MLB Power Rankings: Re-Ranking All 30 MLB Rotations Heading into July

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With the All-Star break next week, no one could have predicted what has happened so far three months into the season.

The Washington Nationals are in first place, while the Philadelphia Phillies are in last. The Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians are all tied for second place in their respective divisions.

Like every year, the success comes from the pitching staff. Some pitching staffs are overachieving, while others aren't pitching up to potential. 

So which teams boast the best pitching staffs and which teams boast nothing? These are the rankings three months in and before the All-Star break.

30. Colorado Rockies

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The Colorado Rockies are the prime example that offense can't win you games. 

Despite being one of the best hitting teams this year, their pitching staff has been the opposite. 

The rotation has 19 quality starts with no complete games, both good for last in the majors. Teams are hitting a potent .316 off starters—simply ridiculous for a starting rotation. 

Regardless of the park, the Rockies starting rotation is the worst in the league, and their wins are proof. With just 30 wins through the season, the 2012 season can't end soon enough for this team.

29. Minnesota Twins

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With only 27 quality starts, the starting rotation gets bombed. 

With opponents hitting .305 against starters, it's no surprise that the starting rotation holds a 5.84 ERA with only 255 strikeouts.

The talent is there for the pitching staff, just not the consistency.

28. Kansas City Royals

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A starting rotation that was supposed to help a team make noise this year has been anything but that since the start of the season. 

With hitters batting .275 off their starters, it's no surprise that the Royals starting rotation has only pitched 406 innings, a mark only better than the Rockies.

Their best pitching comes from Bruce Chen, and that isn't saying much. His ERA is only slightly better than the rotation's—4.83 as opposed to 4.96.

The most disappointing has been Luke Hochevar. At 5-8 with a 5.23 ERA, Hochevar has not lived up to the expectations fans and management had when he was in their farm system.

27. Houston Astros

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They are 16 games under .500, and the pitching staff is a major reason why.

With a 4.40 ERA for starters, every start is a challenging one for this team. 

The potential to be a solid rotation is there, but consistency is their biggest problem.

26. Chicago Cubs

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The woeful Cubs can attribute their dismal season to their starting rotation.

19 games back and in the basement of the NL Central, the Cubs starters have no complete games under their belt and have a long way to improving their starting rotation.

25. Baltimore Orioles

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It's surprising how well the Orioles have played considering their starting rotation is not in the top half of the league.

Their starting rotation has been a nice surprise this season, accumulating 26 wins together. But consistency still lacks, with a 4.83 ERA and .272 batting average against.

24. Boston Red Sox

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Only four games above .500, the team has underachieved, and the starting rotation is a major reason why. 

With talent up and down the rotation, it's puzzling why they got off to a slow start. 

Currently with a 4.69 ERA, look for the starting rotation to pitch better in the second half of the season.

23. Cleveland Indians

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Like the Orioles, the Indians have been a surprise in the AL Central, with their rotation helping the offense.

Still lacking in consistency like the Orioles, they must improve if they want to be in contention in the second half. With a high batting average against of .271, the Indians can and will improve during the second half. 

22. Seattle Mariners

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With a struggling team comes a struggling rotation, and that is the case with the Mariners.

While King Felix is pitching, the rest of the rotation lacks the consistency needed to win games.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

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Thought to be a contender in the 2012 season, the Blue Jays rotation must step up if they hope to compete in the second half. 

Second in the league in walks, the rotation pitches well but struggles too often. 

A prime example is Ricky Romero, who leads the team with eight wins but has compiled a 5.35 ERA.

20. Detroit Tigers

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The starting rotation for the Tigers has struggled so far in the 2012 season, but don't look into it too much.

With one of the lowest walk totals for the rotation in the league, there is room for improvement, which will no doubt come in the second half when they make a run for the playoffs—led by Justin Verlander. 

19. Arizona Diamondbacks

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The Diamondbacks aren't playing like the team of 2011, with the rotation struggling often. 

They gave up only 131 walks, but hitters are batting .270 against the rotation. 

The rotation must be consistent, and all that must start with Ian Kennedy.

18. Atlanta Braves

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The Braves are another team that hasn't been playing like in years past, and the rotation is a reason why. 

The rotation has one of the highest walk totals in the league with a 4.24 staff ERA, and runs have been scored because of that.

17. Milwaukee Brewers

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Despite the depth, the Brewers rotation has been pretty solid, winning 26 games together. 

While they have no superstar in their rotation, the rotation as a whole is consistent, even though they have recorded no complete games. 

16. Philadelphia Phillies

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With no Roy Halladay and a winless Cliff Lee, the Phillies rotation is still pitching pretty well.

Despite being in last place, the rotation is not a problem. The offense must step up and help the rotation.

15. Chicago White Sox

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The White Sox rotation has been solid this year, with Phillip Humber even throwing a perfect game in the early months of the season. 

With already six complete games under its belt, the rotation has not missed a step with the absence of Mark Buerhle. Jake Peavy has also been a nice surprise, regaining some his form from his days back in San Diego. 

14. Texas Rangers

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With the addition of Roy Oswalt, the solid rotation of the Rangers got even better and will be dangerous in the second half of the season. 

Opposing hitters bat just .253 and have scored a total of 215 runs—good numbers for a very strong hitter's ballpark. 

13. San Diego Padres

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If only the Padres had offense to go with their solid pitching staff, this team may very well be contenders. 

Pitching in a great pitcher's park, the rotation has been pretty consistent, compiling a 3.98 rotation ERA. The success doesn't come without problems, however, as the Padres lead the league in walks allowed. 

12. Miami Marlins

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Already a solid rotation, this Marlins team is capable of being better.

While already putting up good numbers, Josh Johnson, Buehrle and Anibal Sanchez haven't pitched to their potential and must change in the second half.

The Marlins rotation is dangerous, it just needs to pitch to expectations.

11. Pittsburgh Pirates

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In second place in the NL Central, the Pirates are possibly the biggest surprise this year.

Former Yankee A.J. Burnett might go from dud to All-Star in one year. All the parts are moving for this club and will need to run at the same level, if not better, in the second half. 

10. New York Yankees

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The Yankees rotation has pitched up to expectations, with Andy Pettite pitching better than everyone expected when he rejoined the team. 

With bright spots in the first half with Hughes and Kuroda appearing, the Yankees caught some tough breaks with a few injuries to their rotation. 

9. St. Louis Cardinals

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The Cardinals are another good team with all the parts moving for them.

With 10-game-winner Lance Lynn and Kyle Lohse at the top of the rotation, the Cardinals may be even more dangerous than before. 

8. Cincinnati Reds

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The rotation has proved to be solid despite the hitter-friendly confines of the Great American Ballpark. 

With six complete games and one of the lowest walk totals in the league, much of the success can be attributed to ace Johnny Cueto. 

7. Oakland Athletics

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Despite the Athletics being three games under .500, they have something special with the rotation.

The team can be a threat in the second half due largely to Parker, McCarthy and Milone pitching better than expected for the team.

6. Tampa Bay Rays

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While not as great as last year, the Rays rotation is putting up solid numbers so far three months into the season. 

With both experienced and young pitchers, the Rays rotation has pitched pretty good so far, with a high strikeout total despite a high amount of walks.

5. Los Angeles Angels

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With C.J. Wilson and Jared Weaver at the top of the rotation, the Angels have one of the better rotations in the league.

Add in Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, and talent is across this whole rotation. Playing great baseball as of late, the Angels have their rotation and offense to thank for it. 

4. New York Mets

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Who would have thought the Mets ace this year was going to be R.A. Dickey instead of Johan Santana?

Dickey has been arguably the league's most un-hittable pitcher, compiling a 12-1 record with a 2.15 ERA.

With Santana and Jon Niese, this rotation can do great things for this team for the rest of the season.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

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Starting off 2012 slowly, the Dodgers rotation is back on track and has pitched great as of late.

Opponents are only hitting .244 against the starting five, and they will undoubtedly get tougher once Kershaw returns to his full Cy Young form.

2. San Francisco Giants

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Despite Tim Lincecum's struggles, the Giants rotation has not missed a beat, with Matt Cain pitching the Giants' first perfect game in franchise history. 

Winning 35 games all together, the rotation ranks the best in BAA with .230.

Once Lincecum gets back on track, the rotation will be even more deadly and may finish as the best rotation in the league in 2012.

1. Washington Nationals

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The Nationals are rolling, and their rotation is a huge reason why.

Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez may be the deadliest 1-2 punch in the league right now, each compiling at least nine wins and over 100 strikeouts.

Jordan Zimmerman and Edwin Jackson are also pitching extremely well, with opponents batting only .232 against the rotation—good for second in the league.

The Nationals have become to the team to beat, and their strong rotation deserves the credit.