A pitching rotation is a rotation of 5 starters. Each starter will be placed in rotation and start every 5th game. In the past, teams used to use four, and today sometimes have been using six. However, five seems to be that magic number based on 26-man roster limitations. A starting pitcher usually needs about three to five days of rest before pitching another game. This is why teams generally carry relievers capable of going multiple innings in case of injury or decrease in performance of that night’s starting pitcher.

The starting spots are generally reserved for the top pitchers. What’s most important about the pitching rotation is that the pitchers have high stamina, good endurance, and throw a variety of quality pitches. The relievers are the ones who throw the heat and try to close the game.

The rotation is set and gauged toward the effectiveness of each pitcher. Building an effective rotation is like playing poker. You have to know how to play your cards (your players) and use your Aces effectively against the statistics of your opponent’s (batters) cards. So, the probability is involved. Every team has an Ace. The Ace has the most talent on the team. So, you have to know where to place the Ace in your line-up and can appear anywhere in the rotation. With off-days, you can throw the Ace every fifth game and skip your fifth starter that given week.

The Best Pitching Rotation

When looking at the best pitching stats individually or for a pitching team, ERA and the WHIP (walks + hits/innings) are a few aspects to determine the rotation’s effectiveness. Strikeouts, also known as K’s, are important as well. Base on Balls (walks), also are used to help create the stats of a pitcher.

ERA-Earned Run Average

ERA- Earned Run Average is determined by the number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings. A pitcher’s ERA is only the runs that score without the benefit of an error.

An ERA is the most common and probably the best statistical evaluation for pitchers. An ERA between:

• 2.00 and 3.00 are considered excellent.
• 3.00 and 4.00 are above-average.
• 4.00 and 5.00 are average.
• 5 and over is poor.

WHIP: Walks Hits Innings Pitched

WHIP is similar to ERA and is used to evaluate a pitcher’s performance statistically. WHIP provides statistical results that show how well a pitcher keeps the runners off the bases.

A WHIP score of:

• 1 (or below) is great.
• 1.10 is good.
• 1.20 is above average.
• 1.3 is average.
• 1.4 is below average.
• 1.5 is poor.

Strikeouts: The K’s

Strikeouts are a significant contributor to the ERA and WHIP because they create outs. It also reflects a pitcher’s ability or “stuff”. The greater amount of strikeouts a pitcher has accumulated during the season, the better.

Base on Balls: BB’s

Base on Balls is also known as walks. Walks affect the WHIP score.

The Best Pitching Rotations in 2021

The starting line-ups are in the sequence of starting pitcher rotation of 5 games.

The Dodgers have always produced great pitching over the years. The Dodgers were first in ERA with 3.01 as well as in WHIP at 1.10

1. Max Scherzer – ERA 2.46/ WHIP .86/ K’s 236/ BB’s 36
2. Walker Buehler – ERA 2.47/ WHIP .97/ K’s 212/ BB’s 52
3. Julio Urias – ERA 2.96/ WHIP 1.2/ K’s 195/ BB’s 38
4. Tony Gonsolin – ERA 3.23/ WHIP 1.35/ K’s 65/ BB’s 34
5. Clayton Kershaw – The Ace Pitcher– ERA 3.55/ WHIP 1.02/ K’s 144/ BB’s 21

The San Francisco Giants were in the second position with a team ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.15

1. Kevin Gauseman – ERA 2.81/ WHIP 1.04/ K’s 227/ BB’s 50
2. Logan Webb – The Ace Pitcher– ERA 3.03/ WHIP 1.11/ K’s 158/ BB’s 36
3. Anthony Desclafani – ERA 3.17/ WHIP 1.09/ K’s 152/ BB’s 42
4. Alex Wood – ERA 3.83/ WHIP 1.18/ K’s 152/ BB’s 39
5. Johhny Cueto – ERA 4.08/ WHIP 1.37/ K’s 98/ BB’s 33

The Milwaukee Brewers ranked in the third position with an ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.18

1. Corbin Burnes – The Ace Pitcher– ERA 2.43/ WHIP .94/ K’s 234/ BB’s 34
2. Brandon Woodruff – ERA 2.56/ WHIP .96/ K’s 212/ BB’s 43
3. Freddy Peralta – ERA 2.81/ WHIP .97/ K’s 195/ BB’s 56
4. Adrian Houser – ERA 3.22/ WHIP 1.38/ K’s 105/ BB’s 64
5. Eric Lauer – ERA 3.19/ WHIP 1.14/ K’s 117/ BB’s 41

Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees are just about tied in the fourth spot. Since ERA is more of a traditional and exact stat, you have to give the fourth spot to the New York Yankees.