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Having a solid pitching staff is the key to winning World Series titles. The Major League Baseball season is a long one, and if you don’t have depth, you won’t succeed. With some big trades happening this winter, rotations around the league have been shaken up. Let’s take a look at my picks for top starting rotations for the upcoming season:

#5 TORONTO BLUE JAYS
1. R.A. Dickey
2. Josh Johnson
3. Mark Buerhle
4. Brandon Morrow
5. Ricky Romero

The Blue Jays acquired NL Cy Young Award Winner R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets in the offseason, and also some great pick ups in Johnson and Buerhle. Looks like the AL East may hear some noise from the Blue Jays this season.

#4 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
1. Matt Cain
2. Madison Bumgarner
3. Tim Lincecum
4. Ryan Vogelsong
5. Barry Zito

The Giants have a great staff, all with a good amount of major league experience under their belts. With a veteran like Zito at the tail-end of your rotation, I’d say you’re doing alright.

#3 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Zack Greinke
3. Chad Billingsley
4. Josh Beckett
5. Hyun-Jin Ryu

The Dodgers have one of the best one-two punches at the top of their rotation in Kershaw and Greinke. With all of offensive talent they added to their lineup at the end of 2012, they look to be a front runner this summer.

#2 DETROIT TIGERS
1. Justin Verlander
2. Doug Fister
3. Anibal Sanchez
4. Max Scherzer
5. Rick Porcello/Drew Smyly

When you have the best pitcher in baseball at the top of your rotation, it’s hard to pick against you. Although one pitcher doesn’t make a rotation great, that’s where Fister and Sanchez come in. Both have been solid for the Tigers and look to be huge contributors in 2013.

#1 WASHINGTON NATIONALS
1. Stephen Strasburg
2. Gio Gonzalez
3. Jordan Zimmermann
4. Ross Detwiler
5. Dan Haren

Stephen Strasburg was taken out of the Nats’ rotation towards the end of the season. I don’t think that will be the case this year. The Nationals have the best rotation in baseball, IF they all stay healthy.

Image Sources: bleacherreport, Time, Los Angeles Inspiration, AP, blakestreetbulletin

Top Starting Rotations in 2013