With some time to kill between our pre-spring training power rankings and those coming immediately before Opening Day, here at Power Rankings Central, we’re running through a series of top 10s. First up, last week, was the top 10 offenses in baseball, so the natural progression of that is to rank the top 10 starting rotations.
We already got a jumpstart on the homework for this project by running through potential aces vs. mere “No. 1” starters last week. And those absolutely matter. I don’t think you could be considered one of baseball’s very best rotations without an ace. A collection of 2s and 3s are nice, but sometimes a team needs an ace-like starter to go out and shove for seven or more innings and will his team to victory.
It isn’t just an accounting of aces and other frontline starters here, though, as depth matters some as well. We’re talking about the best rotations and you can’t really get there with one ace and a bunch of Triple-A-caliber starters. It’s a combination of high-level arms and depth.
Let’s get to it, counting backward from 10.
Honorable mention: Astros, Royals, Twins, Reds, Padres
Paul Skenes does some heavy lifting here, but it’s well established what a difference a dynamic ace like Skenes can make in elevating a rotation into the upper echelon of the league. He only threw 133 innings after getting called up last season, but the Pirates won 15 of his 23 starts and he was worth 5.9 WAR. Between the minors and majors in the regular season, he threw more than 160 innings, so he could easily work up around 180 this year. He’s a big, strong dude and there’s no doubt in mind he can handle that workload just fine. He’s a huge plus here, which helps offset some of the depth concerns.
Buehler had a successful run as a frontline starter from 2018-2021, even finishing as high as fourth in Cy Young voting. However, he struggled after returning from Tommy John surgery last year, posting a -1.3 WAR and a 5.38 ERA in the regular season. Despite his struggles, he delivered a strong performance in the playoffs, throwing 13 straight scoreless innings and helping the team win Game 3 of the World Series and clinching Game 5. At 30 years old, there is hope that he can return to form this year. Giolito, also 30, has three solid seasons as a starter under his belt.
The Red Sox have a strong pitching rotation with Crochet, Houck, Buehler, and Giolito as potential frontline starters, supported by Bello and Crawford. The Diamondbacks also have a solid rotation, with Gallen, Kelly, Pfaadt, and the newly acquired Burnes leading the way.
There are some uncertainties in various rotations, such as Chris Sale’s workload, Reynaldo López’s consistency, and Spencer Strider’s recovery from surgery. Despite the questions, there is optimism surrounding pitchers like Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Ian Anderson.
The Yankees have made improvements to their rotation by adding Max Fried and hope to get a full season from Clarke Schmidt. The Mariners, who were impressive last season, return their rotation intact, with pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park potentially inflating their numbers.
Overall, there are several strong rotations in baseball, with a mix of established aces and promising young pitchers. The competition is fierce, but each team has its own set of challenges and potential for success. The Phillies’ rotation boasts a mix of experienced arms and promising young talent. Jesús Luzardo, acquired in the offseason, is a key piece with the potential to be an ace. Despite being the No. 5 starter, Luzardo has shown flashes of brilliance, posting a solid 3.48 ERA in 50 starts last season. If needed, Taijuan Walker provides depth as a talented sixth option.
The team’s rotation is further strengthened by the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, all of whom have the potential to be aces. Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani also bring ace potential to the mound. Additionally, the return of Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw from injuries adds more depth and All-Star caliber talent to the rotation. Bobby Miller, another promising arm, rounds out the impressive array of pitching talent on the Phillies roster.
In summary, the Phillies not only boast the best offense but also arguably have the best rotation in the league. With a mix of experienced veterans and talented youngsters, the team is well-equipped to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.