Ranking the 15 projected American League starting rotations

Better health from Glasnow and Snell returning to his 2018 AL Cy Young form will make this rotation even more formidable than it already is.

If we see a Kluber similar to 2014-18 (2.85 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, two AL Cy Youngs), then Texas may possess the best top-three in the game with Kluber, Minor, and Lynn.

Clevinger had minor knee surgery and is expected back in late-April. Adam Plutko or Logan Allen could be inserted into the rotation until he returns.

Obviously the top two (Verlander, Greinke) are as dominant as they come, but the fifth starter is still in question (James, Austin Pruitt, Framber Valdez, Brad Peacock).

The Yankees would be higher, but Paxton has a back injury (could be back by early May according to the New York Post), and Severino has been shut down with forearm soreness (unclear if he’ll miss time). Jordan Montgomery should fill-in the rotation for the meantime.

Daniel Mengden will be another option when he is no longer on the mend as an elbow injury will keep him out until late May/early June. Luzardo is ranked 12th and Puk 60th on MLB.com’s top prospect

Pineda will be on the restricted list for the first 39 games this year (Randy Dobnak is an option to take his spot in the rotation). Rich Hill may also return by June for Minnesota.

They have an excellent first two starters but they will be looking for a healthy, better season from Eovaldi. Who is the fifth starter with David Price having been traded away (Matt Hall and Ryan Weber are options)?

Toronto signed the 32-year-old Yamaguchi in December after he led Japan’s Central League in both wins and strikeouts last year. Trent Thornton is expected to compete with him for a rotation spot.

This ranking has the potential to be higher when Carlos Rodon comes back from Tommy John surgery (sometime during the second half) and if prospect Michael Kopech proves to be healthy and return to the rotation.

After not appearing on the mound all of last year after Tommy John surgery (he did hit though), Ohtani is expected to return to pitching sometime in mid-May.

Boyd finished sixth in the majors last year with his 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Michael Fulmer may return sometime in the second half from Tommy John surgery.

Their rotation is filled with a lot of “fourth-starter” types, although Danny Duffy has had three prior seasons with a 3+ WAR.

Means was very good as a rookie in 2019 (runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year), but Cobb can no longer be relied upon after two straight subpar seasons.

Kikuchi was a major disappointment last year in his first season in the states, Sheffield struggled in his seven starts, Graveman missed all of last year due to injury (and made just seven starts in 2018), and Walker has combined to make four starts in the last two years.