Recently, I watched some highlights of the 2025 postseason. In the 2025 playoffs, Yoshinobu Yamamoto made 5 starts and 1 relief appearance. He threw 37.1 innings with 33 strikeouts, a 1.45 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP. In particular, he tossed 2 complete games last postseason.
After watching the highlights, I was just thinking which pitchers had tossed a complete game in the postseason recently. To solve my doubts, I decided to check on the MLB website.
Well, from 2020 to 2025, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the only pitcher who tossed a complete game in the postseason. But, how about the last decade?
In 2010, 4 pitchers used to toss a complete game in the postseason. In particular, Hall of Famer Roy Halladay threw a no-hitter against the Reds in the NLDS. It was his first postseason appearance. At the same time, Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum each tossed a complete game in the NLDS. Cliff Lee threw a complete game in the ALDS.
In 2011, Chris Carpenter threw a complete game against the Phillies in NLDS game 5. The next year, CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander each tossed a complete game in the ALDS. In 2013, Adam Wainwright threw a complete game against the Pirates in the NLDS game 5.
In addition, in the 2014 postseason, Madison Bumgarner was outstanding. He made 6 starts and 1 relief appearance, tossing 52.2 innings. He owned a 1.03 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP. He was named the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP. In 2014, Bumgarner pitched 2 complete games in the playoffs. The first one was in the NL Wild Card game. He struck out 10 batters and didn’t allow any runs. The other was in the World Series. Bumgarner threw 8 strikeouts without giving up any runs in game 5.
In 2015, Jake Arrieta pitched a complete game in the NL Wild Card game. In the Fall Classic, Johnny Cueto tossed a complete game against the Mets. In 2016, Bumgarner tossed a complete game in the NL Wild Card game. Moreover, Johnny Cueto pitched a complete game in NLDS game 1 and Marco Estrada threw a complete game in ALCS game 1. Nonetheless, they didn’t go 9 innings. They each threw 8 innings and took a loss.
Finally, Justin Verlander tossed a complete game against the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS game 2. He threw 13 strikeouts in that game. And no pitchers threw a complete game in the postseason in 2018 and 2019.
So, when we look back at the last decade, Madison Bumgarner was surely dominant in the postseason. He tossed 3 complete games in his career in the playoffs. In particular, his performance in the 2014 postseason was unbelievable. There was no doubt that he was named the World Series MVP. However, as we can see, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the only pitcher who tossed a complete game in the postseason so far this decade. Well, the pitcher usage has been quite different in today’s baseball games. It will be worthwhile to watch who will be the next pitcher to toss a complete game in the postseason. Will a pitcher throw a complete game in the 2026 playoffs?
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