With the 2025 MLB playoffs kicking off this week there was no shortage of great moments. Great atmospheres and overall competition.
The playoffs bring out the best in teams and the best in players. The pitching was some of the best seen of the season seeing a pitcher sending 13 straight back to the dugout, seeing another pitcher tie the franchise record for the most strikeouts in a postseason game and finally seeing a rookie pitcher go eight innings in his first postseason pitching appearance and setting a record. These are the top three pitching performances of the Wild Card Round.
3) Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Los Angeles Dodgers Vs Cincinnati Reds Wild Card Game Two
In 6.2 innings Yamamoto allowed two runs in the first inning. Neither run was earned allowing both runs off a single letting runners from second and third to score. Despite the two runs early Yamamoto was able to cruise through the next four innings not allowing a base hit.
In the sixth inning Yamamoto got into some trouble early allowing the first three runners to get on base but was able to recover getting three straight outs to end the inning leaving all three runners on base. Yamamoto is 0-1 against the Phillies. Expect to see him succeed overall but struggle against Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos.
In 6.2 Yamamoto was able to record only four hits on two runs neither earned and two walks facing 28 batters and having 68% of his pitches be strikes.
Leading the Dodgers to an 8-4 against the Reds seeing the Dodgers advance to the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yamamoto makes the list because he was able to create a good outing sitting down 13 straight and managing to get out of a bases loaded zero out jam sitting down the next three straight. He did have a rough start hitting the second batter up in the first inning. The next batter was able to get to second base on an error caused by outfielder Teoscar Hernandez putting runners at second and third base. The next batter was able to single, allowing for two runs to score early.
2) Tarik Skubal: Detroit Tigers Vs Cleveland Guardians Wild Card game one
In 7.2 innings Skubal allowed only one run, seeing the one run come in the fourth inning off a ball that bounced off of the dirt and over the head of Skubal. He was able to grab the ball and make an impressive throw to home but was unable to get the ball to the plate in time.
Skubal saw a season high 14 strikeouts in the game tying the franchise record for most strikeouts in a postseason game.
Skubal was able to only allow three hits, three walks, one run and 14 strikeouts on 7.2 innings pitched and with a 68% strike rate on 107 pitches. Helping lead the Tigers to a 2-1 win.
Skubal comes in second because while he did strikeout 14 batters tying the franchise record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in the wild card and broke his own season high for strikeouts. Allowing for only one run to score while pitching 7.2 innings is not something to overlook, but he did still give up a run. Against the Mariners expect to see a loss for him. He has lost two straight against the Mariners this season. The power that the Mariners offense has will be too much for him to handle.
1) Cam Schlittler: New York Yankees Vs Boston Red Sox Wild Card game three
In 8.0 innings Schlittler allowed zero runs. Starting the game off hot with a three up three down inning, he did that two more times in the third and seventh inning.
Schlittler did not allow for back-to-back base hits, never allowing more than one runner on a base at a given time. He was able to sit down eight straight batters ending the game with 12 strikeouts setting an MLB record for most strikeouts by a rookie in a wild card game.
In 8.0 innings pitched Schlittler was able to allow five hits, zero runs, zero walks, and 12 strikeouts facing 29 batters with 70% of his pitches being strikes on 107 pitches. Leading the Yankees to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees will advance to the ALDS where they will take on a familiar face in their division rivals the Toronto Blue Jays.
Schlittler tops the list because of what he was able to do against the Red Sox. As a rookie in his first ever postseason appearance he was in control the whole game. He never once put himself into a dangerous position. He was nearly able to pitch the whole game pitching 8.0 innings and not allowing a single run.
Additionally he was able to set the record for most strikeouts by a rookie ending the game with 12 strikeouts. What he was able to do in his first postseason appearance of his career is simply unheard of. Against the Blue Jays in the next round expect to see a drop in performance as career wise he is 1-1 against the Blue Jays. Batters Bo Bichette, Addison Barger, George Springer and Vlad Guerrero jr will be able to get the better Schlittler.
With the Wild Card round over the divisional series is up next seeing some great pitching matchups. Expect to see these three continue to thrive and see some new names emerge as we get deeper into the playoffs.
The divisional series will take place from Saturday Oct. 4 to Saturday Oct. 11. In the American League the six seed Detroit Tigers will take on the two seed Seattle Mariners and the four seed New York Yankees will take on the one seed Toronto Blue Jays. In the National League the three seed Los Angeles Dodgers will face the two seed Philadelphia Phillies and the four seed Chicago Cubs will face the one seed Milwaukee Brewers.
