MLB fans react to the latest performance projections of the NL East starting pitchers - "Verlander is better than Sandy"

Given that the NL East is expected to be the most competitive division next season, MLB has created a rather long list of the best starting pitchers in the league. To the surprise of many analysts and fans, Sandy Alcantara, the lone Marlin in the top 10, is at the top of the list, followed by Justin Verlander, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and Max Scherzer, another behemoth of a teammate.

The New York Mets have one of the hottest bullpens and starting lineups heading into the 2023 season, but the other teams haven't left many stones unturned this offseason either.

"Top 10 NL East Starting Pitchers," GENY Mets Report tweeted.

The list contains three starting pitchers each from the Mets, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, with only one representative from either the Washington Nationals or Miami Marlins.

MLB fans had their say over the list created for the same, and while some were OK, others had problems with either some of the players mentioned or the overall order of the list.

"Verlander is better than Sandy," LuiyiRod tweeted.

"Senga should be 4," bradenladner4 tweeted.

To earn his third AL Cy Young Award in 2022, Justin Verlander made a comeback after missing nearly two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Before the end of the calendar year, he and the Houston Astros earned their second World Series championship.

The Mets were willing to offer Verlander a two-year, $86.6 million contract with a $35 million vesting option for a third season, even as his age 40 season drew near.

Is the MLB list for the top NL East Starting Pitchers Justifiable?

With six complete games and 228 2/3 innings pitched, Sandy Alcantara led baseball and was the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner.

In a division with a ton of excellent starting pitching, Alcantara takes the top slot despite the fact that the Marlins' chances of winning the loaded NL East in 2023 are probably not much greater than 0%. He also has a very team-friendly contract with a four-year cap hit of under $49 million and a $21 million club option for the Marlins in 2027.

"Sandy Alcántara, 99mph Fastball and 94mph Changeup, Individual Pitches + Overlay," Pitching Ninja tweeted.

If the MLB's NL East division is any preview of what's to come in the 2023 season, then the American League has also prepared itself well. Major baseball clubs this offseason have done some serious business with positional players and pitchers.

While both the Braves and the Phillies have a young and fully capable bullpen, they are both poised to show their class in the upcoming season. The Mets, despite having a strong starting pitching lineup on paper, may be plagued by age-related problems.