Starting Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
2019 Salary: $38.33 million
It’s weird not seeing Clayton Kershaw here, right? Strasburg actually barely beats out teammate Max Scherzer, whose payroll salary comes in just shy of $34.5 million for the 2019 season. The Nationals’ former top overall pick threw just 130 innings last year, but continues to be an above-average rotation contributor.
What’s changed rather drastically over the years is a decreasing reliance on his fastball. After tossing it at a 63.4% clip in 2015, that number has dropped to 51.9% each of the last two years. Strasburg’s changeup (19.9%) and curveball (19.6%) have seen an uptick in usage as a result.
They’ve both been elite weapons for him. Over the last three years, each offering has generated a strikeout rate of at least 40.0% and an opponent wRC+ no higher than 70. Opposing hitters have also failed to post an ISO above .100 on either pitch for the last two years.
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