While the starting rotation was certainly one of the few bright spots heading into the 2021 season with Germán Márquez, Antonio Senzatela, Jon Gray, and Kyle Freeland returning with solid experience and high-ceiling potential, that fifth starter was a question mark.
Would it be Chi Chi González? Would Peter Lambert recover from Tommy John surgery in time? Would Derrek Rodríguez return to MLB form? Could Ryan Castellani live up to his potential?
Then the Nolan trade happened and Austin Gomber became the likely candidate to round out the rotation. The five starters under 30 all had promise and could anchor the season that would hopefully answer the question to help decide the future: Is this team better than they played like Dick Monfort and Co.