MLB: Top 10 Pitchers by Opening Day
All stats via baseball-reference.com
With all the great pitchers in the MLB today, who tops the list of the best of the best?
MLB has a strong pitching class that has become extremely competitive over the past few years. Be warned, these rankings are opinionated. Get ready to disagree and enjoy with, first, the three Honorable Mentions.
Honorable Mentions
HM: Luis Severino — Yankees
Severino (or Sevy, as known by many fans) had a Cy Young winner- level first half of last season and was one of the worst pitchers in the Yankees rotation going down the stretch. That’s saying a lot considering that rotation had a Yankees Sonny Gray in it. Yikes.
Sevy was a first half thriller to watch. He was my first half Cy Young, and debatable first half MVP altogether. He was electric, including one complete game gem vs the Astros that fans remember fondly. The Yankees were even leading the AL East at this time. He was 14–2 in the first half with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.005 whip. Just to be blunt so I don’t ramble, Luis Severino made me want to never miss one of his starts.
Then the second half started and itgot ugly quick, giving up 5–10 runs almost every game, shooting his cumulative ERA from 2.31–3.39. He got wild, and to the point the Yankees were unsure if he was going to start in the Wild Card, which he did, and was pulled reluctantly after a few innings. Then game three of the ALDS happened and, for those that don’t remember it, it ended 16–1. Sixteen runs Red Sox runs to One Yankee run. Severino pitched in for 6 of them. Thus, and honorable mention.
HM: Miles Mikolas — Cardinals
Can I just say this man was super underrated and move on?
No.
Oh, okay.
18–8, MLB Base On Balls Per 9IP Leader, 2.83 ERA, 0.718 HR per 9IP, yeah he was insanely good and no one ever talked about him, including MLB’s social or anything.
What. A. Stud.
HM: Clayton Kershaw — Dodgers
Former MVP, multi-time Cy Young, and puts up constantly good stats year upon every year, is an honorable mention…
One reason only, which is his health.
His back is starting to be more of an issue and is debatable if it will flare up again. If not, he will definitely will overachieve my prediction.
10. Gerrit Cole — Astros
One of my personal biggest questions coming into 2018 for the Astros was: would Gerrit Cole’s health hold up?
Boy, it did. He was a bonafide ace in progress for the Astros. He was what the Yankees drafted him for and then the Pirates did. He was what Pittsburgh wanted and what the Astros got.
He was a strikeout machine for Houston, getting 276, coming in 3rd to only my number 7 and number 2 on this list. He also led the MLB in Strikeouts Per 9 IP. Which further proves his strikeout ability on the mound. Something I feel one of his fellow pitchers has helped him perfect.
9. Corey Kluber — Indians (Or whatever team he may be traded to)
Amidst trade rumors, Kluber may not be a Cleveland Indian for much longer, but there is no doubt that whoever has him at the start of the season will be very happy.
Here’s how to say it easily, Corey Kluber has done Corey Kluber stuff, ferocious beard and all.
20 wins, with a neat 2.89 ERA and all.
Yes he came in the reigning Cy Young, but one breakout stud decided to win that award. Along with one veteran having one of the best years of his career, and another on the DL for prolonged time.
The bar is set for Corey. He will either digress further, or reassure his dominance like 2017.
A quick tidbit to the team traded to part above; if Kluber goes back to 2017 self and gets traded to a team like the Reds, Padres, or even the Yankees, he will be a surefire ace for them.
8. Trevor Bauer — Indians (or, on the still ever-so slight chance, team traded to)
Trevor Bauer was my favorite pitcher of 2018, by a long shot. Honestly, he was even in my top three for favorite players of 2018.
Trevor Bauer is one interesting guy, and the Indians social media guy made him even more interesting. His twitter battles with Alex Bregman show how much of a true guy he is.
The only reason Bauer wasn’t in previously-mentioned Cy Young voting, and injury. He had gotten struck with a ball to the shin and was out for what felt like forever, only come back in relief in the postseason.
Bauer was second in ERA in the AL, and third in the MLB. He still notched 222 strikeouts with missing a month plus, which leads to many what ifs.
7. Justin Verlander — Astros
Justin ‘f — king’ Verlander. Yes, he’s so badass he deserves and F Bomb. Less about that.
He is ‘that” man I alluded to that is helping Gerrit Cole perfect his game.
Coming into his age 35 season, this man notched 290 strikeouts, 2.52 ERA, a 1,000,000 dollar fee as a Dodger Killer, and led the MLB in whip at 0.902. Justin Verlander was insane on the mound. He has been textbook Justin Verlander, a man that throws the nastiest pitches.
Side note: JV and Kate Upton got married after last season and had a kid in 2018, congrats on that.
6. Kyle Freeland — Rockies
Let’s all be honest with ourselves and say the Rockies haven’t had a true ace in years. Kyle Freeland is ready to change that.
He’s their NEXT ace. He could be the Rockies superstar ace they have valiantly searched for.
Freeland is at an interesting spot on this list, as I’ve mentioned certain stats that stick out on certain pitchers, but Freeland has none. He was just good all around, and arguably the most solid. Freeland blossomed in May and went on a tear from there including an August and September spent mastering his craft. As one ESPN was titled, Kyle Freeland was built to break Coors Field.
5. Chris Sale — Red Sox
Before anything else is said, Chris Sale would’ve been in Cy Young if he would’ve been healthy.
Sale struggled from July on to stay healthy among his team. He was on fire (competing with Severino for Mid-Season Cy Young), but fell off. And continued to fall into the oblivion of coming back right before postseason ball.
He was 12–6 with a 2.11 ERA and a sub .900 whip. Chris Sale was unreal in the first half and anytime he started.
If Sale can stay healthy through 2019, he will be much higher on the list next year.
4. Aaron Nola — Phillies
Another team that was in severe need of an ace after their last true ace had retired, the Phillies were saved by Aaron Nola. After “The Doc” had called it a career, the Phillies have really struggled. They have not made the postseason once, but came severely close this season mainly due to Aaron Nola.
Aaron Nola proved himself big time in an exhibition game in August versus Max Scherzer and the Nationals. He out dueled “Mad Max” in Washington and threw a shutout to cap it off. Aaron Nola was the Phillies ace.
In nearly every stat possible, Aaron Nola was top three among NL pitchers. Even leading WAR among all MLB pitchers with a 10.5 WAR. The nearest pitcher to that was the NL Cy Young, at 9.6.
If the Phillies land big in the free agency before the season starts, expect Aaron Nola to be their guy on Opening Day, and then again for the first game of the playoffs.
3. Blake Snell — Rays
Blake Snell emerged OUT OF NOWHERE to win the 2018 Cy Young.
He was just coming off a 5 win sophomore season with a 4.04 ERA, and I think no one was expecting what they got this past season.
With even selling at the deadline, the Rays won 90 games. Then they made offseason moves and got another stud in Charlie Morton to pair with him, making that lethal after the “Opener”.
Blake Snell led all MLB pitchers with 21 wins, and a 5.579 H/9. He then went on to lead the AL in WAR (for pitchers) at 7.5 with a 1.89 ERA, leading the American League.
What insanity from such a young pitcher.
Blake Snell can combat the titans in his division and make them look like the scrubs of his division (sorry, not sorry, Orioles).
If Blake Snell repeats success in 2019, he will cement his name as the top American League pitcher this time next year.
2. Max Scherzer — Nationals
Max Scherzer was exactly what we all expected from Max Scherzer in 2019, and that is nothing short of phenomenal. Max Scherzer was overshadowed by the Nationals not doing too well and the chance of Bryce leaving town, but that didn’t hold back his incredible talent.
Some reporters would not have him this high, yet it’s rightfully deserved as Max Scherzer was dominant in 2018 and should not be punished for the shortcomings of the Nationals.
Scherzer was the only MLB pitcher with 300 strikeouts this season, proving he is the best strikeout pitcher in the majors. He also had the highest K/9 in the National League.
One game that sticks out like a sore thumb to the Nationals failures overshadow Mad Max’s greatness, though, is David Bote’s walk-off. Max went for 7 innings, no runs, and and 3 hits in that game. What did the Nationals do? Choked it.
After adding Corbin, the Nationals are primed to run at the top of the division again.
1. The GOAT, Bartolo Colon — Free Agent
Someone sign the ageless wonder BartoGOAT.
Okay. He’s not the real number 1. Ruin a good thing.
The Real number 1…
1. Jacob deGrom — Mets
Was it not obvious?
Jacob deGrom was flawless in 2018. He had the best MLB pitching season maybe of all time
If deGrom would’ve gotten Max Scherzer’s game average run support, deGrom wouldn’t have lost a single game in 2018. Jacob deGrom was that damn good.
deGrom posted a 9.6 WAR for pitchers and a 10.0 for all players. He led the MLB with a 1.70 ERA, led the NL in HR/9, and notched 269 strikeouts per start. He was nearly slated for the Cy Young award because he only had 10 wins.
What a disgrace, MLB.
Thankfully though, deGrom got Cy Young and all was right in the MLB world.
If certain pitchers like Snell and deGrom repeat success, they will be back on top at the end of 2019.
Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are the workhorses that seem to never get any worse with age.
Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw are two aces stopped by injuries and if none occur, are top pitchers in their respective leagues.
Aaron Nola and Kyle Freeland gave their team’s the aces they were looking for.
Gerrit Cole is a true ace of the future.
Kluber and Trevor Bauer may have new homes come Opening Day, but only time will tell.
Plus, the GOAT needs a new home. Someone sign Bartolo please and thanks.
