MLB all-time lists: The expansion era’s 10 best starting pitchers
By Bill Felber
MLB all-time lists: Five-season peak performance
This criteria is simply the player’s best five-season average ERA+.
Here are the 10 best peak averages among the 30 candidates.
| Players (Seasons) | Average ERA+ |
|---|---|
| 1. Pedro Martinez (1999-2003) | 227.0 |
| 2. Greg Maddux (1994-98) | 213.8 |
| 3. Clayton Kershaw (2013-17) | 196.0 |
| 4. Randy Johnson (1997-2001) | 177.0 |
| 5. Kevin Brown (1996-2000) | 167.8 |
| 6. Roger Clemens (1990-94) | 166.0 |
| 7. Johan Santana (2002-06) | 159.4 |
| 8. Tom Seaver (1969-73) | 158.4 |
| 9. Max Scherzer (2015-19) | 157.2 |
| 10. Justin Verlander (2016-20) | 154.4 |
Pedro Martinez’s 1999-2003 period has been frequently and justly hailed as among the great peak stretches in the game’s history. In four of those seasons, his ERA+ surpassed 200; in civilian terms, that means Martinez was twice as good as the normal pitcher. In that context, his place at the top of this category is unquestioned.
Greg Maddux had extraordinary back-to-back seasons in 1994-95, highlighted by ERAs of 1.56 and 1.63. His 166 and 170 ERA+ ratings for those seasons are enough to slot him second.
The entire roster of starter categories is so laden with talent that it’s hardly possible for this or any other category to contain surprises. Perhaps Kevin Brown’s dominance between 1996 and 2000 qualifies. In that period, Brown compiled an 82-41 record, winning two ERA titles.
The most notable omissions from this list may be Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan. Carlton’s peak seasons came from 1977-81, but only resulted in a 139.6 average ERA+. That was just good for 22nd place among the 30.
Ryan’s peak came between 1977-81, when among other things he became the first $1 million player. Still his average OPS+ for that period was 129.0. That’s good, except in this crowd, where it ranks 29th out of 30.