The start of the baseball season might be an open-ended question, thanks to the dreaded Coronavirus.
However, that won’t stop us from churning out or updating certain positional fantasy rankings.
Today’s listing revises the top 40 starting pitchers for 2020 — factoring in the crucial categories of wins, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ batting average (OBA).
POSITIONAL FANTASY RANKINGS
TOP 50 OUTFIELDERS
TOP 25 FIRST BASEMEN
TOP 30 SHORTSTOPS
TOP 25 SECOND BASEMEN
TOP 30 THIRD BASEMEN
TOP 20 CATCHERS
TOP 40 STARTING PITCHERS FOR 2020
PITCHER #1
JACOB DEGROM, METS
2019: 11-8, 2.43 ERA, 255/44 K-BB, 0.97 WHIP, .207 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 2.53 ERA, 274/54 K-BB, 1.02 WHIP
PITCHER #2
MAX SCHERZER, NATIONALS
2019: 11-7, 2.92 ERA, 243/33 K-BB, 1.03 WHIP, .222 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 15 wins, 2.64 ERA, 270/46 K-BB, 0.94 WHIP
PITCHER #3
GERRIT COLE, YANKEES
2019: 20-5, 2.50 ERA, 326/48 K-BB, 0.89 WHIP, .186 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 16 wins, 3.20 ERA, 266/56 K-BB, 1.06 WHIP
PITCHER #4
WALKER BUEHLER, DODGERS
2019: 14-4, 3.26 ERA, 215/37 K-BB, 1.04 WHIP, .223 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 11 wins, 2.98 ERA, 183/37 K-BB, 1.01 WHIP
PITCHER #5
JACK FLAHERTY, CARDINALS
2019: 11-8, 2.75 ERA, 231/55 K-BB, 0.97 WHIP, .192 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 10 wins, 3.01 ERA, 206/57 K-BB, 1.03 WHIP
PITCHER #6
STEPHEN STRASBURG, NATIONALS
2019: 18-6, 3.32 ERA, 251/56 K-BB, 1.04 WHIP, .210 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 14 wins, 3.15 ERA, 204/47 K-BB, 1.07 WHIP
PITCHER #7
JUSTIN VERLANDER, ASTROS
2019: 21-6, 2.58 ERA, 300/42 K-BB, 0.80 WHIP, .172 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 18 wins, 2.55 ERA, 295/40 K-BB, 0.85 WHIP
PITCHER #8
BLAKE SNELL, RAYS
2019: 6-8, 4.29 ERA, 147/40 K-BB, 1.27 WHIP, .241 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 14 wins, 2.78 ERA, 184/52 K-BB, 1.09 WHIP
PITCHER #9
PATRICK CORBIN, NATIONALS
2019: 14-7, 3.25 ERA, 238/70 K-BB, 1.18 WHIP, .227 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 3.20 ERA, 242/59 K-BB, 1.12 WHIP
PITCHER #10
ZACK GREINKE, ASTROS
2019: 18-5, 2.93 ERA, 187/30 K-BB, 0.98 WHIP, .228 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 17 wins, 3.11 ERA, 200/39 K-BB, 1.04 WHIP
PITCHER #11
CLAYTON KERSHAW, DODGERS
2019: 16-5, 3.03 ERA, 189/41 K-BB, 1.04 WHIP, .222 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 14 wins, 2.69 ERA, 182/33 K-BB, 1.01 WHIP
PITCHER #12
SHANE BIEBER, INDIANS
2019: 15-8, 3.28 ERA, 259/40 K-BB, 1.05 WHIP, .230 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 13 wins, 3.72 ERA, 188/32 K-BB, 1.15 WHIP
PITCHER #13
CHARLIE MORTON, RAYS
2019: 16-6, 3.05 ERA, 240/57 K-BB, 1.08 WHIP, .215 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 15 wins, 3.24 ERA, 201/57 K-BB, 1.14 WHIP
PITCHER #14
AARON NOLA, PHILLIES
2019: 12-7, 3.87 ERA, 229/80 K-BB, 1.27 WHIP, .233 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 14 wins, 3.23 ERA, 212/62 K-BB, 1.14 WHIP
INJURY HOLDUP
MIKE CLEVINGER, INDIANS
2019: 13-4, 2.71 ERA, 169/37 K-BB, 1.06 WHIP, .209 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 13 wins, 2.96 ERA, 171/55 K-BB, 1.15 WHIP
PITCHER #15
NOAH SYNDERGAARD, METS
2019: 10-8, 4.28 ERA, 202/50 K-BB, 1.23 WHIP, .256 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 3.73 ERA, 178/44 K-BB, 1.22 WHIP
PITCHER #16
LUIS CASTILLO, REDS
2019: 15-8, 3.40 ERA, 226/79 K-BB, 1.14 WHIP, .202 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 3.82 ERA, 196/64 K-BB, 1.18 WHIP
PITCHER #17
LUCAS GIOLITO, WHITE SOX
2019: 14-9, 3.41 ERA, 228/57 K-BB, 1.06 WHIP, .205 OBA
PITCHER #18
ZACK WHEELER, PHILLIES
2019: 11-8, 3.96 ERA, 195/50 K-BB, 1.26 WHIP, .258 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 3.65 ERA, 187/52 K-BB, 1.19 WHIP
PITCHER #19
JOSE BERRIOS, TWINS
2019: 14-8, 3.68 ERA, 195/51 K-BB, 1.22 WHIP, .251 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 13 wins, 3.80 ERA, 179/53 K-BB, 1.20 WHIP
PITCHER #20
SONNY GRAY, REDS
2019: 11-8, 2.87 ERA, 205/68 K-BB, 1.08 WHIP, .196 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 11 wins, 3.67 ERA, 160/61 K-BB, 1.24 WHIP
PITCHER #21
MAX FRIED, BRAVES
2019: 17-6, 4.02 ERA, 173/47 K-BB, 1.33 WHIP, .270 OBA
PITCHER #22
TREVOR BAUER, REDS
2019: 11-13, 4.48 ERA, 253/82 K-BB, 1.25 WHIP, .230 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 13 wins, 3.68 ERA, 223/66 K-BB, 1.24 WHIP
PITCHER #23
EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ, RED SOX
2019: 19-6, 3.81 ERA, 213/75 K-BB, 1.33 WHIP, .253 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 16 wins, 3.81 ERA, 180/60 K-BB, 1.30 WHIP
PITCHER #24
JAKE ODORIZZI, TWINS
2019: 15-7, 3.51 ERA, 178/53 K-BB, 1.21 WHIP, .234 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 11 wins, 4.05 ERA, 156/61 K-BB, 1.27 WHIP
PITCHER #25
HYUN-JIN RYU, BLUE JAYS
2019: 14-5, 2.32 ERA, 163/24 K-BB, 1.01 WHIP, .234 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 9 wins, 2.71 ERA, 123/28 K-BB, 1.12 WHIP
PITCHER #26
MADISON BUMGARNER, DIAMONDBACKS
2019: 9-9, 3.90 ERA, 203/43 K-BB, 1.13 WHIP, .245 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 6 wins, 3.57 ERA, 138/35 K-BB, 1.15 WHIP
PITCHER #27
TYLER GLASNOW, RAYS
2019: 6-1, 1.78 ERA, 76/14 K-BB, 0.89 WHIP, .186 OBA
PITCHER #28
MATTHEW BOYD, TIGERS
2019: 9-12, 4.56 ERA, 238/50 K-BB, 1.23 WHIP, .247 OBA
TWO-YEAR AVERAGE: 9 wins, 4.48 ERA, 198/50 K-BB, 1.20 WHIP
PITCHER #29
CHRIS PADDACK, PADRES
2019: 9-7, 3.33 ERA, 153/31 K-BB, 0.98 WHIP, .204 OBA
PITCHER #30
ROBBIE RAY, DIAMONDBACKS
2019: 12-8, 4.34 ERA, 235/84 K-BB, 1.34 WHIP, .234 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 11 wins, 3.72 ERA, 206/75 K-BB, 1.28 WHIP
PITCHER #31
KENTA MAEDA, TWINS
2019: 10-8, 4.04 ERA, 169/51 K-BB, 1.07 WHIP, .202 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 10 wins, 4.03 ERA, 154/43 K-BB, 1.16 WHIP
PITCHER #32
COREY KLUBER, RANGERS
2019: 2-3, 5.80 ERA, 38/15 K-BB, 1.66 WHIP
3-YEAR AVERAGE (2016-18): 19 wins, 2.77 ERA, 238/42 K-BB, 0.97 WHIP
PITCHER #33
MIKE MINOR, RANGERS
2019: 14-10, 3.59 ERA, 200/68 K-BB, 1.24 WHIP, .244 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 11 wins, 3.62 ERA, 140/43 K-BB, 1.16 WHIP
PITCHER #34
MIKE SOROKA, BRAVES
2019: 13-4, 2.68 ERA, 142/41 K-BB, 1.11 WHIP, .236 OBA
PITCHER #35
LANCE LYNN, RANGERS
2019: 16-11, 3.67 ERA, 246/59 K-BB, 1.22 WHIP, .243 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 12 wins, 3.90 ERA, 187/71 K-BB, 1.31 WHIP
PITCHER #36
MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ, BRAVES
2019: 8-6, 4.54 ERA, 105/37 K-BB, 1.25 WHIP, .244 OBA
THREE-YEAR AVERAGE: 10 wins, 3.94 ERA, 150/55 K-BB, 1.26 WHIP
IT’S WORTH NOTING: After the All-Star break last year, Foltynewicz resembled his dominant self of 2018, posting a 6-1 record, 2.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 55/17 K-BB rate over a 10-start period.
PITCHER #37
ZAC GALLEN, DIAMONDBACKS
2019: 3-6, 2.81 ERA, 53/18 K-BB, 1.26 WHIP, .232 OBA
PITCHER #38
MARCUS STROMAN, METS
2019: 10-13, 3.22 ERA, 159/58 K-BB, 1.31 WHIP
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS: Stroman notched a strong post-All-Star break K-BB ratio of 78/26 … but the opponents’ batting average during this stretch was .268. He’ll need to clean that up during his first full year in New York.
PITCHER #39
SEAN MANAEA, ATHLETICS
2019 (MLB): 4-0, 1.21 ERA, 30/7 K-BB, 0.78 WHIP, .160 OBA
2019 (minors): 3-3, 4.71 ERA, 53/10 K-BB, 1.01 WHIP
PITCHER #40
DINELSON LAMET, PADRES
2019: 3-5, 4.07 ERA, 105/30 K-BB, 1.26 WHIP, .226 OBA