As the MLB season heads into its most critical stretch, starting pitchers can really swing a team’s playoff hopes. With plenty of games behind us, it’s finally possible to blend command metrics into stuff metrics and start leaning on results metrics to predict how pitchers might finish the season. The recent MLB starting pitcher rankings offer a fresh look at current trends, rising stars, and looming risks for pitchers right now.
Emerging Stars and Their New Arsenals
Several pitchers have shaken up their arsenals—and it’s paying off. Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins, for example, started throwing more sinkers and leaned on his curveball since early May.
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That tweak led to a wild 2.00 ERA over 27 innings, a 26 percent strikeout rate, and just a 7.5 percent walk rate. His command, measured by a 108 Location+, is the best he’s ever shown over five starts.
Chad Patrick’s Velocity Surge
Chad Patrick with the Milwaukee Brewers is grabbing some attention, too. He used to throw around 93 mph, but now he’s up to 94.5 mph.
That extra speed, paired with his mostly fastball-heavy mix, has some folks comparing him to Lance Lynn.
Gavin Williams’ Tactical Shift
Gavin Williams from the Cleveland Guardians didn’t start off hot, but things changed when he added a cutter and mixed in a sinker. His command over these new pitches has helped him turn things around.
He did hit a snag against the Dodgers, though. Not everyone can dodge that lineup.
Veteran Performers and Their Adjustments
Even the old guard is mixing things up. Jameson Taillon of the Chicago Cubs started using his kick-change pitch more often against lefties, and it’s become his best weapon against them.
Still, his four-seam fastball keeps getting hammered by left-handers, with a .556 slugging percentage against it.
Charlie Morton’s New Pitch
Charlie Morton, now pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, picked up the kick-change, too. That pitch adds another wrinkle to his already deep bag of tricks.
Jacob deGrom’s Decline
Jacob deGrom with the Texas Rangers hasn’t had the same luck. He started strong, but lately, his velocity dipped and his Stuff+ numbers took a hit.
That’s left a lot of people wondering about his outlook for the rest of the year.
The Impact of Injuries
Injuries just keep throwing wrenches into the works. Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks is waiting on elbow imaging, which leaves his ranking up in the air.
Meanwhile, George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners has struggled with his command since coming back from shoulder inflammation.
Skubal’s Remarkable Improvement
On the flip side, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers looks like a new man. After snagging the Cy Young Award, he added some velocity and sharpened both his breaking balls and his command.
His strikeout rate is through the roof, and he’s barely walking anyone. That’s the kind of turnaround that gets noticed.
Paul Skenes’ Steady Performance
Paul Skenes hasn’t done anything to deserve a demotion, but his team’s rough season means he won’t pile up many wins. His arsenal focuses more on suppressing power than racking up strikeouts, yet he stays reliable on the mound.
Consistency and Innovation
Zack Wheeler just keeps doing his thing. Sometimes his Stuff+ numbers dip on one of his three fastballs, but he always finds a way to adapt.
This year, he added more ride to his fastball, more drop to his curve and sinker, and extra sweep to his sweeper. That kind of consistency and creativity over several years? It’s rare, and honestly, pretty impressive.
Garrett Crochet’s Arsenal Expansion
Garrett Crochet added a sinker and started using a cutter instead of relying so much on his slider. Now, he’s not just a two-pitch guy, and that helps him stay in games longer.
Chris Sale’s Slider Success
Chris Sale had a rocky start, but he got back on track by throwing his slider a lot more. Since then, he’s posted a 1.62 ERA, with 42 strikeouts and only seven walks in 33 1/3 innings—even surviving a start at Coors Field.
Team-Driven Improvements
Some pitchers are really taking advantage of team-driven tweaks. Max Fried, now with the New York Yankees, improved his sinker and curveball and even boosted his velocity.
His strikeout rate doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s still one of the best out there.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Splitter Mastery
Yoshinobu Yamamoto might not wow anyone with his Stuff+ metrics, but his strikeout and walk rates are elite. His splitter works against both lefties and righties, making him flexible and dependable.
Logan Webb’s Cutter Addition
Logan Webb added a cutter, and it’s done wonders for his strikeout numbers. That pitch made his whole arsenal more effective, and now he’s in the NL Cy Young conversation.
Dominance and Potential Pitfalls
Hunter Brown is blowing hitters away with his sinker—it has the best Stuff+ of any starter. But his secondary pitches aren’t quite there yet.
If his fastball-heavy approach ever falters, he could run into trouble. That’s just how it goes sometimes.
Hunter Greene’s Return
Hunter Greene came back from injury, but he didn’t exactly light up the strikeout column. His command looked shaky at times.
Still, you can’t ignore that extreme velocity. And now he’s got a new splitter, which honestly makes him even scarier on the mound.
He’s filling up the strike zone with some nasty stuff. That approach has really helped him stay near the top of the pack.
If you’re curious about how these pitchers keep adapting, there’s always more to dig into. Check out the full article with detailed analysis and rankings over at the MLB starting pitcher rankings.
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