Who had a 1.74 ERA for Boston in 2000?

Pedro Martínez had a 1.74 ERA for the Boston Red Sox in 2000. The dominant right-hander went 18–6 in 29 starts, pitching 217 innings and striking out 284 batters during one of the greatest seasons by a modern starting pitcher.

Martínez’s 1.74 ERA led the American League and was the lowest in the league since 1978. He also posted a 0.74 WHIP, meaning he allowed fewer than one hit or walk per inning on average. His 291 ERA+ measured his performance against the league average and remains one of the most extraordinary single-season marks in baseball history.

The season earned Martínez his third American League Cy Young Award, and he won the voting unanimously. Boston’s ace also recorded seven complete games and four shutouts. The 2000 season came during a high-scoring era often associated with the steroid era, making his run-prevention numbers especially striking.

A nearby fact fans often recall is Martínez’s 1999 season, when he won another Cy Young Award with a 2.07 ERA and set the stage for his remarkable 2000 campaign.