Aces Wild: Elite MLB Starters Are Off to Rocky Start in 2013

Distressed that your favorite pitcher kind of sucks this year? Worried that the ace of the staff of your favorite team might have suddenly lost his stuff forever? Yeah, well, there’s a lot of that going around.

While some of MLB’s star starting pitchers—Kershaw, Lester, Buchholz, Wainwright, Lee, Zimmermann—are achieving at exceptional levels, there are some big-name arms out there who can’t seem to get untracked. Either their pitching flat out stinks (Mark Buehrle), or injuries have hit them hard (Roy Halladay), or their teammates haven’t gotten them any runs (Stephen Strasburg). Even the great Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez, perennial Cy Young candidates both, have struggled to stay above .500.

Here are the current aces of mediocrity, with their current records. Chances are most will turn things around before the season is out, but for someone like Cole Hamels (left), it’s gonna take a very hot streak to re-enter the zone of elite hurlers. For others, like 33-year-old Josh Beckett (5.19 ERA, with a 1.5 WHIP), the end may be nearer than we know.

American League

CC Sabathia, Yankees, 4-4

David Price, Rays, 1-4

R. A. Dickey, Blue Jays, 4-6

Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays, 1-3

Josh Johnson, Blue Jays, 0-1

Justin Verlander, Tigers, 5-4

James Shields, Royals, 2-5

C. J. Wilson, Angels, 4-3

Felix Hernandez, Mariners, 5-4

National League

Kris Medlen, Braves, 1-5

Stephen Strasburg, Nationals, 3-5

Roy Halladay, Phillies, 2-4

Cole Hamels, Phillies, 1-8

A.J. Burnett, Pirates, 3-5

Yovani Gallardo, Brewers, 3-5

Kyle Lohse, Brewers, 1-5

Jeff Samardzija, Cubs, 2-6

Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks, 2-3

Trevor Cahill, Diamondbacks, 3-5

Tim Lincecum, Giants, 3-4

Edinson Volquez, Padres, 3-5

Josh Beckett, Dodgers, 0-5