Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Rankings: Week 18 (2024)

Welcome to the FantasyPros Week 18 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 Monday, July 29 through Sunday, August 4.

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

• Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
• Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice
• Fantasy Baseball Start/Sit Lineup Advice
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

As usual, remember that some starts are projected over a week in advance. Dates can change due to rain, injuries or anything else. Two-start weeks pitchers often end up as one-start weeks.

Also, remember the July 31 trade deadline. Many starters on this list are front-running trade candidates, so this week’s schedule is based on far more predictions than usual.

Be sure to check the FantasyPros Pitcher Planner for the most up-to-date information.

Top 50 Starting Pitcher Rankings: Week 18

Best Matchups

• Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter against Washington on July 25. He has not allowed a run and only two hits in his last three starts, striking out 30 in 22 innings. No pitcher has been better during this stretch. While the Padres ace faces a tough opponent as he lines up against the Dodgers next week, he carries incredible momentum and has what it takes to continue dominating.
• Hunter Greene is also on quite the hot streak. He has allowed just one run in his past three starts, throwing 20 innings and collecting 24 strikeouts. Greene will take the mound as the Reds face the mediocre Giants. All signs point to the 24-year-old star keeping up his run.
• Max Scherzer returned from his back injury over a month ago. Since his return, he has compiled a 3.57 ERA (3.20 xERA) and 1.08 WHIP with 24 strikeouts over 29.1 innings. Although fantasy managers panicked when the Rangers veteran left his start in Baltimore on July 20 due to arm fatigue, he seemed to return to form after holding the White Sox to three hits over six innings, striking out nine. Sure, it’s the 27-78 White Sox, but the 39-year-old showed he still has gas in the tank.

Unfavorable Matchups

• Garrett Crochet‘s workload concerns are no secret. It is unknown if he will stay healthy and pitch regularly for the rest of the season. The converted reliever has been surrounded by bubble wrap in July. Crochet has been pulled early in all his starts this month and has not gone past the fourth inning despite pitching well. Additionally, Crochet is a top trade deadline target and may be playing for another team next week. Crochet himself appears uncertain regarding his health for the rest of the year, requesting a contract extension to agree to pitch in October. Unanswered questions and a reduced pitch count decrease confidence in Crochet’s tentative start against Minnesota.
• Ranger Suarez has a 6.66 ERA in his last five starts. The Phillies star is struggling as of late and is regressing after having an incredible 1.75 ERA in his first 15 starts. All good things must end and Suarez appears in line for a worse second half than his first. However, Suarez may salvage extra value against Seattle, an offense that has the most strikeouts in baseball.
• Gerrit Cole is still rusty. The reigning Cy Young recipient allowed six earned runs to the Mets on July 24, diminishing confidence gained from his previous back-to-back quality starts. This rust may be evident against the 64-38 Phillies. Fantasy managers should watch out.

Top 50 Pitchers (7/29 – 8/4)

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