The 9 greatest right-handed pitchers in MLB history

By Tim Kelly, Audacy Sports

Updated on

After missing the entirety of the 2021 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, Justin Verlander will return to the Houston Astros in 2022 after signing a two-year/$50 million deal this offseason.

Set to turn 39 later this month, Verlander has accomplished virtually everything there is to during a 16-year career split between the Detroit Tigers and Astros.

As a Tiger, Verlander was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, and a six-time All-Star. The best season of his career came in 2011, when he won the pitching triple crown, the AL Cy Young Award and AL MVP. The Tigers reached the World Series twice (2006 & 2012) during Verlander's 12-and-a-half seasons with the team, and it stands to reason that his No. 35 could one day be retired in Detroit.

Since joining the Astros in August of 2017, Verlander has cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer. In addition to finally winning his first World Series -- albeit, one of the most controversial in MLB history -- in 2017, Verlander has made two more All-Star teams and won a second AL Cy Young Award in 2019. He's been so impressive during his time with the Astros that you wonder if Verlander will ultimately wear a blank cap on his plaque in Cooperstown despite spending his career largely with one franchise, as the late Roy Halladay did.

So what does Verlander have left to prove? Well, in some senses, nothing. Even if he falls short in his quest to pitch until he's 45, Verlander will be remembered as one of the great workhorses of this era, one who has three no-hitters on his resume.

The only thing left for Verlander to do is climb even higher on the list of the greatest right-handed pitchers in MLB history. As is, Verlander's 71.8 bWAR is 32nd among all starting pitchers in the history of the league. Both his WAR 7 and JAWS -- two metrics used by analytically-minded baseball historians -- are in line with the average Hall of Fame starting pitcher.

A few more elite seasons, though, could potentially propel him into being an inner-circle pitcher in the history of the sport. And you know what? We wouldn't bet against him doing it.

For the time being, Verlander, the aforementioned Halladay, Kid Nichols, Curt Schilling, Gaylord Perry, Mike Mussina, Robin Roberts, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro, Grover Cleveland Alexander and Bert Blyleven are among those that fell just short of cracking our countdown of the nine greatest right-handed pitchers in MLB history:

Christy Mathewson is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Paul Thompson/Wikimedia Commons)

9. Christy Mathewson - New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds (1900-1916)

Best Season: 1908 - 37-11 with a 1.43 ERA, 169 ERA+, 1.29 FIP, 0.827 WHIP, 259 strikeouts, 34 complete games and a 10.8 fWAR
Career Stats: 373-188 with a 2.13 ERA, 136 ERA+, 2.26 FIP, 1.058 WHIP, 2,507 strikeouts, 435 complete games and 90.0 fWAR

During his 17-year career, Mathewson won five National League ERA titles and the pitching triple crown on two occasions. The Cy Young Award didn't exist during Mathewson's career, but when you considering that he finished as high as second in MVP voting, you can bet he would have captured today's top pitching award multiple times. Mathewson -- who was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 -- checked in at No. 4 on our countdown of the greatest Giants ever.

Bob Gibson is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today)

8. Bob Gibson - St. Louis Cardinals (1959-1975)

Best Season: 1970 - 23-7 with a 3.12 ERA, 133 ERA+, 2.29 FIP, 1.190 WHIP, 274 strikeouts, 23 complete games and a 9.8 fWAR
Career Stats: 251-174 with a 2.91 ERA, 127 ERA+, 2.89 FIP, 1.188 WHIP, 3,117 strikeouts, 255 complete games and 82.3 fWAR

A nine-time All-Star, Gibson is one of the greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history, and one of the best pitchers that the sport has ever seen. During his 17-year career, Gibson won the National League Cy Young Award twice (1968 & 1970), while also winning the NL MVP in 1968. Additionally, Gibson won two World Series MVPs during his illustrious career, one in 1964 and the second in 1967. For good measure, Gibson was one of the greatest fielding pitchers ever, with nine Gold Glove Awards in his trophy case as well. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981, and his No. 45 is retired by the Cardinals.

Nolan Ryan is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (JOE PATRONITE/ALLSPORT)

7. Nolan Ryan - New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros & Texas Rangers (1966; 1968-1993)

Best Season: 1973 - 21-16 with a 2.87 ERA, 123 ERA+, 2.49 FIP, 1.227 WHIP, 383 strikeouts, 26 complete games and an 8.7 fWAR
Career Stats: 324-292 with a 3.19 ERA, 112 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 1.247 WHIP, 5,714 strikeouts, 222 complete games and 106.7 fWAR

Ryan had unfathomable longevity, pitching in the major leagues in 27 different seasons. During that time, Ryan made eight All-Star teams, won two National League ERA titles, set an MLB record with seven career no-hitters and struck out more batters (5,714) than any pitcher in MLB history. Ryan is in the Hall of Fame as a Ranger, and also appeared on our countdowns of the greatest Angels and Astros players ever.

Greg Maddux is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT)

6. Greg Maddux - Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers & San Diego Padres (1986-2008)

Best Season: 1995 - 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA, 260 ERA+, 2.26 FIP, 0.811 WHIP, 181 strikeouts, 10 complete games and a 7.9 fWAR
Career Stats: 355-227 with a 3.16 ERA, 132 ERA+, 3.26 FIP, 1.143 WHIP, 3,371 strikeouts, 109 complete games and 116.7 fWAR

Maddux is probably the greatest fielding pitcher in MLB history, having won a staggering 18 Gold Glove Awards, the most of any player at any position. That's on top of the fact that Maddux won four ERA titles, four National League Cy Young Awards and was an eight-time All-Star. Maddux's 355 wins are seventh in MLB history, and the most among any player who began their career after 1950. Like a few of his Atlanta teammates, Maddux checked in on our countdown of the best players in Braves history. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014, but his plaque features him with a blank cap since he also spent a decade with the Cubs.

Tom Seaver is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today)

5. Tom Seaver - New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox (1967-1986)

Best Season: 1971 - 20-10 with a 1.76 ERA, 194 ERA+, 1.93 FIP, 0.946 WHIP, 289 strikeouts, 21 complete games and a 9.1 fWAR
Career Stats: 311-205 with a 2.86 ERA, 127 ERA+, 3.04 FIP, 1.121 WHIP, 3,640 strikeouts, 231 complete games and 92.4 fWAR

One of 10 pitchers in MLB history to win three or more Cy Young Awards, we've already ranked Seaver as the greatest player in Mets history. "Tom Terrific" stands out when compared to pretty much any pitcher in the history of the sport, having won three National League ERA titles while also making 12 All-Star teams. Seaver was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, and his No. 41 is retired by the Mets.

Cy Young is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Paul Thompson/Wikimedia Commons)

4. Cy Young - Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals, Boston Americans/Red Sox, Cleveland Naps & Boston Rustlers (1890-1911)

Best Season: 1901 - 33-10 with a 1.62 ERA, 219 ERA+, 2.64 FIP, 0.972 WHIP, 158 strikeouts, 38 complete games and a 7.8 fWAR
Career Stats: 511-315 with a 2.63 ERA, 138 ERA+, 2.84 FIP, 1.130 WHIP, 2,803 strikeouts, 749 complete games and 131.5 fWAR

They don't name the highest honor a pitcher can be given after just anyone. Young is baseball's all-time leader in wins (511), complete games (749) and games started (815), among other categories. Young won ERA titles in both the National League and the American League, and captured the pitching triple crown in 1901, while pitching for the Boston Americans. Young was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937, and the league began to hand out the award bearing his name in 1956.

Pedro Martinez is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Jonathan Daniel /Allsport)

3. Pedro Martínez - Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets & Philadelphia Phillies (1992-2009)

Best Season: 1999 - 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA, 243 ERA+, 1.39 FIP, 0.923 WHIP, 313 strikeouts, five complete games and an 11.6 fWAR
Career Stats: 219-100 with a 2.93 ERA, 154 ERA+, 2.91 FIP, 1.054 WHIP, 3,154 strikeouts, 46 complete games and 84.4 fWAR

Martínez's 219 career wins are the lowest mark of any player on this list, but he was arguably the most dominant at the height of his powers. Despite pitching at the peak of The Steroid Era, Martínez finished in the top four in Cy Young Award voting seven times between 1997 and 2004, winning the award on three of those occasions (1997, 1999, 2000). Between 1997 and 2000, Martínez put together arguably the greatest four-year stretch in MLB history, going 77-25 with a 2.16 ERA, 2.36 FIP and 35.3 fWAR. Martínez was inducted into to the Hall of Fame in 2015, and is viewed as perhaps the most unhittable starting pitcher in The Modern Era.

Roger Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Tom Szczerbowski/USA Today)

2. Roger Clemens - Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees & Houston Astros (1984-2007)

Best Season: 1997 - 21-7 with a 2.05 ERA, 222 ERA+, 2.25 FIP, 1.030 WHIP, 292 strikeouts, nine complete games and a 10.7 fWAR
Career Stats: 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA, 143 ERA+, 3.09 FIP, 1.173 WHIP, 4,672 strikeouts, 118 complete games and 133.7 fWAR

In 1986, Clemens won the American League MVP, along with his first of seven Cy Young Awards, by far an MLB record. Clemens won Cy Young Awards with four different teams (Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees & Astros), making him the only pitcher in MLB history to capture the award with more than two teams. Affectionally referred to as "The Rocket," Clemens is ninth in MLB history with 354 career wins. Credible connections to performance-enhancing drugs have kept Clemens out of the Hall of Fame to this point.

Walter Johnson is one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Photo credit (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

1. Walter Johnson - Washington Senators (1907-1927)

Best Season: 1912 - 33-12 with a 1.39 ERA, 243 ERA+, 2.03 FIP, 0.908 WHIP, 303 strikeouts, 34 complete games and a 9.3 fWAR
Career Stats: 417-279 with a 2.17 ERA, 147 ERA+, 2.38 FIP, 1.061 WHIP, 3,509 strikeouts, 531 complete games and 117.1 fWAR

It's called the Cy Young Award, but there's a case to be made that the top honor given to pitchers should have instead been named after Johnson. A two-time American League MVP, Johnson would likely own the record for most Cy Young Awards if said award existed during his career. "The Big Train" led the American League in wins, ERA, FIP, WHIP, complete games and innings pitched all at least five different times. It shouldn't be glossed over that Johnson -- among others on this list -- played well before baseball's color barrier was broken. Certainly, if he had played in a later era, his numbers probably wouldn't have been as dominant. But from what evidence we have, Johnson would have been an all-time great pitcher in any era, given that his current numbers put him among the greatest hurlers in MLB history. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.

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