With the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season, the debate around who is the best starting pitcher (SP) in Major League Baseball (MLB) is heating up. The competition for this title is fierce, as there are a number of talented pitchers in the league. While there is no definitive answer to this question, there are a few SPs who are widely considered to be among the best in the game. In this article, we will take a look at some of the top contenders for the best SP in MLB.
The Candidates
Jacob deGrom
Jacob deGrom is a right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets. He has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league since he made his debut in 2014. He has a career ERA of 2.62, which is the lowest among active pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched. He has also been awarded the National League Cy Young Award in 2018 and 2019, making him the first Mets pitcher to win the award in back-to-back years.
Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole is a right-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees. He is one of the most sought-after pitchers in the league, and he has lived up to his reputation since joining the Yankees. In 2019, he posted a 2.50 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP, which were both career-highs. He also led the league in strikeouts with 326, the most by any pitcher since 2002.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He is one of the most consistent pitchers in the league, and he has been an All-Star in each of the past seven seasons. He has won three Cy Young Awards and was the World Series MVP in 2019. He has a career ERA of 3.21 and has recorded 2,868 strikeouts, which is the second-most among active pitchers.
Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is a right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros. He has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league since he made his debut in 2005. He has won two Cy Young Awards and was the American League MVP in 2011. He also holds several MLB records, including the most strikeouts in a single season with 290 in 2019.
Comparing Their Numbers
Strikeouts
When it comes to strikeouts, Gerrit Cole leads the way with 326 strikeouts in 2019. He is followed by Max Scherzer (300), Justin Verlander (290), and Jacob deGrom (255). All four pitchers have an impressive strikeout rate, but Cole stands out as the leader in this category.
ERA
When it comes to ERA, Jacob deGrom has the lowest among the four pitchers with a 2.62 ERA. He is followed by Gerrit Cole (2.50), Justin Verlander (2.90), and Max Scherzer (3.21). DeGrom has consistently been one of the best in the league when it comes to ERA, and his 2.62 mark is the lowest among active pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched.
WHIP
Gerrit Cole has the best WHIP among the four pitchers with a 0.89 mark. He is followed by Jacob deGrom (0.99), Max Scherzer (1.03), and Justin Verlander (1.05). Cole has been dominant when it comes to limiting baserunners, and his 0.89 WHIP is the lowest among active pitchers with at least 500 innings pitched.
Conclusion
When it comes to determining who is the best SP in MLB, it is hard to definitively answer this question. All four of the pitchers discussed in this article have impressive numbers and have been successful in the league. However, Gerrit Cole stands out as the leader in terms of strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP. He has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league since joining the Yankees, and he appears to be the best SP in MLB.