| Starting Pitcher Rankings |
| Rank |
Team |
Player |
IP |
W-L |
ERA |
WHIP |
SO |
| 1 |
 |
Johan Santana |
219 |
15-13 |
3.33 |
1.07 |
235 |
|
The best pitcher in the world just got better. He?ll get to face the easier lineups of the National League, and Santana joins a Mets team that should give him more run support than the Twins did.
|
| 2 |
 |
Jake Peavy |
223.1 |
19-6 |
2.54 |
1.06 |
240 |
|
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner might lose his trophy to Johan Santana in 2008. But Peavy should be right there among the league leaders in wins, ERA, and strikeouts again. |
| 3 |
 |
C.C. Sabathia |
241 |
19-7 |
3.21 |
1.14 |
209 |
Sabathia should pick up where his Cy Young season left off. The only question is whether he can stay healthy enough to top 200 innings again.
|
| 4 |
 |
Erik Bedard |
182 |
13-5 |
3.16 |
1.09 |
221 |
With Johan Santana now a Met, that leaves Bedard as the American League?s most dominating pitcher. He led all starting pitchers in strikeout rate last season. If he can get more support from his Seattle teammates than he did in Baltimore (as well as stay healthy), Bedard could take home the Cy Young award.
|
| 5 |
 |
Dan Haren |
222.2 |
15-9 |
3.07 |
1.21 |
192 |
|
The 27-year-old Haren is coming off a career year for the A?s. Now, he?ll get to pitch against the easier lineup in the National League and for a better team as an Arizona Diamondback. |
| 6 |
|
Brandon Webb |
236.1 |
18-10 |
3.01 |
1.19 |
194 |
|
Webb just keeps on going. The sinkerball specialist has posted at least 14 wins and 170 strikeouts in each of the past three seasons.
|
| 7 |
 |
John Smoltz |
205.2 | 14-8 | 3.11 | 1.18 | 197 |
|
Smoltz continues to dominate every season. But at age 40 (and turning 41 in May), you have to wonder how much longer he can keep it up.
|
| 8 |
 |
Justin Verlander |
201.2 |
18-6 |
3.66 |
1.23 |
183 |
|
The 25-year-old Verlander is well on his way to becoming one of baseball?s most-dominant pitchers. He made a big jump in strikeouts last season, after punching out only 124 in his outstanding rookie year. And with Detroit?s stacked offense helping him out, Verlander could crack 20 wins in 2008. |
| 9 |
|
Felix Hernandez |
190.1 |
14-7 |
3.92 |
1.38 |
165 |
|
It?s easy to forget that Hernandez will turn just 22 years old in April. If he continues to improve at this rate, he could be in the running for the AL Cy Young Award in 2008.
|
| 10 |
 |
Cole Hamels |
183.1 |
15-5 |
3.39 |
1.12 |
177 |
|
Hamels finished top 10 in the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts in 2007, his first full season in the bigs. The 24-year-old southpaw should continue to dominate, and he?ll get plenty of wins thanks to the run support Philly?s powerful lineup will provide.
|
| 11 |
 |
Carlos Zambrano |
216.1 |
18-13 |
3.95 |
1.33 |
177 |
|
Zambrano can be wildly inconsistent, and he still walks far too many batters. But when he?s throwing strikes, Big Z is as good as any starter in baseball. Maybe this is the season the 26-year-old Zambrano cuts down on the mistakes once and for all.
|
| 12 |
 |
Scott Kazmir |
206.2 |
13-9 |
3.48 |
1.38 |
239 |
|
The American League leader in strikeouts last season, Kazmir continues to grow into en elite big league pitcher. And he?s just 24 years old. But an elbow injury is a concern for the young southpaw. He?ll miss at least his first couple of starts.
|
| 13 |
|
Fausto Carmona |
215 |
19-8 |
3.06 |
1.21 |
137 |
|
The 24-year-old sinkerballer went from troubled reliever to top-notch starter last season. Carmona was lucky to have a lot of groundballs find gloves, but he should continue to rack up the wins with a good ERA in 2008.
|
| 14 |
 |
Javier Vazquez |
216.2 |
15-8 |
3.74 |
1.14 |
213 |
|
Vazquez might be baseball?s most underrated pitcher. He was one of just five pitchers to record 15 wins and 200 strikeouts with an ERA under 4.00 last season.
|
| 15 |
 |
Aaron Harang |
231.2 |
16-6 |
3.73 |
1.14 |
218 |
|
Harang is another pitcher who gets no respect. Despite pitching in his home games in Cincinnati?s Great American Ballpark, one of baseball?s best hitters parks, Harang has posted an ERA under 4.00 in each of the past three seasons. He has also been amazingly consistent, coming off back-to-back 16-win and 200-strikeout seasons.
|
