For the following weeks I will be ranking players for the upcoming season. I will be looking at previous seasons, their 2016 season and projectability.
Starting Pitchers - This list was the hardest to compile because there are pitchers who are not on this list who could be argued for spots 2 through 5. Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, and Madison Bumgarner all have track records or awards to deserve a top spot heading into next season, but I have compiled this list on who I think will have the best season next year along with help their club the most.
5. Indians Ace:
Corey Kluber has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball and into the national stage after this years World Series. Kluber won the Cy Young edging out Felix Hernandez in 2014 with a stat line of 18 Wins, 2.44 ERA and 269 strike outs. His 2015 season was horrible leading the league in losses, but when looking at his ERA of 3.49 that can be more attributed to his run support. This year he turned it around won 18 games, and finished third in the Cy Young voting. Kluber was also phenomenal in the post season and finished 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA.
4. Red Sox Ace:
Chris Sale was the biggest trade of the offseason where the Red Sox gave up the best players in their farm system for a bonafide ace. Sale started off really hot this year, and eventually tailed off with the horrid run support from the Chicago White Sox. Sale will improve the Red Sox starting rotation immensely by joining the reigning Cy Young, and hopefully a bounce back season from David Price. Sale has a career 3.00 ERA, and finished last season with 6 complete games, which will really help take the work load off a heavily used Boston bullpen last season.
3. Mets Ace:
Noah Syndergaard only has two years in the Majors has proven to me when healthy he is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Syndergaard would have been a better candidate for Cy Young if he was healthy for more of the year, but just the stuff he has puts him in the conversation as having one of the best arms in baseball. Syndergaard is not just one of those players who throws really hard with no composure this past seasons Wild Card game he proved to everyone he can go head to toe with the best by hurling 7 innings of 2 hit baseball with 10 strikeouts against the Giants. Last season with the Mets staff riddled with injuries and struggling Harvey Syndergaard on the pitching side was the main reason the Mets had a postseason berth.
2. Nationals Ace:
Max Scherzer is very good, but still underrated. Struggling early in his career he has finished in the top 5 in Cy Young the past two seasons including winning two of them one in 2013 and the other in 2016. Scherzer has dominated the American and National league, which can not really be said by any other player on this list. Scherzer is also one of the most accomplished pitchers because wins (3x), strike outs (once), games started (2x), Innings pitched (twice), shutouts (once) and winning percentage (once). Scherzer is the undisputed Ace on a very good Washington staff, and the only thing missing now for him is a world series ring.
1. Dodgers Ace:
Clayton Kershaw is the Mike Trout of pitching, or Mike Trout is the Clayton Kershaw of position players either way they are the two most dominating players we have in the sport and maybe in the history of the game. Kershaw since 2011 has been an All-Star and top five in Cy Young voting every year. Kershaw led the league in ERA from 2011-2014, and in 2015 had and ERA of 2.13 and this past year of 1.69. Kershaw is also the only pitcher to have won an MVP on this list in 2014. Kershaw is only 28, and shows no signs of slowing down. There are a bunch more stats I could rattle off to explain why Kershaw is the best right now, but I think it is quite obvious there is no one in the same league as him right now.
