Some fans viewed this game as a World Series preview, while others saw nothing more than Cole Hamels toss a one-hit shutout over four innings against a handful of starters, just to see how the wing felt.
Either way, when this clash takes place again in late June, all eyes will be watching. That’s because the already potent Phils staff added Cliff Lee to the mix this past winter, making Philadelphia’s rotation of Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Hamels the best in the game.
But will this rotation go down as one of the best in the last 30 years? Let’s take a look at some of the best, dating back 30 years.
1985 Dodgers (lost NLCS, all four starters had ERA under 3.00)
Orel Hershiser, 19 wins
Fernando Valenzuela, 17 wins
Bob Welch, 14 wins
Jerry Reuss, 14 wins
1986 Mets (won World Series)
Bob Ojeda, 18 wins
Dwight Gooden, 17 wins
Sid Fernandez, 16 wins
Ron Darling, 15 wins
1989 A’s (won World Series)
Dave Stewart, 21 wins
Mike Moore, 19 wins
Storm Davis, 19 wins
Bob Welch, 17 wins
1998 Yankees (won World Series)
David Cone, 20 wins
David Wells, 18 wins
Andy Pettitte, 16 wins
Hideki Irabu, 13 wins
1998 Braves (lost NLCS, all four starters had over 150 strikeouts)
Tom Glavine, 20 wins (won CY Young)
Greg Maddux, 18 wins
John Smoltz, 17 wins
Kevin Millwood, 17 wins
2001 Mariners (lost ALCS, won 116 games)
Jamie Moyer, 20 wins
Freddy Garcia, 18 wins
Paul Abbott, 17 wins
Aaron Sele, 15 wins
2004 Red Sox (won World Series)
Curt Schilling, 21 wins
Pedro Martinez, 19 wins
Derek Lowe, 14 wins
Tim Wakefield, 12 wins
Which team’s rotation had the most dominant top four starting pitchers of the last 30 years?survey software
