Atlanta places two on MLB Network's top ten starters list

Because this is the slowest offseason in recorded history for Major League Baseball, the league's official network is trying to find things to talk about.

Enter rankings!

Putting out their "Top 10 Right Now" list for starting pitchers, MLB Network decided that not one but two members of the Atlanta Braves rotation deserved recognition as some of the best starters in all of baseball.

Here is our #Top10RightNow starting pitchers list heading into next season.

What are your thoughts? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/f4y5yPTB64
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 10, 2024

There was a lot of turnover in the list, with five new names amongst the top ten, including Spencer Strider.

#7: RHP Spencer Strider

Strider, appearing on the list for the first time, arguably deserves to be higher than seventh.

(For what it's worth, noted ball-knower and Statcast Guru Mike Petriello had Strider #1 on his individual list)

Strider finished in fourth place for the NL Cy Young in 2024 after leading all of baseball in strikeouts (281), strikeout rate (13.5 K/9), wins (20), and winning percentage (.800). He's obviously getting downgraded for his ERA, which came in at 3.86 on the season, but Strider's 2.85 FIP was the lowest in the National League and a sign that he was a bit unlucky last season.

The runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2022 and an All-Star last season, Strider's currently the betting favorite for the 2024 Cy Young award in the National League.

#9: LHP Max Fried

Fried's on the list for the 2nd consecutive season, coming in 7th last season and 9th this year.

The usually dominant Fried, who finished the 2022 season as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young to Miami's Sandy Alcantara, was poised for a dominant season in 2024 before three separate injured list stints limited him to only 77.2 innings. He was still able, despite the missed time, to win eight games in only fourteen starts with a 2.55 ERA.

In his career, Fried's put up a 3.03 ERA and a 62-26 record for Atlanta, pitching four complete games (including three shutouts). He has twice finished in the top-five in Cy Young voting, won the last NL Silver Slugger award to go to a pitcher in 2021, and had his streak of three consecutive Gold Glove awards broken in 2023.

Did MLB Network get it wrong? Does Atlanta's dynamic duo deserve to be higher (or lower)? Let us know!

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