Cliff Lee Vs. Roy Halladay: Which Is the Bigger Postseason Ace?

The Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies are in their respective league championship series thanks in large part to their pitching aces Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.

Lee mowed down the Tampa Bay Rays by going 2-0 in 16 innings and allowing only two runs. 

Halladay is throwing in his first postseason ever. He only has one start, but it was a dandy as he no-hit the Cincinnati Reds, only the second no-hitter in postseason history.

Now, who is more scary in the postseason? Both have filthy career numbers and Cy Young awards. Both are in their prime. Who would batters rather not face right now?

Roy Halladay's Career Stats

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 06: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during his no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Phillies defeated the Reds

Halladay, 33, is often considered the best pitcher in MLB for years. During a 13-year career, Halladay is 169-86 with a 3.32 ERA, 1,714 strikeouts and averages 235 innings a year. 

He has 58 shutouts, which is ridiculous.

A seven-time All-Star, Halladay was the American League Cy Young winner in 2003, posting a 22-7 record, 3.25 ERA, 266 innings and nine complete games. 

Cliff Lee's Career Stats

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 12: Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Lee, 32, has been a dominant pitcher for the last three years, going 48-25 with a 2008 AL Cy Young award and two All-Star appearances. In 2008, the lefty was 22-3, had a 2.54 ERA and threw 223.1 innings for the Cleveland Indians. 

In 2009 and 2010, Lee was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers to bolster their playoff runs. 

Spanning a nine-year resume, Lee is 102-61, has a 3.85 ERA, 1,085 strikeouts and 20 complete games. 

Roy Halladay's Pitching Arsenal

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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: Roy Halliday #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on September 27, 2010 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The right-handed Halladay uses a variety of pitches, relying on a combination of fastballs. 

According to scouting reports, Halladay uses a 92-94 mph four- and two-seam fastball. He throws a cutter, a split-finger fastball, and a sinker. 

For off-speed pitches, he utilizes a 78 mph curveball and a nasty 83-84 mph changeup that he mastered this season to help him win 21 games in 2010. His command is great, walking only 104 batters the last three years in 735.2 innings. That's 7.73 strikeouts to 1.27 walks. 

Cliff Lee's Pitching Arsenal

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Oakland Athletics during a Major League Baseball game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 23, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty I

If anyone could compete with Halladay when it comes to pitching arsenal, it is Lee. 

Lee is not overpowering, topping at 89-92 mph. He has a cut fastball to get righties out and uses a a two-and four-seam fastball to both lefties and righties. 

He is most dangerous, however, with his off-speed pitches. Lee has a nasty circle changeup and slider. Knuckle balls are difficult to master, but Lee uses a knuckle curve with great effectiveness. 

Walking batters is a rare occasion for Lee, issuing only 95 free passes in 557 innings since 2008. 

Roy Halladay's No-Hitter

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 06: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies waves to the crowd after pitching a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Phillies de

Oct. 6 was a game for the ages, with Halladay throwing a no-hitter to the hapless Reds in Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series. Halladay became the second pitcher in playoff history to pitch a hitless game, with Don Larsen throwing a perfect game for the New York Yankees in the 1956 World Series. 

In fact, Halladay fifth-inning walk to Jay Bruce prevented him from matching Larsen's mark. 

However, this was the righty's only postseason start, so he needs to work on his body of work. 

Cliff Lee's Playoff Dominance

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 02: Starting pitcher Cliff Lee #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 2, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

This is Lee's second playoff run. In 2009, he lifted the Phillies to the World Series and would have probably helped them win if Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge didn't blow so many saves. 

Lee was 4-0 in 40.1 innings and gave up only seven runs. He was 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA against the offensive powerhouse Yankees, giving the Phillies their only two victories. 

In Texas, Lee is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings logged against the Rays. He also had a complete game in the Rangers 5-1 road victory to give Texas their first postseason series win ever. 

Next up is the Yankees, and they will be nervous going up against Lee. 

Winner: Lee

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ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 12: : Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Texas Rangers celebrates his team's victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field on October 12, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

And the winner is Cliff Lee. 

Lee is 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 56.1 playoff innings during seven starts. He has three complete games and has pitched outstanding in two series clinchers. 

Halladay has only started one game, even though it was spectacular. But Lee has a more impressive body of work as a whole. 

Right now, Lee would be the better choice.