theScore's Week 5 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

Here is the Week 5 edition of theScore's Fantasy Starting Pitcher Power Rankings, in which we list the top 30 starters in fantasy baseball using standard 5x5 scoring (Value Based Ranks (VBR) provided by FantasyPros; stats through Monday):

1. LHP Chris Sale, White Sox (LW: 3)

Being the majors' first seven-game winner isn't enough to put Sale here on its own - but combining it with minuscule ERA and WHIP rates and a solid K total certainly is. He has been the best fantasy pitcher through five weeks.

2. LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (LW: 1)

Kershaw slips to No. 2 only because he wasn't quite as dominant as the guy ahead of him last week. That said, while striking out 10 Blue Jays isn't as impressive as it would have been last year, it's still a great showing.

3. RHP Jake Arrieta, Cubs (LW: 2)

Arrieta fell off Sale's win pace by prevailing in just one of his two starts last week. The six walks also hurt him, as he saw his WHIP rise above the first two guys on the list. These, however, are the most minor of quibbles.

4. LHP Jose Quintana, White Sox (LW: 15)

Quintana surges into the top five after posting a pair of wins last week, allowing just two combined runs along the way. He's looking like a terrific value pick, and is no longer the best-kept secret in fantasy baseball.

5. RHP Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (LW: 6)

Strasburg stayed unbeaten despite getting knocked around in his last start against Detroit. Armed with a new contract, Strasburg fanned 18 over 13 innings last week and remains one of baseball's top power pitchers.

6. RHP Rick Porcello, Red Sox (LW: 7)

Porcello climbs a spot despite taking the loss in his only start last week. The strikeouts are higher than should be expected the rest of the way, but with pinpoint control and the Boston offense behind him, Porcello is legitimate.

7. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers (LW: 5)

Wins and crazy rate stats are what kept Zimmermann near the top of this list - but the lack of strikeouts is a major concern. He had just two in last week's start, and he won't sustain his current success without more whiffs.

8. RHP Aaron Nola, Phillies (LW: 27)

Nola remains at over a strikeout per inning on the season, while posting a 1.35 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP over his previous three starts. Wins will be in short supply, but Nola clearly has the goods to deliver for fantasy owners.

9. RHP Vince Velasquez, Phillies (LW: 4)

Have we already seen the peak of Velasquez's 2016 fantasy value? It's quite likely we have. He has a 3.50 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and just 15 Ks in his last three starts; that, coupled with an innings limit, makes him a heavy sell candidate.

10. RHP Danny Salazar, Indians (LW: 20)

Salazar was sensational in his only start last week, racking up nine strikeouts over eight shutout innings while issuing just one walk. If he can keep the free passes to a minimum, he's on track to finish as a top-10 fantasy starter.

11. RHP Stephen Wright, Red Sox (LW: --)

It's always a treat to have a knuckleball pitcher on the list, though it's anyone's guess as to how long Wright will stay here. For now, he has been almost impossible to hit; and the walks have been kept under control.

12. LHP Jon Lester, Cubs (LW: 12)

Lester is fortunate to remain in the No. 12 spot after allowing 10 baserunners in just 5 2/3 innings in last week's win over host Pittsburgh. He didn't allow a run in that one, and he has given up fewer than two runs in all but one start.

13. RHP Kenta Maeda, Dodgers (LW: 9)

Maeda came out of his first career encounter with Toronto mostly unscathed, though he's still outpitching his FIP by nearly a run and a half. Regression seems likely, but he'll still easily outperform his preseason ADP.

14. RHP Erasmo Ramirez, Rays (LW: --)

Ramirez is a starter in status only, having made just one start for the Rays all season. But he keeps piling up the wins - snagging two more last week - and has the kind of rate stats to help your entire fantasy staff.

15. LHP Drew Smyly, Rays (LW: 8)

Another week, another winless stretch for Smyly, who is doing everything else right but can't seem to get a W. Still, if he keeps pitching like this, the wins will eventually come - and that will increase his fantasy value dramatically.

16. RHP Ian Kennedy, Royals (LW: 24)

Kennedy is looking more and more like a steal - both for the Royals, and for fantasy owners who took a chance on him in the middle rounds of standard mixed leagues. The Ks are holding, while the rate stats are sublime.

17. RHP Johnny Cueto, Giants (LW: 11)

Cueto struggled with his consistency early on but has settled into a nice groove - punctuated by eight shutout innings in his only start last week. The strikeouts are all over the place, but that's a small nit to pick.

18. RHP Jeff Samardzija, Giants (LW: --)

Shark was at his stingiest last week, racking up 18 strikeouts over 16 innings while posting a victory, a 1.72 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Be wary, however, that Samardzija isn't an elite strikeout guy and is prone to bouts of inconsistency.

19. RHP Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays (LW: 16)

Stroman left fantasy owners a bit shell-shocked in April after recording just 19 strikeouts in 35 innings. But with 17 in his last two starts, he's starting to look like the borderline fantasy ace owners thought they were getting.

20. LHP Rich Hill, Athletics (LW: 18)

Hill continues to reward fantasy owners handsomely, picking up a win in Baltimore last week. Control issues will often limit him to six innings or fewer, but as long as he averages better than 10 K/9, he'll be a top-end asset.

21. RHP Noah Syndergaard, Mets (LW: 13)

Syndergaard's return to mortality has been head-scratching. He lost to the lowly Padres last week, fanning fewer than a batter per inning for the first time all season. He should bounce back nicely, but he's no longer a top-10 play.

22. RHP Carlos Martinez, Cardinals (LW: 10)

Martinez's fantasy value took a major hit after a nasty flu bug affected each of his previous two starts. He puts owners in a tricky position, given that he may not miss much time but may not be all that effective if he does pitch.

23. RHP Jose Fernandez, Marlins (LW: --)

That's more like it. Fernandez doubled his season win total last week, striking out 18 over 12 innings to move to 58 Ks for the year. He's still walking far too many hitters, but at 12.8 K/9, owners probably aren't complaining.

24. LHP Madison Bumgarner, Giants (LW: 26)

Bumgarner dropped his ERA below 3.00 for the first time all season with a solid 7 1/3-inning showing against Colorado last Friday. More significantly: He has issued just nine free passes in six starts since his five-walk opener.

25. RHP Tanner Roark, Nationals (LW: 30)

Roark may not be fanning guys at the rate of his 15-strikeout masterpiece last month, but he's keeping them off the bases. Roark has had four starts of zero earned runs allowed; he had just one such start all of last season.

26. LHP Drew Pomeranz, Padres (LW: 29)

Could he be for real? Pomeranz sure looks the part, limiting the Mets to a single hit over five outstanding innings Friday. Walks are an issue - he's allowed three in five of his six starts - but otherwise, he's a waiver steal.

27. LHP Cole Hamels, Rangers (LW: --)

Hamels earned his way on the list with his best showing of the season Friday in Detroit, holding the Tigers to one hit while striking out nine over seven shutout innings. After a so-so start to the season, Hamels is surging.

28. RHP Steven Matz, Mets (LW: --)

Matz has made an already-dangerous Mets rotation even more lethal. The 24-year-old won his only start last week, holding Atlanta to two hits over 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts. He has returned every bit of his mid-round value.

29. RHP Chris Tillman, Orioles (LW: --)

Tillman ranked seventh in fantasy value among starting pitchers last week, going 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 13 1/3 innings. He has been particularly stingy with the long ball, allowing one home run in 38 1/3 frames.

30. RHP Tyler Chatwood, Rockies (LW: --)

Here's the only player on the list who is a clear fade at home. Chatwood has been sensational on the road (4-0, 0.33 ERA) but abysmal in his own park (0-3, 7.88 ERA). If he's starting at Coors Field, sit him.