MLB Top 10 Starting Pitchers- 2021
We are only a month away from the beginning of Spring Training. Yes, that right. Pitchers and Catchers will be reporting to Arizona in just a couple of weeks. But as we get closer and closer, we have asked our writers to make a list of the best players at each position. Our first position, you might have guessed is the starting pitchers.
1 JACOB DEGROM– NEW YORK METS
A lot of our writers had deGrom as the best Staring pitcher. They went as far as to say:
“If he isn’t #1, the list is wrong.”
“It tailed off for me after deGrom. My list sucks.” – @trey
There’s no question that he is a good pitcher. But is he really good enough to be the best starting pitcher in all of baseball?
I myself, as well as Alex did not have him as our number ones.
2. SHANE BIEBER– CLEVELAND INDIANS
Last year, Bieber had the best year of his career. The Indians ace pitcher won the Cy Young unanimously in 2020. Honestly, he should have been the number one choice for this list.
“I’ve been a fan of Shane Bieber, ever since he made to the Big Leagues. He has the potential to be really really good pitcher. In his first, two full seasons he’s already making history.” – Dacota
In his first two seasons, Bieber has Cy Young, Triple Crown, All-Star Appearance, and an ALL-STAR MVP. As well as an ERA title.
In 2020, he had the most wins, strikeouts, and the best ERA. Becoming the first pitcher since Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw to win the Triple Crown. He also led the American League in WAR (3.2), win-loss percentage (.889), fewest hits per 9 IP (5.353), and strikeouts per 9 IP (14.198). He also became the fastest player to hit 100 strikeouts, surpassing Max Scherzer’s record of 63 innings in 2018. Bieber did it in 62 1/3 innings.
@shane-davis didn’t even have Bieber in his top 5.
3 GERRIT COLE- NEW YORK YANKEES
Cole placed 4th in Cy Young voting in 2020, but the three-time All-Star is still one of the best in the recent years. He finished 2020 with a 7-3 record, a 2.84 ERA, and 73 innings.
He had the most complete games of his career. Though in 2019 he became the only player in MLB History to throw 300+ strikeouts without a single complete game.
4 MAX SCHERZER- WASHINGTON NATIONALS
I mean what else can you say about this guy beside that he’s the best pitcher since 2013. The guy has been tearing through betters since then. Hitting 240+ strikeouts every year, before 2020.
In 2020, Scherzer had the second worst ERA of his career, which is probably why he has fallen this far.
But you can’t set aside his seven all-star appearances and his three Cy Young awards.
Scherzer would definitely be on a mount rushmore of starting pitcher in the 2010s.
5 TREVOR BAUER- FREE AGENT
The reigning NL CY Young winner is still a free agent, and we’re close to starting the season. How has no one picked him up?
In 2020, Bauer had the best ERA (1.73) in the NL. Which allowed him to become the Cy Young beating out Yu Darvish and deGrom.
Bauer like to compare himself to his role model, Tim Lincecum.
6 WALKER BUEHLER- LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Buehler is coming off of a year, where without him the Dodgers might not have won the WORLD SERIES.
During the regular season, Buehler only pitched in 8 games. But he became the Ace for the Dodgers in the playoffs. Starting Game 1 in the first three round as well as game 6 of the third. He didn’t start till the third game in the World series though.
He got as high as 5 on the lists.
7 BLAKE SNELL – SAN DIEGO PADRES
Snell had one of his best years this last year with the Tampa Bay Rays. Helping lead them all the way to the World Series. But, he’ll now be headed to the opposite coast. Â He became the first player in World Series history to strike out nine or more batters in fewer than five innings pitched.
In game 6 of the World Series, Snell was pulled with the Rays up 1-0.
It will be interesting to see how the former Cy Young member can do in the NL West.
8- CLAYTON KERSHAW- LOS ANGELES DODGERS
I don’t think anyone expected the nine-time All-Star this far. We here at Vendetta Sports Media may get a lot of hate from the Dodgers Mania on this one.
Kershaw has been one of the best southpaws in the past two decades. Being names an all-star on multiple occasions, as well as winning multiple Cy Young awards. There’s no question on whether or not Kershaw is on the Mount Rushmore of Starting pitchers in 2010.
9- STEPHEN STRASBURG- WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Why Strasburg is even on the list is beyond me, but enough of our writers had him in the Top 10 that he was ranked at #9.
When he came into the MLB, Strasburg had the potential to be one of the greatest pitchers in the modern era. Until injuries plagued his career.
The San Diego Native was named the World Series MVP in 2019. Which was arguably the best year of his career. It was nice to see him have a good year after the injuries.
@karl-heiser even said that he might be too high.
10- ZACK GREINKE- HOUSTON ASTROS
He may not be the starting pitcher he once was, but Greinke can still be a good pitcher. In 2020, like most pitchers, he had the worst year of his career.
But the 36-year-old six-time all-star can still produce as a #3-5. Is he an ace? Not anymore.
***
Most of our writers agreed on this quote:
“The starting pitcher list was difficult to come up with. Outside of deGrom at number one, I didn’t feel good about my list. However, Greinke should not be listed as a top 10 pitcher in the sport. Greinke is still more than serviceable but he’s had some bad postseason outings. At this stage of his career, he relies on hitting his exact spot on every single pitch. I like our list otherwise.” – Trey Daubert
Who are your top 10 starting pitchers?
