MLB Power Rankings: The best and worst starting rotations in baseball this season

5. MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros

Something is missing from the Houston Astros this year. It’s the veteran presence of Justin Verlander. Still, the rotation is one of the best in baseball. Lance McCullers Jr. takes on the role of the grizzled veteran even though he’s hardly such. It’s Framber Valdez we should view as the real ace of this staff. With three other very good arms ready to defend their title, it’s tough to have anything bad to say about the Astros’ pitching staff.

4. MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves

Who else feels like the Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation doesn’t get enough credit? Max Fried is one of the best pitchers in the game. Spencer Strider is on his way to becoming elite. Kyle Wright is as good, if not better at times than those two. Charlie Morton is the veteran who can give them quality frames. Those four plus a returning Mike Soroka can help give Atlanta the best rotation in the game. We’ll have to play the games first to find out.

3. MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have underachieved in recent years. They have the potential to be great. One reason is their starting rotation. Headlined by Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman, they’ll hope to get more from Jose Berrios this season. The club signed Chris Bassitt over the winter and will cross their fingers Yusei Kikuchi is far better than he was in 2022. Everyone has the ability to imagine this as one of the best rotations in baseball. We can also prepare for at least one of the top four guys to underperform.

2. MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees

Gerritt Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes might be the best triple threat in the game. So why don’t the New York Yankees have the best starting rotation? It’s what comes after. Luis Severino is a strong fourth starter, but completing the rotation with either Domingo German or Frankie Montas will have the Yankees reporting to camp with only the second-best rotation in the first MLB Power Rankings of starting pitchers.

1. MLB Power Rankings: New York Mets

Do the New York Mets really have the best starting rotation in baseball? After Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, things do fall off. However, each of their next three starters is good enough to put them at number one. The added depth they have with Tylor Megill and David Peterson only makes it better. The Mets don’t have that one glaring hole in the rotation just yet. It’s why everyone in Flushing is feeling really good right now.