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MLB: Power Ranking All 30 Major League Starting Rotations

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Feb 19, 2014; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) chats with the pitchers including Doug Fister (58) (in blue) in spring training action at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2014; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) chats with the pitchers including Doug Fister (58) (in blue) in spring training action at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman (30) reacts as Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in game one of the 2014 ALCS playoff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman (30) reacts as Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in game one of the 2014 ALCS playoff at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports /

<p><strong>Projected Starting Rotation:</strong></p> <ul> <li>RHP Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA, 34 GS in 2014)</li> <li>LHP Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54 ERA, 31 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA, 27 G, 26 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Bud Norris (15-8, 3.65 ERA, 28 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (6-9, 4.81 ERA, 25 G, 22 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57 ERA, 20 GS in 2014)</li> </ul>. 1st. AL East. Baltimore Orioles. 10. player. 11

Want to know the secret that has helped the Baltimore Orioles become a perennial threat in the AL East under Buck Showalter? The starting rotation has stayed healthy.

For example, in today’s Tommy-John-go-lucky age, Showalter hasn’t had a member of the 25-man roster go undergo the procedure in his tenure.

Will the trend continue in 2015? It’s too early to say, but if Showalter can keep his starting five in tact, the ender rated unit has a chance to lead Baltimore to the division title once again.

With his third consecutive solid season in 2014, Chris Tillman has firmly established himself as the ace of the pitching staff and is set to start his second straight Opening Day for the O’s. The 26-year old hit the 200-inning mark for the second year in a row and started a league-high 34 games for the AL East champions last season, but allowed seven earned runs in 9.1 innings across two postseason starts.

Lefty Wei-Yin Chen had his best Major League season last year and will be followed by right-handers Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris and (probably) Ubaldo Jimenez.

Kevin Gausman had a solid season and finished on a high note with a 2.87 ERA in five September starts, but Jimenez has outpitched him this spring and is likely to earn the final spot in the rotation early.

Next: 9. San Francisco Giants

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