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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 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) celebrates after the final out against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) celebrates after the final out against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning of game five of the 2014 NLCS playoff at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

32. <p><strong>Projected Starting Rotation:</strong></p> <ul> <li>RHP Adam Wainwright (20-9, 2.38 ERA, 32 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Lance Lynn (15-10, 2.74 ERA, 33 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP John Lackey (14-10, 3.82 ERA, 31 GS combined with Boston and St. Louis in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Michael Wacha (5-6, 3.20 ERA, 19 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Carlos Martinez (2-4, 4.03 ERA, 57 G, 7 GS in 2014)</li> </ul>. 1st. NL Central. St. Louis Cardinals. 3. player

The St. Louis Cardinals are so stocked with pitching talent they didn’t blink at the opportunity to acquire outfielder Jason Heyward for budding star Shelby Miller this winter.

Staff ace Adam Wainwright won 20 games last season including five complete games and a National League best three shutouts. His 18 complete games since 2010 are more than any active Major League pitcher. The 33-year old finished third in Cy Young voting and despite elbow surgery in October is primed for his fourth Opening Day in eight big league seasons.

No. 2 starter Lance Lynn was nearly as good last season as he posted a career best 2.74 ERA in 203.2 innings. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound right-hander has all the tools of a top of the rotation starter without the pressure that accompanies it thanks to Wainwright’s presence.

John Lackey, who made ten starts for the Cardinals (3-3, 4.30 ERA) last year after beginning the season with the Boston Red Sox, offers a solid option in the third slot followed by one of the best young right-handers in the National League, Michael Wacha.

The 2013 NLCS MVP was limited to 19 starts last season because of a right-shoulder injury and posted a disappointing 5.40 ERA over four starts after returning in September. However, Wacha was great this spring (1.77 ERA in 20.1 innings) and appears ready to put together a complete big league season.

Moving Miller to Atlanta opened a spot in the starting rotation for Carlos Martinez, who worked 50 games out of the bullpen last year. The hard-throwing 23-year old has often drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez, and though he has a 4.28 career ERA in 117 big league innings, his upside isn’t far removed from the Hall of Famer.

Next: 2. Los Angeles Dodgers

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