White Sox’ Lucas Giolito and Twins’ Jake Odorizzi First Pitchers to 10 Wins This Season

Through games of June 17th, the two top pitchers in terms of both victories and ERA in the American League aren’t names one might expect to see at the top of the statistics. Chicago White Sox righthander Lucas Giolito is 10-1, and Minnesota Twins righthander Jake Odorizzi is 10-2; they are the first in either league to reach 10 wins this season. Their ERAs are nearly identical, with Giolito leading the American League with a 2.22, followed right behind by Odorizzi with a 2.24.

Giolito pitched in six games for the Washington Nationals in 2016 and was traded to Chicago that December. In seven games, all starts, in 2017 for the White Sox, he looked promising going 3-3 with an excellent ERA of 2.38. But he took a step back, OK, several steps back in 2018, going 10-13 in 32 starts with an ERA way up there at 6.13. His only loss this season was way back on April 6th, a 9-2 loss against the Mariners. His best outing, among several good ones, was at Houston on May 23rd, where he pitched a complete game 4-0 shutout of the Astros, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Odorizzi was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA after his third start back on April 10th. He hasn’t lost since. His best start was on May 10th, when he pitched seven innings and allowed just one hit, with no walks, in a 6-0 Twins victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Against a better opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays, he allowed no runs, three hits, and one walk in six innings in a 9-7 win (the Twins bullpen was crap that day) on June 2nd. Odorizzi has been a decent pitcher at times in his career–he was 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts in 2016 with the Rays, but this clearly is becoming a breakout year for the 29 year old.

If you’re unfamiliar with these two, we’re sure you’ll be able to see them in the All-Star Game in July.