2024 MLB season: Pitcher power rankings

Partner Authors Updated: Jun 10 2024 19:54

Two months have already been completed in the MLB season, and fans and experts now have a good sample size to use when evaluating this year's best players.

Here, we're going to rank the best pitchers in the game right now.

Between the American and National League and starters and relievers, here are the top 20 pitchers in the MLB currently.

1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

The frontrunner for the American League Cy Young Award at +130 is Tarik Skubal, the ace of the Detroit Tigers. In 13 total starts, nine of which have been quality starts, the lefty owns a 1.92 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP.

He owns an incredible 31.1 percent strikeout rate and has a walk rate that is nearly half the MLB average. Only twice in 13 starts has Skubal allowed more than two earned runs, so his efficiency and reliability make him the best in baseball.

2. Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies were expected to have a good pitching staff, but nobody expected it to be this good. The biggest surprise of the pitching staff has been Ranger Suarez, who owns a 10-1 record with a 1.91 ERA in 13 starts - eight of which have been quality starts.

The lefty has an above average strikeout rate, below average walk rate, and very high ground ball rate. He’s been the perfect 1-2 punch with Zack Wheeler.

3. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

For the last few seasons, Zack Wheeler has been the ace of the Phillies. He’s been fantastic this season once again as he owns a 2.23 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 starts.

Wheeler has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts and has routinely pitched into the seventh inning or later. Wheeler and Suarez are currently among the favorites for the National League Cy Young Award at +200 and +1200, respectively.

Read MLB Cy Young Award odds on site.

4. Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox

There’s a second lefty starter in the American League Central making a case for the Cy Young with +3000 odds. Garrett Crochet has been the silver lining for the White Sox this season since he has developed into an ace.

In 14 outings, the southpaw has a 3.33 ERA but a 2.31 xERA. He also owns a 34.3 percent strikeout rate which is mostly due to his fastball that can reach triple-digits. If the White Sox hold on to Crochet, the 24-year-old is going to be a star for years to come.

5. Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox

Last season, Tanner Houck was great in the first few innings. The reliever-turned-starter was dominant in the first three innings with a 2.71 ERA but struggled in the middle innings with a 7.93 ERA in innings 4-6 during the 2023 season.

However, Houck has been completely different this season. The middle innings are no longer a weakness for him and he’s posted a 1.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP in 13 starts. Houck has developed into the leader of the Boston rotation and he has 11 quality starts with +800 Cy Young odds to show for it.

6. Luis Gil, New York Yankees

Luis Gil is a special case because this is his third season in the Majors, but he’s still eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. He’s become the -130 favorite for the award in the American League while posting the third-lowest hard-hit rate in MLB among starting pitchers.

In 13 starts, Gil owns a 2.04 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He has an electric fastball with a wicked changeup and slider to go with it, and once Gerrit Cole comes back, the Yankees will have a phenomenal 1-2 punch.

7. Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

Shota Imanaga put the league on notice after owning a 0.84 ERA in his first nine starts. The Japanese sensation was breaking rookie records left and right, and he’s become a serious contender for both the Cy Young (+800) and Rookie of the Year (+110) awards.

Although he’s been touched up a bit in recent starts, his high strikeout rate and disappearing splitter make him a top-10 pitcher in baseball. He has six quality starts, allows the 13th-lowest weighted on-base average, and has the seventh-lowest walk percentage.

8. Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves

Reynaldo Lopez made 68 appearances in 2023, and not a single one was a start. Fast forward to 2024, and he’s made 11 appearances - all starts. The Braves transitioned the lights-out reliever into the starting rotation, and he’s recorded a 1.85 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 63.1 innings.

He’s been the perfect addition to go with Max Fried and Chris Sale, and it makes you wonder what the Braves rotation would be like if Spencer Strider didn’t get hurt.

9. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

At 35 years old, it appeared that Chris Sale’s career was on the downward slope after being traded from the Red Sox. However, Sale has turned back the clock in Atlanta as he has an 8-2 record with a 3.01 ERA in 12 starts while posting the second-lowest average exit velocity allowed at 86.0 MPH.

He has his highest strikeout rate (31.1 percent, ranked sixth in MLB) since the 2019 season and one of the lowest walk rates of his long career. The lefty ace is back to being in his prime.

10. Mason Miller, Oakland Athletics

The Athletics hit the jackpot with Mason Miller. The former third round pick was impressive in his short time in the Majors before an injury last season, and as a result, the A’s put Miller in the bullpen and made him the closer. It has been a great move as Miller owns a 2.12 ERA and a ridiculous 49.5 percent strikeout rate.

The right-hander has a triple-digit fastball and ranks in the 100th percentile in xERA, xBA, fastball velocity, strikeout rate, whiff rate, and much more. Plus, he has 12 saves in 13 save situations this season. He is the second-favorite for AL Rookie of the Year at +300.