This article is about the American League East’s Starting Pitching for the 2026 season. We tackle Rotation, depth pieces, and even minor league options for teams in the AL East.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles had an inauspicious start to their 2025 MLB season. They felt the effects of the departure of Corbin Burnes as their ace, a month and a half of Charlie Morton’s struggles, a poor offense, and battling long-term injuries from the year before within the rotation. The team could not make up for their terrible April and May, but did play above .500 ball the rest of the way.
Baltimore bolstered their offense significantly with additions like Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso, and addressed their essential need to improve the starting rotation as well. The Orioles found themselves an ace in the second half of 2025 with Trevor Rogers. Baltimore traded for him from the Miami Marlins for Kyle Stowers at the ‘24 deadline. The swap of former prized MLB prospects seemed to be a no-benefit trade for both teams at the end of the 2024 season, but in 2025, both players showed what they were capable of. They became stars for their new ball clubs. Rogers posted a 1.81 ERA in 109 innings. This impressive mark held Baltimore to no big free agent signings in the pitching department this offseason. Baltimore also brought in Shane Baz via a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. This acquisition cost a lot, but the controllable young starter has had a tremendous upside ever since his time in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, way back when he was a part of the Chris Archer Trade. Chris Bassitt was also signed as a veteran innings eater, and they brought back Zach Eflin, hoping he can continue his solid career. The only mainstay in the rotation from last season is now projected to be their 6th starter, Dean Kremer. Kremer has had an opportunity with Baltimore, and in their unconfirmed 6-man rotation, he may be the odd man out if they bump it to a 5-man.
Kyle Bradish is coming back this season from a major arm injury. This will hopefully be his first full season since 2023. The big right-hander has a big bet that was placed on him this season. Slotting in at the rotation’s two spot. If this bet misses, Baltimore may need early help at the top end of their rotation. Baltimore can pitch and hit, but I worry about a lack of depth in this rotation if someone goes down.
Grade: B-
Too Many question marks for an A, but tremendous upside could have Baltimore competing for the AL East crown.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have been a boom-or-bust pitching staff ever since the 2010 season. It is on and off almost every year, but in the offseason before the 2025 season, they established their ace at the top of the staff in Garrett Crochet. They acquired him for four big-time prospects and extended him in the following months. This anchor for Boston is extremely important. Boston also added two veteran pitchers to be stabilizers behind Crochet. Something they have not had much of in recent years. Sonny Gray was brought in via trade from the skeleton of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Ranger Suarez was a big free agent that received $100 million from Craig Breslow and the front office after Alex Bregman decided to head to the Chicago Cubs.
Boston has a very good top three in their rotation, and assuming the two new big additions in Gray and Suarez adjust to pitching in Fenway Park, they will be able to neutralize the loss of Alex Bregman on offense. I do not believe this offense has gotten any better, and it has way too many question marks for me to believe it will be the featured part of the offense. It was smart of Boston’s front office to bolster its rotation. The bottom two parts of their rotation feature Bryan Bello, who had a great bounce-back campaign in 2025, as well as Johan Oviedo, who was acquired via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. The Red Sox also have two depth pieces to roll out in case of injuries to that rotation in Konnolly Early (who pitched their win-or-go-home playoff game last year) and top prospect Payton Tolle, who, in limited action last season, struggled, but is their #1 prospect.
Grade B+
An ace to anchor the rotation, anchors to back the ace, and young guys behind the starting five to provide security. I just worry slightly about the consistency of Bello, Suarez, and Gray in Fenway Park, but that could be a myth that is busted early on in the season.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have maybe their best starting staff since the 1990s, but there is one caveat to that… The big guys need to remain healthy through June. The Yankees’ rotation is anchored by three guys who have ace-like stuff and seasons in their past: Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon. Come postseason time, this is what the Yankees will roll out in Games one, two, and three. Cole will not be ready until June 1st and most likely will get the 60-day IL Tag to ensure that he fully recovers from Tommy John surgery last March. Carlos Rodon is also expected to come off the injured list after opening day. His target is closer to the beginning or middle of May. This allows the fully formed rotation to be there by the middle of June. This goal will try to be met as best as it can by the Yankees front office.
Max Fried will once again this season have to be the anchor for a young rotation, just like he was last season. A year ago, he was top-five in Cy Young voting and ultimately was a big success for his first season in pinstripes. Fried’s availability to weather the storm last season was unprecedented, compared to some of his rotation mates. He almost pitched 200 innings and had a 2.86 ERA. He has the lowest ERA of any pitcher since he entered the league, and all parties involved expect him to be good and steady once again.
The Yankees’ back-end of the rotation is very deep. Clarke Schmidt is the only player who is most likely unavailable until the end of the year. Ryan Yarborough and Paul Blackburn are veteran arms that can provide innings at the beginning of the year. Do not expect too much from them, but can be significant pieces like Yarborough was a season ago.
The Young Cluster of MLB arms the Yankees have is the most exciting piece. The headliner is Cam Schlittler, the flame-throwing righty who dominated the Red Sox through eight innings in a do-or-die playoff game. Will Warren, who was good in all but two starts, provided length and swing and miss ability for the Bronx Bombers. Luis Gil is another player who was amazing just one season ago. In 2024, he won the Cy Young. He has a chance to be great again as long as his velocity returns. He may also be a bullpen option for the Yankees. The Yankees also acquired Ryan Weathers from the Marlins this offseason. The young pitcher can be great if he stays on the field. The Yankees have two players currently projected to be in the minors, but also can be weapons for them in Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Carlos LaGrange.
Grade: A
The Only reason it is not an A+ is because of the questions that take the Yankees through the middle of May, but other than that, depth, innings, and upside should be there.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have quietly rebuilt their rotation this offseason. Shane McClanahan is the name that everyone is hoping for a bounce-back in Tampa Bay. The Cy Young finisher, a couple of seasons ago, can be a big game pitcher and the anchor of a staff that desperately needs it. McClanahan, at his best, can be the top of the class when it comes to Cy Young voting, and the Rays need it. Ryan Pepiot will probably be the de facto ace of the Staff. His steady hand is always welcome, especially now that the Rays are back at “The Trop”, Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen is also a pitcher with tremendous upside who is finally showing a clean bill of health, on Fangraphs he is their #1 starter. High Praise for a player who is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
The Rays have a couple more depth pieces, like Nick Martinez, who has bounced back and forth from rotation to bullpen for the Cincinnati Reds, and to be honest, has been elite at the volley. I expect him to be a big signing for the Rays and provide the flexibility that they love and need. Veteran Stephen Matz has also been named as their 5th starter towards the end of Spring Training. Matz is aging and served a role for the Red Sox last season. He is a big question mark heading into the season for the Rays for me.
Grade: C
The Rays have upside, but almost every pitcher besides Ryan Pepiot has question marks for me. This could end in disaster for the Rays if they are not blessed with health. They also lack depth.
Toronto Blue Jays
The defending American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays are coming in hot this season, adding one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball this offseason in Dylan Cease. He was the first major free agent signed this offseason, just before Thanksgiving. Cease had a down year in 2025, but showcased some of the same peripherals that he always has. Cease’s big issue is that he gives up a lot of walks and extends innings because of it. His nasty stuff can be predictable if he stays out of the zone, and it will lead to long innings. I expect that Cease will bounce back to help Kevin Gausman anchor that rotation.
Cody Ponce was also signed out of the KBO this offseason and is right now projected to be their number three starter. We will see what type of production that he can bring as he has been out of the major leagues since 2021. Kevin Gausman has also been the ace of the Blue Jays for years. His consistent production has moved mountains for the Blue Jays. His diverse arsenal lead by his Split Finger, has been diabolical to opposing hitters throughout the years.
The bottom three options, even though the Blue Jays are going for a 5-man rotation, are Max Scherzer, Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios. These three men have very different outlooks for the 2026 season, but in truth, all have immense upside for the Blue Jays. After losing veteran Chris Bassitt in Free Agency, the Blue Jays liked the depth of what they had a year ago and are bringing that back. Yesavage looked like Paul Skenes in a couple of playoff Starts, while Max Scherzer was his vintage self then, too. Yesavage should be up and down as he adjusts to his over-the-top arm angle and splitter, but he looks to be one of the best young pitchers in the game. Scherzer hopes to stay healthy and provide a high 3s ERA, but if that does not happen, they have Jose Berrios. The once hopeful ace for the Jays does not have a spot in the rotation heading into the season, and with some playoff drama that he has since apologized for, he hopes to fix the big mess that he made in 2025. Shane Bieber is also a part of this rotation and has immense upside, but with elbow inflammation, who knows what will be made of his 2026?
Grade: A-
The Blue Jays have a stacked rotation with names and incredible stuff throughout, but they are injured this offseason and heading into the season. They could rival the Yankees for not only the best rotation in the division, but in the American League or baseball if health breaks their way.
