Spring training is well underway and we can really start to get excited about baseball. Can I get an Amen? Since much of the game centers around starting pitching, it is essential for managers to know who the best are. Every fantasy staff needs an ace at the top of their rotation. Who are these starting pitchers? Of course, Belly Up is here to help! Let’s take a look at them in this top fantasy starting pitchers edition.

Number Seven: Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies

The perception of Aaron Nola in the fantasy community seems to be that his production doesn’t match his talent. The fact that Nola was only a .500 pitcher last season is probably the biggest fuel for that fire. However, a look at his numbers clearly demonstrates Nola is an ace and one of the best pitchers in the league. Nola started 12 games in 2020 and fashioned an 3.28 ERA, a 1.079 WHIP, a low hits per nine of 6.8 and a high Ks per nine of 12.1. His ERA+ (115) was also one of the best in the N.L.

It is obvious that several baseball observers believe that Nola is one of baseball’s best pitchers. After the season, Nola finished seventh for the Cy Young. Simply put, the Phillies didn’t compete as many thought they would a year ago, which capped Nola’s win total. However, they look like a much better team going into 2021 and Nola will be one of the main catalysts behind that. As a reference to gauge what Nola is capable of, look to his 2018 season. That year, Nola went 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA and a 0.975 WHIP. In addition, he finished third in the Cy Young race. Fantasy managers should have every confidence that Nola will be one of 2021’s top fantasy starting pitchers.

Number Six: Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

Looking at last season’s regular season stats won’t convince anyone that Walker Buehler is anywhere close to being one of the top pitchers in baseball. Buehler appeared in just eight games in 2020 and won only one game. It was during the Dodgers’ postseason run to a championship, however, that Buehler’s true worth was on display. Buehler started four games for Los Angeles in the postseason. The Dodgers won them all and Buehler was every bit the ace when his team needed him.

Against the Braves in the National League Championship Series, Buehler put together an 0.83 ERA in 11 innings. When Los Angeles faced Tampa Bay on the big stage, Buehler started one game and held the Rays to just three hits in six innings. There can be little doubt that the Dodgers don’t even get to the World Series, let alone win it, without Buehler.

Going forward, Buehler should look like the pitcher who had ERAs of 2.62 and 3.26 the two years before 2020. I have every expectation that he will go well beyond his 182.1 inning high in 2019. On a pitching staff with two Cy Young winners, Buehler has the chance to be the ace for the defending champions. I would call his name in the second round this year without issue.

Number Five: Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres

To be sure, Yu Darvish has had some ups and downs since making his major league debut with Texas in 2012. However, Darvish put that all behind him last season. He posted a NL leading eight wins and a 2.23 FIB. In his 12 starts, Darvish fashioned a 2.01 ERA, 93 strikeouts against 14 walks and an outstanding .0961 WHIP. Additionally, his average of seven hits and 11 strikeouts per nine was among the league leaders. His place was cemented as an ace when he finished second in the Cy Young Award race.

Things should be even better for Darvish this season. Darvish was acquired by the Padres in one of their many moves during the offseason. San Diego has the look of a real contender in 2021, In fact, it can be argued that the Padres enter spring training as the second best team in the league. That statement can be debated another time. What is clear, however, is that Darvish will be pitching for a much better team than the Cubs are expected to be this season.

No question, the Padres will put runs on the board for Darvish, which will greatly enhance his win total. Best of all, Petco Park is a much more pitching friendly venue than Wrigley Field ever thought of being. Add it up and Darvish has earned his place on this top fantasy starting pitchers list.

Number Four: Trevor Bauer, Los Angeles Dodgers

After much debate and, frankly, resistance, I came to the conclusion that Trevor Bauer is the fourth best starter in fantasy. Coming off of last season, Bauer looks every bit the part of an ace starting pitcher. He was first in ERA (1.73), WHIP (0.79), hits per nine, complete games and shutouts (two) and adjusted ERA+ (276). He had exactly 100 strikeouts and walked 18 in 73 innings. These stats resulted in Bauer winning the National League Cy Young Award. 

In the offseason, Bauer signed with the defending World Series champion Dodgers. That should be a perfect situation for any pitcher and there should be no questions regarding Bauer coming into the season. However, that is not the case. Bauer meets the definition of the word inconsistent before last season. In five of his seven major league season, Bauer’s ERA was above 4.00. That is not the stat of an ace.

Perhaps Bauer simply learned how to command his pitches better and how to keep his composure in 2020. If that is so, expect that he will maintain his excellence this season. Bauer now pitches for the best team in baseball. They will score runs and provide him the chance for plenty of victories. In my mind, Bauer is clearly behind the top three starters in the game. However, If he is there in the second round and you are on the clock, go ahead and select him as he is one of the top fantasy starting pitchers.

Number Three: Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians

Everything came together in a major way for Shane Bieber in 2020. Bieber matched Degrom and Cole with 12 starts. He finished with an 8-1 record with a 1.63 ERA, 122 strikeouts, 21 walks and an almost otherworldly 0.866 WHIP. He led the American League in almost every pitching category- wins, ERA, strikeouts, ERA+ (281), FIP (2.07), hits per nine (5.4) and strikeouts per nine (14.2). Not only that, he was the ace of a team that made the playoffs and should challenge again this season.

There never was any doubt that Bieber was the most dominant pitcher in 2020. If there was, the baseball post season awards erased it. Bieber was the unanimous Cy Young Award winner in the America League, the first to do it since Justin Verlander in 2011. Without question, everything came up aces for Bieber and those fortunate fantasy owners that drafted him last year.

Even better news is that Bieber’s statistics have improved virtually across the board since his first major league season. Mangers selecting Bieber have every reason to believe his dominance will continue in 2021. He just needs a bit more of a track record to pass the two pitchers above him.

Number Two: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

The next top pitcher on the list is Gerrit Cole. In his first season in New York, Cole was 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA, a 0.959 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 73 innings. His 12 starts matched Jacob Degrom and many others, which was tied for third in baseball. Since 2017, Cole’s highest season ERA is 2.88. That is the very definition of dominance. In two full Astro seasons, Cole won a combined 35 games against only 10 losses.

Additionally, before the shortened 2020 season, Cole pitched more than 200 innings in three straight years and four out of five. Without question, Cole makes every scheduled start and pitches deep into games with the best of them. Lest we forget, Cole has a Yankee offense that will provide him with plenty of run support, which will pile up the victories.

Cole is an ace pitcher in every sense of the word. Fantasy managers should have no reservations in adding him to head a pitching staff.

Number One: Jacob Degrom, New York Mets

Many fantasy managers and baseball experts have Gerrit Cole as the top pitcher in baseball. There is nothing wrong with that. However, he does not top this list. Jacob Degrom does. The reasons are many. In his 12 starts, Degrom finished with a 4-2 record with a 2.38 ERA and a minuscule 0.956 WHIP. Further demonstrating his dominance, Degrom struck out 104 hitters in just 68 innings. Not convinced yet? This stat should seal the deal- Degrom hasn’t posted an ERA above 2.43 in the past three seasons. That is by far the best in baseball.

The main reason that managers would hesitate to draft Degrom in the past is that he simply has not generated many victories. The Mets just haven’t been able to swing the bat and put runs on the board when Degrom takes the mound the last three years. However, expect that to change in 2021. New York bolstered their offense by adding SS Francisco Lindor, one of the top stars in the game, during the offseason. In addition, 1B Pete Alonzo, among others, is poised for a huge bounce back year.

If all goes as planned, and there is every reason to believe that it will, expect Degrom to sail well beyond his 15 win high he posted in 2017. Degrom takes the ball when it’s his turn and pitches deep into games. He has started over 30 games in four of the last five seasons before 2020, Add it all together and Degrom is the firm number one on this top fantasy starting pitchers edition.

Thanks all for joining me for this top fantasy starting pitchers edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Let me know how your rankings differ from mine. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest MLB and sports news!