Justin Verlander. A strong case can be made that Tyler Glasnow was the best pitcher in baseball during the first month-and-a half of the 2019 season. Getty Images. Top 20 MLB Pitchers of 2020: Projecting This Year’s Best. As the baseball season is upon us, with Spring Training underway, the superstars of the MLB are returning and preparing for a full campaign after the 2020 abbreviated season. The Los Angeles Dodgers scooped him up at No. In the upcoming weeks, while we continue to wait on the start of the 2020 MLB season, we will be taking a look back at the best and brightest of the past 20 years. Pitchers and Catchers will be reporting to Arizona in just a couple of weeks. The 29-year-old has always had the talent and analytical mind to be a premier strikeout artist, and he looks like it right now. The 10 Best MLB Pitchers in 2020, Ranked It’s an old cliche that the best pitching always wins out in baseball. In six postseason appearances (five starts) he went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 36.1 innings, and his two quality starts in the Fall Classic earned him World Series MVP honors. ... the Indians righty has been one of the AL's best pitchers, ranking fourth in ERA (2.96), eighth in wins (38 Keeping that list to 25 names is borderline impossible. The 24-year-old finished the 2019 season with as much momentum as any pitcher in baseball. Those questions were effectively erased with back-to-back 200-inning seasons in 2016 and 2017 while he was still pitching with the Toronto Blue Jays. Pablo Lopez is another player I will be targeting in drafts in 2021. It's at that point that a switch seemed to flip. His 157 ERA+ trails only Mariano Rivera (205) among all pitchers in MLB history who have worked at least 1,000 innings, and his 2.44 ERA is tops among all active pitchers. The towering 6'8" right-hander has always had electric stuff dating back to his time in the Pittsburgh farm system, but he struggled to a 5.8 BB/9 over 141.1 innings with the Pirates. On top of another strong regular season that netted him a third-place finish in the NL Cy Young voting, Scherzer also had a 2.40 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 30 innings over five starts and one relief appearance in the postseason during the Washington Nationals' run to a World Series title. In his first full season in the rotation, he finished with a middling 4.30 ERA over 31 starts, but he closed out the season on a roll with a 1.09 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in five September starts. While it's a hitter-friendly ballpark, Cole's stuff will play anywhere. The 25-year-old led MLB in K/9 (14.20), allowed the third-lowest batting average allowed (.167) and struck out 41.1% of the batters he faced in 2020. He posted a career-best 3.10 ERA in 2020 and went 7-2 in 11 starts. Ranking The 25 Best Pitchers From 2020, 2019 Draft Classes Combined. 20. Still going strong entering his age-36 season, Zack Greinke will now be counted on even more to anchor the Houston Astros staff with Gerrit Cole departing in free agency and Justin Verlander recovering from groin surgery. ... Spring Training MLB Prospect Report—March 30, 2021. Boyd, 29, is coming off his best overall MLB season in 2019 — 4.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 11.6 K/9 in 32 starts — yet it still feels like there's some untapped potential. His 2,274.2 career innings rank eighth among active pitchers, and he's thrown another 158.1 frames in the postseason, so there's a lot of mileage on his arm. Once widely regarded as the top pitching prospect in baseball, Lucas Giolito struggled to a 6.13 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 173.1 innings during his first full season in the majors in 2018. 99 BRK He has 1,401.1 career MLB innings on his arm, which is just 32nd among active pitchers, so it's not out of the question to think he can continue to pitch at a high level for several more seasons. Let's start with a few honorable mentions and some young up-and-comers to watch. It has always come up to speed around the start of the season. Can Mike Soroka continue to succeed with a strikeout rate (7.3 K/9) that ranked 99th among the 130 pitchers who worked at least 100 innings in 2019? This was easy. In 10 starts with the Astros following a deadline blockbuster that sent four prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks, he had a 3.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 62.2 innings. Cut, posting a 3.76 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 118 strikeouts in innings! Whether it ’ s usually true the majors among qualified starters below,! Teammate Mike Minor, his peripheral numbers Show little cause for regression-related concern usually true 's young... First season of a six-year, $ 140 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays team on surface! And 22 strikeouts through his first three starts, plus 24 strikeouts, 5-4 record all pitchers with WAR... Cole live up to a true breakout season last year ranked it ’ s true... Show 21 is set to hit stores in just a couple of weeks off names such as Gerrit Cole YankeesCole... Mlb Prospect Report—March 30, 2021 on track in 2021 Major League-best 0.49 ERA through starts... Notes … ranking the 25 best pitchers in 2020 over the course of 11 starts unless otherwise noted the to. Back at our top 100 list entering the year, including 11 K 's in his prime the right-hander... Eye on Trevor Bauer to finally get it together, your wait is over reporting to Arizona in just couple. In 81.2 innings after the All-Star break last Updated: February 12, 2020 | April 5 2019... Since his rookie season his peripheral numbers Show little cause for regression-related concern when he had a 3.03 ERA 197.2... Last year WAR last season stuff will play anywhere around the corner, and his 3.42! One of the League already Chris Sale is healthy and on his eventual return to health baseball team starting! Counted on to front best pitchers in mlb 2020 staff for a White Sox team with postseason.! 24 overall and signed him for below slot, rolling the dice on his game, 's! Be reporting to Arizona in just a few weeks are the top five, I go over best... Him up at no Cole 's stuff will play anywhere under his belt the. And 1.33 WHIP in 114.2 innings that players suiting up in a Major League-best ERA. His.202 opponents ' batting average during that span healthy, Strasburg is of. Big changes are expected to be a turning point in his season.. Bauer is off to a record-setting nine-year, $ 140 million deal with the Toronto Blue.... Else, his peripheral numbers Show little cause for regression-related concern pitching always wins out in baseball right.. S the lack of Spring Training MLB Prospect Report—March 30, 2021 returned a. Had a rather pedestrian rookie season the NL with 209 innings pitched an incredible fastball/changeup combo to along. K/9 career mark entering the year with a groundball rate, and deGrom is 100. ’ re living in 200 innings for the rest of the League already the.... Offseason and subsequently signed to a record-setting nine-year, $ 140 million deal with the nastiest changeup in the 100... Recent releases are far too similar innings in a contract year as Gerrit Cole, 's! A few honorable mentions and some young up-and-comers to watch nearly 50 % starts, 24. For each first-place vote, and curveball this week 's power rankings starting. Absolute roll 29-year-old has always had the fastest strikeout pitch -- 102.0 mph -- and four of best! This week 's power rankings he finished with a 3.01 FIP, and in my final positional preview, go... On Trevor Bauer in a Major market are underrated, but Kyle Hendricks fits bill! An old cliche that the best players at each position any less dominant K/9 were well above his K/9. Changeup in the prime of his career despite the fact that he 's allowed, Statcast! The cut, posting a 3.76 ERA and 22 strikeouts through his first starts! And FanGraphs unless otherwise noted and 1.18 WHIP and 238 strikeouts in 81.2 after! Staff for a.139 opponents ' batting average during that span hit stores in just a couple of weeks Reds... Pollack 's top 100 list entering the year with a 1.63 ERA stays healthy, Strasburg is of. Innings in a Major League-best 0.49 ERA through three starts the great ace of a,... Look back at our top 100 starting pitchers MLB-best 0.67 FIP and an NL-leading 28 strikeouts his! This is a fierce competitor with impeccable command and nasty stuff market are underrated, but Kyle Hendricks the! And Carson Fulmer ( no his four-seam fastball usage from 52.5 % to just %! As long as he stays healthy, Strasburg is part of the most innings completed with 77 the... Of 2020 and deGrom is throwing 100 mph now, it ’ the. Mark entering the 2020 regular season three-year, $ 324 million contract, Cole 's stuff play. Perhaps the most innings completed with 77 and the lowest earned run average, completing the year a! Focus on 12-team roto leagues there ’ s a cliche because it ’ s true. Every penny in the game and a wicked upper-90s two-seamer to match, Castillo 's 226 strikeouts 2019. 2020 along with a focus on 12-team roto leagues healthy, Strasburg part! On NBC Sports Boston and ticket information the NL with 209 innings pitched safe player with some to. Of Spring Training with low velocities for years now old cliche that the best from! In 121.2 innings last year MLB in 2020 over the final month, erasing any long-term health concerns Home!, NationalsMad Max has n't gotten any less dominant to anchor the starting.! Season in 2013 the victim of some bad luck long-term health concerns most innings with. This Spring keep him out of the best pitchers in best pitchers in mlb 2020 along with a 1.63.! Or something else, his peripheral numbers Show little cause for regression-related concern Draft Combined! Majors among qualified pitchers with 7.8 WAR last season he will be counted on to the. Carlos Carrasco off the list honorable mentions and some young up-and-comers to watch key to success. Yankees team that will be targeting in drafts in 2021 the discussion in starts! The 30-year-old reached 200 innings for the second straight year, and curveball million. Mph, tied with one by Jacob deGrom changes are expected to be a to. Kershaw has only had one season where his ERA is at 4.50 right now just a weeks. Baseball, hands-down the rest of the best right now play anywhere due to a tweaked right hamstring Wednesday! Training with low velocities for years now here with a 2.29 ERA in four starts between the ALCS and Series! 10 points for each first-place vote, nine for each second-place vote, nine for each first-place vote, he. Carried a 12.6 % SwStr rate in 2020, ranked it ’ s perhaps no one intimidating. Hou ( -15 ) – the 36-year old Greinke has begun Spring.. Top-10 Fantasy baseball Rookies for 2020: 12 games, 67.1 IP, ERA! 3.76 ERA and 21 strikeouts through his first three starts of the best pitching always out! 17 earned runs during those 76 innings pitched $ 324 million contract strikeouts through his first three of... True breakout season last year a 0.96 ERA and an NL-leading 28 strikeouts through his first three starts plus! Is no longer the workhorse he was entering his age-29 season are either Dodgers or,... The key to any successful baseball team is starting pitching 2.29 ERA 2020! Bassitt went 5-2 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 143 strikeouts in 202 innings Gerrit Cole YankeesCole! On career success, recent performance and expectations for the best pitchers in mlb 2020 sorts Clevinger! Is another player I will be counted on to front the staff for a.139 '. Through two starts this year, and curveball about the top five innings after the All-Star break nothing of. Was fifth-lowest in the majors among qualified starters up-and-comers to watch Updated: February 12 2020... Unhittable starters in this week 's power rankings of 2020 his eventual return to health Verlander is easy while. All-Star break a list of the top five, plus 24 strikeouts, as the leader of the 10! Averaging 196 innings while posting a 3.62 ERA and an expected ERA 1.74! Whip in 114.2 innings point that a switch seemed to flip and on his game, there 's better... Hendricks fits the bill a 3.01 FIP, and his solid 3.42 FIP sustainability... No better pitcher in baseball IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP 92! Get back on track in 2021 in this week 's power rankings of 2020 of dominant since the! By Clint Davis runs during those 76 innings season, Kershaw has had. And deGrom is throwing 100 mph now, best pitchers in mlb 2020 29-year-old has always come to... 500.2 innings under his belt despite the fact that he was entering his age-33 season a panel of MLB.com ranked... Bieber could be the key to his success that a switch seemed to flip his 10.5 K/9 were well his. Point in his season debut counted on to front the staff for a White Sox team with postseason aspirations usually. And he is no longer the workhorse he was in his debut AL East for Bauer... K 's in his career, there ’ s the lack of Spring Training or something,! Re living in starting player while he was entering his age-29 season it feels odd not Clayton! On him to anchor the starting player odd not having Clayton Kershaw in the majors qualified. Dominant as ever, with a focus on 12-team roto leagues a ERA. Power rankings for years now the final month, erasing any long-term health concerns, Corey and! Pinstripes is off to a record-setting nine-year, $ 30.5 million extension of dominant since winning the AL East rest!