A-1 BASEBALL: MLB

Baseball at the Major League level is great. With 15 games per day and about 90-100 games per week, the craft of great hitters, pitchers, base stealers and defensive players is put on display. So many competitive games played across the land and so many great individual performances. As a baseball person I consider it a great privilege to watch. This is the place where the great players come to prove their worth and try to touch stardom and immortality.

The Fangraphs pitching WAR metric tries to capture the pitcher's performance regardless of run support, defense, bullpen effectiveness and ultimately wins and losses. If you do well, WAR will recognize you. Jeff Samardzija of the Cubs has 0 wins 3 losses and 1.62 ERA with 1.0 WAR. The best starters this year are John Lester and Jose Fernandez at 1.9 WAR. There are 23 starters with 1.0 + WAR (23 of more or less 150) that makes up the top 15%. If one is good two is better, so let's take a look at the top pitching duos with an infocap (information capsule) on each.
Age Age Total WAR
1. Jose Fernandez (21) 1.9 Nathan Eovaldi (24) 1.2 3.1
2 John Lester (30) 1.9 John Lackey (35) 1.0 2.9
3. Max Scherzer (29) 1.5 Justin Verlander (31) 1.3 2.8
4. Corey Kluber (28) 1.3 Zach McAllister (26) 1.1 2.4
5. Scott Kazmir (30) 1.1 Jesse Chavez (30) 1.1 2.2

1. The numbers are there but is Jose Fernandez the best pitcher in baseball after just 35 starts and 219 innings pitched in MLB after jumping from high Class A? The youngster is hanging out with veterans like Lester (30), Scherzer (29), Verlander (31) and Felix Hernandez (28). Another youngster, 24 year old Nathan Eovaldi is making the transition from thrower to pitcher. Fernandez throws very hard and Eovaldi throws a little harder than Fernandez. It's not a comfortable feeling coming to Marlins Park and facing this high-powered duo.

Jose Fernandez vs Braves at Turner Field (zimbio.com)

Nathan Eovaldi vs Colorado Rockies (zimbio.com)

2. Veterans John Lester and John Lackey are money pitchers. Still providing quality innings for a Bosox team off to a slow start.

John Lester vs Orioles (zimbio.com)

John Lackey vs the A's (zimbio.com)

3. Scherzer has passed Verlander as the No.1. On a given day Verlander can still pitch with the best. This is a power pair with finesse.

Max Scherzer vs the A's at Oakland (zimbio.com)

Justin Verlander vs the Orioles at Comerica (zimbio.com)

4. Kluber and McAllister are numbers 2 and 3 on the Indians staff. (number 1 is Justin Masterson). The second youngest duo just keeps growing and logging quality innings.

Corey Kluber vs the Chisox at Progressive Field (zimbio.com)

Zach McAllister vs Twins at Progressive Field (zimbio.com)

5. Kazmir and Chavez are a surprise duo. Getting opportunity because of the injuries to Jarrod Parker and A J Griffin out for the year with TJ surgery and taking advantage. The kind of thing Billy Beane does. Some moneyball in action here? Sonny Gray, another member of the rotation with 1.0 WAR might prove to be the best by season's end.