HS Pitching Rotation

How a high school sets up a rotation typically depends on the depth of talent. Of a team has a #1 that's far superior to any other pitcher he might be targeted at the toughest opponent of the week. If the staff has reasonably equal and a deep staff they may just pitch in rotation.

When my son was in high school no one was significantly better. They all went D3 with one D2. They pitched in rotation regardless of the competition. However, the coach did reset the rotation for district playoffs.

HS season's vary out West they were similar to below, so this means rotations will shift around a bit, plus remember coaches are trying to figure out their rotations. Conference games are pretty predictable, beyond this it is not:

Pre-season/pre-conference 

Usually about 2-3 weeks of tournaments and games outside of conference. Best pitchers pitch against the best teams, lots of juggling as coaches figuring out who has what stuff. 

Conference start.

Pitchers get into a routine as far as days on, best pitchers early in the week. (conf teams typically played 2-3 games against each other per week) One non conf game per week typically. (anyone who has not pitched will get a start/in game) 

Week break (many go to away tournaments - no conf games)  Again best pitchers against best teams. Usually they pull up some JV arms for a lot of games in a short period of time. 

Conference finish

Same as Conference. 

Playoff's.

Best pitchers first

Probably depends on the size of the school and what kind of schedule.  Here in the St Louis area, my son's school was in the largest class.

During tryouts, coach would know who the top pitchers are based on returners or by tryouts.

First two weeks of season we did a tournament, and a few non-con games.  Coach would pitch most guys but the known "top 3" would get the bigger games.

Once the season got cranking, they played two conference games on Tuesday-Wednesday and a non con game on Friday.  The top two pitchers got the conference games and the #3 got the Friday game.  Our coach would even go one step farther.  He would see who the other team was warming up on Tuesday and if it was their #1, he would throw our #1.

The rest of the pitchers were called on from the bullpen, except they did have a set closer.

Thanks, RJM.  Our pitchers are pretty equal, with a couple that are slightly better than the others but nothing significant.  We've played 5 games so far with the 6th one tonight and we'll have used only one kid twice after tonight.  Game 1 starter has pitched twice but game 2 starter hasn't pitched since game 2, even though he did a pretty good job.  I thought maybe it was because we're playing the weaker part of our schedule right now, but it seems coach should work the pitchers if for nothing else to get them reps.

In Texas, once district (conference) games start, they are played on Tuesday / Friday (two games per week).  #1 will get the better of the two teams, and the #2 will get the other.  All other pitchers work in on relief.  At schools where there is not much separation between #2, 3, or even 4 - they may be interchangeable for that spot in the rotation, but #1 always gets the best for that week.