2026 MLB Season • Statistics Through July 12, 2026
The Arms and Gloves That Controlled the First Half
This edition reviews the pitchers who led Major League Baseball’s most important first-half categories, along with the teams and defenders who made the largest measurable impact in the field.
Pitching rate categories include qualified pitchers only. Defensive evaluation uses a combination of Defensive Runs Saved, Statcast Fielding Run Value, Outs Above Average and team defensive efficiency.
First Half at a Glance
| Category | Leader | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERA | Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee Brewers | 1.62 |
| Wins | Aaron Ashby | Milwaukee Brewers | 12 |
| Strikeouts | Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee Brewers | 167 |
| WHIP | Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee Brewers | 0.76 |
| Innings Pitched | Sandy Alcantara | Miami Marlins | 130.2 |
| Saves | Cade Smith | Cleveland Guardians | 28 |
| Best Team Defense | Los Angeles Dodgers | Los Angeles Dodgers | .734 Defensive Efficiency |
| Defensive Spotlight | Max Muncy | Los Angeles Dodgers | 8 DRS at third base |
Pitching Leaders
Earned Run Average
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Misiorowski | MIL | 1.62 |
| 2 | Cam Schlittler | NYY | 2.05 |
| 3 | Chris Sale | ATL | 2.20 |
| 4 | Eduardo Rodriguez | AZ | 2.29 |
| T-5 | Sonny Gray | BOS | 2.54 |
| T-5 | Chase Burns | CIN | 2.54 |
Wins
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Ashby | MIL | 12 |
| T-2 | Chase Burns | CIN | 11 |
| T-2 | Sonny Gray | BOS | 11 |
| T-2 | Cristopher Sánchez | PHI | 11 |
| T-5 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | 10 |
| T-5 | Jacob Misiorowski | MIL | 10 |
Strikeouts
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | SO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Misiorowski | MIL | 167 |
| 2 | Dylan Cease | TOR | 148 |
| 3 | Cristopher Sánchez | PHI | 144 |
| 4 | Cam Schlittler | NYY | 137 |
| 5 | Jesús Luzardo | PHI | 136 |
WHIP
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Misiorowski | MIL | 0.76 |
| 2 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | LAD | 0.91 |
| 3 | Cam Schlittler | NYY | 0.94 |
| 4 | Drew Rasmussen | TB | 0.95 |
| 5 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | 0.99 |
Innings Pitched
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandy Alcantara | MIA | 130.2 |
| 2 | Cristopher Sánchez | PHI | 127.1 |
| 3 | Michael Wacha | KC | 119.1 |
| 4 | Cam Schlittler | NYY | 118.2 |
| T-5 | Logan Gilbert | SEA | 114.0 |
| T-5 | Eduardo Rodriguez | AZ | 114.0 |
Saves
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | SV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cade Smith | CLE | 28 |
| T-2 | Bryan Baker | TB | 25 |
| T-2 | Mason Miller | SD | 25 |
| T-4 | Jhoan Duran | PHI | 24 |
| T-4 | Riley O’Brien | STL | 24 |
DataBaseball Pitcher of the First Half
Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers
Misiorowski entered the All-Star break leading qualified pitchers in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP. He posted a 1.62 ERA with 167 strikeouts across 111 innings while allowing only 57 hits.
First Half Defensive Leaders and Standouts
Defensive statistics do not line up as neatly as home runs or strikeouts. Different systems evaluate range, positioning, receiving and converted outs differently, so this section highlights verified first-half standouts.
Los Angeles Dodgers
DataBaseball Defensive Team of the First Half
- Led MLB with a .734 defensive efficiency through late June.
- The infield led the majors with 27 Defensive Runs Saved.
- The outfield ranked fourth with 17 Defensive Runs Saved.
- Major contributors included Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Andy Pages, Alex Freeland and Will Smith.
Max Muncy, Dodgers
Third Base Defensive Spotlight
- Led third basemen in Statcast Fielding Run Value.
- Recorded eight Defensive Runs Saved at third base.
- Posted six runs above average by Statcast’s fielding measure.
Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Shortstop Defensive Spotlight
- Recorded seven Defensive Runs Saved in 49 games at shortstop.
- Added four runs of Statcast Fielding Run Value.
Andy Pages, Dodgers
Outfield Defensive Spotlight
- Led a Dodgers outfield that ranked fourth in Defensive Runs Saved.
- Provided range and run prevention in center field.
Alex Freeland, Dodgers
Second Base Defensive Spotlight
- Recorded six Defensive Runs Saved in 60 games at second base.
- Added three runs of Statcast Fielding Run Value.
Milwaukee Brewers
Infield Team Spotlight
- Ranked second in MLB in infield Defensive Runs Saved through late June.
- Finished behind only the Dodgers in that category.
Why Defensive Rankings Look Different
Fielding percentage rewards completed plays but does not fully measure range. Defensive Runs Saved estimates runs prevented. Outs Above Average evaluates the difficulty of converted plays, while Fielding Run Value translates Statcast performance into runs.
First-Half Pitching Standouts
- Jacob Misiorowski: Led MLB in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP.
- Cam Schlittler: Ranked second in ERA, third in WHIP and fourth in strikeouts.
- Cristopher Sánchez: Ranked second in innings, third in strikeouts and tied for second in wins.
- Dylan Cease: Finished second in strikeouts and carried a no-hit bid into the ninth in his final first-half start.
- Cade Smith: Led MLB with 28 saves.
- Sandy Alcantara: Led the majors with 130.2 innings pitched.
About These Leaders
Pitching statistics reflect completed regular-season games through July 12, 2026. All-Star Game statistics are not included.
Defensive totals may differ among Statcast, FanGraphs and Sports Info Solutions because each system uses a different method.