The Top 10 Starting Pitchers of the First Half

The first half is coming to a end, and as promised, I have ranked the top 10 starting pitchers.

They have been making the baseball look like a wiffle ball and making hitters look two years old.

I used these stats to rank the pitchers:

Wins: Yes, I know that many do not like this stat. But I think that it must show something.

Ks: We all love Ks.

ERA: Most important stat for a pitcher.

WHIP: One of my favorite stats.

IP: Shows who is a workhorse.

No. 10: Jason Marquis

W-L: 11-5
ERA: 3.61
WHIP: 1.30
Ks: 54
IP: 117.1

Jason Marquis has been amazing for the last few months. He has earned this spot on the list in his last five starts.

In his best start this season, he threw a two-hitter against the Dodgers with only 86 pitches.

He is another one of the good story guys this season. It will be fun to watch him in the All-Star Game.

No. 9: Edwin Jackson

W-L: 6-4
ERA: 2.59
WHIP: 1.07
Ks: 93
IP: 114.0

He may not have many wins, but it is not his fault.

He has been amazing this year. He has given them innings and good games. Every start by him is a good pitching game.

He is also still young at 26 years old.

No. 8: Mark Buehrle

W-L: 8-2
ERA: 3.09
WHIP: 1.12
Ks: 62
IP: 107.2

Mark Buehrle is a great player. He is a big reason the White Sox are only two games out of the AL Central lead.

He may not have lots of Ks, but he still gets hitters out like cake.

It is fun to watch him pitch. He is just so good—and he makes it look easy

No. 7: Yovani Gallardo

W-L: 8-5
ERA: 2.75
WHIP: 1.15
K: 114
IP: 121.0

Yovani Gallardo is one of the better pitchers in the NL and the best pitcher in the NL Central. He has been a killer on the mound.

As a Met fan, I know that if his offense was on the two times he faced the Mets, he is not 0-1 after giving up just one run. He also had his career high strikeout game against them with 12 Ks.

No. 6: Chad Billingsley

W-L: 9-4
ERA: 2.14
WHIP: 1.20
Ks: 115
IP: 120.1

Chad has amazing stats and is the best pitcher on the best team in the NL.

But he is having a slow month. Before that, he was one of the top three pitchers in baseball.

He may be 0-1 in his last four starts, but he is still one of the best this season.

No. 5: Matt Cain

W-L: 9-2
ERA: 2.42
WHIP: 1.22
Ks: 93
IP: 115.1

He would be the ace on almost any other staff except for the Giants. The Freak takes No. 1 on the Giants, but that does not take anything away from Matt Cain.

His numbers have earned him this spot on the list.

No. 4: Roy Halladay

W-L: 10-2
ERA: 2.79
WHIP: 1.09
Ks: 98
IP: 116.0

Roy was considered one of the top five before going on the DL. He led the league in wins and was one of the best in IP.

Since coming back from the DL, he is 0-1, giving up seven runs in two starts. But he may need some time before becoming one of the top five.

No. 3: Dan Haren

W-L: 8-5
ERA: 2.16
WHIP: 0.83
Ks: 119
IP: 121.0

He is playing for one of the worst teams in baseball but is one of the better players in the game this season.

His 0.83 WHIP was the best in baseball before Chris Carpenter pitched Tuesday, and his 2.16 ERA is the best in baseball.

If only he was playing for a better team, he would be considered by all one of the best pitchers in baseball.

No. 2: Zack Greinke

W-L: 10-4
ERA: 2.00
WHIP: 1.05
Ks: 120
IP: 121.1

Zack Greinke has been one of the best stories this season. He is the only reason for Royal fans to watch baseball this year.

His 2.00 ERA leads all of baseball, and he is second in the AL with 120 strikeouts.

All this at the young age of 26. I can't wait to see him improve more and more through the years.

No. 1: Tim Lincecum

W-L: 9-2
ERA: 2.23
WHIP: 1.05
Ks: 141
IP: 121.0

The Freak!

Coming off his Cy Young season, Tim Lincecum has been killing hitters, as he leads the majors in strikeouts.

He is the ace of the best pitching staff this season and the NL Wild Card leaders. I bet he would have more wins if the Giants offense was a bit better.