The Never Weres

Well everyone we did it! We made it 15% of the way through the 2024 MLB season, a feat I didn’t think was real in March. Pitchers have been dealing early and have been bitten by a very unfortunate injury bug that has claimed the arms of noted superstars: Spencer Strider, Shane Beiber, Shohei Ohtani (Pitcher version), Sandy Alcantara, Shane McClanahan, Felix Bautista, Gerrit Cole, Jacob deGrom and Framber Valdez. 

WHO IS LEFT???? Recently on the podcast, Tom asked me who I am watching and I got to thinking about the guys who have been dominating the early season and have been can’t miss on the stathead streamfinder. So here is my 15% (You stop it) of the way through Starting Pitcher power rankings

Honorable Mention: Spencer Turnbull, Tarik Skubal, Ronel Blanco, Corbin Burnes

10. Cole Ragans – If not for a brutal start against the relentless Orioles he would be top three…EASY. Absolutely dealing with 11.9 K/9. 7 earned in 1.2IP against the O’s will torpedo his ERA for the time being but he is the next big thing. Big ol’ fastball and a curve that reminds me of Clayton Kershaw in his prime. Don’t sleep on this lefty or the Royals

9. Reynaldo López – The only reason he is not higher on this list is because he has only started 3 games. 18 innings pitched, 18 strikeouts, 17 baserunners allowed, 1 run allowed. If he had more starts to qualify he would be leading the league in ERA+ (861)…BY A LOT. It’s early and he only has 18IP in the books but the former White Sox prospect turned reliever is looking like a damn fine stand-in for Spencer Strider.

8. Tyler Anderson – Who had the Angels having a couple of dominant starters to try and fill the Shohei Ohtani-sized hole and doing quite nicely?…not me. The 34-year-old is on pace to post his best year since his all-star campaign in 2022. P-slashing an impressive 1.42/0.947/5.0 – While he is striking out fewer batters which leads to a sky-high FIP (4.71) he is keeping runners from reaching or scoring in other ways probably why his ERA+ sits at a balmy 287.

7. Ranger Suárez – The one-time reliever has looked to finally find his footing as a starter. After a tough first start, he hasn’t allowed more than 2 runs in his last three outings…Zero in his last two 👀. There have only been 3 complete game shutouts this season so far and he has one of them. Also striking out batters at a good clip with a 9.3 K/9. A good start to a season that sees the Phillies looking to stake their claim in a hotly contested NL East. 

 6. Tanner Houck – Houck and his pals in the rotation for the Red Sox have been very impressive early with Houck emerging as the clear-cut number…2(more on that later). Houck is among the leaders in FIP(2.04), and posting a ridiculous 14.00 K/BB ratio. Let’s say that again, Tanner Houck is striking out 14 batters for every one he walks. Amazing control and some serious swing-and-miss stuff.  He also has recorded a rare “Maddux” which is a complete game shutout in under a hundred pitches. 

 5. Reid Detmers – The second half of the two-headed Ohtani replacement monster…but better? The 24-year-old is near the top of the league in nearly every category and p-slashing 1.19/0.971/11.9. Showing more power pitching than his teammate Anderson, Detmers is currently leading Major League Baseball in FIP(1.62) and hasn’t allowed a homer all year. Is this the young arm that can finally carry Mike Trout to his second playoff appearance? Early struggles in Houston may have them in the mix, especially if Detmers and Anderson can keep it up 

 4. Freddy Peralta – Corbin who? Just kidding Burnes is barely off this list, it’s probably irresponsible that he’s not on this list. But as for his former teammate Freddy Peralta is one of the best in the game and it’s clear Milwaukee still has an ace. Peralta has the most impressive P-slash of all the pitchers mentioned with 1.90/0.761/12.5 😮. All while leading the NL in FIP (2.28) as huge a hole as it left when Burnes departed for Baltimore Peralta is doing all he can and more to fill it.

 3. José Berríos – We are currently in ‘Are you sure?’ territory. Some people will hear this name and think, has he been that good? Let’s see, in his AL-leading 31.2IP he has allowed only 3 runs. Berrios also leads the majors in adjusted pitching runs(11), adjusted pitching wins(1.3) and is tied for third in WAR. Finally, the guy the Blue Jays thought he was when they gave him a big old bag of money. 

 2. Kutter Crawford – What is Andrew Bailey doing? Whatever it is, he and his run prevention unit have clearly figured something out in the early going. The emerging superstar of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford, is currently leading the majors in well, almost everything that matters as a pitcher. For starters, he has the highest WAR of any player in the league not named Mookie. He leads the majors in ERA at 0.66…That’s 2 runs…in 27.1IP. While billed as a contact pitcher he’s striking out 10 batters a game and can’t miss television. Needs to keep the free passes down, but early on he’s been a stud.

 1. Tyler Glasnow – The guy who may have been lost in the offseason shuffle for the Dodgers is straight-up dealing to start the year. A major league-leading 4 wins with a 2.92 ERA also leading the league with 44 strikeouts. He also recently added an IFTA to his trophy case after picking up the Irish Academy Award for Best Actor…I confused them again. But in all seriousness, While others may have better-advanced numbers early on, Glasnow is the number-one starter on a preseason World Series favorite and is the guy I would pick if I had to win a game. Now, can he stay healthy? 

Photo from @DodgerBlue1958