Take a look at these starting rotations and tell me which one do you want for the postseason. And consider that it’s possible to get by with just three starters in a seven-game series. I’d put the staffs in this order. It’s no guarantee for success, but if the Mariners get to the postseason, I like their chances. In addition to those top three starters, Seattle’s bullpen has been baseball’s best.
OAKLAND A’S
Jon Lester 11-7, 2.59 ERA
Jeff Samardzija 4-8, 2.91 (2-7, 2.83 with Cubs; 2-1, 3.09 with A’s).
Scott Kazmir 12-4, 2.53
Sonny Gray 12-5, 2.87
Jason Hammel 9-9, 3.70 (8-5, 2.98 w/Cubs; 1-4, 7.15 w/A’s)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Felix Hernandez 12-3, 1.97
Ishashi Iwakuma 9-6, 2.94
Chris Young 10-6, 3.27
Roenis Elias 8-9, 4.19
James Paxton 2-0, 2.76 (5-0, 2.01 in seven career starts)
DETROIT TIGERS
Max Scherzer 13-4, 3.24
David Price 11-8, 3.11 (0-0, 3.24 in one start w/Tigers after being traded by Rays)
Justin Verlander 10-10, 4.74
Rick Porcello 13-6, 3.06
Anibal Sanchez 8-5, 3.37
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Garrett Richards 12-4, 2.58
Jared Weaver 12-6, 3.59
C.J. Wilson 8-7, 4.74
Matt Shoemaker 9-4, 4.02
Tyler Skaggs 5-5, 4.30 or Hector Santiago 3-7, 3.84
And then there’s the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation, the best in baseball and the reason why the Dodgers will be favored to win the World Series:
LA DODGERS
Clayton Kershaw 13-2, 1.82
Zach Grienke 12-7, 3.77
Hyun-Jim Ryu 12-5, 3.39
Dan Haren 9-9, 4.57
Josh Beckett 6-6, 2.88 (Beckett, brought in as the fifth starter,tossed a no-hitter in May)
