This article is part of our The Z Files series.
Last week's Top 50 Hitters review went over well, so why not come back with the pitching version? As with the batters, year-to-date earnings were determined for the mound men, using parameters from a standard 5x5 league with 15 teams.
How to approach saves was a popular discussion during draft season, as was the utility of dominant relievers. I won't spoil the results, but a few of the notions proved prescient, at least so far.
Rank | Player | TM | $Earned | IP | W | SV | K | ERA | WHIP |
| 1 | Shane Bieber | CLE | $52 | 46.67 | 6 | 0 | 75 | 1.35 | 0.81 |
| The question isn't how does he get away with such a high hard hit rate, but rather how do batters manage to square him up when they make contact? | |||||||||
| 2 | Lance Lynn | TEX | $38 | 45.33 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 1.59 | 0.86 |
| Obviously pitching very well, but numbers aided by unsustainable .189 BABIP | |||||||||
| 3 | Sonny Gray | CIN | $34 | 41.67 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 1.94 | 1.01 |
| .261 BABIP a little low, but really nothing screaming "LUCKY". Even 80.4% LOB mark isn't that wacky. | |||||||||
| 4 | Max Fried | ATL | $33 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 1.35 | 0.95 |
| Zero homers allowed. A 3.58 xFIP hints at what will happen when his good fortune runs out, though a high GB rate should minimize damage. | |||||||||
| 5 | Yu Darvish | CHC | $32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 1.70 | 0.92 |
| Picking up where he left off, most notably a 4.2% walk rate (1.46 BB/9). | |||||||||
| 6 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | $31 | 36.67 | 4 | 0 | 40 | ||
Last week's Top 50 Hitters review went over well, so why not come back with the pitching version? As with the batters, year-to-date earnings were determined for the mound men, using parameters from a standard 5x5 league with 15 teams.
How to approach saves was a popular discussion during draft season, as was the utility of dominant relievers. I won't spoil the results, but a few of the notions proved prescient, at least so far.
Rank | Player | TM | $Earned | IP | W | SV | K | ERA | WHIP |
| 1 | Shane Bieber | CLE | $52 | 46.67 | 6 | 0 | 75 | 1.35 | 0.81 |
| The question isn't how does he get away with such a high hard hit rate, but rather how do batters manage to square him up when they make contact? | |||||||||
| 2 | Lance Lynn | TEX | $38 | 45.33 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 1.59 | 0.86 |
| Obviously pitching very well, but numbers aided by unsustainable .189 BABIP | |||||||||
| 3 | Sonny Gray | CIN | $34 | 41.67 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 1.94 | 1.01 |
| .261 BABIP a little low, but really nothing screaming "LUCKY". Even 80.4% LOB mark isn't that wacky. | |||||||||
| 4 | Max Fried | ATL | $33 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 1.35 | 0.95 |
| Zero homers allowed. A 3.58 xFIP hints at what will happen when his good fortune runs out, though a high GB rate should minimize damage. | |||||||||
| 5 | Yu Darvish | CHC | $32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 1.70 | 0.92 |
| Picking up where he left off, most notably a 4.2% walk rate (1.46 BB/9). | |||||||||
| 6 | Kenta Maeda | MIN | $31 | 36.67 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 2.21 | 0.71 |
| Buoyed by .186 BABIP but 5.1% walk rate also keeping ducks off the pond. | |||||||||
| 7 | Trevor Bauer | CIN | $30 | 32.67 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 1.65 | 0.73 |
| Approaching Saberhagen-like every other year status. Elite spin rates getting it done. | |||||||||
| 8 | Liam Hendriks | OAK | $27 | 16.33 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 1.10 | 0.67 |
| Perfect in 10 chances, the exception to "better to wait on closers" mantra. | |||||||||
| 9 | Jacob deGrom | NYM | $27 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 1.80 | 0.83 |
| Lack of wins has reached the comical stage. | |||||||||
| 10 | Lucas Giolito | CWS | $25 | 43.67 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 3.09 | 1.01 |
| Had 4.88 ERA and 1.41 WHIP two starts ago. | |||||||||
| 11 | Clayton Kershaw | LAD | $25 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1.80 | 0.77 |
| Pitching well, but driven by 106.3% LOB mark -- 6 ER on 5 HR. | |||||||||
| 12 | Dylan Bundy | LAA | $25 | 38.33 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 2.58 | 0.89 |
| Reward for a stellar month in Anaheim could be a ticket back to the AL East. | |||||||||
| 13 | Gerrit Cole | NYY | $25 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 3.51 | 0.95 |
| One of only six qualified starters with more HR allowed (10) than walks (8), The others are Chris Paddack, Marco Gonzales, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Lester and Aaron Civale. | |||||||||
| 14 | Dinelson Lamet | SD | $25 | 38.33 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 2.35 | 0.94 |
| Sure, .203 BABIP, 9.1% HR/FB and 86.3% LOB are a tad fortunate, but a higher K% and lower BB% show skills growth. | |||||||||
| 15 | Dallas Keuchel | CWS | $23 | 43.33 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 2.70 | 1.04 |
| Wins balancing low whiffs in earnings. 56% GB rate helping keep homers down, 3.78 xFIP warns what could happen if luck runs out. | |||||||||
| 16 | Aaron Nola | PHI | $22 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 3.00 | 0.92 |
| Showing consistency he lacked last year. | |||||||||
| 17 | Zach Davies | SD | $22 | 35.67 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 3.03 | 0.84 |
| Big lift from Lady Luck with a 7.7% HR/FB mark. Beware, 4.14 xFIP portends trouble, especially with a low 38.3% GB rate. | |||||||||
| 18 | Framber Valdez | HOU | $20 | 38.33 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 2.35 | 1.10 |
| Two homers perhaps artificially low, but also a function of 58% GB mark. | |||||||||
| 19 | Aaron Civale | CLE | $19 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 3.15 | 1.03 |
| Big improvements in K% and BB% helping to fend off ERA correction based on last season's peripherals. | |||||||||
| 20 | Randy Dobnak | MIN | $19 | 30.33 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1.78 | 1.02 |
| Unfair to call it a mirage, but the penalty for a high GB rate keeping the ball in the yard is usually a high BABIP, and Dobnak sitting at .226. A 4.08 FIP and xFIP foretell a bumpier second half. | |||||||||
| 21 | Kenley Jansen | LAD | $18 | 13.67 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 1.32 | 0.80 |
| Going Mariano on us, throwing over 70% cutters. | |||||||||
| 22 | Zack Greinke | HOU | $16 | 35.33 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2.29 | 0.91 |
| How many pitchers have the guts to use a 65 mph Eephus curve to set up an 85 mph "fastball"? | |||||||||
| 23 | Merrill Kelly | ARI | $16 | 31.33 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2.59 | 0.99 |
| Expected to miss rest of season after being treated for a blood clot in his shoulder. Too bad as he's showing signs of improvement teased late last year. | |||||||||
| 24 | Zac Gallen | ARI | $15 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2.25 | 1.06 |
| Everyone's favorite breakout guy coming through. That said, 93.8% LOB% says ERA correction on the way. | |||||||||
| 25 | Kyle Hendricks | CHC | $14 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 3.55 | 1.00 |
| Keeps doing his thing. | |||||||||
| 26 | Marco Gonzales | SEA | $13 | 34.67 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 3.63 | 1.01 |
| Numbers driven by a career best 22% K%, but SwStr is the same as last season (7.9%) when K-rate was 17%. Something has to give. | |||||||||
| 27 | Brandon Woodruff | MIL | $13 | 36.67 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 3.19 | 1.15 |
| Numbers nearly identical to last season, with the exception of a lower HR/FB. | |||||||||
| 28 | Zach Plesac | CLE | $13 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1.29 | 0.67 |
| Big spike to 31% K% supported by 13.5% SwStr%, but lost rotation spot to Triston McKenzie so we won't see if it's sustainable, at least for now. | |||||||||
| 29 | James Karinchak | CLE | $12 | 16.67 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0.54 | 0.66 |
| Confirming how useful dominant relievers are in today's landscape - there will be more on the list. | |||||||||
| 30 | Josh Hader | MIL | $12 | 9.33 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0.00 | 0.54 |
| Mind-blowing he only has 9.1 IP without an injury. | |||||||||
| 31 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | TOR | $12 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 3.19 | 1.03 |
| Showing his stuff plays even out of Dodger Stadium. | |||||||||
| 32 | Pablo Lopez | MIA | $11 | 27.33 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1.98 | 1.24 |
| One homer allowed obviously helping, but 60% GB rate will do that. A .325 BABIP and 73.6% LOB hint at some bad luck. Let's hope for 4 or 5 more starts to get a better read. | |||||||||
| 33 | Zack Wheeler | PHI | $11 | 32.67 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 2.76 | 1.10 |
| Strikeouts artistically low, has nearly the same SwStr% as last season, but sporting career low 15.8% K% compared to last season's 23.5%. | |||||||||
| 34 | Jordan Romano | TOR | $11 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0.64 | 0.86 |
| Is this the same guy posting a 7.63 ERA and 1.70 WHIP last season? His player page says yes, but he's a completely different guy after adding 2 mph to his fastball and over 4 mph to his slider, which he's using much more. | |||||||||
| 35 | Kyle Freeland | COL | $11 | 37.67 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 2.87 | 1.12 |
| Catching big breaks at home where his K%-BB% is only 5.4%, but his LOB at Coors is 95.2% | |||||||||
| 36 | Chris Bassitt | OAK | $11 | 33.33 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2.97 | 1.08 |
| Solid pitcher, but not this good. Aided by .247 BABIP and 8.1% HR/FB. | |||||||||
| 37 | Cristian Javier | HOU | $11 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 3.77 | 1.03 |
| Fly ball pitcher, so a low BABIP is expected, but not .194. | |||||||||
| 38 | Matt Foster | CWS | $10 | 13.33 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0.00 | 0.53 |
| Don't assume no runs allowed is all luck. A 2.47 SIERA and 2.45 xFIP are encouraging. | |||||||||
| 39 | Jonathan Hernandez | TEX | $10 | 17.33 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2.08 | 0.92 |
| Another example of the utility of a dominant reliever. Impressed in the spring and carried it over to the season. | |||||||||
| 40 | Danny Duffy | KC | $9 | 29.33 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 3.99 | 0.99 |
| Same SwStr% as last season, but Duffy's 2020 K% spiked to 28.3% after 19.7% in 2019. Landing point is likely in between. | |||||||||
| 41 | Antonio Senzatela | COL | $9 | 36.33 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 3.96 | 1.10 |
| Only 12 of 36.1 IP at home, but a 3.53 xFIP in Coors better than road 4.87 xFIP. Even so, stuff not good enough to keep up this pace. | |||||||||
| 42 | Brad Hand | CLE | $9 | 9.67 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 3.72 | 1.03 |
| Nine saves in 9.2 IP says club is avoiding usage in non-save scenarios, but high total also driving earnings. | |||||||||
| 43 | Joakim Soria | OAK | $9 | 14.67 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 1.23 | 1.02 |
| Has managed to squeeze in two saves despite Hendriks' league-leading 10. | |||||||||
| 44 | Nick Anderson | TB | $8 | 9.33 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 0.00 | 0.54 |
| Another guy without a run allowed, albeit in just 9.1 frames. | |||||||||
| 45 | Scott Barlow | KC | $8 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 1.50 | 0.94 |
| Could close if Trevor Rosenthal is moved at the impending deadline. | |||||||||
| 46 | Brad Keller | KC | $8 | 21.67 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 2.08 | 1.15 |
| No homers covering up for elevated 12.5% walk rate, but improved slider helping strikeouts. Control is key. Fewer walks and Keller has the stuff to take it up a notch. | |||||||||
| 47 | Blake Snell | TB | $8 | 23.67 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3.04 | 1.10 |
| Pitching like an ace, but earnings down since innings were limited early. Should be ready to lose the kids glove approach. | |||||||||
| 48 | Trevor Rosenthal | KC | $8 | 13.67 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 3.29 | 1.17 |
| Health, and a history with Mike Matheny will do wonders. | |||||||||
| 49 | Dylan Cease | CWS | $8 | 31.67 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 3.13 | 1.33 |
| High pedigree prospect, on the surface looks like a breakout, but a 5.56 xFIP and 5.97 FIP says pump the brakes. | |||||||||
| 50 | Elieser Hernandez | MIA | $8 | 23.67 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 3.04 | 0.97 |
| Like his teammate Lopez, more starts are needed to gauge extent of the early success. However, a 3.52 xFIP is encouraging, though it's hard to imagine keeping up a 28.9% K%-BB% once the innings add up. | |||||||||
