NL East: Ranking Each Team's Starting Rotation

The National League East's offseason plan for their pitching staff can be expressed simply as rebuild and reload. The Phillies added ace Cliff Lee to their rotation and the Mets and Braves are slowly developing their young guns to contend in the future.

These five teams have incredible talent but only the best will win the division. After combing through the top 5 starts on each team, I've compiled a list of the best starting rotations in the division. Stats used include strikeouts per nine innings, fielding independent ERA, and opposing batting average. The top 5 pitchers in terms of games started were included and current players on the disabled list were not exempt. Read on for more.

5. New York Mets

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 04: Dillon Gee #35 of the New York Mets throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on June 4, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher P

The Mets are still developing their rotation so it's no wonder they are so low on this list. Young guns Jonathon Niese and Dillon Gee have shown a lot of promise but they just don't have the offense behind them to be successful. Mike Pelfrey just hasn't been the pitcher the Mets want him to be and former starter Oliver Perez was released in March.

Best Starter: Dillon Gee, 2.90 ERA with an opposing batting average of .203

Worst Starter: Mike Pelfrey, 5.56 ERA with a walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) of 1.51***

***Mike Pelfrey, considering all stats used to create this ranking, is tied for worst pitcher in the National League East.

4. Washington Nationals

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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 01: Jordan Zimmermann #27 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won the game 5-2. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

After losing Stephen Strasburg for the entire season, hopes for the Nationals rotation sunk. Veterans Livan Hernandez and Jason Marquis haven't done much to elevate this team above expectations. They are on the low end for team totals and individual performances have lacked with exception of Jordan Zimmerman.

Best Starter: Jordan Zimmerman, 3.61 ERA with a home run per nine innings ratio of 0.4

Worst Starter: John Lannan, 4.05 ERA and averaging 3.78 walks per nine innings

3. Florida Marlins

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - MAY 10: Josh Johnson #55 of the Florida Marlins pitches during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Sun Life Stadium on May 10, 2011 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Marlins have a starting rotation that just doesn't get enough credit. Josh Johnson is easily a top 3 pitcher in the league and Anibal Sanchez is up and coming as a dominant right handed fire thrower; however, the bottom of the rotation is what kills them in the ranking. Javier Vazquez and Chris Volstad are having really poor seasons and it doesn't look like it will get better.

Best Starter: Josh Johnson, 1.64 ERA with an opposing batting average of .183

Worst Starter: Javier Vasquez, 6.02 ERA with a division leading 4.17 walks per nine innings ratio***

Javier Vasquez, considering all stats used to create this ranking, is tied for worst pitcher in the National League East.

2. Atlanta Braves

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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Pitcher Jair Jurrjens #49 of the Atlanta Braves throws against the New York Mets at Digital Domain Park on February 26, 2011 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Atlanta has a surprisingly good rotation this year but to most fans, it wasn't surprising at all. Jair Jurrjens was due to have an incredible season and that is certainly what he's having right now. Not to be outperformed is Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy that are making waves against opposing hitters. Beachy has been on the disabled list for a month so this is certainly something to worry about but even the worst starter on the team is making up for the loss.

Best Starter: Jair Jurrjens, 1.75 ERA with a WHIP of 1.01

Worst Starter: Derek Lowe, 4.07 ERA with a strikeout per nine innings ratio of 7.27

1. Philadelphia Phillies

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 05: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies makes a delivery against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game on June 5, 2011 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Phillies have certainly lived up to all the hype as they have one of the strongest rotations in baseball and the best rotation in the division. Offseason acquisition Cliff Lee fills a gap that will certainly lead Philadelphia to another trip to the playoffs. Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels have sent batters home in disgust as they round out a threesome of dominance. 5th starter Joe Blanton has been on the disabled list since mid May but is good enough as to not hurt the team in their race for another World Series ring.

Best Starter: Roy Halladay, 2.56 ERA with a strikeout per nine innings ratio of 8.97***

Worst Starter: Joe Blanton, 5.5 ERA with a fielding independent ERA of 3.93

Roy Halladay, considering all stats used to create this ranking, is the best pitcher in the National League East.