top of page
Search

These Three Underappreciated Starting Pitchers are Off to a Hot Start in 2025

  • Writer: Mason Linken
    Mason Linken
  • Jun 30
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 17

Editors note: All statistics are as of the morning of June 30


While known aces like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal often draw the majority of attention, many valuable pitchers find themselves lost among the mix of names. With over 150 starting pitchers active in MLB rotations, there are plenty of above-average contributors who go unheralded. As the All-Star break approaches, it’s the perfect time to highlight some of those pitchers.


Here are three underappreciated starting pitchers off to hot starts in 2025:


Bryan Woo



Just one of many stars out of the Mariners’ pitching lab, Bryan Woo has been Seattle's ace thus far in 2025. He ranks 28th in MLB in fWAR (1.8), while leading the Mariners’ rotation. His 2.93 ERA ranks 22nd in MLB, and his 3.58 FIP ranks 31st among qualified starting pitchers. Woo isn’t significantly overperforming either, with his xERA (3.29) and xFIP (3.53) remaining relatively similar to his observed stats. Aiding Woo’s success is his five-pitch arsenal, with both his four-seam fastball and sinker performing well above average. 


Woo ranks in the 100th percentile in fastball run value with +19, an elite number through just 16 games started so far. The stat takes into account both his four-seam and sinker, which have accumulated a +11 and a +8 run value respectively. Opponents have hit just .163 against the four-seam while slugging at a .327 mark. They’ve struggled against the sinker as well, hitting .252 and slugging at a .328 mark. Woo’s sinker and changeup (+1 run value) tunnel well together with his 26° arm angle, while his four-seam finds ride with 15.1 inches of induced vertical break. The two fastballs combine to be thrown 70.6% of the time, with the four-seam being Woo’s most frequented pitch (43.4%), and sinker following suit (27.2%).


What’s caused Woo some headaches so far is his sweeper, which has accumulated a -5 run value in 2025. The pitch, which Woo throws 7.9% of the time, has been mashed by opposing hitters. They’re batting .323 against the offering while slugging at a .516 mark. The peripherals, however, suggest that Woo’s sweeper has been astoundingly unlucky with its results. xBA for the pitch comes in at .233 with xSLG at .342, accompanied by just a 16.7% hard-hit rate. Even with struggles with the sweeper, Woo has been magnificent thus far in 2025 and deserves more recognition than he’s been getting. 



Cristopher Sanchez



Somewhat of an unorthodox starting pitcher, Cristopher Sánchez has enjoyed a strong start in 2025. The southpaw ranks 15th in pitcher fWAR (2.4), 17th in ERA (2.79), and 13th in xERA (3.18) among qualified starting pitchers this season. Sánchez’s FIP and xFIP are nearly identical as well, sitting at 2.95 and 2.96 respectively. 


What makes Sánchez unorthodox is his pitch mix, which features only a sinker, slider, and changeup. With just three pitches Sánchez has excelled, and his changeup has played a large role in that success. Opposing hitters are kept off balance by the offering, batting just .136 and slugging .176 against the pitch, while whiffing 45.1% of the time. xBA against the changeup remains below .180, while xSLG doesn’t pass the .215 mark. Even though Sánchez throws it 35.6% of the time, hitters still struggle, with the pitch moving 5.6 inches above average in vertical comparable movement, and 1.9 inches above average in horizontal comparable movement. The changeup has accumulated a +8 run value as a result of its dominance. 


Sánchez’s other offerings have been roughly league-average in terms of run value, but still keep hitters in check. The sinker (+2 run value) tunnels well with the changeup, while the slider breaks well downwards to keep hitters off balance. Sánchez’s 93rd percentile extension (7.1 feet) aids in keeping hitters guessing by giving them less time to react. A 92nd percentile GB% (55.6) has also worked in Sánchez’s favor. Even as Sánchez has been one of MLB’s best pitchers thus far, he’s still been underappreciated by fans across the league. 



Matthew Liberatore



While Matthew Liberatore’s 3.70 ERA doesn't scream breakout, he ranks 17th in pitcher fWAR (2.2), and 26th in xERA (3.69). His 15.5 K-BB% fares well, and comes in higher than league average (13.4%). Liberatore's overall metrics suffer from an underperforming fastball, but the rest of his repertoire has made up for it so far.  


What’s worked most in Liberatore’s six-pitch mix is his changeup, which he uses 12.8% of the time. The pitch boasts a +7 run value, making it Liberatore’s most valuable pitch. Opponents have hit to the tune of .108 against the pitch while slugging at a .135 mark. While the expected stats don’t fare as well for the pitch, with xBA sitting below .240 and xSLG below .400, they’re still elite. Even with 5.2 inches below average in vertical comparable movement, the changeup tunnels well with Liberatore’s sinker (+3 run value), and remains effective despite a unique movement profile. 


What’s held Liberatore from reaching his full potential in 2025 is his cutter, which he throws 13.1% of the time. Opposing hitters have mashed the pitch, hitting .372 and slugging .605, contributing to the offerings’ -6 run value. By reducing the frequency of his cutter usage, Liberatore can likely improve his overall statistics and metrics. Off to an already hot start in 2025, Liberatore is just a few tweaks away from being elite. 




Cover photo via: The Seattle Times

bottom of page