Now that the initial excitement of Opening Day has passed and we’re settling into the long season ahead, our attention shifts to one of baseball’s most critical positions. Each year, we evaluate the top starting pitchers in the league, but this season carries a unique storyline dominating the mound: injuries.
I’ve conducted similar ace rankings at the beginning of recent seasons, but this year’s assessment felt distinct from the start. As we entered 2024, several ace-level or close-to-ace pitchers from the previous season, such as Jacob deGrom, Walker Buehler, Shohei Ohtani, and Sandy Alcantara, were dealing with injuries. Additionally, established long-term aces like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw had fallen out of that elite tier due to injuries.
Moreover, a recent surge in injuries has affected another group of key pitchers who would typically feature prominently in these rankings, with nearly half of the starting pitchers in lower tiers currently sidelined. This leaves a relatively short list of healthy aces. Therefore, I’ve chosen to include injured pitchers in the tier they would rank if they were healthy, while also delving into what defines an ace or top-tier pitcher in today’s game.
Moving on to our list of the best pitchers in baseball right now—or when they are fit to return to action—this ranking combines my own analysis with input from industry evaluators.
The Top Aces
Healthy (4):
1. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
2. Kevin Gausman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
3. Corbin Burnes, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
4. Logan Webb, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Injured (5):
Gerrit Cole, RHP, New York Yankees
Jacob deGrom, RHP, Texas Rangers
Walker Buehler, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
EDITOR’S PICKS
Who will dominate MLB in 2024? Arguments for five superstar players
20hESPN
Which players will rise to stardom this season? The top breakout candidate for all 30 MLB teams
12dKiley McDaniel
$325 million contract… and an 8.38 ERA in spring training? Analyzing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s outlook
21dKiley McDaniel
It’s worth noting that the concept of an ace or number one starter isn’t about having 30 of them; it’s a flexible idea used by scouts and executives to identify the top tier of pitchers, typically comprising eight to ten players at any given time. This group currently includes nine aces, but only four are actively playing. Valdez is the latest addition to the injured list, though his injury might not be severe as he hasn’t been placed on the injured list yet. Among the active aces, Wheeler stands out as the closest to the ideal ace prototype: tall, with a history of elite performance, a powerful fastball, and a reliable breaking ball. He’s a strikeout-focused pitcher who throws a lot of strikes while remaining durable.
In contrast, Gausman relies less on breaking balls, Burnes employs an unconventional mix of pitches, and Webb uses a lower arm angle with average velocity. This diversity shows that success on the mound can be achieved through various approaches.
The Almost Aces
Healthy (11):
5. Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves
6. Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
7. Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
8. Pablo Lopez, RHP, Minnesota Twins
9. George Kirby, RHP, Seattle Mariners
10. Luis Castillo, RHP, Seattle Mariners
11. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
12. Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Miami Marlins
13. Bobby Miller, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
14. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
15. Blake Snell, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Injured (8):
Shohei Ohtani, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Justin Steele, LHP, Chicago Cubs
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
Shane McClanahan, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Shane Bieber, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Max Scherzer, RHP, Texas Rangers
Justin Verlander, RHP, Houston Astros
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
This group represents the top half of the “No. 2” starters and sparks many debates. Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, recently signed a substantial contract, Miller is relatively new to the big leagues, and Gallen’s fastball velocity is notable. While the first group of aces achieves success in diverse ways, each pitcher in this group has a notable strength but also a gap in their record. However, a standout season can fill that gap, and several pitchers in this group are expected to make significant strides this season.
Alcantara was highly regarded last year but suffered from a poor season and underwent Tommy John surgery. Bieber initially showed promise this season but now faces uncertainty due to his injury and rehab.
The Next Tier
Healthy (10):
16. Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City Royals
17. Zach Eflin, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
18. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
19. Jordan Montgomery, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
20. Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
21. Freddy Peralta, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
22. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle Mariners
23. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
24. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Chicago White Sox
25. Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Injured (9):
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Dustin May, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Eury Perez, RHP, Miami Marlins
Kodai Senga, RHP, New York Mets
Jeffrey Springs, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Bradish, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Alex Cobb, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Robbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
This group encompasses the lower half of the number two starters, representing what scouts would consider frontline pitchers. While I could have included more similar players, I capped the list at 25 as we move further from the concept of an ace. There are other strong candidates just outside this list who could prove themselves with time, and young prospects in the minors who may soon join this tier. These players represent the top of the No. 3 starter tier.
For many in this group, a single exceptional season may not catapult them into ace territory immediately. However, pitchers like Crochet and Sale face concerns over their durability and age. Glasnow, despite his potential, has yet to pitch a full big league season. On the injured side, May and Perez have long been anticipated to make a leap into ace territory, but their limited appearances due to injuries hinder this progression.
It’s concerning that a significant portion of MLB’s top pitchers are currently injured. While advancements in pitching techniques and medical science have pushed the boundaries of what pitchers can achieve, we hope for further breakthroughs to mitigate.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply