The game of baseball is built around multiple key components including hitting, fielding and base running. However the one key component that sometimes gets overlooked by the fans is pitching. In reality, pitching in general is possibly the biggest key to any team’s success. This includes starting pitching which continues to see the position evolve over the years as less and less pitchers are showing their ability to go deep into games, pitch to low earned run averages and dominate on the mound. That said, the Top 10 MLB Pitchers in 2021 are as good as any pitchers we have seen over the past few seasons.

While injuries derailed Jacob deGrom’s brilliant 2021 MLB season, he is still the game’s best pitcher and one of the brightest stars in the game. Along with deGrom, the game is filled with other top starting pitchers including Walker Buehler of the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as two way star Shohei Ohtani who has done it both at the plate as well as on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels this season. 

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 MLB Pitchers in 2021.

Top 10 MLB Pitchers

10. Kevin Gausman

Team: San Francisco Giants

Once a highly touted prospect of the Baltimore Orioles, Kevin Gausman has finally found his ability to be a top tier starter since joining the San Francisco Giants. 

Gausman ranks fourth in the Majors in wins (12), fourth in Earned Run Average (2.47), sixth in strikeouts (174 and seventh in WHIP (1.01). 

As good as those numbers have been, Gausman has been one of the best road pitchers this season going 6-2 with a 1.7 Earned Run Average. Since joining the Giants, Gausman is 15-8 with 253 strikeouts over 195.2 innings of work. 

9. Lance Lynn

Team: Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are emerging as a true contender in the American League this season and the key to that success comes from a wide range of players including the likes of the veteran Lance Lynn. Lynn, who bounced around since 2018 has slowly emerged as a dominant starter this season for the White Sox. 

In 23 starts this season, Lynn has posted a 10-3 record to go with an 2.20 Earned Run Average over 130.2 innings of work. In his first four starts of August, Lynn has pitched to a 2.86 Earned Run Average while the White Sox have won three of the four games he has started. 

8. Brandon Woodruff

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Much of the success of the Milwaukee Brewers falls with their success on the mound to include both Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes. In 2019 Woodruff posted an 11-3 record over 22 starts. 

This season despite posting a 7-7 overall record in 24 starts, Woodruff has been as dominant as any starter in baseball. In 24 games, Woodruff has posted a 2.48 Earned Run Average to go with 167 strikeouts in 145.1 innings of work.  

7. Shane Bieber

Team: Cleveland Indians

Injuries have shown up all across Major League Baseball, this is the case with Shane Bieber who has been out with a shoulder injury. Despite the injury, Bieber is one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy. 

Prior to going out, Bieber was 7-4 to start the season with a .328 Earned Run Average to go with 130 strikeouts over just 90.2 innings of work.

Bieber won the AL Cy Young in 2020 while taking home the pitching Triple Crown (lead AL in wins, Earned Run Average and strikeouts). At just 26 years of age, Bieber continues to have a bright future and is expected to return soon. 

6. Max Scherzer

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Age is only a number and that can be said for Max Scherzer as he continues to be one of the top starters in all of baseball year in and year out.

The same can be said of the former Washington Nationals starter and current Los Angeles Dodgers starter. On the year Scherzer is 11-4 overall with an Earned Run Average of 2.65. 

Since being acquired prior to the trade deadline, Scherzer is 3-0 in his four starts with the Dodgers while pitching to a 2.11 earned run average. In addition, Scherzer delivers the Dodgers another starter who has proven to be a solid option within the playoffs. 

5. Corbin Burnes

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers starter is putting together his best season of his young career and one of the best seasons in all of Major League Baseball during the 2021 MLB season

Burnes who is just 26 years old has pitched to a 2.13 earned run average over his first 21 games this season while posting a 8-4 record to go with a .91 WHIP. 

In addition to those numbers, Burners has struck out an impressive 175 batters over just 127 total innings of work. Over his last seven starts, Burnes has a 1.60 earned run average while striking out 55 batters in just 45 innings of work and posting a 4-0 record. 

4. Gerrit Cole

Team: New York Yankees

Despite all the drama around Gerrit Cole this season, Cole has still been one of the game’s best starters and has been over the past few seasons.

The New York Yankees ace has pitched to a 2.92 earned run average this season over 142 innings of work while posting a 12-6 record all while playing in a division that features a ton of offense. 

Over his last two outings, Cole has gone 11.2 innings of work while striking out 15 batters and allowing just one earned run. Cole, who will be 31 in September has led MLB in strikeouts, has earned four spots on the All-Star team and has led the AL in earned run average over the past few seasons. 

3. Shohei Ohtani

Team: Los Angeles Angels

When you think about some of the game’s top pitchers, it is hard to look past the Los Angeles Angels star Shoehei Ohtani. Ohtani who is putting a solid resume together to win the MVP award this season has an 8-1 record through his first 19 starts this season while also showing his power potential at the plate. 

In the end, when looking at him on the mound he is as good as anyone in the game and this is coming after being shut down due to injury just a few seasons ago. In his 18 starts this season, Ohtani has pitched to a 2.79 earned run average while striking out 120 batters in just 100 innings pitched. 

2. Walker Buehler

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Despite sitting at number two on this list, don’t let the ranking take anything away from how good Walker Buehler is and how much he means to the success of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Buehler leads all MLB starters in Earned Run Average (2.11) and ranks in the top 10 in Wins (13), WHIP (0.93), Strikeouts (170) and opponent’s batting average (.190). 

Over his last seven starts, Buehler is 4-1 with a 1.50 Earned Run Average while going 10-2 over his last 15 games with a 1.74 earned run average. In those starts, the Dodgers have won 11 of the 15 games while making up key ground within the NL West.

1. Jacob deGrom

Team: New York Mets

The debate over the best pitcher in baseball could be made with some leaning towards the New York Mets ace and some leaning towards the Los Angeles Dodgers ace.

That said, it is hard to look past how good Jacob deGrom is when he is on the mound. Despite missing over a month of the season, deGrom had put together one of the best starts to the season of any starting pitcher. 

The Mets ace had pitched to a 7-2 record over his first 15 starts with a 1.08 earned run average to go along with 146 strikeouts in 92 innings with an impressive .55 WHIP. In his career, deGrom has won two CY Young Awards, led the NL in strikeouts in back to back seasons and won the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

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