By Pat Ragazzo

According to ESPN, the 2019 World Series will feature the top two teams, who have paid out the most money in Major League Baseball for their top three pitchers.

The Washington Nationals have invested $77.8 million between Stephen Strasburg ($35 million), Max Scherzer ($30.3 million), and 2019 offseason signing Patrick Corbin ($12.5 million). On the other side, the Houston Astros are paying Zack Greinke ($31.5 million, acquired at the deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks), Justin Verlander ($28 million), and soon to be free agent ace Gerrit Cole ($13. 5 million).

When looking at the numbers, it is no surprise these teams are in their current position as champions of their respective leagues.

Verlander was brilliant this season with a 7.8 bWAR, 21-6 record, 2.58 ERA, .803 WHIP, and 7.14 K/BB ratio. Cole will be challenging his fellow staff mate in the Cy Young balloting after posting an incredible 6.8 bWAR, 20-5 record, 2.50 ERA, 2.64 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, and 185 ERA+. Greinke was no slouch either with his 6.4 bWAR, 18-5 record, 3.22 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP.

This trio helped Houston reach their second World Series in three seasons and will be the deciding factor in whether or not they capture their second title during this span.

As for the Nationals, this team failed to win a playoff series in four postseason appearances since 2012. Despite back-to-back Cy Young seasons from Scherzer and multiple runner-up years from Strasburg, the Nationals still did not have enough to get over the hump.

Make no mistake, Patrick Corbin (14-7, 3.25 ERA, 3.49 FIP) was the missing ingredient which helped propel this staff to the National League crown.

Washington’s top three horses combined for 43 of their 93 wins in the regular season and all pitched to an ERA under 3.35. They also have a record of 6-2 this postseason and have made all the difference despite one rough relief outing by Corbin (0.2 innings, two walks, six earned runs) in game two of the NLDS.

With Zack Wheeler set to hit the free agent market this offseason, the Mets need to prevent him from walking by following the Astros’ and Nationals’ formula and investing in their rotation.

Unfortunately, Wheeler could depart as he will likely command a significant annual salary and sign long-term. The Mets can also extend a $17.8 million qualifying offer to Wheeler, but Brodie and company should at least consider a long-term deal.

If Zack declines the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere the Mets will receive a compensatory draft pick.

Wheeler has emerged as the Mets’ second most reliable starter in the past two seasons behind Jacob deGrom. Since returning from a slew of injuries in 2018, including Tommy-John surgery, Wheeler has posted a 23-15 record, 3.64 ERA, and 3.37 FIP.

After being hampered by injuries for the early part of his career, Wheeler has silenced the critics by setting career highs in starts the past two years with 29 in 2018 and 31 in 2019.

The Mets locked up deGrom last offseason to a five-year, $137.5 million extension after a historical Cy Young season. DeGrom rewarded their investment by following up with an 11-8 record, 2.43 ERA, 7.8 bWAR, and league-leading 255-strikeout year making him the favorite to win his second straight Cy Young award.

Although Noah Syndergaard had a disappointing 2019 campaign (2.2 bWAR, 10-8 record, 4.28 ERA, league-leading 94 total earned runs), he still has tremendous stuff and has pitched to a career stat line of 47-30, 3.31 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 775 strikeouts, and an impressive 2.42 ERA in the postseason.

Both Syndergaard (free agent in 2022) and Wheeler should be locked up long-term as they without a doubt have the most talent  and potential past deGrom on the Mets staff.

Marcus Stroman (4-2, 3.77 ERA, 4.15 FIP as a Met) is headed into a contract year and will command top dollar, while Steven Matz has been inconsistent at times despite a solid stat line this year (2.2 bWAR, 11-10, 4.21 ERA, 4.60 FIP). Both starters look to be expendable at this point, which leaves Thor and Wheeler as the top two candidates worthy of an extension.

With a rotation built around deGrom, Thor, and Wheeler in the long-term, the Mets won’t have to look to replace the front line of their rotation for the foreseeable future. With 2017 first round lefty David Peterson set to start 2020 at Triple-A, he will most likely be a prime candidate to replace Stroman if he departs after next season.

It is time for the Wilpons and Brodie to spend the money as they are now aware of what they have with this rotation. They must take a page out of the Astros’ and Nationals’ book by investing top dollar in their “Big 3” starters, while adding the right pieces behind them in the hope that they will get back to the World Series before the window is slammed shut on this group.