Who has essentially the most strikeouts in MLB postseason historical past?

MLB’s all-time postseason strikeout king is veteran right-hander Justin Verlander, which is fascinating, as a result of in a number of methods the 40-year-old has been up and down in October. In 35 playoff outings he is posted a 3.64 ERA — effectively above his regular-season mark — however he is struggled considerably within the World Collection, pitching to a 5.63 ERA in 9 begins within the Fall Basic. That mentioned, Verlander has clearly been an enormous a part of two Astros championship groups, and the 230 batters he is punched out in 207.2 postseason innings are eye-opening. Barring a Houston collapse in September, he’ll get an opportunity so as to add to his complete subsequent month. 

Verlander’s profession has run almost parallel to that of Dodger’s lefty Clayton Kershaw, and for a very long time the duo had been thought of one of the best beginning pitchers of their respective leagues. And equally to Verlander, Kershaw for some time had a repute of developing quick in October. His 4.22 playoff ERA is over a run and a half larger than his profession mark within the common season, and his 13-12 postseason document will not be consultant of the dominant ace he is been for a decade and a half within the huge leagues. That mentioned, Kershaw got here up big in three World Collection begins in 2020 to earn his elusive first ring, and the 213 strikeouts he is tallied in 194 postseason innings are spectacular. Like Verlander, he’ll get an opportunity so as to add to that complete in a couple of weeks. 

Due to being on a Braves group that merely dominated the Nationwide League East for greater than a decade, righty John Smoltz bought an opportunity to pitch in October primarily each season, and he actually thrived on the postseason stage. In 41 playoff outings (27 begins), Smoltz labored to a dominant 2.67 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP, whereas placing out 199 hitters in 209 innings. He posted a powerful 15-4 playoff document, earned three saves, was the NLCS MVP in 1992, and helped Atlanta win the World Collection in ’95. 

Just like Smoltz’ scenario with the Braves, lefty Andy Pettitte was almost a yearly October participant because of pitching for a Yankees group that had extra success than anybody else within the Nineteen Nineties. Throughout his profession, Pettitte made 44 postseason begins, working to a 3.81 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. He earned 19 victories, was the MVP of the 2001 ALCS, earned 5 World Collection rings, and most related to this gallery, punched out 183 hitters. 

Large right-hander Roger Clemens was a teammate of Pettitte’s for a few years within the Bronx, and collectively the duo received World Collection titles in 1999 and 2000. Clemens additionally pitched extensively within the playoffs for each the Purple Sox and Astros throughout his profession, and in complete took the mound 35 occasions within the postseason. In these outings he pitched to a 3.75 ERA with 1.22 WHIP in 199 innings, whereas punching out 173 hitters to test in at quantity 5 on this checklist. 

Clemens’ tenure within the prime 5 in all-time postseason strikeouts is in vital jeopardy, nevertheless, because of who’s presently within the sixth spot. Proper-hander Max Scherzer totally anticipated to be pitching in October in 2023, however a season-ending harm dashed these hopes in brutal trend. Within the 23 postseason outings already on his resume, Scherzer has pitched to a 3.58 ERA throughout 133.1 innings, whereas placing out 164 batters, and he was instrumental in serving to Washington win the World Collection in 2019.

Corridor of Fame righty Mike Mussina cut up his profession almost equally between Baltimore and the Bronx, and was clearly an impression hurler in each cities. Mussina received 270 video games in his profession, and truly raised his sport within the postseason, pitching to a greater ERA in October than in the course of the common season. Throughout 23 playoff outings he delivered a 3.42 ERA with a powerful 1.10 WHIP in 139.2 innings, whereas punching out a powerful 145 batters. 

Due to all of the years he spent in Atlanta, southpaw Tom Glavine had the nice fortune of pitching in an astounding 24 totally different postseason collection, and actually, solely Andy Pettitte has registered extra playoff innings. In 35 profession October begins, Glavine went 14-16 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP, and whereas he wasn’t significantly a strikeout pitcher, the 218.1 frames he tossed helped him accumulate 143 punchouts. 

Six-time all-star and 2019 American League ERA king Gerrit Cole has lengthy been thought of one of many elite pitchers within the sport, however that hasn’t all the time carried over into the postseason. Cole misplaced the 2015 NL Wild Card sport whereas he was with the Pirates, and whereas for essentially the most half he was sensible for the Astros in October, since coming to the Bronx he is fired a few duds — most notably within the 2021 Wild Card sport towards Boston. Buoyed by his work in Houston, Cole’s 2.93 playoff ERA throughout 17 begins is superb, however New York followers are anxious to see him lead them on the kind of postseason run he did with the Astros. The 134 strikeouts he is registered in solely 104.1 October innings do get your consideration, although, and whereas it will not be this season, Yankees followers are hopeful he’ll get one other probability within the playoffs within the close to future. 

Few pitchers have authored a postseason resume like southpaw Jon Lester, who received two World Collection titles with the Purple Sox and one with the Cubs, and was persistently capable of elevate his sport within the largest contests. In 452 profession regular-season outings Lester labored to a decent 3.66 ERA, however he turned it up a number of notches within the playoffs, working to the tune of a 2.51 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP in 26 video games. He was the MVP of the 2016 NLCS, and his group all the time felt assured with him on the mound in an enormous spot. In 154 October innings Lester struck out 133 hitters, which slots him simply inside the highest 10 all-time. 

Large left-hander Randy Johnson is among the most heralded strikeout artists in baseball historical past, so it ought to come as no shock in any way to see his title on this checklist. Johnson didn’t have as many postseason alternatives as a number of the names forward of him, pitching in solely 19 playoff video games and logging 121 innings. However he did predictably blow away 132 batters, and whereas his 3.50 lifetime postseason ERA is not spectacular, he was otherworldly in the course of the Diamondbacks’ run to their 2001 World Collection title, and was named the MVP of that Fall Basic. 

Corridor of Fame righty Greg Maddux is clearly greatest identified for his position in all of the success the Atlanta Braves loved within the Nineteen Nineties, and whereas clearly most of his postseason work got here in a Braves uniform, he did additionally make playoff begins for each the Cubs and the Dodgers. In 35 profession October outings, Maddux pitched effectively, working to the tune of a 3.27 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP throughout 198 innings. He notched 11 victories, and most related to this checklist, recorded 125 outs by the use of the Ok. 

The Cardinals are one among a number of high-profile veteran groups which have had endured extremely disappointing 2023 campaigns, and for right-hander Adam Wainwright the season couldn’t be going any worse. In 18 begins he is sporting an ERA over eight, and at 42 years outdated it definitely seems he is on the finish of the road. That mentioned, let’s not overlook how impactful he is been for St. Louis during the last 18 years. Wainwright was an enormous a part of the Cardinals’ World Collection win in 2006, and in 29 complete playoff outings he was magnificent. In 114.1 innings, the Brunswick, GA native pitched to a stellar 2.83 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP, whereas placing out 123 hitters. 

Lefty CC Sabathia earned 251 wins within the main leagues, and spent nearly all of his 19 seasons as a reliable top-of-the-rotation starter in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and New York. The overwhelming majority of his postseason work got here in a Yankees uniform, although he typically delivered combined ends in October. In 26 complete playoff appearances he pitched to a 4.28 ERA in 130.1 innings. His 1.53 postseason WHIP was effectively above his profession regular-season mark, however he did strike out 121 batters and, most significantly, play a key position within the Yankees’ 2009 World Collection title. 

To this present day, right-hander Curt Schilling is remembered as probably the most dominant postseason pitchers of his period, and the Anchorage, AK native definitely has the jewellery to indicate for it. Schilling made playoff begins for the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Purple Sox, and was downright sensible for each one among them. In 19 cumulative October outings, Schillinh went 11-2 with an eye-opening 2.23 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He fired 4 full video games, struck out 120 hitters in 133.1 innings, and most significantly was the driving drive behind two World Collection championships in Boston and one in Arizona. 

Subsequent up on the checklist is probably an unknown title to lots of people studying this: left-hander Invoice Foster. The Calvert, TX native was probably the most completed hurlers in Negro League historical past, profitable 4 ERA titles and serving to the Chicago American Giants win two World Collection championships. In 25 postseason outings (19 begins), he earned 12 wins whereas pitching to a 2.54 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He threw 17 full video games within the playoffs — together with three shutouts — and punched out 116 hitters in 170.1 innings of labor. The Veterans Committee voted Foster into the Corridor of Fame in 1996. 

Righty John Lackey holds the uncommon distinction of being one of many solely pitchers to win World Collection rings with three totally different groups; in his case, the Angels, Purple Sox, and Cubs. As you’d anticipate from that tidbit, Lackey was no stranger to the month of October throughout his profession, taking the mound 29 totally different occasions within the postseason. In these outings he wasn’t precisely lights out, pitching to a 3.44 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP throughout 144 frames, however he did strike out 114 hitters within the course of. 

Mariano Rivera is the one pure aid pitcher on this checklist, which in itself is consultant of simply how dominant he actually was. Pitching for the Yankees granted the righty a plethora of postseason alternatives, and almost each time his title was known as he was able to reply the bell. In 96 October outings, Rivera pitched to a spectacular 0.70 ERA with a 0.76 WHIP. He transformed 42 postseason saves, earned eight victories, and was named the MVP of each the 1999 World Collection and the 2003 ALCS. He additionally struck out 110 hitters in 141 innings, touchdown him 18th on the all-time postseason strikeout checklist. 

Cuban-born Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez was a stable huge league pitcher throughout his 9 seasons within the main leagues, however when the calendar flipped to October he persistently appeared to morph right into a folks hero. In 19 playoff outings, Hernandez pitched to a 2.55 ERA — a stark distinction from his 4.13 regular-season mark. He earned 9 postseason victories, struck out 107 hitters in solely 106 innings, and received three World Collection titles with the Yankees, in addition to one with the White Sox. 

Righty Walker Buehler was an extremely productive top-of-the-rotation starter for the Dodgers from 2018-22, and the group has actually felt his absence this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgical procedure. Buehler certified for 2 all-star groups, helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Collection, and has a powerful 46-16 profession document. The group is hopeful he can return late this yr and maybe pitch in October, although that’s removed from assured. That may be an enormous boon for Los Angeles, nevertheless, as within the first 15 postseason outings of his profession he is pitched to a 2.94 ERA and struck out 101 hitters in 79.2 innings. 

Righty Zack Greinke has made postseason begins for the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Astros, however the month of October has not all the time been type to the probably future Corridor of Famer. In 22 profession playoff outings, he is labored to a 4.14 ERA — up considerably from his 3.49 regular-season mark — and he owns only a 4-6 postseason document. Greinke has been adept at placing hitters away with strikeouts, although, notching 100 in 113 playoff innings.