Welcome back to Sit/Start where every Saturday here at Pitcher List, or in this case, Wednesday, I review all expected starting pitcher matchups for the week ahead. There are three labels: Start, Maybe, and Sit. Outings marked with a Maybe are circumstantial and dependent on your needs in a standard 5×5 Wins 12-teamer, while the other two are self-explanatory. Last year, I modified the ranking system to make designations a little clearer. Here’s an overview. I implemented a scoring system (1-10) next to each designation. A score of 10 is a top-tier start option and a score of 1 is a bottom-of-the-barrel option. Here are the labels: Start 7-10, Maybe 4-6, and Sit 1-3. For example, Max Scherzer at home against the Marlins would look like this: Start-10. Meanwhile, Kendall Graveman against the Rockies in Colorado would have this designation: Sit-1.
Given the Thursday start, this article will only cover the games through Sunday, 7/26. This Saturday, another Sit/Start article will come out covering the week ahead. It’s important to note that several teams have not officially announced how their rotations will unfold but given the information we have, the starters listed below are the expected starters for week 1. Spots in the rotation where a potential opener may be used will be listed as Opener/potential long man. Feel free to question my designations in the comments and we’ll dive into it together.
Here’s the massive table containing every Week 1 start from 7/23 – 7/26:
Note: These matchups are subject to change.
Date | Game | Away Pitcher | Sit / Start | Home Pitcher | Sit / Start |
07/23 | NYY vs WSH | Cole | Start-9 | Scherzer | Start-8 |
07/23 | SFG vs LAD | Cueto | Maybe-5 | Kershaw | Start-10 |
FRIDAY – 7/24 | |||||
07/24 | BAL vs BOS | Milone | Sit-2 | Eovaldi | Maybe-6 |
07/24 | MIL vs CHC | Woodruff | Start-7 | Hendricks | Start-7 |
07/24 | MIN vs CHW | Berrios | Start-7 | Giolito | Start-8 |
07/24 | DET vs CIN | Boyd | Maybe-6 | Gray | Start-8 |
07/24 | KCR vs CLE | Duffy | Sit-3 | Bieber | Start-9 |
07/24 | SEA vs HOU | Gonzales | Sit-1 | Verlander | Start-9 |
07/24 | SFG vs LAD | Samardzija | Sit-1 | Stripling | Start-8 |
07/24 | ATL vs NYM | Soroka | Start-7 | deGrom | Start-9 |
07/24 | LAA vs OAK | Heaney | Start-7 | Montas | Start-8 |
07/24 | MIA vs PHI | Alcantara | Sit-3 | Nola | Start-9 |
07/24 | ARI vs SDP | Bumgarner | Start-7 | Paddack | Start-8 |
07/24 | PIT vs STL | Musgrove | Start-7 | Flaherty | Start-9 |
07/24 | TOR vs TBR | Ryu | Maybe-6 | Morton | Start-8 |
07/24 | COL vs TEX | Marquez | Start-7 | Lynn | Start-8 |
Saturday – 7/25 | |||||
07/25 | BAL vs BOS | Cobb | Sit-1 | Perez | Maybe-5 |
07/25 | MIL vs CHC | Burnes | Maybe-6 | Darvish | Start-7 |
07/25 | MIN vs CHW | Odorizzi | Maybe-5 | Keuchel | Maybe-6 |
07/25 | DET vs CIN | Nova | Sit-3 | Castillo | Start-9 |
07/25 | KCR vs CLE | Montgomery | Sit-3 | Clevinger | Start-9 |
07/25 | SEA vs HOU | Walker | Sit-2 | McCullers Jr. | Start-8 |
07/25 | SFG vs LAD | Gausman | Sit-3 | Urias | Start-8 |
07/25 | ATL vs NYM | Fried | Start-7 | Stroman | Maybe-6 |
07/25 | LAA vs OAK | Bundy | Start-7 | Manaea | Maybe-5 |
07/25 | MIA vs PHI | Smith | Maybe-6 | Wheeler | Start-8 |
07/25 | ARI vs SDP | Ray | Start-7 | Lamet | Start-7 |
07/25 | PIT vs STL | Williams | Maybe-5 | Wainwright | Maybe-6 |
07/25 | TOR vs TBR | Shoemaker | Maybe-4 | Yarbrough | Maybe-6 |
07/25 | COL vs TEX | Gray | Maybe-6 | Minor | Start-8 |
07/25 | NYY vs WSH | Paxton | Start-7 | Strasburg | Start-8 |
Sunday – 7/26 | |||||
07/26 | BAL vs BOS | LeBlanc | Sit-2 | Weber | Sit-3 |
07/26 | MIL vs CHC | Peralta | Maybe-4 | Chatwood | Sit-3 |
07/26 | MIN vs CHW | Maeda | Start-7 | R. Lopez | Sit-3 |
07/26 | DET vs CIN | Turnbull | Maybe-5 | Bauer | Start-8 |
07/26 | KCR vs CLE | J. Lopez | Sit-3 | Carrasco | Start-7 |
07/26 | SEA vs HOU | Kikuchi | Sit-2 | Greinke | Start-8 |
07/26 | SFG vs LAD | Smyly | Sit-3 | Wood | Start-7 |
07/26 | ATL vs NYM | Newcomb | Sit-3 | Porcello | Sit-2 |
07/26 | LAA vs OAK | Ohtani | Start-7 | Fiers | Maybe-4 |
07/26 | MIA vs PHI | Urena | Sit-3 | Velasquez | Maybe-6 |
07/26 | ARI vs SDP | Gallen | Start-7 | Richards | Maybe-6 |
07/26 | PIT vs STL | Keller | Maybe-6 | Hudson | Maybe-5 |
07/26 | TOR vs TBR | Roark | Maybe-4 | Snell | Start-7 |
07/26 | COL vs TEX | Freeland | Sit-3 | Kluber | Start-7 |
07/26 | NYY vs WSH | King/Loaisiga | Sit-3 | Corbin | Start-7 |
(Photo by /Icon Sportswire)
Well, this is very helpful. Good work, Max Freeze.
Thanks Yants! Your support is ALWAYS appreciated!
This is great. Any advice on converting for use in a 15 teamer? Just go by gut feel, or would you add a certain number of points to each score?
Thanks for checking it out Matt!
That’s a good question. Based on the scoring system, 7-10 Starts are typically for 10-12 team leagues. For a 15-team format, you’re going to need more pitching options. I think a maybe-6 rating and possibly a maybe-5 are options I’d consider in 15-team and deeper formats. Beyond that it gets very dicey.
Awesome article!
Would you put Corbin vs NYY or Lynn vs COL?
My heart tells me Corbin because he’s a beast but I can see Lynn rolling through that lineup!
Thank you David!
I’d go with Lynn at home against the Rockies who are a completely different team on the road (.367 wOBA at home 1st and .288 wOBA on the road 29th). I like Paxton as long as he can regain his velo but a road start against the Nationals is relatively tough.
ESPN is showing Gallen going on Sunday. If this is true, what would you start/sit Gallen?
Hi Zach, thanks for checking us out. That’s where I have him. I’d start him. I have him at a 7, the matchup is moderate and on the road otherwise, he’d be higher. I really like Gallen this year and going forward.
Thanks max, totally missed that! Appreciate the help!
Would you start Gray at Texas or sit and Start Kimbrel for saves in Roto this weekend?
I’d lean Kimbrel. His velo looked good in his last tune up. He was awful last year but I’m willing to give him a pass. If you prefer strikeouts, go with Gray. The Rangers struck out almost as much as anyone in 2019.
Wheeler vs Marlins or Bauer vs DET
Great options! Can you just start both? I’d say Wheeler has the safer floor but Bauer has the higher ceiling and strikeout potential. Both should have a great shot at a W, so no edge there.