Cleveland Indians: AL Central starting rotation power rankings

Projected Rotation

1. LHP, Matthew Boyd (2020 Stats: 3-7, 6.31 ERA)
2. RHP, Spencer Turnbull (4-4, 3.97 ERA)
3. RHP, Casey Mize (0-3, 6.99 ERA)
4. RHP, Michael Fulmer (0-2, 8.78 ERA)
5. RHP, Jose Urena (0-3, 5.40 ERA) OR LHP, Tarik Skubal (1-4, 5.69 ERA)

While the Tigers are moving closer towards being competitive once again, their rotation is still a work in progress.

Casey Mize is the future face of the Tigers franchise as he was selected first overall in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Auburn and reached the majors in 2020. He’ll get his first crack at a full MLB season this year.

Matthew Boyd at times, has been a solid top of the rotation arm but had a brutal 2020 in large part due to injuries. Micheal Fulmer won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, but due to injuries and struggles, he has never regained that form.

Spencer Turnbull had a solid 2020 that should earn him a spot in the rotation, leading the fifth starter role to a spring training competition between long-time Marlin Jose Urena and 24-year old southpaw Tarik Skubal.

While the rotation has upside, there are too many question marks for the Tigers rotation for the team to be confident in it this season.

Projected Rotation

1. RHP, Brad Keller (5-3, 2.47 ERA)
2. RHP, Brady Singer (4-5, 4.06 ERA)
3. LHP, Mike Minor (1-6, 5.56 ERA)
4. LHP, Danny Duffy (4-4, 4.95 ERA)
5. LHP, Kris Bubic (1-6, 4.32 ERA)

Like the Tigers, the Royals are getting closer to being competitive, but their rotation is closer to being a threat than Detriot’s.

The team has a true ace in 25-year-old Brad Keller to build their starting staff around and a second starter in Brady Singer, who impressed as a rookie just two years removed from being drafted last season.

In the middle, Kansas City has to proven inning-eaters in veteran southpaws Mike Minor who was in the Cy Young conversation while with the Rangers in 2019 and Danny Duffy and a 23-year-old in Kris Bubic with a high-ceiling.

While not yet better than the Twins, Indians or White Sox, the Royals’ starting rotation has a bright future and the chance to be underrated in 2021.

Projected Rotation

1. RHP, Jose Berrios (5-4, 4.00 ERA)
2. RHP, Kenta Maeda (6-1, 2.70 ERA)
3. RHP, Randy Dobnak (6-4, 4.05 ERA)
4. LHP, J.A. Happ (2-2. 3.47 ERA)
5. RHP, Michael Pineda (2-0, 3.38 ERA)

The Twins have won the AL Central the past two years, but in part due to not having a true ace have not been able to win a single playoff game.

Minnesota has a pair of reliable starters in Jose Berrios and Kenta Maeda, who are solid 2-3 starters, but one will have to emerge as their number one this season.

The bottom third of the rotation has plenty of question marks, such as former Uber Driver Randy Dobnak, who is still unproven, veteran lefty J.A. Happ who has struggled with the Yankees the past two seasons and Michael Pineda, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

If Dobank, Happ and Pineda can be reliable, the Twins have a solid rotation, but it’s hard to believe all three of those arms will be enough for Minnesota’s rotation to top Cleveland’s or Chicago’s.

Projected Rotation 

1. RHP, Shane Bieber (8-1, 1.63 ERA)
2. LHP, Zach Plesac (4-2, 2.28 ERA)
3. RHP, Triston McKenzie (2-1, 3.34 ERA)
4. RHP, Aaron Civale (4-6, 4.74 ERA)
5. RHP, Cal Quantrill (2-0, 2.25 ERA) OR RHP, Logan Allen (2-3, 5.40 ERA)

Since August, the Indians’ rotation has taken two major hits as they traded away both Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco, but they still have enough starting pitching depth left to compete in 2021.

Shane Bieber was the best pitcher in baseball last year, leading the league in strikeouts and earning the AL Cy Young Award, while both Zach Plesac and former top prospect Triston McKenzie were also stellar.

Aaron Civale had some outstanding starts last year and also had some to forget but served as an inning eater earning him the right to return to the rotation.

The fifth spot in the Indians rotation is up for grabs with Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen, both who were acquired from San Diego in exchange for Clevinger, expected to have the best chance, but the team also could go with openers every fifth day.

Regardless, with three reliable options and an inning eater in Civale, the Indians’ rotation is still in good shape despite losing two of their top three starters going into 2020.

Projected Rotation

1. RHP, Lucas Giolito (4-3, 3.48 ERA)
2. LHP, Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 1.99 ERA)
3. RHP, Lance Lynn (6-3, 3.32 ERA)
4. RHP, Dylan Cease (5-4, 4.01 ERA)
5. RHP, Reynaldo Lopez (1-3, 6.49 ERA) OR LHP, Carlos Rodon (0-2, 8.22 ERA)

The White Sox rotation isn’t just the best on paper in the AL Central but among the best in baseball.

They have a true ace in Lucas Giolito, who the past two years of lived up to the hype he generated while a top prospect in the Washington Nationals farm system.
Former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel had a bounce-back 2020 in his first year as a White Sox posting 1.99 ERA, while Lance Lynn, who Chicago traded for this offseason, was in Cy Young consideration for much of last season while with the Texas Rangers.

The four man will be Dylan Cease, who is another former top prospect and had a solid in 2020, followed by either Reynaldo Lopez or Carlos Rodon, who have both shown glimpses of potential during their careers.

While there are some questions at the five spot, Chicago’s rotation is loaded and enters 2021 as the best in the AL Central.