Happy Monday, Razzball faithful!
Well, I’ve broken down my version of the Top 100 Starting Pitchers. If you want to look at the articles from the past month, click on my MarmosDad link under my avatar photo and have a look through the extra words that I shared in there.
So now what?
Well, I’m going to put out our Top 100 Starting Pitchers list each-and-every week, with a focus on that last section that I drew up.
Which guys are moving up the list? Which players are dropping faster than a Kevin Gausman splitter?
And, of course, which names are new to the list or entirely disappearing into post-100 starting pitcher oblivion?
I mentioned last week that a lot of the minute details and changes are derived from my extensively researched and mathematically superior formulae…
Is Shota Imanaga a Top Tier Starting Pitcher? Oh, Fo Sho!
But with all joking aside, I do have a bit of a system. And, of course, that system involves the Player Rater leaderboard. This is always a great starting point for your research. A bit of this, and a splash of that goes into the preparation for our weekly Top 100 Starting Pitchers list.
But before we get to the list this week, I need to link y’all to The Streamonator to help you answer those burning questions that we might not be readily available to help you with 24/7. The Streamonator should be your go-to reference for the entire season. It’s going to save you a lot of time researching on your own, and save you from making those tough “Should I start…?” decisions. Check the link, yo.
The Top Starting Pitchers for 2024
| RANK
(LAST WEEK) |
Name | TEAM | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corbin Burnes | Orioles | No reason to change this. |
| 2 | Zack Wheeler | Phillies | Same. |
| 3 | Freddy Peralta | Brewers | Roughed up by Pirates, but I’m still all in. |
| 4 (5) | Kevin Gausman | Blue Jays | Nice bounceback yesterday vs. the Dodgers. Improved command from last start. |
| 5 (6) | Tyler Glasnow | Dodgers | Sore hand, but took care of the Jays pretty handily on Saturday night. |
| 6 (4) | Grayson Rodriguez | Orioles | 7 Ks and only 1 BB…but 7 ER and got hit hard. |
| 7 | Luis Castillo | Mariners | Back-to-back wins. Has shaken off the rust. |
| 8 (9) | Logan Gilbert | Mariners | Three in a row with just one ER. |
| 9 (12) | Tarik Skubal | Tigers | Another solid outing. |
| 10 (8) | Pablo Lopez | Twins | Tough game vs CWS. Velo down. |
| 11 | George Kirby | Mariners | 19 K in 12 IP last two GS. Zero ER. |
| 12 (10) | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Dodgers | 6 IP, 7K, 0ER at WSH. |
| 13 (16) | Logan Webb | Giants | Back-to-back shutout starts. 100+ pitches in each. |
| 14 (17) | Max Fried | Braves | CG SO; 0 BB, 6 K. |
| 15 (20) | Shoto Imanaga | Cubs | At this rate, he might catch Yamamoto soon. |
| 16 (15) | Aaron Nola | Phillies | The walks still aren’t great, but double-digit Ks last start. |
| 17 (14) | Zac Gallen | Diamondbacks | If the hamstring is worse than expected, slide him down. |
| 18 (13) | Zach Eflin | Rays | Cannot get roughed up by CWS and not drop a bit. |
| 19 (23) | Cole Ragans | Royals | 5-inning “complete game” (rain). Looked good but didn’t have time to unravel. |
| 20 (26) | Chris Sale | Braves | Looking like the old Chris Sale (without the scissors). |
| 21 | Bryce Miller | Mariners | Just 4 IP last game. 83 pitches. |
| 22 (19) | Joe Ryan | Twins | K/IP still great. |
| 23 (25) | Dylan Cease | Padres | The walks are still there. 7th on Player Rater for SPs. |
| 24 (34) | Jose Berrios | Blue Jays | Scoreless in 20+ innings. The shortened KC game (rain) cost him the chance to come back. |
| 25 (32) | Justin Verlander | Astros | 4 BB in his last start, but 7 K in 4.1 IP. Still building up stamina. |
| 26 (42) | Ranger Suarez | Phillies | I’m sorry, Mr. Suarez. You should’ve been up here a few weeks ago. |
| 27 (30) | Bailey Ober | Twins | Averaging a strikeout an inning. CWS next start. |
| 28 (38) | Tanner Houck | Red Sox | Average start last week. Good last night. Still looking great. |
| 29 (43) | Sonny Gray | Cardinals | 21 Ks in 12.1 IP last two GS. |
| 30 (49) | Jared Jones | Pirates | Feels about right. Still racking up strikeouts. |
| 31 (50) | Ronel Blanco | Astros | Insert <I don’t believe you>gif. But needs to be up here until/if he eventually collapses. |
| 32 (22) | Framber Valdez | Astros | Slated to pitch yesterday in Mexico City. Take those results with a grain of sal, though. |
| 33 (29) | Reid Detmers | Angels | Baltimore got him for two HR at home last week. |
| 34 (31) | Bobby Miller | Dodgers | 15-day IL. Could start throwing this week. |
| 35 (27) | Chris Bassitt | Blue Jays | Dodgers blew him up Friday night. |
| 36 (33) | Jordan Montgomery | Diamondbacks | Boring, but effective. Two decent starts. |
| 37 (40) | Tanner Bibee | Guardians | 7 scoreless, 9 K, 0 BB last start. |
| 38 (28) | Joe Musgrove | Padres | Torched for 4 HR by Phillies last week. |
| 39 | Yusei Kikuchi | Blue Jays | Pitched better than Bassitt did vs LAD. |
| 40 (53) | Kutter Crawford | Red Sox | Steady as she goes. |
| 41 | Justin Steele | Cubs | Starts rehab assignment this Wednesday. |
| 42 (36) | Garrett Crochet | White Sox | 5+ ER in three straight starts. Almost time to move back down. |
| 43 (48) | Walker Buehler | Dodgers | Rehab hasn’t been smooth, but could be back end of this week. |
| 44 (45) | Hunter Greene | Reds | 7 IP, 1H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6K. |
| 45 (24) | Jesus Luzardo | Marlins | Elbow tightness. 15-day IL. |
| 46 (44) | Brayan Bello | Red Sox | Another pitcher injury? Surprise! 15-day IL. |
| 47 (37) | Mitch Keller | Pirates | Ratios are ugly. The upside is not. |
| 48 (52) | Seth Lugo | Royals | Low Ks, but everything else looks good. |
| 49 (35) | Merrill Kelly | Diamondbacks | Out for at least a month. |
| 50 (18) | Blake Snell | Giants | “Multi-week absence”. Disaster so far. |
| 51 (48) | Nestor Cortes | Yankees | Meh. |
| 52 (63) | Brady Singer | Royals | Player Rater loves him (23rd SP). |
| 53 (51) | Nick Lodolo | Reds | Strikeouts are there. Health so far, so good. |
| 54 (46) | Hunter Brown | Astros | Need to see more before moving back up. |
| 55 (52) | Michael King | Padres | Started yesterday while writing this up. |
| 56 (57) | Carlos Rodon | Yankees | Back-to-back solid starts. |
| 57 (54) | Ryan Pepiot | Rays | Same. |
| 58 | Bryan Woo | Mariners | 3.1 IP 6K in his last rehab game. Looks good. |
| 59 (56) | Nathan Eovaldi | Rangers | 11 BB last two starts (total). |
| 60 (74) | Max Scherzer | Rangers | Should be back within the week. |
| 61 (55) | Charlie Morton | Braves | Still outpitching Father Time…for now. |
| 62 | Nick Pivetta | Red Sox | Rehab start is coming this Thursday. |
| 63 (64) | MacKenzie Gore | Nationals | Throwing better than his record indicates. |
| 64 (80) | Javier Assad | Cubs | Needs to increase IP to qualify for those dubs. |
| 65 (99) | Reynaldo Lopez | Braves | Looking very good so far. Big jump up. |
| 66 | Garrett Whitlock | Red Sox | 15-day IL (oblique). |
| 67 (48) | Yu Darvish | Padres | 15-day IL (neck). |
| 68 (45) | Cristian Javier | Astros | 15-day IL. Eligible for activation this Friday. |
| 69 | Jon Gray | Rangers | Pitched well but not long enough to get the W. |
| 70 (58) | Aaron Civale | Rays | Ratios. Woof. |
| 71 (73) | Christopher Sanchez | Phillies | WHIP is still not great, but this ‘pre-season sleeper’ is pitching well. |
| 72 | Braxton Garrett | Marlins | Will resume rehab this week. |
| 73 (83) | Jordan Hicks | Giants | Another Player Rater darling. Could move up if side soreness is nothing. |
| 74 (61) | Edward Cabrera | Marlins | Roughed up in his second and third starts. |
| 75 | Spencer Strider | Braves | Single tear for redraft leagues |
| 76 (65) | Marcus Stroman | Yankees | Meh…but that Yankee offense adds value. |
| 77 (70) | Lance Lynn | Cardinals | Captain Meh. |
| 78 (76) | Luis Severino | Mets | First Mate on Lynn’s ship. |
| 79 (71) | Triston McKenzie | Guardians | 22/17/18 – IP/BB/K. Ouch. |
| 80 (85) | Paul Skenes | Nationals | Stashed him in ‘Perts. |
| 81 (78) | Gerrit Cole | Yankees | Could throw off a mound next week. |
| 82 (77) | Jose Butto | Mets | His last two starts have brought him back to Earth. |
| 83 (81) | Luis Gil | Yankees | Brewed up a stinker in MLW (5 IP, 5 ER, 2 HR). Strikeouts are still there. |
| 84 (79) | Gavin Williams | Guardians | Shut down after elbow soreness. |
| 85 (82) | Kyle Harrison | Giants | 6 shutout innings vs PIT. |
| 86 (NR) | Mitchell Parker | Nationals | Noob for the list. Averaging 1 ER per start. |
| 87 (96) | Kyle Bradish | Orioles | Will be back this week! |
| 88 (NR) | Erick Fedde | White Sox | Fedde Wap! |
| 89 (94) | Dane Dunning | Rangers | Strikeouts! |
| 90 (NR) | Simeon Woods-Richardson | Twins | SWR is SFSG – so far so good. |
| 91 | Casey Mize | Tigers | Would like to see more Ks. |
| 92 (NR) | Keaton Winn | Giants | Outpitching Jared Jones at the time of writing. |
| 93 (84) | Brandon Pfaadt | Diamondbacks | His upside is there, but so are the ugly ratios. |
| 94 (88) | Zack Littell | Rays | Giving up a lot of contact. |
| 95 (92) | Reese Olson | Tigers | (0-4), but this record is misleading. ERA ok. Walks are still an issue. |
| 96 (89) | Tyler Anderson | Angels | Smoke and mirrors. |
| 97 (NR) | Bryce Elder | Braves | Should stick in rotation for a while. |
| 98 (NR) | Yariel Rodriguez | Blue Jays | Running out of time to increase innings and show he belongs as SP5. |
| 99 (NR) | Jose Soriano | Angels | (0-4), lots of walks, but that fastball is smoke. |
| 100 (NR) | Albert Suarez | Orioles | Rough game vs OAK but should be good for at least one more start until O’s start getting SPs back from injury. |
BIGGEST DUMPERS: With apologies to Cal Raleigh, these are some of the biggest dumpers (in value, not pants size).
Zach Eflin 18 (13) – I’d love to say that I knocked him down because I was irritated that I continually spellcheck his first name. And, seriously, I know it’s been mentioned before but can we just decide on Zac, Zach, Zack, Zak, already? Ffs.
Oh…and Eflin struggled against the White Sox in his last start. He’s not “Kraken” enough to sound the panic alarms and race to go get the Krazy Glue, but this was enough to bump him down a bit.
Joe Musgrove 38 (28) – I’ll admit that I have never been much of a Musgrove fan, (at least not since he left Pittsburgh), but the pre-season love he was getting is not looking like it’s warranted these days. He’s still serviceable, but a 6.94 ERA with a .326 BAA are not the marks of an ‘ace’.
Jesus Luzardo 45 (24) – 15-day IL with elbow tightness. Jesus wept.
Blake Snell 50 (18) – Keelin wrote him up on Saturday in her injury report, so I won’t go into too much detail here. When a front office says that their superstar free agent pitcher is ‘week-to-week’…Well, that qualifies as bad news.
Aaron Civale 70 (58) – The Rays front office needs to go back to Ollivander’s and exchange the magic wand that they use to turn soft-tossing starters into top-tier starters. The Civale transfiguration isn’t exactly at the top of its class.
Edward Cabrera 74 (61) – I think we all expect ups and downs when a younger pitcher returns from an injury, but I can understand why people are frustrated. If you’ve had him in a keeper league, you’ve been waiting a long time for that full-season breakout.
BIGGEST JUMPERS: Who’s got hops? These are some of the biggest jumpers in value this week.
Shoto Imanaga 15 (20) – We’ve been joking for a few weeks that he could overtake Yamamoto as the top Japanese pitcher import of the year. At 4-0 with a strikeout per inning and just 3 BB in 27 IP, the jokes are now a reality. Best ace at Wrigley since Jon Lester? Fo’ Shoto!
Chris Sale 20 (26) – When Alex Anthopoulos jettisoned super-hitting prospect Vaughn Grissom for Sale this past winter, more than a couple of people snickered and figured Double A had finally been had. Sale might not be blowing away the competition in the NL Cy Young race, but he’s certainly putting any questions about durability to rest. He’s had three consecutive starts with 7 innings, and is averaging about 99 pitches per game.
Jose Berrios 24 (34) – Took a chintzy loss last week when the game in K.C. got rained out after 5 complete innings. It was the first game in four that he had allowed an earned run. The War Room tried to tell us, but some of us would not listen…probably because it wasn’t actually speaking!
Ranger Suarez 26 (42) – Even after I slotted him in here, I still wondered if it was too high. Then I looked at the numbers. 5-0, 41 IP, 21 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 40 Ks. The ratios are great. He has 5 quality starts in 6 GS. And if your league counts complete game shutouts, you’ve got even more points. This guy is looking like the best Ranger since Aragorn led the Hobbits to Isengard. (I fought the urge to use ‘Strider’ just to save our Braves fans from adding some more acid to the ulcer).
Tanner Houck 28 (38) – He was well on his way to his 4th win of the year last night when I got back from coaching my kiddo at indoor baseball practice. Then Chris Martin came in to relieve Houck and gave up a 3-run bomb to Mike Tauchman. Needless to say, a cold play indeed.
Sonny Gray 29 (43) – It’s always Sonny in St. Louis? It most certainly is here. Grey has mentioned this before, but this namesake (kind of) is throwing like an ace for nothing near the price some were paying for SP1 during the 2024 draft season.
Jared Jones 30 (49) – I moved him way up again, and while I was typing up the middle of the list yesterday afternoon he promptly gave up back-to-back homers to Thairo Estrada and Carl’s Jr. Jr. At risk of repeating what is dangerously close to becoming a weekly earworm, I still believe. (Still believe!)
Ronel Blanco 31 (50) – Every year something like this happens that makes us all turn around and say, “Huh? Wait, what?” A relatively unknown 30-year-old pitcher with 8 strikeouts and a win in Mexico City this weekend? In a park that plays like it’s got the same gravitational boost as the moon? Yes. I said last week that I don’t know if I’m buying it, but if he keeps doing what he’s doing it’ll be tough to not buy in.
Max Scherzer 60 (74) – The “Hero of The Heterochromatics”…What, they don’t call him that? Ok, so Max and his two different colored peepers are ready to return this week. Keep an eye out for a Friday activation or at least a comeback sometime this weekend.
Javier Assad 64 (80) – Little known fact, ‘Javier Assad’ was the rejected title for Mystikal’s hit song from 2000. “I came here with a pitch in my hand. Don’t make me leave here with a K in your face, be cool.” Ya, something like that.
Reynaldo Lopez 65 (99) – I usually reserve the Charlie Brown ‘yanked-away-football’ joke for a few things. (A) Toronto Maple Leaf fans’ playoff hopes, (B) The temptation to draft Adalberto Mondesi every Spring, (C) You know the drill with this one. Well, I suppose we could use the football yanking gif to describe the ‘potential’ of Reynaldo Lopez. He was touted as a great prospect who was destined for success since he debuted in…come on…guess what year. I’ll bet you a Coffee Crisp that you were wrong. 2016! Well, at age 30, Lopez is finally making good on that promise from 8 years ago. To be honest, this sounds an awful lot like The Ronel Blanco Story. Maybe we should start looking for more 30-year-old middle relievers to turn into lights-out starters. (I’m looking at you, Tim Mayza).
Kyle Bradish 87 (96) – Anyone who has been stashing this one will be happy. Bradish is due back from his rehab assignment this week.
Thursday's #Orioles starter should be either Kyle Bradish (5 days of rest) or Cole Irvin (regular 4 days of rest).
John Means and Albert Suárez are both pitching today — Means at Triple-A Norfolk and Suárez for O's — so they'd be on only 3 days of rest. https://t.co/v9OA64rMJS
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 28, 2024
Yariel Rodriguez 99 (NR) – Did I sneak him in here AGAIN?! Yes, yes I did. And, please do not laugh so hard that you drop your phone in the toilet.
BUT! The word on the icy streets of Toronto is that Yariel has a short leash to prove that he can stick in the rotation. The good news is the Jays have a healthy top 4 in Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, and Kikuchi. The bad news, (for Yariel at least), is that Alek Manoah still hasn’t fully imploded in the minor leagues…yet.
I could see the Jays recalling Manoah and sending Yariel to the bullpen before the end of May. It’s even more likely that Yariel gets sent back down if the current RH bullpen arms continue to pitch well. I’ll continue to ride it for now, but keep an eye on things if he struggles in his next couple of starts.
OOF! The following players dropped off the list this week.
Spencer Turnbull – to bullpen
Alec Marsh – 15-day IL
Andrew Abbott
Logan Allen
Griffin Canning
Max Meyer (will not replace injured starters in rotation)
Shane Baz
Paul Blackburn
Michael Wacha
WHEE! The following players launched into the Top 100 this week.
Mitchell Parker
Erick Fedde
Simeon Woods-Richardson
Keaton Winn
Bryce Elder
Yariel Rodriguez
Jose Soriano
Albert Suarez
That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoyed it! Next week, I’ll post the Top 100 Starting Pitchers with some write-ups on some of the arms that I think need a bit more attention than others. Then, I’ll try to keep cherry-picking names to highlight throughout the list as we progress through the season.
Drop some comments in the chat if you’re feeling extra fired up about some of the names I do (or don’t) have here. Have a great week!
Follow me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social
