MLB starting pitchers are putting up historic numbers in 2026. Jacob Misiorowski (Milwaukee Brewers) leads ERA at 1.63 over 127 innings, while Troy Melton (Detroit Tigers) owns the best WHIP at 0.91 in relief. Misiorowski also leads strikeouts with 195, followed by Dylan Cease with 184.
Top 10 ERA Leaders
| Pitcher | Team | IP | ERA | K | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Melton | Detroit Tigers | 74.0 | 1.58 | 64 | 0.91 |
| Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee Brewers | 127.0 | 1.63 | 195 | 0.73 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | 85.2 | 1.79 | 95 | 0.95 |
| Chris Sale | Atlanta Braves | 117.0 | 2.08 | 143 | 1.02 |
| Cam Schlittler | New York Yankees | 139.2 | 2.26 | 171 | 0.95 |
| Dylan Cease | Toronto Blue Jays | 126.1 | 2.28 | 184 | 1.04 |
| Chase Burns | Cincinnati Reds | 118.2 | 2.35 | 137 | 1.10 |
| Walbert Ureña | Los Angeles Angels | 99.1 | 2.54 | 95 | 1.25 |
| Parker Messick | Cleveland Guardians | 136.2 | 2.57 | 136 | 1.04 |
| Cristopher Sánchez | Philadelphia Phillies | 149.2 | 2.65 | 174 | 1.22 |
WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) measures how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning on average. Misiorowski’s 0.73 is the league’s best, reflecting exceptional command.
Strikeout Leaders
Jacob Misiorowski dominates with 195 strikeouts, ahead of Dylan Cease (184) and Gavin Williams (178). Cristopher Sánchez (174) and Cam Schlittler (171) round out the top five. Among Latino pitchers, Sánchez leads with 174, followed by José Soriano with 130.
Wins Leaders
Cristopher Sánchez leads with 4 wins, tied with Chris Sale, Gavin Williams, Cam Schlittler, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Sonny Gray and Chase Burns are one victory behind.
Saves Leaders
Bryan Baker (Tampa Bay Rays) leads with 33 saves, followed by Cade Smith with 30. Mason Miller (San Diego Padres) and Riley O’Brien each have 28. Among Latino closers, Aroldis Chapman leads with 27 saves, followed by Jhoan Duran with 25 and Raisel Iglesias with 24.
Latino Spotlight: Starters
Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic, Philadelphia Phillies) stands out as the top Latino starter: 2.65 ERA, 174 strikeouts, and 4 wins over 149.2 innings. Walbert Ureña (Dominican Republic, Los Angeles Angels) posts a 2.54 ERA with 95 strikeouts. Eduardo Rodríguez (Venezuela, Arizona Diamondbacks) maintains a 2.71 ERA across 136.1 innings.
Latino Spotlight: Closers
Aroldis Chapman (Cuba, Boston Red Sox) leads Latino saves with 27, backed by a 1.86 ERA over 38.2 innings. Jhoan Duran (Dominican Republic, Philadelphia Phillies) adds 25 saves with a 1.83 ERA. Raisel Iglesias (Cuba, Atlanta Braves) contributes 24 saves and a 3.02 ERA.
FAQ
What is WHIP? It’s the sum of walks and hits divided by innings pitched. A low WHIP (around 1.0 or below) signals a pitcher who allows few baserunners.
Who has the best balance of ERA and strikeouts? Jacob Misiorowski combines the second-best ERA (1.63) with the strikeout lead (195), positioning him as the league’s top starter so far.
How many Latino pitchers are in the top leaders? Two in the top 10 ERA (Walbert Ureña and Cristopher Sánchez), and three in saves (Aroldis Chapman, Jhoan Duran, and Raisel Iglesias).
