Cliff Lee vs. Roy Halladay: Who Would You Start in a World Series Game 7?

It's Game 7 of the 2011 World Series, and you have the choice: do you pitch Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay? They are both Cy Young pitchers who have been very successful in the postseason, but which would you hand the ball with your season on the line?

Charlie Manuel may have to make this decision during the postseason, and if the World Series goes to a Game 7, this looks like the choice he will have.

Lee is the pitcher that Manuel should choose, and these are the 10 reasons why.

He Is in the Middle of One of the Best Seasons of His Career

Cliff Lee is in the middle of the second-best year of his career, going 16-7 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and six shutouts.

Lee had terrible months in April and July, and a poor month of May, but he still has an ERA under 2.50.

Lee is third in ERA in the National League, and he has a better ERA than teammate Roy Halladay. He is also third in WHIP in the NL, and he bests Halladay once more. His six shutouts lead the MLB, and his strikeouts are second in the NL, trailing only Clayton Kershaw.

Lee's 2011 is second only to his 2008 season, when he went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA and won the AL Cy Young award with the Cleveland Indians.

He Is Arguably the Best Postseason Pitcher in the Game Today

Cliff Lee has pitched in the postseason in two different years, leading his team to the World Series in both.

Lee's first postseason came with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, and he went 4-0 in five games, including two dominating performances in the World Series against the New York Yankees. He allowed only seven earned runs in six starts and 40.1 innings pitched.

His second postseason came with the Texas Rangers. He went 3-2 in that postseason, doing very well in the ALDS and ALCS, but struggled in the World Series against the red-hot San Francisco Giants.

Lee is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA in the postseason in his career, and he is looking to improve upon that this year.

Cliff Lee Is Used to Pitching Against the Detroit Tigers

Pitching with the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central, Cliff Lee has seen a lot of the Detroit Tigers. He has been pretty successful, with an ERA of 3.40 in seven games against them since 2008.

The Tigers could be the Phillies' opponents in the World Series since they appear to be the winner of their division this season. If the Phils meet the Tigers in a Game 7, Lee would be the better option.

Cliff Lee Can Beat His Old Team

The Texas Rangers could also be the opponents of Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, seeing as they are the favorites to win the AL West this season.

Lee has faced his former team only once this season, but it was a night to remember for Phillies fans, and one to forget for Rangers fans. Lee went 8.0 strong innings, not allowing a run, scattering five hits and striking out 10.

Lee dismantled the Rangers, and he could do so again in the postseason.

Cliff Lee Can Dominate the Red Sox

Of the teams the Philadelphia Phillies could play in the postseason, the Boston Red Sox appear to be one of the options.

Cliff Lee has done very well against the Red Sox, pitching against them four times in the last four years. He has pitched 33 innings while allowing only seven earned runs, including a complete game shutout against Boston this season in which he only allowed two hits.

Lee has done well against the Red Sox, and he may need to pitch against them in a Game 7.

Cliff Lee Has Dominated the New York Yankees

Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies took on the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series, and Lee has found ways to dominate the Bronx Bombers over the past four seasons.

Lee has pitched against them six times, averaging over seven innings per start and maintaining a 2.55 ERA. And let us not forget how he dominated them in the postseason.

Lee has proven that he can take on the Yankees and make them look like they're swinging toothpicks, and he can do so again.

Cliff Lee's Unhittable "Spike-Curve"

Cliff Lee has an array of great pitches, but one of the best is his ridiculous "spike curve." Whether he uses it often or very little, he makes it effective.

Lee’s curve is not like any ordinary 12-6 curve, it drops farther and is much faster. Lee throws this pitch as often as 40 percent of the time in some games, or as little as one time in his first 60 pitches as he did on April 14 against the Nationals.

Lee’s curve just drops like a lead weight when it reaches the plate. Lee can use his curve to start over the batter’s head and drop into the very top of the strike zone, or he can start it just over the strike zone and have it drop below it.

The best way to throw this pitch, however, is to throw it so it looks like it's in the strike zone, but ends in the dirt.

Lee's curve is just filthy, and it is one of the reasons he should be pitching in Game 7.

Cliff Lee Is Not Just a Good Pitcher

Since Game 7 will be held in a National League ballpark, the pitchers will therefore be forced to bat. While this is a very small reason to pitch Lee, batting is still part of the game, and Lee is the better option at the plate.

Both of these pitchers are great bunters, but believe it or not, Lee has some power when he is allowed to swing away.

Nothing is more deflating for a pitcher than when the opposing pitcher drives in runs, or even hits a home run. Lee is batting a respectable .212 with two home runs and seven RBI. Lee is a viable option at the plate, and he is certainly much better than Halladay.

Lee Has Been on Fire in Recent Months

Cliff Lee had a slow start to the season, posting ERAs of 4.18 and 3.71 in April and May respectively. He came out of the gates slowly, but has turned it on recently.

Lee had a historic June, going 5-0 and posting a microscopic ERA of 0.21, allowing only one earned run all month and posting three complete game shutouts.

Lee had a down month in July because of two bad starts, but he righted his ways and was back on track in August, going 5-0 with an ERA of 0.45. His only start in September so far came on Monday night, and he threw a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves.

Lee has been on fire over these last few months, and if he can take that into the postseason, he will be guaranteed as the Game 7 starter.

Cliff Lee Dominates at Home

Game 7 of the 2011 World Series will be held in the home ballpark of the National League team because the NL won the 2011 MLB All-Star Game.

If the Phillies are in the World Series, the game will be in Citizens Bank Park and Cliff Lee dominates there.

Lee is 11-2 with a 1.97 ERA at home this season, with opponents batting only .211 against him, and three of his shutouts coming at home.

If Lee pitches Game 7 at home, the series will go to the Phils.

Josh Schoch is an aspiring sports writer, bringing you everything related to the Duke Blue Devils, college basketball, the MLB, NFL, NBA and more. Follow him on Twitter.