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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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Sep 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox

At long last, Chris Sale has been freed of the Chicago White Sox, and will pitch for a contender. The move was a long time coming, especially after Sale clashed with management over the handling of the Adam LaRoche situation and then took scissors to a clubhouse full of throwback jerseys. Over the past five seasons, Sale has been one of the most durable and best pitchers in all of baseball.

Since 2012, Sale is 70-47 with a 3.04 ERA and 10.0 K/9. He has registered a WAR of 26.2 over the past five years, second in the AL, and is in the top five in the league in almost every meaningful pitching statistic. Moving to a Boston rotation that already includes two Cy Young winners should only serve to drive the ultra-competitive Sale to higher levels.

What was very impressive about Sale’s 2016 campaign was his ability to pitch to contact more frequently and give himself more opportunities to pitch deeper into games. His strikeout rate dropped from 11.8 per nine in 2015 to 9.3 last season, but Sale threw nearly 20 more innings while also throwing six complete games. He threw only one complete game in 2015. Finding ways to be more economical with his pitches will serve Sale well as he looks to continue his run of health.

None of that is to say that Sale does not have one of the most dominant arsenals in all of baseball. With his herky-jerky, cross-body delivery that looks more suited to a middle reliever, Sale has been death to left-handed batters. For his career, lefties are batting just .157 against his slider with a .204 slugging percentage and 177 strikeouts in only 377 at-bats.

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