When making a list of pitchers to watch during the 2011 MLB season, one almost must start with the pitching staff that Philadelphia has put together. By getting Cliff Lee during the offseason, the Phillies added even more fire power to a starting pitching rotation that already included Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton. People are already comparing the Phillies rotation to the best that have ever been assembled in Major League History. With that said, they are by no means the only pitchers to watch this season.

One name that is getting a lot of attention on the mound is Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies. The All Star Game starter for the National League in 2010, Jimenez seemingly had the Cy Young Award sewn up at the end of the first half, only to fall back to earth in the second half. With the Rockies a “sexy” World Series pick this season, Jimenez may have his best year yet, possibly even getting that Cy Young Award.

Another interested pitcher to watch in 2011 is CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees. There was questions as to whether Sabathia would even dawn Pin Stripes this season, or whether he would be released by the team. With the Red Sox the popular consensus to the win the AL East, look for Sabathia to have a make or break season for the Yanks.

With a couple of Cy Young awards on his mantle and a freshly minted World Series ring on his finger, Tim Lincecum doesn’t have a lot to prove. For the San Francisco Giants to have a chance at repeating, though, Lincecum is going to have to have another stellar season which, to be truthful, he didn’t have last season (though Giants fan’s wouldn’t exactly complain about his World Series performance).

Finally, all eyes are glued to Felix Hernandez in Seattle. Stuck on a bad team, King Felix won the Cy Young award with only 13 victories last season. With the Mariners arguably just as bad as they were last year, what can the King do this season with what he’s got?