MLB Power Rankings: Verlander, Cain and Baseball's Best Pitchers

Starting this week, I’ve released two separate slideshows.

The first ranked the 20 best position players right now.

This one ranks the 10 best pitchers right now.

I’m releasing this now, as opposed to the beginning of the year, because:

1. We just had the All-Star game, so everyone’s thinking about, well, the All-Star players.
2. I’ve got a half season’s body of work to use as opposed to using last year’s stats.
3. And, honestly, I thought up the concept mid-season (yes, I realize it’s not a novel concept).

Please, I encourage you to offer suggestions on pitchers I should include, where to rank them and anything else that would make this slideshow more enjoyable for you.

My rankings are based on multiple things:

1. Record and earned run average
2. Order in rotation (i.e. aces will get a little more love, of course)
3. An eyeball test

The third is the most controversial, but I’ve implemented it because, as we all know, a win/loss record and ERA do not tell the whole story. Otherwise King Felix wouldn’t have won the Cy Young in 2010 and pitchers in PETCO Park would presumably have an inherent advantage over pitchers in Great American Ball Park (just ask Mat Latos).

Finally, a disclaimer: I’m a Twins fan; having said that, I love individual players and will try to be as objective as possible. But, yes, if you see a White Sox/Yankees/Red Sox player ranked below a player in a Twins uni, there may be a little bit of homerism going on there.

Zack Greinke, Brewers

Stats: 9-3 record, 3.32 ERA

Unless the Brew Crew come out on fire in the second half, Greinke will end up trade bait.

He’d be a great catch, as the righty is having a solid year for an otherwise mediocre Milwaukee squad.

AJ Burnett, Pirates

Stats: 10-2 record, 3.68 ERA

Who woulda thought?

After being run out of town in New York, Burnett has found a home with a Pittsburgh squad that is on pace to have their first winning season since the George HW Bush Administration.

Chris Sale, White Sox

Stats: 10-2 record, 2.19 ERA

Another pitcher on a team most people thought would be awful, Sale’s 10 wins are a major reason why the Sox are leading the AL Central at the All-Star break.

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals

Stats: 9-4 record, 2.82 ERA

We all knew he’d be good, but fans in the nation’s capital and around the league became concerned when the fireballer had Tommy John surgery.

Safe to say it looks like he’s recovered well.

David Price, Rays

Stats: 11-4 record, 2.82 ERA

Quick: Name five position players in Tampa.

The reason Joe Maddon’s boys have been able to compete in the daunting AL East is because of his pitching staff, led by Mr. Price and his 11 wins.

Gio Gonzalez, Nationals

Stats: 12-3 record, 2.92 ERA

Another phenomenal pitcher for the NL East-leading Nationals, Gonzalez was a solid pickup from the Oakland don’t-call-us-a-minor-league-team A’s in the offseason.

Jered Weaver, Angels

Stats: 10-1 record, 1.96 ERA

Weaver was not a flashy signing in the offseason; in fact he probably gave the Angels a hometown discount when he re-signed, but he’s been the superstar in their rotation.

RA Dickey, Mets

Stats: 12-1 record, 2.40 ERA

The knuckleballer's a great story for a Mets team that’s doing better than we all thought they would; Dickey has also thrown back-to-back one-hitters this year.

Matt Cain, Giants

Stats: 9-3 record, 2.62 ERA

Cain’s a recognizable name that threw a perfect game this year (sorry Philip Humber).

Enough said.

Justin Verlander, Tigers

Stats: 9-5 record, 2.58 ERA

This guy throws 100 MPH fastballs in All-Star games for fun.

Oh yeah, and he gets points for choosing to date the right Upton (sorry BJ and Justin, Kate’s still No. 1 in the heart of the sports fan).