MLB top 10 active starting pitchers by career WHIP

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Apr 29, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws to the New York Mets during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

In evaluating and comparing MLB pitchers, the WHIP statistic is an excellent tool, measuring hits and walks allowed per each inning.

There are many ways to evaluate the top MLB players of recent years, as well as down through the history of the game.

The statistic of WHIP, or “Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched”, has become one of the more popular tools to make such evaluations. It is one of my personal favorites.

WHIP is fairly simply to calculate. You simply add the number of hits and walks that a pitcher allows, then divide that total by the number of innings pitched by the hurler.

Yesterday afternoon out in Los Angeles, two of the best current starting pitchers in baseball faced off against one another. Left-hander Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the host Los Angeles Dodgers. For the visiting Washington Nationals, it was right-hander Stephen Strasburg who toed the rubber.

Kershaw would ultimately be credited with the ‘Win’, but both pitchers were typically outstanding. Kershaw allowed three hits over seven frames. He also uncharacteristically walked three batters. The overall result was just six Washington base runners. Strasburg allowed just three hits and a walk over six innings.

THE BEST STARTING PITCHERS OF THE LAST DECADE

This premier matchup got me to thinking, who exactly are the best starting pitchers of recent vintage? I have my opinion, but what do the stats show?

I decided to let the career Baseball-Reference WHIP rankings inform me. The pitchers on this list have been some of the toughest to beat over the last decade or so in Major League Baseball. They usually don’t surrender many hits. They don’t beat themselves most night by walking a bunch of batters.

Who are the currently active top ten starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, based on B-R career WHIP figures? One hint: the cover boy for this story, Strasburg does NOT make the countdown.

Apr 25, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hernandez (34) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Felix Hernandez. 10. team. 62. With a WHIP figure of 1.1849, “King” <a rel=. 1.1849.

May 22, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Greinke (21) throws in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

zack greinke. 9. team. 8. With a WHIP figure of 1.1832, <a rel=. 1.1832.

May 12, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Cueto (47) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

31. With a WHIP figure of 1.1725, <a rel=. 1.1725. . johnny cueto. 8. team

May 31, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Arrieta (49) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

7. team. 9. With a WHIP figure of 1.1693, <a rel=. 1.1693. . jake arrieta

October 6, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Hamels (35) before throwing in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

95. With a WHIP figure of 1.1607, longtime Phillies ace and currently injured Texas Rangers lefty <a rel=. 1.1607. . cole hamels. 6. team

Sep 7, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Price (24) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

May 26, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Scherzer (31) throws to the San Diego Padres during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

1.1322. . max scherzer. 4. team. 90. With a WHIP figure of 1.1322, Washington Nationals ace <a rel=

Apr 19, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Bumgarner (40) delivers a pitch in the first inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

31. With a career WHIP of 1.0971, currently DL’d lefty <a rel=. 1.0971. . madison bumgarner. 3. team

May 24, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Sale (41) delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

May 17, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kershaw (22) throws a pitch during the sixth inning of the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

With a career WHIP of 1.0022, LA Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw, has the best career WHIP mark among active starting MLB pitchers. That mark also leaves him in 4th place on the all-time Major League Baseball WHIP rankings. The three pitchers ahead of him? <a rel=. 1.0022. . clayton kershaw. 1. team. 71

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