UPDATE: It looks like Aaron Sanchez is going to be missing for a good chunk of the 2020 season and I have removed him from The List. I’ve added Chris Bassitt as #100 as I may have overlooked him as a decent option out of the gate for next year. Not an arm I’d have much faith with out of the gate, but there could be something there.

What is happening!

The season just ended and it’s already time to look ahead to the spring.

These rankings are going to be wildly different come February as injuries arise, rehab becomes clear, transactions are made, and – most importantly – I personally take the time to dive deeper into each of these players.

Don’t let that stop you from joining the discussion! Let’s start talking about the Top 100 starting pitchers for 2020, here with a focus on 12-team leagues.

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Fringe Pitchers

Ranking Notes

Alright, I went Gerrit Cole over Justin Verlander in the end. It’s incredibly close to me and you’ll be happy with either one. The fact that Verlander’s BABIP was that low was the ultimate factor, paired a bit with a younger age for Cole, though Verlander’s track record is a touch better + I wonder if pitching outside of Houston will affect Cole’s performance. Verlander for Cy Young, though :D

over in the end. It’s incredibly close to me and you’ll be happy with either one. The fact that Verlander’s BABIP was that low was the ultimate factor, paired a bit with a younger age for Cole, though Verlander’s track record is a touch better + I wonder if pitching outside of Houston will affect Cole’s performance. Verlander for Cy Young, though :D Yes, Noah Syndergaard is outside the Top 30. There is simply too much depth in the SP #2/#3 territory and I’d rather chase them than the aggravating approach of Syndergaard. I’m tired of waiting.

is outside the Top 30. There is simply too much depth in the SP #2/#3 territory and I’d rather chase them than the aggravating approach of Syndergaard. I’m tired of waiting. I prefer Zac Gallen over Thor – crazy, I know. His changeup is fantastic paired with a “I’m not giving in” mentality and a trio of strong secondary pitches to pull him through any game. We saw a lot of rookie arms this year and I was very tempted to place him above Chris Paddack as the #1 sophomore pitcher.

over Thor – crazy, I know. His changeup is fantastic paired with a “I’m not giving in” mentality and a trio of strong secondary pitches to pull him through any game. We saw a lot of rookie arms this year and I was very tempted to place him above as the #1 sophomore pitcher. There are a bunch of rankings that are bound to change ranging from injured arms returning – Kluber, Severino, Ohtani, Carrasco, McCullers, etc. – and pitchers without their roles determined – McKay/Yarbrough/Chirinos, CarMart, Hill, Plesac/Civale, and Dodger pitchers because, you know, Dodgeritis.

There are some rookies showing up that I anticipate being the talk of the town in the spring, such as Jesus Luzardo and Michael Kopech. These ranks will likely fluctuate plenty based on the talk in the spring, so be ready.

and These ranks will likely fluctuate plenty based on the talk in the spring, so be ready. I grouped a lot of the “Strikeout or bust” arms together, such as Trevor Bauer, Caleb Smith, Matt Boyd, Robbie Ray, and Dinelson Lamet. It’s possible that do more to separate from each other as we near the spring, but I wanted to showcase their cluttered value here.

and It’s possible that do more to separate from each other as we near the spring, but I wanted to showcase their cluttered value here. I’m not sure I put Luke Weaver in the right place. I loved what I saw before his season cut short with his cutter, but that could disappear quickly. He has Top 30 potential, so he’s in the mid-50s for now.

in the right place. I loved what I saw before his season cut short with his cutter, but that could disappear quickly. He has Top 30 potential, so he’s in the mid-50s for now. Yes, I’m not high on Eduardo Rodriguez. Maybe a bit too low, I simply want to have fun with other exciting arms like Griffin Canning, Max Fried, and Mitch Keller instead of the purgatory that is Eduardo.

Maybe a bit too low, I simply want to have fun with other exciting arms like and instead of the purgatory that is Eduardo. I don’t like drafting Tobys, but I understand there were a good amount that survived through the full year and are a small step up from the others – Fiers, Quintana, Means, etc. Dakota Hudson would fall underneath this, though there is some hope that his cutter’s near 20% swinging strike rate becomes a larger factor next year.

(Photo by Justin Paradis – @FreshmeatComm)