MLB 2021: My Top 10 Starting Pitchers Right Now

MLB 2021: My Top 10 Starting Pitchers Right Now

With Opening Week behind us, I couldn’t be more excited. Throughout the early weeks of the season, I will provide my top-10 lists at every position in Major League Baseball. Today, I will be focusing on Starting Pitchers. With a plethora of options to pick from and make this list, it was a very difficult one to make. Keep in mind, I did make this list before Opening Day, so there is no bias from the current season.

1. Jacob deGrom

Since the 2018 season, deGrom has been nothing short of incredible. He won back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019 and finished in third place in 2020. In Spring Training, he looked incredible, posting a mere 0.66 ERA, over 13.2 innings pitched. Mets fan or not, it is undeniably fun to watch him go about his craft.

2. Gerrit Cole

At the second spot, I put the other New York ace. Over the past three years, he has posted three top-5 AL Cy Young Award finishes, most notably a runner-up finish in 2019. I believe that this is the year he finally gets that coveted award and further bolsters his Hall of Fame case that keeps growing year after year.

3. Shane Bieber

While a lot of you may be surprised he didn’t crack my one or two spots on the list, he is still top-3. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner was the best pitcher in baseball but doesn’t have the great track record of deGrom or Cole due to his age. Without a doubt, Shane has the tools to make a jump into that one spot in years to come.

4. Yu Darvish

After seeing a steep fall-off since his first few years in Texas, he came back in 2020 with a truly dominant year. Over 12 starts, he posted a 2.01 ERA and led the NL with 8 wins. I expect him to have another dominant year in 2021, and prove that he can be dominant again over a full 162 game season.

5. Clayton Kershaw 

“Kersh” is not the pitcher that he used to be, but he still undeniably a top pitcher in baseball. He proved this in 2020, posting a 6-2 record over 10 starts, with a 2.16 ERA to compliment that. Though his best years are likely behind him, he is still an ace.

6. Trevor Bauer 

Bauer is one of the most fun, yet controversial pitchers to watch. The 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner had a terrific year, leading the NL with a 1.73 ERA for Cincinnati. I don’t foresee him being as dominant as he was last year, as he is moving from the weak NL Central to the powerhouse NL West. However, he’ll have a ton of offensive support, so I think he’ll have a good year.

7. Max Scherzer 

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was not his dominant self in 2020, but he has proven to be a top pitcher in baseball for almost ten seasons. I believe he’ll be in the running for another Cy Young Award in 2021, and maybe even win his fourth.

8. Walker Buehler

Kershaw, Bauer, and Buehler are arguably the best 1-2-3 in baseball. The sky is the limit for Walker, as he has electric stuff. The poor Spring Training doesn’t really alarm me, as with a talent like Buehler, he is bound to be dominant.

     9)   Hyun Jin Ryu

After looking at other top-10 lists, I was surprised that only a couple had Ryu on their list. He was dominant in 2019, leading all of baseball with a 2.32 ERA. He followed that up with a great 2020, posting a 5-2 record and a 2.69 ERA. He was the NL Cy Young runner-up in 2019 and had a third-place finish last year. I expect him to have another great year.

    10)   Aaron Nola 

Nola is a consistent pitcher, that will not break the radar gun. However, he has proven to be a top talent since his breakout 2018 season. He was not particularly dominant in 2020, but I expect him to have a terrific 2021.

Honorable Mention:

Lucas Giolito

Giolito is one of the most exciting pitchers to watch, and he can go deep into games. He has ace potential, and will definitely be a pitcher that can crack my top-10 list sooner than later. I expect him to play a big role for the White Sox, as they are my favorite to win the American League Pennant.