The "#" a pitcher actually is in the rotation is pretty irrelevant.
Dutchee is the fourth best pitcher on the staff....soooo..
Generally, when I hear "1-2 ace combo", I think it means "the best two pitchers on the same team"....what order they actually pitch in, for one, really only stays the same for the first few games of the season, and for two, has too many factors that affect it so that the first two guys aren't always the best two.
I think this year he will be.
Maybe.