Ranking the Top 5 Starting Rotations in MLB for 2015
By Lucas Reider
5. Cleveland Indians
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (18-9, 2.44 ERA) headlines a young, promising staff that will take on the challenge of contending in a stacked AL Central division.
The first half of the season was sub-par for the Indians’ pitching staff (even Kluber got off to a slow start), but the second half carried hope in the arms of Kluber with a 1.73 post-All-Star break ERA. So too with Carlos Carrasco and T.J. House sporting a 1.72 ERA and a 2.53 ERA after the All-Star break, respectively.
If those three pitchers can carry momentum into the 2015 season, the only question marks Cleveland faces in their starting rotation are Trevor Bauer’s control and Danny Salazar’s consistency. Both are young arms that have shown at times they have the stuff to be efficient Major League starters. Gavin Floyd presents an intriguing option as well after coming off Tommy John surgery, as the Indians’ GM has come out to say that Floyd will be in the starting rotation.
Indians projected starting rotation:
- RHP Corey Kluber
- RHP Carlos Carrasco
- LHP T.J. House
- RHP Danny Salazar
- RHP Trevor Bauer