Ranking Top D-backs Starting Pitchers: 10 through 6
The Diamondbacks have traditionally had strong starting pitching. Sometimes this was hidden by the fact that pre humidor installation in 2017, Chase Field played as one of the more hitter friendly ballparks in MLB. Once adjusted for park factors, the D-backs starting pitchers in total have the 4th best ERA rank in the National League since 1998. Accordingly, as part of our continuing series ranking the top Diamondbacks all time by position, we are going to rank the top 10 starting pitchers, and break it out into two articles.
First a couple of stat notes:
aWAR = the average of Baseball Reference and Fangraphs WAR
ERA+ = park adjusted ERA. 100 = League average
WAA = Wins Above Average, helps define peak
WPA = Win Percentage Added (clutch)
FIP = Fielding Independent Pitching
#10 Robbie Ray, LHP
Robbie Ray career as a D-back
Jack Sommers
Robbie Ray was acquired as part of a three team trade between the D-backs, Tigers and Yankees in December of 2014. Through his first two seasons in Arizona he flashed occasional brilliance, dominating hitters with a live fastball and good slider. Along with high strikeout totals, he struggled with walks, high pitch counts and getting deep into games. He put it together in 2017, going 15-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 starts, leading the major leagues with a 12.1 K/9 rate.
Ray back slid from there somewhat however. His strikeout rate remained as high as ever, but the walks increased and he didn't seem to be making progress. After a disastrous start to his 2020 season he was traded at the deadline. He went on to figure it out with the Toronto Blue Jays, cutting his walk rate in half and winning the Cy Young. Despite his inconsistency with Arizona, he provided many thrilling games and moments when he was on.
#9 Miguel Batista, RHP
Miguel Batista career as a D-back
Jack Sommers
Miguel Batista signed as a free agent early in the 2000-2001 off-season and was a key member of the World Series champions' pitching staff. Operating as a swing man, he made 18 starts and 30 relief appearances, posting a 3.39 ERA in 139 innings. He went on to pitch well in the postseason, registering a 2.49 ERA in 22 innings that included 7.2 innings of shutout baseball in game five of the World Series.
Batista had two more solid, above average seasons in 2002 and 2003, making 29 starts each year and posting an ERA+ of 106 and 132. After two years in Toronto, he was brought back in a trade for the 2006 season and made 33 starts, posting a 103 ERA+. Very much underrated, a case could be made to move Batista up a slot or two on this list.
#8 Patrick Corbin, LHP
Patrick Corbin career as a D-back
Jack Sommers
Patrick Corbin was part of a 2010 trade deadline move coming to Arizona along with Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren. Corbin made his major league debut with the D-backs on April 30th 2012. He ranks 3rd on the all time franchise list in games started and innings pitched. In 2013, Corbin had a terrific first half, going 11-1 with a 2.35 ERA, making the NL All Star team. He faded in the second half however and early in spring training the next year developed elbow problems which required Tommy John Surgery, causing him to miss all of 2014.
Corbin pitched well in 2015 upon his mid-season return, posting a 3.60 ERA in 16 starts. He struggled mightily in 2016, at one point being demoted to the bullpen. He came back to pitch a solid season in 2017, making 32 starts, going 14-13 and throwing 192 innings while posting a 4.03 ERA , good for a 116 ERA+. He followed that up in 2018 with his best season overall, making 33 starts and throwing 202 innings, pitching to a 3.15 ERA, and going 11-7. He might have been unlucky that year too, as his FIP was only 2.47. A free agent after the season, Corbin had another good year in 2019, helping the Washington Nationals win the World Series.
#7 Merrill Kelly, RHP
Merrill Kelly career as a D-back
Jack Sommers
Merrill Kelly spent four years pitching in Korea before returning to the United States as a free agent signee with the D-backs prior to the 2019 season. As a 30 year old rookie, he made 32 starts, threw 183 innings and posted a league average 101 ERA+. He was having a very good 2020 season with a 2.59 ERA through five starts, when his season was interrupted by a blockage in his shoulder requiring thoracic outlet surgery.
After struggling through a tough 2021 along with the rest of the team, Kelly has emerged as one of the most reliable starters in MLB the last two years, earning the nickname "Merrill the Mainstay." Leading the league with 33 starts and throwing 200 innings in 2022, he went 13-8 with a 3.37 ERA. He won pitcher of the month for July that year. In 2023 he was even better, posting a 3.00 ERA while going 12-8 in 30 starts. He missed several weeks with a blood clot in his leg, but bounced back. Kelly was magnificent in the team's run to the World Series last year, making four starts and going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 24 innings.
#6 Dan Haren, RHP
Dan Haren career as a D-back
Jack Sommers
Following a surprise division title in 2007, the Diamondbacks decided to go all in, sending six prospects to the Oakland A's for All Star pitcher Dan Haren. Along with Brandon Webb, Haren was part a formidable one-two punch at the top of the D-backs rotation. He went 16-8 with a 3.38 ERA, 138 ERA+ and led the league with a 5.15 strikeout to walk ratio, making his second All Star team in the process.
In 2009, Webb was injured, leaving Haren to carry the load alone at the top of the rotation. He responded with a terrific first half, going 9-5 with a 2.01 ERA and an astounding 8.06 K/BB ratio. After pitching in his third straight All Star game, Haren fell off the pace in the second half, but still finished 5th in the Cy Young voting while ending up 14-10 with a 3.14 ERA and league best 5.87 K/BB ratio.
Haren made 21 more starts for the team in 2010 before being traded at the deadline to the Angels. While his time with Arizona was short, he ranks 7th in WAR, 6th in ERA+, and 6th in Wins Above Average due to his extreme two year peak. Despite coming over from the American league where he seldom got to hit, Haren was one of the best hitting pitchers in the league during his time with Arizona, batting .265/.285/.382 with 18 doubles and 2 homers in 229 plate appearances. That included a .365 BA and .902 OPS in 2010 in 57 PA.
Haren currently serves on the D-backs Baseball Operations staff as a pitching analyst and coach, helping design attack plans for Diamondbacks pitchers. Tune in tomorrow for the rundown of the top five starting pitchers in Diamondbacks franchise history.
