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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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Trevor Bauer
GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 01: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Projected 2021 Starting Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Julio Urias, Walker Buehler, David Price

2021 Stats: W/L 17-6, 3.29 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 5.0 fWAR

The rich get richer. Despite having one of the best rotations in baseball, the Dodgers went out and signed the reigning 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. Throw in Walker Buehler and Julio Urias, plus David Price, who is returning after opting-out from the 2020 season, and the Dodgers are stacked from one-five.

Clayton Kershaw is no longer the ace of the staff, but the future Hall of Famer is still the face. After years of postseason futility, the veteran finally won his ring. Fresh off a season which saw him go, 6-2, with a 2.19 ERA, and 62 seasons, Kershaw still has plenty left in the tank.

The Dodgers threw the bag at Bauer and he happily accepted. He signed with the Dodgers on a three-year deal worth $102 million. After his Cy Young season, this is understandable. Last year he went 5-4, with a 1.73 ERA, and 100 strikeouts, while leading the Reds to the playoffs. Critics were quick to point out that his stats were inflated against inferior AL and NL Central hitters, but Bauer kept it going against a stacked Bravest lineup in the playoffs.

Julio Urias is only 24 and already has five seasons under his belt. After teasing glimpses of his potential, the youngster finally put it all together during the Dodgers World Series run. In six appearances, Urias went 2-4, with a 1.17 ERA, and 29 strikeouts. He was instrumental in the team winning the Fall Classic. Now, expect Urias to be a pivotal part of the rotation moving forward.

Walker Buehler is the future of the rotation, but struggled in 2020, with his FIP ballooning above a 4.00. But in the team’s World Series run, he was lights out, going 5-2, with a 1.80 ERA and 39 strikeouts in seven starts.

David Price is more name at this point in his career, but the former ace can still eat innings. Since 2010, he has only thrown less than 170+ innings twice, averaging 218 a year. As the Dodgers number five starter, he won’t have the pressure to lead the rotation.

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