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MLB 2017: Top 10 starting pitchers

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 15, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

A case could have been made for one of Arrieta’s rotation mates in Chicago, Jon Lester or Kyle Hendricks. Lester is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, finished second in the Cy Young vote, and shared the NLCS MVP. Hendricks was also a legitimate Cy Young contender, led the NL with a 2.13 ERA, and had a 1.42 ERA in five playoff starts. Of the three, however, Arrieta still has the highest upside and lengthier track record.

Arrieta did take a step back from his impossibly dominant second half of 2015, but he still strung together an 18-win season while allowing the lowest H/9 in the National League. Opponents slugged only .307 against him, and his .194 opponent’s batting average was the lowest in baseball. He started the year 9-0 in April and May with a 1.56 ERA. Dating back to the second half of 2015, Arrieta had made 26 starts, posted a 21-1 record, all while pitching to a 1.09 ERA. What’s more, he threw in two no-hitters to boot.

The incredible run of dominance Jake Arrieta enjoyed had to come to an end sooner or later, and after his 9-0 start to 2016, he finished 9-8. Many of the same control problems that plagued him in Baltimore reared their ugly head. His worst month of the year came in July, when he went 0-3 with a 4.88 ERA. Arrieta’s biggest problem is that his sinker and slider can move too much at times. The best approach for hitters is to just simply lay off and hope for the best. In 2015, his sinker and slider were balls 32.7 percent and 30.4 percent of the time, respectively. Last season, those numbers jumped to 35.2 percent and 34.5 percent. That makes all the difference, even for a pitcher with dominant stuff like Arrieta.

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