Who are the top 5 MLB players on last place teams?

#4 – Josiah Gray

Despite having a losing record at 3-5, Josiah Gray is number four on my list. Why? Because the win-loss record doesn’t matter in terms of player value. His ERA still sits below three at 2.73 and he is averaging almost eight strikeouts per nine innings (7.7).

After leading the National League in home runs and walks allowed last season, Gray is averaging under one home run per nine innings this year. Not to mention his walks per nine have also gone down.

Drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, the 25-year-old is in his third season as a big leaguer and second with Washington Nationals. This season has been his best so far in terms of all the major pitching stats like earned run average (ERA).

Gray is part of a young duo at the top of the Nats rotation with left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who is one year younger. To get these two, Washington had to pay a big price. Gray was part of the Max Scherzer and Trea Turner deal with the Dodgers and Gore was part of the Juan Soto and Josh Bell trade with the Padres.