Phillies: Top five pitching seasons over the last 10 years

1 of 5

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 22: Roy Oswalt #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on September 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

The Phillies had some great pitchers come through in the last 10 years, but which ones had the best seasons in that span?

No. 5: 2010 Roy Oswalt

Although Oswalt only spent half of the 2010 season with the Phillies, he winds up on the top five list as he was nothing short of dominant in his time with the team after the deadline.

Oswalt made 13 appearances with the Phillies after being acquired. He finished the year with a record of 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA, just 16 earned runs allowed, 21 walks, and 73 strike outs for a K/9 of 7.95. He racked up 3.3 wins above replacement just in the part of the season he spent in Philadelphia.

Oswalt took home a win in the National League Division Series before going 1-1 in the Championship Series. He started and won Game Two, was the losing pitcher coming in as relief in Game Four, and took a no decision in Game Six, the final game of the series.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 07: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the National League Divisional Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 7, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

No. 4: 2011 Roy Halladay

At number 4 we have Roy Halladay’s 2011 campaign. In his second season with the team, he carried over the momentum from his great 2010 season, and continued to be a dominant ace at the top of the Phillies rotation.

Halladay would finish 2011 with a record of 19-6, an ERA of 2.35, and 220 strikeouts equating to a K/9 of 8.47. He would also qualify to have 25 quality starts in 32 total starts in 2011. Several of his statistics were actually better than his Cy Young campaign in 2010, but he ultimately lost out to Clayton Kershaw.

Halladay opened up the NLDS with a win, going eight three-run innings against the Cardinals. He turned in an even better performance in Game Five with the series on the line, allowing just one run. However, the offense couldn’t manage a single run in what has turned out to be the Phillies’ last postseason game.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 02: Cliff Lee #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during Game Two of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on October 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cardinals won 5-4. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

No. 3: 2011 Cliff Lee

Number three on this list belongs to Cliff Lee in 2011. After being dealt from the Phillies the year prior, Lee resigned with the team in December of 2010.

Lee flashed the dominance he showed in the 2009 postseason, and wound up with a record of 17-8, and an ERA of 2.40. He collected 238 strikeouts good for a K/9 of 9.31, and like Halladay in 2011, would have 25 quality starts in 32 games started.

The most impressive part of Lee’s 2011 season was his scoreless streak. Lee racked up a scoreless inning streak of 34 innings before being stopped by the Blue Jays on July 3rd.

PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 27: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #35 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during game five of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 27, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 2008 Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels in 2008 comes in at number two on the list. Hamels had a solid but not extraordinary regular season. He finished with a record of 14-10 with an ERA of 3.09 and 196 strikeouts for a K/9 of 7.76.

More from That Balls Outta Here

The reason Hamels is so high on the list is a result of his postseason performance that year. Hamels was a key factor in the 2008 World Series win as he dominated during the Postseason.

Hamels made five starts that postseason and finished with a record of 4-0 and an ERA of 1.80. He also almost set a record as no pitcher has ever won 5 starts in a postseason.

If not being pulled after 75 pitches due to rainy conditions in his final start of the postseason, it is entirely possible Hamels would have entered the record books.

Hamels’ performance earned him the World Series MVP award, as well as the NLCS MVP award.

PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 06: Roy Halladay #34 and Carlos Ruiz #51 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate Halladay’s no-hitter and the win in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Reds 4-0. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 2010 Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay is number one on the list for his dominant performance during the 2010 season. Halladay was acquired for the 2010 season, and lived up to the hype surrounding his acquisition.

Halladay finished 2010 with a record of 21-10, an era of 2.44, and 219 strikeouts for a K/9 of 7.86 and would win the 2010 Cy Young award.