The National League has long been home to some of the most dominant arms in baseball, and the 2025 season is no exception. From established Cy Young winners to emerging young aces, the league is stacked with elite pitching talent capable of shutting down any lineup.
This list highlights the top 10 pitchers in the National League for the 2025 season, providing an in-depth look at their performance, strengths, and impact on their teams. From Paul Skenes’ meteoric rise to Chris Sale’s resurgence, these pitchers are set to dominate the league and play key roles in their teams’ playoff aspirations. Let’s dive into what makes each of these arms among the best in the game today.
1. Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Paul Skenes – Baseball-Reference
Paul Skenes has quickly risen as one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League. The former No. 1 overall draft pick and 2024 NL Rookie of the Year is already proving his elite potential. In his first full MLB season, Skenes has showcased an overpowering fastball that regularly reaches 99-100 mph, paired with a devastating slider. His debut Spring Training outing in 2025 reinforced the hype, as he struck out four batters in three innings while allowing only one run. His command, poise, and electric stuff have positioned him as a true ace for the Pirates.
Paul Skenes – Baseball Reference
What makes Skenes special is his combination of power and control. Despite being a hard thrower, he maintains excellent strikeout-to-walk ratios and rarely gives up free passes. If he can continue refining his changeup to complement his fastball-slider combo, he could be among the league’s best for years to come. Pittsburgh, a franchise that has struggled to develop long-term pitching dominance, may have found its long-awaited ace in Skenes.
2. Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies)
Zack Wheeler has been one of the most consistent and durable pitchers in baseball over the past few seasons. Since signing with Philadelphia, he has blossomed into an ace, routinely delivering 200+ innings with elite command and strikeout ability. In 2024, Wheeler finished with a 16-7 record, a 2.57 ERA, and over 200 strikeouts, solidifying his place as one of the top pitchers in the game. His ability to limit hard contact while maintaining a WHIP near 1.00 has made him a nightmare for opposing hitters.
Zack Wheeler – Baseball Reference
One of Wheeler’s greatest strengths is his ability to dominate deep into games. With an elite mix of a high-90s fastball, sharp slider, and reliable curveball, he can generate both strikeouts and weak contact efficiently. As the Phillies push for another deep playoff run, Wheeler’s consistency and leadership on the mound will be crucial.
3. Spencer Strider (Atlanta Braves)
Spencer Strider has quickly become one of the most feared strikeout artists in the league. With a blazing fastball that sits in the high 90s and a devastating slider, he led the NL in strikeouts in 2023 and 2024, consistently posting double-digit K/9 rates. His dominance on the mound makes him one of the most electrifying pitchers in baseball, and his ability to miss bats at an elite level gives him the potential to compete for multiple Cy Young Awards.
Spencer Strider – Baseball Reference
Despite his dominance, Strider’s biggest challenge has been efficiency and durability. He occasionally runs up high pitch counts early in games, limiting his ability to go deep into starts. If he can improve his efficiency and mix in his developing changeup more effectively, he has the potential to be the best pitcher in the National League for years to come.
4. Corbin Burnes (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Few pitchers have had a more dominant run than Corbin Burnes over the past few years. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner continues to excel, featuring one of the best cutters in baseball. His ability to generate swing-and-miss stuff while limiting walks has made him the undisputed ace of the Brewers’ rotation. In 2024, he once again posted a sub-3.00 ERA with over 200 strikeouts and one of the lowest WHIPs in the National League.
Corbin Burnes – Baseball Reference
Burnes’ secret weapon has been his ability to limit hard contact and induce weak grounders. His elite movement on both his cutter and sinker keeps hitters off balance. With his new home in Arizona, he will quickly become the top ace of a staff in desperate need of a every 5th day stoppers.
5. Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves)
Chris Sale had a remarkable resurgence in 2024 after being traded from the Red Sox. The veteran lefty bounced back with one of the best seasons of his career, leading the National League in ERA (2.38), strikeouts (225), and wins (18). His performance earned him the 2024 NL Cy Young Award, marking an incredible return to form after years of injuries.
Chris Sale – Baseball Reference
Sale’s ability to reinvent himself has been key to his late-career success. While he no longer touches triple digits, his elite slider and command of the strike zone make him just as dangerous. Now with a two-year contract extension, he remains a crucial piece of the Braves’ rotation.
6. Shota Imanaga (Chicago Cubs)
Shota Imanaga made an immediate impact in his first MLB season, quickly proving himself as one of the most polished and efficient pitchers in the National League. The left-hander arrived from Japan with elite command, a deceptive fastball, and a deep arsenal of secondary pitches, allowing him to adjust seamlessly to major league hitters. In his first 13 starts, he posted a dominant 1.89 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, showing an ability to work deep into games while keeping baserunners to a minimum.
Shota Imanaga – Baseball Reference
Though his strikeout totals are not as high as some power pitchers, Imanaga thrives on pinpoint control and sequencing, effectively keeping hitters off balance with a mix of fastballs, splitters, and sliders. His biggest challenge in 2024 was limiting home runs, as MLB hitters were able to capitalize on occasional mistakes in the zone. However, his low walk rate and ability to generate weak contact suggest that he has the tools to adjust and improve in his second season. If he continues to refine his approach, Imanaga has the potential to be a top-tier ace for the Chicago Cubs, anchoring their rotation for years to come.
7. Aaron Nola (Philadelphia Phillies)
Aaron Nola has been one of the most consistent and durable starting pitchers in the National League, serving as the backbone of the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation for nearly a decade. Known for his elite command, high strikeout rates, and ability to eat innings, Nola has logged 180+ innings in six of the last seven seasons, making him one of baseball’s most reliable arms. His signature curveball remains one of the best in the game, generating high whiff rates and keeping hitters off balance, while his fastball-changeup mix allows him to effectively neutralize both righties and lefties.
Aaron Nola – Baseball Reference
Though his ERA fluctuated in 2024, his underlying metrics, including strikeout-to-walk ratio and FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), suggested he remained among the league’s most dominant arms. His ability to pitch deep into games while maintaining a sub-1.20 WHIP makes him a valuable asset for a Phillies team looking to make another deep playoff run. As one of the league’s premier workhorses, Nola’s combination of durability, elite secondary pitches, and big-game experience ensures he remains a top-tier pitcher in the National League heading into 2025.
8. Logan Webb (San Francisco Giants)
Logan Webb has quietly become one of the most dependable and effective pitchers in the National League, solidifying himself as the ace of the San Francisco Giants with his ability to consistently eat innings and limit damage. Over the past two seasons, Webb has established himself as a true workhorse, throwing over 200 innings in back-to-back yearswhile maintaining an impressive ERA in the low 3.00s and a WHIP near 1.10. Unlike many modern power pitchers, Webb thrives on elite command and a heavy sinker, which generates one of the highest ground-ball rates in baseball, making him one of the toughest pitchers to square up.
Logan Webb – Baseball Reference
His ability to induce weak contact, combined with an improving strikeout rate, has made him one of the most efficient starters in the game. In 2024, he further refined his arsenal, mixing in more changeups and sliders to keep hitters off balance while maintaining his elite control. As the Giants look to return to contention, Webb remains the anchor of their rotation, giving them a reliable, top-tier arm who can dominate deep into games and lead a pitching staff built around efficiency and durability.
9. Tyler Glasnow (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Tyler Glasnow has long been known for his elite strikeout ability and electric stuff, and his transition to the Los Angeles Dodgers has only elevated his status as one of the premier pitchers in the National League. Armed with a high-90s fastball, a devastating curveball, and a sharp slider, Glasnow generates elite swing-and-miss rates, consistently ranking among the league leaders in strikeouts per nine innings (K/9). In 2024, he posted a 3.10 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts over 180 innings, proving he can sustain dominance over a full season.
Tyler Glasnow – Baseball Reference
Injuries have been a concern throughout his career, but when healthy, he possesses Cy Young-caliber potential with his ability to overpower hitters. Now surrounded by one of the best defensive and analytical teams in baseball, Glasnow has the opportunity to reach new heights, refining his command and maximizing his efficiency on the mound. If he can stay on the field, he has the potential to be one of the most dominant arms in the NL in 2025 and beyond.
10. Justin Steele (Chicago Cubs)
Justin Steele has firmly established himself as the ace of the Chicago Cubs, delivering a 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts over 185 innings in 2024. Known for his ability to limit home runs and generate weak contact, Steele led all NL starters in HR/9 rate, making him one of the toughest pitchers to square up.
Justin Steele – Baseball Reference
His mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking ball allow him to dominate both lefties and righties, while his improved command enables him to pitch deep into games. As the Cubs continue building around their young core, Steele remains a cornerstone of their rotation and a legitimate Cy Young contender moving forward.
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