MLB Power Rankings: Grading the Starting Rotations of Every Contender

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As the 2011 season inches closer to September, each contender's strengths will be put to the test as the race to the postseason tightens up. We've all heard the saying, "Good pitching beats good hitting," so this slideshow will examine and grade each contender's starting rotation.

It seems as though each team's true colors come to shine in the postseason, and pitching will surely play a key role in this years' run to the postseason.

As we learned last year with the San Francisco Giants, a good starting rotation can carry a team all the way to the World Series, so expect nothing less again this year.

Philadelphia Phillies

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When the Philadelphia Phillies acquired starting pitcher Cliff Lee during the offseason, many argued that the team's starting five would compare, if not surpass, the dominant Atlanta Braves' rotation for much of the 1990s.

Although Cliff Lee's struggling to start the season, he seems to be coming around at the right time, as the team has lost only once since acquiring Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence right before the trade deadline.

Entering the postseason, the Phillies have to be one of the favorites going in because of their dominant rotation, which features Roy Halladay, who threw a no-hitter during last year's NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds.

Starting Rotation:

Roy Halladay	14-4	2.55 ERA	159 strikeouts, 20 walks
Roy Oswalt	4-6	3.79 ERA	42 strikeouts, 18 walks
Cliff Lee	11-7	2.96 ERA	167 strikeouts, 32 walks
Cole Hamels	13-6	2.53 ERA	150 strikeouts, 31 walks
Vance Worley	8-1	2.35 ERA	66 strikeouts, 28 walks
Kyle Kendrick	6-5	3.19 ERA	39 strikeouts, 27 walks

Grade: A

Atlanta Braves

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The Atlanta Braves' starting rotation was among the best in baseball at the close of the first half of the season.

However, starters Jair Jurrjens, who was recently placed on the 15-day DL, and Tommy Hanson, who is battling back problems, have yet to get going since the mid-summer classic.

One surprise for the team is the performance of their fifth starter, Brandon Beachy, who has been consistent all season since returning from an injury early in the year.

If Jurrjens and Hanson can get back on track, and Derek Lowe can pitch like he did last September, look for the Braves to pitch their way into the postseason.

Starting Rotation:

Jair Jurrjens	12-4	2.63 ERA	85 strikeouts, 35 walks
Tommy Hanson	11-7	3.60 ERA	142 strikeouts, 46 walks
Tim Hudson	11-7	3.22 ERA	106 strikeouts, 37 walks
Derek Lowe	6-10	4.86 ERA	92 strikeouts, 50 walks
Brandon Beachy	5-2	3.49 ERA	95 strikeouts, 28 walks

Grade: B+

St. Louis Cardinals

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When the St. Louis Cardinals lost their ace, Adam Wainwright, during spring training, many questions surrounded manager Tony LaRussa and what he would do with his starting rotation.

That being said, Jaime Garcia has stepped up nicely and the recent acquisition of Edwin Jackson has helped bolster the clubs starting five as well as allowed LaRussa to move Kyle McClellan back into the bullpen.

A major factor in the club's potential run to the postseason is ace Chris Carpenter, who is currently one game under .500 and has struggled most of the season.

Starting Rotation:

Chris Carpenter	7-8	3.75 ERA	128 strikeouts, 40 walks
Jaime Garcia	10-5	3.22 ERA	120 strikeouts, 35 walks
Jake Westbrook	9-5	4.83 ERA	70 strikeouts, 48 walks
Kyle Lohse	9-7	3.45 ERA	72 strikeouts, 30 walks
Edwin Jackson	8-8	4.11 ERA	107 strikeouts, 42 walks

Grade: B-

Milwaukee Brewers

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Yovani Gallardo has emerged as one of the best starting pitches in all of baseball and has been outstanding this year for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The team's offseason acquisition of former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke has helped their starting five as well, as he appears to have fully recovered from his pre-spring training injury and is becoming more dominant with each start.

Chris Narveson has also been a bright spot for this year's Brewers, as his performance in the fifth starting spot has kept the team in a lot of games.

Starting Rotation:

Zack Greinke	9-4	4.41 ERA	128 strikeouts, 22 walks
Yovani Gallardo	13-7	3.56 ERA	130 strikeouts, 47 walks
Shaun Marcum	10-3	3.58 ERA	116 strikeouts, 38 walks
Randy Wolf	8-8	3.61 ERA	98 strikeouts, 50 walks
Chris Narveson	8-6	4.49 ERA	109 strikeouts, 49 walks

Grade: B

San Francisco Giants

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When the San Francisco Giants were forced to turn to journeyman Ryan Vogelsong as their fifth starter, questions surrounded the 34-year-old right-hander and his effectiveness in the majors.

Those questions were quickly answered, however, as Vogelsong was named a National League All-Star by manager Bruce Bochy.

Although Madison Bumgarner has both struggled and been the victim of poor run support, he is capable of getting hot at any time, as is evident by the team's World Series run last season, which was done almost solely by strong starting pitching.

Vogelsong's dominance, alongside the lights-out pitching from former Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and two-time All-Star Matt Cain, has made the Giants one of the favorites to return to the World Series this October.

Starting Rotation:

Tim Lincecum	9-9	2.77 ERA	160 strikeouts, 59 walks
Matt Cain	9-8	3.00 ERA	130 strikeouts, 42 walks
Madison Bumgarner	6-11	3.71 ERA	124 strikeouts, 32 walks
Ryan Vogelsong	9-1	2.19 ERA	86 strikeouts, 40 walks
Jonathan Sanchez	4-6	4.10 ERA	96 strikeouts, 61 walks

Grade: A-

Arizona Diamondbacks

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Few, if any, baseball analysts had the Arizona Diamondbacks in the running for the NL West crown, but that hasn't kept the team from having an impressive season up to this point.

Led by their ace, right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy, the Diamondbacks find themselves tied atop the West standings alongside the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks have found themselves in the win column a lot lately, thanks largely to the fact the Joe Saunders has been able to heat up after a horrific start to the season.

The team was also able to acquire Jason Marquis right before the trade deadline, which will strengthen their starting rotation. As long as Arizona's starters can pitch deeply into a game to avoid going into their somewhat shaky bullpen, the team looks to be a contender down the stretch.

Starting Rotation:

Ian Kennedy	13-3	3.17 ERA	134 strikeouts, 41 walks
Daniel Hudson	11-7	3.67 ERA	120 strikeouts, 34 walks
Joe Saunders	8-9	3.67 ERA	81 strikeouts, 49 walks
Jason Marquis	8-6	4.33 ERA	72 strikeouts, 40 walks
Josh Collmenter	6-7	3.58 ERA	64 strikeouts, 19 walks

Grade: B-

Boston Red Sox

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Not long after a report surfaced saying that Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholtz was likely headed to the 60-day DL with a stress fracture in his back, the team was able to go out and trade for Seattle Mariners starting pitching Erik Bedard, who has been one of the best starters in all of baseball in recent years.

In addition to Bedard, Red Sox ace Jon Lester has been stellar once again this season, and Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield have performed well throughout the season. The only thing holding the Sox back is John Lackey, who is having one of his worst seasons in the big leagues.

Starting Rotation:

Jon Lester	11-5	3.23 ERA	131 strikeouts, 47 walks
Josh Beckett	9-4	2.20 ERA	122 strikeouts, 37 walks
John Lackey	10-8	6.14 ERA	76 strikeouts, 32 walks
Tim Wakefield	6-4	4.99 ERA	58 strikeouts, 32 walks
Erik Bedard	4-7	3.55 ERA	92 strikeouts, 30 walks
Andrew Miller	4-1	5.44 ERA	29 strikeouts, 27 walks

Grade: A-

New York Yankees

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Everyone knew that C.C. Sabathia would be dominant for the New York Yankees again this season, but after that, no one knew what to expect from the likes of A.J. Burnett and the rest of the team's starting rotation.

However, with the exception of one or two games, the Yankees have been surprised by the dominance of former greats Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, as well as the job that 24-year-old Ivan Nova has done out of the rotation this season.

Questions do still surround the Yankees' rotation, however, as many are wondering if the arms of Colon and Garcia will hold up for the duration of the season, and others questioning the effectiveness of Burnett.

Starting Rotation:

C.C. Sabathia	16-6	2.81 ERA	168 strikeouts, 46 walks
Freddy Garcia	10-7	3.22 ERA	80 strikeouts, 34 walks
A.J. Burnett	8-9	4.54 ERA	123 strikeouts, 63 walks
Bartolo Colon	8-6	3.33 ERA	100 strikeouts, 30 walks
Phil Hughes	2-3	6.93 ERA	20 strikeouts, 13 walks
Ivan Nova	10-4	3.81 ERA	67 strikeouts, 38 walks

Grade: B+

Texas Rangers

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The Texas Rangers have received strong performances from sophomore pitcher Alexi Ogando and the rest of their starting rotation for much of the 2011 season, as the team has managed to return to the top of the AL West again this season.

Ogando, alongside Colby Lewis and C.J. Wilson, have all had strong seasons, and the team is even getting stellar performances from their fifth starter, Derek Holland, who has already recorded 10 wins this season.

The Rangers starters are familiar with the pressures that come along with making the postseason, making them one of the favorites to make the World Series from the American League. The only knock on the team's starting five is that, unlike nearly every other team in this slide show, not one of their starters has a sub-3.00 ERA.

Starting Rotation:

Colby Lewis	10-8	4.14 ERA	117 strikeouts, 42 walks
C.J. Wilson	10-5	3.35 ERA	146 strikeouts, 55 walks
Matt Harrison	9-8	3.08 ERA	83 strikeouts, 42 walks
Alexi Ogando	11-5	2.88 ERA	100 strikeouts, 32 walks
Derek Holland	10-4	4.35 ERA	104 strikeouts, 47 walks

Grade: B

Los Angeles Angels

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Jered Weaver has been dominant, to say the least, this season, which has a lot to do with why the Los Angeles Angels find themselves in striking distance of the reigning American League Champion Texas Rangers.

Weaver's sub-2.00 ERA is among the best in all of baseball, and the success of Dan Haren and rookie Tyler Chatwood have Angels fans and executives excited about the last month-plus of baseball this season.

The club also had its third starter, Ervin Santana, throw a no-hitter earlier in the year. If Santana, Chatwood and Joel Pineiro can find a way to be a bit more effective down the stretch, the Angels have to like their chances in the division.

Starting Rotation:

Jered Weaver	14-5	1.78 ERA	150 strikeouts, 39 walks
Dan Haren	12-6	2.81 ERA	137 strikeouts, 24 walks
Ervin Santana	7-8	3.32 ERA	130 strikeouts, 42 walks
Joel Pineiro	5-6	5.31 ERA	43 strikeouts, 29 walks
Tyler Chatwood	6-8	4.10 ERA	66 strikeouts, 59 walks

Grade: B-

Detroit Tigers

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Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter earlier this season, the second of his career, but he could have throw at least two more were it no for some bad luck late in each game. He co-leads the American League with 16 wins this season and is a force to be reckoned with in the Tigers' rotation.

Although the ERAs of the Tigers' two, three and four starters is in the mid-to-high 4.00s, each has the capability of being dominant at any given time.

The team also acquired Doug Fister right before the trade deadline in a last-minute attempt to bolster their starting rotation for a push towards the playoffs.

Starting Rotation:

Justin Verlander	16-5	2.30 ERA	186 strikeouts, 38 walks
Max Scherzer	11-6	4.23 ERA	115 strikeouts, 44 walks
Rick Porcello	11-6	4.49 ERA	73 strikeouts, 30 walks
Brad Penny	7-9	4.92 ERA	53 strikeouts, 43 walks
Doug Fister	4-12	3.29 ERA	89 strikeouts, 32 walks

Grade: B-

Cleveland Indians

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The Cleveland Indians got off to a hot start in 2011, something not many expected from the team entering the season, but have fallen off as of late.

The team has gotten great results from Justin Masterson, as well as Josh Tomlin, who has already recorded more than 10 wins on the year.

However, in what may have been the best moves with the trade deadline looming, the team went out and acquired Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez to bolster their rotation and give themselves a chance to catch the first-place Detroit Tigers.

The team will need Fausto Carmona, who is well below .500, and Carlos Carrasco to turn their seasons around, however.

Starting Rotation:

Ubaldo Jimenez	6-9	4.64 ERA	125 strikeouts, 64 walks
Fausto Carmona	5-11	5.19 ERA	70 strikeouts, 40 walks
Carlos Carrasco	8-9	4.55 ERA	85 strikeouts, 40 walks
Justin Masterson	9-7	2.63 ERA	121 strikeouts, 43 walks
Josh Tomlin	11-5	4.16 ERA	75 strikeouts, 16 walks

Grade: B-