2025 MLB Power Rankings: Ranking the 10 Best Starting Pitchers

Dylan Cease started the spring of 2024 with the White Sox. He was quickly shipped out to San Diego as part of a major deal, one that gave the Padres another powerful starter. Cease did his part last season, as the 29-year-old struck out 224 batters — tied for third in the Majors — over 189 frames. He sported a lower ERA (3.47), compared to 2023 (4.58).

Cease’s 2024 numbers were rather interesting. While the righty gave up more quality contact in 2024, Cease conceded more hard-hit contact. But on the other hand, Cease cut the walks down, pivotal given his troubles in 2023.

No pitchers in baseball had as many whiffs out of the zone over the last three seasons as Cease (551). The Padres hurler boasts a power slider, along with a carrying fastball that sits in the mid-90s. Cease broke out a sweeper, as well, for the first time in 2024.

9. Logan Webb

Giants right-hander Logan Webb has been nothing more than a strong innings-eater since the start of 2022. Webb threw the second-most innings (761.1) between 2021-24, behind only Aaron Nola. The 28-year-old had another strong season in 2024, as he threw 204.2 IP for the Giants and continued to be one of the best control pitchers in baseball.

Webb has one of the better true sinkers in baseball, one with 6’3” more vertical sink than the league average. That, coupled with the changeup, helps Webb net a ton of ground-balls. His 57.2% GB% was in the 95th percentile of the league per Statcast.

A 2024 NL All-Star, Webb recorded a 2.99 FIP between 2021-24. Among pitchers with 400+ innings thrown in that span, Webb was second in that category.

8. Chris Sale

Braves ace Chris Sale joined Atlanta in December 2023 in what could be considered the best “buy-low” move of that offseason. Sale, who hadn’t thrown 120+ innings in a year from 2020-23, threw 177.2 IP in 2024 and was sensational. The 35-year-old struck out 225 batters, three shy of the league high in 2024.

That performance helped Sale win one of the only accolades he hadn’t received before 2024: a Cy Young Award. Sale won his first Cy Young in a season that saw him net the triple crown for pitching in the National League.

Between his power fastball, left-to-right slider, and trippy delivery, Sale’s been a force for over a decade. The only issue Sale’s had throughout his career is injuries, hence why the 34-year-old isn’t higher up on this list.

7. Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom missed most of the Rangers’ 2023 and 2024 campaigns thanks to Tommy John surgery recovery. He returned late in the 2024 campaign and, to little shock, was impressive. deGrom struck out 13 over 10.2 IP, in what were three heavily-controlled starts by Texas.

The end of 2024 gave deGrom the chance to give him a normal offseason, something deGrom didn’t have in 2023.

Like with Sale, deGrom would be higher up on this list had the Rangers’ ace been fully healthy over the bulk of the last four seasons. The good news for the Rangers is that deGrom’s velocity was fine when he returned, sitting in the 96-98 MPH with life upon his return.

6. Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole won his first Cy Young Award in 2023 after leading the AL in ERA (2.63), WHIP (0.98), and innings pitched (209). Cole, though, didn’t have much of a chance to repeat in 2024. The Yankees’ ace was shut down in March with elbow discomfort and missed the first two and a half months. Because of that, Cole only threw 95 frames in 2024.

Cole changed how he attacked hitters in 2024, increasing the usage of his cutter and decreasing the use of the slider. The 34-year-old didn’t miss as many bats compared to 2022 or 2023 but was still effective. And, that remained true in the postseason, especially in the World Series (don’t blame Game 5 on him).

Over the last four seasons, Cole recorded the sixth-most strikeouts (821).

5. Blake Snell

Blake Snell won the 2023 NL Cy Young Award despite leading the Majors in walks. Snell struck out 235 batters over 180 frames in his final season with San Diego but had trouble finding a home two winters ago. He landed with the Giants in mid-March 2024 and after a late start, Snell was one of the best pitchers over the second half. The two-time Cy Young winner parlayed that success into a multi-year deal with the Dodgers.

Snell is known for being methodical when it comes to baiting hitters to chase. Among all pitchers in MLB from 2023-24, Snell was third in total whiffs out of the zone (498), behind only Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. And when adjusted by pitch percentage and number of pitchers thrown, no hurler comes close to Snell in that category.

The 32-year-old boasts a power fastball with plus ride, along with a sharp curveball, changeup, and slider. Yes, walks will always be a part of his game. But with Snell, he very rarely makes a mistake in the zone.

4. Corbin Burnes

The Orioles completed a blockbuster trade in February 2024 to acquire Corbin Burnes. The move allowed Baltimore to land a true #1. While the O’s didn’t win a playoff series with Burnes, the 30-year-old did his job despite a tough August. Burnes struck out 181 over 194 frames and was spectacular in the postseason, as he gave up one earned run over eight innings.

Burnes is one of the unicorns in Major League Baseball. The new ace in Arizona has a rising cutter, which, coupled with the velocity, leads to a lot of whiffs. But that’s not Burnes’ only weapon. Between the curve, sinker, slider, and change, Burnes has plenty of weapons to get hitters out.

Burnes signed with Arizona on a massive six-year deal that will take on heightened importance after 2025. Zac Gallen, one of the best starters — albeit one who just missed this list — over the last four seasons, is eligible for free agency.

3. Zack Wheeler

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, yet again, was one of the game’s top starters in 2024. Wheeler struck out 224 batters over 200 frames, had a .96 WHIP, and won a career-high 16 games for Philadelphia in 2024. Wheeler struck out 200+ batters in three of the last four seasons and has been a key reason why the Phillies have had success over the last three years.

Wheeler has undergone a significant transformation over the years. The 34-year-old lowered his arm slot from 38° in 2020 to 25° in 2024, tightened his two-seamer to give it more sink, and has numerous offerings to beat hitters.

It’s incredible to think Zack Wheeler’s yet to win a Cy Young Award. No pitcher from 2021-24 had a higher cumulative bWAR (22.6) and it wasn’t particularly close. Logan Webb, who was second in that span, was at 17.9.

2. Paul Skenes

Last spring, Paul Skenes was pushing for a roster spot on the Pirates. By the end of the season, Skenes won the NL Rookie of the Year and soared up the player rankings. The 22-year-old ace of the Pirates posted a 1.96 ERA and struck out 170 batters over 133 frames. That number of strikeouts was third-most in the Majors from Skenes’ debut, onward.

Skenes gained immediate notoriety at LSU for his triple-digit fastball and elite sweeper. However, Skenes began working on a “splinker” after turning pro, a hybrid grip between a sinker and splitter. His sinker (as categorized by Statcast) netted a Whiff% rate near 30% last season, giving Skenes another change-of-pace option.

Even though Paul Skenes had an incredibly loud rookie season — and may very well be the #1 starter by the end of 2025 — the top spot goes to the individual who led baseball in Wins Above Replacement last year.

1. Tarik Skubal

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal came back with a vengeance in the summer of 2023, as he struck out 102 batters over 80 frames and looked better compared to 2022. Skubal came into 2024 as one of the Cy Young favorites and finished the year winning the award, as he completed the AL pitching triple crown.

The left-hander boasts a plus-plus changeup that plays perfectly off both his sinker and four-seamer. Skubal regularly sits in the 96-98 MPH range but can gas it up to 100 MPH when necessary. His ability to trip hitters up with movement and velocity led to a K% above 30% in 2024, as well as a sub-5% BB%.

The 28-year-old won 18 games for the Tigers in the regular season and had he not conceded a grand slam in Game 5 of the 2024 ALDS, could have dragged the Tigers to the ALCS. Expectations are high for Skubal in 2025.