The Best Third and Fourth Hitter Duos in MLB

The No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in any baseball lineup have arguably the most responsibility of any player in the lineup. It is their job to drive in runs so that the offense is actually productive.

It is their job to make opposing pitchers lose sleep at night while opposing pitchers toss and turn at the thought of having to face those two hitters in the middle of that lineup.

The purpose of this slideshow is to look at who is the best duo of No. 3 and No. 4 hitter in all of baseball in the 2011 season.

While past statistics are somewhat relevant to this slideshow, the most important thing is what have these players done during the 2011 season.

Here are the top five duos of No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in baseball for the 2011 season.

5. Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis (Boston Red Sox)

Gonzalez posted one home run, 15 RBI and a .279 batting average in his first full month in Boston.

Since then he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball doing consistent damage (.346 batting average, .535 slugging percentage and 97 RBI) and making pitchers pay on occasion too (20 home runs).

Gonzalez has been a complete hitter (good batting average, good power and a keen eye at the plate) since 2006 and has continued that trend into 2011.

His partner-in-crime in the clean-up position has been third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 18 with a sore back, hasn’t had the typical Youkilis year people have come to expect. But his numbers are still solid (.266 batting average, 17 home runs, 78 RBI, .495 slugging percentage).

Youkilis’ numbers alone wouldn’t get him on this list, but Gonzalez is having the type of season where he can carry anyone.

4. Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre/Michael Young (Texas Rangers)

Outfielder Josh Hamilton has been one of the best hitters in baseball since overcoming drug addiction and remains one of the best in the business.

Hamilton’s power, with the combined ability to hit pitchers' pitches, makes him a tough out. Since 2007, when Hamilton has played at least 90 games he has averaged 27.67 home runs, 92.33 RBI and a .318 batting average.

With Hamilton cleaning things up in Texas, the Rangers are in good shape. But with either of the Rangers' third basemen, Adrian Beltre (.276 batting average, 20 home runs, 76 RBI in 100 games—30 less games than the Rangers have played in 2010) or Michael Young (.337 batting average, 10 home runs, 86 RBI), hitting in the other spot the Rangers have one of the best No. 3 and No. 4 hitter combinations in baseball.

What’s really impressive for Young is that despite only 10 home runs, he still nearly has a .500 slugging percentage (.491). That’s because he’s fifth in baseball with 36 doubles. Despite his conflict with Texas’ front office over what position he’d play entering the season, Young is having a phenomenal year and will help the Rangers reach the 2011 postseason.

3. Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)

Who knows if these two will be on the same team in 2012 but as teammates in 2011 they’ve made pitchers’ lives miserable (when both have been healthy). 

Holiday missed 29 games thus far with a quad injury in June and an appendectomy in April. Pujols missed 15 games with a fractured wrist in late June and early July.

Despite the injuries and missed time, these two have still put up great numbers—even Pujols in what’s considered to be a “down year” for him.

Holiday and Pujols are, traditionally, hitters who put up all-star numbers across the board. Neither player averages less than 24 home runs, 94 RBI, a .316 batting average, .389 on base percentage, or .543 slugging percentage.

These two flat out know how to hit. And if not for injuries in the 2011 season, these two would make a run at the top two duos on this list.

2. Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees)

This duo would be the best third and fourth hitter combination in all of baseball if not for Teixeira’s poor batting average (.248).

But when it comes to home runs (34), RBI (95) and slugging percentage (.512), Teixeira can compete with the best of them.

Granderson should be the AL MVP if the voting were held today as he resides amongst the top of most offensive categories amongst all hitters (35 home runs, .279 batting average, 98 RBI, and .590 slugging percentage).

Granderson is second in RBI (first in the AL), second in home runs, second in slugging percentage (amongst players who qualify) and third with an OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of .965.

Granderson is having a career year and whether or not he will continue to post these type of numbers in the future is irrelevant. In 2011 Granderson is a top five hitter in all of baseball.

1. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)

As the Milwaukee Brewers inch closer towards a 2011 postseason berth, there are plenty of factors that have made the Brewers one of the top-three teams in the National League: improved starting pitching, a steadier bullpen and Ron Roenicke’s managerial style.

But the two pieces that deserve the most credit are outfielder Ryan Braun and first baseman Prince Fielder.

If the NL MVP vote was held today then Braun or Fielder should be the recipient.

Fielder (28 home runs, 99 RBI, .300 batting average and .551 slugging percentage) leads all of baseball in RBI and is tied for eighth in home runs.

Braun has been no spring chicken himself (.326 batting average, 25 home runs, 83 RBI, and a .581 slugging percentage).

These guys have had complete offensive seasons with high batting averages, home run and RBI totals as well as strong slugging percentages. They are the most complete combination of third and fourth hitters in baseball this season.