MLB Power Rankings: Ranking Each Contender's Ace Pitcher

Imagine that it is Game 7 of the World Series. Hopefully, you have set your rotation so that you are going to put your best pitcher on the hill.

In this situation, what contender do you want to be the most? Which ace do you want on the mound for your team?

Here are my rankings of who I would want on the mound for the eight teams that are currently situated to be in the playoffs.

Honorable Mention: James Shields, Tim Lincecum, Chris Carpenter

The Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are on the edge of the playoffs. Therefore, they did not make my rankings right now.

However, I wanted to give a shout out to these three guys who are all very solid pitchers.

James Shields, who has been leading the Tampa Bay Rays, has been stellar with a 2.78 ERA with a 15-11 record.

Tim Lincecum is just insane. Even though he has a mediocre 13-12 record, he has a 2.59 ERA with 212 strikeouts. He is simply overpowering.

Chris Carpenter is only 10-9 this season with a 3.66 ERA, but he has a 5-2 record in the postseason over his career with a 2.93 ERA. I would want him in for the veteran presence.

These guys are not in the rankings, but if the standings change, then of course they would be. So I wanted to give them a little shout out before we begin.

8. Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves

Tim Hudson is 15-10 with a 3.19 ERA. In his career, he has a 3.46 postseason ERA. Because of this, I think that he will be able to deliver for the Braves.

Hudson is one of those guys who has been around for a very long time. He has experience, and I think that that will help him throughout the postseason. He is not an overpowering pitcher, but he gets outs, and that is really what matters.

I know that he is last on this list, but this is not because of a lack of quality. Someone had to be last, but he is obviously a very high-quality pitcher.

7. Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers

I did not put Zack Greinke very high on this list because he has been somewhat volatile. He had a difficult May and June, and has since caught on fire.

He is 15-6 with a 3.75 ERA this season. However, he has also been much better at home where he is 10-0 with a 2.89 ERA.

I like Greinke, and I really like the chances of the Milwaukee Brewers. However, he has not been able to deliver away from home and has been very volatile. That makes me nervous in a do-or-die situation. I had to give him some credit, though, for the brilliance he is able to bring to the table.

6. Derek Holland, Texas Rangers

I know that it is debatable whether or not Derek Holland is the ace of the Texas Rangers. CJ Wilson has made a very strong case for that. However, I chose Holland for this spot because when you only have one game to win, you have to go big or go home.

Going big for Holland means that he has four shutouts this season. I think that having a reasonably solid probability of getting this type of performance from a pitcher is important.

I know that this is kind of a risky pick, but if Holland is on, he can be nearly unbeatable.

5. Ian Kennedy, Arizona Diamondbacks

I think that a 19-4 record for Ian Kennedy kind of speaks for itself. He has a 2.99 ERA as well, which shows that he is definitely the star for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He is young, and he has never pitched in the postseason. This, of course, might be a little bit risky. However, he is having a great year in the desert, and he seems to have the composure needed for this job, although obviously, I cannot quantify it.

I like Ian Kennedy, and I think that he will do well in the playoffs.

4. CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

CC Sabathia has had minor problems in the past with a 4.66 postseason ERA. However, he has still managed to go 7-4 in these games, so he can get the win.

He is also having another great year. He is 19-8 with a 3.01 ERA for the New York Yankees. This type of success is not really unusual for Sabathia because he has been a great pitcher for many years.

Although he has had problems in the past, I definitely like him in that situation. He gets a lot of wins, and that is what matters in the end.

3. Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox

Josh Beckett already has a World Series MVP in his trophy case, and he has been able to have a very good postseason career.

He is 7-3 during his career in postseason games, so that tells me that he has been there and will not be rattled by the situation. Also, he is having a very good year at 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA.

I know that there are guys below him who have better records this season, but I like the postseason experience that Beckett provides.

2. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

Roy Halladay has gone 18-5 for the Philadelphia Phillies so far this season. He also pitched a no-hitter last season in the divisional series against the Cincinnati Reds which shows his playoff history.

He has always come up big for the Phillies, and seems to have a great amount of composure on the mound.

I know that the Phillies have quite a few options for legitimate Game 7 pitchers, but I think I would take Halladay. And I believe that he has one of the best shots at winning that final game.

1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

I honestly did not have a very difficult choice to make here. Justin Verlander has been downright amazing so far this season for the Detroit Tigers.

He has a 24-5 record with a 2.29 ERA, 244 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP. These numbers are ridiculous to say the least, and opponents are only hitting .190 against him.

He might not have the experience of Roy Halladay, but I think that if he can ride the momentum from this amazing season, I would definitely want him out there in the end.