Halfway through the 2026 season, Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers dominates Major League pitching with a 1.76 ERA across 133 innings, alongside 204 strikeouts that place him atop the starter leaderboard. Troy Melton (Detroit Tigers) holds the best overall ERA at 1.46 in 80 innings, while Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) adds 95 strikeouts in 85.2 innings with a 1.79 ERA.
Top 10 ERA Leaders
| Pitcher | Team | IP | ERA | K | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Melton | Detroit Tigers | 80.0 | 1.46 | 69 | 0.90 |
| Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee Brewers | 133.0 | 1.76 | 204 | 0.74 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | 85.2 | 1.79 | 95 | 0.95 |
| Chris Sale | Atlanta Braves | 129.0 | 2.16 | 160 | 1.02 |
| Cam Schlittler | New York Yankees | 146.2 | 2.21 | 182 | 0.93 |
| Dylan Cease | Toronto Blue Jays | 131.1 | 2.40 | 191 | 1.07 |
| Chase Burns | Cincinnati Reds | 131.0 | 2.47 | 151 | 1.09 |
| Cristopher Sánchez | Philadelphia Phillies | 155.2 | 2.54 | 181 | 1.19 |
| Parker Messick | Cleveland Guardians | 142.1 | 2.59 | 142 | 1.03 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Los Angeles Dodgers | 145.1 | 2.60 | 136 | 0.89 |
Note: WHIP (Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched) measures the number of baserunners allowed per inning. Values below 1.00 indicate exceptional control.
Strikeout Leaders
Misiorowski takes the crown with 204 strikeouts. Dylan Cease (Toronto Blue Jays) follows with 191, while Gavin Williams (Cleveland Guardians) adds 190 across 149 innings. Cam Schlittler (Yankees) contributes 182 strikeouts and Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies) 181.
Wins Leaders
Cristopher Sánchez leads with 15 wins in 15 starts, demonstrating consistency on the mound. Chase Burns (Cincinnati Reds) accumulates 14 victories, while Sonny Gray (Boston Red Sox), Sandy Alcántara (Miami Marlins), and Foster Griffin (Cleveland Guardians) each have 13 wins.
Saves Leaders
Bryan Baker (Tampa Bay Rays) leads with 34 saves, followed by Cade Smith (Cleveland Guardians) with 31. Mason Miller (San Diego Padres) and Riley O’Brien (St. Louis Cardinals) share 30 saves, while Louis Varland (Toronto Blue Jays) and David Bednar (New York Yankees) each have 27.
Latin American Standouts: Starters and Closers
Top Latin American Starters: Cristopher Sánchez (Dominican Republic) leads with a 2.54 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 155.2 innings. Walbert Ureña (Los Angeles Angels) posts a 2.67 ERA with 102 strikeouts, while Eduardo Rodríguez (Arizona Diamondbacks) adds a 2.70 ERA across 143.1 innings. José Soriano (Toronto Blue Jays) contributes 134 strikeouts with a 3.16 ERA.
Top Latin American Closers: Aroldis Chapman (Cuba, Boston Red Sox) leads with 27 saves and a 2.04 ERA. Jhoan Duran (Dominican Republic, Philadelphia Phillies) accumulates 25 saves with a 1.70 ERA, while Raisel Iglesias (Cuba, Atlanta Braves) has 24 saves with a 3.02 ERA.
FAQ
What is WHIP in pitching? WHIP (Walks + Hits per Innings Pitched) measures how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning pitched. A WHIP below 1.00 is excellent; it means the pitcher allows fewer than one baserunner per inning on average.
Who is the best starter so far this season? By ERA, Troy Melton (1.46), but Jacob Misiorowski combines better ERA (1.76) with workload (133 IP) and strikeout leadership (204).
What is the minimum requirement to appear on these lists? Starters must have at least 70 innings and 8 starts; closers need 20 innings and 1 save.
