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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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Mar 6, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws against against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) throws against against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 3. <p><strong>Projected Starting Rotation:</strong></p> <ul> <li>RHP Bartolo Colon (15-13, 4.09 ERA, 31 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Matt Harvey (DNP in 2014. 9-5, 2.27 ERA, 26 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.69 ERA, 22 GS in 2014)</li> <li>LHP Jon Niese (9-11, 3.40 ERA, 30 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Dillon Gee (7-8, 4.00 ERA, 22 GS in 2014)</li> </ul>. 2nd. NL East. New York Mets. 7

They may have one of the least exciting Opening Day starters in Major League Baseball, but the New York Mets have a very solid rotation. If only Zack Wheeler weren’t going to be out of the picture following Tommy John surgery, this unit would probably rank among the top three in the game.

Bartolo Colon will be 41 years old when he climbs onto the mound Monday afternoon in Washington. He’ll be the oldest Opening Day starter in Mets history and the oldest since Randy Johnson in 2006. Colon, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2005, will be making his seventh Opening Day start.

As Anthony DiComo of MLB.com points out:

"Of the 26 players who took part in the Opening Day 2000 game between the Indians and Orioles, 25 are retired. One is in the Hall of Fame. A few others are on the ballot. Several are coaches. Many have children who are now adults. One has a son fighting for a big league roster spot. Then there is Bartolo Colon, who walked six batters that day in a win over Baltimore, also striking out six over five innings of one-run ball…"

Of course, Colon isn’t the reason the Mets are ranked so high. Matt Harvey hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2013 following Tommy John surgery, but he’s dominated this spring (1.19 ERA with 21 strikeouts and one walk in 22.2 innings) and is a legitimate Cy Young candidate after finishing fourth in the voting two years ago.

The 26-year old has yet to pitch a complete season in the big leagues, but he has a career ERA of 2.39 in 36 starts and led the NL with a 2.01 FIP and 0.4 home runs per nine innings in 2013.

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Then there’s Jason deGrom who stepped into the rotation for the first time last season and emerged with the NL Rookie of the Year Award. Lefty Jon Niese has quietly gotten better in each of his seven Major League seasons and will hold down the fourth spot in the rotation.

Veteran Dillon Gee will bring up the rear, though he’ll be pushed by a couple of youngsters. Rafael Montero nearly won a spot in the starting rotation during spring training, and Noah Syndergaard is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, so this group could even improve on this lofty ranking.

Next: 6. San Diego Padres

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