Top 25 MLB pitching seasons of all time

24 of 25

May 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jake Arrieta, 2015

The Numbers: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA in the second half of the season, led MLB in complete games and shutouts, NL Cy Young

MLB historians will struggle for years to fully comprehend the greatness of the second half of Jake Arrieta’s 2015 season. No pitcher since MLB lowered the mound has even come close to sustaining such a level of dominance for a span of two months.

For 12 starts from August 4 to the end of the season, Arrieta went on a run that is unmatched in the annals of MLB history. He posted an ERA of 0.41 over 88.1 innings while going 11-0 with a no-hitter on August 30 against the Dodgers. Opponents batted just .136 against the right-hander with an OPS of .354 and one home run. This was the culmination of a long buildup to finally attaining ace status for the former top prospect.

The most impressive thing about Arrieta’s run was the fact that he did it without piling up ridiculous strikeout totals. He struck out just over a batter an inning, but hitters could not handle the heavy movement on his sinker or the power nature of his curveball and slider. Arrieta allowed a .107 batting average on his sinker during the run.

Arrieta’s dominance continued into the playoffs and the start of the 2016 season. He opened last season by throwing another no-hitter, and had an 11-1 record and a sub-2.00 ERA in the middle of June. From there, his command began to waver, and he would finish the year with a solid 18-8 record. The command issues have spilled over into the beginning of 2017, but Arrieta’s 2015 run may never be matched.

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