Clayton Kershaw and 22 mind-boggling starting pitcher stats of the last 50 years
With his 100th strikeout on Sunday, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw broke the record for fewest walks (5) by a pitcher reaching the century mark. Kershaw finished the outing with 105 strikeouts versus just five walks, producing an impossibly high 22:1 K/BB ratio.
The K/BB record holder at the 100-strikeout pole had been Cliff Lee, who reached 100 against seven walks in 2010, needing until July 22 to get there. While Kershaw is on pace to shatter the season K:BB record, just one wobbly afternoon can torpedo the ratio.
Of course, the Dodgers' three-time NL Cy Young Award winner doesn't have many bad outings.
With Kershaw spinning another sub-2.00 ERA season (1.56 currently), we decided to look at some of the most mind-boggling starting pitcher stats from the last 50 years -- or since 1967. The year 1967 gives us a cool half-century to examine and splits the difference between (1) the MLB's expansion to a 162-game season in 1962 and (2) the AL's adoption of the designated hitter in 1973.
You may notice this Kershaw fellow appears below, as he's got a couple season streaks in progress.
Note: season figures listed below require a minimum of 162 innings pitched, which is the requisite number for eligibility for the individual pitching championship (lowest ERA). Numbers are courtesy STATS LLC. And unless otherwise indicated, statistics date back to the 1967 MLB season.
5. Most consecutive IP without allowing a home run (data here goes back to 1974)
Orel Hershiser throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in Game 5 of the 1988 World Series, October 20, 1988.
13. Fewest walks allowed in a season
(Of course it's ideal to keep men off the base paths but there's no better way than the GIDP to send them back to the dugout.)
The Braves' Greg Maddux throws against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in in July 1999.
- 6 tied with 9
(We didn't say that all the records were desirable.)
Zack Greinke pitches against the Texas Rangers on June 18, 2015.
Pedro Martinez pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game 3 of the 2004 World Series on October 26, 2004 .
Bob Gibson of the Cardinals surrounded by teammates after throwing a complete game against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the World Series on October 8, 1967.
Randy Johnson.
Nolan Ryan
