They were talking about this on the Dan Patrick show yesterday, and mentioned the following as the best #1 and #2 starter combos this season.
Detroit Tigers
Kenny Rogers
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 16 104.2 94 43 12 25 59 10 3 0 96.7 1.14 .243 3.44
Justin Verlander
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 16 103.2 94 38 11 31 65 10 4 0 98.3 1.21 .248 3.13
Boston Red Sox
Josh Beckett
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 16 97.0 83 55 20 31 82 10 3 0 97.8 1.18 .226 4.64
Curt Schilling
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 17 114.1 110 45 15 14 102 10 2 0 107.2 1.08 .253 3.54
Minnesota Twins
Francisco Liriano
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 20 73.1 56 18 5 19 82 8 1 1 91.1 1.02 .212 2.21
Johan Santana
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 17 118.1 94 36 12 20 124 9 4 0 102.8 0.96 .216 2.59
New York Mets
Tom Glavine
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 17 107.2 101 42 15 33 75 11 2 0 102.0 1.24 .251 3.34
Pedro Martinez
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 16 101.2 74 44 14 28 111 7 4 0 98.5 1.00 .202 3.45
Those were the top #1 and #2s named on the Dan Patrick show. I however, think that there is another big #1 and #2 starting pitcher combo that has been huge for their team this year, and their numbers compare very evenly with the above named combos (with the exception of the Twins, but they were stupid and waited too long to put Liriano in the rotation).
Cincinnati Reds
Bronson Arroyo
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 17 118.2 107 38 12 26 89 9 4 0 109.9 1.12 .239 2.58
Aaron Harang
Code:
SPLIT G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 17 112.1 113 52 11 28 109 9 5 0 107.8 1.26 .267 3.45
The Reds have one of the five best top of the rotation #1 and #2 combos this year, yet no mention of them in the conversation. These two could be the cornerstone of this starting rotation for years, and make it a very good rotation. I think Arroyo and Harang have been the difference on this team between contender and cellar dweller this year. How huge they've been to this team's success is easy to see, yet they still get no love in the media. Shame.