Top of the Rotation Starters

When the Astros broke camp this spring I saw, more than once, ridicule thrown Houston's way for having Scott Feldman as their "#1 starter". Of course, there was a little recognition that Feldman took the honors by default, as no one else in the rotation had even two full seasons of big league experience. After Feldman the hope was that either Cosart or Oberholtzer would build on their successful 2013 seasons and help lead the rotation while Keuchel and Harrell/Peacock would be able to hold down the last two spots until our savior, Mike "Bad MF" "Folty" Foltynewicz descended upon Houston from his celestial palace up above....in Oklahoma.

Fast forward a couple months and, just as we all predicted, the Astros now have one of the best 1-2 starting duos in all of baseball. Mups were called, and Folty and Cosart are dominating...wait. What? It's Dallas "5th Starter" Keuchel and Collin "Scrap Heap" McHugh? If those are our best starters, our rotation must be the laughing stock of the league. I mean, LOLAstros, right?

Raise your hand if you said Keuchel and McHugh would be the 3rd best tandem in baseball at this point in the season. Don't believe me? Let's look at the top two starters for every squad.

	Angels
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Richards	66.0	54	24	55	22	7.5	3.0	3.27	1.15	1.9
Skaggs	65.7	53	23	64	25	8.8	3.4	3.15	1.19	1.1
	131.7	107	47	119	47	8.1	3.2	3.21	1.17	3.0
	Astros
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Keuchel	70.7	57	20	61	12	7.8	1.5	2.55	0.98	1.9
McHugh	45.0	32	14	50	12	10.0	2.4	2.80	0.98	1.3
	115.7	89	34	111	24	8.6	1.9	2.65	0.98	3.2
	Athletics
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Kazmir	74.0	59	19	60	24	7.3	2.9	2.31	1.12	1.3
Gray	59.7	47	17	45	13	6.8	2.0	2.56	1.01	1.3
	133.7	106	36	105	37	7.1	2.5	2.42	1.07	2.6
	Blue Jays
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Buehrle	73.3	71	19	43	19	5.3	2.3	2.33	1.23	1.8
Dickey	68.3	58	30	54	31	7.1	4.1	3.95	1.30	1.0
	141.7	129	49	97	50	6.2	3.2	3.11	1.26	2.8
	Braves
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Harang	65.7	62	24	71	19	9.7	2.6	3.29	1.23	2.0
Santana	57.7	56	26	54	17	8.4	2.7	4.06	1.27	0.9
	123.3	118	50	125	36	9.1	2.6	3.65	1.25	2.9
	Brewers
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Lohse	74.0	67	24	59	13	7.2	1.6	2.92	1.08	2.0
Peralta	63.7	63	15	49	16	6.9	2.3	2.12	1.24	0.9
	137.7	130	39	108	29	7.1	1.9	2.55	1.16	2.9
	Cardinals
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Wainwright	81.0	53	15	77	16	8.6	1.8	1.67	0.85	2.0
Wacha	67.3	56	20	68	19	9.1	2.5	2.67	1.11	0.9
	148.3	109	35	145	35	8.8	2.1	2.12	0.97	2.9
	Cubs
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Samardzija	75.0	59	14	64	21	7.7	2.5	1.68	1.07	1.8
Hammel	64.3	43	22	54	15	7.6	2.1	3.08	0.90	1.2
	139.3	102	36	118	36	7.6	2.3	2.33	0.99	3.0
	Diamondbacks
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
McCarthy	68.3	74	37	59	12	7.8	1.6	4.87	1.26	0.5
Miley	75.7	72	40	63	26	7.5	3.1	4.76	1.30	0.4
	144.0	146	77	122	38	7.6	2.4	4.81	1.28	0.9
	Dodgers
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Ryu	52.3	49	18	47	12	8.1	2.1	3.10	1.17	1.3
Greinke	66.0	60	16	76	14	10.4	1.9	2.18	1.12	1.1
	118.3	109	34	123	26	9.4	2.0	2.59	1.14	2.4
	Giants
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Bumgarner	65.7	70	23	75	17	10.3	2.3	3.15	1.33	1.2
Hudson	70.3	56	15	44	6	5.6	0.8	1.92	0.88	1.1
	136.0	126	38	119	23	7.9	1.5	2.51	1.10	2.3
	Indians
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Kluber	72.7	75	25	83	17	10.3	2.1	3.10	1.27	2.6
Masterson	67.3	71	39	58	33	7.8	4.4	5.21	1.54	0.6
	140.0	146	64	141	50	9.1	3.2	4.11	1.40	3.2
	Mariners
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Hernandez	75.3	66	23	74	14	8.8	1.7	2.75	1.06	2.5
Elias	65.0	61	28	57	26	7.9	3.6	3.88	1.34	0.8
	140.3	127	51	131	40	8.4	2.6	3.27	1.19	3.3
	Marlins
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Eovaldi	67.0	68	25	57	14	7.7	1.9	3.36	1.22	1.0
Fernandez	51.7	36	14	70	13	12.2	2.3	2.44	0.95	1.7
	118.7	104	39	127	27	9.6	2.0	2.96	1.10	2.7
	Mets
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Niese	62.3	54	19	45	19	6.5	2.7	2.74	1.17	0.8
Wheeler	56.3	59	29	53	29	8.5	4.6	4.63	1.56	0.5
	118.7	113	48	98	48	7.4	3.6	3.64	1.36	1.3
	Nationals
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Strasburg	68.3	70	26	81	18	10.7	2.4	3.42	1.29	1.7
Zimmermann	54.7	66	24	47	12	7.7	2.0	3.95	1.43	0.9
	123.0	136	50	128	30	9.4	2.2	3.66	1.35	2.6
	Orioles
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Chen	58.0	72	29	40	10	6.2	1.6	4.50	1.41	1.0
Jimenez	56.0	58	31	51	28	8.2	4.5	4.98	1.54	0.7
	114.0	130	60	91	38	7.2	3.0	4.74	1.47	1.7
	Padres
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Kennedy	67.7	61	27	72	16	9.6	2.1	3.59	1.14	1.2
Cashner	57.3	52	15	47	17	7.4	2.7	2.35	1.20	1.1
	125.0	113	42	119	33	8.6	2.4	3.02	1.17	2.3
	Phillies
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Lee	68.0	78	24	61	9	8.1	1.2	3.18	1.28	1.7
Hamels	44.7	43	22	44	15	8.9	3.0	4.43	1.30	0.8
	112.7	121	46	105	24	8.4	1.9	3.67	1.29	2.5
	Pirates
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Morton	63.0	58	23	41	22	5.9	3.1	3.29	1.27	0.4
Cole	64.7	65	27	60	21	8.4	2.9	3.76	1.33	0.3
	127.7	123	50	101	43	7.1	3.0	3.52	1.30	0.7
	Rangers
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Darvish	61.3	49	16	71	19	10.4	2.8	2.35	1.11	2.2
Lewis	42.3	59	24	37	15	7.9	3.2	5.10	1.75	0.7
	103.7	108	40	108	34	9.4	3.0	3.47	1.37	2.9
	Rays
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Price	77.3	83	38	84	8	9.8	0.9	4.42	1.18	1.4
Archer	57.0	58	26	52	24	8.2	3.8	4.11	1.44	1.2
	134.3	141	64	136	32	9.1	2.1	4.29	1.29	2.6
	Red Sox
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Lester	73.0	69	28	83	21	10.2	2.6	3.45	1.23	2.2
Lackey	65.3	67	26	59	14	8.1	1.9	3.58	1.24	1.5
	138.3	136	54	142	35	9.2	2.3	3.51	1.24	3.7
	Reds
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Cueto	83.7	43	17	85	20	9.1	2.2	1.83	0.75	1.8
Leake	71.0	61	23	46	14	5.8	1.8	2.92	1.06	0.7
	154.7	104	40	131	34	7.6	2.0	2.33	0.89	2.5
	Rockies
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Lyles	60.0	52	23	41	21	6.2	3.2	3.45	1.22	0.9
de la Rosa	59.0	46	24	48	23	7.3	3.5	3.66	1.17	0.6
	119.0	98	47	89	44	6.7	3.3	3.55	1.19	1.5
	Royals
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Shields	73.3	71	24	63	15	7.7	1.8	2.95	1.17	1.5
Ventura	57.3	53	22	59	19	9.3	3.0	3.45	1.26	1.1
	130.7	124	46	122	34	8.4	2.3	3.17	1.21	2.6
	Tigers
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Scherzer	72.0	61	24	82	24	10.3	3.0	3.00	1.18	1.6
Verlander	71.3	78	32	50	30	6.3	3.8	4.04	1.51	1.6
	143.3	139	56	132	54	8.3	3.4	3.52	1.35	3.2
	Twins
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Hughes	61.3	67	22	50	6	7.3	0.9	3.23	1.19	1.9
Correia	55.3	70	39	31	13	5.0	2.1	6.34	1.50	0.7
	116.7	137	61	81	19	6.2	1.5	4.71	1.34	2.6
	White Sox
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Quintana	67.3	67	27	54	18	7.2	2.4	3.61	1.26	1.6
Danks	60.7	60	33	45	26	6.7	3.9	4.90	1.42	0.4
	128.0	127	60	99	44	7.0	3.1	4.22	1.34	2.0
	Yankees
	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Tanaka	70.7	59	18	79	10	10.1	1.3	2.29	0.98	2.1
Kuroda	59.3	66	30	46	11	7.0	1.7	4.55	1.30	0.8
	130.0	125	48	125	21	8.7	1.5	3.32	1.12	2.9

 

For comparison's sake, I also have the totals in their own chart.

	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Angels	131.7	107	47	119	47	8.1	3.2	3.21	1.17	3.0
Astros	115.7	89	34	111	24	8.6	1.9	2.65	0.98	3.2
Athletics	133.7	106	36	105	37	7.1	2.5	2.42	1.07	2.6
Blue Jays	141.7	129	49	97	50	6.2	3.2	3.11	1.26	2.8
Braves	123.3	118	50	125	36	9.1	2.6	3.65	1.25	2.9
Brewers	137.7	130	39	108	29	7.1	1.9	2.55	1.16	2.9
Cardinals	148.3	109	35	145	35	8.8	2.1	2.12	0.97	2.9
Cubs	139.3	102	36	118	36	7.6	2.3	2.33	0.99	3.0
Diamondbacks	144.0	146	77	122	38	7.6	2.4	4.81	1.28	0.9
Dodgers	118.3	109	34	123	26	9.4	2.0	2.59	1.14	2.4
Giants	136.0	126	38	119	23	7.9	1.5	2.51	1.10	2.3
Indians	140.0	146	64	141	50	9.1	3.2	4.11	1.40	3.2
Mariners	140.3	127	51	131	40	8.4	2.6	3.27	1.19	3.3
Marlins	118.7	104	39	127	27	9.6	2.0	2.96	1.10	2.7
Mets	118.7	113	48	98	48	7.4	3.6	3.64	1.36	1.3
Nationals	123.0	136	50	128	30	9.4	2.2	3.66	1.35	2.6
Orioles	114.0	130	60	91	38	7.2	3.0	4.74	1.47	1.7
Padres	125.0	113	42	119	33	8.6	2.4	3.02	1.17	2.3
Phillies	112.7	121	46	105	24	8.4	1.9	3.67	1.29	2.5
Pirates	127.7	123	50	101	43	7.1	3.0	3.52	1.30	0.7
Rangers	103.7	108	40	108	34	9.4	3.0	3.47	1.37	2.9
Rays	134.3	141	64	136	32	9.1	2.1	4.29	1.29	2.6
Red Sox	138.3	136	54	142	35	9.2	2.3	3.51	1.24	3.7
Reds	154.7	104	40	131	34	7.6	2.0	2.33	0.89	2.5
Rockies	119.0	98	47	89	44	6.7	3.3	3.55	1.19	1.5
Royals	130.7	124	46	122	34	8.4	2.3	3.17	1.21	2.6
Tigers	143.3	139	56	132	54	8.3	3.4	3.52	1.35	3.2
Twins	116.7	137	61	81	19	6.2	1.5	4.71	1.34	2.6
White Sox	128.0	127	60	99	44	7.0	3.1	4.22	1.34	2.0
Yankees	130.0	125	48	125	21	8.7	1.5	3.32	1.12	2.9

 

And where those totals rank.

	IP	H	ER	K	BB	K/9	BB/9	ERA	WHIP	WAR
Angels	14	7	14	15	26	17	26	13	12	6
Astros	27	1	1	19	4	11	4	8	3	3
Athletics	13	6	4	22	19	25	18	4	5	15
Blue Jays	5	21	18	27	28	30	25	11	18	13
Braves	20	13	19	10	17	6	20	22	17	10
Brewers	10	22	7	20	8	26	5	6	10	10
Cardinals	2	9	3	1	15	9	10	1	2	10
Cubs	8	3	4	18	17	21	14	2	4	6
Diamondbacks	3	29	30	13	20	19	16	30	19	29
Dodgers	25	9	1	12	6	4	7	7	9	22
Giants	11	18	6	15	3	18	3	5	6	23
Indians	7	29	28	3	28	8	27	25	29	3
Mariners	6	19	22	6	22	14	19	14	13	2
Marlins	23	4	7	9	7	1	9	9	7	14
Mets	23	11	16	26	27	22	30	21	27	28
Nationals	21	24	19	8	9	3	12	23	26	15
Orioles	28	22	25	28	20	23	22	29	30	26
Padres	19	11	11	15	11	12	17	10	11	23
Phillies	29	14	12	22	4	15	6	24	20	20
Pirates	18	15	19	24	23	24	23	19	22	30
Rangers	30	8	9	20	12	2	21	16	28	8
Rays	12	28	28	4	10	7	11	27	21	18
Red Sox	9	24	23	2	15	5	13	17	16	1
Reds	1	4	9	6	12	20	8	3	1	20
Rockies	22	2	14	29	24	28	28	20	14	27
Royals	15	16	12	13	12	13	15	12	15	15
Tigers	4	27	24	5	30	16	29	18	25	3
Twins	26	26	27	30	1	29	2	28	24	18
White Sox	17	19	25	25	24	27	24	26	23	25
Yankees	16	17	16	10	2	10	1	15	8	8

 

Keuchel and McHugh as a duo are 11th in K/9, 4th in BB/9, 8th in ERA, and 3rd in WIP. Add it all up and, using FanGraphs WAR as our measuring stick, the Astros duo is the 3rd best 1-2 punch in all of baseball. That puts them just behind the Red Sox (Jon Lester and John Lackey) and the Mariners (Felix Hernandez and Roenis Elias) and tied with the Tigers (Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander). Granted Keuchel and McHugh don't have the track records that most of those other guys do, but it will be interesting to see if they can continue to keep themselves in such elite company.