MLB: Ranking top SP combos for AL contenders

With just two weeks left in the MLB season, the AL playoff picture is becoming clearer, and though the addition of the second Wild Card spot keeps playoff contenders on their toes and prevents them from setting up their starting pitching rotations for the playoffs, it’s fairly obvious who the top starting pitching combos are for each team.

Starting pitching is huge in the playoffs, and having a solid 1-2 combo at the top of a playoff contender’s rotation can back an opposing team up a wall in a hurry come postseason time, particularly in the five game Divisional Series. So here are the AL playoff contenders’ 1-2 pitching combos ranked, from worst to best. Keep in mind, most of these players are good pitchers regardless, and some teams have deeper rotations than others, but only the top two starters matter for these rankings.

I’ve kept the criteria for being an AL playoff contender at 80 wins, so apologies to fans of the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, all within plausible striking distance of the second Wild Card spot, but fringe contenders at best. Here are the six serious contenders for the five American League playoff spots, and where their top two starting pitchers rank. We’ll do the National League later this week.