Who Were the National League’s Top 4 Pitchers in June?
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Just Missed the Podium: Justin Steele, CHC
June stats: 0-1 (6 GS), 2.13 ERA, 38.0 IP, 39 K, 9 BB, 1.1 fWAR
The Chicago Cubs have been struggling recently, yet it appears Justin Steele didn't get the memo. After a challenging start to the season, the left-hander has rebounded, pitching like a Cy Young candidate with a 1.80 ERA over his last seven starts.
Regrettably for Steele, his standout performance of the season occurred at the end of May, which means his June statistics aren't quite as striking. However, he still excelled during the month, ranking second among NL starters with 38.0 innings pitched, fifth in ERA, fourth in FIP, and fourth in FanGraphs WAR.
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Who Were the National League's Top 4 Pitchers in June?
Multiple pitchers made their mark in the National League during June. Which four pitchers stood out the most?
Gold Medal Pitcher of the Month: Cristopher Sánchez, PHI
June stats: 3-0 (5 GS), 1.64 ERA, 33.0 IP, 23 K, 4 BB, 1.2 fWAR
Where did Cristopher Sánchez emerge from? That question was raised last year when he transitioned from a relatively unknown depth arm to a solid mid-rotation starter. Now, the question arises again as, halfway through the 2024 season, Sánchez is performing like a top-of-the-rotation ace.
In June, the left-hander was exceptionally dominant, pitching 33 innings over five starts and leading the NL in Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). He ranked second among qualified pitchers with the lowest ERA and was also among the leaders in fewest walks allowed per nine innings. Remarkably, Sánchez was the only qualified pitcher who did not surrender a home run during the month.
With a 1.64 ERA, 2.13 FIP, and 1.2 fWAR in June, Sánchez now stands second among qualified NL pitchers for the season in ERA (2.41) and FIP (2.38), and leads the Senior Circuit with 3.0 fWAR.
His latest performance on June 28 against the Marlins marked the best start of his career, and arguably the most dominant outing by any MLB pitcher in June. Sánchez completed a shutout with just 103 pitches, striking out nine and not issuing a single walk. The Marlins were limited to just three hits throughout the game.
Silver Medal Pitcher of the Month: Tobias Myers, MIL
June stats: 4-0 (5 GS), 1.44 ERA, 31.1 IP, 24 K, 8 BB, 0.7 fWAR
It's often said that every day brings a new lesson, and today, the name Tobias Myers might be that new piece of knowledge.
After spending eight years in the minors across six different organizations, Myers finally made his MLB debut in 2024. In need of pitching, the Milwaukee Brewers promoted him at the end of April. Despite a challenging start that included three stints being optioned back to Triple-A, Myers found his rhythm in June.
In five appearances—four of which were quality starts—Myers allowed only five earned runs, pitching at least five innings in each game. His ERA of 1.44 in June was the lowest among qualified NL starters, and he was one of only two NL starters to win at least four decisions without a loss.
While the underlying statistics suggest that Myers might not sustain this performance, his 3.32 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) and 4.01 expected Fielding Independent Pitching (xFIP) are still commendable, particularly for a pitcher who reached the majors primarily because the team had exhausted other options.
Although injuries to other starters precipitated Myers' opportunity, he has seized it and excelled.
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Bronze Medal Pitcher of the Month: Paul Skenes, PIT
June stats: 2-0 (5 GS), 1.78 ERA, 30.1 IP, 40 K, 5 BB, 0.9 fWAR
The NL Rookie of the Year race was highly competitive at the season's start. Paul Skenes might have been in the mix from the outset, but the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to start him in the minors. Although it was inevitable that Skenes would make his debut, the delay and stiff competition initially seemed to diminish his chances for the Rookie of the Year award.
Three months later, Skenes has emerged as the frontrunner for the league's top rookie honor. He didn't make his debut until May 11, but the 22-year-old has been outstanding in his first nine career starts, particularly shining in June with a 1.78 ERA and 2.73 FIP over five games.
While Sánchez and Myers might have outperformed Skenes for the Gold and Silver Medals, no one displayed better pure skills in June than Pittsburgh’s rookie sensation. He achieved the third-highest strikeout rate and the eighth-lowest walk rate among qualified NL pitchers, and impressively stranded 98.6% of the runners he allowed on base.
Just Missed the Podium: Justin Steele, CHC
June stats: 0-1 (6 GS), 2.13 ERA, 38.0 IP, 39 K, 9 BB, 1.1 fWAR
The Chicago Cubs have been struggling recently, yet it appears Justin Steele didn't get the memo. After a challenging start to the season, the left-hander has rebounded, pitching like a Cy Young candidate with a 1.80 ERA over his last seven starts.
Regrettably for Steele, his standout performance of the season occurred at the end of May, which means his June statistics aren't quite as striking. However, he still excelled during the month, ranking second among NL starters with 38.0 innings pitched, fifth in ERA, fourth in FIP, and fourth in FanGraphs WAR.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Who Were the National League's Top 4 Pitchers in June?
Multiple pitchers made their mark in the National League during June. Which four pitchers stood out the most?
