The top 10 greatest short-lived duos in MLB history

World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks' win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 26: Pitcher Roy Halladay #34 (R) and Cliff Lee #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies sit in the dugout during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 26, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Short-lived MLB duo No. 9: Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee — 2011–2013 Philadelphia Phillies

When the Phillies brought in Roy Halladay in 2009, Roy Oswalt at the 2010 trade deadline and re-acquired Cliff Lee in the 2010 off-season, they were eyeing baseball’s first pitching super team since the 1990s Atlanta Braves.

Along with Cole Hamels, the quadrant met expectations in their lone season together with Philly putting up 102 wins 2011. But it was Halladay and Lee who garnered much attention. Both pitchers orchestrated lights out seasons in 2011.

Halladay finished the season second in the NL Cy Young award voting after his 2.35 ERA over 233.2 innings pitched and career-high 220 strikeouts. He also posted career highs in FIP (2.20), bWAR, (8.8) and o-swing% (34.7%). His campaign also included a league-high eight complete games.

Lee was just as efficient. He capped off the year third in the season’s Cy Young award voting after a 2.40 ERA over 232.2 innings pitched campaign. He recorded career highs in strikeouts (238), bWAR (8.5) and ERA- (62). Lee also became a specialist in closing out games with a career-high six shutouts over the season.

With Halladay’s late break on his cutter coupled with Lee’s sinker, the two fooled hitters throughout the season. They became the first duo of starting pitchers to record an ERA below 2.40 along with at least 220 strikeouts and innings pitched each since 1968 when the Indians’ Sam McDowell and Luis Tiant hit all three targets as well.

However, their success as a duo together was never replicated following the 2011 regular season. The Phillies were eliminated in five games in the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals after Halladay posted a 2.25 ERA in the series but Lee had an abysmal Game 2 performance. Lee had some redemption with superb 2012 and 2013 seasons while Halladay played far from his glory days of the mid-2000s because of nagging injuries.

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