MLB 2024 Preview: Top Five Pitchers This Season

The baseball season is almost upon us! With teams preparing to battle it out for the championship ring, pitching skills take center stage. Veteran aces will be seen vying for dominance against rising stars, creating an intriguing narrative throughout the season. With so many top-tier arms, the question remains – who will reign supreme among these hurlers? 

A strong pitching rotation is one of the key aspects of any championship run. With a multitude of pitchers having emerged as early favorites to lead their teams’ way into the playoffs, makes it a tough contention. This is a face-off between established hurlers vs new yet powerful arms brimming with potential. With that, it’s time to assess which names float on the top. 

Who are the Top Five Pitchers this MLB Season?

Predicting pitching performance is not black and white or binary in nature. In fact, there are several aspects to consider checking for potential frontrunners for the 2024 Cy Young Award. Or put in other words, the top five pitchers in MLB this season. Watch these names closely. 

Spencer Strider from the Atlanta Braves: This young phenom burst to stardom in 2023. His arsenal is a threat to hitters. His mound appearance flaunts a fastball that regularly reaches triple digits, sliders, and curveballs. Additionally, he possesses a unique skill to manipulate these pitches, generating swings and misses. As a result, his force on the mound solidifies as a dominant one. 

Speaking of dominance, it’s impossible to not mention Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers: Burnes is the man with a three-time All-Star title and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner of 2021. Burnes continues to be a force to be reckoned with. His signature cutter has a reputation for its devastating late movement and haunting the hitters. Burnes throws a four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball, keeping opposing batters off balance with an unpredictable repertoire. He is currently poised to repeat his Cy Young nomination. 

Zack Wheeler from the Philadelphia Phillies requires a mention: This veteran RHP comes with a knack for racking up strikeouts. Wheeler is the backbone of the Phillies’ rotation. His impeccable command allows him to navigate his fastballs in the upper-90s fastball with precision. His arsenal also includes a hard-breaking sinker and a curveball. One of Wheeler’s unique abilities is to control the zone and generate weak contact, making him a nightmare for opposing offensive players. 

Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners is no less: Castillo, a three-time All-Star, is a pitcher featuring a high-octane fastball. He too comes with a devastating changeup and a sharp curveball in his package. His ability to locate these pitches and generate groundouts propels him to a true ace stature. Despite the Marines not being playoff contenders last year, Castillo’s excellence is set to be on display throughout the upcoming season.

Read More: Blake Snell and Gerrit Cole Hit by Cy Young Curse? 2023 Winners Set to End 18-Year Streak

Next up is George Kirby from the Seattle Mariners: This young lefty emerged as a cornerstone contributor to the Mariners’ blissful success in 2023. Kirby’s arsenal consists of a four-seam fastball that reaches the mid-90s, a well-commanded curveball, and a developing changeup. His appearance on the mound and his capability to intertwine his pitching styles effectively indicate a bright future for the rising star.

It is also important to note that these five pitchers represent a diverse group of talents. Each hurler comes bearing his own potential to dominate the upcoming season. However, do bear in mind that the pitching landscape is far from static and ever-evolving. 

Where do the 2023 Cy Young Award Winners Gerrit Cole and Blake Snell Stand on the List?

Fans believe that the best-starting pitcher in Major League Baseball is Gerrit Cole, having pitched the most innings of any starter in the game since he joined joining Yankees in 2020. He has a record of 15.6 pitching WAR, and the second-highest WAR since 2021. Not only is he the epitome of an ace having pitches 6–8 innings nearly all the time, but also limits the number of runs scored to 1-2. He additionally records a high number of strikeouts, which improves his defense. Cole has been the league’s best pitcher in 2023, pitching 209 innings, recording a 2.63 ERA, striking out 222 batters and having a 7.4 WAR.

Along the same lines, the 2023 National League Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, is in an uphill battle to regain his top form. A lingering elbow issue has hampered him all through the season of 2023. Not only did it limit his innings, but also affected his effectiveness, leading to a doubt-filled free agency this year. If healthy, Snell’s potent fastball-curveball combination makes him a nightmarish pitcher for hitters. But the caveat here is that he needs to stay healthy.

Will Yoshinobu Yamamoto Be in the Top Five?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who recently signed a record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after crushing it at the Nippon Professional Baseball year after year, is one of the best pitchers. But is he good enough to be in the top 5? Well, Yamamoto boasts a diverse and electrifying technique. His play features a four-seam fastball that routinely touches triple digits. Additionally, he boasts a devastating splitter, a sharp slider, and a well-conducted curveball. His ability to pitch with a diverse range of techniques His ability to mix these pitches keeps hitters off balance, generating a high number of strikeouts.

However, NPB dominance may not mirror itself in MLB. That’s a transition that comes with its own set of challenges. The intensity of competition is far higher in MLB, and pitchers, more often than not, need to adjust their approach to find success. While Yamamoto’s talent is unquestionable, it remains a glaring truth that he is still new to MLB. If he builds the resilience to adjust effectively and stay healthy, securing a spot in the top five or perhaps even winning the Cy Young race is not going to be out of sight. 

A New Name to Shine: Pitchers Who Could be the Surprising Factor 

If one were to look away from the spotlight of MLB, a list of upcoming pitchers comes to light. On one hand, established stars like Josh Hartle and Hagen Smith might continue grabbing headlines. On the other, the 2024 college baseball season might have some unexpected heroes soaring to the top. This set of names highlights potential breakout pitchers who could alter the status quo and act as catalysts to their teams reaching championship glory.

Read More: 2023 Cy Young Aces Statistical Face Off: Gerrit Cole vs. Blake Snell

Interesting pitchers like Jackson Wells from Little Rock with his 1.74 ERA and Evan Chrest from Jacksonville flaunting an impressive 2.68 ERA are key examples. These pitchers might not have aced the charts last season, however, their recent steps toward improvement suggest that they’re poised for breakout campaigns. Who knows, keeping an eye on these rising stars could alter the landscape of college baseball and MLB in the future.