The Los Angeles Dodgers were represented in MLB Network’s The Shredder’s list of top-10 starting pitchers entering the 2022 season with Walker Buehler checking in at No. 4.
For Buehler it marked a third consecutive year being ranked among the top-10 starting pitchers.
The Shredder focuses on a three-year sample, with the 2021 season weighing more heavily for its latest list. Notable statistics include RA9-WAR, ERA+, and FIP, along with Statcast metrics. The postseason was not included in the evaluation.
Ranked ahead of Buehler are a trio of New York starters, Mets ace Jacob deGrom (No. 1), the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (No. 2), and Max Scherzer (No. 3).
Scherzer opted to sign with the Mets after finishing the 2021 season with the Dodgers following his trade from the Washington Nationals that also included Trea Turner.
Following Buehler on the list are the Milwaukee Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff (No. 6), Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox starter Lance Lynn, Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber, Brewers’ Corbin Burnes, and Lucas Giolito of the White Sox.
Newcomers on the 2022 Shredder rankings are Woodruff, Wheeler, Lynn, Burnes and Giolito.
MLB Network analysts Sarah Langs and Mike Petriello both included Buehler on their top-10 lists, but Vince Gennaro left the right-hander off of his for the second straight year.
Buehler’s omission is baffling considering he has staggering data to support The Shredder’s ranking.
His 2021 season included a few rocky outings that might’ve knocked him from National League Cy Young consideration, but from May 17 through Aug. 31, Buehler was the only starter in baseball with an ERA lower than 1.57 over 131.2 innings. Burnes, the next closest, had a 2.47 ERA in 109.2 innings.
That run included three consecutive months of finishing with an ERA below two. In June, Buehler posted a 1.85 ERA over 39 innings, and in July he pitched to an ERA of 1.67 across 32.1 innings.
Buehler’s rankings among pitchers with at least 120 innings last season: first in RA9-WAR (7.4), second in innings (207.2), fifth in ERA+ (165) and opponents’ batting average (.199), tied for sixth in opponent on-base plus slugging percentage (.586), and tied for seventh in xwOBA (.272).
Among pitchers with at least 350 innings since 2018, Buehler ranks third in opponent OPS (.596) and fourth in ERA (2.82).
ERA leaders last season for the first through sixth inning (minimum 120 innings pitched): Wheeler (2.32 ERA), Woodruff (2.34), Buehler (2.41), Carlos Rodón (2.42) and Burnes (2.48)
Other Dodgers starters in the “just missed” group for The Shredder were Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias.
Starting pitchers ranked by The Shredder for 2022
| Rank | The Shredder | Mike Petriello | Sarah Langs | Vince Gennaro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob deGrom (Mets) | Jacob deGrom (Mets) | Jacob deGrom (Mets) | Jacob deGrom (Mets) |
| 2 | Gerrit Cole (Yankees) | Corbin Burnes (Brewers) | Corbin Burnes (Brewers) | Corbin Burnes (Brewers) |
| 3 | Max Scherzer (Mets) | Gerrit Cole (Yankees) | Max Scherzer (Mets) | Zack Wheeler (Phillies) |
| 4 | Walker Buehler (Dodgers) | Zack Wheeler (Phillies) | Zack Wheeler (Phillies) | Gerrit Cole (Yankees) |
| 5 | Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) | Walker Buehler (Dodgers) | Walker Buehler (Dodgers) | Max Scherzer (Mets) |
| 6 | Zack Wheeler (Phillies) | Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) | Shane Bieber (Guardians) | Carlos Rodón (Giants) |
| 7 | Lance Lynn (White Sox) | Robbie Ray (Mariners) | Gerrit Cole (Yankees) | Shane Bieber (Guardians) |
| 8 | Shane Bieber (Guardians) | Logan Webb (Giants) | Brandon Woodruff (Brewers) | Robbie Ray (Mariners) |
| 9 | Corbin Burnes (Brewers) | Shane Bieber (Guardians) | Max Fried (Braves) | Logan Webb (Giants) |
| 10 | Lucas Giolito (White Sox) | Max Scherzer (Mets) | Robbie Ray (Mariners) | Lance Lynn (White Sox) |
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