Five Teams That Need Starting Pitching The Most
After all, as history has shown pitching and defense are the two key cogs that help teams win games come October. Without both of those thing, teams usually do not have success and fail in a significant manner. Since there are no more trades allowed after August 1st, the time for the contenders outlined below to address their starting rotation is over the next 16 days.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have started the second half of the season in a slide after getting swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game set. As a collective unit, Arizona's starting rotation has a 4.60 ERA which ranks 21st in all of baseball. During the first two-and-a-half months of the season, the Diamondbacks had right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly sitting a top their rotation. Kelly was put on the 15-Day Injured List at the end of June which has left Arizona with a hole since that time. Outside of a healthy Gallen and Kelly, the Diamondbacks have relied on Zach Davies, Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry for a bulk of the work. Drey Jameson, Kyle Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Madison Bumgarner also made starts for the Diamondbacks at varying points since March. Bumgarner was released by the team in April after making four starts.
Since losing three games to the aforementioned Toronto Blue Jays, the Arizona Diamondbacks now sit in the third National League Wild Card spot, just a game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies at the time of this article. Therefore, the urgency to bolster the rotation with a middle-of-the-rotation starting pitcher is there for Mike Hazen & Company in Arizona. Some potential fits for the Diamondbacks include Lance Lynn of the Chicago White Sox, Jack Flaherty of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Drew Smyly of the Chicago Cubs.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are currently one of a handful of teams that have yet to clearly decide which direction to go prior to the Trade Deadline. At the time of this article, Boston had a 50-44 record on the season and sat a game-and-a-half back of the third American League Wild Card spot. In a previous blog post on here, it was discussed how Boston could elect to be a buyer and seller with the intent of getting pieces to be a competitive team in 2024 and beyond. Outside of 24-year old Brayan Bello, the Red Sox starting rotation has struggled to a large degree. Among baseball ranks, the Red Sox starting rotation has a 4.69 ERA over 464 and 1/3 innings of work. That ranks 23rd in all of baseball and is the fifth worst ERA in all of the American League. Additionally, the Red Sox starting rotation has the fourth fewest innings pitched in the American League and opposing hitters are batting .254. Right-hander Nick Pivetta currently leads the team with 81 strikeouts and depending on which route Boston goes, lefty James Paxton could generate interest among contending teams, potentially even one on this list.
If the Red Sox are serious about contending this season, then they will need a starting pitcher that is durable and able to make starts down the stretch into October. There are a few veterans on the market in Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox and former Red Sox Eduardo Rodriguez now of the Detroit Tigers who would both be great fits. Giolito is slated to hit free agency at the end of this season and Rodriguez is controlled through the 2026 season. If the Pittsburgh Pirates engage other teams on a trade, 27-year old Mitch Keller would be another tremendous fit as well.
Houston Astros
Despite the fact that the Houston Astros currently have the fourth best ERA (3.80) in the American League, Astros General Manager Dana Brown is on record stating that the team's focus approaching the August 1st Trade Deadline has shifted from adding a left-handed bat to bolstering the starting rotation. While Houston could certainly accomplish both of those needs before the final bell, the starting rotation is an area of need for the Astros considering that the team is without right-handers Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. Garcia went on the 60-Day Injured List in June and later required Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, McCullers Jr. was transferred from the 15-Day to the 60-Day Injured List in the middle of June with forearm trouble which later resulted in flexor tendon surgery. Over the last few postseasons, the Astros have relied heavily on their starting rotation and given that the reigning World Series Champions have their eyes on another championship title, this year will be no exception.
Due to all of that, the Astros will want to target starting pitchers that could slot into the number two hole of the rotation and be a possible Game Two starter in a playoff series, should Houston win the American League West for the fifth consecutive season, 2020 withstanding when the Oakland Athletics won the division crown. Some potential targets for the Astros could include Marcus Stroman of the Chicago Cubs, Jordan Montgomery of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the aforementioned Lucas Giolito.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Given the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged once again as a legitimate threat to win the National League West for the 10th time over the last 11 seasons, addressing the starting rotation is a need for the Dodgers as they look to solidify those odds. To date, the Dodgers have had 21 comeback wins and shined during various moments in the first half highlighted by the month of May when the team finished with an 18-10 record. Julio Urias, who was activated from the 15-Day Injured List at the beginning of July, is a great anchor to have up top for Los Angeles. However, 35-year old Clayton Kershaw is back on the Injured List with left shoulder soreness and the team has been without Walker Buehler all season who finished the 2022 regular season with a 2.47 ERA over 33 starts. Furthermore, adding to the complications is the fact that Tony Gonsolin has been inconsistent after leading all of baseball with a .941 winning percentage last season.
Based on those factors alone, an argument can certainly be established for the Los Angeles Dodgers to add a starting pitcher prior to the Trade Deadline. All of the names outlined so far above are all very good fits, although of the names listed above the best fit might be Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers front office staff have a history of making big deals when they are needed the most. As such, a blockbuster trade for someone that is not on anyone's radar cannot be completely discounted.
New York Yankees
Although adding an established outfield bat is a significant need for the New York Yankees, bolstering the starting rotation should be another significant area of focus over the next 16 days. At the end of play today, the Yankees starting rotation combined for a 4.29 ERA on the season which ranks 15th in all of baseball. As it stands right now, New York has slipped back to fifth place in the American League East. However, the team currently sits a game-and-a-half back of the third American League Wild Card spot, tied with the aforementioned Boston Red Sox with a 50-44 record. Gerrit Cole is the ace of the staff and with Carlos Rodón being activated, that is a big boost for the Yankees. Although, after that there is some uncertainty as to how Clarke Schmidt, Domingo Germán and Luis Severino will all perform. Within that trio, Schmidt has surrendered the most earned runs (45) over 20 appearance, Germán has a 4.32 ERA, and Severino has only completed nine starts thus far.
For the Yankees, having a 1-2-3 punch is really important come October especially in a Wild Card series. The problem is going to try to identify a starting pitcher that can perform well in New York given the market there and as the last few years have shown, it is not a place that any starter can simply fit right in. With that being said, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez could be a very good trade target considering his previous experience pitching in a large market in Boston and familiarity with the American League East.
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