theScore's Week 7 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

Here is the Week 7 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 Tuesday):

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

Kershaw's starting to get cozy up here. The scintillating left-hander saw his streak of games with consecutive strikeouts snapped at six, but considering he still tossed a two-hit shutout, fantasy owners will gladly take it.

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

Arrieta is clearly the second-best pitcher in baseball; he kept rolling along last time out with seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball against the Giants. An uptick in strikeouts this month has helped his owners.

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

Sale saw his season-opening nine-game winning streak come to a crashing halt Tuesday against Cleveland; the six earned runs he allowed were as many as he had surrendered in his previous seven starts combined.

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

What mini-slump? Syndergaard has returned to the elite form he showed at the start of the season, blanking the Nationals and Brewers on just 11 combined hits while racking up 21 strikeouts over 14 innings.

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

Strasburg has emerged as the majors' second-best strikeout option behind only Kershaw. He fanned 11 Mets in Tuesday's win, and has reached double-digit whiffs in five of his previous eight starts overall.

6. RHP Johnny Cueto, Giants (LW: 10)

Cueto is making his case as the best off-season free-agent pickup, coming off back-to-back complete-game wins against San Diego. He has allowed just three runs over his last four starts, lowering his ERA by more than a point.

7. RHP Madison Bumgarner, Giants (LW: 22)

It has been a sensational month for Bumgarner, who blanked the high-powered Cubs on just three hits over 7 2/3 innings last time out. The veteran lefty has surrendered just four earned runs over 36 2/3 innings in May.

8. LHP Rich Hill, Athletics (LW: 19)

The 36-year-old Hill remains one of the best stories in baseball, and continues to reward savvy fantasy owners. He's coming off eight shutout innings against Seattle, and has allowed just eight earned runs over his last seven starts.

9. RHP Jeff Samardzija, Giants (LW: 11)

There's just something about Giants starters in May. Samardzija has also been sensational so far this month, limiting opponents to six runs over 38 1/3 innings, compiling a 36:6 K:BB ratio in the process

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

Quintana hit his first bump in what has been an otherwise terrific start to the season, allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to Kansas City. The strikeouts are down as well; he's had just five in each of his last four outings.

11. RHP Max Scherzer, Nationals (LW: 21)

That meltdown in Chicago on May 6 looks more like an outlier with every subsequent start. Scherzer has racked up 38 strikeouts in three outings since, though the homers (nine in four games) remain a major concern.

12. RHP Aaron Nola, Phillies (LW: 7)

Nola remains a revelation for Philadelphia fans and fantasy owners alike, but it's clear his margin for error with regard to wins is small. He has allowed just three runs in his three victories, and only four runs in three no-decisions.

13. LHP Drew Pomeranz, Padres (LW: 15)

Speaking of hard-luck starters, few have been victimized like Pomeranz has so far in May. He's 2-2 for the month despite allowing just three runs over 31 innings; San Diego has scored six times in his five May starts.

14. RHP Chris Tillman, Orioles (LW: 18)

Tillman saw his four-game winning streak come to an end last time out, but has been sensational this month despite a pedestrian 34:16 K:BB ratio. He hasn't allowed more than six hits in a game since April 14.

15. RHP Jose Fernandez, Marlins (LW: 14)

Fernandez is back on track after struggling against Arizona earlier this month; he's 4-0 in May, and has allowed just two runs over his last three starts while racking up 31 strikeouts over just 20 innings in that span.

16. RHP Danny Salazar, Indians (LW: 9)

Salazar has the stuff to succeed, but continues to run up high pitch counts that limit his upside. He needed 109 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings last time out against Boston, and has issued 26 walks in 54 1/3 frames.

17. RHP John Lackey, Cubs (LW: 20)

Lackey just keeps rolling along, amassing 34 strikeouts over 36 May innings while limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in all five starts this month. He has been a terrific late-round value pick so far.

18. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers (LW: 12)

After stunning the fantasy world by allowing just two runs in five April starts, Zimmermann has coughed up 15 runs in six fewer innings so far in May. He doesn't strike anyone out, either. Regression is here, and it's sticking around.

19. RHP Rick Porcello, Red Sox (LW: 8)

Porcello finds himself in a similar situation to Zimmermann. His hot April made him a sell-high candidate, and those who waited a little too long have had to absorb a May swoon that has seen him allow 12 runs over 24 1/3 innings.

20. RHP Jason Hammel, Cubs (LW: 24)

Hammel has had an up-and-down month, but keeps on winning thanks to a steamroller of a Cubs offense that has scored at least seven runs in five of his six victories so far. Pomeranz would like a word.

21. RHP Vince Velasquez, Phillies (LW: 17)

Velasquez has been the definition of a feast-or-famine pitcher this season; he has gone without allowing a run in four of his nine starts, while surrendering at least three runs in each of his other five outings. Enjoy the ride.

22. RHP Josh Tomlin, Indians (LW: --)

Tomlin has become a rotation fixture thanks to a string of seven straight winning decisions to start the year. Fantasy owners would love to see more strikeouts, but considering he was likely a waiver claim, they can't complain.

23. LHP Jon Lester, Cubs (LW: 6)

Lester tumbles down the rankings on the heels of what was easily his worst start of the season (2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB). But he has still allowed one run or fewer in six of his first nine starts, and should have no trouble rebounding.

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

Hamels owners are breathing a little easier after the crafty southpaw racked up a season-best 11 strikeouts in an emphatic win over Houston. Hamels is giving up too many homers, but it's a small quibble - at least for now.

25. RHP Julio Teheran, Braves (LW: --)

Teheran has been as unlucky as anyone when it comes to run support, particularly in May. He's just 1-1 despite limiting opponents to three earned runs over 33 2/3 innings; the 34:6 K:BB ratio is a nice consolation.

26. RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers (LW: --)

It has been vintage Verlander over the past 2 1/2 weeks, as the former Cy Young Award winner has allowed just four earned runs over his last four starts with 37 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings in that stretch.

27. RHP Jimmy Nelson, Brewers (LW: --)

Nelson has responded nicely to a rough outing in Cincinnati, posting three straight quality starts since. Unfortunately, he didn't record a win in any of them, with the Brewers scoring just three runs in that span.

28. LHP David Price, Red Sox (LW: --)

Despite that still-ugly ERA, Price has done enough over his last three starts (3-0, 2.57 ERA, 23 K) to warrant inclusion in the back end of the rankings. If you didn't buy low before, you probably won't get another chance.

29. RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners (LW: 30)

Fantasy owners will have to accept a new version of Hernandez, one that can pitch his way out of trouble but won't provide the same strikeout upside of years past. For now, at least, that formula has been moderately successful.

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

Matz has made six starts since getting shelled for seven runs against Miami in his season opener - and he still hasn't allowed as many runs as he did in that one game. Six straight quality starts, six wins. He's a star in the making.