There are a lot of talented starters in the Majors right now. From strikeout aficionados like Spencer Strider and Aaron Nola to control artists like George Kirby and Zac Gallen, it’s not easy to make a list of the best starting pitchers in MLB heading into 2024. But, we’re certainly going to try. Here are our picks for the ten best starters in the league right now, rated from 10-1.
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10. Aaron Nola
We start with Aaron Nola, who’s now a Phillie for the long haul after he signed a seven-year extension this offseason. Nola will make his mistakes but the right’s got some of the best swing-and-miss stuff in the game, highlighted by an elite knuckle-curve and a very good changeup that plays off his four-seamer.
That stuff has turned Nola into one of the game’s best strikeout pitchers. Only five pitchers over the last two seasons have more strikeouts than the 30-year-old, who’s struck out over 200 batters in each of the last three years.
9. Kevin Gausman
Yet again, Kevin Gausman was an elite pitcher in 2023. The Jays needed him to excel last season and he did, as Gausman finished second in the league in strikeouts (237) and third in FIP (2.97). From 2022-23, Gausman has 442 strikeouts, fourth-most in the game.
Gausman is arguably the best splitter in all of Major League Baseball. It’s a true plus-plus pitch that both runs away from left-handed hitters hard and drops down. That pitch has turned Gausman into one of the game’s premier right-handed hurlers.
8. Luis Castillo
Aside from what was a rough end to 2023, Luis Castillo excelled in his first full season with the Mariners. The 31-year-old struck out 219 batters over 197 innings and showed very good command to go along with his stuff. Castillo can dice up hitters with his four-seamer and sinker, both of which pair well with his slider and changeup.
The Mariners ace — who has the fifth-most whiffs since 2021 — has changed how he’s approached hitters in recent years: Castillo’s ground-ball rate dropped as he’s used the four-seamer more. But when Castillo’s throwing from a deceptive arm slot and throwing 95-98, it’s not hard to see why he’s got a Whiff% north of 30% off his four-seamer.
7. Zac Gallen
Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen set a career-high in strikeouts (220) last season and posted the eighth-best BB/9 (2.01) rate in the game. It was, from an overall sense, a fine year for Gallen, who pitched in the MLB Postseason for the first time in 2023 and logged 33.2 IP for the National League champions.
However, Gallen proved to be more hittable than in the past. Hence, why Gallen gave up more earned runs (41) in 91.2 IP during the second half than he did over 118.1 IP (40). On the other hand, Gallen’s plus curveball, along with his cutter, changeup, and fastball have served the 28-year-old well in his career.
6. Spencer Strider
There’s a reason why Spencer Strider has more strikeouts (483) than any pitcher in baseball over the last two years. Strider has a plus-plus fastball that sits at around 100 MPH and plays up thanks to extension, as well as a devastating slider. The Braves flamethrower also has a good changeup but won’t break it out until it’s needed.
Strider will make mistakes from time to time. But, there are very few in the game whose stuff compares to the 25-year-old.
5. Shohei Ohtani
Aside from what Shohei Ohtani can do at the plate, the new Dodger’s been an elite pitcher when healthy. Ohtani tied Luis Castillo for the 12th-most strikeouts (386) over the last two seasons, in which he posted a 2.69 ERA and 3.11 FIP. A lot of his success can be attributed to his electric sweeper, a pitch that’s taken over the game in recent years.
Unfortunately for Dodgers fans, Ohtani won’t be on the mound in 2023 thanks to Tommy John surgery. But when Ohtani is set to pitch again, he’ll join a loaded Dodgers rotation that now includes Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
4. Zack Wheeler
Since the Phillies signed Zack Wheeler in the winter of 2019, the Philadelphia right-hander has been one of the game’s best. Wheeler’s posted excellent numbers over the last three years, including in 2021 when he led the National League in strikeouts (274). And over the last two seasons, Wheeler is in the top five in both SIERA (3.39) and fWAR (10.1).
Wheeler’s excellence has not been limited to the regular season. The veteran starter has 68 strikeouts opposite 10 walks over 63.1 postseason innings, along with a stellar 2.42 ERA.
3. Jacob deGrom
When healthy, no pitcher in the game has been more captivating than Jacob deGrom. However, health has been the real problem for the Rangers hurler. deGrom missed significant time in 2021 and 2022, and succumbed to Tommy John surgery for the second time last spring. With the Rangers, deGrom struck out 45 and walked just four over 30.1 IP.
It’ll be interesting to see how Jacob deGrom returns from a second Tommy John surgery. History has yielded mixed results, although deGrom has proved for years that he can be an anomaly.
2. Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes has been one of the game’s most valuable pitchers over the last two years. Burnes recorded the third-most strikeouts (443) from 2022-23 and the fifth-best WHIP (1.02) in that span among pitchers with at least 40 starts. Much of his success can be attributed to Burnes’ hard cutter, which is arguably the best cut fastball in the game right now.
The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner has pitched like a true ace over the last four seasons. And, he’ll get the opportunity to be paid like one provided he enters free agency after the 2024 campaign.
1. Gerrit Cole
One can’t have a conversation about the best MLB starting pitchers heading into 2024 without the 2023 AL Cy Young winner. Gerrit Cole notched his first career Cy Young after what was a dominant campaign for a Yankees team that needed him to perform. Cole struck out 222 batters over 209 frames and led all MLB pitchers in bWAR (7.4).
The Yankees ace has a power arsenal that has helped frustrate hitters for years. He’ll look to do the same in 2024.