Pitching under pressure takes nerves of steel. The best clutch pitchers deliver when it counts and throw with precision and composure when the game is on the line. In this list, we’re spotlighting 15 of the most clutch pitchers ever— guys who owned the mound and left hitters sweating.
Mariano Rivera
No one was better in the clutch than Rivera. The Yankees closer had 42 postseason saves, including 11 in the World Series, and an untouchable 0.70 ERA in the playoffs. When it was crunch time, Rivera’s cutter made sure the Yankees came out on top, time and time again.
Sandy Koufax
Koufax wasn’t just dominant—he was lights-out when it counted most. In the 1965 World Series, he pitched a shutout in Game Seven on two days’ rest. Koufax’s postseason ERA, which is 0.95, establishes him as one of the greatest clutch pitchers to ever take the mound.
Curt Schilling
When the lights were brightest, Schilling was at his best. Known for his “red sock” game in the 2004 ALCS, Schilling delivered clutch performances throughout his career, won three World Series, and displayed an impressive 2.23 postseason ERA.
Madison Bumgarner
Bumgarner’s 2014 postseason run is the stuff of legend. His World Series ERA? An absurd 0.25. In Game 7 of that series, Bumgarner threw five shutout innings in relief on just two days’ rest, single-handedly delivering the Giants a championship.
Bob Gibson
In nine World Series starts, Gibson was unstoppable. He posted a 1.89 ERA struck out 92 batters and earned himself a reputation as one of the toughest pitchers to face in clutch situations. People still talk about his three complete games in the 1967 World Series today.
John Smoltz
Few pitchers delivered in October like Smoltz. Smoltz, the Braves ace, was known for dominating the playoffs and accumulating a 15-4 record and a 2.67 ERA in 41 postseason games. His ability to step up when it mattered made him one of the most reliable playoff performers ever.
Orel Hershiser
Hershiser carried the Dodgers to a World Series title in 1988 with his incredible pitching. He threw complete games in both the NLCS and World Series, earning MVP honors in both. When the pressure was on, Hershiser was the definition of clutch.
Randy Johnson
When Johnson was on the mound, hitters feared him—especially in the clutch. His co-MVP performance in the 2001 World Series, where he won three games, which included a key game seven relief appearance, made him a legend in postseason play.
Pedro Martinez
Martinez had the kind of electric stuff that made him great in the postseason. In the 1999 ALDS, Martinez pitched six no-hit innings in relief to clinch a win for the Red Sox. The ability he had to rise to the occasion in high-pressure moments made him one of the best.
Whitey Ford
Ford was a World Series legend. With 10 wins and an all-time record 33 consecutive scoreless innings in the Fall Classic, Ford delivered under pressure for the Yankees. His postseason record solidified him as one of baseball’s greatest clutch pitchers.
Jack Morris
Morris’s legendary performance in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, where he pitched 10 shutout innings, is one of the most clutch efforts ever. Morris had a habit of delivering when it counted most, and his five career postseason wins back that up.
Tom Glavine
Glavine was always clutch in October. His defining moment came in the 1995 World Series when he threw eight shutout innings in Game 6, leading the Braves to a championship. His steady presence on the mound was important to his team’s success.
Bret Saberhagen
Saberhagen was lights-out in the 1985 World Series, where he won two games and pitched a shutout in Game 7 to give the Royals their first title. His 0.50 ERA in that series showed just how clutch he could be when it mattered most.
Andy Pettitte
With the most postseason wins in MLB history (19), Pettitte made a career out of delivering in the clutch. He was the go-to guy for the Yankees in big games, and his 5 World Series rings prove just how reliable he was when the pressure was on.
Catfish Hunter
Hunter was always cool under pressure. In the 1972 World Series, he pitched a complete-game victory in Game 7 for the A’s. His five World Series titles and calm demeanor on the mound made him one of the greatest clutch pitchers in baseball history.
15 Greatest Clutch Pitchers in Baseball History