Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings: Jose Berrios, Kyle Hendricks, Jesus Luzardo (Week 22)

It’s September, and rosters are expanding. As such, starting rotations will likely see more changes than usual. Compounding the variability, teams out of the playoff race may opt to give some prospects a look, while the few teams whose spot appear secure may try to give their starters some extra rest. Thus, double-checking the schedule before making roster decisions is more critical than ever.

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Top-50 Starting Pitchers: Sept. 4 – Sept. 10

As a reminder, our weekly rankings start with FantasyPros’ rest-of-season Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR). Then, they are adjusted based on the Pitcher Planner, the players’ season-to-date stats and recent performance. As noted, double-check the planner before setting your lineup since rotations are so variable this time of year.

The complete top 50 is below, but let’s review some of next week’s more intriguing matchups first:

Two-Start Starters with Matchups We’re Geeked About Next Week

Several of our top-50 starters have two matchups we like next week, starting with our top-ranked hurler, Gerrit Cole, who will take on the Tigers and Brewers in the Bronx. Our second-ranked stud, Pablo Lopez, also has two starts scheduled we like, with the Guardians in Cleveland and the Mets at home. Jose Berrios may have the juiciest slate of the week with games at Oakland and home to the Royals.

Speaking of the Royals, Cole Ragans continues to impress and gets the White Sox at home this week before traveling to Toronto. The matchup against the Blue Jays doesn’t sound great, but they’ve struggled to score runs at home this season and will probably still be without Bo Bichette.

The Cubs’ Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks are on track for identical two-start weeks against the Giants and Diamondbacks at Wrigley in Chicago.

Two-Start Starters with Matchups We’re Nervous About Next Week

The list of two-start pitchers with a rough week ahead is much shorter. It’s just Jesus Luzardo, who will face the Dodgers in Los Angeles and the Phillies at home. Brayan Bello and Zach Eflin don’t have great schedules, though it’s not too terrible. Bello gets the Rays in Tampa Bay, followed by the Orioles at home, while Eflin stays home with games against the Red Sox and Mariners.

One-Start Starters with Matchups We’re Geeked About Next Week

Nine of the 50 starters in our grid have one plus matchup next week. Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi will host the Royals north of the border, while teammate Chris Bassitt gets the Athletics in Oakland. It could be a good week for Jays’ fans. Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff will be in Pittsburgh, taking on the Pirates, while Charlie Morton will face them at home over the weekend.

Elsewhere, Rangers’ compadres Jordan Montgomery and Jon Gray will try to do the Texas two-step on the visiting Athletics, which could solve the Rangers’ recent woes. Finally, Tarik Skubal will have an opportunity to pad his strikeout totals when he hosts the White Sox.

One-Start Starters with Matchups We’re Nervous About Next Week

Max Scherzer could have a tougher time next week than Montgomery and Gray, as he’ll have to take on the in-state rival Astros in Arlington, Texas. Conversely, Houston’s Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez will face the Rangers. Zac Gallen gets the Cubs at Wrigley, and Sandy Alcantara faces the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Cubs and Phillies have been run-scoring machines since the All-Star break.

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