Nick Mariano’s weekly top‑101 starting‑pitcher rankings have become a must‑read for fantasy baseball enthusiasts, especially as Week 12 unfolds with a cascade of movement that could redefine roster decisions across leagues.
Who’s Rising
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has vaulted to the No. 5 spot after delivering back‑to‑back elite starts, posting a 1.01 ERA since May 15 and showcasing the kind of dominance that makes him a prime target for waiver wire pickups. Logan Webb continues his ascent, maintaining a 0.66 ERA and racking up 23 strikeouts over his last four outings, which propelled him 13 spots higher in the latest board. Max Meyer, sitting at a 2.75 season ERA, has also been rock‑solid, allowing two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, underscoring his reliability as a mid‑rotation workhorse.
Dustin May’s recent form is equally compelling; the right‑hander boasts a 2.54 ERA over his last 12 starts and even threw a one‑hit complete‑game shutout against the Padres, a performance that has many analysts penciling him into the top tier. Andrew Abbott’s meteoric rise mirrors May’s, as the young left‑hander has surged 25 spots, tying with May for the biggest jump in rest‑of‑season rankings this week.
Who’s Falling
The flip side of the leaderboard tells a cautionary tale. Nathan Eovaldi’s recent stretch of five starts has yielded a 5.23 ERA, dropping him 10 spots to No. 25 overall, while Emerson Hancock endured his worst outing of the season, surrendering six runs on nine hits and slipping 11 spots. Connelly Early is also trending downward, having allowed 12 earned runs across his last 14 2/3 innings, raising concerns about his consistency moving forward.
Sandy Alcantara remains a bright spot, posting a 2.86 ERA and 19 strikeouts over three June starts, which propelled him 21 spots upward. Meanwhile, Bryce Elder, despite a solid 3.15 season ERA, has shown vulnerability, giving up six runs in two of his last four starts, suggesting a potential plateau. Foster Griffin continues to impress, limiting opponents to just one run in each of his last three appearances and climbing 14 spots, whereas Trey Yesavage is currently in a funk after surrendering at least five earned runs in three of his last four starts.
These shifts illustrate a week where breakout performances can catapult obscure pitchers into the spotlight, while established names must quickly adjust to avoid losing roster spots. For fantasy managers, the key takeaway is to monitor these trends closely, as the next wave of starts could dramatically alter matchup outcomes and league standings.