Doubly good: Best starting pitching pairs in MLB this season

Lugo (3-3) has built on last season’s success, when he earned his first All-Star appearance and finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. Now in his 10th season, the 35-year-old continues to excel in deep outings with his 10-pitch arsenal. He ranks third in innings in the big leagues and has a  2.84 ERA. 

Through eight starts each, the two have combined for a 2.28 ERA and a 7-5 record, with 10 of their 16 outings counting as quality starts.

4. San Diego Padres | RHP Nick Pivetta and RHP Michael King

Despite a career 4.76 ERA and a 56-71 record over his first eight years in the majors, Pivetta has emerged as the star of the rotation. Through seven starts, he is 5-1 and leads San Diego with a 2.01 ERA. His 0.94 WHIP ranks third in the NL, while his .183 opponent batting average is the second best in the NL. 

Over his past five outings, he has struck out 36 and allowed just six runs in 30.1 innings. His fastball usage has increased by three percent from last season (now at 52%), and the pitch remains the best in his arsenal.

After finishing seventh in the NL Cy Young voting last year, King (4-1) is once again delivering numbers reminiscent of his 2024 season. Through seven starts in his second year with San Diego, he ranks third in the NL with a .186 opponent batting average, seventh with a 0.99 WHIP and sixth with a 2.22 ERA.

The duo has a 2.12 ERA —the lowest combined ERA among qualified pitching pairs in the NL — and a 9-2 record.

3. Detroit Tigers | LHP Tarik Skubal and RHP Casey Mize

Coming off a 2024 season in which won the AL Cy Young and Triple Crown, Skubal (3-2) has continued to be efficient, ranking second in majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.60) and walks per nine innings (1.11). His control and high strikeout rate have fueled his 2.21 ERA through seven starts.

Mize (6-1) has pitched well in minimal time on the hill, leading the majors with just 14.06 pitches per inning. His ability to get out of innings with such a low pitch count has helped him get deep into games. He has a 2.53 ERA, and his six wins are tied for the most in the majors. 

The duo of 28-year-olds has combined for a 2.38 ERA and a 9-3 record through 14 starts.

2. New York Yankees | LHP Max Fried and LHP Carlos Rodon

After signing an eight-year, $218M contract with the Yankees before the season, Fried is almost unstoppable in his first year with New York. Leading all starting pitchers with a 1.05 ERA, he has quickly become the ace of the rotation — that's especially important in Gerrit Cole’s absence. His 0.91 WHIP ranks fifth in majors, while his 1.9 WAR is tied for the second highest among pitchers. 

Fried is 6-0, tied for the most wins in the majors, and remains the only undefeated pitcher with at least six victories.

Rodon (4-3) also has pitched impressively, holding opponents to a .151 batting average, the best mark in the majors. He has great command and his 0.92 WHIP ranks sixth in the majors. 

These southpaws have combined for a 1.97 ERA and 10-3 record in 16 starts.

1. Texas Rangers | RHP Nathan Eovaldi and RHP Tyler Mahle

After re-signing with the Rangers in the offseason, Eovaldi (3-2) is on one of the hottest stretches in his career. Through eight starts, he leads the majors in WHIP (0.80), strikeout-to-walk ratio (13.25) and walks per nine innings (0.74). He's tied for the second-most quality starts (six) and is the only AL pitcher to record a complete game shutout this season.

Mahle (3-1) has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the majors this season. Over his first eight seasons in the big leagues, the 30-year-old posted a 4.32 ERA and a 33-42 record. In his second season with Texas, he has been lights-out in his first eight starts, posting a 1.48 ERA — the third best in the majors — and a 3-1 record. Batters are struggling against him, managing just a .179 average, which also ranks third in the majors.

The duo holds the lowest qualified ERA among starting pitcher pairs, combining for a 1.77 ERA and a 6-3 record in 16 starts.