The Pitcher Rank Log database is now complete from 1980-2019. Previous posts looked decades starting in 1984. That leaves the past six seasons to complete the treatment. From 2014 through 2019, six pitchers obtained the status of the number one rank among starting pitchers. This one, so far, is the Clayton Kershaw era.

This Google spreadsheet graphs the scores for the six from 2014-2019. The first three years shows Kershaw mostly dominating, but with Max Scherzer constantly making runs, and once in a while passing the Dodgers left-hander. Justin Verlander is close to the top to start the era, but fades due to his serious abdominal injury.

Kershaw peaks with a score of 640.9 on 6/21/2016 after a streak of ten brilliant starts. He would give up four runs in his next game, then go on the disabled list until September. That was the start of a run of Kershaw battling injuries. Despite Kershaw’s setbacks, it would take Scherzer until June 17, 2017 to earn back the top slot.

From then on a number of dog fights occur. In early September 2017, Scherzer, Kershaw, Chris Sale, and Corey Kluber are very close. Kluber breaks on top. By the end of the playoffs, Kluber and Scherzer are about as close as possible, Kluber ahead by 0.1 points.

Meanwhile, two seasons removed from his injury, Verlander moved back into the fray. The first half of the 2018 season sees Kluber, Scherzer, and Verlander battle for the top slot, with Scherzer emerging on as number one. Chris Sale makes his great run, and briefly takes the stop slot, only to have injuries knock him down.

The 2019 season comes down to a battle between Verlander and Scherzer, which Verlander wins when a neck injury limits Scherzer’s time and effectiveness on the mound. Verlander finishes the regular season number one, but all season long his Astros teammate Gerrit Cole gained ground. Cole pitched much better than Verlander in the post-season, however, and he gets to spend the off-season in the number one slot.

It was a pretty good time period to pitch for the Astros.