At the beginning of the season we ranked what we thought would be the 10 best pitchers in each league. Now that the season is three-fourths done, let’s see how we did.
Below are the current 10 best starting pitchers in the American League based on a number of different categories, including wins, ERA, strikeouts, and walks, with statistics through Monday. Below each is who we projected to be there way back in April.
10. Scott Diamond: Minnesota Twins; 2012 Pitching stats: 10-5 record, 2.95 ERA, 128 innings, 4.9 strikeouts/nine innings, 1.3 walks/nine innings, 1.20 walks/hits per inning—Diamond, a 26-year-old in his second season in the big leagues, is quietly sixth in ERA while leading the league in fewest walks per nine innings. Just last season he put up a 5.56 ERA in AAA Rochester though, so how long he keeps it up is anyone’s guess.
We had: Ricky Romero who is struggling to the tune of an 8-10 record with a 5.53 ERA while walking a career-worst 4.8 batters per nine innings.
9. Matt Harrison: Texas Rangers; 2012 Pitching stats: 14-7 record, 3.19 ERA, 161 innings, 5.4 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.6 walks/nine innings, 1.26 walks/hits per inning—Harrison, who was obtained by the Rangers along with Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia as part of that now-famed deal for Mark Teixeira in 2007, is having his best year as a pro. The 26-year-old made his first All-Star team this year and already has achieved a career high in wins.
We had: Josh Beckett who has reverted from last season and is putting up a 5.23 ERA with a 5-11 record through 21 starts.
8. C.C. Sabathia: New York Yankees; 2012 Pitching stats: 12-3 record, 3.56 ERA, 141.7 innings, 8.9 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.2 walks/nine innings, 1.21 walks/hits per inning—Since his inception into the big leagues as a 19-year-old back in 2000 with Cleveland, Sabathia has only once failed to start at least 30 games in a season (28 in 2006). Now in his second DL stint of the year, and just 20 starts under his belt, the big lefty will come up short this year though he’s still currently sixth in wins.
We had: Dan Haren who after posting ERAs below 4.00 for each of the past five seasons has a 4.90 ERA (worst since he was a rookie in 2003) along with an 8-10 record.
7. Jake Peavy: Chicago White Sox; 2012 Pitching stats: 9-9 record, 3.11 ERA, 168 innings, 8.0 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.0 walks/nine innings, 1.08 walks/hits per inning—The former NL Cy Young Award winner (back in 2007) is easily having his best season in Chicago since coming over in 2009. The 31-year-old Peavy ranks eighth in wins, fourth in innings pitched and first in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.054.
We had: Jered Weaver. See below at No. 4.
6. Hiroki Kuroda: New York Yankees; 2012 Pitching stats: 12-8 record, 2.96 ERA, 167 innings, 6.7 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.0 walks/nine innings, 1.12 walks/hits per inning—Kuroda has been quite the signing for the Yankees. Forgotten in the aftermath of the Montero-for-Pineda trade, the 37-year-old from Japan has done very well in the shift from the National League. He’s just one win away from his career-best in victories and has never posted an ERA below 3.00 for a full season.
We had: David Price. See below at No. 2.
5. Chris Sale: Chicago White Sox; 2012 Pitching stats: 14-4 record, 2.72 ERA, 145.3 innings, 8.5 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.2 walks/nine innings, 1.06 walks/hits per inning—Sale, just 23 years old, was converted into a starting pitcher just this season and has obviously flourished. The 13th overall pick of the 2010 MLB Draft made just 11 minor league appearances that same year before being called up and hasn’t been down since.
We had: Jon Lester, who is yet another Red Sox starter that is having an off-season with a career-worst 5.03 ERA through 25 starts.
4. Jered Weaver: Los Angeles Angels; 2012 Pitching stats: 15-3 record, 2.74 ERA, 141 innings, 6.9 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.0 walks/nine innings, 0.97 walks/hits per inning—Weaver, who has finished in the top-five in Cy Young voting each of the past two seasons, currently leads the league in fewest hits per innings pitched with 6.7 as well as winning percentage (83%). He’s won at least 11 games every season in the big leagues and is on pace for his fourth straight sub-4.00 ERA season.
We had: Felix Hernandez. See below at No. 3.
3. Felix Hernandez: Seattle Mariners; 2012 Pitching stats: 11-5 record, 2.60 ERA, 180 innings, 8.7 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.2 walks/nine innings, 1.04 walks/hits per inning—Hernandez, who pitched baseball’s just 23rd perfect game in its history, now leads the league in shutouts with four. The 26-year-old had just four total in his previous seven seasons prior to 2012.
We had: Mariano Rivera whose successful season (2.16 ERA, 5 saves) ended in May with a leg injury.
2 David Price: Tampa Bay Rays; 2012 Pitching stats: 16-4 record, 2.39 ERA, 162 innings, 8.8 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.9 walks/nine innings, 1.11 walks/hits per inning—Price, the first overall pick of the 2007 MLB Draft, currently leads the league in wins and ERA while on pace to set career-highs in both categories. The three-time All-Star Price, who'll turn 27 on Sunday, is in the top-10 in innings, strikeouts per inning, and walks/hits per inning.
We had: C.C. Sabathia.
1 Justin Verlander: Detroit Tigers; 2012 Pitching stats: 12-7 record, 2.53 ERA, 181.7 innings, 8.9 strikeouts/nine innings, 2.2 walks/nine innings, 1.01 walks/hits per inning—Verlander may be lagging in wins a bit, but that’s about the only category he’s behind in. While he’s currently second in ERA he leads the league in innings pitched, strikeouts (180), and complete games (6).
We had: Verlander, the reigning Cy Young and MVP Award winner.
