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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 7, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

25. player. 135. <p><strong>Projected Starting Rotation:</strong></p> <ul> <li>LHP Dallas Keuchel (12-9, 2.93 ERA, 29 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Scott Feldman (8-12, 3.74 ERA, 29 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Collin McHugh (11-9, 2.73 ERA, 25 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Roberto Hernandez (8-11, 4.10 ERA, 32 G, 29 GS combined with Philadelphia and Los Angeles in 2014)</li> <li>*LHP Brett Oberholtzer (5-13, 4.39 ERA, 24 GS in 2014)</li> <li>RHP Asher Wojciechowski (4-4, 4.75 ERA, 15 G, 14 GS with Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2014)</li> </ul> <p><span style=. 4th. AL West. Houston Astros

Most baseball fans probably wouldn’t be able to pick one of the five starters out of a lineup, but the Houston Astros starting rotation is no longer one of the five worst in the big leagues.

Lefty Dallas Keuchel looked like an ace last season with a 2.93 ERA in 29 starts, five of which were complete games, and won the pitcher’s American League Gold Glove Award. He also led the Major Leagues with a 3.63 ground ball to fly ball ratio.

For his performance last season, the 27-year old earned the nod as the Astros’ Opening Day starter. It’s a pressure-packed role that is key to Houston’s success in 2015.

"“If Dallas were able to repeat his performance from last year, that’s a critical component of us being successful,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said recently. “He is our ace. We rely on those guys to go out there every five games and keep you in the game. He’s capable of doing that. Knowing Dallas, he could step it up to the next level. I think Dallas has some 15-20 win seasons in his future, and hopefully as soon as this year.”"

As for the rest of the staff, Collin McHugh was nearly as good as Keuchel last year in an amazing about-face from his dreadful 2013 performance (10.04 ERA in seven combined games with the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies). Scott Feldman provided the solid veteran presence of which he was asked, and Roberto Hernandez (if that is his real name) will add to the unit’s experience this season.

Asher Wojciechowski hasn’t pitched in the big leagues yet, but is expected to be on the Opening Day roster and fill in at least until Brett Oberholtzer is recovered from a left lat strain.

Next: 24. Tampa Bay Rays

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