Ranking the Top 5 Starting Pitchers in the AL Central for 2015

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few seasons ago, the AL Central was considered to be a bothersome rash on the chest of the MLB. For the most part, the teams were lackluster and quite unexciting. The enigma that baseball encapsulates had essentially been lost in Midwestern baseball.

That has drastically changed as heading into the 2015 season the AL Central Division is among one of the most powerful in the league. If not, the most powerful. Buster Olney of ESPN boasts that the Central is the place to be:

“Considering the off-season moves, you can make a strong case that the AL Central is now baseball’s best, with all of its Cy Young Award-caliber pitchers to its elite hitters to the great bullpens of the Royals and Indians.”

Among the deluge of talent lies a treasure trove of elite pitchers. From the South Side of Chicago to the Motor City to the Show-Me-State, pitching is at an absolute abundance heading into this season. And it is certain these flame-throwers will affect the payoff race on a daily basis. It is now time to rank the top 5 starting pitchers in the AL Central (as well as some honorable mentions) for the 2015 season.

Honorable Mention: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) reacts after a two-run home run by Baltimore Orioles right fielder

(not pictured) during the third inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Everybody calm down….

I know, we’ve all been frustrated with Justin Verlander these past couple of seasons, but it seems as though this will be the year in which the former AL MVP returns to form.

Motor City Bengals’ very own Tom Zahari believes Verlander can bounce back and look like him old self:

I believe that core surgery led to most of Verlander’s struggles in 2014. He did not have the same off-season regimen, and his average fastball velocity took a steeper decline than previous years, from 94.0 to 93.1 m.p.h. from 2013 to 2014, compared with 95.0 to 94.7 from 2011 to 2012 and 94.7 to 94.0 from 2012 to 2013. I don’t expect Verlander’s velocity to shoot back up to 94 or 95 on average, but he still can reach back for the mid- to upper-90s when he needs it.

It’s strange, though, as Verlander hasn’t been as bad as everybody think; he was 15-12 last season, with a 4.54 ERA. The year before, he was 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA. We all know what he’s capable of, and Verlander himself believes he’s recaptured his past self: “I’ve added 20 pounds of muscle…and my pitching motion already feels more fluid than it did a year ago. It was great having an uninterrupted off-season of training and conditioning.”

He is more than capable of dominating hitters, and I predict this will be the “Summer of JV.”

Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals

Oct 28, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during game six of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The 23 year-old Ventura took the division by storm in 2014 racking up 14 wins and placing sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting; he also lent a helping hand in the Royals’ miraculous postseason run. The potential that this young man holds is indescribable, as he is durable (183 IP in 14′) and consistent (3.20 ERA). Ventura did all this in his first full season and it would be expected for his success to continue as he matures. With Ventura, it only seems to be uphill from here.

5. Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox

August 30, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) pitches the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Jeff Samardzija experiment didn’t go very well for the Oakland Athletics, but it would be very surprising if it went poorly for the Chicago White Sox. At first glance, Samardzija’s 2014 looks like nothing special, going 7-13. But, you have to remember that for the first half of the season, he played for a very poor Chicago Cubs team. And for the last month of the season a very lackluster Oakland ball club. At the very core of his performance the former Notre Dame Wide Receiver (you read that right) was actually quite good. His 2.99 ERA made him one of only 22 big league pitchers to post a sub-3.00 ERA, while his 202 strikeouts clocked him in at 13th most in the entire MLB.

Samardzija has played almost his entire career for an abysmal team. The guy has had absolutely no help his entire time in the majors, but with a rotation to compliment him and a competitive lineup to back his starts, 2015 will show us a revamped Jeff Samardzjia.

4. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins

Aug 16, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes (45) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Hughes…remember that guy? Used to pitch for the New York Yankees?

Yea, well, he plays for the Minnesota Twins and he’s actually pretty good now. Of course nobody is aware of this due to the Twins complete irrelevance in competitive baseball. Hughes completely reinvented himself, Matt Goldman of Beyond The Box Score explains:

He (Hughes) reached 200 innings for the first time in his career, produced an fWAR of 6.1 (good for 4th among all pitchers), and even set the all-time single season record for best strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.63).

His 16-10 record is quite impressive considering the Twins only won 70 games in 2014. Hughes accumulated 209.2 innings pitched, 186 strikeouts, and placed 7th in AL Cy Young voting. In this instance, a change of scenery really did make a difference and it would be expected that this success will continue with the addition of Ervin Santana in the Minnesota rotation. And with a big pay raise, Hughes should have an extra hop in his step this coming season.

3. Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Aug 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) walks back to the dugout after the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Kluber had an incredible 2014. It was a season in which he captured the AL Cy Young Award, led the American League with 18 wins, and posted a 2.44 ERA. 2014 really was a defining year for the 28 year-old righty, and he looks as though he can be a legitimate ace. So why is he only number three on the list?

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Because of the doubt that lingers over Kluber’s future, that’s why. It is highly unlikely that he is able to replicate, or even come close to is Cy Young season.

Let this be clear, Corey Kluber was the fiercest pitcher in the entire land for a few months, even managing to rack up up the 2nd most strikeouts in the AL with 269. But his numbers before last season were nothing to speak of; the first three seasons of his career he only logged 214 innings. In 2012, his ERA ballooned to 5.14, while heading into 2014 Spring Training Kluber was competing for a rotation spot. Until he is an established pitcher who has multiple good seasons under his belt, suspicion and hesitation will surround him.

And he is well aware of that:

“It’™s a nice accomplishment, but my focus now is on 2015, because it doesn’™t mean anything, this upcoming season, what happened last season.”

2. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

Aug 24, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Sale is the future of pitching, and do not let the fact that he resembles a broomstick with arms detract from that. The 6’6 left-hander has aged like wine, progressively getting better every year. His first full season, 2012, was immaculate, going 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA. 2013 showed a less wins, going 11-14, but an almost identical ERA with 3.07.

In 2014 a flexor muscle injury sideline Sale for a little over a month, which makes it hard to compare his numbers to his peers. For his sample size, though, his 2014 may have been his best season yet: 12-4 record, 2.17 ERA, 208 strikeouts, and 174 IP. Sale captured his third straight All Star appearance and placed third in AL Cy Young voting. For missing a month, Chris Sale still managed to wear the pants in the Windy City. His career has been a continuous buildup and with an expanding repertoire, Sale’s ceiling is incredibly high. It also doesn’t hurt that Jeff Samardzija is there to help, and a legitimate offense now resides on the South Side of Chicago.