Star Pitchers Who "Stink" In 2025

A Blog By Dean

Aug 06, 2025

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Picking seven star pitchers who “stink” was way harder than my hitters blog. The main issue I ran into, was that a lot of the stars who were playing bad just got thrown on the IL. Nevertheless, here are seven star pitchers who “stink” in 2025.

1. Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins, SP)

Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner known for his durability and innings-eating prowess, has been a shell of himself in 2025. After missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in October 2023, he returned with high hopes but has struggled with command and home runs. In 2023, his last full season, he posted a respectable 4.14 ERA over 184.2 innings, but nothing like his dominant 2.28 ERA in 2022 when he led the league with 228.2 innings. Miami opted to not sell low on him, and for a moment it looked as if it was paying off, until he have up another six runs two days ago. Miami should look to move him during the offseason to get some value back.

ERA: 6.44
WHIP: 1.42
HR Allowed: 14
BAA: .269

2. Devin Williams (New York Yankees, RP/Closer)

Williams and his devastating "Airbender" changeup have been lights-out in prior seasons, but this year the ERA is ballooned, even if the BAA remains low. In 2024, he missed the first four months due to back fractures, but returned strong with a 1.25 ERA and 14 saves over 22 games. That followed a stellar 2023 (1.53 ERA, 36 saves). Early 2025 diagnostics show his changeup losing some vertical drop (from 42.3 inches in 2024 to 41.5) and horizontal break, leading to more hard contact. He has given up more runs in 2025 than 2022-2024 combined. He is having career worsts in every major category, and Yankee fans are ready to move on.

ERA: 5.44
WHIP: 1.21
HR Allowed: 4
BAA: .208

3. Zac Gallen (Arizona Diamondbacks, SP)

Gallen's been Arizona's ace, but 2025 has him surrendering way too many dingers—23 is eye-popping, tying for one of the league's worst, and already a career worst despite only pitching 133 innings so far. In 2024, he went 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA over 148 innings, though his strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 25.1%, down from 26%+ in prior years. That followed a strong 2023 (17-9, 3.47 ERA, 220 K's). He has been eating some innings recently, which helps the bullpen, but with Arizona waving the white flag does it really matter?

ERA: 5.48
WHIP: 1.36
HR Allowed: 23
BAA: .258

4. Dylan Cease (San Diego Padres, SP)

Cease came to San Diego with high expectations after his no-hitter days with the White Sox, but the ERA is creeping up, and those 17 homers allowed aren't helping. In 2024, his first full year with the Padres, he shone with a 3.47 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, and 4th in NL Cy Young voting over 189.1 innings. That was a rebound from a tougher 2023 (4.58 ERA). His 2025 strikeouts remain high (162, 4th in MLB), suggesting the stuff is still there, just more mistakes over the plate. He is going to be a 30 year old free agent this offseason. There will be plenty of teams that want him, but he lost out on millions with this 2025 campaign.

ERA: 4.60
WHIP: 1.30
HR Allowed: 17
BAA: .238

5. Walker Buehler (Boston Red Sox, SP)

In 2024, he posted a 5.38 ERA over 75.1 innings in 16 starts, struggling post-comeback from Tommy John. But he flipped a switch in the postseason, closing out the World Series. Now with the Red Sox in 2025 , he’s been terrible. Buehler's been honest about his struggles, calling it frustrating, but there is only so many times Boston fans will allow him to go on a rant about how he needs to be better.

ERA: 5.74
WHIP: 1.60
HR Allowed: 19
BAA: .285

6. Justin Verlander (San Francisco Giants, SP)

To be honest, finding star pitchers who have qualified in terms of innings that “stink” was tough. A lot of guys who were pitching terrible got sent to the IL, so I am left beating up on old men like Justin Verlander. He has been better as of late, but watching a Hall of Famer struggle 3/4ths of the year is depressing.

ERA: 4.29
WHIP: 1.45
HR Allowed: 11
BAA: .273

7. Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland Guardians, RP/Closer)

I would have had Clase on here before the gambling saga. The fall off from his 2024 campaign to this was staggering. Now we know what some of that might have been a result of him purposely pitching bad. Regardless, he stinks as a person and a player.

ERA: 3.23
WHIP: 1.22
HR Allowed: 2
BAA: .256

Keep an eye out for my Red Sox series review tonight. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing below!