(Audacy) As we race toward the 2022 MLB season, here's Audacy Sports' countdown of the 15 best starting pitchers in the sport entering the upcoming season.
15. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
David Berding/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA, 123 ERA+, 3.79 FIP, 1.103 WHIP, 201 strikeouts, one complete game, 178 2/3 innings pitched and a 4.0 fWAR
After an underwhelming first half in 2021 that saw him post a 4.15 ERA in 18 starts, Giolito rebounded after the All-Star Break, pitching to a 2.65 ERA in 13 starts. Giolito is approaching free agency, which he'll be eligible for after the 2023 season. He and another name on this list will form one of the best one-two punches in the American League for the White Sox.
14. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
Eric Espada/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 26
2021 statistics: 9-15 with a 3.19 ERA, 131 ERA+, 3.42 FIP, 1.075 WHIP, 201 strikeouts, one complete game, 205 2/3 innings pitched and a 4.2 fWAR
You can count the teams with more young pitching talent in their organization than the Marlins on one hand, and it may not even take all five fingers. At the forefront of a franchise that's loaded in terms of pitching is Alcantara, who posted a 3.19 ERA and 3.42 FIP across 205 2/3 innings a season ago. The Marlins were smart to lock Alcantara up this past offseason, getting him to sign on for what projects to be a team-friendly five-year, $56-million extension, with an affordable $21-million club option for a sixth season.
13. Robbie Ray, Seattle Mariners
Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today SportsAge during 2022 season: 30
2021 statistics: 13-7 with a 2.84 ERA, 154 ERA+, 3.69 FIP, 1.045 WHIP, 248 strikeouts, zero complete games, 193 1/3 innings pitched and a 3.9 fWAR
What a difference a year makes. After posting a 6.62 ERA in 2020 -- a season split with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays -- Ray won the AL Cy Young award in 2021. Ray led the AL in ERA (2.84), innings pitched (193 1/3), strikeouts (248), ERA+ (154) and WHIP (1.045). The 3.69 FIP and 3.60 expected ERA that Ray had in 2021 suggest he could come back to earth in 2022, but there's no doubt that the Mariners are excited for his five-year, $115-million deal to begin.
12. Nathan Eovaldi, Boston Red Sox
Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 32
2021 statistics: 11-9 with a 3.75 ERA, 126 ERA+, 2.79 FIP, 1.190 WHIP, 195 strikeouts, zero complete games and a 5.6 fWAR
While Eovaldi had a rough start to his four-year, $68-million deal with the Red Sox, the $17 million that he's due to make in 2022 looks like a bargain after a career-year last season. Eovaldi's 2.79 FIP across 182 1/3 innings was the lowest mark in the AL in 2021, earning him an All-Star nod and a fourth place finish in AL Cy Young award voting.
11. Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today SportsAge during 2022 season: 31
2021 statistics: 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA, 145 ERA+, 3.00 FIP, 1.042 WHIP, 227 strikeouts, zero complete games, 192 innings pitched and a 4.8 fWAR
It's not often that you let the reigning AL Cy Young award winner leave in free agency and upgrade, but the Blue Jays may have managed to do that this offseason. While the aforementioned Ray departed in free agency to join the Seattle Mariners, the Blue Jays lured Gausman away from the San Francisco Giants, signing him to a five-year, $110-million deal. It took Gausman a while to make good on his sky-high potential, but he has seemingly done that over the past two years, as he has a 3.00 ERA and 3.02 FIP since the start of the 2020 season.
10. Lance Lynn, Chicago White Sox
Justin Casterline/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 35
2021 Statistics: 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA, 161 ERA+, 3.32 FIP, 1.070 WHIP, 176 strikeouts, one complete game, 157 innings pitched and a 4.2 fWAR
After an impressive start to his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Lynn hit a wall in his early 30s. However, he revived his career during two seasons with the Texas Rangers, and that carried over to his first season with the White Sox, when he posed a 2.69 ERA. Lynn finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2021, marking the third consecutive season that he finished in the top six in voting for the award. The two-year, $38-million extension that the White Sox gave to Lynn last July feels team-friendly.
9. Julio Urías, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 25
2021 statistics: 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 138 ERA+, 3.13 FIP, 1.018 WHIP, 185 strikeouts, zero complete games, 185 2/3 innings pitched and a 5.0 fWAR
Urías made his MLB debut at age 19, and it's possible that the Dodgers rushed the former top prospect to the highest level too quickly. However, Urías has come of age over the last three seasons, specifically in 2021, when he was baseball's lone 20-game winner. Still only 25, Urías figures to command a massive contract after the 2023 season, when he can become a free agent.
8. Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 29
2021 statistics: 9-10 with a 2.56 ERA, 166 ERA+, 2.96 FIP, 0.965 WHIP, 211 strikeouts, zero complete games, 179 1/3 innings pitched and a 4.7 fWAR
While he wasn't the best pitcher on his own staff in 2021, Woodruff was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Across 179 1/3 innings, Woodruff posted a 2.56 ERA, 2.96 FIP and 4.7 fWAR for the Brewers. That earned him his second trip to the All-Star Game and a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young award voting. It would hardly be a surprise if Woodruff becomes the second consecutive Brewer to win the NL Cy Young award.
7. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians
Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: 7-4 with a 3.17 ERA, 139 ERA+, 3.03 FIP, 1.210 WHIP, 134 strikeouts, zero complete games, 96 2/3 innings pitched and a 2.6 fWAR
A right shoulder strain limited Bieber to just 96 2/3 innings in 2021, but if healthy, seven may prove to be too low of a ranking for the ace of the Guardians. After finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2019, Bieber captured the honor in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He's well on his way to securing a massive contract when he becomes a free agent after the 2024 season, whether it's from the Guardians or someone else.
6. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA, 165 ERA+, 3.16 FIP, 0.968 WHIP, 212 strikeouts, zero complete games, 207 2/3 innings pitched and a 5.5 fWAR
Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw is back in Los Angeles, but it will be Buehler who gets the ball on Opening Day, as the Dodgers look to back up manager manager Dave Roberts' preseason prediction of a second World Series title in three years. Buehler pitched a career-high 207 2/3 innings in 2021, finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young award voting.
5. Max Scherzer, New York Mets
Mark Brown/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 37
2021 statistics: 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA, 166 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 0.864 WHIP, 236 strikeouts, one complete game, 179 1/3 innings pitched and a 5.4 fWAR
Scherzer finished third in the NL Cy Young voting in 2021, a season that he split with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite his advanced age, he parlayed that into a massive three-year, $130-million deal with the Mets. The three-time Cy Young Award winner perhaps isn't quite as dominant as he was five years ago, but he remains one of the best pitchers in the sport.
4. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 32
2021 statistics: 14-10 with a 2.78 ERA, 150 ERA+, 2.59 FIP, 1.008 WHIP, 247 strikeouts, three complete games, 213 1/3 innings pitched and a 7.3 fWAR
For years, Wheeler flashed front-line potential while pitching for the New York Mets. Since signing a five-year, $118-million deal with the division rival Phillies ahead of the 2020 season, Wheeler has realized that potential, with his 9.2 fWAR second among all pitchers over that period. Wheeler was a first-time All-Star in 2021, ultimately finishing in a close second in the NL Cy Young voting after he led baseball in complete games (three) and innings pitched (213 1/3).
3. Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 27
2021 statistics: 11-5 with a 2.43 ERA, 176 ERA+, 1.63 FIP, 0.940 WHIP, 234 strikeouts, zero complete games, 167 innings pitched and a 7.5 fWAR
While he only racked up 167 innings pitched, Burnes won the 2021 NL Cy Young after a dominant season that saw him lead all qualified pitchers in ERA (2.43), ERA+ (176), FIP (1.63) and fWAR (7.5). Since the start of the 2020 season, Burnes has been dominant, posting a 2.34 ERA and 1.74 FIP across 226 2/3 innings for the Brewers.
2. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 31
2021 statistics: 16-8 with a 3.23 ERA, 133 ERA+, 2.92 FIP, 1.059 WHIP, 243 strikeouts, two complete games, 181 1/3 innings pitched and a 5.3 fWAR
So far, Cole has more than held up his end of a nine-year, $324-million contract. After finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young race in his first season with the Yankees, Cole finished runner-up to Ray for the award in 2021. It marked the second time in three years that Cole found himself in silver medal position for the junior circuit's top pitching honor.
1. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesAge during 2022 season: 34
2021 statistics: 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA, 373 ERA+, 1.24 FIP, 0.554 WHIP, 146 strikeouts, one complete game, 92 innings pitched and a 4.9 fWAR
While it's fair to have questions about the durability of deGrom, he was so dominant when he pitched in 2021 that he finished ninth in the NL Cy Young race despite only making 15 starts. If he stays healthy, deGrom and Scherzer could form one of the greatest one-two punches in MLB history.
LISTEN on the Audacy app
Sign up and follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram