Dodgers Starting Pitcher Moves up to top MLB world ranking

Tyler Glasnow, the top pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, rose four spots in Eno Sarris’ most recent Major League Baseball starting pitcher rankings, which were updated on Friday by The Athletic.

Glasnow has moved up from No. 8 to No. 4 this week, impressing Sarris, who had the following to say about him:

“There is humor in the cosmos. That is, assuming Glasnow is going to have a season that is largely healthy when everything else in the pitching world falls apart around him. The Dodgers right-hander has improved his slider to its finest level ever, adding a power two-seamer that is just as nasty as the rest of his arsenal, and is even hitting pitches with an above-average rate of location on the mound. Don’t worry about tomorrow; he’s well now.”

Sarris employs a combination of strikeout-minus-walk rate, Stuff+, and fastball reliability rather than focusing solely on earned run average. Another factor is the eye exam.

This season, Glasnow has been passable but not outstanding. His performance against the Minnesota Twins two starts ago was so overpowering that he tied a career-high with 14 strikeouts, looking almost unhittable. He completely turned around in his last start against the Washington Nationals. He lost control of his fastball and gave up six runs in five innings.

Though the season is still early, Glasnow and the rest of the starting rotation should improve.

“They’re going to improve,” stated manager Dave Roberts. “I believe that we’re balancing the workload and health fairly well. It is, however, a two-way street. Indeed.