Jose Lima still sits on top of best score by a LAD pitcher this century

Phil Gurnee ♦ October 15, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment

With Justin Verlander reminding everyone that elite games in October aren’t obsolete, it is Lima time that still reigns supreme in October in the 21st century for the Dodgers.

The greatest pitcher of the 21st century has yet to post one postseason game score above 79, but 48 other pitchers have done so. Clayton does have however four game scores of 70 or better, so while he hasn’t been elite he has bubbled just on the outside. You can’t say he hasn’t had the opportunity, Clayton has now made fifteen postseason starts. In the regular season, he has had 41 games scores of 80 or greater in 290 starts or one every 7 starts.

Player                  Date Series Gm# Opp  Rslt  IP H ER BB SO GSc
Jose Lima         2004-10-09   NLDS   3 STL W 4-0 9.0 5  0  1  4  80
Clayton Kershaw   2016-10-16   NLCS   2 CHC W 1-0 7.0 2  0  1  6  78
Zack Greinke      2014-10-04   NLDS   2 STL W 3-2 7.0 2  0  2  7  78
Clayton Kershaw   2013-10-03   NLDS   1 ATL W 6-1 7.0 3  1  3 12  76
Zack Greinke      2013-10-11   NLCS   1 STL L 2-3 8.0 4  2  1 10  75
Clayton Kershaw   2015-10-13   NLDS   4 NYM W 3-1 7.0 3  1  1  8  74
Hyun-Jin Ryu      2013-10-14   NLCS   3 STL W 3-0 7.0 3  0  1  4  74
Rich Hill         2016-10-18   NLCS   3 CHC W 6-0 6.0 2  0  2  6  72
Vicente Padilla   2009-10-10   NLDS   3 STL W 5-1 7.0 4  0  1  4  72
Vicente Padilla   2009-10-16   NLCS   2 PHI W 2-1 7.1 4  1  1  6  71
Clayton Kershaw   2013-10-12   NLCS   2 STL L 0-1 6.0 2  0  1  5  70

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/15/2017.

How about in LAD history? Two game sevens are on that list with the 1965 game seven by Koufax one of the greatest postseason starts in the entire history of baseball.

Player                 Date Series Gm#  Tm Opp  Rslt  IP H ER BB SO GSc
Don Drysdale     1963-10-05     WS   3 LAD NYY W 1-0 9.0 3  0  1  9  89
Sandy Koufax     1965-10-14     WS   7 LAD MIN W 2-0 9.0 3  0  3 10  88
Sandy Koufax     1965-10-11     WS   5 LAD MIN W 7-0 9.0 4  0  1 10  88
Orel Hershiser   1988-10-16     WS   2 LAD OAK W 6-0 9.0 3  0  2  8  87
Don Sutton       1974-10-05   NLCS   1 LAD PIT W 3-0 9.0 4  0  1  6  84
Tommy John       1978-10-05   NLCS   2 LAD PHI W 4-0 9.0 4  0  2  4  81
Jose Lima        2004-10-09   NLDS   3 LAD STL W 4-0 9.0 5  0  1  4  80
Orel Hershiser   1988-10-12   NLCS   7 LAD NYM W 6-0 9.0 5  0  2  5  80
Burt Hooton      1977-10-12     WS   2 LAD NYY W 6-1 9.0 5  1  1  8  80

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/15/2017.