Reader Question: Pitching Rotations

Esteemed reader James asks:

- My drafts are this weekend and I’m in two different 20 team head to head, point leagues. Instead of drafting individual pitchers, we draft team entire pitching staffs (this includes the starting rotation and bullpen) The only category we use for pitching is E.R.A. Listed below are the pitching staffs that were not kept. I was hoping you could give me your top 5 staffs for each of my two leagues and maybe one sleeper team also. Thanks in advance!

I don't normally play in these types of leagues but I think it is a great way to play the game. When you're looking for ERA based pitching teams, I think there are two categories you have to scout out. First, I think look at the top-3 in a rotation and then stare at the top-3 in the bullpen. These are the guys the team will likely ride and get you the best ERA to make up for any #4-#5 starter or mop up men that might hurt the ERA.

I like the AL East staffs overall, but the offenses in the AL East hurt the Blue Jays and Orioles chances in a league like this. Baltimore's starting staff might be worth a play, although they were the highest ERA in 2009, but I would try to avoid them because of some bullpen uncertainty.

League #1 (teams available: NYA, SEA, CHA, ARI, CIN, MIN, NYN, MIL, COL, HOU, TEX, PIT, DET, TOR, KCA, BAL, CLE)
Top 5
Yankees: The Yankees fit my top-3 in a rotation, with Sabathia-Vazquez-Burnett and now with Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen, I would endorse the Rivera-Chamberlain combo plus I like David Robertson to have another good year out of the bullpen.
Mariners: An awesome top two, Cliff Lee (when his foot gets better) and Felix Hernandez, and an interesting #3 who is very undervalued in Ryan Roland-Smith. Now this bullpen is probably due for regression: David Aardsma, Mark Lowe and Sean White might all regress from great 2009 seasons but Brandon League might be a good help to give the ERA a bounce.
Reds: Probably wild here but I am one of those, they are coming out, who are high on the Reds this year. Harang-Arroyo-Cueto are probably a top-3 that will all hover around a 4.00 ERA. Francisco Cordero boosts the bullpen and his set up men, Arthur Rhodes, Daniel Ray Herrera and Nick Masset will likely be close to effective as they were last year. The sleeper here is when Aroldis Chapman will come up to help this team and when Edison Volquez returns from his surgery in late August for a late boost. And sorry, you won't get Micah Owings' pinch hit home runs.
White Sox: I'm not giving the full endorsement, because I'm waiting for the Mark Buerhle decline and Jake Peavy not doing as well in the AL, but there is a good core here too. Buehrle-Danks-Peavy is a good top three followed by Gavin Floyd. Floyd, as an average #4 starter, might help because Bobby Jenks' closer spot might be challenged by a collection of set-up men that will help the team ERA in Matt Thornton, Scott Linebrink and Tony Pena.
Rockies: This one will not come without risk. Injuries have already taken Huston Street to the DL, Rafael Betancourt is throwing in his second spring training game today and Joe Beimel was just re-signed to a minor league deal. Taylor Buchholz is coming back from arm surgery and so is Jeff Francis. After all that risk, there is some reward in Ubaldo Jimenez-Aaron Cook-Jorge De la Rosa and a solid #4 starter in Jason Hammel.

WILD SLEEPER Astros: Call me crazy but I like the Astros combination of Wandy Rodriguez-Roy Oswalt-Myers/Bud Norris to provide an effective ERA. I think Norris has the chance to be a league-average or better starter in the Houston rotation. As long as you don't have to worry about wins, since the Astros won't score runs, they could be alright. The bullpen is suspect with Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon however they do have a few better than league-average relievers.

League #2 (teams available: TBA, ARI, MIN, MIL, SDP, COL, HOU, TEX, PIT, DET, WAS, TOR, KCA, BAL, CLE)
Rays: Everyone knows this rotation still has huge upside. David Price in year two, Wade Davis nailing down the #5 spot and they're probably not the top three with Shields-Garza-Niemann. Also do not sleep on him but Rafael Soriano will likely be a very good closer and Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour and JP Howell when he's not hurt will prove to make up a good bullpen.
Rockies (see above)
Diamondbacks: Dan Haren-Edwin Jackson and either Ian Kennedy or Brandon Webb make a good 1-2-3 punch. Depending on when Webb begins to come back will be the risk to take on this pitching staff. After Chad Qualls, Aaron Heilman and Bob Howry, the bullpen has a lot of upside arms in Esmerling Vazquez and Juan Gutierrez among others.
Tigers: Justin Verlander heads a rotation with an upside heavy Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello. Other than that, the rest of the staff is suspect. Phil Coke might start, Joel Zumaya might pitch and Ryan Perry might take that next step this year. Meanwhile Jose Valverde will rack up saves and help in ERA.
Pirates: Don't sleep on this team now, Paul Maholm-Zach Duke-Ross Ohlendorf is as good a top three the Pirates have had in a while. Octavio Dotel will close, Evan Meek has considerable upside and Brendan Donnelly might have some more left in his arm to help the ERA.
WILD SLEEPER Nationals: Jason Marquis might have made the playoffs every year in the majors but this one might be a tough hill to climb. John Lannan made another step of progress and could continue to be an effective starter. However 2010 should be the year Stephen Strasburg makes his debut and he has impressed everyone who has seen him so far. Plus anything the Nats get from Chien-Ming Wang would be a bonus. Matt Capps should bounce back from a 5.80 ERA last year closing for the Nats. Brian Bruney is a capable set up man. Bruney, Tyler Walker and the eventual call up Drew Storen could be a great group of set up men behind Capps this year.