Top 50 Starting Pitchers
Michael Lins 4.4.09

There are several viable options available from the starting pitchers.  The "usual suspects" top the list again in 2009, but watch as others, such as Javier Vazquez, Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco break the top 20.  The talent is so deep, that last year's AL Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee will barely break the top 20 (19) in 2009.

RANK STARTERS AL/NL IP W K ERA Whip ER
1 Johan Santana, NYM NL 217 18 197 2.65 1.11 64
2 CC Sabathia, NYY AL 229 18 210 3.42 1.16 87
3 Tim Lincecum, SF NL 202 15 251 3.16 1.19 71
4 Roy Halladay, TOR AL 231 17 179 3.43 1.14 88
5 Brandon Webb, ARI NL 227 18 185 3.21 1.22 81
6 Cole Hamels, PHI NL 205 16 187 3.56 1.13 81
7 Jake Peavy, SD NL 188 14 183 2.73 1.09 57
8 Dan Haren, ARI NL 209 15 200 3.79 1.18 88
9 Josh Beckett, BOS AL 192 16 173 3.80 1.15 81
10 Javier Vazquez, ATL NL 206 15 207 3.98 1.21 91
11 A.J. Burnett, NYY AL 202 15 220 3.83 1.27 86
12 Ervin Santana, LAA AL 180 12 181 4.10 1.19 98
13 Ricky Nolasco, FLA NL 200 14 180 3.87 1.18 86
14 Roy Oswalt, HOU NL 204 16 162 3.71 1.23 84
15 James Shields, TB AL 206 14 158 3.76 1.13 86
16 John Lackey, LAA AL 175 16 156 3.60 1.24 70
17 Aaron Harang, CIN NL 210 14 207 3.94 1.24 92
18 Chad Billingsley, LAD NL 212 15 204 3.44 1.33 81
19 Cliff Lee, CLE AL 200 16 162 3.56 1.28 79
20 Scott Kazmir, TB AL 173 11 191 3.38 1.26 65
21 Rich Harden, CHC NL 150 10 173 2.94 1.15 49
22 Ryan Dempster, CHC NL 185 14 168 3.70 1.27 76
23 Francisco Liriano, MIN AL 180 12 175 3.80 1.21 76
24 Derek Lowe, ATL NL 203 15 145 3.72 1.24 84
25 Ted Lilly, CHC NL 196 14 177 4.04 1.26 88
26 Matt Cain, SF NL 210 13 182 3.77 1.29 88
27 Zack Greinke, KC AL 193 12 176 3.50 1.29 75
28 Adam Wainwright, STL NL 178 14 121 3.59 1.22 71
29 Jon Lester, BOS AL 207 15 150 3.61 1.30 83
30 Joba Chamberlain, NYY AL 175 10 196 3.45 1.28 67
31 Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS AL 183 15 163 3.64 1.35 74
32 John Maine, NYM NL 185 14 178 4.09 1.30 84
33 Josh Johnson, FLA NL 165 13 153 3.55 1.30 65
34 Felix Hernandez, SEA AL 211 12 177 3.54 1.33 83
35 Matt Garza, TB AL 202 13 137 3.65 1.27 82
36 Scott Baker, MIN AL 170 11 145 3.76 1.22 71
37 Kevin Slowey, MIN AL 191 13 147 4.15 1.19 88
38 Randy Johnson, SF NL 167 11 153 3.77 1.26 70
39 Chris Young, SD NL 175 10 147 3.55 1.24 69
40 Justin Verlander, DET AL 210 14 175 4.16 1.32 97
41 Justin Duchscherer, OAK AL 165 10 102 3.27 1.13 60
42 Max Scherzer, ARI NL 159 10 171 3.85 1.28 68
43 John Danks, CWS AL 188 11 153 3.78 1.29 79
44 Erik Bedard, SEA AL 141 8 144 3.51 1.23 55
45 Gil Meche, KC AL 205 12 171 3.95 1.32 90
46 Fausto Carmona, CLE AL 185 13 131 3.89 1.29 80
47 Carlos Zambrano, CHC NL 175 13 141 3.91 1.31 76
48 Wandy Rodriguez, HOU NL 180 11 155 3.85 1.30 77
49 Hiroki Kuroda, LAD NL 190 13 118 3.98 1.27 84
50 Manny Parra, MIL NL 185 14 168 4.18 1.36 86