What to Watch This Week In MLB: Starting Pitchers

Whether they are in the hunt for the Cy Young Award or are just thrilling to watch, find out when the most noteworthy starting pitchers take the mound this week.

Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA)

Next Start: Monday, Aug. 18 vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The 23-year-old Pirates right-hander will be facing the Blue Jays for the first time in his career. He’s still considered by many to be at the top of the list to win this season’s National League Cy Young Award after winning the NL Rookie of the Year last season. He’s allowed two runs or less in 20 of his 25 starts this season. Skenes continues to blow away hitters with an arsenal that helped him post a 1.99 ERA through his first 46 MLB starts – the lowest mark of the last 105 years – before the Brewers scored four runs against him last week.

Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.42 ERA)

Next Start: Tuesday, Aug. 19 vs. Houston Astros

The Tigers ace is primed to win his second straight American League Cy Young award. He’s allowed more than three earned runs just five times in 24 starts. While he’s had very little run support this season, that hasn’t mattered much. He has only one loss on the books since April 2 and won every start in the month of June. In his previous outing against the Minnesota Twins he went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Tuesday marks his first start of the season against the Astros.

Christopher Sanchez (11-4, 2.45 ERA)

Next Start: Tuesday, Aug. 19 vs. Seattle Mariners

Sanchez has been a rock for the Phillies all season, especially as they have made their run to the top of the National League East. He’s continued to be incredibly efficient, throwing less than 90 pitches in five of his last eight games. In all of those contests he’s pitched at least six innings. Sanchez has pitched six or more innings in every game since May 29, a span of 13 games. In his last start against the Cincinnati Reds he allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings. He has not faced the Seattle Mariners this season.

Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 3.47 ERA)

Next Start: Wednesday, Aug. 20 at Colorado Rockies

The Dodgers continues to ramp up the innings limit for Shohei Ohtani as he makes his return to the mound after Tommy John surgery. His first pitching appearance came on June 16 and he threw just one inning. Juxtapose that with his last start in which he threw 80 pitches over 4.1 innings. He did allow four runs on five hits in his last start against the Padres, but he also had seven strikeouts, showing that his pitching arsenal is still electric. Wednesday against the Rockies will mark his 10th appearance of the season.

Garrett Crochet (13-5, 2.43 ERA)

Next Start: Saturday, Aug. 23 at New York Yankees

The Red Sox ace is making quite the case for himself about winning the AL Cy Young Award. He has been a rock for Boston, with only one loss since May 26 and going without a loss in June or July. In his last start against the Marlins the lanky left-hander allowed one run on three hits in seven innings for the no decision. He also struck out eight batters. He faced the Yankees in back-to-back games in June, with one of his best starts coming against the team on June 13. He allowed one run on four hits in eight innings of work with eight strikeouts.

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