Top 15 MLB starting pitchers for 2022 season

Age 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 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.

Age 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 Fish were smart to lock Alcantara up this past offseason, getting him to sign on for what projects to be a very team-friendly five-year/$56 million extension, with an affordable $21 million club option for a sixth season.

Age 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 American League Cy Young Award in 2021. Ray led the American League 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.

Age 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 American League in 2021, earning him an All-Star nod and a fourth place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting.

Age 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 American League 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's 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.

Age 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 things 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 American League Cy Young Award 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 very team friendly.

Age 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 Major League 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.

Age 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 not only his second trip to the All-Star Game, but a fifth place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting. It would hardly be a surprise if Woodruff becomes the second consecutive Brewer to win NL Cy Young Award.

Age 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 American League Cy Young Award 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.

Age 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 that gets the ball on Opening Day, as the Dodgers look to back up 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 National League Cy Young Award voting.

Age 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 National League Cy Young Award 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.

Age 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 National League Cy Young Award voting after he led baseball in complete games (three) and innings pitched (213 1/3).

Age 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 National League Cy Young Award 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.

Age 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 American League Cy Young Award voting in his first season with the Yankees, Cole finished runner-up to Robbie 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.

Before we get to No. 1, here's a brief look at who just missed out on this list:

Max Fried, Atlanta Braves: The lefty has been excellent over the past two seasons, posting a 2.84 ERA and 3.26 FIP. He's also one of the best fielding pitchers, as evidenced by him winning back-to-back Gold Glove Awards.

Carlos Rodón, San Francisco Giants: Despite finishing fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2021, Rodón had to settle for a two-year/$44 million deal with the Giants. Our guess is that proves to be one of the best moves of the offseason.

Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies: Nola's 15.4 fWAR is fifth among all pitchers over the last four seasons, but he's looking to rebound after posting a 4.63 ERA in 2021.

Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds: He's seemingly always mentioned as a trade candidate, and there's a reason why. Castillo has a nasty repertoire, and it would hardly be surprising if he wins a Cy Young Award one day.

Jose Berrios, Toronto Blue Jays: Berrios has already racked up 190 or more innings in three seasons, and you feel like he hasn't yet peaked. The Blue Jays got out in front of things in the offseason, signing him to a seven-year/$131 extension.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels: While Ohtani won the American League MVP in 2021 first and foremost because he hit 46 home runs, the 3.18 ERA and 3.52 FIP he posted across 130 1/3 innings are what allowed him to win the award over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Charlie Morton, Atlanta Braves: There's certainly risk in betting on a 38-year-old coming off of a right fibula fracture, but he's been one of this era's best mercenaries, which continued when he posted a 4.6 fWAR across 185 2/3 innings in 2021.

Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants: Webb had a breakout season in 2021, posting a 3.03 ERA and 2.72 FIP across 148 1/3 innings for a team that won a league-best 107 regular season games.

Justin Verlander, Houston Astros: Sure Verlander has essentially missed the last two seasons. But the last time that we saw Verlander in 2019, he won the American League Cy Young Award. And the fact that the Astros were willing to give him a two-year/$50 million deal is a good sign that they believe that the future Hall of Famer still has a lot left, even as he returns for his age-39 season coming off of Tommy John surgery.

Noah Syndergaard, Los Angeles Angels: The Mets made a lot of excellent transactions this offseason, but the guess here is that they're going to regret allowing Syndergaard to leave for a one-year/$21 million deal with the Angels. Still only 29, Syndergaard can set himself up for a major payday next offseason if he proves that he's bounced back from Tommy John surgery.

German Márquez, Colorado Rockies: If Márquez puts things together for a full season, he's going to be one of baseball's best pitchers. While his overall results in 2021 were uneven (4.40 ERA, 3.86 FIP), he did finish in a tie for the most complete games in baseball with three.

Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox: One of the best No. 3 starters in the league, Cease posted a 3.91 ERA and 3.41 FIP across 165 2/3 innings last season for the White Sox.

Mike Clevinger, San Diego Padres: Prior to Tommy John surgery costing him a majority of the last two seasons, Clevinger had emerged as one of the best starters in the league. Between 2018 and 2019, Clevinger posted a 2.90 ERA and 3.12 FIP.

Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals: He hasn't quite followed up a monster second half in 2019 that propelled him to a fourth place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting, but Flaherty is only 26. If he's healthy for a full season in 2022, he and Adam Wainwright should make a strong one-two punch.