Seattle Mariners: Top 10 individual pitching seasons in team history
Ed Stein
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Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners (photo by Dave Sizer, via Wikimedia).
6. Randy Johnson – 1993
This was the Big Unit’s first truly great season in a Hall of Fame career. One of the biggest reasons was that he finally got control of that rocket launcher attached to his left shoulder. After walking at least 120 batters each of the previous three seasons, he cut his bases on balls to 99. Johnson won 23 percent of all M’s games and had an outstanding 1.112 WHIP.
- 19-8 record, 3.24 ERA (8th)
- 1st – 308 strikeouts.
- 1st – 10.86 K/9.
- 1st – 6.5 hits per nine innings (H/9).
- 2nd in Cy Young voting.
5. Edwin Diaz – 2018
Edwin Diaz turned in one of the most dominating seasons for a relief pitcher in recent memory. “Sugar” saved 57 games, converting 93.4 percent of his opportunities. He was the A.L. reliever of the month four times. It wasn’t that he just saved games; Diaz blew hitters away. In 73.1 innings pitched, he had 124 strikeouts and a tiny 0.791 WHIP.
- 1st – 57 saves.
- 1st – 15.2 K/9 (relief pitchers).
- 8th in Cy Young voting.
4. Felix Hernandez – 2014
Felix Hernandez got off to a hot start in 2014. From his opening day start through July 25, King Felix was 11-2, with a 1.99 ERA and 172 strikeouts. He was the ace of a good M’s pitching staff, taking the hill every five days. Unfortunately, he didn’t get much run support.
- 15-6 Record.
- 1st – 2.14 ERA.
- 1st – 34 Starts.
- 1st – 0.915 WHIP.
- 1st – 6.5 H/9.
- 2nd in Cy Young voting.