​After taking a look at what I believe the New York Yankees' ​starting lineup should be on Opening Day (prior to Didi getting hurt), it's now time to dissect the realm of possibilities for the Yankees' starting rotation.





The five pitchers I think should begin April 2, 2017 in the Yankees starting rotation are as follows:

1. Masahiro Tanaka

2. Michael Pineda

3. CC Sabathia

4. Luis Severino

5. Bryan Mitchell





Tanaka is the undisputed ace of this staff, posting a 14-4 record last season with a 3.07 ERA and 165 strikeouts in just under 200 innings pitched. If Tanaka received more run support and didn't have as many no-decisions last year, he could have potentially won the Cy Young award over Rick Porcello.





This season, the Yankees are going to need similar (or even better) numbers from Tanaka if they want to succeed. Tanaka is the closest pitcher the Yankees have to a "sure thing" in terms of knowing what they can expect from one of their starters.





After Tanaka, the Yankees' rotation is full of question marks, starting with Pineda. The 6-7 fireballer struggled last season, managing a 6-12 record with a 4.82 ERA. He did strike out 207 batters - a career high - in 175 innings, but he also gave up 27 home runs and 184 hits.





Pineda's biggest issue since he joined the Yankees has been the command of his slider. While it can be a devastating pitch at times, when Pineda has an off day or doesn't have control of the pitch, it tends to get hit around a lot, often out of the ballpark. If the 28-year-old can control his slider more frequently, he could be in for a much better season.





The big 36-year-old veteran lefty Sabathia will look to take on a leadership role with this young pitching staff. Sabathia definitely didn't have a stellar season in 2017 compared to the numbers he posted in the beginning of his career. Several fans, including myself, were begging the Yankees' management to either trade or release Sabathia. But that didn't happen, and he somehow went on to have a decent second half of the season in 2017.





The numbers might not support this claim, but from watching almost every game last year, Sabathia looked like a completely different pitcher in the latter half of the year. Sabathia finished 2017 with a 9-12 record, a 3.91 ERA and 152 strikeouts in just about 180 innings. None of those numbers will really "wow" anyone, but he did give the Yankees a lot of innings during an injury-plagued season. Sabathia will have to be an effective workhorse this season is he wants to keep his job.





The final two spots in the rotation are the ones that are most frequently being debated right now. In my eyes, Severino has to begin the season in the MLB rotation. Although he had a rough season last year, he showed his true potential at the end of 2015. In 2017, however, Severino disappointed as a starter, posting a 3-8 record with a 5.83 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 71 innings.





But, these numbers don't tell the full tale of Severino's season. He was atrocious at the beginning of the season as a starter, so the Yankees sent him down to the minors and eventually brought him back up to work out of the bullpen. In the bullpen, Severino shined, as these short stints of relief allowed him to effectively dominate his opposition.



​This is the main reason why several people want Severino to start the season in the bullpen, but it's also the reason why I think he needs to be in the rotation. Severino has already proven in a short amount of time that he can be an effective reliever. But the Yankees don't want their former top pitching prospect to be relegated to the bullpen.







At just 23 years old, Severino has a bright future ahead of him, either as a starter or reliever. Since we've seen what he can do in the bullpen, it's time to give him another opportunity to showcase his abilities as a starter. It wouldn't be the end of the world if he fails, as the Yankees could either send him back to the minors or to the bullpen.





Regardless, the only way for the Yankees to figure out what Severino is capable of as a starter is to give him a chance in the starting rotation. With some help from Pedro Martinez in the offseason, Yankees fans are definitely hoping to see more of 2015 Severino than 2016 Severino.





Finally, Mitchell gets my nod as the fifth and final starter in the Yankees starting rotation on Opening Day. After a stellar spring training one year ago, Mitchell would've been in the Yankees rotation last season if it weren't for a freak foot injury.





Most experts expected Mitchell to miss the entire 2016 campaign, but he came back toward the end of the year to pitch in five games. With the way he has performed again this spring, I don't see any reason why Mitchell wouldn't get another shot at beginning the season in the big league rotation.





The main reason I put Severino and Mitchell in the last two spots is because the Yankees have quite a few contingency plans available if either of them struggle. Adam Warren has proven himself to be an effective reliever with the desire to be a starter, but although he wants to start, I think his talents are most suitable for the bullpen. Chad Green and Luis Cessa are also good backup options in my opinion, and James Kaprielian could be called up as early as this year if necessary.



