Time for your weekly dose of CPR! Or more commonly known as the Christian (Yelich) Power Rankings.
Once you get past the Brewers stud, you will find all of the top performers for each fantasy category to help guide you. While I have stayed firm on a lot of players, we are now two months into the season, and it is becoming more and more clear just what kind of numbers we can expect come September. Therefore, you will have noticed a good amount of movement over the past couple of weeks on these lists.
Although, it should be noted, things can always turn around. For instance, a guy like Matt Carpenter was hitting around .140 this time last year and ended up finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting. Once the weather starts to warm up, players’ arms and bats come alive. Don’t be the guy or gal who drops an MVP-caliber player and misses out on the elite production. There is no worse feeling in the world. NONE.
Batting Average (AVG)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 2 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 3 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 4 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | +1 |
| 5 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | +2 |
| 6 | Michael Brantley | HOU | OF | +2 |
| 7 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | -1 |
| 8 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | +1 |
| 9 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +2 |
| 10 | Justin Turner | LAD | 3B | – |
| 11 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | +1 |
| 12 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | -8 |
| 13 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
| 14 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 1B/2B/OF | – |
| 15 | David Peralta | ARZ | OF | – |
| 16 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B/3B/OF | +1 |
| 17 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | +2 |
| 18 | Jorge Polanco | MIN | SS | +5 |
| 19 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | -1 |
| 20 | Elvis Andrus | TEX | SS | -4 |
| 21 | Xander Bogaerts | BOS | SS | – |
| 22 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | OF | – |
| 23 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B/SS/OF | Unranked |
| 24 | Carlos Correa | HOU | SS | Unranked |
| 25 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | – |
Off the List: Robinson Cano, Joey Votto
Carlos Correa is off to a very encouraging start after an injury-marred 2018. His BABIP sits at .356, which is very similar to his 2017 figure when he hit .315 in 109 games. Correa appears to be over his back injury, and as long as the stud shortstop can stay on the field, he should be a healthy source of AVG.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | +2 |
| 2 | Jose Martinez | STL | 1B/OF | Unranked |
| 3 | Cesar Hernandez | PHI | 2B | +2 |
| 4 | Brandon Lowe | TB | 2B/OF | – |
| 5 | Andrelton Simmons | LAA | SS | +2 |
| 6 | Josh Reddick | HOU | OF | Unranked |
| 7 | David Fletcher | LAA | 2B/3B/OF | -1 |
| 8 | Melky Cabrera | PIT | OF | Unranked |
| 9 | Avisail Garcia | TB | OF | Unranked |
| 10 | Brian Goodwin | LAA | OF | -2 |
Off the List: Jeff McNeil (ownership), Jorge Polanco (ownership), Dwight Smith Jr., Leury Garcia
The hit tool for Jose Martinez has always been a plus. While he definitely fits the bill more so of a classic designated hitter, the Cardinals cannot help but keep his bat in the lineup because the guy can rake. As long as he continues to hit behind Paul Goldschmidt in the middle of that St. Louis lineup, he needs to be owned. Especially those who need a boost in batting average.
Runs (R)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | – |
| 3 | George Springer | HOU | OF | – |
| 4 | Charlie Blackmon | COL | OF | +1 |
| 5 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | -1 |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 7 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | +2 |
| 8 | Andrew McCutchen | PHI | OF | -1 |
| 9 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | +2 |
| 10 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 11 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | – |
| 12 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | +2 |
| 13 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | +2 |
| 14 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | -1 |
| 15 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | +5 |
| 16 | Mitch Haniger | SEA | OF | +2 |
| 17 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | – |
| 18 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | +4 |
| 19 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 1B/2B/OF | +4 |
| 20 | Ozzie Albies | ATL | 2B | -4 |
| 21 | Jose Altuve | HOU | 2B | -13 |
| 22 | Matt Carpenter | STL | 1B/2B/3B | -3 |
| 23 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | -2 |
| 24 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | Unranked |
| 25 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | -1 |
Off the List: Adam Eaton
Trevor Story is ailing with a banged up knee, but it doesn’t appear to be too serious. The Rockies shortstop has been excellent and is on a 139-run pace. Hitting regularly in the two-hole of the Colorado lineup is always gonna do wonders for a player’s fantasy value.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | +1 |
| 2 | Leury Garcia | CHW | OF | +1 |
| 3 | Brandon Lowe | TB | 2B/OF | +2 |
| 4 | Max Kepler | MIN | OF | +2 |
| 5 | Tommy La Stella | LAA | 2B/3B | Unranked |
| 6 | Yandy Diaz | TB | 1B/3B | +3 |
| 7 | Brian Goodwin | LAA | OF | +1 |
| 8 | Brett Gardner | NYY | OF | -4 |
| 9 | Dwight Smith Jr. | BAL | OF | -2 |
| 10 | Cesar Hernandez | PHI | 2B | Unranked |
Off the List: Jorge Polanco (ownership), Kevin Kiermaier
Tommy La Stella has been hitting leadoff for the Angels, and he is running with it. If he continues to hit and remains hitting leadoff, he should get plenty of run scoring opportunities hitting directly in front of Mike Trout.
Home Runs (HR)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Khris Davis | OAK | OF | – |
| 2 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 3 | Joey Gallo | TEX | 1B/OF | – |
| 4 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 5 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 6 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | +2 |
| 7 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | – |
| 8 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | -2 |
| 9 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | +1 |
| 10 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 11 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | +1 |
| 12 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | +1 |
| 13 | Marcell Ozuna | STL | OF | +2 |
| 14 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | -5 |
| 15 | George Springer | HOU | OF | +6 |
| 16 | Matt Chapman | OAK | 3B | -2 |
| 17 | Manny Machado | SD | 3B/SS | – |
| 18 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 1B | – |
| 19 | Gary Sanchez | NYY | C | +1 |
| 20 | Francisco Lindor | CLE | SS | +3 |
| 21 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | Unranked |
| 22 | Mike Moustakas | MIL | 2B/3B | -3 |
| 23 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +1 |
| 24 | Eugenio Suarez | CIN | 3B | +1 |
| 25 | Eddie Rosario | MIN | OF | Unranked |
Off the List: Ronald Acuna Jr., Nelson Cruz (injury)
As we are only half way through May, Alex Bregman has already smashed nine home runs this month. He had been steady through April, but has turned it on the last two weeks or so. He is a fantasy stud, but you already know this.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Franmil Reyes | SD | OF | – |
| 2 | Mitch Moreland | BOS | 1B | +1 |
| 3 | Jay Bruce | SEA | 1B/OF | -1 |
| 4 | Daniel Vogelbach | SEA | 1B | – |
| 5 | Jorge Soler | KC | OF | +4 |
| 6 | C.J. Cron | MIN | 1B | Unranked |
| 7 | Derek Dietrich | CIN | 1B/2B/OF | -2 |
| 8 | Christian Walker | ARZ | 1B | – |
| 9 | Hunter Renfroe | SD | OF | Unranked |
| 10 | Miguel Sano | MIN | 1B/3B | Unranked |
Off the List: Rowdy Tellez, Eric Thames, Max Kepler
Franmil Reyes was a popular name during draft season, but after a slow start to the year he was most likely given up on in most leagues. He has big-boy power, and as long as he plays regularly, he’ll be putting balls in the seats.
Runs Batted In (RBI)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | – |
| 2 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | – |
| 3 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 4 | Khris Davis | OAK | OF | – |
| 5 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | – |
| 6 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | – |
| 7 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | – |
| 8 | Marcell Ozuna | STL | OF | +2 |
| 9 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | -1 |
| 10 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +2 |
| 11 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | – |
| 12 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | -3 |
| 13 | Joey Gallo | TEX | 1B/OF | +5 |
| 14 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | +2 |
| 15 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +5 |
| 16 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | -2 |
| 17 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | -2 |
| 18 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | -2 |
| 19 | Jose Abreu | CHW | 1B | +2 |
| 20 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | -1 |
| 21 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | +4 |
| 22 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 1B | +2 |
| 23 | George Springer | HOU | OF | Unranked |
| 24 | Josh Bell | PIT | 1B | Unranked |
| 25 | Domingo Santana | SEA | OF | -1 |
Off the List: Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz (injury)
This list is becoming super difficult to sort when taking a rest-of-season outlook into consideration. I mean, a guy like Juan Soto dropped a couple spots and he is on a 122-RBI pace.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mitch Moreland | BOS | 1B | +1 |
| 2 | Jorge Soler | KC | OF | +3 |
| 3 | Daniel Vogelbach | SEA | 1B | +3 |
| 4 | Dansby Swanson | ATL | SS | -3 |
| 5 | Brandon Lowe | TB | 2B/OF | +3 |
| 6 | C.J. Cron | MIN | 1B | Unranked |
| 7 | Jay Bruce | SEA | 1B/OF | -3 |
| 8 | Yandy Diaz | TB | 1B/3B | +2 |
| 9 | Austin Riley | ATL | 3B | Unranked |
| 10 | Miguel Sano | MIN | 1B/3B | Unranked |
Off the List: Rowdy Tellez, Derek Dietrich, Justin Smoak
Austin Riley was graded with a 70 hit tool as a prospect, so it’s no surprise that Atlanta will be thrusting him right into the middle of its order. It looks like he will be hitting around sixth in the early going for the Bravos, and he has a real nose for run production based on his impressive minor league numbers.
Stolen Bases (SB)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Adalberto Mondesi | KC | 2B/SS | – |
| 2 | Dee Gordon | SEA | 2B/SS/OF | – |
| 3 | Tim Anderson | CHW | SS | – |
| 4 | Billy Hamilton | KC | OF | +1 |
| 5 | Whit Merrifield | KC | 1B/2B/OF | -1 |
| 6 | Victor Robles | WSH | OF | – |
| 7 | Jose Ramirez | CLE | 2B/3B | – |
| 8 | Jonathan Villar | BAL | 2B/SS | – |
| 9 | Starling Marte | PIT | OF | – |
| 10 | Byron Buxton | MIN | OF | – |
| 11 | Tommy Pham | TB | OF | – |
| 12 | Trevor Story | COL | SS | +2 |
| 13 | Mallex Smith | SEA | OF | Unranked |
| 14 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | -2 |
| 15 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | +1 |
| 16 | Lorenzo Cain | MIL | OF | -1 |
| 17 | Jarrod Dyson | ARZ | OF | Unranked |
| 18 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | ATL | OF | Unranked |
| 19 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | OF | – |
| 20 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | -2 |
| 21 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | – |
| 22 | Jean Segura | PHI | SS | -2 |
| 23 | Yasiel Puig | CIN | OF | Unranked |
| 24 | Elvis Andrus | TEX | SS | -11 |
| 25 | Javier Baez | CHC | 2B/3B/SS | -2 |
Off the List: Ender Inciarte, Kevin Kiermaier, Jose Altuve (injury)
With the injuries to Jose Altuve and Elvis Andrus, the steals list gets a bit of a shake-up. Both middle infielders suffered hamstring injuries and find themselves on the 10-day IL. The difference between Andrus remaining on the list and Altuve being removed is that Altuve simply was not running to begin with. A potential nagging hamstring injury is the absolute worst-case scenario for a player whose fantasy value relies largely on speed. On a more positive note, Mallex Smith has been recalled! If he was dropped in your league and you are in need of speed, go get him.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mallex Smith | SEA | OF | +3 |
| 2 | Jarrod Dyson | ARZ | OF | +4 |
| 3 | Kevin Kiermaier | TB | OF | -2 |
| 4 | Leury Garcia | CHW | OF | -2 |
| 5 | Delino DeShields | TEX | OF | – |
| 6 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | -3 |
| 7 | Andrelton Simmons | LAA | SS | Unranked |
| 8 | Nicky Lopez | KC | SS | Unranked |
| 9 | Kevin Pillar | SF | OF | -1 |
| 10 | Dwight Smith Jr. | BAL | OF | -3 |
Off the List: David Fletcher, Brett Gardner
Veteran speedster Jarrod Dyson is making some noise to the point of fantasy relevance. He has always had the ability to burn on the bases, but he is hitting a very respectable .290 and is batting leadoff for the D-backs.
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Mike Trout | LAA | OF | – |
| 2 | Christian Yelich | MIL | OF | +3 |
| 3 | Freddie Freeman | ATL | 1B | – |
| 4 | Alex Bregman | HOU | 3B/SS | – |
| 5 | J.D. Martinez | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 6 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 1B/OF | +1 |
| 7 | Bryce Harper | PHI | OF | -5 |
| 8 | Mookie Betts | BOS | OF | +1 |
| 9 | Anthony Rendon | WSH | 3B | +2 |
| 10 | Rhys Hoskins | PHI | 1B/OF | +2 |
| 11 | Tommy Pham | TB | OF | +4 |
| 12 | Juan Soto | WSH | OF | +2 |
| 13 | Andrew McCutchen | PHI | OF | – |
| 14 | Nolan Arenado | COL | 3B | +2 |
| 15 | Kris Bryant | CHC | 3B/OF | +2 |
| 16 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | +3 |
| 17 | Anthony Rizzo | CHC | 1B | +3 |
| 18 | Michael Conforto | NYM | OF | +4 |
| 19 | Joey Gallo | TEX | 1B/OF | +6 |
| 20 | Joey Votto | CIN | 1B | -10 |
| 21 | George Springer | HOU | OF | Unranked |
| 22 | Carlos Santana | CLE | 1B/3B | – |
| 23 | Jeff McNeil | NYM | 2B/3B/OF | Unranked |
| 24 | Paul Goldschmidt | STL | 1B | -1 |
| 25 | Edwin Encarnacion | SEA | 1B | -1 |
Off the List: Lorenzo Cain, Jose Altuve (injury)
I never thought I would see the day where Joey Votto is on the verge of not only falling out of the top 20, but I am also doing everything in me to not just remove him altogether. He really has shown zero signs of life to this point. He is striking out a career-high level and walking at nearly a career low. I know better than to count him out completely, but we may be looking at the start of a drastic decline.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Shin-Soo Choo | TEX | OF | – |
| 2 | Daniel Vogelbach | SEA | 1B | Unranked |
| 3 | Kolten Wong | STL | 2B | +1 |
| 4 | Yandy Diaz | TB | 1B/3B | +1 |
| 5 | Cesar Hernandez | PHI | 2B | +3 |
| 6 | Josh Reddick | HOU | OF | Unranked |
| 7 | Brandon Lowe | TB | 2B/OF | -1 |
| 8 | Brian Goodwin | LAA | OF | Unranked |
| 9 | Melky Cabrera | PIT | OF | Unranked |
| 10 | Nicky Lopez | KC | SS | Unranked |
Off the List: Jeff McNeil (ownership), Jorge Polanco (ownership), Ben Zobrist, Brett Gardner, Dansby Swanson
The Kolten Wong from the first couple of weeks of the year was never expected to be long for this world, but he has done one thing consistently: get on base. His strikeout-to-walk rate is at nearly 1:1, and he should probably be owned in deeper OBP leagues.
Wins (W)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 2 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | – |
| 3 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 4 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | -1 |
| 5 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | – |
| 6 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 7 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | +4 |
| 8 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 9 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 10 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -3 |
| 11 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 12 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | – |
| 13 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 14 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | +1 |
| 15 | German Marquez | COL | SP | -1 |
| 16 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | +3 |
| 17 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | SP | +5 |
| 18 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | – |
| 19 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 20 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | +1 |
| 21 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | SP | +2 |
| 22 | Miles Mikolas | STL | SP | +2 |
| 23 | Domingo German | NYY | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 24 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 25 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | -9 |
Off the List: Marco Gonzales, Tyler Glasnow (injury)
Brandon Woodruff has been on a roll of late, winning four straight starts and five in his last six. With that stout Brewers lineup supporting him, wins should come easy for the 26-year-old righty.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP/RP | +7 |
| 2 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 3 | Martin Perez | MIN | SP | +3 |
| 4 | Zach Davies | MIL | SP | +1 |
| 5 | Frankie Montas | OAK | SP | -4 |
| 6 | Jordan Lyles | PIT | SP | +1 |
| 7 | John Means | BAL | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 8 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | SP | Unranked |
| 9 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | SP | +1 |
| 10 | Brett Anderson | OAK | SP | -6 |
Off the List: Zach Eflin (ownership), Adam Wainwright
I am not sure if what John Means is doing is sustainable, but he is getting it done. And he has a filthy changeup. He at the very least should be started in favorable matchups until further notice.
Earned Run Average (ERA)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 2 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 5 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | – |
| 6 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | – |
| 7 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | – |
| 8 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | – |
| 9 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | +1 |
| 10 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | +2 |
| 11 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | – |
| 12 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -3 |
| 13 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | – |
| 14 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 15 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | +1 |
| 16 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | -1 |
| 17 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | SP | +4 |
| 18 | Walker Buehler | LAD | SP | +2 |
| 19 | German Marquez | COL | SP | – |
| 20 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +2 |
| 21 | Domingo German | NYY | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 22 | Cole Hamels | CHC | SP | +2 |
| 23 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | -5 |
| 24 | Chris Paddack | SD | SP | – |
| 25 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | -2 |
Off the List: Tyler Glasnow (injury)
Well, Chris Sale appears to be fine. Four straight (and you could argue five) very good starts have erased all concerns for the Boston lefty. His velocity has improved, and he is missing just a ton of bats, as he tends to do when he is on. The window to buy low has been emphatically slammed shut.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | SP | – |
| 2 | Frankie Montas | OAK | SP | – |
| 3 | Zach Davies | MIL | SP | – |
| 4 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | +1 |
| 5 | Martin Perez | MIN | SP | +3 |
| 6 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | SP | Unranked |
| 7 | Wade Miley | HOU | SP | Unranked |
| 8 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | Unranked |
| 9 | Tanner Roark | CIN | SP | Unranked |
| 10 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | SP | -1 |
Off the List: Zach Eflin (ownership), Sonny Gray, Trevor Williams (injury), Aaron Sanchez
Matt Strahm has given up two earned runs or fewer in every start this year since his disastrous first outing. His strikeouts have not been what we had hoped, but he has been able to work his offspeed pitches well and be effective.
Strikeouts (K)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 2 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | – |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | +1 |
| 5 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | -1 |
| 6 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | +3 |
| 7 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | -1 |
| 8 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | -1 |
| 9 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | -1 |
| 10 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 11 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | -1 |
| 12 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | +5 |
| 13 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | -1 |
| 14 | German Marquez | COL | SP | -1 |
| 15 | Matt Boyd | DET | SP | +4 |
| 16 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | -2 |
| 17 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -1 |
| 18 | Robbie Ray | ARZ | SP | – |
| 19 | Jack Flaherty | STL | SP | +1 |
| 20 | Caleb Smith | MIA | SP | +2 |
| 21 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | – |
| 22 | Zack Wheeler | NYM | SP | Unranked |
| 23 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | -8 |
| 24 | Cole Hamels | CHC | SP | -1 |
| 25 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | SP | – |
Off the List: Clayton Kershaw
Gerrit Cole has led the league in strikeouts for what seems like forever, but I still remain firm on Max Scherzer being the best source of Ks in all of baseball. I think when everything is all said and done, Scherzer will eclipse Cole in innings and thus best him in punchouts as well.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | SP/RP | – |
| 2 | Luke Weaver | ARZ | SP/RP | +1 |
| 3 | Anthony Desclafani | CIN | SP | -1 |
| 4 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | SP | +4 |
| 5 | Reynaldo Lopez | CHW | SP | – |
| 6 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | SP | +3 |
| 7 | Martin Perez | MIN | SP | Unranked |
| 8 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | SP | Unranked |
| 9 | Julio Teheran | ATL | SP | Unranked |
| 10 | Joey Lucchesi | SD | SP | -4 |
Off the List: Jordan Lyles, Vince Velasquez, Pablo Lopez
I wish Julio Teheran would just go away, yet he continues to remain relevant. Not only has he been relevant, but he is striking out guys at a career-high rate. His fastball has been effective the past two years, primarily because he has been throwing it less and less, but I cannot imagine this will last. He is a good option for a streamer.
Saves (SV)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | RP | – |
| 2 | Kenley Jansen | LAD | RP | – |
| 3 | Kirby Yates | SD | RP | – |
| 4 | Roberto Osuna | HOU | RP | – |
| 5 | Brad Hand | CLE | RP | – |
| 6 | Felipe Vazquez | PIT | RP | +2 |
| 7 | Aroldis Chapman | NYY | RP | – |
| 8 | Josh Hader | MIL | RP | +1 |
| 9 | Blake Treinen | OAK | RP | -3 |
| 10 | Jordan Hicks | STL | RP | – |
| 11 | Ken Giles | TOR | RP | – |
| 12 | Sean Doolittle | WSH | RP | – |
| 13 | Greg Holland | ARZ | RP | – |
| 14 | Shane Greene | DET | RP | – |
| 15 | Will Smith | SF | RP | +2 |
| 16 | Wade Davis | COL | RP | -1 |
| 17 | Raisel Iglesias | CIN | RP | -1 |
| 18 | Alex Colome | CHW | RP | +1 |
| 19 | Hector Neris | PHI | RP | +1 |
| 20 | Matt Barnes | BOS | RP | +2 |
| 21 | Blake Parker | MIN | RP | – |
| 22 | Ryan Brasier | BOS | RP | -4 |
| 23 | Luke Jackson | ATL | RP | Unranked |
| 24 | Jose Alvarado | TB | RP | -1 |
| 25 | Diego Castillo | TB | SP/RP | -1 |
Off the List: Sergio Romo
Will Smith continues to be a tough guy to rank when considering rest-of-season analysis. He has been lights out this year. But the question remains whether he will be dealt before the trade deadline, as well as the possibility of him being dealt to a team where he will not take over closing duties. Might be a good idea to sell high now.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-Team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Hector Neris | PHI | RP | – |
| 2 | Matt Barnes | BOS | RP | +1 |
| 3 | Blake Parker | LAA | RP | -1 |
| 4 | Ryan Brasier | BOS | RP | Unranked |
| 5 | Luke Jackson | ATL | RP | +4 |
| 6 | Diego Castillo | TB | RP | Unranked |
| 7 | Sergio Romo | MIA | SP/RP | -3 |
| 8 | Hansel Robles | LAA | RP | -3 |
| 9 | Mychal Givens | BAL | RP | -3 |
| 10 | Chris Martin | TEX | RP | -2 |
Off the List: Ty Buttrey, Roenis Elias
The Braves pen has been pretty “meh” so far. Luke Jackson is the preferred choice at the moment with Arodys Vizcaino going down with a season-ending injury and the demotion of A.J. Minter. But try not to put a ton of stock in Jackson. One would have to believe the Braves will have interest in a reunion with Craig Kimbrel. Or they may even try another internal option such as Dan Winkler in the closer’s role. He has been the better reliever, after all.
WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | +1 |
| 2 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | -1 |
| 3 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | – |
| 4 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | +2 |
| 5 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | – |
| 6 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | -2 |
| 7 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | – |
| 8 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 9 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | +2 |
| 10 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 11 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | -2 |
| 12 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 13 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | +1 |
| 14 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -2 |
| 15 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +2 |
| 16 | German Marquez | COL | SP | -1 |
| 17 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | SP | +3 |
| 18 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 19 | Chris Paddack | SD | SP | +2 |
| 20 | Caleb Smith | MIA | SP | Unranked |
| 21 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | +1 |
| 22 | Shane Bieber | CLE | SP | +2 |
| 23 | David Price | BOS | SP | – |
| 24 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | -8 |
| 25 | Mile Mikolas | STL | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: Tyler Glasnow (injury), Madison Bumgarner
Caleb Smith has only allowed more than six baserunners in a start once this year. The Marlins lefty has been sensational, striking out over 35% of hitters and walking less than 8%.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Yonny Chirinos | TB | SP/RP | – |
| 2 | Frankie Montas | OAK | SP | +7 |
| 3 | Jeff Samardzija | SF | SP | – |
| 4 | Matt Strahm | SD | SP/RP | +1 |
| 5 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | SP | Unranked |
| 6 | Wade Miley | HOU | SP | – |
| 7 | Tyler Mahle | CIN | SP | Unranked |
| 8 | Kyle Gibson | MIN | SP | Unranked |
| 9 | Anthony Desclafani | CIN | SP | -2 |
| 10 | Zach Davies | MIL | SP | Unranked |
Off the List: Zach Eflin (ownership), Pablo Lopez, Trevor Williams (injury), Sonny Gray
Tyler Mahle is currently walking… no one. He is at a sub-5% walk rate, and besides Luis Castillo, he has been probably the best starter for the Reds this season. We have been waiting for Mahle to take the next step for a couple of years now, and it looks like he might be on the right track.
Quality Starts (QS)
Top 25
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Max Scherzer | WSH | SP | – |
| 2 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | SP | – |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | HOU | SP | – |
| 4 | Trevor Bauer | CLE | SP | – |
| 5 | Zack Greinke | ARZ | SP | +4 |
| 6 | Blake Snell | TB | SP | – |
| 7 | Gerrit Cole | HOU | SP | -2 |
| 8 | Chris Sale | BOS | SP | – |
| 9 | Aaron Nola | PHI | SP | -2 |
| 10 | Carlos Carrasco | CLE | SP | – |
| 11 | Jose Berrios | MIN | SP | – |
| 12 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | SP | – |
| 13 | Patrick Corbin | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 14 | Noah Syndergaard | NYM | SP | -1 |
| 15 | Luis Castillo | CIN | SP | +1 |
| 16 | Stephen Strasburg | WSH | SP | +1 |
| 17 | German Marquez | COL | SP | -2 |
| 18 | Matt Boyd | DET | SP | +2 |
| 19 | Charlie Morton | TB | SP | – |
| 20 | Madison Bumgarner | SF | SP | +2 |
| 21 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | LAD | SP | Unranked |
| 22 | Cole Hamels | CHC | SP | +1 |
| 23 | Masahiro Tanaka | NYY | SP | +1 |
| 24 | Yusei Kikuchi | SEA | SP | Unranked |
| 25 | James Paxton | NYY | SP | -4 |
Off the List: Tyler Glasnow (injury), Jake Arrieta
Yusei Kikuchi has adjusted to the majors pretty well in his first 10 starts. While the Mariners will admittedly monitor his innings, he will still remain mixed-league viable and has already tallied six QS.
Deep League Top 10 (>12-team leagues/65% owned or less)
| Rank | Name | Team | Position | Change |
| 1 | Spencer Turnbull | DET | SP | +1 |
| 2 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | SP | Unranked |
| 3 | Martin Perez | MIN | SP | +3 |
| 4 | Frankie Montas | OAK | SP | – |
| 5 | Wade Miley | HOU | SP | Unranked |
| 6 | Anthony Desclafani | CIN | SP | -3 |
| 7 | Jordan Lyles | PIT | SP/RP | – |
| 8 | Mike Leake | SEA | SP | +2 |
| 9 | Brett Anderson | OAK | SP | – |
| 10 | Merrill Kelly | ARZ | SP | -2 |
Off the List: Adam Wainwright, Trevor Williams (injury)
Chris Bassitt has been very interesting. He is generating a lot of soft contact, and his velocity is up a couple of ticks compared to last year. Pitching in that cavernous Oakland stadium, he has a good chance to remain relevant all year.
Featured Image by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)