It’s remarkable how Justin Verlander just cannot get a win in the World Series. And it hasn’t been bad luck, either. For a pitcher with a 15-5 record in the other postseason rounds, he is 0-6 in the World Series — with the highest E.R.A. of the 21 pitchers who have made at least eight starts.
Using the Stathead tool on Baseball Reference, we find that the highest E.R.A. among the first 20 pitchers with eight World Series starts is Don Sutton, at 5.26, followed by Andy Pettitte at 4.06 and Dave Stewart at 3.47.
You’ve got to be a great pitcher to have the chance to make eight World Series starts, and Verlander obviously is great; he’s now started World Series games in three different decades.