Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of baseball as we dive into Buster Olney's top 10 MLB players at every position for the 2026 season! With spring training camps in full swing, it's time to analyze the state of the game and uncover the stars who will shine brightest this year.
The Great Debate: Skubal vs. Skenes
When it comes to starting pitchers, the debate rages on: Who is the best in the business? Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes? These two pitchers have left industry evaluators scratching their heads, unable to decide between the two generational talents.
Let's break it down. ERA+ favors Skenes, who finished last year with an impressive 217, while Skubal clocked in at 187. Strikeout rate? Skubal takes the lead, whiffing an astonishing 32.2% of batters faced, compared to Skenes' 29.5%. But command-wise, they're neck and neck, with Skubal's walk percentage at a minuscule 4.4% and Skenes not far behind at 5.7%.
One evaluator argues that Skenes' ability to control the running game gives him an edge, but Skubal's stats don't lie: he's allowed only six steals in 13 attempts over the last two seasons, a remarkable feat for a tall right-hander.
Hitters facing these two pitchers often return to the dugout in silence, feeling overmatched. As one AL coach put it, "You can get something to swing at against most pitchers, but with Skubal and Skenes, it's just different."
So, who takes the top spot? Let's dive into the top 10 starting pitchers and find out!
Top 10 Starting Pitchers:
- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
Skubal's left-handedness gives him an edge, according to one manager who believes that all things being equal, you prefer the lefty. And Skubal's track record speaks for itself: he's a two-time Cy Young award winner, an achievement unmatched by any American League pitcher in over 25 years. His fastball is a thing of beauty, and his extraordinary changeup complements it perfectly.
- Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Skenes' supporters argue that he's been hit hard less frequently than Skubal. Last season, he allowed three earned runs or more in only six of his 32 starts, a remarkable feat. His slash line is slightly better than Skubal's, with hitters managing just a .199/.250/.307 line against him.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
Yamamoto's playoff and World Series performance was nothing short of exceptional, and his stats back it up. Opponents batted a mere .183 against him, with a slugging percentage of .283. To put that into perspective, Yamamoto's opponents as a whole had a lower slugging percentage than the worst slugging hitter in the big leagues last year!
- Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox got their money's worth with Crochet, who led the AL in innings (205⅓) and batters faced (814), and struck out a whopping 255 batters. His strikeout rate of 31.3% and ground ball ratio of 48.3% left hitters with little to swing at.
- Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Sanchez was the breakout pitching star of 2025, striking out 212 batters in 202 innings. At just 29 years old, the Phillies have him locked down with a four-year, $22.5 million deal, and he's under contractual control through 2030.
- Hunter Brown, Houston Astros
Brown's ERA+ of 172 last season, coupled with holding opponents to a .201 average, solidifies his spot in the top 10.
- Max Fried, New York Yankees
Fried's career ERA+ of 141 puts him 19th all time, tied with Chris Sale and ahead of baseball legends like Roy Halladay and Whitey Ford.
- Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
Webb is a workhorse starter, a rare breed in MLB these days. He's compiled an impressive 627⅔ innings over the past three seasons and led the majors in starts for the past two years.
- Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
Sale's 2024 Cy Young Award season was followed by a strong 2025 campaign, with a 2.58 ERA in 21 appearances before an injury sidelined him. His Hall of Fame case is looking strong, with dominant seasons bookending an injury-plagued period.
- Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
DeGrom's performance last season, holding hitters to a .196 average in 30 starts, was his best in years. His eventual induction into the Hall of Fame seems assured, given his career ERA+ of 151, which ranks sixth all time.
Honorable Mentions:
- Blake Snell, Dodgers: Snell can be the most dominant pitcher in the big leagues during certain stretches, but his availability is an issue, with just 31 starts over the past two seasons.
- Zack Wheeler and Gerrit Cole, Phillies and Yankees: Both are expected to return early in the season and could easily move back into the top 10 with their talent.
- Freddy Peralta, New York Mets: Peralta finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting last season, with a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts.
- Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners: Woo became the de facto ace of the Seattle rotation last season.
- Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto signed Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal for his power stuff, with 1,106 strikeouts over the past five seasons.
- Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds: Abbott produced 5.6 bWAR for Cincinnati last year, with a 2.87 ERA in 29 starts.
- Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds: Greene has the potential to break into the top 10 with his overpowering stuff, but he's been limited to 370 innings over the last three seasons.
- Carlos Rodon, Yankees: Rodon allowed just 132 hits in 195⅓ innings last season.
- Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays: Gausman has been incredibly consistent over the past five seasons.
- Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals: Kansas City's trade for Ragans, in exchange for impending free agent Aroldis Chapman, is one of the best trades of the past decade.
So, there you have it! Buster Olney's top 10 starting pitchers for the 2026 MLB season. Who do you think should have made the list? And who do you think will be the ace of the pack this year? Let's discuss in the comments and keep the baseball conversation going!
