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The Primer:

Because dynasty-league rankings are relatively league-dependent, I set up parameters for ranking the players below (and the ones who will follow at other positions). The list here presupposes a 16-team standard dynasty format, where there are no contracts/salaries, players can be kept forever and owners have minor league farm systems in which to hoard prospects. So feel free to adjust this as necessary for your individual league, whether it’s moving non-elite prospects without 2015 ETAs down if you don’t have separate farm teams or moving lower-risk, lower-reward players up in deeper mixed or only formats.

So many pitchers. Some young, some old. Any further introduction is unnecessary given the magnitude of this list. And yes, I probably have an incorrect player/team combination on here somewhere. You’ll survive.

And now, your top 175 starting pitchers in dynasty league formats:

1) Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

This should be a shock to absolutely no one. Kershaw is the only pitcher worth taking in the first round of a dynasty draft (just like in a redraft setting), and he’s unlikely to fall off this perch for quite a while. If you own him, enjoy the ride.

2) Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
3) Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
4) Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
5) Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

At this time last year, Darvish was at the top of this tier, but a slightly down season and an injury nearly pushes him out of the top five. On the other hand, Scherzer and Sale finally bullied their way into the upper echelon of fantasy starters with excellent 2014 campaigns.

6) Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
7) Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

It’s a hot button debate as to which Tommy John recoveree you prefer in dynasty leagues, but I lean toward the guy who has shown that second gear—even if he’s sidelined for the first couple of months in 2015. Strasburg certainly has the talent to be the no. 2 pitcher on this list, but he remains overshadowed by his potential.

8) David Price, Detroit Tigers
9) Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
10) Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
11) Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
12) Matt Harvey, New York Mets
13) Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

It may look like I’m the guy pouring cold water on the Madison Bumgarner parade (lord knows he needs more parades), but it’s a very, very close cluster here. Price raised his strikeout game significantly in 2014, and should get a healthy amount of run support in Detroit. Greinke may not be a surefire ace in all leagues, but he’s extremely consistent and should win a boatload of games in Los Angeles this year. Hamels is still an elite pitcher, and the sooner he gets away from the poor win potential and defense of the Phillies, the happier his fantasy owners will be. Expectations should be kept in check for Harvey in 2015, but he should take his rightful place as an SP1 as soon as 2016. And don’t get me started on how underrated Jordan Zimmermann is.

14) Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates
15) Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
16) Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
17) Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
18) Alex Cobb, Tampa Bay Rays
19) Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves

This may feel aggressive on Cole, but bear in mind that I also ranked him seventh last year. Even if he doesn’t take much of a step forward from here, he’s a strikeout per inning fire baller, pitching in a great pitchers’ park. Kluber was a revelation in 2014, but I’m still not jumping in with both feet in dynasty leagues until I see this level of performance (mainly strikeouts) for another season. It’s really a shame that Cobb and Teheran will be pitching for teams with brutal offenses, as it’s likely to hold down their earnings in standard leagues. If you are in a QS league instead, they become a bit more valuable.

20) Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

This ranking is me getting excited about Arrieta and what I think he’s capable of going forward, but it’s also the beginning of a new tier. Before we get to riskier pitchers, both from age and injury standpoints, Arrieta stands above the rest of the 2014 non-Kluber breakouts.

21) Adam Wainwright, St Louis Cardinals
22) James Shields, San Diego Padres
23) Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
24) Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
25) Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics
26) Mat Latos, Miami Marlins

Without the elbow concerns, Wainwright would be nearly 10 spots higher, but we can’t completely ignore them here. He’s at the age where a severe elbow injury could suck out the remainder of his elite life. Shields gets the extra fantasy love for moving to San Diego, but watch out for what should be a pretty brutal defense there. Tanaka is a very interesting case, as he was so good in the first half and carries so much risk at this point. Without the injury, he’s likely about 10 spots higher, too, but there’s also the risk that the league gets a little more comfortable against him in their second and third looks. Gray is really fun to watch, but gets overrated in fantasy circles, mostly because of that game against Justin Verlander in the 2013 playoffs. Latos, on the other hand, gets underrated because he finally missed time last year (though he still had a 3.25 ERA).

27) Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
28) Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
29) Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox
30) Michael Wacha, St Louis Cardinals

Here’s the upside grouping. Wheeler and Gausman haven’t shown their true colors in the majors, but if they do, they could become SP2s in very short order. Samardzija has the stuff to do the same, but 2014 was his first year as a starter with a below league average ERA, he’s never won 10 games in a season and will have to fight U.S. Cellular at every turn this year. Wacha went from being overrated last year to almost underrated this year—and all it took was a pesky shoulder injury and a walk-off loss to lose the pennant.

31) Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
32) Lucas Giolito, Washington Nationals

The future’s so bright, you have to wear shades.

33) Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels
34) Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
35) Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
36) Anibal Sanchez, Detroit Tigers
37) Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals
38) Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
39) Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks
40) Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves

A lot more up-and-comers in this tier, as Richards, Stroman, and deGrom all ended 2014 in a far different place than they started it. They are all good bets to settle in as strong fantasy starters, but not quite in the elite group—though they all carry their own risks. Ventura has the stuff to strike more batters out than he did in 2014, but with the weak contact that he’s able to induce, maybe it’s not the worst idea to stick with what’s working. I’m still a firm believer in Miller rebounding towards SP2 status, but he’s going to have to work extra hard for it in Atlanta.

41) Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds

It’s extremely tough to rank Bailey at this point, given the uncertainty around him. After off-season flexor tendon surgery, he looks like he’ll miss at least a couple of turns to start the season—something that is tough to swallow for a pitcher who needs to rack up the strikeouts to get to his value.

42) Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles
43) Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners
44) Hyun-jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
45) Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
46) Jonathan Gray, Colorado Rockies
47) Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres
48) Drew Smyly, Tampa Bay Rays
49) Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
50) Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves
51) James Paxton, Seattle Mariners
52) Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
53) Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays

Lots of fun names in here. Walker could still be the guy we thought he could be, so don’t be turned off by his PCL numbers last year. Safeco is a little different of an environment. Cashner gets many excited, but he hasn’t quite the number of bats that a pitcher with his stuff is expected to. Paxton and Ross could be very strong values here if they stay healthy, and Wood is just not a good bet to hold up over the long run, despite his impressiveness.

54) Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians
55) Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox

The dichotomy here is fun. Carrasco is about as volatile as someone in this range gets, while Quintana is about as boring and steady. Which one you prefer certainly depends on the depth of your league, and how risky you’re feeling on draft day.

56) Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants
57) Lance Lynn, St Louis Cardinals
58) Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays
59) Doug Fister, Washington Nationals
60) Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
61) Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
62) Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
63) Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks
64) Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
65) Daniel Norris, Toronto Blue Jays
66) Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles

There’s something disconcerting about seeing Cain and Verlander both outside of the top 50, but that’s where we are these days. The Verlander comeback train is already starting back up, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to trade him or trade for him. His value should only rise as Spring Training goes on, if the reports are going to sound this positive. Moore, Duffy and Corbin are three left-handers who could either be way up the list or way down it at the end of 2015—with Duffy being the only one who will start the season in a rotation.

67) Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
68) Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves
69) Derek Holland, Texas Rangers

It’s like you can’t swing a stick without hitting an injury-riddled southpaw. All three of these pitchers missed significant time in 2014, and will look to rebound their value in 2015. Lee is the enigma, as there’s little doubt he can perform at a high level if he’s on the mound. Minor and Holland check in with lower upsides, but they still hold still plenty of potential to return profit at this point.

70) Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians
71) Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels
72) Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
73) Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays
74) Alex Gonzalez, Texas Rangers
75) Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
76) Braden Shipley, Arizona Diamondbacks
77) Wily Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
78) Michael Pineda, New York Yankees
79) Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians
80) Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
81) Hunter Harvey, Baltimore Orioles
82) Mark Appel, Houston Astros
83) Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
84) Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates
85) Ian Kennedy, San Diego Padres
86) Matt Wisler, San Diego Padres

It’s more pitchers! What, we’re not even halfway through? Salazar may have finally bottomed out, which now makes him a somewhat decent value, unlike last year. Weaver keeps tumbling down this list, just like his velocity, but he continues to defy physics as he gets older. The prospects here form quite a contrast, as you have your safer arms like Gonzalez and Wisler combined with your huge-upside arms like Glasnow and Harvey.

87) Carlos Martinez, St Louis Cardinals

The 2015 season will likely be the last big test for Martinez’s fantasy value going forward. He has a strong chance to win the last spot in the Cardinals’ rotation, but if he doesn’t start producing as a starter, he’s likely going to be fated to the bullpen for the foreseeable future. Of course, that doesn’t preclude him from holding plenty of value, as he certainly has closer stuff; it’s just a much tougher proposition.

88) Jake Thompson, Texas Rangers
89) Steven Matz, New York Mets
90) Scott Kazmir, Oakland Athletics
91) Alex Meyer, Minnesota Twins
92) Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays
93) Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
94) Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
95) Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
96) Sean Manaea, Kansas City Royals
97) Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
98) Matt Garza, Milwaukee Brewers
99) Henderson Alvarez, Toronto Blue Jays

Another tier of kinda-good major-league starters and prospects who could be strong, but not elite. On the prospect scene, watch out for Hoffman and Manaea in 2015, but for different reasons. Hoffman should return in the second half, and if he is flashing the same raw stuff he showed at East Carolina, he could move up the ranks fast. For Manaea, he has to prove he can hold the mechanical adjustments he made down the stretch last year that caused him to start pitching up to his ability consistently.

100) Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins
101) Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins

Yeah, I went there.

102) Henry Owens, Boston Red Sox
103) Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
104) Wade Miley, Boston Red Sox
105) Collin McHugh, Houston Astros
106) Marco Gonzales, St Louis Cardinals
107) Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
108) Tyler Skaggs, Arizona Diamondbacks
109) Jon Niese, New York Mets

We’re outside the top 100, but it’s still a bit jarring to see McHugh this high up on a dynasty list. We’ll see how long his NBS (nothing but sliders) approach lasts before either hitters figure him out or his arm ends up in the hands of Luis Valbuena. Perez is unlikely to be back before the All-Star break, but he was showing real signs of improvement before needing surgery last year. The same can be said for Skaggs, though he’s expected back a couple of months after Perez.

110) Drew Hutchison, Toronto Blue Jays

The true test of the impact of framing in fantasy leagues is going to be demonstrated by Hutchison. Going from Dioner Navarro to Russell Martin should make a difference for the 24-year-old, but the unanswered question is just how much. Either way, he should be a cheap source of strikeouts going forward.

111) John Lackey, St Louis Cardinals
112) Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs

Singling these two out not because I took them both in a mock draft last night, but because they are two starters who should benefit in the short term from returning to the National League (okay, so the two are connected).

113) Reynaldo Lopez, Washington Nationals
114) Brandon McCarthy, Los Angeles Dodgers
115) Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
116) Jesse Hahn, Oakland Athletics
117) Kyle Zimmer, Kansas City Royals
118) Jimmy Nelson, Milwaukee Brewers
119) A.J. Cole, Washington Nationals
120) Brandon Finnegan, Kansas City Royals
121) R.A. Dickey, Toronto Blue Jays
122) Matt Shoemaker, Los Angeles Angels
123) Lucas Sims, Atlanta Braves
124) Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers

McCarthy is injured too often to be truly underrated, but he should put up nice stats when he does toe the rubber. Hahn gets the Doug Thorburn bump, but he too has to stay healthy in order to warrant the excitement around him. You likely won’t find Shoemaker or Gallardo on any of my rosters this year, but the same cannot be said for Dickey, whose consistency shouldn’t be overlooked in deeper leagues.

125) CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

As much as I love a good comeback story, I’m far less optimistic about this one. Sabathia has put the “good weight” back on and is checking into spring training north of three bills. While that may give a hint of optimism, the combination of Yankee Stadium and his diminished velocity trends will hold us all back from doing anything unfortunate.

126) Eddie Butler, Colorado Rockies
127) Tyler Kolek, Miami Marlins
128) Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
129) Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds
130) Grant Holmes, Los Angeles Dodgers
131) Alexander Reyes, St Louis Cardinals

Fun. Fun. Boring. Boring. Fun. Fun.

132) Jarred Cosart, Miami Marlins
133) Max Fried, Atlanta Braves
134) Joe Kelly, Boston Red Sox
135) Joe Ross, Washington Nationals
136) Kyle Lohse, Milwaukee Brewers
137) Touki Toussaint, Arizona Diamondbacks
138) Luis Severino, New York Yankees
139) Brett Anderson, Los Angeles Dodgers
140) Marcos Molina, New York Mets
141) C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels
142) Drew Pomeranz, Oakland Athletics
143) Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
144) Jarrod Parker, Oakland Athletics
145) Miguel Almonte, Kansas City Royals

Cosart and Kelly are setting out to prove that they can live up to their velocity readings and career ERAs (both comfortably under 3.50). Kelly will have a harder time due to his new environment in Boston, but both make for nice gambles here. Wilson was his usual quite good self for the first two months of 2014 before the wheels came off. It won’t cost you much at this point to see if he can stick those wheels back on. DeSclafani looks like he’ll edge into a rotation spot in Cincinnati this year, and he was throwing very well in the Arizona Fall League to end the 2014 season.

146) Ivan Nova, New York Yankees
147) Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals

Hey, look, more pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery. Nova has been throwing off a mound, but is looking at a June or July return at this point—when he’ll try to put his awful and abbreviated 2014 season behind him. Fedde has his surgery the week of the MLB draft, and the impending return of his slider (one of the best rated secondary offerings in the 2014 draft class) will go a long way towards determining how excited dynasty leaguers get about him.

148) Yusmeiro Petit, San Francisco Giants
149) Aaron Blair, Arizona Diamondbacks
150) Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers
151) Jake Peavy, San Francisco Giants
152) A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates
153) Nate Eovaldi, New York Yankees
154) Michael Fiers, Milwaukee Brewers
155) Jaime Garcia, St Louis Cardinals
156) Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals
157) Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
158) Josh Johnson, San Diego Padres

Lots of guys who might not make a rotation out of spring training here. Petit and Roark would be 40-50 slots higher, easily, if they were guaranteed the requisite innings to build up their value. As is, long relievers (or short ones without saves for that matter) aren’t of the most use here. Fortunately, they’re likely too good to languish in the bullpen forever. Eovaldi would have been a trendy sleeper had he stayed in Miami, but pitching half his games in Yankee Stadium will not help keep those ratios down. I want Garcia to be healthy so badly, but my will alone hasn’t been enough to keep him on the field over the last couple of seasons.

159) Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels
160) Justin Masterson, Boston Red Sox
161) Rafael Montero, New York Mets
162) Rob Kaminsky, St Louis Cardinals
163) Vincent Velazquez, Houston Astros
164) Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves
165) Bartolo Colon, New York Mets
166) Dillon Gee, New York Mets
167) Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds
168) A.J. Griffin, Oakland Athletics
169) Wei-Yin Chen, Baltimore Orioles
170) Kris Medlen, Kansas City Royals
171) Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
172) Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
173) Jesse Biddle, Philadelphia Phillies
174) Sean Nolin, Oakland Athletics
175) Jason Vargas, Kansas City Royals

It’s a sad mess at this point, but these pitchers are all rosterable in deeper mixed leagues. Yes, even Cingrani.

Just missed: Casey Kelly, Edwin Jackson

Oh, the heart strings. They are tugged. Maybe next year, guys.

Thank you for reading

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Muboshgu
2/27
Lofty list.
Ecrazy
2/27
Where would you put Yoan Lopez on this list? Apparently he's competing for a spot in the Arizona rotation this spring... Inquiring minds want to know (ie. people who already committed a pick in the dynasty draft :)
bretsayre
2/27
He almost made the list, but just fell short. Lots of risk without the potential payoff of even a Raisel Iglesias. I'd be pretty shocked if we saw him in Arizona this year, even with the mess that is their rotation.
canada
2/27
99) Henderson Alvarez, Toronto Blue Jays

Unfortunately not..
bretsayre
2/27
He'll always be a Jay in my heart. Thanks, Canada.
jashnew
2/28
I saw that as well. I like Alvarez but imagine him pitching at that launching pad in Toronto. Yikes. Good pitcher in Miami.
boatman44
2/27
Hey !! Where is my pitching ace, Jeremy Guthrie, you must have overlooked him in the Matt Cain tier Bret, shame on you :)
SenatorsGuy
2/27
My guy isn't high enough.
milbmania
2/27
Despite injuries, surprised Morrow isn't anywhere on this list.
jjackhammers
2/27
Would you draft Tyson Ross in leagues this year or do you think Tommy John is going to reach out and grab him this season?
bretsayre
2/27
I'll always have a little reservation with Ross, but he's not a lock for surgery and was quite good last year. If the price is right, there's room for anyone.
NightmareRec0n
2/27
Why is Fernandez 6 spots ahead of Harvey? I just see very similar innings totals, a comparable ERA,a better FIP from Harvey, and he going to be back sooner. I like Fernandez too,but I don't love the separation of the two.

I get that you don't love the park move: But Eovaldi is shockingly low. He still throws hard,doesn't walk anyone, and hasn't had a home run problem. Doug Thorburn loves the mechanics and if the rumoured splitter actually appears, he could get a lot better very quickly.
rwarner18
2/27
Youth, maybe?
delatopia
2/28
Six spots ahead or behind is nothing on a list like this.
davinhbrown
2/28
Deeper Bret!

Most of these names are owned in deep dynasty leagues.

Surprised wasn't more prospects over older vets near end.
ie - AJ burnett for 1 year versus say Urena who may or may not get more than 30 starts in career
Muboshgu
2/28
Since the over/under on Burnett and Urena is 30 (more) career starts, I think it makes sense.
Mark68
2/28
Tyler Skaggs had not been a Diamondback for over a year now.
maximizer
2/28
Pretty sure Buchholz should be on this list somewhere, I saw him pitch on a few occasions and his stuff is still very good, and he has shown past skills to be down right Dominiate.
Atkinson
3/01
Was Chase Anderson even in the conversation?
noonan
3/02
I'd take the proven production of Ryu over all of the prospects ahead of him any day.
loveablelosers
3/09
Any thoughts on how much the injury to Darvish moves him down in the list?
JPinPhilly
3/14
I was wondering the same thing. He missed part of 2014, will miss all of 2015, and should miss at least the beginning of 2016. How much does the two year layoff hurt his overall value?

I have him in a 12 team dynasty league with two DL slots so I'll probably be able to hold on to him, for a while at least, but at some point he may not be worth the wait.