DODGERS WATCH: Tarik Skubal allowed two runs in six innings, but the Cubs spoiled his Los Angeles debut with a 5-1 win.RED SOX WATCH: Wilyer Abreu homered twice as Boston scored six runs in two separate innings and won 14-2.BREWERS WATCH: Milwaukee became the first MLB team to reach 70 wins this season.RANGERS WATCH: Ezequiel Duran drove in four and delivered a game-ending double to stop Texas’ six-game skid.PHILLIES WATCH: Jesús Luzardo threw eight scoreless innings, and Luis Arraez drove in two runs in his debut.

First Half Pitching and Defensive Leaders

DataBaseball First Half Pitching and Defensive Leaders

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

CategoryLeaderTeamStat
ERAJacob MisiorowskiMilwaukee Brewers1.62
WinsAaron AshbyMilwaukee Brewers12
StrikeoutsJacob MisiorowskiMilwaukee Brewers167
WHIPJacob MisiorowskiMilwaukee Brewers0.76
Innings PitchedSandy AlcantaraMiami Marlins130.2
SavesCade SmithCleveland Guardians28
Best Team DefenseLos Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers.734 Defensive Efficiency
Defensive SpotlightMax MuncyLos Angeles Dodgers8 DRS at third base

Pitching Leaders

Earned Run Average

RankPitcherTeamERA
1Jacob MisiorowskiMIL1.62
2Cam SchlittlerNYY2.05
3Chris SaleATL2.20
4Eduardo RodriguezAZ2.29
T-5Sonny GrayBOS2.54
T-5Chase BurnsCIN2.54

Wins

RankPitcherTeamW
1Aaron AshbyMIL12
T-2Chase BurnsCIN11
T-2Sonny GrayBOS11
T-2Cristopher SánchezPHI11
T-5Sandy AlcantaraMIA10
T-5Jacob MisiorowskiMIL10

Strikeouts

RankPitcherTeamSO
1Jacob MisiorowskiMIL167
2Dylan CeaseTOR148
3Cristopher SánchezPHI144
4Cam SchlittlerNYY137
5Jesús LuzardoPHI136

WHIP

RankPitcherTeamWHIP
1Jacob MisiorowskiMIL0.76
2Yoshinobu YamamotoLAD0.91
3Cam SchlittlerNYY0.94
4Drew RasmussenTB0.95
5Logan GilbertSEA0.99

Innings Pitched

RankPitcherTeamIP
1Sandy AlcantaraMIA130.2
2Cristopher SánchezPHI127.1
3Michael WachaKC119.1
4Cam SchlittlerNYY118.2
T-5Logan GilbertSEA114.0
T-5Eduardo RodriguezAZ114.0

Saves

RankPitcherTeamSV
1Cade SmithCLE28
T-2Bryan BakerTB25
T-2Mason MillerSD25
T-4Jhoan DuranPHI24
T-4Riley O’BrienSTL24

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.