Here are the top 15 SP in MLB entering the 2025 season:
1. Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
The 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner takes the top spot in 2025. Skubal fared well in his first 20+ start season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in August 2023. He made 31 starts going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 228 strikeouts in 192 IP. There is always a risk with a pitcher who’s undergone multiple surgeries, but Skubal is a top starting arm in fantasy baseball. Skubal should be pegged for another 200+ strikeout season.
2. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
Wheeler has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers since his 2020 arrival in Philadelphia. In three of the last four seasons, Zack Wheeler has 200+ strikeouts, an ERA below 3.00, and WHIP under 1.08 in four straight seasons. He will turn 35 in May but shows no signs of slowing down. Fantasy baseball players that select Wheeler should be excited for a rotation anchor that will again have 200+ strikeouts and WHIP below 1.10.
3. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates’ NL Rookie of the Year showed all baseball fans why he’s a generational talent. Over 23 starts, Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 170 strikeouts in 133 IP. If qualified, his 11.5 K/9 would have led MLB. What makes Paul Skenes special is his front-line starter build and mentality. He generates great power, through his lower half, which should aid in career longevity. He puts in off-season work, and his dominant mentality gives him the edge regardless of the count. He will take another leap in year two and he can easily finish the season as the MLB strikeout leader.
4. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani assumed a full DH role in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He will be back on the mound in 2025, and fantasy baseball players should be ecstatic for his return. Through his five seasons pitching with the Angels, Ohtani posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 608 strikeouts in 481.2 IP. He’s a surefire number one starter but has only made more than 23 starts once. In 2022, Ohtani made 28 starts finishing with a 2.33 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 219 strikeouts in 166 IP. Should he come close to replicating 2022, fantasy owners are getting a CY Young-caliber starter.
5. Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
Gilbert has progressed each year during his first four seasons in the Majors. 2024 saw him reach 200+ IP and 200+ strikeouts for the first time in his career. His current ADP sees him taken as the fifth starting pitcher, and this is a steal for anyone who can grab Gilbert on the first-round/second-round turn in fantasy baseball drafts.
6. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Cole’s 2024 season was disappointing as an elbow injury limited the Yankees ace to 17 starts. There were hiccups along the way as he walked an unusually high number of batters. However, this was to be expected as he never pitched during Spring Training. Fast-forward to this season and Cole has no limitations entering Spring Training. Assuming his elbow issues are a thing of the past, Cole should have another season as a top-10 starting pitcher anchoring fantasy teams.
7. Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres
Cease has been electric since his first full season in 2021. He enters 2025 with four straight seasons with 200+ strikeouts. Before 2024, the one knock on Dylan Cease was walks surrendered. He cut down on free passes and finished with a career-best 3.4 K/BB. Cease’s ADP sees him drafted at the end of the third round, and this is value for a front-line starter who will be among the league leaders in strikeouts.
8. Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks
After spending his first six seasons in the National League, Burns pitched 2025 in the AL East. As expected, his WHIP and hits surrendered increased while seeing a career-low 8.4 K/9. Burnes had a strong 2024 season, albeit with regression in a few areas. He enters 2025 with Arizona and lineups that roster Burnes should expect another top-10 quality season.
9. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox
From the start of the 2024 season until June, Crochet was the most dominant pitcher in MLB. In July, the White Sox started to monitor Crochet’s workload, and rightfully so. Tommy John surgery caused the flame-throwing lefty to miss the entire 2022 season. He made 13 relief appearances in 2023, last season saw Crochet unleash his arsenal making 32 starts and finishing with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 209 strikeouts in 146 IP. He enters this season as a member of the Red Sox and will take another step in his second season starting. Fantasy baseball players should expect Garrett Crochet to finish top-5 in strikeouts.
10. Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City struck gold when they acquired Ragans in 2023. After the acquisition, the lefty made 12 starts going 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts in 71.2 IP. Fantasy baseball players entered last year’s drafts with high hopes and Cole Ragans did not disappoint. He made a career-high 32 starts finishing with a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 223 strikeouts in 186.1 IP. Ragans’ ADP jumped to the early 4th round this season, but his production will justify anchoring a fantasy team’s pitching rotation.
11. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
Sale’s last three seasons in Boston were a nightmare as he couldn’t shrug off the injury bug. He joined Atlanta, via trade, before the 2024 season, regaining his past form and winning the 2024 NL Cy Young Award. After making 31 starts from 2021-2023, Sale finished 2024 with 29 GS finishing with a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts in 177.2 IP. Chris Sale always comes with injury risk, but his elite strikeout potential is worth the risk. The southpaw had a rejuvenated 2024 season, but as he turns 36 in March, the question is how much does he have left in the tank?
12. George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
George Kirby has progressed in each of his first three seasons. 2024 saw him finish with career-highs in games started (33), innings pitched (191), and strikeouts (179). His five-pitch repertoire makes him a nightmare for opposing hitters, and 2025 should be another step forward in Kirby’s fourth Major League season. His current ADP (47.4) sees him as the 13th starting pitcher off the board, and this is great value for a player who produces as a top-10 starter.
13. Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
Valdez enters 2025 as one of the most undervalued pitchers in baseball. At times, he’s the 20th starting pitcher off the board and still finishes as one of the most dependable starting pitchers in fantasy baseball. Entering 2024, Valdez finished back-to-back seasons with 190+ strikeouts and sub-1.17 WHIP. Last season, elbow inflammation limited him to 28 starts, but he still finished with career-best marks in ERA (2.91) and WHIP (1.11). Entering Spring Training with a clean bill of health, the undervalued Valdez will once again make fantasy baseball players wish they left their drafts with him on the roster.
14. Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins
Lopez has never shied away from surrendering home runs, and 2024 saw ups and downs throughout the season. The Twins’ ace battled location issues throughout the season leading to career-highs surrendering 180 hits and 26 home runs. He still had healthy strikeout numbers ending with his third-highest K/9 (9.6). Lopez is dependable having made 30+ starts in three-straight seasons. Fantasy baseball players should not shy away as he’s too good of a pitcher and will bounce back from pitch location issues during the 2024 season.
15. Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers
Some players are nearly obsolete during the first few months of each season. This is true for hitters (e.g. Aramis Ramirez during his MLB career) and pitchers. From 2021-2024, Blake Snell has posted ERAs of 5.38 (2021), 4.80 (2022), 5.11 (2023), and 10.08 (2024) in April and May. This tends to carry over into early June before complete reciprocation and sheer dominance. Fantasy baseball players have become accustomed to awful starts but know Snell will finish in the top-5 in K/9. Last season was rough as Snell did not sign until mid-March, and a lack of Spring Training played a role in muscular injuries. Snell joins the Dodgers rotation in 2025 and will look to finish as a top-20 starting pitcher.