The latest starting pitcher power rankings

There’s been a shakeup at the top of the starting pitcher power rankings this week, with a new ace taking the No. 1 spot.

Just like Week 1, these power rankings are based on the selections of a panel of MLB.com experts, who were asked to rank their top 10 starting pitchers across the Major Leagues right now. This is about ranking the best starters who have been on top of their game to start the 2020 season, not necessarily the ones with the strongest long-term body of work.

Pitchers received 10 points for each first-place vote, nine for each second-place vote, and so on. The power rankings were determined by total score.

Here are the top 10 starters in this week's power rankings.

1) Shane Bieber, Indians (Previous rank: 2)
With two more strong outings since the last starting pitcher power rankings were released, Bieber has ascended to No. 1. After finishing fourth in the American League Cy Young Award race a year ago, the Indians righty has gone 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, 54 strikeouts -- tying him with Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Pedro Martinez for the third most through the first five starts of a season since 1906 -- and only six walks in 34 2/3 innings this season. Bieber leads MLB or holds a share of the lead in wins, innings, K’s and K/9 and has thrown a quality start in all five of his appearances.

2) Jacob deGrom, Mets (Previous rank: 1)
Bieber’s continued excellence and deGrom’s recent injury woes were enough to bump the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner from the top spot, but he still garnered a second-place finish in this week’s rankings. Before getting scratched from his start last Friday with neck stiffness, deGrom recorded a 2.45 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP, 28 strikeouts and five walks over his first 22 innings and was throwing harder than he ever has before.

3) Gerrit Cole, Yankees (Previous rank: 3)
Cole hasn’t yet looked quite as dominant as he was last season, as his strikeout rate has dropped from 39.9% to 30.4%, but he has gotten the job done all the same, going 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 34 K’s over his first five starts as a Yankee. The righty got his first taste of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry on Friday, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball and struck out eight in a 10-3 New York win.

4) Lance Lynn, Rangers (Previous rank: 6)
Lynn throws a fastball (four-seamer, cutter, sinker) more than 87% of the time, but hitters are showing no signs of figuring him out. After last year’s breakout at age-32 (3.67 ERA, 246 K’s), the big righty somehow has gotten even better in 2020, yielding just 12 hits and four earned runs with 36 K’s in 32 1/3 innings. On Friday, he threw his first complete game since 2014, holding the Rockies to two hits in a 3-2 win at Coors Field.

5) Yu Darvish, Cubs (Previous rank: NR)
Last year’s second-half success has carried over into 2020 for Darvish, who has gone 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA through five starts. In his past 18 starts dating back to July 12, 2019, the man with a seemingly boundless repertoire has recorded an astonishing 152-to-12 K/BB ratio over 111 2/3 frames.

6) Sonny Gray, Reds (Previous rank: 5)
Coming off a tremendous rebound effort in his first season with the Reds, Gray has improved virtually across the board in 2020. The 30-year-old owns a 2.05 ERA through five starts, having registered an NL-leading 45 strikeouts with a 0.91 WHIP over 30 2/3 innings.

7) Trevor Bauer, Reds (Previous rank: 7)
For the second straight iteration of these rankings, the Reds have multiple pitchers in the top 10. Bauer might be even higher if he had more innings, but his last start prior to Wednesday's came back on Aug. 7. Entering play on Wednesday, Bauer’s 0.93 ERA and 46.4% strikeout rate led all pitchers who had thrown at least 15 innings.

8) Aaron Nola, Phillies (Previous rank: NR)
After finishing third in the NL Cy Young Award voting in 2018, Nola took a step back last season, but he has looked better than ever in ’20. Through four starts, Nola owns a 2.05 ERA with an NL-leading 0.65 WHIP, a 39.8% strikeout rate and a 4.3% walk rate. All would represent career bests for the 27-year-old.

9) Max Scherzer, Nationals (Previous rank: 4)
Scherzer exited a start after one inning due to a right hamstring issue and allowed at least four earned runs in two others, but the three-time Cy Young Award winner has done enough in the eyes of MLB.com’s voters to retain a spot in the top 10. Even at age 36, the right-hander has continued to rack up the strikeouts in 2020, amassing 39 K’s in 26 2/3 innings.

10) Kyle Hendricks, Cubs (Previous rank: NR)
Hendricks doesn’t post gaudy strikeout numbers, but he has been one of the most dependable starters in the game since he debuted in 2014, and it’s been more of the same in ’20. Hendricks has thrown four quality starts in five chances -- including a shutout on Opening Day -- and owns a 3.31 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP so far. He has allowed only three walks and two homers over his first 32 2/3 innings.

Other pitchers receiving votes:
Dinelson Lamet, Padres
Dylan Bundy, Angels
Zack Greinke, Astros
Germán Márquez, Rockies
Frankie Montas, A's
Max Fried, Braves
Zac Gallen, D-backs
Luis Castillo, Reds

Starting Pitcher Power Rankings voters: Mike Petriello, Andrew Simon, David Adler, Matt Kelly, Sarah Langs, Thomas Harrigan