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Ranking MLB's 30 Pitching Staffs For 2024 Season

Zachary D. Rymer

In these final days of spring training, the question marks that had been hanging over MLB teams' rosters are nearly all gone. They pretty much know what they'll be bringing into 2024.

So with teams' projected lineups already ranked, the next step is to rank the pitching staffs.

I've once again deferred to RosterResource's projections for teams' pitching staffs, consisting of both starting rotations and bullpens and specific roles within both.

To be clear, this is about the arms that teams are expected to have on Opening Day. Some notable names, such as Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, are going to be absent because of injuries. There are also still some unsigned free agents, most notably Jordan Montgomery.

I also consulted ZiPS for each player's projections for wins above replacement (both the FIP-based and the more simple runs allowed version) for the 2024 season. These were helpful in getting a sense of how good each staff could be, but they merely informed the rankings. Actually deciding them was a gut feeling thing.

Counting down two teams at a time until we get to the top 10, and then one at a time from there.

30-29: Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics

Kyle Freeland Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

30. Colorado Rockies

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Kyle Freeland
  2. RHP Cal Quantrill
  3. LHP Austin Gomber
  4. RHP Ryan Feltner
  5. RHP Dakota Hudson

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 7.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 9.5

What I Like: Rockies fans will always have Lawrence's sweeper, if nothing else, but let's also grant that Freeland and Hudson have looked good this spring.

What I Don't Like: Having five pitch-to-contact starters isn't ideal for any team, much less one that plays half its games at the crusher of pitching souls known as Coors Field.

29. Oakland Athletics

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Alex Wood
  2. RHP Ross Stripling
  3. LHP JP Sears
  4. RHP Paul Blackburn
  5. RHP Joe Boyle

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 8.6

Projected RA-9 WAR: 7.9

What I Like: Don't sleep on that Miller-Erceg duo at the back end of the bullpen, as both flashed some gnarly stuff in ample action as rookies in 2023.

What I Don't Like: When Wood and Stripling are your two leading starters, something has either gone terribly wrong or you're just not even trying.

28-27: Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals

Garrett Crochet Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

28. Chicago White Sox

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Garrett Crochet
  2. RHP Michael Soroka
  3. RHP Erick Fedde
  4. RHP Chris Flexen
  5. RHP Nick Nastrini

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 6.4

Projected RA-9 WAR: 3.5

What I Like: Crochet and Kopech swapping roles is an interesting experiment, and the 1.38 ERA that Soroka has this spring is a great sign after four straight injury-marred seasons.

What I Don't Like: There weren't any sure things on this staff even when Dylan Cease was still set to lead the rotation, and he's obviously gone now.

27. Washington Nationals

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Josiah Gray
  2. LHP Patrick Corbin
  3. RHP Jake Irvin
  4. LHP MacKenzie Gore
  5. RHP Trevor Williams

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 8.1

Projected RA-9 WAR: 6.0

What I Like: Gray was an All-Star last year and Gore's stuff is too good not to maintain faith that he may yet live up to his former status as a top-10 prospect.

What I Don't Like: This staff just isn't appreciably different from the one that was fourth from the bottom of MLB with a 5.02 ERA last year.

26-25: Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets

Edwin Díaz Elsa/Getty Images

26. Los Angeles Angels

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Patrick Sandoval
  2. RHP Griffin Canning
  3. LHP Reid Detmers
  4. RHP Chase Silseth
  5. LHP Tyler Anderson

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.6

Projected RA-9 WAR: 9.7

What I Like: Canning, Detmers and Anderson have looked good this spring, and let's not rule out a return to 2022 form (when he had a sub-3.00 ERA) for Sandoval.

What I Don't Like: The Angels really should have signed Blake Snell instead of loading up on relievers, the most notable of whom (Robert Stephenson) already has a bum shoulder.

25. New York Mets

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP José Quintana
  2. RHP Luis Severino
  3. RHP Tylor Megill
  4. LHP Sean Manaea
  5. RHP Adrian Houser

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 6.6

What I Like: Having Díaz back should be huge after the Mets saved only 34 games in his absence last year, and it's hard not to get at least a little excited about the 1.00 ERA that Severino has this spring.

What I Don't Like: Shoulder injuries are scary under any circumstances, and that much more so when an ace like Kodai Senga is recovering from one before the season has even started.

24-23: Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals

Kenley Jansen Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

24. Boston Red Sox

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Brayan Bello
  2. RHP Nick Pivetta
  3. RHP Kutter Crawford
  4. RHP Garrett Whitlock
  5. RHP Tanner Houck

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 12.5

Projected RA-9 WAR: 13.1

What I Like: Despite all the bad noise, the fourth-ranked 3.87 ERA the Red Sox have put up this spring could be an early sign that Craig Breslow's new pitching infrastructure is all that was needed.

What I Don't Like: You can only get so excited about pitching infrastructure when Chris Sale is gone and Lucas Giolito won't pitch this year after elbow surgery.

23. St. Louis Cardinals

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Miles Mikolas
  2. LHP Zack Thompson
  3. RHP Lance Lynn
  4. LHP Steven Matz
  5. RHP Kyle Gibson

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 11.3

What I Like: The Cardinals had a 4.79 ERA last year, but they're not wrong to hope that the new additions to their rotation and better health on Helsley's part will lead to better things.

What I Don't Like: It's not the best omen that Sonny Gray is already hurt, and then there's the question of what, exactly, Lynn and Gibson have left to give other than innings.

22-21: Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates

Cole Ragans Ed Zurga/Getty Images

22. Kansas City Royals

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Cole Ragans
  2. RHP Seth Lugo
  3. RHP Michael Wacha
  4. RHP Brady Singer
  5. RHP Alec Marsh

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.0

Projected RA-9 WAR: 11.0

What I Like: The Royals are the top candidate to have the most improved pitching staff of 2024, and don't sleep on Ragans as a Cy Young Award candidate after last year's breakout.

What I Don't Like: Unless Smith can turn back the clock a couple years, the bullpen doesn't figure to do much to help drive said improvement.

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Mitch Keller
  2. LHP Martín Pérez
  3. LHP Marco Gonzales
  4. RHP Luis L. Ortiz
  5. RHP Jared Jones

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 12.1

Projected RA-9 WAR: 12.8

What I Like: These are shockingly good WAR projections, yet they begin to make sense when you notice the depth improvements in between Keller and Bednar at the top of the rotation and back of the bullpen, respectively.

What I Don't Like: The rotation, at least, would look a lot better if Pérez and Gonzales were vying for the No. 5 spot instead of comfortably slotting into the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.

20-19: Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers

Hunter Greene Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

20. Cincinnati Reds

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Frankie Montas
  2. RHP Hunter Greene
  3. RHP Graham Ashcraft
  4. RHP Nick Martinez
  5. LHP Andrew Abbott

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 13.0

Projected RA-9 WAR: 11.1

What I Like: There's substantial upside here, as this rotation is littered with good stuff and Díaz isn't far off from his older brother in terms of dominance in the ninth inning.

What I Don't Like: As bullish as I am on the upside here, even I can't overlook the 4.83 ERA the Reds posted last year as a reminder that there's downside, too.

19. Texas Rangers

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Nathan Eovaldi
  2. RHP Jon Gray
  3. LHP Andrew Heaney
  4. RHP Dane Dunning
  5. LHP Cody Bradford

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.7

Projected RA-9 WAR: 10.6

What I Like: Lorenzen will likely move into a starting role in the near future, but the real exciting moment for this rotation will come in the second half when it gets Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle back from injuries.

What I Don't Like: There's obviously a whole first half of baseball to go until the Rangers get to the second half, and their pitching is going to be undermanned for all of it.

18-17: Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins

Tarik Skubal Nic Antaya/Getty Images

18. Detroit Tigers

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Tarik Skubal
  2. RHP Kenta Maeda
  3. RHP Jack Flaherty
  4. RHP Casey Mize
  5. RHP Reese Olson

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.2

Projected RA-9 WAR: 9.5

What I Like: Skubal pitched like a proper No. 1 upon returning from injury last year, and the spring performances of Flaherty and Mize hint that he's going to have ample support.

What I Don't Like: There's likely not as much upside in the bullpen, though I am a fan of the low-risk move to add Miller after his promising stint with the Dodgers last season.

17. Miami Marlins

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Jesús Luzardo
  2. LHP A.J. Puk
  3. LHP Trevor Rogers
  4. LHP Ryan Weathers
  5. RHP Max Meyer

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 10.8

Projected RA-9 WAR: 10.8

What I Like: Marlins pitchers led the majors in WAR last season, and the early returns (23 strikeouts in 13.2 innings!) on Puk's transition to starting hint at an all new weapon.

What I Don't Like: The Marlins already knew they were going to be without Sandy Alcantara this year, and now they're due to start without Eury Pérez, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett because of injuries.

16-15: Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees

Carlos Rodón Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

16. Milwaukee Brewers

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Freddy Peralta
  2. RHP Colin Rea
  3. RHP Jakob Junis
  4. RHP Joe Ross
  5. LHP DL Hall

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 11.1

Projected RA-9 WAR: 11.5

What I Like: Peralta is frankly underappreciated as one of the most electric pitchers in MLB today, and that Megill-Uribe duo in the pen consists of two 99th-percentile velocity guys.

What I Don't Like: Corbin Burnes is gone and Brandon Woodruff and Devin Williams both have serious injuries, so this isn't the sort of staff Brewers fans have become accustomed to.

15. New York Yankees

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Nestor Cortes
  2. LHP Carlos Rodón
  3. RHP Marcus Stroman
  4. RHP Clarke Schmidt
  5. RHP Clayton Beeter

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 11.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 10.1

What I Like: This is largely the same bullpen that led MLB with a 3.34 ERA last year, and it's a silver lining that Rodón's spring hasn't been a total loss after a disastrous Yankees debut in 2023.

What I Don't Like: Let's just say there was major bust potential here even before Gerrit Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, came down with a bad elbow.

14-13: Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres

Yu Darvish Masterpress/Getty Images

14. Baltimore Orioles

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Corbin Burnes
  2. RHP Grayson Rodriguez
  3. RHP Tyler Wells
  4. RHP Dean Kremer
  5. LHP Cole Irvin

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 11.5

Projected RA-9 WAR: 11.4

What I Like: I'm not buying that Burnes' rough spring means anything, whereas I am buying a breakout for Rodriguez after he finished last year with a 2.26 ERA over his last 12 starts.

What I Don't Like: As solid as this staff is, one still pines for healthy versions of Kyle Bradish, John Means and especially Félix Bautista, who could really be missed in the pen.

13. San Diego Padres

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Yu Darvish
  2. RHP Joe Musgrove
  3. RHP Dylan Cease
  4. RHP Michael King
  5. RHP Matt Waldron

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 12.8

Projected RA-9 WAR: 12.5

What I Like: If Darvish and Musgrove stay healthy, Cease pitches like he did in 2022 and King makes good on his late-season tease from 2023, this rotation is going to be elite.

What I Don't Like: That "if" up there is doing some heavy lifting, and it's otherwise hard not to notice Josh Hader's absence on the relief side of things.

12-11: Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians

Shane Bieber Ron Schwane/Getty Images

12. Tampa Bay Rays

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Zach Eflin
  2. RHP Aaron Civale
  3. RHP Zack Littell
  4. RHP Ryan Pepiot
  5. LHP Tyler Alexander

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 13.5

Projected RA-9 WAR: 14.5

What I Like: None of us will ever be as good at anything as the Rays are at turning randos into effective hurlers, so I'll just assume that the Littels and Andersons of this staff are going to be All-Stars who also get Cy Young votes.

What I Don't Like: There would nonetheless be fewer randos, of course, if Tyler Glasnow was still around and Shane McClananan, Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Taj Bradley and Shane Baz weren't hurt.

11. Cleveland Guardians

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Shane Bieber
  2. RHP Triston McKenzie
  3. RHP Tanner Bibee
  4. LHP Logan Allen
  5. RHP Carlos Carrasco

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 14.6

Projected RA-9 WAR: 15.6

What I Like: There's a best-case scenario here in which the 2022 versions of Bieber, McKenzie and Clase join forces with the 2023 versions of Bibee and Allen to form a run prevention machine.

What I Don't Like: I'm reluctant to trust in Bieber and McKenzie after both were injured for much of last year, and it just plain sucks that Gavin Williams is battling elbow discomfort.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Zac Gallen
  2. RHP Merrill Kelly
  3. RHP Brandon Pfaadt
  4. RHP Ryne Nelson
  5. LHP Tommy Henry

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 12.4

Projected RA-9 WAR: 16.6

What I Like

Though Arizona's pitching wasn't great for much of 2023, it at least got ample innings and ERAs in the low 3.00s from Gallen and Kelly and the bullpen was solidified by the addition of Sewald in July. At his best, he opened the playoffs with eight straight scoreless appearances.

Those three are back for 2024, and it's hard to overstate what the potential ascension of Pfaadt could mean. He was a top prospect going into last season and, after enduring his share of struggles in the regular season, found something in posting a 3.27 ERA last October.

What I Don't Like

It's fair to question the bridge to Sewald, but what's really holding back this pitching staff right now is the injury to Eduardo Rodriguez. The lefty, who had been slated to be Arizona's No. 3 starter behind Gallen and Kelly, will begin the year on the IL with a lat strain.

9. Chicago Cubs

Justin Steele Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Justin Steele
  2. LHP Shōta Imanaga
  3. RHP Kyle Hendricks
  4. LHP Jordan Wicks
  5. RHP Javier Assad

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 12.8

Projected RA-9 WAR: 13.8

What I Like

Steele is among the best left-handers in MLB, as his last two seasons have seen him run up a 140 ERA+ and basically double his strikeout-to-walk ratio from one to the next. Hendricks showed last year that he still has something left, though his durability remains suspect.

Meanwhile, how about Imanaga's spring as a first impression? There's still some question of how his stuff will play in the majors, though it's certainly a lesser one in the wake of him facing 41 batters and striking out 19 of them against only two walks.

What I Don't Like

The Cubs will be missing a valuable innings eater while Jameson Taillon is out with back tightness. And while this bullpen could be good, it's not so solid as to stop one from thinking back to those Josh Hader rumors and wondering, "What if..."

8. Houston Astros

Framber Valdez Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. LHP Framber Valdez
  2. RHP Cristian Javier
  3. RHP Hunter Brown
  4. RHP Ronel Blanco
  5. RHP J.P. France

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 11.7

Projected RA-9 WAR: 14.8

What I Like

Holy smokes, is that bullpen trio nasty. Hader and Abreu both had sub-2.00 ERAs last season, while Pressly might just be the purveyor of the best stuff of any pitcher.

As to the rotation, Javier and especially Valdez, who's gotten Cy Young Award votes in each of the last two seasons, are as good as anyone when they're right. And don't overlook Brown as a post-hype breakout candidate. Like Valdez, he gets ground balls as easily as strikeouts.

What I Don't Like

That the Astros would be heavily relying on a 41-year-old Justin Verlander was never not a suspect idea. And now that he's already been slowed by a shoulder issue, one can't help but wonder if Houston should be calling Jordan Montgomery after trying for Blake Snell.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP José Berríos
  2. RHP Chris Bassitt
  3. LHP Yusei Kikuchi
  4. RHP Bowden Francis
  5. RHP Kevin Gausman

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 14.7

Projected RA-9 WAR: 14.9

What I Like

The Blue Jays ranked in the top 10 of MLB with the ERAs they got from both their starters and their relievers last year. So, who can blame them for wanting to bring back basically the same staff for 2024?

And don't worry, Gausman hasn't actually been demoted from the No. 1 to the No. 5 spot in the rotation after finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award voting. He's merely been slowed by shoulder fatigue and thus needs some extra time.

What I Don't Like

Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson, on the other hand, aren't likely to be in Toronto's opening bullpen because of elbow and forearm issues, respectively. That's a blow, and so is Alek Manoah's "cranky" shoulder ahead of what was hopefully going to be a rebound year.

6. San Francisco Giants

Logan Webb Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Logan Webb
  2. LHP Kyle Harrison
  3. RHP Jordan Hicks
  4. LHP Blake Snell
  5. RHP Keaton Winn

Projected Bullpen

  1. CL: RHP Camilo Doval
  2. SU: RHP Tyler Rogers
  3. SU: LHP Taylor Rogers
  4. MID: RHP Luke Jackson
  5. MID: RHP Ryan Walker
  6. MID: LHP Juan Sanchez
  7. MID: RHP Nick Avila
  8. LR: RHP Daulton Jefferies

Projected fWAR: 12.1

Projected RA-9 WAR: 13.8

What I Like

With Webb and Snell in the same rotation, the Giants are going to throw both of the two leaders from last year's NL Cy Young Award voting at opponents. If they had been teammates in 2023, they would have combined for 396 innings and a 2.80 ERA.

Otherwise, Harrison has Rookie of the Year potential and Hicks' transition to starting has shown some promise this spring. And even if Hicks does need to move back to the pen, him plus Doval would make for a lethal combination at the back end of games.

What I Don't Like

I'd put decent odds on the Giants moving Hicks to the bullpen just because his help there could be sorely needed at some point. Especially if Taylor Rogers continues to struggle with walks, the bridge to Doval figures to be on the rickety side.

5. Minnesota Twins

Pablo López Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Pablo López
  2. RHP Joe Ryan
  3. RHP Bailey Ober
  4. RHP Chris Paddack
  5. RHP Louie Varland

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 15.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 13.8

What I Like

There was a 51-strikeout gap between Twins hurlers and the No. 2 entry on last year's leaderboard, which goes to show how far the franchise has come since the Brad Radke days of yore.

We know what López can do as the leader of this rotation, and this year could see Ryan and Ober fully realize the promising teases they've shown in the past. Ryan, especially, was going places last season before he made the mistake of trying to pitch through a groin injury.

What I Don't Like

The Twins had a nasty staff in 2023, alright, but it can't be overlooked that Sonny Gray is no longer around and that they'll be missing Jhoan Duran and his triple-digit heat in the bullpen to start the year. He has a right oblique strain.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow Gene Wang/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Tyler Glasnow
  2. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto
  3. RHP Bobby Miller
  4. RHP Gavin Stone
  5. LHP James Paxton

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 14.9

Projected RA-9 WAR: 13.7

What I Like

Yamamoto's major league debut was a disaster, but one bad start isn't a good enough excuse to totally give up on a 25-year-old who had a sub-2.00 ERA in seven seasons in Japan. If he figures it out, he, Glasnow and Miller might form MLB's nastiest trio on stuff alone.

The bullpen is otherwise similar to the one the Dodgers had in the latter half of 2023, when it ripped off a 2.26 ERA. Phillips, who has a 1.59 ERA across the last two seasons, is underrated as one of the best closers in MLB today.

What I Don't Like

It's just as notable who's not listed here, namely Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Brusdar Graterol as they recover from various injuries. And even if he should be fine, the pressure is definitely on Yamamoto to make adjustments.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler Brian Garfinkel/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Zack Wheeler
  2. RHP Aaron Nola
  3. LHP Ranger Suárez
  4. RHP Spencer Turnbull
  5. LHP Cristopher Sánchez

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 20.3

Projected RA-9 WAR: 16.4

What I Like

It would have been something if the Phillies made good on their reported interest in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell, but they can hardly be faulted for not making major changes. This is, after all, a staff that ranked second in WAR last year.

The Wheeler-Nola duo needs no introduction, and Suárez can look overqualified to be a No. 3 starter when he has everything working. The Phillies otherwise have a strong relief foursome in Alvarado-Hoffman-Soto-Domínguez, each of whom boasts good stuff.

What I Don't Like

I'm wary of Nola after he largely struggled in 2023, and even of Wheeler given how many innings are on his 33-year-old arm. There are also immediate health concerns here in the form of Taijuan Walker's stiff shoulder and Orion Kerkering's ongoing recovery from illness.

2. Seattle Mariners

Luis Castillo Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Luis Castillo
  2. RHP George Kirby
  3. RHP Logan Gilbert
  4. RHP Bryce Miller
  5. RHP Bryan Woo

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 17.2

Projected RA-9 WAR: 18.4

What I Like

From top to bottom, Seattle is bringing a better rotation into 2024 than any other team. Each of the front three provided north of 190 innings' worth of above average pitching in 2023, and the two guys at the back end might have better stuff than even Castillo.

Speaking of nasty stuff, Muñoz has a 100 mph fastball but prefers to use a slider that gets whiffs on about half the swings against it. He has elite-level upside in his first full season as a closer.

What I Don't Like

Honestly? I would have had the Mariners' pitching staff at No. 1 on this list if Matt Brash and Gregory Santos were healthy. Alas, they're likely to start the year on the sidelines because of elbow inflammation and a lat strain, respectively.

1. Atlanta

Spencer Strider Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. RHP Spencer Strider
  2. LHP Max Fried
  3. RHP Charlie Morton
  4. LHP Chris Sale
  5. RHP Reynaldo López

Projected Bullpen

Projected fWAR: 19.7

Projected RA-9 WAR: 21.7

What I Like

As if Strider wasn't scary enough, now he has a new curveball. And it's been a featured pitch as he's tallied 35 strikeouts over 22.2 innings this spring. New heights may await him even after he won 20 games and led MLB with 281 strikeouts in 2023.

Speaking of strikeouts, Sale has also racked 'em up in bunches this spring to further help Atlanta's staff post a league-best 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Given the talent involved here, the general theme should carry over into the regular season.

What I Don't Like

Due to age and/or recent injury issues, Fried, Sale and Morton all come with durability questions. But unless one insists on getting hung up on that, it's genuinely hard to find fault with this staff. It's loaded.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

   

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