It’s official, the New York Mets have the best starting pitching rotation in baseball. Or that’s at least what MLB.com thinks.
Still the Mets five-some of right-handers is atop the preseason rankings. The projected rotation looks like this:
Jacob deGrom, RHP
Max Scherzer, RHP
Chris Bassitt, RHP
Carlos Carrasco, RHP
Taijuan Walker, RHP
Here’s what MLB.com wrote about them.
Funny how Scherzer always seems to be in a great rotation, huh? Now, as he pairs with deGrom, the Mets have one of the more accomplished 1-2 punches in MLB history, with five Cy Young Awards and 11 top-five finishes between them. Trading for Bassitt, who has a 142 ERA+ over the last two seasons, further deepens this group.
That doesn’t mean this rotation is without risk. Between deGrom’s elbow issues last season, Scherzer’s age (37) and career innings total (2,665 1/3 including the regular season and postseason), Carrasco coming off elbow surgery and a bad season and Walker coming off knee surgery and a bad second half, nothing is guaranteed. But at the risk of issuing a controversial opinion, leading your rotation with two of the greatest pitchers of their generation is a good thing.
Immediately following the Mets are the Brewers, Blue Jays, White Sox, and Astros.
The top 10 consists of the Giants, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, and Phillies. Honorable mentions for the list were the Padres, Marlins, Guardians, Rays, and Cardinals.
It’s obvious no one has a better one-two punch than the Mets. Bassitt is a solid two starter and possibly a number one starter on a bad team. The questions come on the backend with Carrasco and Walker. Walker was a first-half All-Star in 2021 but fatigue led to a miserable second half. Carrasco hasn’t put things together since being traded to the Mets, dealing with multiple injuries and setbacks.
If either of those two are unable to keep things going the Mets still have options in David Peterson and Tylor Megill to quickly fill their rotation spot. They also have Trevor Williams if needed.
