MLB Power Rankings: Halladay/Lee and the Seven Best 1-2 Pitching Combos in MLB
Nothing makes a baseball team great like a 1-2 punch at the top of the starting rotation. More often than not, the team that wins the World Series has this valuable weapon. The 2009 New York Yankees had CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and last season the San Francisco Giants had Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.
While a 1-2 pitching combo is certainly valuable in the playoffs, it is even more so over the course of the regular season. As a fan, it's always something of a relief to know that twice a week, my team's starting pitchers will go out and get the job done 90 percent of the time.
Given how last year was deemed the "Year of the Pitcher" and we are just two days removed from Francisco Liriano's no-hitter, let's look at and analyze the seven best 1-2 pitching combos in the MLB today.
No. 7: Derek Lowe/Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves
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Combined Record and Stats: 6-5, 3.29 ERA, 1.16 WHIP
The Atlanta Braves' offense may be inconsistent, but two guys who always go out and give 110 percent for their turns in the rotation are Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe. In a tough NL East, these guys have gone out and made sure that the Braves stay close in the division race no matter how early it is in the season.
Lowe has been decent, posting a 2-3 record and a respectable 3.72 ERA. His 1.37 WHIP could use some improvement, but that's just the kind of pitcher he is. Plus, his team only scored a total of three runs over his three losses so run support is clearly what's hurting him. Also, he's 37 years old and might be running out of gas.
Hudson, on the other hand, has been unbelievable. He has continued his dominance from 2010 and posts a 4-2 record with a 2.86 ERA and remarkable 0.95 WHIP. Just last night, he threw a one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers.
If Atlanta's offense can come together (that means you, Dan Uggla!) down the stretch, then it, along with the consistency of Lowe and Hudson, could help the team get back to the playoffs.
No. 6: Tim Lincecum/Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants
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Combined Record and Stats: 5-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
It's no secret that the defending-champion Giants have stumbled out of the starting gate in 2011. The team is 4.5 games out of first place in the NL West, but has a 15-16 record. Still, these two young guns have been solid.
Lincecum has a 3-3 record, but a great ERA of 2.47 and a remarkable 1.08 WHIP. Like Tim Hudson, his issue has been run support as the Giants have only scored three runs over the course of his three losses. Still, despite his team's slow start, there's no denying that the man they call "The Freak" is at the top of his game and will continue to stymie hitters all season long.
Lincecum's counterpart, Matt Cain, is having a decent season as well. He has a 2-2 record and a 3.28 ERA to go with an average 1.23 WHIP. Unlike Lincecum, Cain's pitches aren't what one would necessarily call electrifying. Still, he is solid when it counts, and his losses can be attributed to lack of run support.
Once the Giants' offense gets back on track, look for these two to move up in the wins column along with their team, as San Francisco looks to defend its title.
No. 5: Justin Verlander/Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
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Combined Record and Stats: 7-3, 3.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
I know that they just took three out of four games with the New York Yankees, but I mean this with the least amount of bias possible. The Detroit Tigers are not a very good team that is cursed with an inconsistent pitching rotation. Yet, they have two pitchers who always impress in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Verlander has posted a 2-3 record thus far, along with a 3.75 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Like some of the others on this list, his lack of consistency can be attributed to low run support. The Tigers have only scored (that's right, you guessed it) three runs over those three losses.
Scherzer, on the other hand, has been phenomenal. He has a 5-0 record with a 3.15 ERA and a below-average 1.38 WHIP. He also has 46 strikeouts in 45.2 innings.
The Tigers might not make the playoffs this year, but it's a certainty that these two will go out and impress start after start.
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No. 4: CC Sabathia/A.J. Burnett, New York Yankees
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Combined Record and Stats: 6-4, 3.19 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Before the 2009 season began, the Yankees ensured that they would have top-of-the-line starting pitching by signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to long-term contracts. A World Series championship later, there's no arguing that this has panned out as one of Brian Cashman's better moves. The two power arms have gotten off to good starts in 2011 as the Yankees are in first place.
Sabathia has stumbled out of the starting gate, posting a 2-2 record and 1.32 WHIP. Yet, his 2.68 ERA has been his saving grace. Lack of run support has been at the root of both of his losses, but the big lefty should return to his old form very soon and blow away hitters with ease.
Burnett, however, has been great thus far. After going 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 2010, he has started 2011 at 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Again, his two losses have come from lack of run support.
Hopefully, both Sabathia and Burnett can keep their form up all season long and bring another World Series title to New York.
No. 3: Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
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Combined Record and Stats: 6-3, 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP
Let's be honest, folks. On paper, the Phillies have the best starting pitching. Their staff is headlined by Cy Young Award winners Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
Lee shocked baseball fans last offseason by spurning higher offers from the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. Instead, he took less money to return to the team he helped reach the World Series in 2009. His return to the City of Brotherly Love has been average thus far, as he has a 2-2 record with a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. This start can be chalked up to lack of run support and one bad start.
Halladay, however, has continued the domination he exhibited in 2010. He is 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA and outstanding 0.97 WHIP. His one loss can be called a fluke, as he gave up six runs in 6.2 innings against the Brewers on April 19.
As a lifelong hater of the Phillies, I can nitpick these two all I want. Yet, they're just that good that I can't. Look for them to continue their domination as the Phillies attempt to get back to the World Series.
No. 2: Trevor Cahill/Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
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Combined Record and Stats: 7-2, 2.28 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Going into this season, experts named the Oakland Athletics' starting pitching as the one with the most potential. Thirty-one games later, the team has the best pitching in baseball with a collective ERA of 2.65. The staff is led by young guns Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson.
Last season, Cahill broke out by going 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. In 2011, he has continued his hot streak with a 5-0 start and even better 1.79 ERA. In 45.1 innings, he has allowed just nine runs.
Anderson's record is a more modest 2-2, but that can be chalked up to one bad start and Oakland's suspect offense. His ERA is still great at 2.77 and like Cahill, his WHIP is a solid 1.13.
The Athletics currently sit in third place in the tough AL West, two games out of first place. If these two guys keep doing well down the stretch and the offense wakes up, they just might get back to the playoffs.
No. 1: Jered Weaver/Dan Haren, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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Combined Record and Stats: 10-3, 1.57 ERA, 0.82 WHIP
Currently, the Angels are in first place in the AL West with an 18-14 record. It's no surprise that 10 of those wins are thanks to Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. Simply put, both of them have been incredible in 2011.
Weaver has started out 6-1 with an incredible 1.39 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. His lone loss was suffered on Monday against the Boston Red Sox, and he was recovering from a stomach virus at the time. In 51.2 innings, he has given up only eight earned runs.
Haren has been just as good as his teammate. He has a 4-2 record with a 1.76 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. His two losses can be blamed on a combination of low run support and him not having a good start.
Since we're talking about the Angels, I might as well put it out there. They're a small-ball team and run support is always going to be an issue for Weaver and Haren. Yet, if they can continue to shut down opposing hitters the way they have for the first month of the season, then they should be fine.
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