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Top 5 Starting Rotations in the 2020 MLB Season

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 24: Charlie Morton #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks to throw a pitch during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day at Tropicana Field on July 24, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the 2020 MLB season just underway, let�s rank the Top 5 starting rotations for the season.

5. New York Yankees 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 29: Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter in the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 29, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Rob Carr/Getty Images

Rotation: Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, JA Happ, Jordan Montgomery

After inking Gerrit Cole to a 10-year deal over the offseason, the New York Yankees solidified their starting rotation as one of the best in the league. After dominating with the Astros for the past two seasons, Cole has earned his spot as one of the best pitchers in the league.

In his sixth year in the league, Masahiro Tanaka is still going strong as well. Cole, Tanaka, plus Paxton, Happ, and Montgomery could go toe to toe with any rotation in baseball. 

4. Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 25: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch for his 500th career strikeout in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Great American Ball Park on July 25, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Rotation: Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer, Wade Miley, Anthony DeSclafani

The Cincinnati Reds rotation is criminally underrated.

With Trevor Bauer leading the pack, he�s a proven ace with playoff experience on a team in need of some.

Behind Bauer is Sonny Gray. The right-hander has now gone 34 straight starts allowing six or fewer hits – a new MLB record.

Luis Castillo, a dark horse candidate to win the 2020 NL Cy Young Award, is a solid third pitcher in the rotation.

Miley and DeSclafani are both reliable as well. Look out for the Reds as a dark horse to win the NL Central. 

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in relief in the seventh inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Julio Ur�as, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling

Going into his twelfth season in the league, Clayton Kershaw is nowhere near falling off. Age 32, Kershaw continues to be one of the top pitchers in the league year after year.

Walker Buehler is one of the best young pitchers in the league. At only 25 years of age, Buehler is sure to be a star in this league for years to come.

Ur�as, Wood, and Stripling are all valid 3rd, 4th, and 5th pitchers.

2. Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals throws to a New York Yankees batter during Opening Day at Nationals Park on July 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rob Carr/Getty Images

Rotation: Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, Austin Voth

With Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, the Washington Nationals may have the best 1-2 punch in all of baseball. 

After signing Patrick Corbin in the offseason a couple of years ago, Washington cemented their rotation as one of the best in the league.

Anibal Sanchez may be the best fourth option in a rotation in all of baseball. Although Austin Voth is a little unproven in the big leagues, he seems like a safe enough bet for the 5th spot.

1. Tampa Bay Rays

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 24: Charlie Morton #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks to throw a pitch during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day at Tropicana Field on July 24, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Rotation: Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Ryan Yarbrough, Yonny Chirinos

The Tampa Bay Rays have the best rotation in baseball.

Charlie Morton, known for his insane curveballs, has quietly become a top tier pitcher in the league. The 2018 AL Cy Young Award, Blake Snell, is a proven star in the league. Tyler Glasnow, only 26 years of age, is potentially the best young pitcher in the league.

Yarbrough and Chirinos are both above average pitchers to have at the backend of a rotation.

If Morton, Snell, and Glasnow can all stay healthy this season, the Rays can be a legitimate threat in the AL East.  

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