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2023 Starter Rankings

Garrett Whitlock

Garrett Whitlock

Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Up this week are my mostly-for-fun 2023 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be 20-game eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with options for next year are still listed with their current teams if those options have a legitimate chance of being exercised. Those players are noted with asterisks.

Click to see other other preliminary 2023 rankings:

Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

Starting pitcher rankings

2023 SP Team 2022 July
1 Corbin Burnes Brewers 4 1
2 Shane McClanahan Rays 28 8
3 Jacob deGrom Mets* 14 12
4 Sandy Alcantara Marlins 8 3
5 Gerrit Cole Yankees 1 4
6 Max Scherzer Mets 3 5
7 Max Fried Braves 11 7
8 Alek Manoah Blue Jays 22 15
9 Justin Verlander Astros* 10 2
10 Brandon Woodruff Brewers 5 13
11 Zack Wheeler Phillies 9 9
12 Carlos Rodón Giants* 27 10
13 Shohei Ohtani Angels 24 23
14 Walker Buehler Dodgers 2 117
15 Joe Musgrove 19 6
16 Julio Urías Dodgers 7 14
17 Kevin Gausman Blue Jays 15 16
18 Dylan Cease White Sox 48 20
19 Aaron Nola Phillies* 23 17
20 Spencer Strider Braves 126 65
21 Chris Sale Red Sox 40 38
22 Logan Gilbert Mariners 33 19
23 Logan Webb Giants 12 11
24 Tyler Glasnow Rays NR NR
25 Luis Castillo Reds 32 29
26 Clayton Kershaw 26 18
27 Robbie Ray Mariners 21 24
28 Freddy Peralta Brewers 16 58
29 Tarik Skubal Tigers 42 28
30 Shane Bieber Guardians 6 25
31 Frankie Montas Athletics 29 27
32 Yu Darvish Padres 20 22
33 Lucas Giolito White Sox 13 42
34 Tony Gonsolin Dodgers 74 35
35 Cristian Javier Astros 100 50
36 Pablo Lopez Marlins 36 34
37 Framber Valdez Astros 71 31
38 Luis Garcia Astros 34 37
39 Kyle Wright Braves 168 43
40 Dustin May Dodgers 156 134
41 Chris Bassitt 25 26
42 Mike Clevinger 44 47
43 Zac Gallen Diamondbacks 89 39
44 Sonny Gray Twins* 38 40
45 Charlie Morton Braves* 18 30
46 Luis Severino Yankees* 54 45
47 Lance Lynn White Sox 31 21
48 Alex Cobb Giants 41 36
49 José Berríos Blue Jays 17 76
50 Joe Ryan Twins 55 41
51 MacKenzie Gore Padres 191 67
52 Grayson Rodriguez Orioles NR NR
53 Trevor Rogers Marlins 43 69
54 Mike Soroka Braves 109 96
55 George Kirby Mariners 170 73
56 Drew Rasmussen Rays 81 51
57 Jack Flaherty Cardinals 30 98
58 Jameson Taillon 83 52
59 Max Meyer Marlins 182 101
60 Nathan Eovaldi 45 48
61 Taijuan Walker Mets* 75 57
62 Garrett Whitlock Red Sox 72 71
63 Michael Kopech White Sox 68 63
64 Nestor Cortes Yankees 110 33
65 Taj Bradley Rays NR NR
66 Blake Snell Padres 35 59
67 Triston McKenzie Guardians 47 61
68 Marcus Stroman Cubs 51 72
69 Kyle Muller Braves 171 99
70 Sean Manaea 49 49
71 Aaron Ashby Brewers 91 75
72 Tyler Mahle Reds 57 56
73 Josiah Gray Nationals 79 62
74 Hunter Brown Astros NR 161
75 Patrick Sandoval Angels 86 66
76 Kenta Maeda Twins 227 NR
77 Jordan Montgomery Yankees 50 54
78 Shane Baz Rays 52 32
79 Lance McCullers Astros 82 79
80 Ian Anderson Braves 39 60
81 Tyler Anderson 106 46
82 Tylor Megill Mets 73 119
83 Tyler Wells Orioles 64 102
84 David Peterson Mets 147 84
85 Carlos Carrasco Mets* 63 55
86 Zach Eflin 87 85
87 Eury Perez Marlins NR NR
88 Jon Gray Rangers 90 78
89 James Paxton Red Sox* 207 168
90 Bobby Miller Dodgers 203 NR
91 Eric Lauer Brewers 70 64
92 Alex Wood Giants 66 82
93 Andrew Heaney 58 83
94 Jose Urquidy Astros 46 80
95 Logan Allen Guardians 202 170
96 JT Brubaker Pirates 97 88
97 Miles Mikolas Cardinals 132 44
98 Jeffrey Springs Rays NR 53
99 Jesus Luzardo Marlins 93 92
100 Tanner Houck Red Sox 88 23 RP
101 Noah Syndergaard 94 86
102 Nick Lodolo Reds 159 129
103 Justin Steele Cubs 175 131
104 Daniel Espino Guardians NR NR
105 Eduardo Rodriguez Tigers 65 110
106 Braxton Garrett Marlins 231 124
107 Anthony DeSclafani Giants 53 74
108 Roansy Contreras Pirates 172 111
109 Steven Matz Cardinals 85 109
110 Edward Cabrera Marlins 111 87
111 Hunter Greene Reds 181 138
112 Brady Singer Royals 103 97
113 Dinelson Lamet Padres 46 RP NR
114 Brayan Bello Red Sox NR 132
115 Corey Kluber 104 77
116 Sixto Sanchez Marlins 120 121
117 Kyle Harrison Giants NR NR
118 Kyle Gibson 187 115
119 D.L. Hall Orioles NR NR
120 Caleb Kilian Cubs 188 173
121 Stephen Strasburg Nationals 84 143
122 Aaron Civale Guardians 69 112
123 Luis Patino Rays 98 133
124 Ross Stripling 155 91
125 Matthew Liberatore Cardinals 131 153
126 John Means Orioles 37 NR
127 Jake Odorizzi Astros* 101 105
128 Trevor Bauer Dodgers* 56 NR
129 Mitch Keller Pirates 125 114
130 Paul Blackburn Athletics NR 89
131 Nick Pivetta Red Sox 124 68
132 Tejay Antone Reds NR NR
133 Kyle Hendricks Cubs 67 104
134 Merrill Kelly Diamondbacks 204 118
135 Jared Shuster Braves NR NR
136 Ryan Pepiot Dodgers 234 167
137 Chad Kuhl NR 162
138 Andrew Painter Phillies NR NR
139 Dane Dunning Rangers 105 113
140 Ranger Suárez Phillies 60 81
141 Adbert Alzolay Cubs 137 137
142 Matt Brash Mariners 130 NR
143 Marco Gonzales Mariners 112 107
144 Josh Winder Twins 173 166
145 Joey Cantillo Guardians NR NR
146 Yonny Chirinos Rays 122 136
147 Nate Pearson Blue Jays 99 176
148 Dakota Hudson Cardinals 121 116
149 Keegan Thompson Cubs 215 93
150 Elieser Hernandez Marlins 78 126
151 Adrián Morejón Padres 223 NR
152 Daniel Lynch Royals 200 139
153 Dylan Bundy Twins* 96 94
154 Emerson Hancock Mariners NR 158
155 Mitch White Dodgers 150 125
156 Tucker Davidson Braves 161 145
157 Jakob Junis Giants 91 RP 106
158 Spencer Turnbull Tigers NR NR
159 Cade Cavalli Nationals 240 NR
160 Zack Thompson Cardinals NR 163
161 Bailey Ober Twins 107 127
162 Danny Duffy Dodgers* NR NR
163 Jose Butto Mets NR NR
164 Cal Quantrill Guardians 92 100
165 Matt Manning Tigers 123 180
166 Bryce Elder Braves NR NR
167 Zack Greinke 59 103
168 Jack Leiter Rangers NR NR
169 Chris Flexen Mariners* 115 130
170 Graham Ashcraft Reds NR 90
171 Gavin Stone Dodgers NR NR
172 Chase Silseth Angels NR NR
173 Clarke Schmidt Yankees 205 178
174 Michael Wacha 225 122
175 Yusei Kikuchi Blue Jays 113 128
176 Andre Pallante Cardinals NR 95
177 Kyle Bradish Orioles NR NR
178 Matthew Boyd 184 NR
179 Martín Pérez NR 108
180 Reid Detmers Angels 139 174
181 Sam Long Giants 134 151
182 Gavin Williams Guardians NR NR
183 Joey Lucchesi Mets NR NR
184 Domingo German Yankees 165 155
185 Mason Montgomery Rays NR NR
186 Zach Plesac Guardians 116 123
187 Ken Waldichuk Yankees NR NR
188 Brad Keller Royals 138 156
189 Germán Márquez Rockies 118 165
190 Brandon Phaadt Diamondbacks NR NR
191 Huascar Ynoa Braves 77 NR
192 Gordon Graceffo Cardinals NR NR
193 Kumar Rocker Rangers NR NR
194 Matt Strahm 76 RP 85 RP
195 Sam Bachman Angels NR NR
196 Bryan Mata Red Sox NR NR
197 Adrian Houser Brewers 128 144
198 Wilmer Flores Tigers NR NR
199 Drew Smyly 135 148
200 Simeon Woods Richardson Twins NR NR

  • The bounty of riches enjoyed by the Braves and Marlins caused me to be less optimistic with some rankings than I would have if the situations weren’t so crowded. Both teams have 10 pitchers listed here, though the Braves could cut that down to nine by declining Charlie Morton’s $20 million option. They might go that route, depending on how Morton finishes and perhaps how Mike Soroka’s Achilles rehab progresses.

The Marlins have never had everyone healthy at the same time, so they’ve never dealt with any sort of crush. While they have depth with tremendous upside, it’ll be risky for them to trade Pablo Lopez or Trevor Rogers this winter in order to bring in a quality young bat. I’d be willing to push Eury Perez higher if they go that route.

  • I’m guessing the Red Sox will go with Garrett Whitlock as a starter next year, and I’ll be rather high on him if they do. I’m not as sure what will happen with Tanner Houck, who is ranked No. 100 here, but my philosophy is to list pitchers as starters if they have any real chance of starting. I’d be higher on Houck for fantasy purposes as a reliever, though there’s a decent chance the Red Sox will bring in a veteran closer at some point anyway. I also have Red Sox prospect Bryan Mata at No. 196; he’s a weaker prospect than some guys who missed the cut, but he’s a guy who could quickly wind up as a saves candidate if shifted to the pen.

  • Shane Baz probably would have cracked the top 30 here with a clean bill of health, but his elbow sprain makes him a candidate for Tommy John surgery. As a result, he shows up at No. 78. Baz’s status led me to be more aggressive than I otherwise would have been with top prospect Taj Bradley, who comes in at No. 65.

  • Chris Paddack and Casey Mize didn’t make the cut, since they probably won’t return from Tommy John surgery prior to next August. John Means did secure a spot in the bottom half of the rankings, as he could return in June or July.