MLB’s regular season is a marathon. Its postseason tournament is a sprint.
To emerge from the six-month slog, a team typically needs at least six capable starting pitchers. Over 162 games, depth is paramount. Injuries inevitably wither away the best laid rotation plans of contenders.
October is a different story. With starters journeying shallower into games than ever before, a club can navigate the playoffs with only three or four starting pitchers. A year ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks reached the World Series with a quartet featuring two experienced starters (Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly), a rookie (Brandon Pfaadt) and a bullpen day.