Jake Peavy Is the Best Pitcher In Baseball

Compatriot Dan Shanoff brings up an excellent point today: Jake Peavy has been quietly torching the Major Leagues this year. And Peavy continued that stretch of pitching with his -- get this -- fourth straight 10 strikeout game last night, a 7-0 shutout win over the Cardinals.

Yes, you read that right. Four straight games with ten strikeouts, a 1.52 ERA, a .938 WHIP, 66 strikeouts to 17 walks, a 244 ERA+ (!!!!) ... the list goes on. By all statistical measures, Peavy is obliterating the National League, and should be a near-lock for starting the All-Star Game at the break.

What's perhaps more surprising about this breakout performance from Peavy is the step back he took last year. While he wasn't awful, his ERA was over 4 and his ERA+ came out at right about the league average, 103. Thus far, this year isn't just a bounce-back for the Padres' ace ... it's a full-blown revolution. Peavy is recapturing his former All-Star form -- and then some -- and is proving he's anything but league average.

Previously on the FanHouse:
MLB Cy Young Watch