Wed Oct 30 02:30:00 UTC 2024: ## MLB Starting Pitcher Rankings for 2025: Abundance of Talent Makes for Tough Choices
Despite an array of impressive pitching talent, the upcoming 2025 MLB season presents a challenge for fantasy baseball managers: too many great pitchers to fit in a limited number of roster spots.
CBS Sports analyst, [Analyst Name (not provided in text)], has released his top 40 starting pitcher rankings for 5×5 fantasy leagues, and even with that high number, there were notable exclusions.
The list features a mix of established aces like **Zack Wheeler**, **Corbin Burnes**, and **Gerrit Cole**, alongside breakout stars like **Cole Ragans** and **Hunter Greene**, and promising rookies such as **Paul Skenes** and **Spencer Schwellenbach**.
Notably absent from the top 40 were talented pitchers such as **Seth Lugo**, **Luis Gil**, **Bryan Woo**, and **Shane McClanahan**, among others. This highlights the depth of talent available and the difficulty in ranking them accurately.
The analyst acknowledges that the rankings are subjective and open to debate, stressing that his priority was selecting players with high potential for the 2025 season based on his 17 years of experience.
“The talent is so vast and also so difficult to distinguish,” the analyst says, “I’d rather wait for what falls to me than play favorites.”
However, the rankings still offer valuable insights for fantasy managers looking to build a strong pitching staff. Players like **Tarik Skubal**, **Dylan Cease**, and **Logan Gilbert** stand out as potential steals, while **Shota Imanaga** and **Bailey Ober** are intriguing sleepers.
With so many talented arms vying for starting spots, 2025 promises to be an exciting season for fantasy baseball managers.
First Piper 