2023 World Baseball Classic: Ranking the top seven pitching rotations
Depth of rotation matters in the World Baseball Classic.
It sounds obvious, of course, but it was very evident at the last WBC event in 2017 (the tournament scheduled for 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic). The United States won their first WBC title, thanks in large part to Marcus Stroman’s brilliant performance in the title game, which limited Puerto Rico to just one hit in six shutout innings.
MORE: 10 pitcher-hitter matchups we can’t wait to see in the WBC
But Stroman wasn’t the only starter from the United States to make an impression. Danny Duffy made two starts and allowed just one earned run in eight innings. Chris Archer made a start and turned four no-hit shutout innings. Drew Smyly made a start and only allowed a single unearned run in 4 2/3 innings. Tanner Roark struggled in his early relief but threw four innings of shutout in his start to the USA’s semifinal win over Japan.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best rotations for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. It’s hard to know exactly how pitchers will perform — most aren’t used to pitching key innings in mid-March — but based on past performance , here’s a look at the top seven rotations for the WBC 2022.
7. Puerto Rico
Rotation Options: Jose Berrios, Marcus Stroman, Hector Santiago, Dereck Rodriguez
Why you are here: Out of selfishness, I’m hoping Berrios gets the start for Puerto Rico against the Dominican Republic on March 15 so he can face teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Stroman had a 2.35 ERA in three starts for Team USA at the 2017 WBC, and it’s a bit ironic that his brilliant title match in 2017 was against Puerto Rico, the team he won for this year sets up. However, according to Berrios and Stroman, there is not enough depth to rank this group higher.
6. South Korea
Rotation Options: Kwang-Hyun Kim, Eui-Lee Lee, Hyeong-Jun So, Been Gwak, and Chang-Mo Koo
Why you are here: Kim was solid in his two years in MLB — a 2.97 ERA in 145 2/3 innings — and then posted a 2.13 ERA in 28 starts in the KBO last season. Koo is another lefty with a tiny ERA over the last year, 2.10 in 19 starts, with an 8.7K/9 ratio. Lee (20), So (21) and Gawk (23) are young starters on the rise who already have a few KBO seasons behind them.
5. Mexico
Rotation Options: Julio Urias, Jose Urquidy, Patrick Sandoval, Taijuan Walker, Adrian Martinez
Why you are here: I know what you’re thinking: “Look at all these stud pitchers. This group should be ranked higher than fifth!” And, yes, I would agree, but which team are you dropping? The pitching is so very solid in the WBC. I can’t help but almost feel sorry for the non-MLB players trying to establish themselves in this tournament.
MORE: How many MLB players are in the WBC? Here’s a breakdown by MLB team
4. United States
Rotation Options: Clayton Kershaw, Miles Mikolas, Brady Singer, Lance Lynn, Adam Wainwright, Merrill Kelly
Why you are here: If we picked the best rotation to last through a 162-game season, the US would likely win the bid. But in a short tournament like the WBC, where missing at-bats could be a major factor, the US rotation sits just one notch behind the top three groups.
3. Venezuela
Rotation Options: Pablo Lopez, Martin Perez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Luis Garcia, German Marquez, Carlos Hernandez
Why you are here: Venezuela have four starters who are at or near the top of their team’s rotation, and the one who isn’t — Garcia — just isn’t because the Astros are so heavily stacked. Garcia has a 3.57 ERA in 57 career starts, and his five shutout innings of relief in the ALDS against the Mariners last October shows he likes the big stage. Lopez, the new Twins ace, was in hot demand on the trade market. Perez was brilliant for Rangers last year. Rodriguez has been solid for Detroit, although he spent a few months in the IL before finishing strong. And Marquez has managed to build a solid career as a starter for the Rockies — seven years, career 4.01 FIP — which is no easy feat.
2. Dominican Republic
Rotation Options: Sandy Alcantara, Cristian Javier, Johnny Cueto, Roansy Contreras
Why you are here: The rotation starts with the NL Cy Young winner, then moves on to the guy who pitched six no-hit innings in his only World Series start last fall. yes this will play And then add Cueto, the veteran who was at his best for the White Sox last year — and is Alcantara’s teammate in Miami in 2023 — and Contreras, who posted a 3.81 ERA in his 18 starts for the Pirates last year but no one noticed because, well, Pittsburgh.
I’m not judging the bullpens, but damn it, the DR Reliefs need a mention here because no starter will be asked to play more than five innings with a group that includes Bryan Abreu, Camilo Doval, Rafael Montero, Genesis Cabrera and Diego includes Castillo, Carlos Estevez, Yimi Garcia, Jose Leclerc, Hector Neris and Gregory Soto. This is seriously borderline unfair.
1. Japan
Rotation Options: Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and Shota Imanaga
Why you are here: There isn’t much clarity as to exactly how Ohtani will be used in the WBC, except that there are no restrictions from the Angels. It’s been hinted he might be closer, but they want his racquet in the lineup as DH and it would be difficult to warm up properly to win ninth place when you’re running bases in seventh or eighth. Maybe a start or two makes more sense. Even if it doesn’t start at all, this is an impressive rotation. Darvish is an all-timer, of course, and he’s excited to be back in the WBC for the first time since 2009. I talked a little bit about Sasaki, the 21-year-old with unbeatable stuff. And Yamamoto? He could be Japan’s best starter. He had a 1.39 ERA in 26 starts in 2021 and a 1.68 ERA in 26 starts last year. He’s only 24. And the left-hander Imanga, he’s posted a 2.04 ERA in 24 starts. Japan won the WBC title in 2006 and 2009, then finished third in both 2013 and 2017. This rotation has what it takes to bring the championship back to Japan.