MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants and the 5 Best Pitching Staffs in MLB

Pitching can overcome hitting in baseball on most occasions. Sometimes, the teams that pitch the best are there all the way until September. Other times, teams aren't so lucky.

This year we have seen a number of surprising quality pitching staffs including the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. It is no surprise how both teams are .500 or better heading into the second half of the season.

Pitching is the ultimate equalizer in baseball.

Here are five teams that have had the best pitching through the first half of the season.

No. 5: Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball. Their 39-53 record can be attributed to the lack of runs (315) and batting average (.233). Pitching, however, has not been a problem for this young Athletics squad.

Oakland has a combined 3.14 ERA, which is third best in all of baseball. Gio Gonzalez, Oakland's all-star selection, leads the team in wins with eight, strikeouts with 111 and ERA with 2.67.  

The Athletics also have 56 quality stars (7th in MLB), 1.26 WHIP (7th) and an opponent's batting average of .242 (7th).

They have experienced injuries in the rotation, but haven't fallen off the wagon quite yet. They may not win a ton of games this season, but that hasn't stopped them from being competitive.

No. 4: Seattle Mariners

Seattle is another team that has an excellent pitching staff, but a record that is less desiring. Their offense is atrocious all-around.

The pitching staff has a lot of pressure placed on their shoulders to compete game in and game out. Saying that, the Mariners have been extremely successful on the mound in 2011.

We have heard of "King" Felix Hernandez before, but what about second-year man Michael Pineda?

Hernandez doesn't lead the Mariners in ERA, Pineda does. Hernandez doesn't lead the Mariners in WHIP, Pineda does. Both Hernandez and Pineda are tied in wins with eight.

That's right. Pineda is posting a 3.03 ERA, to go along with eight wins and a WHIP of 1.04.

Hernandez isn't far behind in any category. He has posted eight wins, 3.19 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He is also leading the team in strikeouts with 140.

The Mariners are sixth in ERA (3.25), second in quality stars (60), second in WHIP (1.17) and third in opponent's batting average (.236).

No. 3: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco won the World Series with great pitching and timely hitting last season. Their hitting, again, hasn't been great, but the pitching has been dynamite.

The Giants are posting a 3.17 ERA, a statistic that has helped carry the Giants to a 53-40 record in the first half of the season.

They are fourth in ERA, second in quality starts (60), fifth in WHIP (5th) and first in opponent's batting average (.231).

Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are posting a 3.06 ERA this season. Lincecum has just seven wins to show for it, while Cain is leading the team with eight wins.

Possibly, the most surprising pitcher of all has been Ryan Vogelsong, who is 6-1 with a 2.17 ERA. Vogelsong was horrible as a Pittsburgh Pirate in the 2000s, but credit the coaching staff and Vogelsong for staying persistent.

Generally, when the Giants have the lead in the ninth inning, Brian Wilson will come in, beard-and-all, and get the job done. He has converted 27 of 31 save chances, a statistic he would like to improve upon.

Pitching wins games, and the Giants have benefited and will continue to benefit from quality pitching.

No. 2: Atlanta Braves

Atlanta and Philadelphia are in a race for the National League East crown in 2011. Which one will come out on top? Whichever team stays consistent with their pitching staff will win the NL East.

Both teams have struggled offensively this season. If the pitching falters, the offense will be asked to do more, something both teams haven't been so consistent with.

The Braves are 54-38, 3.5 games behind Philadelphia.

Jair Jurrjens leads the Braves in wins with 12 and ERA with 1.87. He has been the catalyst for this Braves' team, proving why he was an all-star this season. Tommy Hanson has been great as well, posting a 10-4 record with a 2.44 ERA.

The Braves' have a great back-end bullpen featuring all-stars Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel. If the starters can get it to these guys, good night.

Collectively, the Braves are second in ERA (3.11), fifth in quality starts (5th), third in WHIP (1.19) and second in opponent's batting average (.233).

No. 1: Philadelphia Phillies

Who would have thought that the Philadelphia Phillies would have the best pitching in baseball by the all-star break? Almost everybody.

That is what will happen when you add Cliff Lee to Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay. The three have been lights out in 2011. Hamels is 11-4 with a 2.32 ERA, Halladay is 11-3 with a 2.45 ERA and Lee is 9-6 with a 2.82 ERA.

Philadelphia is first in ERA (3.02), first in quality starts (61), first in WHIP (1.16) and fifth in opponent's batting average (.239).

One area they need to shore up is their back-end of the bullpen. Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge and now Jose Contreras are all injured. Does that prompt them to make a deal for Heath Bell or Luke Gregerson? Both players could help significantly.

Whether they do or not, these starters are plenty capable of going the distance.