2017 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Pitching Planner: 0 to 100, Real Quick

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Maybe I keep movin' forward and they just stagnant
They ain't movin' at all

-- '0 to 100 / Catch-Up', Drake

Song is NSFW at all and also quite reachy for my purposes. Does it look like I care? Just key in on the title...

One way or another, many pitchers are starting to surpass the 100 inning threshold. This is exciting for me because it's such an easy reference point for sample size. If I'm worried about how believable a pitcher's statistics are, I simply check out the quantity of innings thrown and differentiate from 100.

Consequentially, this has led to quite the shake up in the pitching tiers this week. As I was completing my research for the week, I continued to notice that I had been over- and underrating many pitchers in the rankings in recent weeks. I'm anxious to release my improved rankings this week and hope to unveil my point system that I have created in the near future.

For now, we focus on pitching options in Week 18. As football season nears, it's important to be stealthy and mine the waivers for competent streamers. I wish to help you in that quest!

2017 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Pitching Planner

Auto-Start

The Auto-Start tier strictly includes pitchers that should be started every week regardless of league size and matchup.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Chris Sale	Red Sox	CLE	CWS
Max Scherzer	Nationals	@MIA
Corey Kluber	Indians	NYY
Zack Greinke	Diamondbacks	@SF
Alex Wood	Dodgers	@ATL
Luis Severino	Yankees	DET	@CLE
Lance McCullers	Astros	TOR
James Paxton	Mariners	@KC

Promoted

• No one was promoted this week. I hope to be in a better mood next week. You will see what I mean in the 'relegated' section.

Relegated

• It's mass relegation time for Carlos Martinez, Yu Darvish, and Carlos Carrasco! These guys aren't awful all of a sudden, but I just feel that they aren't elite anymore like the eight pitchers listed above. The three pitchers here along with Jacob deGrom and Chris Archer could still wiggle their way back to the elite tier.

Auto-Stream

This tier consists of pitchers who don't quite reach the trust level of the Auto-Starts. However, due to matchup or recent performance, they are capable of having elite level production in a given week.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Dallas Keuchel	Astros	TB
Aaron Nola	Phillies	@LAA	@COL
Madison Bumgarner	Giants	@OAK	ARI
Jeff Samardzija	Giants	@OAK	ARI
Jimmy Nelson	Brewers	STL	@TB
Zack Godley	Diamondbacks	@CHC
Chris Archer	Rays	@HOU	MIL
Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	@MIL	@CIN
Jameson Taillon	Pirates	CIN	SD
Carlos Carrasco	Indians	@BOS
Jon Lester	Cubs	ARI
Marcus Stroman	Blue Jays	@CWS
Yu Darvish	Rangers	SEA	@MIN
Sonny Gray	Athletics	@LAA
Jacob deGrom	Mets	LAD
Michael Fulmer	Tigers	@NYY	@BAL
Robbie Ray	Diamondbacks	@CHC

Notables

• Dallas Keuchel returns to the Houston rotation finally. This isn't really about Keuchel though, as he will return to the top tier of starters if he can regain pre-injured form. I wanted to talk about the unfortunate demotion for Brad Peacock, who really came into his own in a starting role. However, if Collin McHugh continues to do Collin McHugh-type things, Peacock could find his way back into the starting staff.
• Zack Godley is one of those guys that, while I am a big fan of his and jumped on him early, I didn't believe could keep up this pace. However, with close to triple digit innings under his belt, there's no reason to keep him out of this tier.

• The enigma that is Jeff Samardzija continues here in 2017. Dude has only issued more than one walk in a game once since April. He's had nine eight-strikeout outings in that same timeframe. If he can bring the home run rate and BABIP back down closer to his career rates, Shark could be smelling blood.

Dream Stream

The Dream Stream group more closely reflects the pitchers that you might find on the waiver wire depending on league size.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Yusmeiro Petit	Angels	OAK
Brock Stewart	Dodgers	@ATL
Jose Berrios	Twins	@SD	TEX
Sean Manaea	Athletics	SF	@LAA
Charlie Morton	Astros	TB	TOR
Jacob Faria	Rays	MIL
Kenta Maeda	Dodgers	@ATL	@NYM
Trevor Cahill	Royals	SEA
Rich Hill	Dodgers	@NYM
Brent Suter	Brewers	STL
Felix Hernandez	Mariners	@TEX	@KC
Michael Wacha	Cardinals	@MIL
Gerrit Cole	Pirates	SD
Danny Duffy	Royals	@BAL	SEA
Jose Quintana	Cubs	ARI
Mike Fiers	Astros	TB	TOR
Drew Pomeranz	Red Sox	CLE	CWS
Masahiro Tanaka	Yankees	DET
Luis Castillo	Reds	STL
Dan Straily	Marlins	@ATL
Rick Porcello	Red Sox	CWS
Patrick Corbin	Diamondbacks	@CHC	@SF
Ivan Nova	Pirates	SD
Jaime Garcia	Twins	TEX
Gio Gonzalez	Nationals	@MIA	@CHC
Mike Clevinger	Indians	@BOS	NYY
Mike Foltynewicz	Braves	@PHI	MIA
Taijuan Walker	Diamondbacks	@SF
Eduardo Rodriguez	Red Sox	CWS
Dinelson Lamet	Padres	@PIT
Jason Vargas	Royals	@BAL
Marco Estrada	Blue Jays	@CWS	@HOU
Jake Arrieta	Cubs	ARI	WSH
JC Ramirez	Angels	PHI
Ervin Santana	Twins	@SD
Jordan Montgomery	Yankees	@CLE
David Price	Red Sox	CLE
Hyun-Jin Ryu	Dodgers	@NYM
Jon Gray	Rockies	PHI
Alex Cobb	Rays	@HOU	MIL
Jhoulys Chacin	Padres	MIN
Lance Lynn	Cardinals	@CIN
Mike Leake	Cardinals	@CIN
Ariel Miranda	Mariners	@TEX
Luke Weaver	Cardinals	@MIL
J.A. Happ	Blue Jays	@CWS
Trevor Williams	Pirates	CIN
Erick Fedde	Nationals	@CHC

Notables

• Fair warning, the sample sizes on Brock Stewart and Yusmeiro Petit are far too small for my ranking system. Their matchups are nice enough to stream, but I wouldn't go as far as rank them at the top of this table. I just wanted to be consistent with my point system.
• Danny Salazar tossed a gem in his return to the Cleveland rotation against the anemic Jays. I won't diminish Salazar's return though, it was certainly encouraging for his rest of season value. I believe he can be a mid-rotation arm, but don't expect him to just wreck shop like he did last week the rest of the way.

• Just wanted to mention Trevor Cahill since he was traded to the Royals. Most everyone knows that I am a big Cahill-backer and his value won't change much in Kansas City. He might gain a few more wins on a better team, but that's not bankable. If this guy is available on your waiver wire though, I am envious and you should snag him in a heartbeat.
• My streamer of the week is Ariel Miranda against the Rangers. Texas is one of the worst lefty-hitting squads in the majors. Miranda has shown the ability to toss straight up gems and this will be one of them.

Buyer Beware

These pitchers are better left on your bench for the week if not the waiver wire. Guys closer to the top could be on the brink of being promoted in the right matchup or with a continued hot streak. If a player is not listed in any tiers, that should be the cue to drop said player.

Player	Team	Opp1	Opp2
Ricky Nolasco	Angels	PHI	OAK
Paul Blackburn	Athletics	SF	@LAA
Nick Pivetta	Phillies	ATL	@COL
Jeff Hoffman	Rockies	NYM	PHI
Dylan Bundy	Orioles	KC	DET
Caleb Smith	Yankees	@CLE
Ty Blach	Giants	OAK
Trevor Bauer	Indians	@BOS
Parker Bridwell	Angels	PHI
Kyle Hendricks	Cubs	WSH
CC Sabathia	Yankees	DET	@CLE
Luis Perdomo	Padres	MIN
Ian Kennedy	Royals	@BAL	SEA
Rafael Montero	Mets	@COL
Daniel Gossett	Athletics	@SF
Adalberto Mejia	Twins	TEX
Danny Salazar	Indians	NYY
Jerad Eickhoff	Phillies	@LAA
German Marquez	Rockies	NYM
Cole Hamels	Rangers	SEA	@MIN
Tanner Roark	Nationals	@MIA
Chris Flexin	Mets	@COL
Steven Matz	Mets	@COL	LAD
Antonio Senzatela	Rockies	PHI
Vince Velasquez	Phillies	@COL
Anibal Sanchez	Tigers	@NYY	@BAL
Justin Verlander	Tigers	@BAL
Josh Tomlin	Indians	NYY
Mike Pelfrey	White Sox	TOR	@BOS
Chris Smith	Athletics	@SF
Matt Moore	Giants	OAK
Chad Kuhl	Pirates	CIN
Jose Urena	Marlins	WSH	@ATL
Clayton Richard	Padres	@PIT
Kyle Freeland	Rockies	NYM
Jason Hammel	Royals	SEA
Seth Lugo	Mets	LAD
Sean Newcomb	Braves	LAD
Tim Adleman	Reds	STL
Zach Davies	Brewers	@TB
Yovani Gallardo	Mariners	@KC
Kevin Gausman	Orioles	DET
R.A. Dickey	Braves	MIA
Adam Conley	Marlins	@ATL
John Lackey	Cubs	WSH
Martin Perez	Rangers	@MIN
Matt Boyd	Tigers	@BAL
Julio Teheran	Braves	LAD
Sal Romano	Reds	@PIT
Andrew Cashner	Rangers	SEA
Miguel Gonzalez	White Sox	@BOS
Blake Snell	Rays	@HOU
Carlos Rodon	White Sox	@BOS

Notables

• Amidst all of the trade talk, Justin Verlander is starting to heat up a little bit. However, I'm just not buying a total rebound yet. The Orioles don't scare me a ton right now on offense, but I'm still skeptical.
• If you are the brave soul streaming Paul Blackburn or Nick Pivetta for both starts this week, tweet me a picture of your lineup. I must warn you - there are only two things that can happen after that. Either I shame you at the end of the week or give you major mad props! No in-between.

• Finally, Kyle Hendricks has made his return to the rotation after odd hand injuries. I will be extremely curious to see if he can bounce back or if the hand injuries were a rouse. Meanwhile, Mike Montgomery hops on back to the bullpen.
• Despite a nice debut, I don't believe the Yankees want Caleb Smith in their rotation for long. A name to keep on your radar is Chance Adams, who is making quick work of the minor leagues in 2017.

Arms Amending

This table will be updated each week to show which pitchers are on the mend. The mid-tier pitcher that gets injured is always the guy who goes unnoticed on waiver wires, so use this to your advantage.

Player	Team	Injury	Anticipated Return
Kendall Graveman	Athletics	Shoulder soreness	Early August
Chase Anderson	Brewers	Oblique strain	Mid August
Stephen Strasburg	Nationals	Elbow nerve impingement	Mid August
Garrett Richards	Angels	Cutaneous nerve in biceps	August
Johnny Cueto	Giants	Blisters	TBD
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers	Back strain	Early September
Noah Syndergaard	Mets	Strained lat	TBD

Notables

• The Dodgers' rotation has gone from nearly perfect to patchy in just a week's time. Clayton Kershaw and Brandon McCarthy have both hit the DL, leaving Hyun-Jin Ryu and Stewart to man the final spots. I believe each of them will be serviceable for fantasy purposes.
• Another year, another Stephen Strasburg arm-related injury. Well, we got three and a half awesome months out of him so that's a positive takeaway. The Nats have called up Erick Fedde while Stras heals. Fedde has a nice pedigree and could surprise the Cubs in his major league debut.

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