10 Greatest Dodgers Pitchers in History
When you think about pitching excellence in Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers stand in a tier of their own. From Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to the sun-drenched ravines of Chavez Ravine, this franchise has served as the ultimate pitching factory for over a century. Naming the greatest dodgers pitchers in history isn't just about tallying up wins; it is about dominance, cultural impact, October heroics, and individual peaks that redefined how the game was played. Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw set the gold standard, but the arms backing them up form an unmatched rotation of baseball royalty.
The Mount Rushmore: Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw
No debate regarding the greatest dodgers pitchers in history begins anywhere other than the two transcendent left-handers who defined their respective eras.
Sandy Koufax produced the most devastating five-year peak in modern baseball history between 1962 and 1966. Before arthritis cut his career tragically short at age 30, "The Left Arm of God" captured three unanimous Cy Young Awards, an MVP award, and three Triple Crowns. Koufax threw four no-hitters, including a perfect game in 1965, and posted a 0.95 ERA across 57 World Series innings. His combination of an explosive rising fastball and a sharp, overhand curveball terrorized hitters and brought three titles to Los Angeles.
Decades later, Clayton Kershaw inherited that mantle and built the modern equivalent of Koufax's brilliance. Across his prime, Kershaw collected three Cy Young Awards, the 2014 NL MVP, and led the majors in ERA for four consecutive seasons (2011–2014). Known for his devastating slider, deceptive delivery, and signature looping curveball, Kershaw boasts the lowest career ERA (2.48) and WHIP (1.00) of any starter in the Live Ball era with at least 2,000 innings. In 2022, he surpassed Don Sutton to become the franchise's all-time strikeout leader, cementing his place alongside Koufax atop the pantheon.
The Workhorses of Chavez Ravine: Don Sutton and Don Drysdale
Longevity and intimidation defined the Dodgers' rotations of the 1960s and 1970s, personified by Don Sutton and Don Drysdale.
Don Sutton was the ultimate model of durability and consistency. Across his 16 seasons in Dodger blue, Sutton amassed 233 wins, 2,696 strikeouts, and 52 shutouts—all franchise records that stand to this day. While he never won a Cy Young Award, Sutton made four All-Star teams with Los Angeles and anchored the rotation through multiple World Series runs in the 1970s. You cannot discuss the greatest dodgers pitchers in history without honoring the arm that threw 3,814.2 innings in a Dodger uniform.
Standing alongside Koufax in the 1960s was Don Drysdale, an imposing 6-foot-5 sidearmer who owned the inside half of the plate. Drysdale won the 1962 Cy Young Award with a 25-9 record and formed half of the most feared one-two punch in baseball history. In 1968, he set a then-record with 58.2 consecutive scoreless innings, tossing six straight shutouts. Drysdale finished his Hall of Fame career with 209 wins and three World Series rings as a Dodger.
Magic and Miracles: Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser
Few pitchers have ever captured the cultural imagination quite like Fernando Valenzuela. In 1981, a 20-year-old rookie from Navojoa, Mexico, unleashed "Fernandomania" across the baseball landscape. With eyes pointed to the sky mid-windup and an unhittable screwball, Valenzuela became the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same season, carrying the Dodgers to a World Series championship over the Yankees. Valenzuela was a workhorse who logged over 250 innings in three separate seasons, remaining an enduring symbol of Dodger pride for the Latino community.
Seven years later, Orel Hershiser engineered one of the most remarkable individual campaigns in sports history. In 1988, "The Bulldog" shattered Drysdale's streak by throwing 59 consecutive scoreless innings to end the regular season. Hershiser then dominated the postseason, taking home NLCS MVP and World Series MVP honors while leading an underdog Dodgers club to the title. He claimed the 1988 Cy Young unanimously and racked up 135 wins during his two stints in Los Angeles.
Brooklyn Foundations: Dazzy Vance and Don Newcombe
Long before Dodger Stadium opened in 1962, the franchise established its pitching lineage at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
Dazzy Vance was the original strikeout artist. Despite not sticking in the majors until age 31, Vance dominated the 1920s, leading the National League in strikeouts for seven consecutive seasons (1922–1928). He won the 1924 NL MVP after going 28-6 with a 2.16 ERA and 262 strikeouts. Vance's dominance in a hitter-friendly era earned him a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction and solidified him among the greatest dodgers pitchers in history.
Two decades later, Don Newcombe made history of his own. One of the first Black pitchers in Major League Baseball, "Newk" was a towering presence on the mound and at the plate. In 1956, he became the first player ever to win the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year awards in a career—taking both the MVP and Cy Young that season with a 27-7 record. Newcombe won 123 games in Brooklyn, playing an essential role in their historic 1955 World Series triumph.
October Royalty and the Ninth Inning: Johnny Podres and Kenley Jansen
Rounding out the top ten are two pitchers who delivered their finest moments when the stakes were highest: a clutch starter and the ultimate ninth-inning weapon.
Johnny Podres secured baseball immortality on October 4, 1955. After Brooklyn had lost seven World Series matchups to the New York Yankees, the 23-year-old left-hander tossed a complete-game shutout in Game 7 at Yankee Stadium to deliver the borough its first and only championship. Podres was a big-game specialist throughout his 13 seasons with the Dodgers, finishing with a 9-6 postseason record and four World Series rings.
In modern times, Kenley Jansen transformed from an unheralded minor league catcher into the franchise's all-time saves leader. Across 12 seasons in Los Angeles, Jansen converted 350 saves with a 2.37 ERA, utilizing a heavy, late-breaking cutter reminiscent of Mariano Rivera. He was a three-time All-Star, the 2017 Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year, and closed out game after game during the Dodgers' run of eight straight division titles and the 2020 championship.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the all-time strikeout leader in Dodgers history?
Clayton Kershaw holds the Dodgers' all-time strikeout record. He surpassed Don Sutton's long-standing mark of 2,696 strikeouts on April 30, 2022, and currently has over 2,900 career punchouts for the franchise.
Which Dodger pitcher had the best single season?
Sandy Koufax's 1965 or 1966 season is widely regarded as the best. In 1965, Koufax won 26 games, threw 382 strikeouts, pitched a perfect game, and posted a 2.04 ERA before winning World Series MVP. Orel Hershiser's 1988 season (59 scoreless innings and Cy Young/World Series MVP) is a close contender.
How many Cy Young Awards have Dodgers pitchers won?
Dodgers pitchers have won 12 Cy Young Awards, the most of any franchise in Major League Baseball. Winners include Don Newcombe (1956), Don Drysdale (1962), Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965, 1966), Mike Marshall (1974), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Orel Hershiser (1988), Éric Gagné (2003), and Clayton Kershaw (2011, 2013, 2014).
Who holds the record for most consecutive scoreless innings in MLB history?
Orel Hershiser holds the MLB record with 59 consecutive scoreless innings, set between August 30 and September 28, 1988. He broke the previous record of 58.2 innings held by fellow Dodger legend Don Drysdale.