MLB Playoffs: Ranking Every Contender's Potential Pitching Rotation

The baseball world was educated on the usefulness of post-season pitching as the offense-free San Francisco Giants managed a World Series win in 2010.

Though the Giants won't be present in October baseball this year, pitching still reigns supreme. Having a great one-two punch with a solid third starter will be eminently important for every team in these playoffs.

Using a three-man rotation, as most teams don't have four quality starters, here are the rankings of teams within four games of a playoff spot.

New York Yankees

One and done is an appropriate term when discussing the Yankees.

Other than CC Sabathia, there aren't many trusty starters on the Yankees. Although they are backed by a tremendous offense, they really can't rely on AJ Burnett or Phil Hughes down the stretch. Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon are also question marks, both with health and post-season productivity.

Ivan Nova has been a solid rookie but probably isn't ready for a playoff setting, so don't look for a deep run by the Yankees this season.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are very good but not great. Their offense holds them up, but their pitching isn't always reliable.

They have a number of good, but not great pitchers, and in the playoffs having great pitchers is really important.

A post-season rotation of CJ Wilson, Alexei Ogando, and Matt Harrison would be okay. Colby Lewis and Derek Holland could probably be interchangeable with Ogando and Harrison.

Wilson is the only really solid starter, but he's still not at that Cy Young level needed in the playoffs.

Boston Red Sox

Injuries have destroyed Boston's pitching this year.

Josh Beckett, when healthy, and Jon Lester create a nice duo, but there are no other reliable starters to back them up.

Do the Red Sox really want to depend on John Lackey in a playoff game?

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have been a pleasant surprise this season, but none of their starters are truly aces.

Zack Greinke has been good but not spectacular, and the same goes for Shawn Marcum and Yovani Gallardo.

Milwaukee's offense will probably propel them to a few wins, but when push comes to shove in the NL, their pitching will be their downfall.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The recent Arizona Diamondbacks' surge has surprised many, and their pitching is the main reason.

Ian Kennedy is somehow competing for the NL Cy Young, Joe Saunders is a reliable number two, and Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter are proving to be talented young pitchers.

A three-man rotation of Kennedy, Saunders and Hudson could make waves in the NL playoffs.

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta's post-season chances really hang on the players who haven't been perfectly healthy this season.

Tim Hudson has been his usual reliable self, but the meat of the rotation, including Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson, have battled injuries all year so that could be troubling.

If they can get healthy and hold off the surging St. Louis Cardinals, the Braves will be a team to reckon with.

Detroit Tigers

The team with the best pitcher in baseball would be sitting pretty if they had a number two pitcher.

Doug Fister appears to be best option for the number two spot behind Justin Verlander, with Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer struggling to shut down opponents on a regular basis.

Verlander twice or even thrice in a series could give the Tigers a chance, but the Tigers will still need a win from someone else in the rotation.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are still outsiders to actually make the playoffs, but if they do they will have one of the best rotations there.

James Shields is having a great season, but he seems to be forgotten amongst the rest of the top pitchers in baseball.

Shields and David Price make a dangerous combo, with Jeremy Hellickson having a great year as well.

The biggest issue for the Rays is actually reaching the playoffs.

Los Angeles Angels

Jered Weaver is the second best pitcher in baseball this year and Dan Haren is no slouch for the Angels.

Catching the Texas Rangers is the biggest feat for the Angels to overcome, but if they can make the playoffs, a rotation of Weaver, Haren and Ervin Santana is tops in the American League.

They could be tops in all of baseball if they finish strongly enough.

Philadelphia Phillies

No team can top the rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels. Vance Worley and Roy Oswalt also provide very good starting options.

If the Phillies are defeated in the playoffs, it won't be due to lack of pitching talent.