Top Ten: Best Starting Rotations of 2013

1. Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander

1. Justin Verlander

2. Doug Fister

3. Anibal Sanchez

4. Max Scherzer

5. Rick Porcello/Drew Smyly

Breakdown: Detroit has a solid starter from top to bottom. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball, so that always helps. Doug Fister wins game for the Tigers and Anibal Sanchez has been outstanding for the Tigers since joining the team at the trade deadline last year. Also, Max Scherzer was second in the league in strikeouts, so Scherzer is capable of dominating an opponent every fifth day. Rick Porcello had some productive years, but the Tigers rotation is better off with Smyly. Any series with Detroit is going to be difficult when you know you’re going to be facing 3 starting pitchers that are capable of shutting your offense down.

Tim Lincecum

2. San Francisco Giants

1. Matt Cain

2. Madison Bumgarner

3. Tim Lincecum

4. Ryan Vogelsong

5. Barry Zito

Breakdown: The defending World Series Champions have their rotation still in tact for the 2013 season. Cain, Bumgarner and Vogelsong are the best starting pitching trio in the game and they’re only going to get better. Zito had a surprisingly good season in 2012, so hopefully he’s figured everything out in San Francisco. The only thing that keeps this rotation out of the number 1 spot is the uncertainty surrounding Tim Lincecum. Is Lincecum going to bounce back or is he going to go through another subpar season similar to 2012? Lincecum controls the fate of this rotation, but on paper, the Giants have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball.

3. Washington Nationals

Gio Gonzalez

1. Stephen Strasburg

2. Gio Gonzalez

3. Jordan Zimmermann

4. Ross Detwiler

5. Dan Haren

Breakdown: A year removed from Tommy John Surgery, Stephen Strasburg should see an increase in innings and will make a bigger impact for the Nationals in 2013. Pending the Miami Clinic investigation regarding PED distribution, Gio Gonzalez has Cy Young Award candidate written all over him going into 2013. Jordan Zimmerman is the best starting pitcher no one knows about, and Ross Detwiler won 10 games for Washington in 2012. Dan Haren rounds out the back of the rotation for the Nationals, and if he can bounce back from a disappointing 2012 season with the Angels, Washington will have the best rotation in baseball.

Clayton Kershaw

4. LA Dodgers

1. Clayton Kershaw

2. Zack Greinke

3. Chad Billingsley

4. Josh Beckett

5. Hyun-Jin Ryu

Breakdown: The Dodgers brought in Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu during the offseason, are both pitchers are vital for the Dodgers’ success. Kershaw will be dominant yet again in 2013, and, in my opinion, should win the National League Cy Young Award. Billingsley is coming off an arm injury, so it is unknown how good he will be for the Dodgers. Josh Beckett was outstanding for LA after coming over from Boston, and if Greinke performs well, the Dodgers will possess a rotation just as formidable as San Francisco’s.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

David Price

1. David Price

2. Jeremy Hellickson

3. Matt Moore

4. Alex Cobb

5. Jeff Niemann

Breakdown: Although the Rays lost James Shields and Wade Davis, Tampa Bay still has the reigning Cy Young Award winner in David Price. Hellickson, Moore, and Cobb all won at least 10 games last year for the Rays, so with the inclusion of Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay will have a very deep and formidable starting rotation for 2013.

C.C. Sabathia

6. NY Yankees

1. C.C. Sabathia

2. Huroki Kuroda

3. Andy Petitte

4. Ivan Nova

5. Phil Hughes

Breakdown: The Yankees return 3 veteran starters in Sabathia, Kuroda, and Petitte who have all had success over their careers. Nova is inconsistent, but when he is on his game, he can dominate any American League lineup. Hughes has been successful for the Yankees over the years, but his issue is staying healthy. If New York wants to compete with Tampa Bay for the best rotation in the AL East, Nova and Hughes will have to step up and stay healthy in 2013.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

R.A. Dickey

1. R.A. Dickey

2. Josh Johnson

3. Mark Buerhle

4. Brandon Morrow

5. Ricky Romero

Breakdown: The Blue Jays starting rotation underwent a complete makeover over the offseason, and boy was it a drastic makeover. The Blue Jays now have the 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner in R.A . Dickey, who will continue to have success even in the AL East. They also acquired Josh Johnson, a legitimate ace when healthy, and Mark Buerhle, who will give the Toronto a crafty lefty that will eat up innings. Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero are the only starters returning, and they should have better seasons now that the pressure of being the top 2 starters is gone. Toronto has a well-rounded rotation going into 2013, and should be a major strength for the Blue Jays.

Chris Carpenter

8. St. Louis Cardinals

1. Adam Wainwright

2. Chris Carpenter

3. Jake Westbrook

4. Lance Lynn

5. Jaime Garcia

6. Shelby Miller

Breakdown: Assuming Chris Carpenter doesn’t miss the 2013 season, the Cardinals have one of the most experienced pitching staffs in the National League. Lance Lynn was the Cardinals best pitcher in 2012, and should improve after one year of experience under his belt. Wainwright and Westbrook are both coming off solid 2012 seasons, and should continue to stabilize the Cardinals rotation.  Everything comes down to health for the Cardinals; if Carpenter and Jaime Garcia can stay healthy, St. Louis will be in contention for another postseason berth.

9. Texas Rangers 

Yu Darvish

1. Matt Harrison

2. Yu Darvish

3. Derek Holland

4. Alexi Ogando

5. Colby Lewis

Breakdown: Harrison, Darvish, and Holland are the 3 pitchers who will carry the load in the 2013 season. Ogando is erratic at times, but if he can limit the walks, Ogando will be a dangerous number 4 starter. Getting Colby Lewis back from Tommy John Surgery is huge for the Rangers. Lewis will complete the Rangers rotation and will make Texas contenders in the AL West yet again.

Jarrod Parker

10. Oakland A's

1. Brian Anderson

2. Bartolo Colon

3. Jarrod Parker

4. Tommy Milone

5. A.J. Griffin

Breakdown: The A’s 2012 season was fueled by pitching and timely hitting, and Oakland seems to have all of its starting pitching returning for this season. Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone, and A.J. Griffin are 3 of the best young starting pitchers in the game and Brian Anderson will continue to improve coming back from Tommy John Surgery. The only question mark is Bartolo Colon; how will he perform after testing positive for PEDs? Even with the speculation surrounding Colon, Oakland still possesses a young and talented starting rotation. 

-Hayden Carter