Starting pitching rankings are always fun to do. There are so many variables to consider when ranking pitching. For example, how healthy is the pitcher? Does he have a serious injury history that could surface once again? How hitter-friendly is his home park? How good will his own lineup be in keeping him in the game (especially in the National League.) And how tough is the competition in his division?

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Here are this old scout’s starting pitching rankings for 2020:

1. Gerrit Cole (NYY)

• 2019 Stats: W 20-L 5, 2.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 326 Ks

2. Jacob deGrom (NYM)

• 2019 Stats: W 11-L 8, 2.43 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 255 Ks

3. Max Scherzer (WSH)

• 2019 Stats: 11W-7L, 2.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 243 Ks

4. Walker Buehler (LAD)

• 2019 Stats: W 14-L 4, 3.26 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 215 Ks

5. Justin Verlander (HOU)

• 2019 Stats: W 21- L 6, 2.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 300 Ks

6. Jack Flaherty (STL)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L8, 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 231 Ks

7. Stephen Strasburg (WSH)

• 2019 Stats: W 18- L 6, 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 251 Ks

8. Shane Bieber (CLE)

• 2019 Stats: W 15- L 8, 3.28 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 259 Ks

9. Mike Clevinger (CLE)

• 2019 Stats: W 13- L 4, 2.71 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 169 Ks

10. Luis Castillo (CIN)

• 2019 Stats: W 15- L 8, 3.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 226 Ks

11. Tyler Glasnow (TB)

• 2019 Stats: W 6- L 1, 1.78 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 76 Ks

12. Charlie Morton (TB)

• 2019 Stats: W 16- L 6, 3.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 240 Ks

13. Clayton Kershaw (LAD)

• 2019 Stats: W 16- L 6, 3.035 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 189 Ks

14. Patrick Corbin (WSH)

• 2019 Stats: W 14- L 7, 3.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 238 Ks

15. Chris Paddack (SD)

• 2019 Stats: W 9- L 7, 3.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 153 Ks

16. Noah Syndergaard (NYM)

• 2019 Stats: W 10- L 8, 4.28 ERA, 4.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 202 Ks

17. Blake Snell (TB)

• 2019 Stats: W6- L 8, 4.29 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 147 Ks

18. Zack Greinke (HOU)

• 2019 Stats: W 18- L 5, 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 187 Ks

19. Mike Soroka (ATL)

• 2019 Stats: W 13- L 4, 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 142 Ks

20. Brandon Woodruff (MIL)

• 2019 Stats: Won 11- L 3, 3.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 143 Ks

21. Jose Berrios (MIN)

• 2019 Stats: W 14, L 8, 3.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 195 Ks

22. Yu Darvish (CHC)

• 2019 Stats: W 6- L 8, 3.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 229 Ks

23. Aaron Nola (PHI)

• 2019 Stats: W 12- L7, 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 229 Ks

24. Lucas Giolito (CWS)

• 2019 Stats: W 14- L 9, 3.41 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 228 Ks

25. Zack Wheeler (PHI)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L 8, 3.96 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 195 Ks

26. Frankie Montas (OAK)

• 2019 Stats: W 9- L 2, 2.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 103 Ks

27. Chris Sale (BOS)

• 2019 Stats: W 6- L 11, 4.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 218 Ks

28. Corey Kluber (TEX)

• 2019 Stats: W 2- L 3, 5.80 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 38 Ks

29. Trevor Bauer (CIN)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L 13, 4.48 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 253 Ks

30. Jesus Luzardo (OAK)

• 2019 Stats: W 0-L 0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 16 Ks

31. Carlos Carrasco (CLE)

• 2019 Stats: W 6- L 7, 5.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 96 Ks

32. Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS)

• 2019 Stats: W 19- L 6, 3.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 213 Ks

33. Dinelson Lamet (SD)

• 2019 Stats: W3- L5, 4.07 ERA, 1.26 WHIP. 105 Ks

34. Madison Bumgarner (ARI)

• 2019 Stats: W 9- L 9, 3.90 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 203 Ks

35. Lance Lynn (TEX)

• 2019 Stats: W 16- L 11, 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 246 Ks

36. Sonny Gray (CIN)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L 8, 2.88 ERA, 1,08 WHIP, 205 Ks

37. Hyun-Jin Ryu (TOR)

• 2019 Stats: W 14-L 5, 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 163 Ks

38. Max Fried (ATL)

• 2019 Stats: W 17-L 6, 4.02 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 173 Ks

39. Kyle Hendricks (CHC)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L 10, 3.46 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 150 Ks

40. Mike Minor (TEX)

• 2019 Stats: W 14- L 10, 3.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 200 Ks

41. Zac Gallen (ARI)

• 2019 Stats: W 3-L 6, 2.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 96 Ks

42. Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

• 2019 Stats: no record 

43. Mike Foltynewicz (ATL)

• 2019 Stats: W 8- L 6, .4.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 105 Ks

44. David Price (LAD)

• 2019 Stats: W 7-L 5, 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP. 128 Ks

45. Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)

• 2019 Stats: W 11- L 9, 4.45 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 149 Ks

46. Robbie Ray (ARI)

• 2019 Stats: W 12- L 8, 4.34 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 235 Ks

47. Sean Manaea (OAK)

• 2019 Stats: W 4-L 0, 1.21 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 30 Ks

48. Jake Odorizzi (MIN)

• 2019 Stats: W15- L7, 4.45 ERA, 1.24 WHIP. 178 Ks 

49. James Paxton (NYY)

• 2019 Stats: W15- L 4, 3.82 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 186 Ks

50. Lance McCullers (HOU)

• 2019 Stats: did not pitch

51. Nate Pearson (TOR)

• 2019 Stats: rookie-no record

52. Jose Urquidy (HOU)

• 2019 Stats: W 2- L 1, 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 40 Ks

53. German Marquez (COL)

• 2019 Stats: W12-L5, 4.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 175 Ks

54. Kenta Maeda (MIN)

• 2019 Stats: W 10-L8, 4.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 169 Ks

55. Dallas Keuchel (CWS)

• 2019 Stats: W8-L8, 3.75 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 91 Ks

56. Dylan Bundy (LAA)

• 2019 Stats: W 7-L14, 4.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 162 Ks

57. Matthew Boyd (DET)

• 2019 Stats: W9-L12, 4.57 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 238 Ks

58. Andrew Heaney (LAA)

• 2019 Stats: W4-L6, 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 118 Ks

59. Michael Kopech (CWS)

• 2019: Did not pitch due to surgery

60. John Means (BAL)

• 2019 Stats: W12-L11, 3.60 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 121 Ks

At the time you are reading this, Chris Sale is a huge injury risk. I don’t think he will earn a return this high in the rankings. I have placed him here in the event his elbow and arm issues are not as serious as one might think based upon his spring injury tests.

Blake Snell has had a cortisone shot this spring. Reason for concern.

There are plenty of injury risks with starting pitching-more than these. Be careful.

Others to consider:

Caleb Smith (MIA)

Sandy Alcantara (MIA)

Marcus Stroman (NYM)

Aaron Civale (CLE)

Yonny Chirinos (TB)

Julio Urias (LAD)

Dylan Bundy (LAA)

Ryan Yarbrough (TB)

Johnny Cueto (SF)

Rising: Pearson, Kopech, Glasnow, Luzardo, Lamet

Falling: Nola, Price, Tanaka, Keuchel, Maeda

View more of Bernie’s positional rankings here:

• First Base
• Second Base
• Shortstop
• Catcher
• Outfield
• Closers

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Bernie Pleskoff is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Bernie, follow him @BerniePleskoff and read more of his work here.