The art of dominant starting pitching has taken a hit in today’s baseball. Clubs are relying more on their bullpen to win games. The MLB analytics show that a starting pitcher needs only to pitch five quality innings before handing the ball over to the pen. Each reliever who comes into the game throws harder than the previous pitcher in order to preserve a lead.
Despite the success of this formula, teams still need an ace atop their starting rotation. It will help to avoid any threat of over-working the bullpen. These incredible talents can consistently throw seven-to-eight innings each outing. And not surprising, they’re the leaders in wins for a given season.
The start of the 2022 MLB season is two months away and quality starting pitching will be on everyone’s mind. Usually, those starters with the most wins are the leading contenders for the Cy Young Award for their respective league.
Some of the top free MLB picks for most wins in the majors for the 2022 season include New York Yankees Gerrit Cole +650, Los Angeles Dodgers Walker Buehler +750 and New York Mets free-agent acquisition Max Scherzer +800. Each hurler is poised to have another outstanding season with a high number of wins.
Here are the odds for the MLB regular-season wins leader courtesy of DraftKings:
- Cole, Yankees +650
- Buehler, Dodgers +750
- Scherzer, Mets +800
- Zach Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies +900
- Jacob deGrom, Mets +1000
- Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays +1500
- Jose Berrios, Blue Jays +1500
- Framber Valdez, Houston Astros +1800
- Julio Urias, Dodgers +2000
- Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers +2000
Cole Expected at The Top Once Again
Cole is heading into his third season with the Yankees. He has exceeded everyone’s expectations since he arrived in New York. Cole has proven himself to be a workhorse, an upper-echelon (96 wins since 2015) starter who can pitch late into games. No question, he is the No.1 starter of the Yankees rotation.
A hamstring injury did lessen his effectiveness during the last two months of the 2021 season. However, it did not prevent him from finishing second to Robbie Ray for the American League Cy Young Award this year. You can expect Cole’s final win total in 2022 to be near the top of the leaderboard at season’s end.
Buehler is MLB’s Rising Star
A new name to the mix is Buehler, who has taken over the role as being the Dodgers top starting pitcher. He may have the best value on the board as he finished last season with a 16-4 record, 2.47 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. But like Cole, Buehler had his season comprised because of blister issues on his throwing hand. It did not cause him to miss starts, but the blister did force him to take more time between starts. Still, Buehler is an excellent free MLB pick for the top win total in 2022. The Dodgers have a potent batting lineup that can provide ample run support for their talented young pitcher.
Scherzer: New Surroundings, Same Results?
Oddsmakers expect Scherzer to be near the top in the wins category for major pitchers this season. No one should temper their expectations of him because of his celebrated move to New York. Some experts feel Scherzer may have better market value than his new teammate Jacob deGrom.
The old vet has accumulated 190 wins since his major league debut in 2008. Last season, Scherzer won 15 games, splitting his time between the Washington Nationals and the Dodgers. The lone negative was the arm fatigue he suffered in the postseason. It forced him to miss a start against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Despite the setback, expectations are high that Scherzer will return to form this season.
