Can These MLB Aces Secure a World Series Win?
This is the time of the year when the rubber hits the road. The cream of the crop of this year's MLB teams are locked into the best-of-seven League Championship series. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers are going head-to-head in the National League. At the same time, the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are vying for the American League Pennant.
All of these teams have needed quality pitching performances to survive the regular season and the postseason gauntlet so far. However, teams have been asking their starters to pitch fewer and fewer innings over the past few years. It is still incredibly valuable to have an ace that can take the mound and keep your team in the game, regardless of whether your offense shows up. So out of all the aces left, let's find out who you would most want on the hill in Game Seven of the World Series.
Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
Kevin Gausman is infamous for his splitter, which is virtually unhittable when thrown effectively. He was instrumental in shutting down the potent Yankees offense in the ALDS, showcasing his ability to generate swing-and-miss against top-tier lineups. When he is on, he is capable of being one of the best in the game. However, during the regular season, he had more losses than wins. I know pitcher wins are an archaic stat now, but during the postseason, the pitcher has to win the game. If Gausman does not bring his "A" stuff, it would put the Blue Jays at a marked disadvantage.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' blockbuster signing from two offseasons ago has proven his worth in this past season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto possesses an intricate, deep arsenal, featuring a high-spin curve and a splitter that leaves hitters guessing. With two quality starts underneath his belt against the Phillies, he has shown that he can handle the bright lights of October. Yamamoto will be key moving forward to the Dodgers' hope of winning back-to-back World Series titles.
George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
George Kirby, despite having better years than this past season, has established himself as a true playoff performer with two ace-like starts in Game One and Game Five of the ALDS. His stellar command is what you want in an ace, as he has led the league twice in walks per nine. The Mariners have other options to turn to, including Luis Castillo, even though Kirby got the nod in Game One, showcasing the level of faith the organization has in him. If the Mariners are going to win a World Series, it's going to be thanks to their starting pitching, and Kirby has what it takes to come up big.
Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
Freddy Peralta may have had the best regular season of anyone on this list. He put together a Cy Young-caliber season with a 17-6 record and 2.70 ERA. Despite having a higher ERA through the NLDS, he has 15 strikeouts in only 9.2 innings. He was able to fill the shoes left by the departure of Corbin Burnes and hopes to carry this Brewers team to the World Series. His swing and miss stuff and the ability to pitch deep into games are things that any team would be lucky to have in a deep playoff run.
Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are well-represented with a pair of aces, and Blake Snell's dominant postseason performance, as well as stellar history, earns him a spot. The high-leverage lefty whose deceptive delivery and high-spin stuff are some of the best in the game. Despite missing most of the regular season, he has come on strong in the playoffs. Entering the NLCS with an exceptionally low postseason ERA of under 1.40 over two starts and 13 innings. The two-time Cy Young winner provides the Dodgers with a reliable ace capable of dominating any lineup.
