Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Rankings: Week 5 (2024)

Welcome to the FantasyPros Week 5 starting pitcher rankings for 2024. On Fridays, we view the upcoming week and rank starting pitchers based on their talent and the team they play against. These rankings are for the week of Monday, April 22, through Sunday, April 28.

These rankings use expert consensus rankings (ECR) as a starting point. Matchup information is found on the helpful Pitcher Planner’s resource for probable pitchers.

Starting Pitcher Rankings: Week 5

Pitchers (Hopefully) on Waivers

  • Nick Lodolo flashed ace potential in 2022 with 11.4 K/9 and a 3.66 ERA in 103.1 innings. Sadly, the youngster did not live up to expectations in 2023 and his disappointing season was cut short by a tibia injury. His leg finally recovered for a tardy 2024 debut where he threw 5.2 innings of 10 strikeout baseball, only giving away one walk and one hit. Lodolo will be a star if he stays healthy.
  • Reynaldo Lopez has earned three consecutive quality starts, 18 strikeouts and just one run allowed in 18.0 innings pitched. His most recent win against the Astros was the most impressive, striking out seven and only allowing five men on base. If Lopez is available, grab him right away.
  • Javier Assad‘s 2024 is building off his 109.1 IP, 3.05 ERA season in 2023. The Cubs starter does not have a career history of elite strikeout numbers or WHIP, but he should be a good source of ERA.

Best Matchups

  • Corbin Burnes is one of the best starters in baseball following injuries to Spencer Strider and Gerrit Cole. Expect Burnes to impress against Oakland.
  • Ranger Suarez surprised the fantasy baseball community by throwing a complete-game shutout against the Rockies. While his matchups against the Reds and Padres aren’t easy, Suarez may be the hottest pitcher right now. Ride the wave.
  • Jared Jones has demonstrated absurd control so far with a 32:2 K:BB. No sensational rookie can escape all road bumps, but managers should be excited for Jones’ potential two-start week.

Unfavorable Matchups

  • Justin Verlander returns. The 41-year-old has been nursing a shoulder injury and will still be getting into the groove when he faces a deep Cubs lineup. Managers should proceed with caution.
  • Chris Bassitt remains one of the most consistent ballplayers today. He is rarely exciting, yet he gets the job done. Bassitt loses value this week due to a tough Dodgers lineup.
  • Paul Blackburn may be the best thing the A’s have going for them. I highly doubt he will be the best thing fantasy managers have going for them this week when he faces the Yankees and Orioles. Consider benching the pitcher, especially in leagues that count wins.
  • Tanner Houck threw a complete-game shutout against the Guardians. It sounds ridiculous to tell managers to be cautious of his next matchup, but here I am. Houck’s next start is a rematch against Cleveland, a slightly concerning fact because of history in a small sample size. Houck dominated the Angels earlier in the season but faced them again just a week later, allowing 12 hits and four runs. Managers should still start the righty, but be ready for a bad result.

Top 50 Pitchers (4/22 – 4/28)

Rank Pitcher Matchup(s)
1 Corbin Burnes OAK
2 Pablo Lopez CWS, @LAA
3 Freddy Peralta @PIT
4 Tyler Glasnow @WSH
5 Zac Gallen @SEA
6 Joe Ryan CWS
7 Tarik Skubal @TB, KC
8 Zack Wheeler @CIN
9 Logan Webb NYM
10 Sonny Gray @NYM
11 Grayson Rodriguez @LAA, OAK
12 Kevin Gausman @KC, LAD
13 Logan Gilbert @TEX, ARI
14 Aaron Nola @SD
15 Dylan Cease @COL, PHI
16 Ranger Suarez @CIN, @SD
17 Yoshinobu Yamamoto @TOR
18 Reid Detmers BAL, MIN
19 Jared Jones MIL, @SF
20 Michael King @COL, PHI
21 George Kirby ARI
22 Luis Castillo ARI
23 Cole Ragans TOR
24 Merrill Kelly @SEA
25 Tanner Houck @CLE, CHC
26 Shota Imanaga HOU
27 Bryce Miller @TEX
28 Nathan Eovaldi CIN
29 Marcus Stroman OAK, @MIL
30 Chris Sale MIA
31 Max Fried MIA
32 Carlos Rodon OAK, @MIL
33 Yusei Kikuchi @KC, LAD
34 Chris Bassitt LAD
35 Cristopher Sanchez @CIN
36 Garrett Crochet @MIN
37 Reynaldo Lopez MIA, CLE
38 Bailey Ober CWS
39 Charlie Morton CLE
40 Kutter Crawford CHC
41 Blake Snell NYM
42 Aaron Civale @CWS
43 Jordan Hicks PIT
44 Mitch Keller MIL
45 Justin Verlander @CHC
46 Brady Singer TOR, @DET
47 Javier Assad @BOS
48 Paul Blackburn @NYY, @BAL
49 Jordan Montgomery @STL
50 Nick Lodolo PHI


Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio