Top 5 pitchers in baseball today?

[cgjackson222]

Who are the top 5 pitchers playing right now? I am talking about who will have the best overall career?

I think Verlander, Kershaw and Scherzer are probably a lock for top 3, but not sure after that. I am not sure which other current pitchers will get near to the level of those 3, if any.

If I had to choose two others, I'd go with Greinke and Cole, but there are some younger guys to consider such as Spencer Strider, Blake Snell, Shane McClanahan, Zac Gallen.

DeGrom would have been up there without the latest injury.

[jsfriedm]

I think if there's one thing I miss most about baseball today compared to the baseball I grew up with (1990s) it's that there isn't a single starting pitcher whose starts are an event that all of baseball really pays attention to. I remember it being a big deal when Gregg Maddux or Pedro Martinez was scheduled to start - it got national attention, and you would tune in just to watch them pitch. There isn't a single starter today that I would tune in just to watch them pitch.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Wainwright is probably up there but I would rate him below Greinke and Cole, especially with the awful year he is having, he should have retired. Bumgarner really fell off the table a few years ago.

[darkhorse9]

If we're being honest, baseball card collectors seem to have the worst record in predicting who will be great pitchers (see Brian Taylor, Todd Von Poppel etc al)

[4reals]

I agree with your 1-5; Verlander, Kershaw, Scherzer, Greinke, and Cole. I do feel like Kershaw has time to leapfrog Verlander depending on health. It does feel like those five are the last of a generation. Unfortunately, with the unhealthy focus on velocity, arms are getting abused. Seems like every pitcher has had TJ surgery, some even a second time! Ohtani was fun to watch, even if it seems it was short lived. Keep an eye on Buehler. If he can avoid any more setbacks and finish his career the way it started he will own every postseason pitching record in the book (wins, strikeouts, innings).


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[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 4reals

I agree with your 1-5; Verlander, Kershaw, Scherzer, Greinke, and Cole. I do feel like Kershaw has time to leapfrog Verlander depending on health. It does feel like those five are the last of a generation. Unfortunately, with the unhealthy focus on velocity, arms are getting abused. Seems like every pitcher has had TJ surgery, some even a second time! Ohtani was fun to watch, even if it seems it was short lived. Keep an eye on Buehler. If he can avoid any more setbacks and finish his career the way it started he will own every postseason pitching record in the book (wins, strikeouts, innings).


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What am I missing, he has three postseason wins at age 29.

[4reals]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What am I missing, he has three postseason wins at age 29.

He’s on his way, lol…


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[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 4reals

He’s on his way, lol…


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Pettite had 19 and Verlander has 16 lol.

[4reals]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Pettite had 19 and Verlander has 16 lol.

So you’re saying there’s a chance!


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[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 4reals

So you’re saying there’s a chance!


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The way Dave Roberts uses pitchers in the playoffs.... not much.

[CW]

I don't follow modern baseball much at all, but what about Jacob deGrom? Or is he more of a top 10 pitcher, not so much top 5?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by CW

I don't follow modern baseball much at all, but what about Jacob deGrom? Or is he more of a top 10 pitcher, not so much top 5?

As Charles mentioned, his latest major injury at his age and the career projections based on that takes him out of the top 5. I guess he's still top 10 based on past performance, which at times was other worldly. IMO no question the best pitcher in baseball over the past decade, when he managed to stay healthy which wasn't often enough. You just can't start as late as he did, and spend so much time on the DL, and expect to be a HOF pitcher.

[cgjackson222]

Verlander facing off vs. Scherzer tonight. Free game on MLB.TV

[CW]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

As Charles mentioned, his latest major injury at his age and the career projections based on that takes him out of the top 5. I guess he's still top 10 based on past performance, which at times was other worldly. IMO no question the best pitcher in baseball over the past decade, when he managed to stay healthy which wasn't often enough. You just can't start as late as he did, and spend so much time on the DL, and expect to be a HOF pitcher.

Ah, gotcha, thanks, Peter -- makes sense. I did a search for "degrom" before asking about him but somehow missed Charles' mention right in the first post.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

If we're being honest, baseball card collectors seem to have the worst record in predicting who will be great pitchers (see Brian Taylor, Todd Von Poppel etc al)

I think Stephen Strasburg had the most hype, but only had a couple of elite years. Won the 2019 World Series MVP though.