30. Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins
The Marlins have made one postseason appearance since winning the 2003 World Series. Since then, the organization has been through nine different managers. Don Mattingly posted one winning season in the seven guiding the Marlins, who turn to former Cardinal Skip Schumaker in his managerial debut. Since his playing days ended in 2015, Schumaker has rose pretty quickly in his second career. He started in baseball operations with San Diego, then became a base coach followed by an associate manager. Respected as a hard-nosed versatile player, expect the Marlins to follow the archetype of their new manager. Whether it translates into success remains to be seen.
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29. Matt Quatraro, Kansas City Royals
Quatraro probably isn’t a household name to the casual baseball fan, but this hire makes sense. With manager Mike Matheny and longtime executive Dayton Moore gone following a sixth straight losing season, it’s a new era in Kansas City. Quatraro comes over from Tampa Bay, where he served as bench coach and has experience with small-market success. He’s also a champion of analytics. Which the new Royals’ brass hope is the key to restoring success for a franchise that made back-to-back World Series appearances in ’14 and ’15, and winning the latter.
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28. Phil Nevin, Los Angeles Angels
Nevin gets his first full season as a major-league manager after guiding the Angels to a 46-60 mark in the wake of Joe Maddon’s firing during the 2022 campaign. He still has two of the baseball’s best in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. However, they haven’t helped the Angels return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Will this year be any different? Well, health will be key. Notably, when it comes to Trout and Anthony Rendon — the latter of which played all of 47 games last season. There aren’t many marquee names in the Angels’ pitching staff (sans Ohtani), so it will be interesting to see how Nevin handles such matters.
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27. Mark Kotsay, Oakland Athletics
Oakland lost 102 games during Kotsay’s first managerial season. Things could be even worse in 2023, and that’s not a stretch. A small-market club amid a complete rebuild without many headline players isn’t pleasant, but Kotsay still appears to be the right guy to oversee the progress. He’s not far removed from his playing days, understands today’s player and has valuable experience that should not be lost on young contributors.
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26. David Bell, Cincinnati Reds
Bell enters his fifth season managing the Reds with essentially no serious expectations for ’23. After two winning seasons, Cincinnati lost 100 games for just the second time in the history of the storied franchise. However, it appears in another full-on rebuild, entering its third season since making the playoffs. Bell might not be completely on the hot seat, but one has to wonder if he’s the right guy to lead the club in the right direction. He can get frustrated in the dugout, likes to bark at umpires and has shown moments of indecisiveness at times amid game action.
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25. Pedro Grifol, Chicago White Sox
Another first-time manager in the fold. However, Grifol was coaching in the Royals’ organization since 2013. Most recently as bench coach in 2022. So, Grifol had a good idea of what he was getting himself into moving over to the AL Central-rival White Sox. Chicago was perhaps the majors’ biggest disappointment in 2022, finishing 81-81 after being expected to make a third straight postseason appearance. Trust and motivation proved to be issues under Tony La Russa the last two seasons, so a new perspective from the eager Grifol could help revive a White Sox team that remains as talented as just about any in the AL.
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24. Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota picked up the option on Baldelli’s contract. Though, it’s quite possible he could be the first name on this list to be booted if things start poorly. After consecutive AL Central titles during Baldelli’s first two seasons in ’19 and ’20, the Twins missed the postseason each of the last two. Once the class of the division, Minnesota must find a way to stop the regression. Baldelli has Carlos Correa back, and the addition of budding star right-hander Pablo Lopez should help. The Twins have a combined 13 games against the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros in April, so we might get a good idea of Baldelli’s fate pretty early.
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23. Derek Shelton, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh has lost 201 games in the last two full seasons under Shelton. That said, Shelton is pretty popular in the clubhouse. Now, it remains to be seen how long that lasts. The Pirates have some talented young players (infielders Oneil Cruz and Rodolfo Castro and outfielder Cal Mitchell). And, in 2023, will mix in some aging vets (Andrew McCutchen, Rich Hill, Carlos Santana). We think there’s potential to surprise, but it will be on Shelton to keep this team competitive in June and beyond.
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22. David Ross, Chicago Cubs
It seems Ross’s job is relatively safe – for the moment. And, with the additions of Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger and Jameson Taillon, the Cubs should be better than the 71 and 74 wins recorded in ’21 and ’22, respectively. That said, if the Cubs are to make huge strides in 2023, is Ross still the guy to lead them there? His surprise hiring, in part, was to help with the rebuild following those memorable years from ’15-’20. But, will the franchise look to a more established managerial name once its a perennial contender again?
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21. A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers
Hinch said he was happy for his former Astros team that won another World Series in 2022. He’s probably going to have to live vicariously through them again this season. Do the Tigers have the potential to stun in ’23? Perhaps, but don’t count on it. Hinch is employed following exile because he’s a notable name that a desperate franchise needed to make a splash. Without the talent he had in Houston, Hinch is average at his job – unless we see otherwise.
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20. Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks
In Lovullo’s first season as Arizona manager in 2017, it won 93 games and the NL Wild Card game. Since then, the Diamondbacks have managed just one winning season and lost 110 games in 2021. However, a 74-88 bounce back in ’22 was notable. Lovullo is still regarded highly as a manager. Players like his presence, but the Diamondbacks need to start winning again. So, how many chances does Lovullo get to make that happen?
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19. Bud Black, Colorado Rockies
Black has won more than 1,000 games since his managerial debut with San Diego in 2007. However, he and the Rockies haven’t posted a winning campaign since 2019. Seasoned, experienced and armed with an impeccable knowledge of the game, Black is old school baseball. But, like other big names on this list, his team needs to start winning. And, with the likes of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco all expecting big things in 2023, we find it hard to think Colorado will be in the postseason mix.
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18. John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
When Charlie Montoyo was fired in July 2022, Schneider was elevated from his bench coach role to interim manager. All the Blue Jays did was go 46-28 and reach the postseason for a second time in three years. Now, with a three-year deal in the bank, Schneider embarks on his first full season in the rugged AL East, where each team believes it will make the playoffs. Thus, it will be interesting to see how Schneider handles the pressure of a full-time gig with high expectations. He passed his first test, but the next one will be longer and tougher.
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17. Scott Servais, Seattle Mariners
Barring a catastrophe, Servais will reach the 600-win mark in 2023. However, all eyes will be on Servais to see if he and the Mariners can build on last season’s run that resulted in the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2001. Back-to-back 90-win seasons are nice, but the Mariners and their fans want more. Which could be tough in the AL West, and the rest of the league. That said, Servais must keep the group focused and poised to be even better in ’23.
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16. Brandon Hyde, Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles appear to be the “It” team in 2023 after winning 83 games and flirting with a wild-card spot last season. There hasn’t been this much pressure on the franchise in several years, but Hyde has instilled confidence in this group. The additions of Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin to bolster the Orioles’ starting rotation could be key. That said, Baltimore still faces a stiff challenge within the confines of the AL East. However, after experience winning at a modestly consistent basis a year ago, the Orioles appear to have turned the corner with Hyde in charge.
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15. Oli Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals
Marmol made a splash during his first season managing Cardinals. Those 93 wins were good enough to win the NL Central. Players love him and the baseball-crazed fans in St. Louis thought they landed the second-coming of Tony La Russa. Then came the postseason, when the Cardinals were bounced by Philadelphia without winning a game – and blowing a 2-0 ninth-inning lead in Game 2. Marmol took heat for the way he managed his pitching in what proved to be a two-game series. And, already there are clamors he can’t manage in the postseason. Let’s give the guy a break. He’s got a lot going for him entering Year Two.
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14. Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox
Cora can manage talent, though last year he didn’t have enough on the Red Sox’ roster — mostly due to injuries. Coming off that 78-84 campaign in 2022, Cora and the Red Sox obviously expect better – especially when it comes to staying healthy. But, Xander Bogaerts is gone and there are more questions throughout the lineup. Cora is a talented baseball mind, and served his penance for being associated with the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. However, Boston has just one playoff appearance since winning it all under Cora in 2018, and there’s no guarantee that will change this year.
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13. Rob Thomson, Philadelphia Phillies
Thomson was one of the great stories of 2022. He took over an underachieving Phillies’ group that was 22-29 at Joe Girardi’s firing, then helped guide them to a 65-46 record the rest of the way. If that wasn’t enough, Philadelphia reached the World Series, and Thomson earned job security with the club. Now comes the hard part. Can Thomson’s Phillies sustain that success for a full season? Thomson certainly has the resources and talent to prove he’s worthy of a long MLB managerial career.
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12. Aaron Boone, New York Yankees
Here’s the thing about Boone, he’s had more than enough talent with the Yankees to shine while going 427-281 during his five-season run in the Bronx. However, he’s 14-17 in the postseason without a World Series appearance. Financially, the Yankees should never be in trouble while possessing far more talent than most on an annual basis. But, it’s easy to label the franchise as underachieving under Boone when it really matters. The question remains: how long will New York keep him in tow?
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11. Bruce Bochy, Texas Rangers
There are only two active major-league managers with at least 2,000 wins. Bochy, at 2,003, is one of them, and he’s back in the dugout after suffering three straight losing seasons with San Francisco from ’17-’19. The three-time World Series-champion skipper will try to guide the Rangers to the postseason for the first time since 2016. Texas has had no trouble spending money to get big names, but has failed to win 70 games in each of the last two seasons. Bochy is a great baseball mind, and has seen it all, but turning the Rangers into a postseason contender might be too tall an order at the moment.
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10. Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers
At the helm for the Brewers since 2015, Counsell is the longest-tenured manager in the National League. He’s also the franchise’s all-time winningest manager with 615 victories. Milwaukee has posted a winning record in five of the last six seasons, and prior to 2022, reached the playoffs in four consecutive campaigns. He’s feisty, backs his players at all costs and has helped turn the Brewers into perennial postseason contenders. Now, about getting to the World Series…
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9. Dave Martinez, Washington Nationals
Martinez, who guided Washington to the 2019 World Series title, is signed through this coming season – his sixth with the club. But, the Nationals are still amid a serious rebuild, so it’s likely they’ll have to decide if he’s the guy they want beyond this season. Which could be as bad as last year’s 55-win campaign. That said, Martinez is obviously a good enough manager to work with young players. He’s patient, understands that the game is a grind, and willing to handle mistakes on a regular basis. Of course, at some point the Nationals need to start winning again.
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8. Gabe Kapler, San Francisco Giants
Kapler took home the NL Manager of the Year award in 2021. His Giants won 107 games but were unable to win a playoff series. Last season, with a patch-work lineup and overcoming some injuries, San Francisco finished .500. So, where do Kapler and the Giants go from there? Are there better options for San Francisco? Not really. Kapler is a smart game manager, fights for his players and is not intimidated by anything. Even with Los Angeles and San Diego expected to duke it out for NL West supremacy in 2023, don’t sleep on Kapler and Co.
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7. Buck Showalter, New York Mets
Showalter took home his fourth Manager of the Year award last season, when the Mets posted the second-most victories (101) in franchise history. However, New York didn’t win a playoff series despite finishing 12 regular season games ahead of its postseason opponent (San Diego). Showalter is a subtle character. A baseball legend who’s won more than 1,600 games, but is still looking for his first World Series appearance. Justin Verlander was brought in to help, so we’ll see if Showalter can work his magic and help the Mets take the next step.
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6. Dusty Baker, Houston Astros
Regardless of what baseball fans think of the Astros as an organization, it was easy to be happy for Baker in 2022. At age 73, and during his 25th season as a manager, he finally won a World Series title as a skipper. Respected throughout baseball, and brought to Houston to restore the franchise’s image following the sign-stealing scandal, Baker leads all active managers with 2,093 victories – and counting. Houston will again be among the World Series favorites in 2023, and Baker won’t mail it in just because he’s tasted the ultimate success as a manager.
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5. Bob Melvin, San Diego Padres
A three-time manager of the year honoree, Melvin is used to getting the most out of his teams. Especially during his time with the small-market Oakland Athletics. Well, the man with 1,435 big-league managerial victories, has a boatload of talent in San Diego. Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove – and eventually Fernando Tatis Jr. In just one season under Melvin, San Diego reached the NLCS in 2022. In 2023, the Padres expect even more.
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4. Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays
One won’t find many who’ll say a bad word about Cash. For good reason. He’s 640-554 in eight seasons guiding the small-market Rays, and made them a perennial postseason contender. Considered a players’ coach with a brilliant baseball mind, Cash values analytics and thinks outside the box, notably when it comes to in-game strategy. The Rays have made four straight postseason appearances, won back-to-back AL East titles in ’20 and ’21, and made their second World Series trip along the way. Cash has gone from a promising skipper to elite status in less than a decade.
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3. Terry Francona, Cleveland Guardians
In 2022, Francona was named AL Manager of the Year for the third time after his young Guardians surprised the league with 92 wins and an AL Central title. He’s the winningest manager in Cleveland franchise history, and has totaled 1,874 victories with Philadelphia, Boston and the Guardians. When it comes to longevity in the dugout, Francona is apparently his own boss. Cleveland brass extended his contract, but the length is determined by Francona, who turns 64 in April. He’s dealt with health issues in recent years, but the Guardians are an exciting team that are eager to build on last season’s success. So, he’s not going anywhere for the time being.
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2. Brian Snitker, Atlanta Braves
Snitker enters the 2023 season with a new contract that runs through 2025. In the last five seasons, the Braves not suffered less than a .547 winning percentage. In 2021, he guided the Braves to their first World Series crown since 1995. Then they won 101 games last season. This will be his 47th year with the Atlanta franchise. Talk about loyalty. It’s all truly paid off for Snitker, the epitome of professionalism, who has won 542 games in parts of seven seasons as Atlanta’s manager. If there’s one manager on this list who is easy to root for, it’s Snitker.
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1. Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Let’s put the Dodgers’ 2022 postseason choke aside, and look at Roberts’ overall body of work since taking over as franchise manager in 2016. He’s 653-380, and if you count his one loss as manager of San Diego in 2015, Roberts’ .632 winning percentage ranks third all-time in major-league history. He’s won six NL West titles, been to the World Series three times and won it all in 2016. A calming, professional presence, Roberts is still the active gold standard when it comes to MLB managers. The Dodgers have never missed the postseason during his tenure – and that probably won’t change in 2023, even if they don’t seem that dominant on paper.
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MLB in 2023: Ranking All 30 Starting Rotations
30. Oakland Athletics
Starting 5: Shintaro Fujinami – James Kaprielian – Ken Waldichuk – Kyle Muller – Paul Blackburn
Oakland’s rotation really struggled last year — ranking among the worst in baseball. This year might not be much different. Oakland just shipped one of its better starters from a year ago, Cole Irvin, to the Baltimore Orioles. This year, the team is relying upon a former high-round pick (Kaprielian), a journeyman with injury issues (Blackburn), two of the team’s better prospects (Waldichuk, Muller), and a veteran pitcher coming over from Japan (Fujinami).
Fujinami might be the most interesting of the bunch, as he’s said to have some pretty good stuff. Of course, if he shows even the least bit as a valuable piece, he’ll probably be dumped at the trade deadline for — you guessed it — more prospects. The 6’7″ Muller came over from Atlanta in the Sean Murphy trade, and Waldichuk moved to the West Coast in the Yankees deal that sent Frankie Montas to the Bronx.
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29. Cincinnati Reds
Starting 5: Hunter Greene – Nick Lodolo – Graham Ashcraft – Luke Weaver – Luis Cessa
The Reds are in the midst of a complete rebuild. It’s tough to harness quality pitching while playing at home in a very hitter-friendly ballpark, but most hopes on the team becoming a threat in the NL Central land on the arm of Hunter Greene. The former pitching prodigy out of Los Angeles got his first taste of extended time last year. Though he was hit around some (as to be expected with a young player), he did show some promise. His velocity — as well as the frequency with which the velo popped — was consistent all year long.
If he can continue to work on his secondary pitches, Greene does have the stuff of an ace. Atop the Reds’ rotation next to Greene is 24-year-old lefty Nick Lodolo. The former 2019 first-round pick also has some considerable upside (standing 6-foot-6). Weaver and Cessa are back-of-the-rotation fliers, and Ashcraft is another 24-year-old with minimal MLB experience.
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28. Pittsburgh Pirates
Starting 5: Roansy Contreras – Rich Hill – Mitch Keller – JT Brubaker – Vincent Velasquez
The 23-year-old out of the Dominican Republic is slated to lead this rotation. Despite possessing a smallish, slender frame, Contreras doesn’t lack for arm talent. On the contrary — his whip-like arm can pump the baseball upwards of 96 mph. Hill is a temporary placeholder, and likely will be trade fodder as we approach the deadline. Keller, Velasquez, and Brubaker all have varying degrees of talent. This rotation actually might surprise some people when it’s all said and done. However, much of the success will sit with Contreras. He could be the first budding star within the rotation for the Pirates since Gerrit Cole.
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27. Washington Nationals
Starting 5: Josiah Gray – Patrick Corbin – Trevor Williams – Cade Cavalli – MacKenzie Gore
This is a very interesting mix of high-upside guys along with some veterans. Gray and Gore both came over in high-profile trades from the NL West (the Dodgers and Padres). Gray might not have elite-level stuff, but his combination of an above-average breaking ball and a good-enough fastball should lead to a double-digit win total. Gore, once the jewel of San Diego’s farm system, is a hard-throwing lefty who likely will benefit from a change-of-scenery.
Speaking of which, expensive vet Patrick Corbin is coming off a year in which he went 6-19 with a 6.31 ERA. Things can’t get much worse, right? Williams was a solid journeyman pickup from the Mets, and Cavalli was a former first-round pick in 2020. At the very least, the team will get some much-needed data on its collection of three young yet talented prospects (Gray, Cavalli, Gore).
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26. Kansas City Royals
Starting 5: Brady Singer – Jordan Lyles – Ryan Yarbrough – Brad Keller – Zack Greinke
Singer is easily the most interesting name. The former first-round pick out of Florida had a very nice 2022 campaign in which he went 10-5 with a solid 3.23 ERA. At only 26 years of age, Singer is just starting to hit his prime. Kansas City isn’t too far away from being competitive in the AL Central — and being able to develop a true ace atop the rotation would be more than ideal.
Greinke is back for another year as the wily veteran. Lyles and Yarbrough are both stopgap options within the rotation, and Keller is a low-risk/high-reward starter approaching his sixth season with the Royals. However, everything with this team will begin and end with Singer — ultimately hoping he develops into one of the better pitchers in the American League you’ve likely never heard of.
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25. Detroit Tigers
Starting 5: Eduardo Rodriguez – Matt Boyd – Michael Lorenzen – Matt Manning – Spencer Turnbull
This should be an interesting group. Rodriguez, a lefty with decent stuff, was brought over as a big free agent acquisition. A lot of expectations have been placed on his shoulders as a now-leader of this pitching staff. Lorenzen and Boyd are both decent arms talent-wise. With that said, both have been rather inconsistent throughout their careers — whether it be due to injury or just being plainly average. Turnbull and Manning were both high draft choices. Turnbull has bounced back from a year earlier in his career in which he accumulated 17 losses to only three wins. Manning, a first-round pick a few years ago — has the most upside. Standing 6-feet-6, he’s possessing some real depth to his pitches.
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24. Colorado Rockies
Starting 5: Kyle Freeland – German Marquez – Jose Urena – Austin Gomber – Connor Seabold
The lowly Rockies have some familiar faces returning to their staff (Marquez, Freeland) along with a couple of youngsters hoping to make a name for themselves. You pretty much know what you’re going to get with Freeland and Marquez. Both have good stuff, and both have been impacted by the altitude at Coors Field. If both can break relatively even in the win-loss column, the Rockies’ staff would be thrilled.
While Urena’s career numbers aren’t great (39-62 with a 4.80 ERA), there are hopes he can put together a solid season without much pressure. Gomber was the only plug-and-play Major Leaguer delivered to the Rockies in the Nolan Arenado trade. For Gomber and Colorado, he really has to pan out — and the pressure is on considering Arenado’s stellar play in St. Louis. Seabold struggled immensely in Boston. However, he gets a fresh new start closer to his home in Southern California.
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23. Baltimore Orioles
Starting 5: Kyle Gibson – Cole Irvin – Dean Kremer – Kyle Bradish – Tyler Wells
Wanting to boost the front of its rotation, Baltimore went out and secured two solid starters in Gibson and Irvin. Gibson isn’t too far removed from an All-Star appearance with the Texas Rangers. He struggled with the Phillies last year, but is now back in the league he’s familiar with. Irvin was just acquired from the A’s — and he’s a guy with some good stuff as a left-handed hurler.
Kremer was a solid 8-7 with a 3.23 ERA last year in his first real season of extended run. He came to Baltimore in the deal which sent Manny Machado to Los Angeles. Wells and Bradish are both young pitchers without much in the way of a collective track record. Keep an eye out for minor league stud Grayson Rodriguez. He’s one of the best pitching prospects in baseball — and likely will be up in the Big Leagues at some point this year.
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22. Arizona Diamondbacks
Starting 5: Zac Gallen – Merrill Kelly – Madison Bumgarner – Zach Davies – Ryne Nelson
This is a team on the rise. It’s flush with young talent, and the financial flexibility to eventually make some moves down the road. Gallen had a great 2022 in which he accumulated a 12-4 record with a stingy 2.54 ERA. Kelly was also good last year — winning 13 games with a sub-3.40 ERA. Bumgarner and Davies are still clever enough to get Major League hitters out with deception and a plethora of off-speed pitches. Nelson is a guy the team is quite high on. Last year during his MLB debut, Nelson shut out the Padres with 7.0 scoreless innings (7 strikeouts). He could be a total game-changer for the D-Backs if he can stay healthy.
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21. Boston Red Sox
Starting 5: Chris Sale – Nick Pivetta – Corey Kluber – James Paxton – Garrett Whitlock
This is a pitching staff currently taped together delicately for fear of mass injury. Sale, Kluber, Whitlock, and Paxton all have been dealing with various health issues over the last couple of years. Sale and Kluber were both among the best pitchers in baseball at one time. Paxton also had some massive seasons before taking a tumble with arm and back issues. Whitlock is transitioning from being a lights-out reliever to the rotation (which is no sure thing). Lastly, Pivetta has been roughly breakeven with a 4.50 ERA over the last two years.
If everything breaks right for the Red Sox, this could be a solid group. But banking on this aging unit to stay healthy is a tall task. If you’re a Red Sox fan, get excited for Brayan Bello. He’s a youngster waiting in the wings with plenty of talent.
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20. Chicago Cubs
Starting 5: Marcus Stroman – Jameson Taillon – Kyle Hendricks – Drew Smyly – Justin Steele
If the Cubs are to be competitive in the NL Central, their starting pitching is going to have to take a major leap. Chicago spent the offseason bolstering up its lineup with the additions of Dansby Swanson, Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer. Not as many resources were spent on the staff which looks mostly the same aside from the addition of Jameson Taillon who pitched fairly well for the Yankees last season.
The other four starters are familiar faces, led by former All-Star Marcus Stroman. Stroman’s reliance on groundballs leaves him susceptible to cold streaks. Though, playing in front of what projects to be one of the better defenses in the league — especially after adding two Gold Glove winners (Swanson and Bellinger) — should aid Stroman’s efforts. If Kyle Hendricks is able to return to his 2020 form, this Cubs group could surprise a lot of people.
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19. Los Angeles Angels
Starting 5: Shohei Ohtani – Tyler Anderson – Patrick Sandoval – Reid Detmers – Jose Suarez
For as long as many can remember, the Angels have been hindered by a lack of starting pitching. In 2023, that may not be the case. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani leads the way after a stellar season on the mound. Ohtani finished fourth in Cy Young voting after compiling 219 strikeouts (166 IP) with a stellar 2.33 ERA. With Ohtani established as the ace of the staff, the Anaheim-based club is tasked with building the rest of the rotation around their star.
Adding Tyler Anderson — who pitched for the nearby rival Dodgers last season — was a shrewd move. The 33-year-old is coming off his best season and seemed to tap into his full potential in his lone year with the Dodgers. No. 3 through 5 were all with the team last year. The most intriguing of the bunch being Patrick Sandoval who posted a 2.91 ERA last season. The 26-year-old has potential for a breakout season in ’23.
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18. Minnesota Twins
Starting 5: Sonny Gray – Pablo Lopez – Bailey Ober – Kenta Maeda – Tyler Mahle
Minnesota should have a much improved starting staff in 2023. They essentially added two quality arms to the group in Pablo Lopez (acquired via trade) and Kenta Maeda (returning from injury). Some Twins fans may be disappointed by the loss of last year’s AL Batting Champion Luis Arraez, but Lopez is a gifted hurler who is still just 26. Maeda missed all of ’22, but is just a couple of years removed from a runner-up Cy Young finish.
Health is going to be the issue for this team. Maeda is coming off Tommy John surgery and Lopez has consistently dealt with injuries throughout his career — in addition to Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle who dealt with their own ailments last season. If they can stay on the mound, this staff should produce at a high clip.
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17. St. Louis Cardinals
Starting 5: Adam Wainwright – Jack Flaherty – Steven Matz – Miles Mikolas – Jordan Montgomery
St. Louis always seems to always have quality pitching. In the past, the Cardinals were regarded as one of the very best at developing pitchers. This group has two homegrown talents, but neither are particularly young or new to the team. Three of the team’s last four first round picks were pitchers, though none have reached the Majors yet. Jack Flaherty made his debut over six seasons ago.
What could hold this group back is the lack of a true ace. Flaherty was expected to be that guy, but has pitched sparingly over the last three years due to injuries. Adam Wainwright can’t be expected to be a No. 1 option at 41 years old. Perhaps there is a trade in St. Louis’ future?
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16. Miami Marlins
Starting 5: Sandy Alcantara – Jesus Luzardo – Johnny Cueto – Trevor Rogers – Edward Cabrera
Led by last year’s NL Cy Young winner, the Marlins’ strength as a team lies in their starting staff. Sandy Alcantara is among the league’s best and was an ironman for Miami last season. Alcantara led the Majors in innings pitched (228.2) while posting a 2.28 ERA and a league-leading 8.1 WAR. Jesus Luzardo expects to step into the No. 2 spot now that Pablo Lopez is in Minnesota. Luzardo had a welcomed bounce-back following a disastrous ’21 campaign. The 25-year-old lefty is extremely talented and features one of the best curveballs in the National League.
This team could be defined by the final two names on the list plus one other who is unlisted — Trevor Rogers, Edwards Cabrera and Sixto Sancez. Rogers is coming off a dismal ’22 and looking to go back to what made his rookie year in 2021 so successful. Cabrera was a decorated prospect who showed some flashes in 14 starts last season. Sanchez is the most touted of them all, but we haven’t seen him pitch since 2020. The team expects Sanchez to contribute in some fashion this year, but whether that means he’ll assume a starting role remains to be seen.
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15. San Francisco Giants
Starting 5: Logan Webb – Alex Cobb – Sean Manaea – Alex Wood – Ross Stripling
With Carlos Rodon gone, this Giants pitching staff took a considerable hit in the standings. Still, we shouldn’t feel too bad for this team. San Francisco always manages to find quality pitching whether they’re contenders or not. Logan Webb’s ascension up the pitcher ranks is a testament to the Giants ability of developing their arms. The breakout star from ’21 put together another quality season last year, finishing 11th in the NL Cy Young race.
The Giants hope to replace part of Rodon’s production with another lefty hurler in Sean Manaea. The 31-year-old has bounced all around California, spending last season with the Padres after playing his first six years with the Oakland A’s. The backend of the rotation is made up of two former Dodgers in Alex Wood and Ross Stripling. You could do a lot worse than two guys who previously made All-Star teams as your No. 4 and 5.
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14. San Diego Padres
Starting 5: Yu Darvish – Joe Musgrove – Blake Snell – Nick Martinez – Seth Lugo
Based on name value, the Padres’ starting staff is among the most recognizable in the league. The top three is capable of going toe-to-toe with any group. Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove are the 1A and 1B in this staff. Both are coming off stellar seasons — Darvish finished 8th in Cy Young voting and Musgrove made his first All-Star team.
Former Rays pitcher Blake Snell started off slow in ’22, but picked it up in the latter portions of the season (2.19 ERA over the last final three months). And, Snell is somebody who has pitched in a lot of big games with 10 postseason starts under his belt. The last two spots are likely up for grabs, though Nick Martinez did prove capable in his first year with the Padres after spending the previous few seasons in Japan. Seth Lugo is likely best served as a long reliever, though he can make some spot starts here and there.
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13. Texas Rangers
Starting 5: Jacob deGrom – Nathan Eovaldi – Andrew Heaney – Jon Gray – Martin Perez
The potential for this group is high. Of course, much of that lands on the health of big free agency acquisition Jacob deGrom. When healthy, deGrom is unquestionably one of the top arms in the game. The former Met has missed considerable time over the last two years, but the Rangers hope he can stay healthy enough to live up to that $185 million deal deGrom inked this offseason.
The offseason didn’t stop at deGrom, as the Rangers added to the rest of their staff with the additions of Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney. A World Series hero with the Red Sox, Eovaldi is a year removed from a fourth-place Cy Young finish, but did see a dip in velocity last season. Andrew Heaney is coming off his best year as a pro in his lone season with the Dodgers. Equipped with a wicked slider, Heaney hopes to build upon a strong ’22 campaign with his new club. Oh, and their No. 5 starter — Martin Perez — is coming off an All-Star campaign. If all goes to plan, the Rangers could feature a startlingly good staff.
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12. Cleveland Guardians
Starting 5: Shane Bieber – Aaron Civale – Zach Plesac – Triston McKenzie – Cal Quantrill
There are very few teams which develop pitching better than the Guardians. Boasting four homegrown talents in their starting rotation, the Guardians have a knack for identifying quality hurlers and getting them to play at their highest possible level. The headliner of this group is former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber. Following an injury-riddled ’21, Bieber came on strong last season making 31 starts, posting a 2.88 ERA and earning a seventh place Cy Young finish.
Former first-round pick Triston McKenzie shined in his third year at the Major League level. While his strikeout numbers were down, McKenzie showed more control which led to pristine marks in ERA (2.96) and WHIP (0.951). It should be noted this staff is also very young. While we’ve known about this group of pitchers for quite some time, four of them will be 28 years old by the start of the season with McKenzie being the youngest of the group at just 25.
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11. Chicago White Sox
Starting 5: Dylan Cease – Lance Lynn – Lucas Giolito – Michael Kopech – Mike Clevinger
The White Sox entered last season with high hopes of capturing the AL Central title. The belief in this team stemmed from a balanced lineup in addition to strong pitching. The staff features a mix of accomplished veterans and promising youngsters. It didn’t exactly play out that way, as the White Sox failed to make the postseason thanks in large part to allowing the fifth most runs in the American League.
The nominal top-two starters entering last season (Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn) endured disastrous seasons. Both could bounce back in ’23 — especially Giolito who earned Cy Young votes in each of the previous three seasons. Fortunately, the White Sox did uncover a new ace in the group in Dylan Cease. Last season, Cease finished second in the AL in strikeouts (227) and ERA (2.2) while leading in WAR (6.4).
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10. Seattle Mariners
Starting 5: Luis Castillo – Robbie Ray – Logan Gilbert – George Kirby – Marco Gonzales
In 2022, the Seattle Mariners won 90 games and reached the postseason for the first time since 2001. A large factor in ending the drought was the acquisition of ace Luis Castillo. Castillo was an established star with the Reds, and he certainly showed out for the Mariners. Against the Blue Jays in the Wild Card round, Castillo pitched 7.1 shutout innings in a Game 1 victory — Seattle won the series, 2-0.
Castillo is joined in the rotation by a former Cy Young winner (Ray), a rising star (Gilbert), a stud rookie (Kirby), and a seasoned vet in Gonzales. It is entirely possible that Seattle will have four stars in its rotation in ’23. This starting five is capable of carrying Seattle to an AL West title…but the Astros won’t be easy to beat.
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9. Toronto Blue Jays
Starting 5: Alek Manoah – Kevin Gausman – Jose Berrios – Chris Bassitt – Yusei Kikuchi
If Toronto contends for the World Series in 2023, its pitching staff will need to be at its best. Fronting the rotation is Alek Manoah. The 25-year-old is one of the game’s top pitchers just 51 starts into his career. Last season, Manoah was an All-Star and finished third for the AL Cy Young. Toronto’s No. 2, Gausman, is also an ace. The second-year Blue Jay is 26-16 since 2021 and has two top-10 Cy Young finishes in as many seasons.
Berrios struggled immensely last year (5.23 ERA), but has superb stuff and has been a Cy Young candidate in the recent past. Like Gausman, Bassitt has two top-10 Cy Young finishes since ’20. Rounding out Toronto’s stacked rotation is Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi is decent, but clearly the weakest of the group. Gearing up to return to the diamond is another former Cy Young contender, Hyun-Jin Ryu. If Ryu returns to form, Toronto’s rotation will be very dangerous.
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8. Philadelphia Phillies
Starting 5: Aaron Nola – Zack Wheeler – Taijuan Walker – Ranger Suarez – Bailey Falter
Philadelphia’s surprising run to the National League Pennant in 2022 combined with its big offseason has the team entering 2023 with a World Series or bust mentality. The Phillies have a top ace in Aaron Nola. A member of the team since 2015, Nola was sensational in ’22 — setting career-highs in SO/W (8.10) and BB9 (1.3). Wheeler has been tremendous three years in a row for the Phillies. Since joining the club, Wheeler has finished each season with a sub-3.00 ERA (2.82). Walker joins the rotation after two years with the Mets. The rotation is rounded out by Suarez — 10 wins last year — and Falter. Falter’s season ended with a whimper in the NLCS, but he should have plenty of opportunities in ’23.
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7. Houston Astros
Starting 5: Framber Valdez – Cristian Javier – Lance McCullers – Luis Garcia – Jose Urquidy
Following last year’s World Series triumph, the Houston Astros saw Justin Verlander sign a lucrative deal with the New York Mets. For most teams, losing a pitcher like Verlander would be a critical loss. However, the Astros aren’t most teams. Houston’s rotation may not have a bonafide superstar, but it is undoubtedly one of the deepest in the sport. Valdez was an All-Star in 2022 and finished fifth for the AL Cy Young. The lefty led baseball with three complete games and 201.1 IP — and is 28-12 since ’21.
Javier won 11 games and posted a 2.54 ERA. Garcia won 15 games in the regular season, and allowed four hits in 5.2 IP in the postseason. Urquidy? 13 wins. Lastly, McCullers is a former All-Star who should return to form in ’23 after enjoying a healthy offseason. Houston will once again be a World Series favorite.
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6. Tampa Bay Rays
Starting 5: Shane McClanahan – Tyler Glasnow – Jeffrey Springs – Zach Eflin – Drew Rasmussen
If healthy, McClanahan and Glasnow will form one of the best one-two punches in baseball. Turning 26 in April, McClanahan is entering his third season with the Rays and is one of the best young pitchers in the game. After finishing seventh for the Rookie of the Year in ’21, the lefty reached the All-Star Game in ’22 and finished sixth for the Cy Young. Glasnow missed most of last year with an injury, but the flamethrowing righty was great when he returned to the mound.
Those two stars are joined by another budding star in Springs — 2.46 ERA in his first year as a starter — and a pair of talented hurlers in Eflin and Rasmussen. In ’22, Rasmussen won 11 games and posted a 2.84 ERA. Eflin has struggled to stay on the field the past few years, but he remains a quality starter when he takes the mound.
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5. Milwaukee Brewers
Starting 5: Brandon Woodruff – Corbin Burnes – Freddy Peralta – Aaron Ashby – Eric Lauer
At his best, Corbin Burnes is arguably baseball’s premier ace. The 28-year-old California native has posted three-straight sub-3.00 ERA seasons. En route to winning the Cy Young in ’21, Corbin led baseball in ERA (2.43), ERA+, FIP, HR9 (0.4), and SO9 (12.6). Last year, the ace led the NL with 243 strikeouts. Woodruff is a two-time All-Star and would be the No. 1 for a lot of teams around the league. Since becoming a full-time starter in ’19, the hard-throwing righty has a 3.02 ERA and averages 10.8 SO9. Peralta is coming off a disappointing year, but is not far removed from a sterling ’21 season in which he was an All-Star. Lauer and Ashby are solid options at the back of the rotation, but the true strength of the rotation is the top-3.
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4. Los Angeles Dodgers
Starting 5: Julio Urias – Clayton Kershaw – Tony Gonsolin – Dustin May – Noah Syndergaard
In 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers won 111 games…and lost in the NLDS. The Dodgers once again had an elite pitching staff — it led MLB in ERA (2.80), WHIP (1.05), and allowed the fewest hits and earned runs. The top five starters finished with an ERA 3.10 or lower. Los Angeles’ top three returning starters were phenomenal.
Urias — who finished third for the NL Cy Young — went 17-7 with an NL-best 2.16 ERA. Kershaw finished 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA. Gonsolin, also an All-Star, completed the year with a 2.14 ERA and an absurd 16-1 record. The club will replace Tyler Anderson (15-5, 2.57 ERA), Andrew Heaney (3.10) and Walker Buehler (recovering from Tommy John surgery) with two powerful righties — May and Syndergaard. May is an ace in the waiting, and Syndergaard is a former star looking to rediscover his form in Los Angeles like so many before him have.
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3. Atlanta Braves
Starting 5: Max Fried – Charlie Morton – Spencer Strider – Kyle Wright – Bryce Elder
Atlanta is poised to be a World Series contender for years to come, and its starting rotation is amongst the reasons why. Fried, a wiry lefty out of California, has been considered an ace for a handful of years, and he is only getting better. Last year, Fried was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young and won 14 games with a 2.48 ERA. Morton is an accomplished veteran who can still get the job done. Atlanta’s rotation includes two of 2022’s biggest surprises — Wright and Strider. Wright broke through with an MLB-leading 21 wins. Meanwhile, Strider resembled Jacob deGrom en route to punching out 202 batters in 131.2 IP. Only 24, Strider also won 11 games and posted an impressive 2.67 ERA. Elder made his MLB debut in ’22, and threw a complete game shutout in September in his eighth career start.
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2. New York Yankees
Starting 5: Gerrit Cole – Carlos Rodon – Nestor Cortes – Luis Severino – Frankie Montas
While Gerrit Cole chases his elusive Cy Young, he will have to settle for being one of the game’s best pitchers for the sixth year in a row. Having finished in the top-5 of Cy Young voting five times, it is clear Cole is elite. He has an electric fastball and strikes out a ton of hitters — he led MLB with 257 in 2022. With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Cole can solve his HR problem this year after allowing 33 in ’22 (the most in the AL). Joining Cole atop the rotation is Rodon. A big addition in the offseason, Rodon has been sensational the past two years. Last year, Rodon fanned 237 batters and led MLB with 12.0 SO9.
Cortes, a lefty like Rodon, was a huge surprise in ’22. In earning an All-Star nod, Cortes went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA. Montas and Severino are both very talented in their own right. Montas finished sixth for the AL Cy Young in ’21, and Severino has two top-10 Cy finishes under his belt. The two-time All-Star appears primed for a big season.
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1. New York Mets
Starting 5: Justin Verlander – Max Scherzer – Kodai Senga – Carlos Carrasco – Jose Quintana
This wasn’t a surprise, was it? The top two pitchers in New York’s starting rotation have combined to win six Cy Young Awards, an MVP, and have 17 total All-Star nods. Scherzer, New York’s big signing two winters ago, is showing signs of aging…but still won 11 games with a 2.29 ERA and fanned 173 hitters in 2022. Verlander returned to the mound after a near two-year absence and absolutely shoved. As a 39-year-old, the former MVP went 18-4 with an MLB-best 1.75 ERA and 0.829 WHIP en route to his third Cy Young.
Carrasco won 15 games for the Mets in ’22. After a handful of disappointing seasons in a row, Quintana turned back the clock last year while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. In 32 starts, Quintana allowed an MLB-best 0.4 HR9 and posted a career-low 2.93 ERA. Senga was New York’s other big addition this winter. An 11-year vet of the NPB, Senga went 104-51 with a 2.42 ERA while in Japan.
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