Pitcher Power Rankings: Sale dominates, but Mad Max reigns
theScore's MLB editors will cumulatively rank the top 10 position players of the 2017 campaign every month, leading up to the final version on the final day of the regular season.
10. Jason Vargas, Royals
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 | 2.10 | 81.1 | 65 | 1.09 | 2.1 | N/R |
Vargas has only allowed more than three earned runs once this season, while there's been five outings in which he didn't allow a single runner to cross home plate. He's been far and away the best version of himself on the mound at age 34.
9. Lance McCullers, Astros
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-1 | 2.58 | 76.2 | 89 | 1.06 | 2.0 | 10 (+1) |
Mercifully, it appears McCullers' current stay on the disabled list will be brief. He's been a revelation this season, especially with other members of the Astros' rotation sidelined. McCullers looked like he was on the way to a no-hitter in his last start before a rocky seventh inning. If he can get - and stay - healthy, he should climb this list.
8. Dallas Keuchel, Astros
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-0 | 1.67 | 75.2 | 69 | 0.87 | 1.9 | 4 (-4) |
Keuchel hasn't started a game since June 2, so his injury impacts his status on this list. Outside of one unfortunate start, though, Keuchel has been virtually unhittable. He's completed six innings in 10 of his 11 starts and was neck-and-neck with Boston's Chris Sale in Cy Young consideration before the injury.
7. Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-3 | 2.62 | 82.1 | 107 | 1.07 | 2.2 | N/R |
Ray would be the ace in the desert were it not for Zack Greinke. While batters are generating a fair amount of hard contact against the southpaw, he's also forcing more swings and misses than ever before. The next step will be for him to induce weaker contact, but he's improving every year.
6. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-2 | 3.27 | 85.1 | 99 | 1.05 | 2.3 | 7 (+1) |
Strasburg is prone to the odd bad start, but removing his two worst 2017 outings yields pretty spectacular year-to-date numbers. One oddity has been his June performance; Strasburg has allowed only 14 hits in 18 innings this month, but five of them have been home runs. He allowed only four long balls in 67 1/3 innings between April and May.
5. Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-3 | 3.00 | 90 | 104 | 1.03 | 2.2 | 5 (-) |
The last time Greinke struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings was way back in 2011 with the Brewers. He's doing it again. This is the Greinke the Diamondbacks thought they signed prior to 2016..
4. Carlos Martinez, Cardinals
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-5 | 2.95 | 88.1 | 99 | 1.04 | 2.3 | (N/R) |
Martinez can't help his poor run support. Across his last five starts, he's posted a 1.82 ERA in 39 2/3 innings, but went just 2-2 with a no-decision. He twice pitched nine innings in that time, and only allowed a single home run. The Cardinals may be struggling, but Martinez has been amazing.
3. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-2 | 2.23 | 97 | 105 | 0.92 | 2.4 | 3 (N/R) |
Kershaw's season has only been a disappointment in relation to 2016. He's already walked more batters (16) and allowed more home runs (13) than he did in more innings a year ago. That's how mind-blowing he was last season. He's still one of the best in the game, though, and could easily be atop this list next time around.
2. Chris Sale, Red Sox
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-2 | 2.97 | 91 | 126 | 0.96 | 4.0 | 1 (-1) |
Sale's ERA has ballooned a bit, potentially due to his .311 BABIP. He hasn't been quite as dominant over his last five or so starts, and he hasn't hit double-digit strikeouts in four straight. He still has the highest swinging-strike rate in the majors, so the Ks will be there.
1. Max Scherzer, Nationals
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | WAR | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-4 | 2.36 | 91.2 | 124 | 0.85 | 2.9 | 2 (+1) |
Scherzer has the second-highest swinging-strike rate, and is punching out batters out at a career-best clip. The thought that he may be better than he's ever been is terrifying (for opposing batters). He's also durable, as one of the few pitchers you can count on to go 200 innings each season. In fact, he's only tossed fewer than six innings once in 2017.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)