MLB The Show 21: The 10 Best Pitchers To Get On Your Team

MLB The Show 21 is set to hit stores in just a few weeks. It is clear that there are a lot of baseball fans who are quite excited about it, as it is the first to enter the current generation of consoles. Some big changes are expected to be made with this release, which definitely is a necessity as recent releases are far too similar. There is also a lot to look forward to when it comes to Franchise Mode, too.

When it comes to this mode, building a complete roster is essential. The importance of having a strong arsenal of pitchers has such significant value, as they are responsible for holding leads. This is not only the case when it comes to starters, but also relief pitchers as well.

When it comes to finding good pitchers, it is crucial to remember that top-of-the-line aces are not the only route to go. With low-budget teams especially, there are a lot of stellar options that can come at a cheaper price in the form of prospects. Regardless, there certainly are some awesome names to bring in.

10 Eduardo Rodriguez

Eduardo Rodriguez is one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball. His 2019 season definitely shows how much potential he has considering he quietly registered a 19-win campaign on a struggling Red Sox team.

He definitely would be a good centerpiece to use to help the Red Sox out of their rebuild. Also, with his contract being very affordable, he is not hard on the budget.

9 Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is a must-have type of ace to use in this game. He has been dominating the league for over a decade and he is not showing any signs of slowing down. He is a huge reason why the Dodgers are so successful right now.

This is a player that is affordable on a high-budget team, like the Dodgers. Therefore, he is not the best option for rebuilding rosters, which is okay. However, his skills are still among the best, even with him being 33-years-old.

8 Casey Mize

Casey Mize is a fantastic prospect in the game and still has a ton of potential. Although he did have his struggles in his debut season last year, the future is still bright for him. Of course, he was the first overall pick in 2018.

He is only 23-years-old so he has a lot of time to turn it around. He definitely will grow in this game as there is no reason for him not to have high potential in it. He is rated amongst the best prospects in the league so it will surely reflect this.

7 Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom is one of the best pitchers in the MLB right now so he makes a fantastic option for players looking to win the World Series fast. He is a veteran player, too, so it is a task that needs to happen quickly for his tenure to be worthwhile.

He won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019, so it is clear that he is able to dominate. He is simply one of the greatest in the game at this said time, so it is a no-brainer using him in MLB The Show 21.

6 Josh Hader

Josh Hader is only 26-years-old and is easily one of the best closers in all of baseball. He has plenty of years left in his prime as well-meaning he is the perfect closer to acquire in Franchise Mode. He also does not become a UFA until 2024 so the player can get him on bargain contracts until then.

The movement of his pitches makes him virtually unhittable, meaning strikeouts will be quite easy to achieve with him. The fact that he is a star and easy to afford makes him one of the best options out there to use in the game.

5 Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo has already shown that he is an All-Star at the MLB level. Yet, he is still growing as a player and has the potential to become even better in the game. Therefore, it is pretty easy to want to pick him up.

However, what is also outstanding about him is that he cannot become a free agent until 2024. Therefore, like Hader, the team has complete control over his rights and can get him on cheap deals. Also, with the Reds rebuilding, he could hit the trading block, too.

4 Sixto Sanchez

Sixto Sanchez is only 22-years-old and already is making quite the name for himself at the MLB level. In his handful of appearances during the 2020 season, he showed that he has the tools to become an effective starter in this league.

This makes him quite an exciting prospect and definitely is worth using in this game because of it. He doesn’t even have arbitration rights yet either so there is so much time to give him easily affordable deals.

3 Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole is easily one of the top aces in all of baseball and definitely has many more years of elite pitching left. However, to use him, the player’s best option is to just take over the Bronx Bombers.

Cole understandably has a monstrous contract, but it is worth it when looking at how spectacularly he can be in the game. This is the type of pitcher to build a rotation around as he always gives his best stuff.

2 Shane Bieber

This season, Shane Bieber showed everyone why he is among the top pitchers in all of baseball after winning the Cy Young Award. That alone heightens his value to the players. However, what makes him even better is that he is not eligible for free agency until 2025.

Therefore, the player has so much wiggle room with him before he can make his bank-breaking contract. He is also still only 25-years-old at this time so he actually has room to become an even higher overall in the game.

1 Brendan McKay

Brendan McKay is such a fascinating prospect, as he not only is a pitcher but he also can hit well, too. Therefore, he is a two-way player that makes him automatically one of the most entertaining assets to use in the game.

However, focusing on his pitching, he is still seen as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He sadly missed the 2020 season due to illness and a shoulder injury, but the future is still bright. He has the potential to develop into a true ace in this game.

About The Author