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Baltimore Orioles: Where does the rotation rank among AL East foes?

By Nate Wardle

Mar 13, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (39) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (39) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles pitchers must continue to mature to give them a chance to compete in the tough AL East division.

After looking at all the Baltimore Orioles rankings in the AL East positional rankings (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF and RF), including DH, we now turn our attention to the starting rotations in the AL East.

Man, are there some great pitchers. Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, David Price, Marcus Stroman, Chris Archer, Aaron Sanchez, Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy and Jake Odorizzi, just to name a few.

Some of those names are the top talents in the game. Others are some of the best young pitchers in the game.

The AL East projections will give you more of a broad overview, as a positional dig with the numerical analysis is taxing. Also, I think you can break down the numbers all you want, and it would not affect the rankings here.

Before we get to the anticipated 2017 AL East rotational rankings, let’s review the end of 2016 rankings.

5. Baltimore Orioles

4. New York Yankees

3. Tampa Bay Rays

2. Boston Red Sox

1. Toronto Blue Jays

Mar 17, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

5. New York Yankees

New York Yankees’ SPs: Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia, Luis Severino, Jonathan Niese, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell, Chad Green, Luis Cessa

It was hard to bump the Orioles out of the last place, but when you only have three proven pitchers in your rotation, and one is aging, it makes it easier.

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Tanaka will be a star and has been excellent this spring. Pineda will continue to prove his worth. After that, question marks.

C.C. Sabathia is now 36 years old, and while the numbers weren’t bad in 2016, you still have to wonder how much is left in the tank for the veteran.

Severino was so bad in 2016 that he was moved to the bullpen. Can he rebound and show the ability he showed in 2015?

After that, Niese is back in New York, although in pinstripes this time. He will battle with Adam Warren, who was reacquired by the Yankees in 2016, and three young players, Bryan Mitchell, Chad Green and Luis Cessa. Niese and Warren have had more success as a spot starter than as a legitimate rotation option, but if Severino struggles, what will the Yankees do?

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