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District On Deck

Ranking All 30 Starting Rotations

By Max Rayman

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Blake Snell
GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 09: Blake Snell #24 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on March 9, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /

2) San Diego Padres

Projected 2021 Starting Rotation: Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet,

2020 Stats: W/L 18-15, 3.46 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 6.1 fWAR

Not to be outdone by the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres went all in when it came to the rotation. This off-season, they completed a trio of trades that netted them Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove. Throw in Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet, and the Padres rotation is loaded. This doesn’t even account for Mike Clevinger who is out for the year due to Tommy John and uber-prospect MacKenzie Gore who has yet to make his debut.

San Diego’s rotation hinges on Snell and Darvish continuing their success. After struggling during the first few years of his Cubs tenure, Darvish finally delivered in 2020. He finished second in NL Cy Young voting, going 8-3, with a 2.01 ERA, and 93 strikeouts. The veteran was a major reason why the Cubs won the NL Central, but he will need to replicate his success across a full 162 game season.

Snell has yet to fully build on his impressive 2018 campaign that culminated with him winning his first AL Cy Young. However, he still had a solid 2020, going 4-2, with a 3.24 ERA and 63 strikeouts. His 4.34 FIP is alarming, showing that he benefited from Tampa’s elite defense.

Luckily for the Padres co-aces, they have Paddack, Lamet, and Musgrove all behind them, taking the pressure off of them to a high degree.

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