Phillies have three of MLB's top-11 aces per ESPN poll of execs, scouts

Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Phillies might have fans worried about a repeat of last season after the majority of the roster is running it back, but if there was one spot to not worry too much, it would be the starting rotation.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel shared the MLB's top-11 starting pitching ace rankings, thanks to insight from MLB executives and scouts, for the 2026 season.

The Phillies have three pitchers featured on this list, highlighting just how great their starting rotation can be in 2026 if everyone can stay healthy and not regress.

Phillies' rotation has 3-of-11 best aces in MLB

"So as the 2026 season heats up, let's look at the top starters in MLB, with some of my own evaluation included but mostly based on insight from scouts and front office executives I polled going into the season," McDaniel writes.

Coming in at fifth overall, and inside the second-tier of aces, is Cristopher Sanchez. The 2025 Cy Young runner-up in the National League to Paul Skenes, Sanchez is one of the best pitchers in baseball.

His 2.50 ERA in 202 innings last season with 8.0 bWAR in 32 starts made Sanchez one of the best pitchers in baseball, and one of the top aces in the sport according to MLB executives and scouts.

The next Phillies ace featured on this ranking comes back-to-back at 10th and 11th, with Zack Wheeler placing inside the top-10 even with his injury, and Jesus Luzardo, the new $135 million man, placing 11th.

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Wheeler gets the top-10 nod thanks to his incredible track record with the Phillies, where he's led the Majors in pitcher WAR since 2021 with 26.7, compared to Logan Webb at 23.2 WAR for the second-most in MLB.

Luzardo is inside the top 11 thanks to a potential breakout season for the lefty. McDaniel writes, "I'll get in front of this train and sneak him on the end of the list."

While he might not be a Cy Young contender, he's got the underlying metrics to be an ace, and yet, he's the Phillies' third starter when everyone is healthy.

This list doesn't even include Aaron Nola, who could use a strong WBC performance to bounce back after a rough 2025, and Andrew Painter, who could emerge as a star in the Majors after his successful eight-strikeout debut on March 31st.

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