3. Jordan Zimmermann
5-0, 33 IP, 0.55 ERA, 7 BB, 23 K, 1.9 WAR (as of 4/30)
When the Detroit Tigers signed Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year contract in the offseason, they expected to get a reliable, consistent starting pitcher. What they got in the month of April was one of the best hurlers in the game.
The right-hander has won all five of his starts thus far. He has surrendered only two earned runs in 33 innings, giving him the top ERA (0.55) among both leagues. Zimmermann has allowed 28 hits (7.6 H/9) and walked seven (1.9 BB/9) as well. What makes his hot start even more impressive is that he is doing it with the lowest K/9 rate of his career: 23 strikeouts for a rather ordinary 6.3 K/9.
Zimmermann won’t remain this dominant for the rest of the season, but right now he’s locked in like never before. Detroit hasn’t seen a pitching display like this since Justin Verlander in his prime. While Zimmermann is surely a leading candidate for the AL Cy Young at this point, he also deserves some recognition in the early MVP race.
Next: Josh Donaldson