This week’s MLB Power Rankings lists out the best starting rotations in baseball from the bottom to the top.
Pitchers and catchers report for every team this week. When better to put together MLB Power Rankings of the starting rotations for all 30 teams?
It’s the starting pitchers who work as a five-man-plus quarterback for every ball club. We know there will be injuries. There are certain to be demotions, promotions, and trades along the way.
As it stands right now, this is how the starting rotations for all 30 MLB teams rank.
30. MLB Power Rankings: Washington Nationals
Even some sort of redemption campaign from Patrick Corbin won’t help the Washington Nationals all that much. The starting rotation has a lot of growing up to do. Josiah Gray, Cade Cavalli, and MacKenzie Gore are each hoping to be a part of the next chapter in the organization’s history. Trevor Williams is the lone new guy to join the fight in D.C. It’s going to be a long year for the Nationals with plenty of growing pains.
29. MLB Power Rankings: Oakland Athletics
Ask most baseball fans to name a single Oakland Athletics starting pitcher, they may be at a loss. It’s a relatively low-upside group that has the potential to be competent. Two candidates for the rotation brought in this offseason came from overseas so maybe they didn’t realize the disarray going on with the organization. Drew Rucinski came over from the KBO while Shintaro Fujinami was purchased from Japan. Expectations for the Athletics are low. The starting rotation is actually one of the better parts of the team.
28. MLB Power Rankings: Colorado Rockies
Nobody grows up wanting to pitch for the Colorado Rockies. The ball club hasn’t gotten consistent enough performances from notable starters Kyle Freeland or German Marquez over the years. As talented as they are, each would probably prefer to have some thicker air in Denver to help them out. The Rockies did nothing to improve their starting rotation, leaving them with the potential for another rough season ahead. Statistically, their starters could end up far worse than the Nationals or Athletics.
27. MLB Power Rankings: Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene is one of the more exciting young pitchers in baseball. He has a lot of amazing stuff and will dazzle us in 2023. Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft have some nice potential as well. Even with those three included, the Reds’ pitching staff is a potpourri of mystery. It’s hard enough pitching at the bandbox in Cincinnati. All of these starting pitchers probably need at least another season under their belts before the ball club starts winning more games.
26. MLB Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Pirates
Seeing is believing. With the Pittsburgh Pirates, we need to see much more to believe in anything. Vince Velasquez and Rich Hill are two of their new starting rotation options. It’s interesting to see them land Hill, a mercenary for many playoff-hopeful clubs. He already looks like someone who will be traded, but hopefully not before he passes along some knowledge to JT Brubaker and Mitch Keller.
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.
20. MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
One must buy into everything the San Francisco Giants did this offseason fully in order to have a strong belief in their starting rotation. Logan Webb is heading in the right direction. Behind him, we have a bunch of veterans who have been very good in some seasons and not so much in others. Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling are two newbies. The Giants have room to have one of the better rotations in the league. However, none of the new guys replace Carlos Rodon nor should we get too excited about Alex Cobb or Alex Wood putting together a sensational season. The Giants have a rotation that may benefit most from the ballpark they play in.
19. MLB Power Rankings: Chicago Cubs
How good will the Chicago Cubs be in 2023? Their starting rotation may have some input. Veterans Jameson Taillon and Marcus Stroman will lead the way with young up-and-coming starting pitcher Justin Steele ready to take another step of his career. The Cubs rotation is rightfully rated around the middle of this week’s MLB Power Rankings. It’s good, not great. The ceiling isn’t too incredibly high but it is up there.
18. MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
Shane Bieber to make some fans a “Belieber” in the Cleveland Guardians and their starting pitching staff. Triston McKenzie is coming along nicely and Cal Quantrill gives them three credible starters for the coming year. It’s the last two spots where questions arise. It takes more than five starting pitchers to get through an MLB season. Right now, it looks like the Guardians have three they can count on.
17. MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
Like much of the Chicago White Sox roster, the starting rotation is a bit of a mystery. Lucas Giolito had a horrendous 2022 season while Dylan Cease entered ace territory. Injuries, bad performances, and doubts are already plaguing the White Sox roster as a whole. The rotation is no exception. They replaced Johnny Cueto on the roster with Mike Clevinger which was a poor baseball decision. It got worse when Clevinger became the subject of an ongoing investigation into an accusation against him for domestic abuse.
16. MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
Any starting staff with Zac Gallen on it deserves some attention. The Arizona Diamondbacks ace is quickly becoming one of the best arms in the game. Madison Bumgarner has seen better days, but Merrill Kelly looks like a nice complimentary piece in the middle of the rotation. A lot of the positive attention on the Diamondbacks this season will be on Gallen and their young hitters. Starting pitcher options such as Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson can win some of that goodwill.
15. MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
Nobody may want realignment in MLB more than the Miami Marlins. It’s going to be tough competing in the National League East with three big spenders. Their starting rotation is actually a strength but not quite as proven as the three serious contenders in the division. Sandy Alcantara will look to defend his Cy Young while younger arms like Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, and Edward Cabrera will hope to repeat what they did last year while starting more games and possibly taking the next step.
14. MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
It does feel like the St. Louis Cardinals are missing an arm in the rotation. Adam Wainwright is another year older as is Miles Mikolas. Jack Flaherty’s injuries should be a concern. Who knows what they’ll get from Steven Matz? The Cardinals could be on the hunt for a trade addition for their rotation early on this year or cruise to another National League Central title. The lack of additions to the roster is a bit concerning. For their sake, let’s hope Jordan Montgomery is just as good in a full season as he was for two months.
13. MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
Unless you followed the Los Angeles Angels closely last year, you may have missed out on how well their starting pitchers performed. Shohei Ohtani had the best season of any starter, but Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers were good, too. Detmers was more than the guy who tossed a no-hitter. The club decided to bring in Tyler Anderson this offseason as well. Can they finally end the postseason drought? The pitching may be the key.
12. MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove will be staying put for a couple of years. The San Diego Padres are looking to get involved in the empire business. However, their starting rotation does have a couple of questions beyond the top two. Which version of Blake Snell shows up? Can the team rely on Nick Martinez or Adrian Morejon? Seth Lugo comes over after years of pitching mostly in relief. Signing Michael Wacha means they bought at least a little bit into what he did last season. The Padres are a very good team. There is some doubt with the starting staff. They could turn out very good or not so much.
11. MLB Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
Returning to Cy Young form is something the Seattle Mariners are hopeful they can see Robbie Ray do in 2023. Together with Luis Castillo, the team has a pair of potential aces on the roster. It actually wouldn’t be a complete shock if it’s Logan Gilbert who becomes the main guy in this rotation either. He’s coming off of a very good year. So is George Kirby. Stars on the rise out in Seattle and it’s not outfielders like Julio Rodriguez. The starting rotation should be pretty good again in 2023.
10. MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays did something smart this offseason. They actually signed a free-agent pitcher they’re hoping to get more from. Zach Eflin will join Shane McClanahan and Tyler Glasnow for one of the best trios in the game. In order for the Rays to really benefit from them, Glasnow will need to stay healthy and Eflin must finally tap into the potential many scouts have talked about him possessing for years.
9. MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
Corbin Burnes is still an absolute stud and someone the Milwaukee Brewers can rely on in 2023. An uncertain future for him and a few other pitchers is a 2023 storyline to follow. However, at the time of pitchers and catchers reporting for duty, the Brewers boast one of the better starting rotations. Brandon Woodruff and Eric Lauer behind Burnes give them an incredibly strong top three. Whoever ends up with the next two spots is moot. The Brewers starting rotation is about three and a half deep with a chance to have six good options.
8. MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies
There is a lot of upside for the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation this season. Co-aces Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler have more to prove. They’ll be joined by Ranger Suarez and Taijuan Walker to fill out the next two spots. Each is a bit of a wild card as is whoever they name as the fifth guy. Prospect Andrew Painter is a candidate to join the staff at some point this year. If everyone else lives up to expectations and he’s ready at any point in 2023, the Phillies have a chance to actually be led by their arms, not their bats.
7. MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers
It does seem like the Los Angeles Dodgers are sliding in the MLB Power Rankings as far as their starting rotation goes. Clayton Kershaw is getting older. This offseason’s addition of Noah Syndergaard just didn’t feel impactful enough. They do have some very good arms and the waiting game to play with Walker Buehler. Things will be fine for the Dodgers. Julio Urias is pitching for a contract, after all. A monster year from him on the mound is something we should all hope to see on our MLB bingo cards.
6. MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
Nobody will be surprised if the Texas Rangers to finish the year with the best rotation in the game. Their complete overhaul brought in Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Jake Odorizzi. This doesn’t even include Martin Perez coming off of a strong year and the potential Jon Gray can offer them. Six men deep, the Rangers have some interesting options and great arms to head to battle with this year.
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.