MLB Starting Pitchers Who Are Making Waves in 2025

The baseball season has just begun,  but it is never too early to take a look at the top Starting Pitchers. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 overall, the next 10 to keep an eye on, and the 10 that are worth a spot on your roster for MLB redraft. With fantasy baseball fully kicked off and in the thick of things early on, let’s take a look at who’s been hot or cold pitching-wise in 2025.

Top 10 MLB SPs

1. Tarik Skubal (Tigers): Southpaw was 18-4 last season with a 2.39 ERA. He is 2-2 so far, but his ERA is still under 3.00.
2. Paul Skenes (Pirates): The 22-year-old was a first-round pick in 2023. He was 11-3 last season with a 1.96 ERA.
3. Corbin Burnes (Diamondbacks): He was 15-9 last season with a 2.92 ERA, but is off to a rough start this season at 0-1 with a 3.28 ERA.
4. Zack Wheeler (Phillies): The veteran right-hander was 16-7 last season with a 2.57 ERA. He is 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA to start this season.
5. Chris Sale (Braves): Southpaw was 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA last season. This season, he is suffering from a cursed Braves team that can’t seem to get anything done. He is 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA.
6. Logan Webb (Giants): Right-hander was 13-10 last season, but is the opposite of Sale. He is benefiting from a Giants team that can do no wrong in the early going. He is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA.
7. Robbie Ray (Giants): Veteran southpaw is also benefiting from the Giants’ start at 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA.
8. Spencer Strider (Braves): Right-hander is back after elbow surgery last year. He should be a big boost for the struggling Braves.
9. Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks): The Arizona pitcher was 14-6 last season, but is off to a rocky start at 1-2 with a 4.64 ERA.
10. Blake Snell (Dodgers): The right-hander is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. Los Angeles is in no rush to bring him back.

Starting Pitchers on the Brink

1. Logan Gilbert (Mariners): He was only 9-12 last season, but has a huge upside. He is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA so far.
2. Luis Castillo (Mariners): Veteran is always solid, but is also off to a tough start at 1-2 with a 4.22 ERA.
3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers): The 26-year-old pitcher is in his second season pitching in MLB and is off to a solid 2-1 start with a 1.23 ERA.
4. Dylan Cease (Padres): Right-hander is off to a tough start with a 1-1 record and a 6.64 ERA.
5. Tyler Glasnow (Dodgers): He is growing into one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. However, he is only 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA to start the season.
6. Joe Ryan (Twins): The 28-year-old is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. He was 7-7 last season with 147 strikeouts.
7. Garrett Crochet (Red Sox): After a tough 6-12 record last season, he is off to a 2-1 record with a 1.38 ERA for a very good Boston team.
8. Justin Verlander (Giants): He is 42 and off to a 0-1 start with a 6.75 ERA, but he is still Justin Verlander.
9. Pablo Lopez (Twins): He was off to a solid start until a hamstring strain sidelined him for a few weeks.
10. Kodai Senga (Mets): Right-hander only had one win in an injury-plagued season in 2024, but he is reaching his potential this season at 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA.

Who are these Guys?

Note: These pitchers aren’t really new. Most were just not drafted high, but are off to a great start.

1. Max Fried (Yankees): The southpaw fell back somewhat with the Braves last season, but is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in the Bronx.
2. Hunter Greene (Reds): The 25-year-old was 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA last season. He is off to a 2-1 start with a 0.98 ERA this season.
3. Michael King (Padres): Right-hander is off to a 3-0 start with a 2.42 ERA for a team that should win all season.
4. Tyler Mahle (Rangers): He only started three games last year as a pitcher for Texas, but the 30-year-old is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA this season.
5. Sonny Gray (Cardinals): He may be 35, but he is pitching like someone much younger. He is 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA.
6. Jesus Luzardo (Phillies): The often-injured southpaw toiled as the ace of the Marlins for three years, but now is off to a solid 2-0 start with a 2.31 ERA for a contender.
7. Shane Baz (Rays): The 25-year-old, right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA to start the season.
8. Shota Imanaga (Cubs): The 31-year-old southpaw was 15-3 last season with a 2.91 ERA and is well on his way to another solid season. He is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA.
9. Hunter Brown (Astros): He was only 11-9 last season, but struck out 179 in 170 innings. He is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and has struck out 22 in 24 innings.
10. Cole Ragans (Royals): The southpaw is 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA and has struck out a whopping 34 in 23 innings. Last season, he struck out 223 in 186 innings.

The sleeper pitcher is the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers. Shoulder issues have kept him off the mound for more than a year, but Los Angeles expects him back sometime this year. A sleeper pitcher who is actually pitching is southpaw Jeffrey Springs of the A’s. He is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA.