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 18 walks and 52 strikeouts in 50.2 innings, set for a great matchup on the road versus the Pirates.
Pittsburgh has put up a 77 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, which ranks 29th in MLB. Look for Peralta to put together a strong outing with a lot of strikeout upside.
Risky Starts
Jesus Luzardo (SP – PHI) @ COL, @ ATH
Jesus Luzardo has been a terrific pickup for the Phillies, featuring a 2.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 26% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate in 54 innings.
While Luzardo has a two-start week up ahead, it’s in two hitter-friendly parks in Coors Field and Sutter Health Park, making him a risky play.
Aaron Nola (SP – PHI) @ COL, @ ATH
Aaron Nola is coming off a horrendous outing against the Cardinals, where he allowed nine runs on 12 hits in 3.2 innings.
Even with a tough two-step on the road against the Rockies and Athletics, it’s hard to bench him. The idea here is that if you’re not firing up a pitcher when he has two starts, why is he on your team? With that said, cross your fingers because this is risky.
Brandon Pfaadt (SP – ARI) @ LAD, @ STL
Brandon Pfaadt is another pitcher coming off a poor outing, where he allowed four runs in only four innings.
The Diamondbacks righty is a risky start on the road against the Dodgers and red-hot Cardinals. But as with Nola, it’s hard to bench a two-start pitcher, even in risky starts like these two.
Two-Start Pitchers
Bailey Ober (SP – MIN) vs. CLE, vs. KC
Bailey Ober has been on quite a roll lately, holding opponents to one run or fewer in six of his last eight outings.
Up next is a two-start week against the Guardians (101 wRC+, 18th) and Royals (86 wRC+, 27th), each of which has struggled against right-handed pitchers.
Bryan Woo (SP – SEA) @ CWS, @ HOU
Bryan Woo has been an ace for the Mariners this year, putting up a 2.84 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with eight walks and 50 strikeouts in 50.2 innings.
Woo just tossed 6.1 shutout innings against a tough Yankees lineup, so you have to be excited for the upcoming two-start week, which includes a matchup against the White Sox.
Nick Lodolo (SP – CIN) @ PIT, vs. CHC
Nick Lodolo has posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with nine walks and 42 strikeouts in 52.2 innings. He is set for a two-start week that includes a smash spot against the Pirates.
While the matchup versus the Cubs at home is tough, hopefully, he doesn’t get blown up here because we should see a strong outing in Pittsburgh.
Top Streamers
Ben Brown (SP – CHC) @ MIA, @ CIN
Ben Brown has registered a 4.75 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 41.2 innings, but this is a righty who deserves better results, as highlighted by a 3.52 SIERA.
The two-start week begins with a rematch against the Marlins, whom he just pitched well against, allowing two runs with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. The second matchup at Great American Ball Park is tough, but the strikeouts should be there.
Mitch Keller (SP – PIT) vs. CIN, vs. MIL
Mitch Keller has struggled at home so far this year, but don’t expect that to last in the pitcher-friendly environment that is PNC Park.
The Pirates righty had one of his best outings in his last start, holding the Mets to two runs in seven innings. Give Keller a chance against two familiar opponents in the Reds and Brewers.
Will Warren (SP – NYY) vs. TEX, @ COL
Will Warren has turned the corner, putting up 24 strikeouts in 17 innings in his last three starts. This includes nine punchouts in only five innings against the Marlins.
There’s some long-term appeal here, so fire him up for the two-start week, even against the Rangers at home and the Rockies at Coors Field.
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