All 30 MLB starting rotations, ranked

Unsurprisingly, the Rockies starting rotation finished near the bottom of the league in ERA last season, but the lack of upside is alarming. Formerly an ace, German Marquez is out for the year following Tommy John surgery. Lefty Kyle Freeland is signed long-term but has been near league average since his breakout 2018 season. Jose Urena was released after a few poor starts in April. Lefty Austin Gomber has shown a plus arm but has been unable to stay healthy. Young right-hander Ryan Feltner and Anthony Senzatela have also missed time to injuries, putting veterans Chase Anderson and Dinelson Lamet in the crosshairs.

Oakland has undergone another complete teardown and has a lot of question marks in their inexperienced rotation. Paul Blackburn rebounded last year until suffering shoulder issues, with a 4.28 ERA in 21 starts, but has just returned from early injury. Young Ken Waldichuk and JP Sears flashed ability after coming over in the Frankie Montas trade, but neither has made their mark this season. James Kaprielian is back in the rotation after an early demotion. The rotation could salvaged by emerging youngster Mason Miller, but he's out with an elbow injury.

The pitching development in KC has been terrible in recent seasons, though new pitching coach Brian Sweeney is out to change that trend. Veterans Zack Greinke and Jordan Lyles are miscast as top-of-the-rotation pieces, though they do throw strikes and eat up innings. Brady Singer is coming off a breakout year with a 3.23 ERA in 153.1 innings, but would liek to forget about his first two months. Ryan Yarbrough, Kris Bubic, and Brad Keller suffered early injuries. Daniel Lynch returned after missing two months with a shoulder injury.

Cincinnati has been hanging around in the NL Central race in spite of Nick Lodolo's injury and Graham Ashcraft's struggles, with Hunter Greene picking up the slack. Greene and Lodolo are former first-round picks who showed flashes of ace ability last season. The youth movement continues with the promotions of Brandon Williamson and Andrew Abbott, two lefties with plus stuff. Veterans Ben Lively and Luke Weaver have been revelations early, though it remains to be seen if they can keep up their effectiveness.

The Tigers had high hopes entering last season, but a collapse in health for much of their rotation doomed their chances for success. The team still waits for Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, and Casey Mize to heal from injuries, though an finger injury to Eduardo Rodriguez after a great start likely dooms their season. Alex Faedo is also out with a finger injury.

Matthew Boyd returned to the organization after one year away, showing a high upside if he can keep the ball in the park. Michael Lorenzen is also off to a strong start. Young pitchers Reese Olson and Joey Wentz show plus stuff if they can throw strikes.

The Nats organization has been obliterated by poor contracts, particularly those of Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Strasburg remains sidelined, while Corbin has arguably been the worst starting pitcher in baseball over the last two seasons. The young duo of Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore provide hope, though neither has demonstrated MLB success before strong starts to 2023. Veteran Trevor Williams has added stability as an innings eater, though his history shows him to be unreliable from year-to-year. Jake Irvin has also shown some flashes early in the year.

The questions surrounding the Cardinals' rotation haven't been answered, unfortunately. Adam Wainwright didn't start in April due to a leg injury, while fellow veteran Miles Mikolas struggled. Jack Flaherty has also shown ace ability, but he's thrown only 155.2 innings over the last three years combined and see inconsistent results so far. Jordan Montgomery was a great addition at last year's trade deadline, with a 3.11 ERA in 11 starts. Steven Matz was already removed from the rotation in favor of young Matthew Liberatore.

Pitching was the big focus of Boston's offseason, and that includes the rotation. The team added former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the group, but he's been a bust early in the year. Chris Sale is being paid like an ace, but the remainder of his season is in doubt after another injury. Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock have shown flashes, but they pitched in various roles last year before their seasons ended due to injury. James Paxton started the year on the IL, but has pitched well since returning. Brayan Bello's sinker could make him an excellent option over the long term. 

The Cubs had a busy offseason, including some moves in their starting rotation. Marcus Stroman remains the reliable ace, with a career 3.62 ERA due to his groundball rate and plus control. Justin Steele has the talent to be a similar brand of pitcher, while Jameson Taillon earned a hefty contract after back-to-back healthy seasons with an ERA near 4.00 for the Yanks. Taillon has been lost briefly due to a groin injury. The team liked what it saw from Drew Smyly enough to bring him back (3.47 ERA in 22 starts). The fifth starter spot has been filled by the struggling Hayden Wesneski, with veteran Kyle Hendricks making his way back from shoulder surgery.

The Angels took a new approach in the offseason: Building depth. That includes what's now one of the deeper starting rotations in baseball. The unit is still led by ace Shohei Ohtani, while young Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers took major strides to become middle-of-the-rotation starters last season. The backend of the rotation makes the team so interesting, as Tyler Anderson comes over from the Dodgers after posting a 2.57 ERA over nearly 180 innings. Griffin Canning has looked good since returning from the IL, and Jaime Barria has stopped the bleeding in the sixth rotation spot.

Baltimore's rotation showed improvement last season despite the lack of big names. The Orioles swapped out veteran Jordan Lyles for Kyle Gibson this year. Youngsters Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer also show upside. Tyler Wells has solidified the backend of the rotation by throwing strikes, and the team hopes Grayson Rodriguez can also find the strikezone more often in the minors after his slow start.

Arizona is handicapped by its own poor decision, giving former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner a five-year deal back in 2020. He was finally released after a horrific start to the season, with the team opting to use their youngsters instead. The development of aces Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly has gone a long way in making up for Bumgarner, and Zach Davies is a reliable backend starter. The young trio of Drey Jameson, Ryne Nelson, and Brandon Pfaadt are the future, and none of them have been consistent yet.

The White Sox rotation saw some change in the offseason, but they're still led by Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn. Cease fell just short of winning the AL Cy Young in a breakout 2022 season, while Lynn got on track in the second half following knee surgery. Unfortunately, neither pitcher has been effective in the first two months. Lucas Giolito is a frustrating case as a result of diminished velocity but has shown ace upside in the past. Michael Kopech is similarly intriguing, with a 3.54 ERA in 25 starts last year while battling knee issues. Mike Clevinger struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery in San Diego last season, and has missed time to injury already.

Pittsburgh's rotation has started to emerge early in 2023, but it remains to be seen if it can stick. Mitch Keller made strides last year (3.91 ERA) and has shown more velocity with his fast start. Roansy Contreras has a bright future and posted a sub-4.00 ERA in his rookie campaign, though his fastball hasn't been the same this year. Forty-three-year-old lefty Rich Hill still has a great hook, but we can only hope for league-average with his durability issues and lack of velocity. Vince Velasquez has yet to meet expectations in the majors, and has been nursing an elbow injury. Johan Oviedo has been inconsistent but has a plus arm.

The Phils improved a rotation that went to the World Series last year, adding veteran Taijuan Walker to top-tier aces Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. Like Wheeler, Walker has rewritten his reputation for durability issues by making 29 starts in back-to-back seasons. However, there are some injury concerns elsewhere, as Ranger Suarez missed April with elbow issues, and top prospect Andrew Painter has a partially torn elbow ligament. Bailey Falter's struggles have put the team in a bind with the fifth starter spot. 

Miami's starting rotation has been the biggest strength of the squad in recent years, led by reigning NL Cy Young Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara is off to a rough start, but has time to rebound. The rotation did take a hit to improve the lineup by trading Pablo Lopez but still has a wealth of young upside with Eury Perez, Jesus Luzardo, Trevor Rogers, Edward Cabrera, and Braxton Garrett. While each of those four pitchers has been inconsistent, they've also flashed ace abilities. Veteran Johnny Cueto isn't the pitcher he was 10 years ago, and has missed time to injury.

Seattle built their rotation into elite status over the last year, but have now lost former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray for the season. They still have three excellent starters remaining, with Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Luis Castillo. Rookies Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo show upside, but have a lot of pressure to stick with Marco Gonzales also out with an arm injury. 

Houston remains a top rotation despite losing Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in free agency. Behind him, Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez developed into aces last season. They've held up so far, and young Hunter Brown has looked the part after his great debut late last season. Unfortunately, arm injuries have com for Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr., and Jose Urquidy, putting pressure on Brandon Bielak and J.P. France. That duo has been up to the challenge so far, but it remains to be seen how long that will stick based on their minor league track records. 

Cleveland's pitching talent and depth make most other organizations jealous. The rotation is now led by Shane Bieber, though No. 2 starter Triston McKenzie also return from a shoulder injury recently and Aaron Civale has also returned. Young starters Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen have helped saved the injury-plagued rotation. Cal Quantrill struggled before going on the IL with a shoulder issue.

Toronto's was arguably the most disappointing starting rotation in baseball in 2022 due to poor seasons from Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi. That tandem has bounced back, but this year it's Alek Manoah that has ruined an otherwise great rotation. Kevin Gausman was quite a replacement for 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, posting a 3.35 ERA in 174.2 innings with big strikeout numbers. Free agent addition Chris Bassitt has been solid after a slow start.

While the Giants have lost ace Carlos Rodon to free agency, their rotation depth has kept them afloat. Logan Webb has become an ace over the last two years, with a plus changeup adding to his elite sinker. Alex Cobb also showed ace upside last season after adding velocity, and offseason signing Sean Manaea is finally coming around after a terrible start. Anthony DeSclafani is off to a terrific start, which is helpful with Alex Wood and Ross Stripling nursing back injuries. Should they need more help, the Giants have Jakob Junis and high-upside youngsters Kyle Harrison and Sean Hjelle.

Owner Steve Cohen has spent big in consecutive offseasons, adding Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Jose Quintana. Unfortunately, they've already faced injuries from Verlander, Carrasco, and Quintana. Max Scherzer has also been pitching through pain. Tylor Megill has been reliable, and David Peterson is finding his form at Triple-A after a terrible start in Queens.

The Padres had elite upside last year but have worked on the depth of their rotation in the offseason. The trio of Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Blake Snell are outstanding, though Musgrove missed time with a fractured toe. Michael Wacha is a valuable veteran addition, showing effectiveness with a cutter he's established over the last two seasons. Former Mets reliever Seth Lugo has looked good but missed some time with a leg injury.

Milwaukee has a recent trend of piecing together offense while their elite pitching does its thing. When healthy, there isn't a more imposing starting trio than Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. Unfortunately, Woodruff has been missing with a shoulder injury, and Burnes also hasn't been himself. Eric Lauer is also out with injury, along with Wade Miley. Adrian Houser has helped calm the waters since returning from injury, and Colin Rea has also been a capable spot starter.

The Yankees starting rotation looked elite early in the offseason after signing Carlos Rodon, but things can change quickly. Rodon has yet to pitch due to elbow and back problems, while Frankie Montas could miss all of 2023 due to a shoulder. Matters got worse when Luis Severino went down, missing most of the first two months. New York will be counting on the remaining pitchers to pick up the slack. There's no doubt ace Gerrit Cole can lead the way, and Domingo German has been excellent, Nestor Cortes has struggled before going down with a shoulder injury. Clarke Schmidt has been thrust into the starting five due to the team's injuries, and finally come around in recent weeks.

The Dodgers easily led MLB with a 2.75 rotation ERA last season, though the losses of Walker Buehler and Tyler Anderson could make a repeat difficult. Julio Urias has developed into a reliable ace over the last three years, but is out with a hamstring injury. Clayton Kershaw doesn't pile up innings like he once did, but there are few more effective pitchers when on the mound. Tony Gonsolin is back from an ankle injury and has an incredible 2.51 ERA over four seasons. Young Michael Grove and Bobby Miller have huge upsides, which is needed now that the team has lost Dustin May to another arm injury.

The Braves' rotation remains elite in both talent and depth, but it's certainly been tested due to early arm injuries for Max Fried and Kyle Wright. Spencer Strider has been the best pitcher in the NL over the first two months. Charlie Morton remains serviceable despite showing signs of age at 39. Bryce Elder didn't make the team out of Spring Training, but has been outstanding in the middle of the rotation. The fifth starter spot has been a merry-go-round, with Mike Soroka, Jared Shuster, and AJ Smith-Shawver all contributing.

A middle-of-the-pack rotation last year, the Twins look improved entering 2023. The team got Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda back from arm injuries, only for them to have more issues. Joe Ryan carried over his great Spring into April after posting a 3.55 ERA in 27 starts last year, while Sonny Gray hopes to throw more than the 24 starts he did last season. Newcomer Pablo Lopez has posted a 3.52 ERA over the last three seasons in Miami and proved he could stay healthy in 2022. Minnesota also has a wealth of depth, with Bailey Ober and Louie Varland helping early.

Rangers GM Chris Young was a fine MLB starter, so it shouldn't come as a big surprise that he built in 2023 with starting rotation additions. No pitcher in baseball comes even close to Jacob deGrom when he's healthy, but he's now sidelined for the year due to Tommy John surgery. High-priced starters Jon Gray, Nathan Eovaldi, and Andrew Heaney are highly effective but share injury concerns. Martin Perez returned after an All-Star season, posting a 2.89 ERA over 196.1 innings, though his mediocre track record has created skeptics. Dane Dunning is a quality fill-in, and is now in the rotation to stay with deGrom sidelined.

No organization has done a better job producing pitching in recent years, and Tampa Bay's pitching staff exemplifies that fact. Shane McClanahan was an ace last year and was a Cy Young candidate until he went down with a shoulder injury. Fellow ace Tyler Glasnow has rejoined the rotation after Tommy John surgery and an oblique injury. Free agent signing Zach Eflin has the elite control the team covets. Young Taj Bradley looked great in April, while Yonny Chirinos is a viable fill-in. Unfortunately, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen are sidelined with serious arm injuries after great starts to the season.