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Top 10 starting pitchers in MLB right now

By Joshua Sadlock

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Max Scherzer

The Washington Nationals have gotten way more than they could have hoped for through the first three years of right-hander Max Scherzer’s massive contract. Since signing his seven-year, $210-million deal, Scherzer is 50-25 with a 2.76 ERA and has won back-to-back NL Cy Young awards. He has led the league in strikeouts and WHIP two years in a row and has topped 200 innings in each season with the Nationals.

With the Nationals, Scherzer has cast aside any doubts over his ability to pitch deep into games. He has averaged nearly seven innings per start and has thrown seven complete games while leading the NL in starts twice. The light workload from the early years of his career with the Detroit Tigers could actually be a long-term blessing for a pitcher who has never dealt with a significant arm injury as a big leaguer.

Scherzer does not quite approach the levels of sheer dominance of the number-one pitcher on our list, Clayton Kershaw, but it’s getting closer by the year. His is one of the few long-term contracts for a starting pitcher that does not look like it will become an albatross on the back end.

In terms of seeing one game of ultimate dominance by a starting pitcher, Scherzer has to be the top pick in the league right now. Noah Syndergaard might eventually take that mantle, but for now, if you had to bet on one pitcher to throw a no-hitter or pick up 20 strikeouts on a given night, Scherzer has to be the pick.

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