Ranking All 30 MLB Pitching Staffs So Far in 2025
The New York Mets were thought to be in danger of a disappointing season when they lost Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas to injuries in spring training, but they instead have the only pitching with a sub-3.00 ERA as the second quarter of the 2025 MLB season gets underway.
Teamwide stats including ERA, FIP and K/9 were the driving factor of our ranking of the pitching staffs thus far this season, but injuries, recent momentum and peak performers also played a key role in the ranking process.
The "cWAR" that appears in the pitching lines within is the combined average of each team's wins above replacement, per FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. It's only one of the many data points used, though.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics are current through the start of play on Tuesday, May 13.
Nos. 30-26: Marlins, Rockies, Orioles, Angels, Nationals
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30. Miami Marlins (15-25, 6 saves, 5.70 ERA, 4.92 FIP, 1.53 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, -0.7 cWAR)
Facing the hapless White Sox over the weekend was a brief respite for a pitching staff that had allowed at least seven runs in 14 of its previous 32 games. But even against the White Sox, struggling ace Sandy Alcantara was unable to A) record a quality start or B) get his ERA for the year below 8.00. Whether the Marlins will be able to trade him this summer is officially an uncertainty.
29. Colorado Rockies (7-34, 5 saves, 5.69 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.58 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 0.7 cWAR)
Pitching at Coors Field has always been a challenge. Even on the road, though, the Rockies are 2-18 with a 5.16 ERA, with Germán Márquez in particular getting roughed up time and again. They are presently on pace to allow 1,040 runs, which would be the fifth-highest mark in MLB history dating back to 1900.
28. Baltimore Orioles (15-24, 7 saves, 5.34 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, -0.3 cWAR)
Tomoyuki Sugano has been excellent, Zach Eflin returned on Sunday after five weeks on the IL, and the back of this bullpen is pretty darn good—if and when it gets a lead to protect. But Charlie Morton and Kyle Gibson have been a mutual travesty at 0-9 with an ERA of roughly 10, and neither Dean Kremer nor Cade Povich is providing any value in the rotation. It is very clear the O's no longer have Corbin Burnes and have yet to get Grayson Rodriguez on the mound this season.
27. Los Angeles Angels (17-23, 9 saves, 5.14 ERA, 4.94 FIP, 1.49 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 0.9 cWAR)
The rotation anchored by Tyler Anderson, Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano has been respectable to the tune of a 4.10 ERA. The bullpen, though? Yikes. Those arms have a combined ERA of 6.85, with former starters Reid Detmers (9.39 ERA) and Ian Anderson (11.57) routinely getting shelled, the latter already back in the minors.
26. Washington Nationals (17-25, 12 saves, 5.42 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.46 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 2.3 cWAR)
On the one hand, the Nationals have been terribly unlucky to have an ERA nearly 1.1 runs greater than their FIP, and they do have maybe the best strikeout artist in the game today in MacKenzie Gore. On the other hand, it takes an act of divine intervention for them to make it through the 7th and 8th innings without allowing any runs, saddled with a combined ERA of 8.46 in those middle reliever innings.
Nos. 25-21: White Sox, Guardians, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Athletics
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25. Chicago White Sox (12-29, 2 saves, 4.10 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 1.39 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 2.1 cWAR)
Run support is virtually nil, but Chicago's rotation has been considerably better than expected to the tune of a 3.66 ERA. However, the rotation also has an MLB-worst 4.85 xFIP and a near-MLB-worst strikeout rate, while the bullpen has been all sorts of not great. Shout-out to Shane Smith, though, who has a 2.08 ERA through eight starts and has officially entered the conversation for AL Rookie of the Year.
24. Cleveland Guardians (24-17, 13 saves, 4.13 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.0 cWAR)
The Guardians would be in the playoff picture if the regular season ended today, and they could eventually have a formidable October rotation once Shane Bieber gets healthy and if Tanner Bibee can rediscover his swing-and-miss stuff from the past two seasons. As is, though, this rotation is a great big blob of "meh." At least Emmanuel Clase seems to have recovered from what was a brutal first few weeks.
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (22-20, 14 saves, 4.51 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.31 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 3.1 cWAR)
After adding Corbin Burnes, this really should have been one of the best pitching staffs in 2025. But while Burnes has been mostly solid (2.95 ERA), Zac Gallen has sputtered through the first quarter of his contract year (4.59 ERA), Eduardo Rodriguez can't buy a quality start (6.86 ERA), and this closer situation has been a hot mess since losing A.J. Puk to the 60-day IL in mid-April. Arizona is one of 12 teams with at least 190 runs scored...but the only one with a negative run differential to show for it.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (20-20, 13 saves, 4.23 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.6 cWAR)
The Blue Jays have a WHIP that's better than league-average (1.30) and one of the best strikeout rates in the majors, but they just cannot keep the ball in the yard—especially at home where they've allowed a staggering 37 home runs in 19 games played. Last year's breakout star, Bowden Francis, has already given up 12 home runs in his first eight starts.
21. Athletics (21-20, 13 saves, 4.82 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 3.9 cWAR)
On the road, the A's pitching has been borderline elite, holding opponents to a .651 OPS that ranks second-best in the majors. When playing at Sutter Health Park, however, they have allowed the second-worst OPS (.856), giving up nearly three times as many home runs at home (35) as on the road (12). JP Sears (2.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) is enjoying quite the breakout, though.
Nos. 20-16: Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Rays, Mariners
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20. Chicago Cubs (24-18, 10 saves, 4.07 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.31 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 2.9 cWAR)
Even though Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea each has a sub-3.00 ERA as a regular in the rotation, the Cubs are leading the NL Central much more so in spite of their pitching than because of it. Losing Justin Steele just a few weeks into the campaign was a massive blow from which they are still recovering. And while trading for Kyle Tucker in December was a colossally beneficial move (at least in the short term), going back to Houston a month later for Ryan Pressly has not aged well thus far. (Drew Pomeranz got a save on Monday, though. Who knew he was still pitching?)
19. Milwaukee Brewers (20-22, 7 saves, 4.17 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 2.9 cWAR)
Freddy Peralta has been sensational and is arguably a top-10 candidate for NL Cy Young. And though Jose Quintana's Brewers debut didn't come until two weeks into the season, he has been worth the wait, allowing either zero or one earned run in five of his six starts. On the whole, though, Milwaukee looks the part of a team that has four key starting pitchers on the IL, with a bullpen where the highest-paid player (Joel Payamps) is making less than $3 million to allow nearly one earned run per inning (8.59 ERA).
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (14-28, 8 saves, 4.12 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 3.6 cWAR)
Take both Paul Skenes and Andrew Heaney out of the mix here, and Pittsburgh is probably flirting with 30th place. As is, that duo has been a solid 1-2 punch for a franchise that has otherwise become a punching bag, already hopelessly out of the playoff picture and incessantly resetting its "days since our last nonsense" tracker.
17. Tampa Bay Rays (18-22, 11 saves, 3.74 ERA, 4.39 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.2 cWAR)
The Rays are just kind of perfectly mediocre. As of Monday morning, not a single pitcher on their staff had a WAR (neither on FanGraphs nor Baseball Reference) above 0.7 or below negative-0.3. Pete Fairbanks has been stout at closer, though. Shane McClanahan logged seven scoreless innings in spring training, but hasn't pitched in the regular season in nearly two years. Getting him back would be huge.
16. Seattle Mariners (22-18, 14 saves, 4.17 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.36 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 2.7 cWAR)
Though the M's have regressed from arguably the best staff in the majors in 2024 to just OK thus far in 2025, there's still plenty of "if they get healthy" optimism here, with George Kirby nearing his season debut while Logan Gilbert hopefully won't be out for too much longer. Got to hope both Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller will rebound from their slow starts, too. In the meantime, at least Andrés Muñoz has been incredible at closer, posting a line of 18.0 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 25 K with an AL-best 13 saves.
Nos. 15-11: Braves, Dodgers, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees
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15. Atlanta Braves (20-21, 7 saves, 3.82 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 2.7 cWAR)
With Spencer Strider and Reynaldo López each making just one five-inning appearance thus far while Raisel Iglesias has been a mess in the ninth inning, you might think it's a misprint that Atlanta landed in the top half. But Chris Sale has rallied nicely from what was a rough start to the year, while AJ Smith-Shawver has made the most of his opportunity in the rotation with those aforementioned two starters absent. Doesn't hurt that Spencer Schwellenbach and the non-Iglesias regulars in the bullpen have been mostly solid.
14. Los Angeles Dodgers (27-14, 16 saves, 3.83 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.8 cWAR)
From Roki Sasaki not looking great to the seemingly endless stream of injuries and Shohei Ohtani still nowhere near a return to the mound, things could be going so much better for the Dodgers. But at least Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been stupendous, and they've been marginally better than league average in terms of run prevention in spite of all those injuries.
13. St. Louis Cardinals (23-19, 11 saves, 3.81 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 4.1 cWAR)
While Atlanta might feel a bit too high at 15, St. Louis feels low at 13, given its recent stingy sweeps of Pittsburgh and Washington. During what was a nine-game winning streak at the start of play on Tuesday, St. Louis had allowed a combined total of 18 runs, or two per game. And while no one on this staff is exactly in the NL Cy Young conversation, the Cardinals, Mets and Royals are the only teams who entered Monday with five starters who have A) made at least six starts and B) posted a sub-4.40 ERA.
12. Boston Red Sox (22-21, 10 saves, 3.88 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.30 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 3.8 cWAR)
Thus far, the trade for and subsequent six-year extension of Garrett Crochet is looking like a mighty fine series of moves for the Red Sox. The Aroldis Chapman signing has also gone about as well as they could have dreamed. And while Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Liam Hendriks all opened the year on the IL, things are beginning to look up with them back in the fold—blowout loss to Detroit on Monday, notwithstanding.
11. New York Yankees (24-17, 10 saves, 3.74 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 4.3 cWAR)
Carlos Rodón is leading the American League in strikeouts, while Max Fried's minuscule 1.05 ERA ranks best in the majors. Any time one of the other starting pitchers takes the mound, though, it's an adventure. And Devin Williams has been nothing short of a disaster at closer. But the heavy lifting of that dynamic duo (and the quality relief work of Luke Weaver) was almost enough for a spot in the top 10.
Nos. 10-6: Reds, Rangers, Tigers, Astros, Giants
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10. Cincinnati Reds (20-22, 11 saves, 3.75 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 5.7 cWAR)
The Reds quietly had a top-10 pitching staff last season, and they're back at it again early in 2025. Trading Jonathan India for Brady Singer (4.97 ERA) hasn't been the net positive they were hoping for, but the other four regulars in the rotation—most notably Cy Young hopeful Hunter Greene—have all been solid. They also have Chase Petty and Rhett Lowder among MLB.com's top 40 overall prospects and might have the best staff in all of baseball once those young'uns are ready to make their mark.
9. Texas Rangers (21-21, 12 saves, 3.34 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 4.6 cWAR)
They were hoping for better production out of the arms they took top-three overall in the 2021 and 2022 drafts (Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker), but it has been the veterans leading the way. Tyler Mahle has a 1.47 ERA through nine starts, but it's Nathan Eovaldi leading the majors with a 0.75 WHIP and 12.0 K/BB to go along with his 1.78 ERA. Jacob deGrom has been more than alright, and even mid-March acquisition Patrick Corbin has hopped into a time machine for a 3.13 ERA through six starts. If they had anything close to a reliable closer, the Rangers would easily rank top five.
8. Detroit Tigers (27-15, 11 saves, 3.13 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 4.8 cWAR)
Tarik Skubal is off to a great start in his quest for back-to-back AL Cy Youngs, while Casey Mize is 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA. The latter recently landed on the IL with a hamstring strain, which is concerning given his lengthy injury history. They're hopeful it will be a short stay on the shelf, though. Moreover, only the Giants (2.48) have had a lower "as reliever" ERA this season than the Tigers (2.72), even though it has been anyone's guess who will be called upon in save situations.
7. Houston Astros (20-20, 10 saves, 3.53 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 5.4 cWAR)
The Astros have sputtered to a .500 record through 40 games, but that's mostly due to underachieving offense. Hunter Brown has been nothing short of masterful, a recent outing of 5.2 scoreless innings his lone non-quality start of the year. And of the six Astros pitchers who have logged at least 10 innings of relief this season, five have done so with a sub-1.60 ERA. Throw in Framber Valdez starting to look more himself after a few rough early performances and at least their pitching is cooking with gas now.
6. San Francisco Giants (24-18, 12 saves, 3.44 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 4.7 cWAR)
Justin Verlander is still searching for his first win as a member of the Giants, but he has made four quality starts and has not yet missed a turn through the rotation, making it hard to argue with what he has given them thus far. Meanwhile, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have been shoving, and most of the bullpen—especially middle relievers Tyler Rogers and Randy Rodriguez—has been all sorts of unhittable.
Nos. 5-1: Twins, Padres, Phillies, Royals, Mets
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5. Minnesota Twins (21-20, 9 saves, 3.32 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 6.8 cWAR)
While Twins batters not named Byron Buxton or Harrison Bader have struggled to get into any sort of groove, the pitching has more than kept them afloat through what is now an eight-game winning streak. Joe Ryan missed the final seven weeks of last season as the Twins collapsed in spectacular fashion, but having him back as a co-ace with Pablo López has been massive, each boasting a sub-3.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP. Flame-wielding closer Jhoan Durán has also been on point after a shaky-at-times run through 2024.
4. San Diego Padres (25-15, 16 saves, 3.37 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 5.6 cWAR)
Though both Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove have merely been expensive spectators to this point, they've been treated to quite the show. Prior to Monday's implosion against the Angels, Robert Suarez was the best closer in baseball at the back end of the best bullpen in baseball. And while neither Randy Vasquez nor Kyle Hart has been great in the stead of Darvish and Musgrove, at least both Michael King and Nick Pivetta are flourishing.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (24-17, 12 saves, 3.75 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 7.3 cWAR)
With Aaron Nola struggling to the tune of a 4.89 ERA and "bullpen arms" a very clear concern to be addressed at the trade deadline, top three feels a bit aggressive for the Phillies. But the trio of Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez has been so good that it makes up for the other shortcomings. And with Ranger Suárez going seven scoreless innings against Cleveland this past Saturday in what was just his second appearance of the season, the Phillies may be seizing that No. 1 ranking soon enough.
2. Kansas City Royals (25-18, 14 saves, 3.01 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 6.9 cWAR)
If you're going to have one of the lowest scoring offenses in baseball, better at least have a dynamite pitching staff to make up for it. And during their ridiculous surge of 16 wins in 18 games, the Royals allowed a combined total of 36 runs, tallying six shutouts. Kris Bubic is leading the way with a 1.69 ERA, but all the starters have been solid for what is the MLB leader in quality starts (22).
1. New York Mets (27-15, 11 saves, 2.85 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 7.1 cWAR)
Like the Padres, the two highest-paid pitchers on this staff (Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas) have yet to take the mound in 2025. But you wouldn't know it from a starting rotation where the worst ERA of the bunch is Tylor Megill sitting at 3.10. In fact, all 12 pitchers who have logged at least 10 innings for the Mets have done so with an ERA of 3.80 or better, as there has only been one game all season in which they allowed more than six runs—an 8-7 loss to the Nationals. At some point, their 0.59 HR/9 rate is going to come back to earth, but what a ride so far.
