Raise your hand if you’ve had constant headaches in the pitching department this season. If your hand is up (you know it is) then hopefully my daily starting pitcher rankings can help set things right.
While pitching is always a bit of a minefield to navigate, 2023 has felt particularly trying. Constant injuries, openers, DFAs, innings rest in the minors, blisters, addiction struggles, role changes…if you could think of a way to disrupt a fantasy staff, it’s probably already happened. Fantasy ILs are at max capacity right now.
This leads us to the unenviable position of streaming. To stream or not to stream is an age-old fantasy dilemma. However, that question is one for the beginning of the season not for when your squad is clawing and scratching to get into the playoffs. This is the time when risk and reward are at their maximum, some dreams may be realized while others are certain to be crushed. It’s a bumpy road that’s filled with potholes and booby traps and one that is not for the faint of heart, but with some courage and know-how and not an insignificant amount of good luck, you can come out on the other side with some wins in your pocket and a smile on your face.
In an effort to aid your quest, we’ve put together some daily starting pitcher ranks. Good luck with those waiver wires!
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Daily Starting Pitcher Rankings for August 11
The Sure Things
Corbin Burnes hasn’t exactly had the elite+ season that most managers were envisioning but it’s still top-tier. Facing an absolutely anemic White Sox offense places him firmly at the top of our list today.
Snell has been on another planet since May 25, with a 1.03 ERA (NOT A TYPO) and 13.22 k/9 through 79 innings pitched. Damn, that’s wild! Gotta roll with that.
Even when facing the upstart Orioles. Castillo is a must-start if the game is in Seattle.
The Not-So-Sure Things
Both New York teams draw short sticks tonight, with the Mets taking on Charlie Morton and the frightening Braves lineup while the Yanks head to Miami to meet Jesus Luzardo and the Marlins.
Jon Gray seemed to be *finally* realizing that tantalizing potential this season but the last month and a half has been rough. Not as easy of a start as it was in May but I still like his chances in Oracle Park.
How fun is it to have Verlander back in Houston!? Love it. Think he takes it to Ohtani and the otherwise-hapless Angels lineup.
Is Berrios back? To be honest, besides a 5-run blip in mid-June, he was never gone! Let’s see if he keeps the good times rolling versus the Cubs.
The Pirates seem to thoroughly enjoy playing spoilers so Abbott feels iffy, at best.
A mixed bag for Chris Sale on his return from the IL. On one hand, he pulls the Tigers. On the other, it’s in Fenway.
Oatmeal alert: Gibson is on the mound against the Mariners. Boring but sometimes a Steady Eddie is exactly what you need.
The Only If You Musts
Why is it taking me so long to accept that Johan Oviedo is better than I give credit for? I don’t know and I bet you don’t know either. I guess it’s because he’s sprinkled some true stinkers among his 131 IP this season. I am starting against the strikeout-prone Reds.
I love watching Tarik Skubal pitch but Fenway scares me. That being said, I would certainly lean more towards starting than sitting.
Only throwing Michael Kopech if I need strikeouts. Milwaukee is going to make him work, he’s going to walk too many guys to go deep into the start.
Two Old Dudes
Former teammates in St. Louis, Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn are both at the tail ends of their careers albeit at different points on that path. This is the start for Wainwright to nab elusive victory number 199 (against a very beatable Royals team), rooting for him to get to 200 before the season ends. Lynn has an easy opponent in the Rockies but his Dodgers career thus far has been a rocky road, to say the least.
This Could Go Wrong
Fresh off a great start in Cincinnati, Joan Adon takes on the A’s. Kinda like this as a sneaky win possibility.
Reid Detmers versus the Astros and those Crawford Boxes screams “HALT!”.
Ryne Nelson is the absolute last starter I would even consider starting, and that’s even a stretch.
Thanks as always for stopping by, we’ll be back next week! If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas, or just want to drop a virtual high-five, send a note to [email protected] and give us a follow on Twitter @LDeePee