MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: Weaver, Verlander Lead Charge for Angels, Tigers

It’s been said before and it’ll been said again, but pitching separates the men from the boys in Major League Baseball.

Chicks may dig the long ball, but owners that want to profit from their teams better spend on starting pitching if they want to turn their ballclub into a winner.

The AL East may be the biggest exception, the Yankees have two 10-game winners (CC Sabathia and Ian Nova), but it’s their bats that have allowed them to run away with that division.

In the AL Central, Chris Sale and Justin Verlander are on clubs competing for the title and if the Tigers can get better starting pitchers they could easily snag the division away from the unexpectedly strong White Sox.

And the cellar dwellers in that division are the Royals and Twins, two teams without strong pitching.

Jared Weaver and CJ Wilson are keeping the Angels alive in the AL West despite all the firepower the Rangers have in their lineup (having Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo doesn’t hurt either).

The disparity is even more prevalent in the NL, where the three division leaders (Washington, Cincinnati and San Francisco) have three of the best pitchers in the league (Gio Gonzales, Johnny Cueto and Matt Cain) leading their rotation.

If Atlanta is going to take the East, Tommy Hanson is going to need the rest of the staff to help him set up lights out closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth.

In a similar vein, Pittsburgh is competing with Cincinnati in the Central because AJ Burnett and James McDonald are having great seasons.

San Francisco has to be worried about Tim Lincecum, but their pitching has been better than that of anyone else in their division.

Then again, if Chris Capuano keeps doing what he’s doing and Clayton Kershaw has a better second half, the once-hot Dodgers could take control of the division once again.

10. Matt Cain, Giants

Last week: 2

Stats: 10-3 record, 2.56 ERA

After a nice string of eight straight wins (and a perfect game, in case you missed it), Cain has hit a few road bumps.

His last three starts have gone like this: No decision at Oakland, loss to Cincinnati and no decision at Washington.

The win over Houston on Sunday should get him going in the right direction once again.

9. Johnny Cueto, Reds

Last week: N/A

Stats: 11-5 record, 2.28 ERA

Cueto has picked up two wins after a little lapse at the end of June and the beginning of July.

Fair to say he’s a big reason the Reds are competing with the Pirates for the NL Central division lead.

8. Cole Hamels, Phillies

Last week: N/A

Stats: 11-4 record, 3.07 ERA

A great player on a poor team, Hamels is currently the subject of trade rumors and would be a big pickup for a contender at the deadline.

7. RA Dickey, Mets

Last week: 3

Stats: 12-1 record, 2.66 ERA

Dickey hasn’t lost since April, but the knuckleballer also has failed to pick up a win in three of his last four starts.

Not that he’s getting a lot of help from his team. The Mets have fallen behind the Nats and the Braves in the NL East Standings.

6. Gio Gonzalez, Nationals

Last week: 5

Stats: 12-4 record, 2.93 ERA

Losing to Miami hurts.

It’s a team that, despite a name change and new area, looks like they may be sellers again with Giancarlo Stanton possibly on the move (some things never change, I guess).

Can’t hold this one against Gonzalez too much though. He had a string of four straight wins entering the matchup.

5. Matt Harrison, Rangers

Last week: N/A

Stats: 12-4 record, 2.87 ERA

He may fly under the radar in Texas because he can’t do Will Farrell impressions like teammate Derek Holland, but Harrison’s putting up big numbers in that tin can park in Arlington.

His loss on July 5 was his first since May.

4. Chris Sale, White Sox

Last week: 8

Stats: 11-2 record, 2.11 ERA

Sale hasn’t lost a game since May and his 1.17 ERA this month is evidence that he doesn’t plan on losing another game anytime soon.

3. David Price, Rays

Last week: 6

Stats: 12-4 record, 2.80 ERA

Price has thrown at least seven strikeouts in six of his last seven outings.

For those of you keeping score at home, that’s nearly a strikeout per inning (yay math!).

The amazing thing? He had a loss in his eight-K matchup with the Mets and a no decision when he threw eight strikeouts against the Yankees.

2. Justin Verlander, Tigers

Last week: 1

Stats: 10-5 record, 2.43 ERA

An ace on a team with high expectations that needs starting pitching, Verlander picked up win No. 10 in Baltimore on Sunday.

After losing three straight decisions, Mr. Kate Upton has picked up a win in five of his last six starts.

1. Jared Weaver, Angels

Last week: 4

Stats: 11-1 record, 2.26 ERA

Never mind that Weaver hasn’t lost a game since May, the Angels starter has five straight wins in his last five starts.

Must be nice knowing that teammate Mark Trumbo is probably going to hit a jack every night, right?

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com.

Follow him on Twitter @tschreier3.