Top 10 MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: July 2024
Sportsgrid Staff
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1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
2024 Stats: 10-3, 2.41 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 3.5 fWAR over 116 innings pitched
Like Chris Sale, health was the primary concern for Tarik Skubal. After emerging as arguably baseball's best pitcher post-Fourth of July last year, he has continued that form into 2024. Skubal's 2.41 ERA ranks second among all starters, and he's among the top five in several key metrics, including BB/9 (1.63), WHIP (0.88), FIP (2.57), and fWAR (3.5).
The last Detroit Tigers pitcher to win the AL Cy Young was Max Scherzer in 2013. Unless hindered by an injury or an unexpected decision to entertain trade offers, Skubal could be in line to claim that honor this year.
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Top 10 MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: July 2024
Major League Baseball has reached the All-Star Break, often considered the season's halfway point, even though it occurs after more than 90 games of the 162-game schedule.
With this milestone, it's the ideal moment to update the pitcher power rankings. All 10 pitchers featured are All-Stars, and following the Midsummer Classic, they are poised to become front-runners for the Cy Young Award.
10. Reynaldo López, Atlanta Braves
2024 Stats: 7-3, 1.88 ERA, 3.06 FIP and 2.3 fWAR over 95 2/3 innings pitched
Functioning as a starting pitcher on a full-time basis for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Reynaldo López has emerged as one of baseball's top stories this year. In the first season of a three-year, $30 million contract, he leads all starting pitchers with a remarkable 1.88 ERA. While his 95 2/3 innings pitched is the fewest of anyone on the list, this season already marks his highest total since 2019. Observing how López manages the rest of the season will be intriguing.
Despite logging "only" 95 2/3 innings, López has still thrown nearly 30 more frames than NL All-Star starter Paul Skenes. While Skenes has the potential to join this list in the future, he hasn't yet pitched enough to surpass López and others.
9. Ranger Suárez, Philadelphia Phillies
2024 Stats: 10-4, 2.76 ERA, 3.04 FIP and 2.9 fWAR over 114 innings pitched
A month ago, Ranger Suárez appeared to be the likely choice to start the All-Star Game for the senior circuit. However, he will not participate in the game as he deals with back spasms and focuses on regaining form for a potential deep playoff run with the Phillies.
After achieving a 1.83 ERA in his first 16 starts of the season, Suárez has faced significant challenges in his last three outings, yielding 15 earned runs. While these recent performances don't completely negate his otherwise stellar season, it's evident that Suárez needs a respite at the All-Star Break to regroup and recover.
8. Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
2024 Stats: 6-5, 2.79 ERA, 3.38 FIP and 2.6 fWAR over 132 1/3 innings pitched
Logan Gilbert has been a workhorse for the Mariners, playing a significant role in Seattle's lead in the AL West at the break, despite the team sporting one of the weakest offenses in baseball. Among qualified starters, Gilbert ranks 10th with a 2.79 ERA, leads in WHIP at 0.87, and tops in innings pitched with 132 1/3. Only two other pitchers in baseball have surpassed the 120-innings mark so far.
7. Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 6-6, 3.16 ERA, 2.67 FIP and 3.4 fWAR over 116 2/3 innings pitched
While Aroldis Chapman did contribute to the Texas Rangers' World Series victory last year, the trade that sent Cole Ragans back to Kansas City appears to be a masterstroke by General Manager J.J. Picollo.
Ragans has made his first All-Star appearance and ranks in the top 10 among all pitchers in baseball in key metrics such as K/9 (10.88), HR/9 (0.62), FIP (2.67), and fWAR (3.4).
Since joining the Royals, the left-handed pitcher has maintained a 2.96 ERA over 188 1/3 innings pitched, equivalent to a full season's worth of starts. Remarkably, he remains under team control until after the 2028 season, positioning him as a cornerstone of Kansas City’s rotation for years to come. Adding to the intrigue, he isn’t even the highest-ranked Royal on this month’s list.
6. Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles
2024 Stats: 9-4, 2.43 ERA, 3.37 FIP and 2.6 fWAR over 118 2/3 innings pitched
Corbin Burnes has secured his fourth consecutive All-Star selection, this time representing the Orioles on the AL squad. His performance at the helm of Baltimore's rotation this year has been stellar. Among all starting pitchers, Burnes ranks sixth in innings pitched (118 2/3) and third in ERA (2.43). While he may not be striking out as many batters as during his 2021 NL Cy Young Award-winning season with the Milwaukee Brewers, he's on track to far exceed the 167 innings he pitched that year. In 2024, he's likely to surpass 190 innings for the third consecutive year, not counting potential postseason play.
It would certainly create positive momentum if new owner David Rubenstein were to invest in keeping Burnes in Baltimore beyond this season. However, heavy hitters like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are expected to pursue Burnes this upcoming offseason, potentially driving his price above $300 million.
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5. Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
2024 Stats: 11-4, 2.48 ERA, 3.31 FIP and 2.8 fWAR over 127 innings pitched
As mentioned earlier, Seth Lugo is second only to Gilbert in innings pitched, having logged 127 so far. Lugo, who inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Royals during this past offseason, has proven to be much more than just an innings eater.
At 34 years old, he leads the league in both batters faced (513) and ERA+ (174), and is tied with Baltimore’s Grayson Rodriguez as the only pitchers in the AL to achieve 11 wins this year.
Credit is due to Picollo for securing two All-Stars within six months, both of whom could propel the Royals to their first postseason appearance since 2015.
4. Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox
2024 Stats: 8-6, 2.54 ERA, 2.68 FIP and 3.4 fWAR over 117 innings pitched
Tanner Houck has transformed from recording a 5.01 ERA across 21 starts last season to becoming a first-time All-Star and a potential cornerstone for the Red Sox.
Among AL starters, Houck boasts the best HR/9 rate at 0.38, second only to the previously mentioned Sánchez in all of baseball. He also ranks fifth in ERA (2.54) and fWAR (3.4) among qualified pitchers.
Notably, Houck has already pitched a career-high 117 innings. With this in mind, there will be heightened attention on his performance in the latter part of the season, especially as the Red Sox hold the final Wild Card spot in the AL currently. Should a postseason series begin tomorrow, Houck would almost certainly be manager Alex Cora’s choice for Game 1 starter.
3. Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox
2024 Stats: 6-6, 3.02 ERA, 2.36 FIP and 3.9 fWAR over 107 1/3 innings pitched
Garrett Crochet has been frequently mentioned as a trade candidate, which has somewhat overshadowed his solid performance for a struggling White Sox team.
The former first-round pick leads AL starters with a 2.36 FIP, and his 150 strikeouts and 3.9 fWAR are both top marks in baseball. A potential trade to the NL and careful management of innings for the Tommy John surgery veteran might hinder his Cy Young Award prospects, but he would be a strong contender based on his first-half performance alone.
While there are questions about whether he might need to pitch from the bullpen later in the season due to an innings limit, Crochet is under team control through the 2026 season, making him a prime candidate for a trade this summer.
2. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
2024 Stats: 13-3, 2.70 ERA, 2.24 FIP and 3.7 fWAR over 110 innings pitched
Had he not pitched on the final day of the first half, Chris Sale might have started the All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career. However, he is healthy for the first time since 2019 and has reignited discussions about his potential Hall of Fame credentials with a dominant first half in Atlanta.
Now an eight-time All-Star, Sale leads all qualified starters in FIP (2.24) and wins (13), and he ranks second only to Crochet in strikeout-to-walk ratio (26.9%) and fWAR (3.7).
The main concern with Sale has always been his health. If he remains durable, he could not only win the NL Comeback Player of the Year but also the Cy Young Award, the notable absence in his career achievements. Additionally, his presence in the playoffs would pose a significant challenge for teams like the Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, which rely heavily on left-handed sluggers.
1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
2024 Stats: 10-3, 2.41 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 3.5 fWAR over 116 innings pitched
Like Chris Sale, health was the primary concern for Tarik Skubal. After emerging as arguably baseball's best pitcher post-Fourth of July last year, he has continued that form into 2024. Skubal's 2.41 ERA ranks second among all starters, and he's among the top five in several key metrics, including BB/9 (1.63), WHIP (0.88), FIP (2.57), and fWAR (3.5).
The last Detroit Tigers pitcher to win the AL Cy Young was Max Scherzer in 2013. Unless hindered by an injury or an unexpected decision to entertain trade offers, Skubal could be in line to claim that honor this year.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Top 10 MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: July 2024
Major League Baseball has reached the All-Star Break, often considered the season's halfway point, even though it occurs after more than 90 games of the 162-game schedule.
With this milestone, it's the ideal moment to update the pitcher power rankings. All 10 pitchers featured are All-Stars, and following the Midsummer Classic, they are poised to become front-runners for the Cy Young Award.
