Dickey or Strasburg: Which MLB Pitcher Would You Take Right Now?

Over the course of the last few years, the MLB has progressively transitioned from an offensive-heavy type of league, to a sport dominated by outstanding pitching.

This year is no different, as three pitchers have already racked up double-digit wins, and seven others have piled up nine victories before the All-Star break.

And although that group of 10 pitchers features a list that is star-studded with names such as CC Sabathia, David Price and Cole Hamels, two NL East pitchers from that group have gone above and beyond expectations and have kept their teams in contention in the early part of this season.

If you've been following the New York Mets at all during this season, you've been hearing the name of R.A. Dickey on more than one occasion.

Dickey (11-1, 2.00 ERA) leads the majors in victories and ERA, and you would find it hard to believe that he's 37 years old and pitching this well. The veteran knuckleballer has claimed headlines so far by throwing two one-hitters—one that could've arguably been a no-hitter against Tampa Bay—and has stolen the spotlight from Johan Santana, who threw the Mets' first ever no-hitter earlier this year.

Not forgetting to mention, after the Tampa Bay one-hitter, he came back in his next start against Baltimore and threw a second straight one-hitter, becoming the first pitcher since 1944 to throw back-to-back one-hitters

Other than David Wright having a sensational season up until this point, the case can be made that if it weren't for Dickey's production and his 11 victories, the Mets would not be three games out of first place in the NL East and currently in the hunt for a wild card spot.

And while the story of this year's Mets is starting off as a good one, the team that currently leads the NL East is a squad filled with young talent that any team would kill to have.

Not to mention they have a phenom pitcher who has come back from Tommy John surgery and has had one of the finest comeback seasons a young pitcher can have.

If you go down the lineup, there are many reasons as to say why the Washington Nationals are off to a great start and have that aforementioned three-game lead in the division.

But everyone knew that the Nats would go as far as Stephen Strasburg would take them.

He's off to a great start.

Strasburg (9-1, 2.46 ERA) has been the driving force in the rotation for the rising Nationals, despite being under the microscope for his innings limit that manager Davey Johnson has placed on him. But despite the limit, Strasburg leads the majors in strikeouts with 110.

It's because of Strasburg and the play of his young teammates that Washington is sitting with the second-best record in the NL behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Without question, both pitchers are going to be representing the National League in the Midsummer Classic come July, and both will have a significant role as the NL looks to win another All-Star Game and garner home-field advantage for the World Series.

But let's imagine this scenario: If you needed to win one game—Game 7 of a playoff series for example—and you had the choice between one of these two dominant pitchers, who would you pick to get you the victory?

You can't go wrong with either one of these two. They're arguably the most dominant and successful pitchers in the National League right now, over guys like Hamels, Lance Lynn and Matt Cain.

When you talk about Strasburg and Dickey, you're not only talking about contrasts in age, but contrasts in pitching styles—not just in their arsenal of pitches, but how they throw their pitches.

Dickey's obviously known for his knuckleball, and I can't recall ever seeing a knuckleball with so much velocity and control. Tim Wakefield was the last master of the knuckleball that I can remember, and it never was this effective. So much so, that it can range from 75-82 mph.

When he's accurate like he's been the majority of the season, the longevity and the stamina he possesses when throwing his pitches give him the advantage to go an entire nine innings with hardly any problems of fatigue.

But when you discuss the same for Strasburg, his age gives him a lot of energy, despite the high risk of injury if he throws too hard. He has the capability to go nine innings without the limit, and if it's a one-game situation, that limit would be thrown out the window.

Then you go into the thought of which is more impossible to hit: Dickey's knuckleball or one of Strasburg's fastballs that can sometimes top 102 mph.

There are so many factors going into it, but right now, I would personally take Dickey with the roll he's been on over the course of not only the season, but his last six starts. He's only allowed one run over his last six starts and has pitched over seven innings in each of those starts.

It would be a tough debate if ESPN got their paws on it, because it seems to be a very valid topic. Strasburg gives you the speed and the velocity, and even the dangerous control with his off-speed pitches.

It wouldn't be surprising if these two were one-two in the Cy Young voting, either. But who would you take?

Let the debate begin.