MLB Playoffs 2011: The 10 Most Cold-Blooded Pitchers This October

On Saturday, Roy Halladay led the Philadelphia Phillies to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the NLDS. 

Halladay went eight innings, allowing only three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts on only one walk. He once again showed his dominance in the playoffs and that he may be the best pitcher in baseball today.

In his honor, this is a list of the ten most cold-blooded pitchers in the playoffs this October, enjoy!

Yovani Gallardo

The ace of the Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff, Yovani Gallardo was the winner in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gallardo pitched eight innings in the game where he had nine strikeouts and only allowed one run. His WHIP on the day was only 0.62 as Gallardo asserted his dominance as the cold-blooded pitcher of the Brewers.

Jose Valverde

Jose Valverde had 49 save chances this season for the Detroit Tigers. He has zero blown saves. 

Any time a closer has a perfect record in a season in terms of save opportunities, you know that closer is dangerous. If the New York Yankees go into the ninth inning losing against the Tigers in the ALDS, they are in trouble.

The first closer to make an appearance on this list, Valverde is definitely cold-blooded.

Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels is scheduled to pitch in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals and it is kind of hard to believe that a pitcher of his caliber is the number three pitcher for the Phillies during the playoffs.

During the regular season, Hamels finished with a 14-9 record with an awesome ERA of 2.79 and 194 strikeouts. His confidence must be sky high after this season and if I were the Cardinals, I would be scared for Game 3, let alone Game 2 against a player who will not be named just yet.

Cole Hamels definitely makes this list of great pitchers.

James Shields

Granted, James Shields lost his game against the Rangers on Saturday in Game 2 of the ALDS but in his defense, he was facing a very explosive offense.

Despite that loss, James Shields is still not a pitcher that I would want to have to face in the postseason. Shields had the best numbers out of any Rays starter in 2011, sporting a 2.82 ERA with 16 wins and 225 strikeouts.

He may have been shelled against the Rangers on Saturday but if the series goes to five games, I wouldn't want to be Texas, having to face him yet again.

Chris Carpenter

Chris Carpenter is scheduled to pitch in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies. This should prove to be one of the best pitching matchups of the playoffs this October as he is facing the always tough Cliff Lee.

In Carpenter's last three starts of the regular season, he obtained two wins where he only allowed one earned run, has 21 strikeouts and even added a shutout to his resume in the last game of the year. 

Carpenter has been on top of his game the last few starts and a hot pitcher in the playoffs is the last guy any team wants to see. Welcome to the group Mr. Carpenter, you are officially cold-blooded.

CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia was supposed to pitch in Game 1 against the Tigers in the ALDS but due to rain, the game was cancelled and Sabathia's start has pushed to Game 3 in Detroit.

Sabathia, who had an ERA of 3.00 this season with 230 strikeouts, is the workhorse of the Yankees' pitching staff and he has held the title of one of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball for several years now. 

He comes to win and the Tigers will have to bring their A+ games if they want to beat him.

Cliff Lee

The second pitcher to make this list from the Phillies, Cliff Lee is a force to be reckoned with. The former Cy Young award winner is scheduled to pitch Sunday against Chris Carpenter in Game 2 of the ALDS.

Lee had yet another dominant year with the Phillies, getting 17 wins to go along with a 2.40 ERA and 238 strikeouts. I don't think that I have to explain too much why Lee is on this list but the consistency which he brings to the mound every game in unbelievable and Chris Carpenter is going to have to pitch one hell of a game if he wants to win.

It's kind of scary that the Phillies already have two cold-blooded pitchers in their rotation and I'm not even finished yet...

Justin Verlander

What can I say about this guy?

Justin Verlander is essentially a lock for the AL Cy Young award this year as he lead the AL in wins with 24, in strikeouts with a stunning 250 and lead with a 2.40 ERA.

He has dominated every part of the pitching game this season for the Tigers and without him, Detroit might not even be in the postseason this year. Any pitcher who is a legitimate MVP candidate makes this list, even though he made it when he decided to strike out 250 batters this season.

Mariano Rivera

And I thought Valverde's stats were scary.

Mariano Rivera is now the best closer in all of baseball history. He broke Trevor Hoffman's saves record this season when he got 44 in 2011, increasing his career total to 603.

His cutter is the best pitch in all of baseball and he did not get the saves record by accident. He also has five World Series rings, so he knows how to win games with pressure surrounding him.

He knows the postseason better than anyone in these playoffs and there is only one man who is more cold-blooded than Rivera this October.

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay's blood is colder than any other pitcher in the major league.

Halladay is a two time Cy Young award winner and he will be right up there once again this offseason. The true ace of the Phillies, Halladay had 19 wins this season on top of a 2.35 ERA and 220 strikeouts.

This is the guy who threw a no-hitter in the ALDS in the 2010 playoffs and when Halladay steps on the mound, the game is almost a lock for the Phillies right from the start.

Halladay's blood isn't cold, it's pure ice.