Madison Bumgarner has been a dynamo in this year’s MLB Postseason. In five starts, Bumgarner has a 1.40 ERA. He’s allowed just seven runs (six earned) over 38 2/3 innings, striking out 33 and walking only six. Needless to say, he’s well on his way to the third World Championship of his young career.
But what you may not realize is just how good Bumgarner has been in a historical sense. He’s already ninth all-time in innings pitched over one Postseason, and just one more six inning outing will put him behind just Curt Schilling for the most innings thrown in one Postseason. He’s a couple of strikeouts away from breaking into the top ten all-time in one Postseason. One more start also ties him with Schilling and Chris Carpenter for the most starts in one playoffs.
But where does Bumgarner rank among his peers? Quite frankly, we haven’t seen one pitcher dominate like this since Josh Beckett laid waste to the Giants, Cubs, and Yankees in 2003. That year, Beckett tossed 42 2/3 innings, striking out 47, walking 12, and pitching to a 2.11 ERA.
Curt Schilling’s 2001 with the Diamondbacks was the zenith of his Postseason dominance, as he only made four starts in 2004 for the Red Sox. He went 3-1 in those four starts, but wasn’t great – 22 2/3 innings, 13 strikeouts, five walks, and a 3.57 ERA.
Cole Hamels was the 2008 World Series MVP, and was phenomenal that October for Philadelphia. In 35 innings over five starts, the Phillies didn’t lose a game as Hamels struck out 30 and walked nine.
What about Cliff Lee, a teammate of Hamels the following season? He was unreal for the Phillies in 2009, making five starts (all of which were won by the Phillies), striking out 33, walking six, and notching a 1.56 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. Lee was also great in the 2010 Postseason for the Rangers, who were defeated by Bumgarner’s Giants in the World Series. Lee made five starts that year, pitching to a 2.78 ERA in 35 2/3 innings, but struck out 47 and walked just two. Now that’s insane.
Speaking of 2010, the heroics of Bumgarner’s teammate, Tim Lincecum, cannot be overlooked. Lincecum cut through the playoffs like a buzzsaw to help the Giants win their first ring since moving to San Francisco. He made five starts (and one relief appearances), totaling 37 innings, a 2.43 ERA, 43 strikeouts, and nine walks.
Jon Lester is another starter with a strong case. Last season for the Red Sox, he made five Postseason starts, struck out 29, walked eight, and dominated his way to a 1.56 ERA in 34 2/3 innings.
And then, there’s Madison Bumgarner. He’s thrashed the Pirates in the NL Wild Card game. He made just one start against the Nationals in the NLDS, and got the loss, due in large part to a throwing error he made. Then in the NLCS, he shut out the Cardinals in Game 1 and limited their offense in Game 5 before Travis Ishikawa became a folk hero. Now, his World Series has started with him muting a Royals offense that did just enough in the ALCS against the Orioles.
This dominance by Bumgarner isn’t some new thing, either. He’s made 11 starts and one relief appearance in the Postseason over his career. In 74 1/3 innings, Bumgarner has a 2.54 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and 15 walks. Eight of those starts have been quality starts, and he’s finished the seventh inning in seven of them. We could be looking at a player that ends up as one of the best Postseason pitchers we’ve ever seen – and Bumgarner is just 25-years old.
