NEW YORK -- Sabermetricians who argue that wins and losses are flawed statistics for measuring pitching performance will find evidence for their case in Jose Quintana's numbers.
Quintana's record -- a pedestrian 5-5 -- belies his dominance this season. The White Sox left-hander leads the American League with a 2.13 ERA and ranks sixth in innings pitched (72) over 11 starts. Quintana also has the second-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio in the Junior Circuit (4.79), the fourth-best WHIP (1.03) and the fifth-best walks-per-nine-innings ratio (1.75).
Quintana, who has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his outings this year, has been the victim of a glaring lack of run support. The White Sox have scored a total of 32 runs in his 11 starts, which averages out to 2.91 runs per outing.
In Quintana's most recent start on Monday against the Mets, the native of Colombia allowed just one run and struck out seven batters in seven frames while issuing only two walks, but he was charged with the loss as the White Sox fell, 1-0, at Citi Field.
When it comes to the paltry run support Quintana has received, the 27-year-old takes a stoic approach.
"Those are things that are beyond your control," Quintana said in Spanish. "I can't control that. I can only control pitching good games and trying to create a way to win a game.
"At times, it's been tough, because of the lack of support, but I see it as something that happens, that's part of the game. I know that at some point that will change, and hopefully it's soon, for the sake of the team."
Quintana has been plagued by scant run support throughout his Major League career, which he has spent entirely with the South Siders. Despite having a lifetime ERA of 3.35 in the big leagues, he has a 38-39 record and has taken a no-decision in 53 of his 130 starts.
Chicago manager Robin Ventura has been impressed with Quintana's ability to keep frustration at bay.
"He's handled it unbelievably," said Ventura. "I think a lot of guys would go crazy, because he's pitched well, and he's a model teammate, as far as not lashing out.
"He understands what he can control, and I think that's the biggest thing about him. He has the respect of everybody in our clubhouse, because it's not like guys aren't trying. But it sure seems like he gets the least amount of runs of any guy that goes out there, and he still gives us a chance to win every time."
The White Sox showed how highly they thought of Quintana in 2014, when they signed him to a five-year extension during Spring Training after the lefty went 15-13 with a 3.61 ERA in 58 appearances (55 starts) over his first two big league seasons. The contract includes team options for 2019 and '20.
Quintana has rewarded the team's faith. Since the start of that 2014 season, he has worked 478 2/3 innings and has an ERA of 3.16.
The southpaw attributes his success to his offseason regimen.
"I've been working the same way for the past three years," Quintana said. "I always try to prepare my body to stay healthy all season long, and [this offseason], I worked a lot on my [bullpen sessions], the strike zone and trying to attack hitters early.
"That has brought me success, and I will continue to work to maintain it."
Despite his impressive performance, Quintana has often gone unnoticed, but Ventura believes the White Sox offense has the power to change that.
"If we could score, he'd have a better record, and everybody would know his name," Ventura said.