MLB Power Rankings: The best and worst starting rotations in baseball this season
By Tim Boyle
25. MLB Power Rankings: Kansas City Royals
Sorry, but an aging Zack Greinke doesn’t do much to help the Kansas City Royals. Brady Singer may soon become one of the better starters in baseball. For now, the Royals will throw a bunch of younger arms onto the mound along with Greinke. They curiously signed Jordan Lyles this offseason in what is mostly a role to eat up innings, just in case the greener starters can’t get the job done.
24. MLB Power Rankings: Detroit Tigers
The issue with the Detroit Tigers last year wasn’t their pitching. Although miserable for much of 2022, their offense was the bigger issue. The team has a nice crop of younger arms and veterans vying for innings this season. If Eduardo Rodriguez is anything like he was prior to joining Detroit and one of the younger guys finds his groove, the rest of the American League Central might have a slightly harder time facing them.
23. MLB Power Rankings: Baltimore Orioles
There is a major difference between this spot and the next in this week’s MLB Power Rankings. The Baltimore Orioles didn’t have the sort of thrilling offseason some believed they could. Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin are their two biggest additions to the starting rotation. The word “underwhelming” is insulted to be used to describe this situation. They do have a couple of young arms to watch and a healthy John Means will help out. Until we see otherwise, there is reason to doubt the Orioles’ starters.
22. MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
It’s very possible the Boston Red Sox have a much worse starting rotation than where it’s ranked at the moment. Do they get anything out of Chris Sale? How cooked is Corey Kluber? This rotation would have been awesome in 2017. In 2023, there are too many guys who should already start scouting the first card show they’ll do a signing at after retirement. James Paxton is here, too. This doesn’t feel like a year of glory in Boston. The starting pitchers are a big reason why.
21. MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
There isn’t anything exceptional about the Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation. They brought in Pablo Lopez this offseason. It was a needed move with all of the injuries the rotation has suffered over the last two seasons. The ball club has a whole bunch of contenders for the starting rotation. Ensuring they wouldn’t get caught short of any arms, the only thing missing from the Twins is that one true ace. Joe Ryan will hope to secure that role.