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MLB Leaders: Statistical Leaders and paces as second half opens

By Benjamin Chase

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 21: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 21: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 21: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

The first half of the MLB season has led to some interesting name on the MLB leaders list, but will they sustain into the second half?

The first half of the MLB season has given some new MLB leaders along with plenty of familiar ones. We will take a look at each league’s hitting and pitching leaders and their paces to see just how sustainable they are.

We’ll start with the American League pitching, then move to AL hitting, then to National League pitching, before finishing our look at MLB leaders with NL hitting. Enjoy!

MLB Leaders: AL pitching

Wins: Luis Severino, New York Yankees, 14; Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland, Blake Snell, Tampa Bay, and Corey Kluber, Cleveland, 12; Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston, Rick Porcello, Boston, Charlie Morton, Houston, and David Price, Boston, 11
Earned Run Average: Justin Verlander, Houston, 2.19; Chris Sale, Boston, 2.23; Snell, 2.27; Severino, 2.31; Trevor Bauer, Cleveland, 2.44
WHIP: Verlander, 0.85; Sale, 0.90; Kluber, 0.91; Gerritt Cole, Houston, 0.98; Sean Manaea, Oakland, 1.00
Games: Jose Alvarez, Los Angeles, 50; Edwin Diaz, Seattle, Tyler Clippard, Toronto, and Ryan Pressly, Minnesota, 49; Joe Jimenez, Detroit, Cam Bedrosian, Los Angeles, Sergio Romo, Tampa Bay, Seung-Hwan Oh, Toronto, and Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles, 47
Saves: Diaz, 37; Craig Kimbrel, Boston, 31; Aroldis Chapman, New York, 26; Blake Treinen, Oakland, 24, Keona Kela, Texas, 23
Innings: Verlander, 143 2/3; Bauer, 140 1/3; Kluber, 133 2/3; James Shields, Chicago, 133; Dallas Keuchel, Houston, 130
Strikeouts: Sale, 188; Verlander, 183; Bauer, 182; Cole, 177; James Paxton, Seattle, 155
Walks: Lance Lynn, Minnesota, 61; Lucas Giolito, Chicago, 60; Danny Duffy, Kansas City, 56; Shields, 50; Kyle Gibson, Minnesota, 48
K/BB: Kluber, 7.77; Verlander, 7.04; Sale, 6.07; Carrasco, 5.00; Paxton, 4.70

Right now, Luis Severino is on pace for 23 victories, Justin Verlander is on pace for 230 innings, and Edwin Diaz is on pace for 61 saves, but what is incredible is the strikeout paces.

Chris Sale is on pace for 305, Trevor Bauer is on pace for 304, and Justin Verlander is on pace for 294. Add in Gerritt Cole, who is on pace for 284, and you have four pitchers with a legit chance to have 300 strikeouts. In modern baseball history, no season has ever had more than two 300 strikeout pitchers combined. The American League alone could have four.

Next: AL hitters

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