The Baseball Scholar

I may sound like a broken record but there are dozens of ways to evaluate a pitchers ability. I prefer using advanced metrics because, while the math may be biased towards a skill or set of skills it removes individual preferences (I stubbornly like Tom Seaver over Sandy Koufax or vice versa, regardless of what numbers tell me). Below is a list of the best pitchers from the 2017 season based on ERA+. Take a look at the names and the numbers and see if you agree.

• T – 9. Marcus Stroman



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Toronto Blue Jays

Marcus Stroman

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
149	5.8	33	13	9	3.09	201	2	0	0	82	69	62	164	7.3	1.308

---

• T – 9. Zack Greinke



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks

Zack Greinke

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
149	6.0	32	17	7	3.20	202.1	1	0	0	80	72	45	215	9.6	1.072

---

• 8. Gio Gonzalez



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Washington Nationals

Gio Gonzalez

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
150	6.6	32	15	9	2.96	201	0	0	0	69	66	79	188	8.4	1.179

---

• 7. Luis Severino



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: New York Yankees

Luis Severino

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
152	5.3	31	14	6	2.98	193.1	0	0	0	73	64	51	230	10.7	1.040

---

• 6. Chris Sale



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Boston Red Sox

Chris Sale

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
157	6.0	32	17	8	2.90	214.1	1	0	0	73	69	43	308	12.9	0.970

---

• 5. Robbie Ray



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks

Robbie Ray

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
166	5.0	28	15	5	2.89	162	1	1	0	57	52	71	218	12.1	1.154

---

• 4. Stephen Strasburg



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Washington Nationals

Stephen Strasburg

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
176	6.5	28	15	4	2.52	175.1	1	1	0	55	49	47	204	10.5	1.015

---

• 3. Max Scherzer



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Washington Nationals

Max Scherzer

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
177	7.3	31	16	6	2.51	200.2	2	0	0	62	56	55	268	12.0	0.902

---

• 2. Clayton Kershaw



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
180	4.6	27	18	4	2.31	175	1	0	0	49	45	30	202	10.4	0.949

---

• 1. Corey Kluber



• Positions: Starting Pitcher
• Teams: Cleveland Indians

Corey Kluber

ERA+	WAR	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	SHO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	SO/9	WHIP
202	8.0	29	18	4	2.25	203.2	5	3	0	56	51	36	265	11.7	0.869

---