Earlier this afternoon, we examined how the American League playoff teams assembled their postseason rotations. Now, let's hop over to the National League. Once again, in the event of series sweeps, postponements, or managerial changes of heart, this list could undergo some changes, but these are currently the probable starters for the NLDS.
Brewers
Yovani Gallardo: Selected in the 2004 draft (2nd round).
Zack Greinke: Acquired from the Royals in December 2010.
Shaun Marcum: Acquired from the Blue Jays in December 2010.
Randy Wolf: Signed for three years, $29.75MM in December 2009.
Last winter, the Brewers went all-in when they traded for Marcum and Greinke in the span of two weeks. So far, the decision has paid off, as the two former AL starters are lined up to pitch Games 2 and 3 of the Division Series against the Diamondbacks.
Diamondbacks
Ian Kennedy: Acquired from the Yankees in December 2009.
Daniel Hudson: Acquired from the White Sox in July 2010.
Josh Collmenter: Selected in the 2007 draft (15th round).
Joe Saunders: Acquired from the Angels in July 2010.
The D'Backs were practically in fire sale mode when they moved Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson last summer. Now, just one season later, two pitchers they acquired in those deals could start for the Snakes in the postseason. Interestingly, Arizona is the only NL playoff team whose rotation doesn't include a starter acquired from the Blue Jays.
Phillies
Roy Halladay: Acquired from the Blue Jays and extended for three years, $60MM in December 2009.
Cliff Lee: Signed for five years, $120MM in December 2010.
Cole Hamels: Selected in the 2002 draft (1st round, 17th overall).
Roy Oswalt: Acquired from Astros in July 2010.
The Phillies have made a handful of blockbuster moves over the last two years to ensure they have the starting pitching edge over the rest of the league heading into this postseason. But Hamels and fifth man Vance Worley (3.01 ERA in 131 2/3 IP) prove the Phils are skilled at developing their own starters too.
Cardinals
Kyle Lohse: Originally signed in March 2008. Extended for four years, $41MM in September 2008.
Chris Carpenter: Originally signed in December 2003. Extended for five years, $63MM in December 2006.
Jaime Garcia: Selected in the 2005 draft (22nd round).
Edwin Jackson: Acquired from the Blue Jays in July 2011.
When they traded Colby Rasmus for Jackson, Corey Patterson, and a pair of relievers this July, GM John Mozeliak and the Cardinals were widely panned, but it's hard to argue the move didn't help the team win the Wild Card race. Still, without Adam Wainwright, and unable to optimally line up their rotation, the Cards head into the NLDS as significant underdogs against the Phils' big four.
Hows Colby working out for you guys? XD
not as good as Doc is working out for the Phils I guess. XD
Obviously not well so far, but kind of harsh to judge a 24-year-old CF on 140 AB with Toronto.
I wonder how Colby’s dad is working out for them.
well of course the DBacks don’t have a starter that came from Toronto, they wanted to limit it to their entire infield only so they won’t be called the Arizona Blue Jays.
Heh, that reminds me of how the entire Blue Jays starting infield from one year (not counting catcher) eventually all played for the Cardinals (although not all four at the same time).
Each team has one starter that they drafted and three that they acquired via other transactions. Interesting.
your attention to detail is remarkable. Are you a CSI?
Notice the Jays gave up three of the starters in these playoffs – Halladay, Marcum and Edwin Jackson. For that they got Drabek + two above average prospects, Lawrie and Rasmus. Lawrie is a star but broke bones in his hand twice this season (an Ironman he is not), Drabek was just plain awful after his first few starts, and Rasmus will never be compared to Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury or even BJ Upton in the AL East. Sure AA traded the albatross Wells contract and got Napoli in return, but Napoli now stars on Texas in these playoffs and we were left with Frank Francisco. My point is that the players the Jays have at the ML level today aren’t good enough to make the playoffs , while those they’ve traded are. Sure we have some good prospects, but until they’ve proved they can win at the major league level like Halladay and Marcum, they are just that: prospects. Kelly Johnson is another AA trade where the player we recieved will never be compared to Pedroia or Cano in the AL East. So the only AA trades that have made us a more playoff ready team for 2012 is A-Gon for Yunel Escobar, and maybe Lawrie is he doesn’t always get hurt.
Can’t believe I forgot Edwin Jackson used to play for the Blue Jays…so did baseball-reference..