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Top 10 fantasy baseball starting pitchers heading into the 2022 season

By Michael Cahill

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Corbin Burnes #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the game against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on September 18, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Corbin Burnes #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the game against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on September 18, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 16: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the New York Mets in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on August 16, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

10. Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman had a great 2021. In 33 starts, he pitched 192 innings and allowed just 150 hits, 60 earned runs, 50 walks, and struck out 227 batters. His ERA was 2.81, his FIP was 3.00, his WHIP was 1.04, and his ERA+ was 145. Toronto has a way with pitching, so expect more of the same from Gausman.

Gausman excels at getting swings and misses. He finished 2021 in the 92nd percentile in chase rate, 85th percentile in strikeout rate, and 81st percentile in whiff rate. This is thanks to his firm fastball that he uses up in the zone and his nasty splitter that has sharp downward break off of the same tunnel.

9. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians

Shane Bieber was limited due to injury in 2021, but he’s one of the most dominant pitchers in the game when he’s healthy. In his 16 starts and 96.2 innings pitched in 2021, he allowed 84 hits, 34 earned runs, 33 walks, and struck out 134 batters. His ERA was 3.17, his FIP was 3.03, his WHIP was 1.21, and his ERA+ was 139.

If you combine his injury-shortened 2021 and the COVID-shortened 2020 seasons, you get almost a full body of work from Bieber. Over that span, he made 28 starts and pitched 174 innings. He allowed just 130 hits, 48 earned runs, 54 walks, and struck out 256 batters for a great K/BB of almost 5-1. His ERA over that span is 2.48, his FIP is 2.60, his WHIP is 1.05, and his ERA+ is a whopping 178.

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