2 new names join latest Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

Consistency is the friend of any starting pitcher, and the names that make up the latest Starting Pitcher Power Rankings have shown it in spades this season. So much so that most of them are in exactly the same spot as the last time we ranked them. But there are some interesting changes, too.

Two new names join the rankings for this edition, while a couple of other guys have swapped spots. The biggest takeaway, though? There are a lot of exceptional starters in the Majors this season.

Here are the fifth Starting Pitcher Power Rankings of the season, as voted on by a panel of MLB.com experts.

All stats are through Tuesday unless otherwise noted.

1. Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (Last poll: 1)

This was a no-brainer. Sánchez entered Wednesday's start against the Padres having not allowed a run in 44 2/3 innings. Then he pitched six more scoreless innings before finally allowing a run to cap the string of zeros at 50 2/3 innings. Since May 5, the lefty has struck out 53 batters and walked none over 46 innings, translating to a 0.72 WHIP. That's dominance. Sánchez's 1.46 ERA is best in the Majors among qualified pitchers and he led all pitchers with 4.3 bWAR entering Wednesday. He was just named NL Pitcher of the Month for May, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's also vaulted to the top of the latest NL Cy Young poll.

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2. Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (2)

This guy already has a cool nickname: The Miz. But you could also call him Mr. Gasman, Mr. Light Speed or anything else that signifies that he throws the ball insanely hard. He threw 20 straight pitches at 100 mph or harder to begin his last start, which capped a May in which he posted a 0.23 ERA and fanned 57 batters in 38 1/3 innings. The righty's 108 strikeouts are the most of any MLB pitcher. P.S.: He was also named NL Player of the Week on Monday.

3. Cam Schlittler, Yankees (3)

Schlittler's last start didn't go so well (four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Guardians on Tuesday), but that's been the one outlier in an otherwise stellar season. In fact, it was the first time all season he'd allowed more than three earned runs. His 1.89 ERA still leads the AL, as do his 2.12 FIP and 0.86 WHIP. Meanwhile, opponents are batting just .191 against him. It all explains why the righty landed at the top of the latest AL Cy Young poll.

4. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (4)

With 61 innings pitched through Wednesday (the Dodgers' 62nd game of the season), Ohtani remains just under the one-inning-per-scheduled-game threshold to qualify for stat leads, but that certainly doesn't change how dominant he's been on the mound. In 10 starts, the two-way superstar has pitched to a 6-2 record and a 0.74 ERA in 61 innings. Ohtani hasn't allowed more than two runs in any start and has allowed just one run total over his past four.

5. Chris Sale, Braves (6)

At 37, Sale is easily the oldest pitcher on this list. But he keeps giving off Ageless Wonder vibes, which has helped bump him up one spot since the last rankings. Sale's eight wins are the most of any NL starter, while his 2.01 ERA ranked fourth in the NL and fifth in MLB. Since April 12, the lefty has pitched to a 1.41 ERA and struck out 64 batters in 51 innings and kept himself in the NL Cy Young conversation.

6. Paul Skenes, Pirates (5)

Skenes remains a Cy Young favorite, but he dips one slot in these rankings after pitching to a 5.87 ERA over his previous three starts before Wednesday's outing, all losses. He tossed a total of 15 1/3 innings during those starts after averaging seven innings in his previous four. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday against the Astros, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. But don't be fooled: Skenes is still really good. His 0.91 WHIP ranks third in the Majors among qualified pitchers, while his .198 opponents' average ranks sixth. His 3.09 ERA is outside the NL's top 10, but still strong.

7. Chase Burns, Reds (7)

Burns has emerged as one of the more dynamic pitchers in the game, and the 23-year-old hard-throwing righty has become a familiar name on the leaderboards. His 1.96 ERA is fourth-best in the Majors, while his .184 opponents' average ranks second. Among his NL peers, his 0.96 WHIP ranks fourth. His 81 strikeouts also have him 10th in MLB in that category. Burns had a 1.19 ERA in May and went 4-0.

8. Gerrit Cole, Yankees (not ranked)

Cole had made just two starts this season before Wednesday's outing after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2025, but he looked good enough to make his 2026 debut in these rankings. Cole pitched 12 2/3 innings over those first two starts and allowed no runs on just six hits. In his second outing, he struck out 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings against the Royals. Even after Cole allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Guardians on Wednesday, it seems like the 2023 AL Cy Young winner may be about to re-emerge.

9. Kyle Harrison, Brewers (not ranked)

Harrison is another newcomer to the rankings, but he's definitely earned his spot. After going 9-9 across 42 appearances (37 starts) over three seasons with the Giants and Red Sox, the lefty has taken his place among the top starters in the game. He has a 1.57 ERA in 11 starts and 73 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. This included his start Tuesday, when he matched a career high with 12 strikeouts against the Giants, the team that sent him to Boston last season in the deal for Rafael Devers.

10. Davis Martin, White Sox (10)

Martin is another guy who's seemingly burst onto the scene out of nowhere. The righty compiled a 10-21 record and a 4.32 ERA over the past three seasons, but has significantly upped his game in 2026. He entered Wednesday tied for the AL lead with eight wins, while his 2.61 ERA ranked fourth among qualified AL starters. Before a six-run outing Tuesday against the Twins, Martin had allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of his previous 10 starts.

Others receiving votes: Zack Wheeler (Phillies), Bryan Woo (Mariners), Jacob deGrom (Rangers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Parker Messick (Guardians), Braxton Ashcraft (Pirates), Nick Martinez (Rays), Gavin Williams (Guardians), Joe Ryan (Twins), Shane McClanahan (Rays)

Voters: David Adler, Jason Catania, Theo DeRosa, Jared Greenspan, Brent Maguire, Max Ralph, Manny Randhawa, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Andrew Simon