The Major League Baseball season is only one month old and we have seen
some great pitching performances. On April 21, Chicago White Sox pitcher
Philip Humber threw a perfect game against The Seattle Mariners while
Los Angeles Angeles pitcher Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter versus The
Minnesota Twins on May 1. Besides pitching in The American League, these
two represent the new age of young arms in baseball. For this season,
these are my top pitchers in baseball under the age of 30. To the
surprise of many, Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Straburg is not
on the list. I would like to see Strasburg do it for a full season and
stay healthy in order for hm to make his case.
1. Justin Verlander-Detroit Tigers
The reigning American
League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner has been the
victim of three no-decisions on this early season, but Justin Verlander
has given The Tigers a chance to win every time that he has taken the
mound. Verlander’s 42 strikeouts and 45.1 innings pitched this season
are second best in The AL. Verlander has compiled 109 wins since 2006
and he continues to show why he is one of the forces that can carry The
Tigers deep into October.
2. Clayton Kershaw-Los Angeles Dodgers
At 24-years of
age, Clayton Kershaw is emerging as one of the best arms in baseball.
When The Dodgers called Kershaw up in 2008 he was a highly touted
prospect and he has not disappointed. Kershaw won 21 games last season
to earn The National League’s Cy Young Award. Kershaw is 2-0 on the
season and he is primed to help The Dodgers get back to the playoffs for
the first time since 2009. The crafty Texan’s 12-6 curveball and circle
changeup are two of the best pitches to watch in baseball as he
continuously keeps hitters in The National League on their toes.
3. Jered Weaver-Los Angeles Angels
Fresh off of
pitching the first no-hitter of his career, Jered Weaver is the
unquestioned leader of The Angels pitching staff. Weaver went 18-8 last
season and finished second to Verlander for The AL Cy Young Award which
is nothing to be ashamed about. This season Weaver is undefeated with a
record of 4-0. His 45 strikeouts and 1.61 earned run average lead The
American League. In each of Weaver’s starts, he has given The Angels at
least six innings which allows the bullpen to rest. The Angels have
started out of the gate slowly, but you cannot put the blame on Weaver.
4. David Price-Tampa Bay Rays
In 2007, The Tampa Bay
Rays drafted David Price with first overall selection of The MLB Draft
and he has not let them down. Price made his debut coming out of the
bullpen down the stretch for The Rays during the team’s run to The World
Series in 2008. Price is now the ace of the starting rotation and he
does not back down form challenges. Price opened the season for The Rays
against The New York Yankees. Price went 6.1 innings surrendering two
runs while striking out five as Tampa Bay won the game 8-6. Price is
already a two-time All Star and cementing himself as one the best young
arms in baseball.
t5. Matt Cain-San Francisco Giants
To me Matt Cain is
the Rodney Dangerfield of pitching; he constantly gives The San
Francisco Giants a chance to win, but he doesn’t have the victories to
show for it. Since 2007, Cain has gone over the 200 innings pitched
plateau in every season. Cain has a lifetime earned run average of 3.33,
but only has 70 career victories to show for it. The Giants offense
tends to take the night off when Cain pitches which is why he has a sub
.500 record for his career and 2012 is not different for him. On April
18, Cain faced off against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee. Cain
pitched nine shutout innings, but Lee matched him on the mound giving
Cain another no-decision. Cain’s 38.1 innings pitched is second in The
NL to Roy Halladay and he once again has an earned run average south of
3.00. Imagine what Cain’s career would be if he actually got some run
support?
t5. Madison Bumgarner-San Francisco Giants
Last season
Madison Bumgarner got off to a terrible start. Last April, Bumgarner’s
record was 0-4 with an earned run average of 6.17. Bumgarner turned it
around to finish 13-13. This season is a different story for the 22-year
old from Hickory, North Carolina. After a subpar performance in his
first start of the season when he faced The Arizona Diamondbacks,
Bumgarner has won four straight starts. Giants ace Tim Lincecum hasn’t
been his usual shutdown self to start 2012 which puts more on
Bumgarner’s plate to be successful. Pressure is nothing new to
Bumgarner. In 2010 he became the fourth youngest player to win a World
Series game in helping The Giants defeat The Texas Rangers. It won’t be
long before Bumgarner emerges from the shadows of Tim Lincecum and Matt
Cain in San Francisco.
The Major League Baseball season is only one month old and we have seen
some great pitching performances. On April 21, Chicago White Sox pitcher
Philip Humber threw a perfect game against The Seattle Mariners while
Los Angeles Angeles pitcher Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter versus The
Minnesota Twins on May 1. Besides pitching in The American League, these
two represent the new age of young arms in baseball. For this season,
these are my top pitchers in baseball under the age of 30. To the
surprise of many, Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Straburg is not
on the list. I would like to see Strasburg do it for a full season and
stay healthy in order for hm to make his case.
Leave A Comment