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