MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: How Every Team’s Ace Stacks Up Around the League

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3. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
6-3, 2.69 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 5.2 K/BB

Much like Gerrit Cole, Wheeler got out to a brutal start to the season. His opener against the Mets was fine, but then he get shelled by both the Marlins and the Brewers and entered his final start of April with an 8.53 ERA.

And much like Cole, he has been mostly masterful since then. Over his last nine starts, Wheeler has a 1.40 ERA and better than six strikeouts per walk, despite needing to navigate five straight games against the Dodgers, Padres, Braves, Mets and Angels.

Business as usual for last year’s Cy Young runner-up, who is aiming for a third consecutive season with a sub-3.00 ERA.

2. Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
4-4, 2.52 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 11.4 K/9, 5.9 K/BB

By his absurd standards, Burnes is having a down year. Between 2020 and 2021, he had a 2.34 ERA with a 12.8 K/9 rate, allowing 0.36 home runs per 9 IP.

But he’s still having a ridiculously good season and is in the running to repeat as NL Cy Young winner.

Burnes’ 11.4 K/9 rate is down for him, but it’s the best mark in the National League, as he has racked up 100 punchouts. Even though he has already allowed more home runs (10) than in the previous two seasons combined (nine), they have mostly been solo shots, keeping his ERA in great shape.

In his only start against St. Louis, he went seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts to get the W. If he can repeat that feat Monday, it will put the Brewers back in sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

1. Max Scherzer, New York Mets
5-1, 2.54 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 10.7 K/9, 5.4 K/BB

He’s on the IL with an oblique strain, but Scherzer isn’t one of those “If he can stay healthy” types of pitchers who can’t seem to fulfill his contractual duties. He has rarely missed any turns through the rotation over the previous decade, including the time in 2019 when he pitched seven scoreless innings with a broken nose and black eye.

When he comes back from the IL in the next couple of weeks, we fully expect Mad Max to harness his dominant form again.

Prior to the oblique injury, Scherzer made three solid starts against Philadelphia and was ruthless in his stifling of San Francisco, St. Louis and Seattle. It’s a shame he missed the early June series against the Dodgers, but a showdown between MLB’s highest-paid pitcher and MLB’s top payroll has a good chance to transpire in the postseason.