In 2024, not much separated the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation from the Baltimore Orioles' performance-wise. Their rotation ERAs (3.81 to 3.77), WHIPs (1.19 to 1.24), and home runs allowed (109 to 111) were all very similar. The only real difference was that Baltimore had a certified ace to lead the staff.
Boston didn't necessarily have a Cy Young Award contender in the rotation last season, which led to many fans believing that the Orioles had a better rotation, all thanks to Corbin Burnes. Now that Burnes — a Cy Young winner in 2021 — has signed a long-term deal with the Diamondbacks and is officially out of the AL East, the Orioles' staff looks a bit weaker than they would like. Do the Red Sox have a stronger starting rotation than their division rival now?
While the Orioles bid farewell to Burnes, the Red Sox added a few new arms to their starting rotation. Boston's ramped up the staff with left-handers Garrett Crochet and Patrick Sandoval, along with righty Walker Buehler, fresh off World Series heroics against the Yankees.
Crochet, Sandoval and Buehler join 2024 All-Star Tanner Houck and up-and-comer Brayan Bello to the staff. On paper, this staff looks pretty strong, but it has the potential to be great if Buehler can tap into his old self and Sandoval returns from Tommy John surgery in top shape. Even if those two pitchers struggle a bit, a three-game series headlined by Crochet-Houck-Bello would be pretty fierce.
Red Sox have second best rotation in the AL East after Orioles lose out on Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks
On Baltimore's side, as it stands, they have Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez to hold down the rotation, which is an objectively powerful one-two combo. After that, though, there is a bit of a drop-off. The middle of the staff won't be as strong as Boston's, which will have Dean Kremer and Trevor Rogers.
Are the Orioles done solidiying their 2025 roster? Probably not, but the current outlook does not seem great. They have been part of the Dylan Cease rumor mill, but trading for him would come at a heavy price. If Cease were to come to Baltimore, that would start to even the playing field with Boston's rotation once again.
But until that happens — if ever — the Red Sox will undoubtedly open next season with a better crop of starting pitchers than the Orioles. Boston finished 10 games behind Baltimore in the standings in 2024, so any leg up on them going into a new campaign is a tremendous sign for improvement in the division race.