Current:Home > Finance2024 starting pitcher rankings: Spencer Strider, Gerrit Cole rule the mound-InfoLens

2024 starting pitcher rankings: Spencer Strider, Gerrit Cole rule the mound

​​​​​​​View Date:2024-12-23 16:30:54

Ranking pitchers is inherently difficult because they always seem to be just one twinge away from a serious injury. We've already seen several important starters – most recently Kodai Senga and Lucas Giolito – come down with injuries this spring, leaving their return dates uncertain.

While availability is always the best ability, overpowering stuff has to be a close second. That's why the Braves' Spencer Strider tops this year's list. There's a little extra distance between him and the rest of the National League after the Brewers traded Corbin Burnes, but fantasy managers can still be happy with workhorses Zack Wheeler, Zac Gallen, Aaron Nola or Logan Webb heading their staffs.

The Dodgers have a pair of wild cards in Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with youngster Bobby Miller a potential breakout this season. Even with ace Sandy Alcantara out for the season, the Marlins can still trot out Jesus Luzardo and Eury Perez as potential SP1 candidates. Glasnow, Michael King and Eduardo Rodriguez are among the top offseason arrivals from the AL.

Speaking of the American League, Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole heads a deep group of impact starters with 200-strikeout potential. Toronto's Kevin Gausman led the league a year ago with 237 whiffs, with Burnes, Pablo Lopez, Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez also reaching the 200-K mark.

As for who could take the next step this season, Tarik Skubal, Grayson Rodriguez and Cole Ragans look like the top candidates. And there are a number of potential injury stashes in the AL with Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, John Means, Max Scherzer, Jeffrey Springs and Jacob deGrom targeting mid- to late-season returns.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

2024 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings

  1. Spencer Strider, Braves NL1
  2. Gerrit Cole, Yankees AL1
  3. Corbin Burnes, Orioles AL2
  4. Zack Wheeler, Phillies NL2
  5. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays AL3
  6. Luis Castillo, Mariners AL4
  7. George Kirby, Mariners AL5
  8. Pablo Lopez, Twins AL6
  9. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers NL3
  10. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers NL4
  11. Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks NL5
  12. Aaron Nola, Phillies NL6
  13. Logan Webb, Giants NL7
  14. Max Fried, Braves NL8
  15. Blake Snell, free agent
  16. Freddy Peralta, Brewers NL9
  17. Logan Gilbert, Mariners AL7
  18. Jesus Luzardo, Marlins NL10
  19. Framber Valdez, Astros AL8
  20. Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles AL9
  21. Tarik Skubal, Tigers AL10
  22. Bobby Miller, Dodgers NL11
  23. Eury Perez, Marlins NL12
  24. Sonny Gray, Cardinals NL13
  25. Joe Musgrove, Padres NL14
  26. Dylan Cease, White Sox AL11
  27. Tanner Bibee, Guardians AL12
  28. Joe Ryan, Twins AL13
  29. Zach Eflin, Rays AL14
  30. Cole Ragans, Royals AL15
  31. Justin Steele, Cubs NL15
  32. Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays AL16
  33. Jordan Montgomery, free agent
  34. Michael King, Padres NL16
  35. Chris Sale, Braves NL17
  36. Hunter Greene, Reds NL18
  37. Jose Berrios, Blue Jays AL17
  38. Justin Verlander, Astros AL18
  39. Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks NL19
  40. Mitch Keller, Pirates NL20
  41. Bailey Ober, Twins AL19
  42. Yu Darvish, Padres NL21
  43. Braxton Garrett, Marlins NL22
  44. Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks NL23
  45. Walker Buehler, Dodgers NL24
  46. Carlos Rodon, Yankees AL20
  47. Shane Bieber, Guardians AL21
  48. Cristian Javier, Astros AL22
  49. Gavin Williams, Guardians AL23
  50. Hunter Brown, Astros AL24
  51. Nick Pivetta, Red Sox AL25
  52. Aaron Civale, Rays AL26
  53. Shane Baz, Rays AL27
  54. Bryce Miller, Marines AL28
  55. Bryan Woo, Mariners AL29
  56. Brayan Bello, Red Sox AL30
  57. Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks NL25
  58. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers AL31
  59. Shota Imanaga, Cubs NL26
  60. Ryan Pepiot, Rays AL32
  61. Kodai Senga, Mets NL27
  62. Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies NL28
  63. Kyle Bradish, Orioles AL33
  64. Kutter Crawford, Red Sox AL34
  65. Charlie Morton, Braves NL29
  66. Kenta Maeda, Tigers AL35
  67. Michael Wacha, Royals AL36
  68. Nestor Cortes, Yankees AL37
  69. Seth Lugo, Royals AL38
  70. John Means, Orioles AL39
  71. Andrew Abbott, Reds NL30
  72. Max Scherzer, Rangers AL40
  73. Marcus Stroman, Yankees AL41
  74. Yusei Kikuchi, Blue Jays AL42
  75. Triston McKenzie, Guardians AL43
  76. Taj Bradley, Rays AL44
  77. Edward Cabrera, Marlins NL31
  78. Reid Detmers, Angels AL45
  79. Nick Lodolo, Reds NL32
  80. Reese Olson, Tigers AL46
  81. Emmett Sheehan, Dodgers NL33
  82. Griffin Canning, Angels AL47
  83. MacKenzie Gore, Nationals NL34
  84. Kyle Harrison, Giants NL35
  85. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers NL36
  86. Luis Severino, Mets NL37
  87. Garrett Whitlock, Red Sox AL48
  88. Jon Gray, Rangers AL49
  89. Sean Manaea, Mets NL38
  90. Dean Kremer, Orioles AL50
  91. Lance Lynn, Cardinals NL39
  92. Jameson Taillon, Cubs NL40
  93. James Paxton, Dodgers NL41
  94. Louie Varland, MIn AL51
  95. Casey Mize, Tigers AL52
  96. Trevor Rogers, Marlins NL42
  97. Chris Paddack, Twins AL53
  98. Chase Silseth, Angels AL54
  99. Dane Dunning, Rangers AL55
  100. Tyler Wells, Orioles AL56

veryGood! (26)

Tags