Pedro Martinez Listed His Top 10 Starters This Season, And We Don't Completely Agree
I feel like disagreeing with Pedro Martinez on anything pitching related just makes you automatically incorrect, but I did disagree with his list on some parts, so here’s my incorrect list of who I think have been the top 10 starting pitchers in baseball this year based solely on their 2016 numbers.
1.) Clayton Kershaw — We obviously agree on this. Either you think that Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, or you’re wrong. It’s not open for debate. He’s been on the disabled list since June 30, and he’s still fourth in the MLB in strikeouts and has more strikeouts than any pitcher in the American League (145). He has the only sub-2 ERA in baseball (1.79), the lowest WHIP (0.727), the best ERA+ (218), FIP (1.68), hits per nine innings (5.9), home runs per nine (0.4), walks per nine (0.7), strikeouts to walks ratio (16.11), and the most complete game shutouts (3). You name it, and he leads the league in it.
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2.) Madison Bumgarner — We’re 2-for-2 so far. This one’s another no-brainer. He hasn’t missed a start this year, and he’s got the second lowest ERA in the majors (2.12), with the third most strikeouts (155), and the fourth best WHIP (0.980). Oddly enough, even with the second lowest ERA in the game, and being on the team with the best record in baseball, the Giants are only 13-7 when he takes the mound, but in five of those seven losses, he allowed 3 earned runs or less.
3.) Stephen Strasburg — Here’s where we disagree. Pedro has a Washington National at No. 3, but I think he’s got the wrong one. Strasburg is 13-0 this season with a 2.51 ERA, and 138 strikeouts in 114.2 innings. The right-hander is second to only Kershaw among all pitchers in the MLB in WAR (4.1), and he’s allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his 17 starts this year.
4.) Jose Fernandez — This is where Pedro had Strasburg, but I’ve got Jose Fernandez. After striking out 14 batters last night, Fernandez moved within three strikeouts of the MLB lead behind Max Scherzer, who needed a 20-strikeout game to get there. He’s seventh in the MLB in ERA (2.53), and leads the majors in strikeouts per nine (13.30), almost two strikeouts higher than the runner-up (11.43).
5.) Max Scherzer — Not bad, having two starters in the top five in the MLB. As previously mentioned, Scherzer leads the MLB in strikeouts (171), and is one of six starters in baseball who has a WHIP under one. He’s third with a 0.958 WHIP. Despite the high strikeout total, I couldn’t put Scherzer over Strasburg, given that Scherzer leads the National League in home runs allowed (21). He also has the higher ERA (2.94), which is 18th in the MLB.
6.) Drew Pomeranz — Poor Drew Pomeranz didn’t even make Pedro’s list, but he should’ve. He’s fifth in the MLB in ERA (2.47), and has allowed more than three earned runs just twice in 17 starts, while he’s also allowed more than two earned runs just five times. He’s second in the majors in opponents’ batting average (.184), and second to only Kershaw in opponents’ OPS (.555).
7.) Marco Estrada — Here’s another guy that didn’t make the cut for Pedro. Pomeranz was second to Marco Estrada for the MLB lead in opponents’ batting average (.173), and he’s seventh in the MLB in opponents’ OPS (.582). Estrada has the lowest WHIP in the American League (0.987), and the lowest hits per nine (5.5).
8.) Jake Arrieta — The reigning National League Cy Young award winner has come back to earth a bit as of late, with a 4.38 ERA since May 25, but that doesn’t negate his whole season. He’s still tenth in the MLB in ERA (2.68), and has the third best opponents’ OPS in the majors (.564).
9.) Jacob deGrom — I’ve got Jacob deGrom one spot higher than Pedro here. One of the many aces that the Mets have at the top of their rotation, deGrom is third in the MLB in ERA (2.38), ninth in WAR (3.5), 13th in WHIP (1.03). You figure third in ERA, you’ve gotta be better than ninth or tenth in the MLB, but he’s 30th in the league in strikeouts per nine (8.65), so that hurt ‘em a bit.
10.) Julio Teheran — I had a real hard time deciding whether or not Julio Teheran or Johnny Cueto would make the cut here, but I went with Teheran. He’s second in the MLB in WHIP (0.947), tied for sixth in WAR (3.7), eighth in opponents’ batting average (.203), ninth in opponents’ OPS (.600), and 13th in ERA (2.79).
Notable mentions: Johnny Cueto, obviously, who could very well be on a top 10 list and you’re probably not wrong for feeling that way, Noah Syndergaard, Chris Sale, Jon Lester, and the top two pitchers in Cleveland this year, Danny Salazar and Corey Kluber. Our lists weren’t too far off, but Estrada and Pomeranz deserved some love for the years they’re having, and Strasburg deserves some more recognition for the season he’s put together, too.