List RulesOnly active pitchers. No minor leaguers or recently retired players
Who are the best current MLB pitchers? Who's the most dominant pitcher of the entire season? That remains to be seen, but for now, these pitchers are among the best. They are also among the best current baseball players. Vote for the current MLB pitchers you believe are the best, vote down any who aren't performing well and feel free to add new potential breakout stars, too. You can also re-rank this list in any order you choose.
Any list of the best current MLB pitchers should include one of the highest paid pitchers in the MLB, Justin Verlander. Other great starters on the list include Clayton Kershaw (one of the best left-handed pitchers), Zack Greinke, and the Phillies' Jake Arrietta. But this list is not limited to the best starting pitchers. Closers like Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, and Trevor Rosenthal deserve as much credit to their teams’s success as anyone on the starting rotation.
That's what this list is about: The MLB pitchers that you think are worth the big bucks, because they are, quite simply, the best. Will any of the current good MLB pitchers on this list ultimately wind up on a list of the greatest baseball players of all time? For now, cast your votes for who you think are the best pitchers in baseball right now.
1
1,907903Jacob Degrom
New York MetsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: DeLeon Springs, Florida
Bats: Left
2
1,946662Justin Verlander
Houston AstrosPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Bats: Right
3
1,312672Gerrit Cole
New York YankeesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Birthplace: Newport Beach, California
Bats: Right
4
2,0901,257Max Scherzer
Washington NationalsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Bats: Right-handed
5
2,3661,896Clayton Kershaw
Los Angeles DodgersPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Bats: Left-handed
6
1,119676Stephen Strasburg
Washington NationalsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
7
28396Blake Snell
Tampa Bay RaysPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: America
Bats: Left
8
1,083633Noah Syndergaard
New York MetsPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Mansfield, Texas
Bats: Right
9
1,5741,450Chris Sale
Boston Red SoxPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Lakeland, Florida
Bats: Left
10
786519Aroldis Chapman
New York YankeesPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Holguín, Cuba
Bats: Left-handed
11
263115Aaron Nola
Philadelphia PhilliesPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Bats: Right
12
22489Trevor Bauer
Cincinnati RedsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Bats: Right
13
1,1221,007Corey Kluber
Texas RangersPosition: Starting Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Bats: Right
14
19660Josh Hader
Milwaukee BrewersPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Bats: Left
15
1,0761,151Zack Greinke
Houston AstrosPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida
Bats: Right-handed
16
348279Marcus Stroman
New York MetsPosition: Starting pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Medford, New York, USA
Bats: right-handed
17
1,2131,498Madison Bumgarner
Arizona DiamondbacksPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Hickory, North Carolina
Bats: Right-handed
18
497470Masahiro Tanaka
New York YankeesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Nationality: Japanese
Birthplace: Itami, Japan
Bats: Right-handed
19
463217Hyun-jin Ryu
Toronto Blue JaysPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: South Korea
Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea
Bats: Right-handed
20
683802Jon Lester
Chicago CubsPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington
Bats: Left-handed
21
492574Craig Kimbrel
Chicago CubsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama
Bats: Right
22
612775Dallas Keuchel
Chicago White SoxPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Bats: Left
23
9151,284Jake Arrieta
Philadelphia PhilliesPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Farmington, Missouri, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
24
424562Cole Hamels
Atlanta BravesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Birthplace: San Diego, California
Bats: Left-handed
25
8770Zach Britton
New York YankeesPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
Bats: Left