Ranking the Top 5 Starting Rotations in MLB for 2015
By Lucas Reider
3. Seattle Mariners
Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
The Mariners are the epitome of a “build your way up” approach to fielding a strong pitching staff. A rotation that has seen its fair share of changes in recent times, Seattle may have found the right combination to make their first playoff appearance since 2001.
GM Jack Zduriencik has built a young core of pitching and looks to have finally acquired the needed offense to surround 2010 Cy Young award winner Felix Hernandez with. Coming close to winning one in 2014 as well, King Felix (15-6, 2.14 ERA in 2014) will headline a rotation that may represent the best 1-2 punch on the West Coast with the likes of Hisashi Iwakuma, who has posted an ERA of 3.07 and WHIP of 1.09 in his first three seasons in MLB.
Promising flame-throwing prospects Taijuan Walker and James Paxton — both with fastballs averaging 95 mph — should assume the third and fourth spots between Iwakuma and veteran lefty J.A. Happ. Roenis Elias could surprise as well after a 10-12 season in 2014 with a 3.85 ERA. The only thing that may hinder the success of the M’s rotation is the amount of opposing offense present in a stacked AL West division.
Mariners starting rotation:
- RHP Felix Hernandez
- RHP Hisashi Iwakuma
- LHP James Paxton
- RHP Taijuan Walker
- LHP J.A. Happ