Best of Baseball Part 4/4: Best Pitchers Of The Past Decade (2014-present)

Here is part 4 of a 4-part series highlighting the best baseball players of all-time. This week I will be highlighting my top ranking of the best pitchers of the past decade (2014-present) based on my own methodology. Determining the greatest pitchers of the past decade (2014-present) requires a deep dive beyond traditional stats like wins and ERA. To fairly assess a pitcher’s dominance, I analyzed the top performers using seven key categories: WHIP, FIP, Strikeouts, WAR, Strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9), ERA+, and Innings Pitched.

Each category, except for WHIP and Innings Pitched, was scored out of 15, with the best-ranked pitcher receiving 15 points and the 15th-ranked pitcher receiving 1 point. WHIP was given extra weight, with a maximum score of 20, since it directly reflects a pitcher’s ability to keep runners off base. For this analysis, only pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched or 100 career decisions were considered, and they had to have pitched at least half of their career from 2014 to today.

Based on this methodology, here are the top pitchers of the past decade:

10) Corey Kluber

Kluber was one of the most dominant pitchers in the mid-to-late 2010s, winning two AL Cy Young Awards (2014, 2017). He excelled in WHIP and ERA+, making him a formidable ace when healthy.

9) Aaron Nola

Nola has been a model of consistency for the Phillies, consistently racking up high strikeout totals and solid WAR numbers. His WHIP and K/9 highlight his ability to dominate hitters.

8) Blake Snell

Snell, a Cy Young winner in 2018, has been a strikeout machine with an elite ERA+ and K/9 (1st among active players). While injuries have limited his total innings, his peak dominance has been undeniable.

7) Stephen Strasburg

Strasburg played a crucial role in the Nationals’ 2019 World Series run, earning World Series MVP honors. His impressive K/9, WHIP and FIP place him among the best of the decade.

6) Gerrit Cole

Cole’s move to Houston in 2018 unlocked his full potential, leading to a dominant stretch where he became one of the most feared strikeout artists in the league. His elite WHIP, ERA+, and K/9 are among the best in baseball.

5) Justin Verlander

A veteran who has remained elite well into his late 30s, Verlander has won two Cy Young Awards in the past decade and secured a World Series title. His combination of longevity and dominance makes him an all-time great. He is first among active players in IP, first in total strikeouts, and first in pitcher WAR.

4) Max Scherzer

Scherzer’s ability to rack up strikeouts and dominate games deep into his career has been remarkable. A three-time Cy Young winner, he has been a model of consistency and excellence. Scherzer ranks 4th among active players in K/9, 3rd in pWAR, 4th in ERA+ and WHIP, and 2nd to Verlander in total K’s.

3) Chris Sale

When healthy, Sale has been one of the most unhittable pitchers in baseball. His WHIP and K/9 rank among the best in baseball history, and his dominant 2018 postseason run helped Boston win the World Series. Furthermore, Sale ranks 4th in pWAR and 4th among active players in total strikeouts.

2) Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw’s longevity and dominance throughout the decade have been unmatched. With three Cy Youngs and a World Series title, his WHIP and ERA+tank among the best ever but Kershaw is also irreplaceable as he ranks 2nd among active players in pWAR, 3rd in total K’s, and 2nd in FIP. His overall numbers keep him near the top of any list and, when it is all said and done, he should be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer and considered the best LHP in baseball history.

1) Jacob deGrom

DeGrom’s peak has been nearly untouchable. Despite injuries limiting his total innings, his WHIP, FIP, K/9, and ERA+ make him the most dominant pitcher of the past decade. When he’s on the mound, no one is better. Arguably one of the most unhittable pitchers of all-time when healthy.

Final Thoughts

This list reflects the evolving nature of pitching in modern baseball, with strikeout-heavy approaches and dominant WHIP/FIP numbers defining the best of the best. While debates will always continue, one thing is clear: these ten pitchers have shaped the past decade of Major League Baseball with their excellence in an era heavily measured by advanced statistics and technology.

Who do you think should be higher or lower? Let me know your thoughts!

(All data sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and StatMuse.com.)