NL East: Best Pitching in Baseball

Cole Hamels (35) after allowing a home run by Atlanta Braves second baseman Emilio Bonifacio (1) (not pictured) in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies

Assuming that the team doesn’t trade Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee between now and Opening Day, even the lowly Phils are a part of this pitching-rich contingent.  Oh, and Ruben Amaro, Jr. is still holding his breath that both will be fully healthy when camp opens.

But after this pair of Cy-level-guys (though only Lee has the award), if your team can time it so that this pair is missed in the rotation, then the task gets much easier:

• Aaron Harang.  A resurgent year in 2014, but questions will still linger:  he is nearly 37 and seemed to lose steam during the second half of the year with Atlanta (though the numbers hide this:  3.53/3.62 1st/2nd half ERA with great months in April, July, and September).  Can he maintain what he did in 2014?  If so, then there’s three innings-eaters… if they all stick around.
• Jerome Williams.  Will probably throw to an ERA around 5.00 with a WHIP around 1.50-1.60.  This is your 4th starter.
• Some names drawn out of a hat.  Yes, this is the weakest link in the East – the back end of the Phils pitching.  This is essentially a combination of pitchers who haven’t thrown more than 150 innings – ever – and Chad Billingsley, who probably shouldn’t ever again.

NL East Rank:  5th