MLB: The Three Best Number-Five Starting Pitchers in Baseball

When we discuss pitching in MLB we often limit ourselves to the aces that baseball has to offer. While being the ace of a team is special, there are some great number-five starting pitchers as well.

We all love the aces of MLB: the Clayton Kershaw‘s, Max Scherzer‘s and Noah Syndergaard‘s of the world. However, we often don’t give enough credit to the guys at the back-end of the rotation. Heck, there are even #2 guys that are regarded as aces, but there will never be a #5 pitcher that is regarded as special. The second a #5 pitcher starts outperforming the guys ahead of him, the second he will move up in the rotation. It’s that simple.

However, there are good and great fifth-slot pitchers in MLB today. Whether it is because of their youth or a stacked pitching rotation, these guys could find themselves being number-three starters on other teams. Some of these guys may progress into something special, potentially an ace one day. Others are just consistent performers, who give their teams exactly what they need in a back-end guy.

To compile this list, we are going to use the current depth charts listed on each team’s respective website. Whether or not they are a #5 pitcher on opening day all depends on their spring training performances. Granted, I assume that most of these guys will be #5 starters on opening day, but there is always the opportunity as the season goes on to move up in the rotation. So with all of that being said, who are the three best #5 starting pitchers in MLB today?