SEC pitcher rankings: Beam, Vols dominate at the top

Here's our rankings of the SEC's best pitchers halfway through the conference season. 

Drew Beam photo courtesy of the University of Tennessee.

Strength of schedule and conference numbers are heavily considered, though some of that may or may not be listed below. Innings pitched and ERAs of all games in parenthesis.

1. Drew Beam, Tennessee (54 IP, 1.50 ERA): Allowing just 0.61 baserunners per inning pitched.

2. Jonathan Cannon, Georgia (47.1, 1.71): Has an 0.86 ERA in 21 SEC innings. 

3. Hunter Barco, Florida (50.1, 2.50): Sidelined this week with a forearm issue.

4. Connor Noland, Arkansas (54.1, 2.82): Has a 2.30 ERA in 31.1 conference innings.

5. Joseph Gonzalez, Auburn (40.1, 2.01): Has thrown 23 innings and allowed six runs the last three weekends vs. Vandy, LSU and Mississippi St.

6. Chase Dollander, Tennessee (46, 2.93): 0.83 runners allowed, 40% K rate and 1.53 component ERA all suggest he's pitched better than his ERA.

7. Chase Burns, Tennessee (44.2, 2.22): Ranked behind Dollander due to worse SEC ERA (3.65 vs. 2.33).

8. Garrett McMillan, Alabama (53.2, 3.02): Ranks fourth in the league in innings pitched.

9. Nathan Dettmer, Texas A&M (48.1, 3.54): Has pitched better in SEC play (30 IP, 2.70 ERA).

10. Will Sanders, South Carolina (56.1, 3.51): Ranks eighth in strikeouts in league play and in all games.

11. Devin Futrell, Vanderbilt (42.2, 2.11): Midweek-only starter has been brilliant in that role with 0.78 runners allowed per inning. 

12. Cade Smith, Mississippi St. (50, 3.42): 4.50 ERA in 28 SEC innings hurts him a bit on this list, but most teams would kill for that performance.

13. Hagen Smith, Arkansas (48.2, 3.88): Freshman star has turned it on of late. 

14. Will Mabrey, Tennessee (26, 1.04): Vols are stacked in the bullpen, too, and Mabrey (38% K rate, 0.65 runners per inning) has been their most effective arm.