NFL Tickets
Starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are making history for the Los Angeles Dodgers on the mound this season. Their numbers have been so impressive lately, they’re joining some elite company. Here are the five best single-season 1-2 punches in baseball history including the Dodgers’ current duo.
5. 1958 Milwaukee Braves: Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette
Getty ImagesBurdette: 20-10, 2.91 ERA, 113 Ks
A lot of people point to Spahn and Johnny Sain ("Spahn and Sain and pray for rain"), but the better Braves combo was Spahn and Burdette. Both won 20 or more games in 1958 and dominated opposing hitters. Neither blew the competition away, but they found ways to get batters out and there's something to be said about that kind of precision. Milwaukee lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games that season.
Spahn: 22-11, 3.07 ERA, 150 Ks
Burdette: 20-10, 2.91 ERA, 113 Ks
A lot of people point to Spahn and Johnny Sain ("Spahn and Sain and pray for rain"), but the better Braves combo was Spahn and Burdette. Both won 20 or more games in 1958 and dominated opposing hitters. Neither blew the competition away, but they found ways to get batters out and there's something to be said about that kind of precision. Milwaukee lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games that season.
4. 1964 Los Angeles Dodgers: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale
Getty ImagesDrysdale: 18-16, 2.18 ERA, 237 Ks
There was the "left arm of God" and the golden boy in the same rotation, and they were both unbelievable in 1964. This was in the middle of Koufax's dominant stretch, one of the most dominant in baseball history, and Drysdale actually looked more dominant at times during the 1964 season. The fact that both of their ERAs hovered around 2.00 all season tells you just how dominant they were. L.A.'s lack of offense doomed them, though, as they finished in sixth place in the National League.
Koufax: 19-5, 1.74 ERA, 223 Ks
Drysdale: 18-16, 2.18 ERA, 237 Ks
There was the "left arm of God" and the golden boy in the same rotation, and they were both unbelievable in 1964. This was in the middle of Koufax's dominant stretch, one of the most dominant in baseball history, and Drysdale actually looked more dominant at times during the 1964 season. The fact that both of their ERAs hovered around 2.00 all season tells you just how dominant they were. L.A.'s lack of offense doomed them, though, as they finished in sixth place in the National League.
3. 1995 Atlanta Braves: Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine
Getty ImagesGlavine: 16-7, 3.08 ERA, 127 Ks
Atlanta had a great trio with John Smoltz added in, but Maddux and Glavine were the best duo of their time. Maddux had his best season in 1995 while Glavine also emerged as a dominant force that year. Despite owning the NL East for over a decade, the Braves won just one World Series during that stretch. It's no coincidence it was in 1995.
Maddux: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 181 Ks
Glavine: 16-7, 3.08 ERA, 127 Ks
Atlanta had a great trio with John Smoltz added in, but Maddux and Glavine were the best duo of their time. Maddux had his best season in 1995 while Glavine also emerged as a dominant force that year. Despite owning the NL East for over a decade, the Braves won just one World Series during that stretch. It's no coincidence it was in 1995.
2. 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke
Brad Mills - USA Today SportsGreinke: 9-2, 1.30 ERA, 117 Ks
The Dodgers' current duo is just about as good as we've ever seen in baseball in a single season. Both players have combined for 72.2 straight scoreless innings, which is one of the most impressive pitching stats in baseball history. If the Dodgers get another pitcher at the trade deadline, they're going to be a very tough out this postseason.
Kershaw: 7-6, 2.68 ERA, 174 Ks
Greinke: 9-2, 1.30 ERA, 117 Ks
The Dodgers' current duo is just about as good as we've ever seen in baseball in a single season. Both players have combined for 72.2 straight scoreless innings, which is one of the most impressive pitching stats in baseball history. If the Dodgers get another pitcher at the trade deadline, they're going to be a very tough out this postseason.
1. 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling
Getty ImagesSchilling: 22-6, 2.98 ERA, 293 Ks
These two had the most dominant season of any pair of pitchers in major league history. Each blew the opposition away, combining for an incredible 665 strikeouts. In terms of dazzle and flare, nobody came close to these two. It came down to a Game 7, but the Diamondbacks won the World Series in the 2001 season -- a perfect ending to the most dominant season baseball has ever seen from two pitchers on the same team.
Johnson: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks
Schilling: 22-6, 2.98 ERA, 293 Ks
These two had the most dominant season of any pair of pitchers in major league history. Each blew the opposition away, combining for an incredible 665 strikeouts. In terms of dazzle and flare, nobody came close to these two. It came down to a Game 7, but the Diamondbacks won the World Series in the 2001 season -- a perfect ending to the most dominant season baseball has ever seen from two pitchers on the same team.
Share 
