Imagine a World Series decided not by clutch hits or diving catches, but by the sheer dominance of starting pitching. That's the potential we're looking at in this year's League Championship Series. The question looming large: Can a team pitch its way to a championship in modern baseball, where bullpens reign supreme?
This edition of the Starting Pitcher Power Rankings dives headfirst into that debate, particularly in the National League. The Dodgers, boasting a rotation stacked with talent, dominate our list, while the Brewers manage to sneak in just one pitcher. In the American League, the Mariners hold a noticeable, though less overwhelming, advantage over the Blue Jays. But here's where it gets controversial... Would that gap be wider if Bryan Woo of the Mariners was fully healthy? His status remains uncertain, preventing him from making our ranking this time around.
Interestingly, despite these pitching advantages on paper, it's the Brewers and Blue Jays who enter the LCS as the top seeds in their respective leagues. Both teams defied expectations all season long, then conquered division rivals to reach this stage. And this is the part most people miss... In the playoffs, bullpens often become even MORE crucial. Having a superior starting rotation, even a much superior one, is no guarantee of victory. Still, wouldn't you rather have it than not? Think of it as a safety net, a way to control the game's early innings and put your team in a position to win.
So, without further ado, let's unveil the Starting Pitcher Power Rankings, focusing solely on the healthy starters from the four remaining playoff contenders:
1. Blake Snell, Dodgers:
Snell has a fascinating history with the Dodgers, having pitched against them in the postseason for two different teams! Now, Los Angeles is undoubtedly thrilled to have him on their side. Signing him to that five-year deal this past offseason was all about this moment. Yes, a bout of left shoulder inflammation limited his appearances before August 1st, but that's ancient history now. The Dodgers secured the NL West title anyway, with Snell unleashing a dominant stretch in the final two months: a 2.41 ERA and a 2.31 FIP, striking out almost a third of opposing batters. That dominance has carried over into the playoffs, as the two-time Cy Young Award winner led the Dodgers to crucial victories in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Reds and Game 2 of the Division Series against the Phillies, allowing a mere two runs on five hits across 13 innings.
2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers:
Ohtani's highly anticipated postseason pitching debut finally arrived in Game 1 of the NLDS, facing a hostile crowd in Philadelphia. The result? A quality start (six innings, three runs) and a victory for the Dodgers. But the box score doesn't tell the whole story. Ohtani surrendered all three runs in the second inning but then locked in, retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he faced. He also racked up an impressive 23 swinging strikes and nine strikeouts. This performance capped off a successful, albeit gradual, return to the mound over the final three months of the season. In his last four regular-season starts, Ohtani allowed just one run and struck out 27 over 19 2/3 innings. Not too shabby for a guy who also bats leadoff, right?
3. Logan Gilbert, Mariners:
Irony alert! We're ranking Gilbert as a starting pitcher, but he's coming off a relief appearance in the ALDS – his first since college! It was a heroic one, though, as Gilbert delivered two scoreless innings in extra innings to help the Mariners clinch a dramatic Game 5 victory. (Let's not forget his six-inning Game 3 victory, either!) Usually, Gilbert is a picture of consistency, one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball over the past four seasons. And he elevates his game even further at T-Mobile Park, where he boasts a stellar 2.39 ERA over the past two regular seasons.
4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers:
Timing is everything, and the Dodgers finally have their rotation firing on all cylinders just in time for October. For much of the season, Yamamoto was a stabilizing force amidst a barrage of injuries. Looking much more comfortable in his second MLB season, Yamamoto made 30 starts and posted a 2.49 ERA, leading the Majors with a minuscule 5.9 hits allowed per nine innings. Opponents struggled mightily against him, batting just .183/.257/.283. He also shone in the NL Wild Card Series clincher against the Reds before encountering some challenges against the Phillies in the NLDS.
5. Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays:
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: Is this ranking too aggressive? Absolutely, some might argue! Just six months ago, Yesavage was making his professional debut in Single-A. A month ago, he hadn't even tasted the majors. He enters the ALCS with a mere 19 1/3 big-league innings under his belt. However, those 19 1/3 innings have been electric, including 5 1/3 hitless frames (with 11 strikeouts!) against the Yankees in ALDS Game 2. Yesavage might be a late bloomer, but as he declared before that brilliant postseason debut: "I'm built for this." He's also a unique pitcher, with an unconventional delivery and impressive stuff, which could pose a significant challenge for a Mariners team that has never faced him before.
6. George Kirby, Mariners:
Kirby has been outstanding in his limited postseason experience (1.50 ERA across three starts and one relief appearance), and he delivered a strong performance in Game 5 of the ALDS (five innings, one run). His regular season was even better than his 4.21 ERA suggests, as evidenced by his 3.37 FIP and 3.85 expected ERA, even though his walk rate increased slightly. Still, Kirby's remarkable 45-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his past five starts (regular season and postseason) indicates that he's hitting his stride at the perfect time.
7. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers:
Just how deep is the Dodgers' rotation? Glasnow is considered their fourth starter in the postseason (and on this list!). He's a pitcher who could easily be a Game 1 starter for many other teams. While staying healthy has been a recurring challenge for Glasnow (including in 2025 with just 18 starts), his per-inning effectiveness is undeniable. This season was no exception (3.19 ERA, 29% strikeout rate), and Glasnow certainly looked like a postseason ace in the Dodgers' NLDS Game 4 clincher, tossing six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
8. Freddy Peralta, Brewers:
Peralta was a workhorse for Milwaukee this year. In a rotation where no one else reached 25 starts, Peralta made 33 starts, and the Brewers won 20 of those games. He's consistently reliable for generating whiffs and strikeouts, although walks can sometimes be a problem. Peralta issued five walks (and allowed three home runs) in 9 2/3 innings across two NLDS starts against the Cubs, but he'll have another opportunity to deliver a signature postseason performance if he can shut down the Dodgers in his next outing.
9. Luis Castillo, Mariners:
Castillo's last relief appearance was even further back than Gilbert's, dating back to 2016 when he was in High-A for the Marlins. A lot has happened since then, mostly good things. He's made nearly 250 big-league starts and earned three All-Star selections. Castillo's past two seasons have been more solid than spectacular (356 innings with a 3.59 ERA), but solid is a valuable asset. The nine-year veteran has also proven his mettle in October, boasting an impressive 1.40 ERA in 25 2/3 postseason innings.
10. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays:
There's no denying that Gausman has regressed slightly from his peak years of 2021-23, when he consistently received Cy Young Award votes and earned All-Star nods, even winning an AL strikeout title. Like Castillo in Seattle, Gausman has remained a durable and reliable contributor in Toronto, logging over 180 innings in both 2024 and 2025. The 34-year-old also enjoyed a strong second-half rebound this year, posting a 2.81 ERA and a 5.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio after the All-Star break, compared to 4.19 and 3.1 before. He then delivered a gutsy performance in ALDS Game 1, pitching 5 2/3 strong innings and earning a victory over the Yankees. Armed with his signature four-seamer/splitter combination, Gausman will aim to secure another series-opening win for the Blue Jays.
So, there you have it: The Starting Pitcher Power Rankings heading into the League Championship Series. Do you agree with our list? Are we underrating any of these pitchers? And the million-dollar question: Will starting pitching be the deciding factor in who reaches the World Series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
