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
1,903903Jacob Degrom
New York MetsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: DeLeon Springs, Florida
Bats: Left
2
1,946659Justin Verlander
Houston AstrosPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Manakin-Sabot, Virginia
Bats: Right
3
1,312670Gerrit Cole
New York YankeesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Birthplace: Newport Beach, California
Bats: Right
4
2,0901,254Max Scherzer
Washington NationalsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
Bats: Right-handed
5
2,3661,893Clayton Kershaw
Los Angeles DodgersPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Bats: Left-handed
6
1,119675Stephen Strasburg
Washington NationalsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
7
28394Blake Snell
Tampa Bay RaysPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: America
Bats: Left
8
1,081633Noah Syndergaard
New York MetsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Mansfield, Texas
Bats: Right
9
263113Aaron Nola
Philadelphia PhilliesPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Bats: Right
10
1,5741,449Chris Sale
Boston Red SoxPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Lakeland, Florida
Bats: Left
11
786517Aroldis Chapman
New York YankeesPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Holguín, Cuba
Bats: Left-handed
12
1,1221,006Corey Kluber
Texas RangersPosition: Starting Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Bats: Right
13
19658Josh Hader
Milwaukee BrewersPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Bats: Left
14
22389Trevor Bauer
Cincinnati RedsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Bats: Right
15
1,0761,150Zack Greinke
Houston AstrosPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida
Bats: Right-handed
16
347279Marcus Stroman
New York MetsPosition: Starting pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Medford, New York, USA
Bats: right-handed
17
1,2131,497Madison Bumgarner
Arizona DiamondbacksPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Hickory, North Carolina
Bats: Right-handed
18
497469Masahiro Tanaka
New York YankeesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Nationality: Japanese
Birthplace: Itami, Japan
Bats: Right-handed
19
462217Hyun-jin Ryu
Toronto Blue JaysPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: South Korea
Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea
Bats: Right-handed
20
683800Jon Lester
Chicago CubsPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington
Bats: Left-handed
21
492572Craig Kimbrel
Chicago CubsPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama
Bats: Right
22
612773Dallas Keuchel
Chicago White SoxPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Bats: Left
23
9151,283Jake Arrieta
Philadelphia PhilliesPosition: Pitcher
Birthplace: Farmington, Missouri, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
24
424560Cole Hamels
Atlanta BravesPosition: Starting Pitcher
Birthplace: San Diego, California
Bats: Left-handed
25
8769Zach Britton
New York YankeesPosition: Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
Bats: Left