Ranking the Best Pitchers in MLB by Pitch Type

We all know who the best pitchers in baseball are. They are the world's Justin Verlanders, Roy Halladays, and Clayton Kershaws. They are dominant, effective, and exciting to watch.

But what sometimes goes underappreciated is how good some of their pitches are. In many cases, a pitcher is only as good as his best pitch. For others, a well-rounded repertoire is the key to success. Regardless, it is not surprising that some of the best pitchers in baseball also throw some of the nastiest pitches.

I have split the pitches up into seven types: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, sinker, changeup, slider, and curveball.

The data is taken from the Pitch F/X data on FanGraphs, where the pitches are measured by run value. For example, a fastball with a value of 5.0 means that the pitcher's fastballs were five runs better than league average over the course of the season. This slideshow uses run value data, by pitch, from the 2009 through 2011 seasons.

There will be two slides per pitch—one for the fifth- through second-ranked pitchers, and another for the best pitcher of that respective pitch.

Without further ado, here's a look at some of the most dominant pitches in baseball.

Sinkers

No. 5: Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers RHP

Sinker value: 15.4 runs

No. 4: Scott Baker, Twins RHP

SInker value: 16.4 runs

No. 3: Jonny Venters, Braves LHP

Sinker value: 16.8 runs

No. 2: Trevor Cahill, Diamondbacks RHP

Sinker value: 21.8 runs

The Best Sinker Belongs To...

Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves RHP

Sinker value: 37.1 runs

Hudson has always thrived on his sinker and the ability to induce ground balls. It should be no surprise that the veteran's average ground ball rate is an astounding 59 percent for his career. Think about that—three out of every five balls hit off of Hudson are ground balls. No wonder he has a career 3.40 ERA.

Cutters

No. 5: Chad Billingsley, Dodgers RHP

Cutter value: 21.5 runs

No. 4: Dan Haren, Angels RHP

Cutter value: 38.1 runs

No. 3: Jon Lester, Red Sox LHP

Cutter value: 42.6 runs

No. 2: Roy Halladay, Phillies RHP

Cutter value: 47.0

The Best Cutter Belongs To...

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees RHP

Cutter value: 50.6 runs

Is anyone surprised? Didn't think so.

The legendary closer and future Hall of Famer has relied on his devastating cutter throughout his career, and no one has been able to figure it out. It very well might be the nastiest pitch in baseball history.

Two-Seam Fastballs

No. 5: Gio Gonzalez, Athletics LHP

Two-seam value: 14.6 runs

No. 4: Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians RHP

Two-seam value: 21.4 runs

No. 3: David Price, Rays LHP

Two-seam value: 22.0 runs

No. 2: Doug Fister, Tigers RHP

Two-seam value: 25.8 runs

The Best Two-Seamer Belongs To...

Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies LHP

Two-seam value: 43.3

The dominant lefty is arguably one of the best command pitchers in baseball. Though his velocity is not explosive, Lee relies on excellent movement and pinpoint command to make his two-seam fastball baseball's best. It sets up his plus curveball and changeup very nicely.

Sliders

No. 5: Edwin Jackson, RHP

Slider value: 34.3 runs

No. 4: Luke Gregerson, Padres RHP

Slider value: 34.6 runs

No. 3: Randy Wells, Cubs RHP

Slider value: 38.0 runs

No. 2: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers LHP

Slider value: 42.5 runs

The Best Slider Belongs To...

Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels RHP

Slider value: 45.9 runs

The up-and-down righty is now a proud owner of a no-hitter, but his inability to throw a great fastball has been Ervin Santana's downfall throughout his career. However, he does possess a top-notch slider that is 10 miles per hour slower than his fastball. If you've never seen it, his slider is an excellent, excellent pitch.

Changeups

No. 5: Ricky Romero, Blue Jays LHP

Changeup value: 28.5 runs

No. 4: James Shields, Rays RHP

Changeup value: 34.7 runs

No. 3: Felix Hernandez, Mariners RHP

Changeup value: 41.6 runs

No. 2: Tim Lincecum, Giants RHP

Changeup value: 42.1 runs

The Best Changeup Belongs To...

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies LHP

Changeup value: 44.6 runs

Philadelphia's longest-tenured starter, Cole Hamels also is proud owner of baseball's best changeup. It has tremendous movement, and though the speed differential against the fastball isn't ideal (only about seven miles per hour), he is still very adept at getting hitters to swing and miss at the change. This is a major reason why he has posted a career 3.39 ERA.

Curveballs

No. 5: Brett Myers, Astros RHP

Curveball value: 23.0 runs

No. 4: Bronson Arroyo, Reds RHP

Curveball value: 24.7 runs

No. 3: Roy Halladay, Phillies RHP

Curveball value:  26.0 runs

No. 2: Wandy Rodriguez, Astros LHP

Curveball value: 26.8 runs

The Best Curveball Belongs To...

Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals RHP

Curveball value: 36.4 runs

One of the most amazing things about the Cardinals' World Series victory this year was that they did it without arguably their best pitcher. Adam Wainwright missed the 2011 season, yet still had a curveball that was 10 runs more valuable than second place finisher Wandy Rodriguez. That is a testament to just how dominant Wainwright's bender can be. Baseball will be a better place with Wainwright back on the mound.

Four-Seam Fastballs

No. 5: Ted Lilly, Dodgers LHP

Fastball value: 37.8 runs

No. 4: Justin Verlander, Tigers RHP

Fastball value: 38.6 runs

No. 3: Josh Johnson, Marlins RHP

Fastball value: 42.8 runs

No. 2: Matt Cain, Giants RHP

Fastball value: 49.9 runs

The Best Fastball Belongs To...

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers LHP

Fastball value: 62.5 runs

The NL Cy Young winner throws the best fastball in baseball, no questions asked. It regularly sits in the mid-90s with devastating command, setting up an equally devastating slider and a quality curveball and changeup. He is the total package as a pitcher, but Kershaw lives off of his fastball. It is truly a thing of beauty.