N.L. East

Sporting News, The, Sept 20, 1999

Pitching tandems

Teams are listed alphabetically

It's nice to have two prosperous pitchers on one team in the same season. But it's even better to have those same two pitchers continue their success for two consecutive years. Currently, there are three such tandems that can rival the majors' best since 1980. The trio: Atlanta's Greg Maddux and Kevin Millwood, Houston's Jose Lima and Shane Reynolds and Texas' Aaron Sele and Rick Helling.

Oakland's Dave Stewart and Bob Welch had 87 victories from 1989 to '90, the best of any duo. Welch won the Cy Young Award with a 27-6 record in 1990. Stewart was 22-11 that season. The second-best combo also includes Stewart, who teamed with Storm Davis to tally 77 victories from 1988 to '89.

Since 1980, there have been 12 tandems that have combined for 72 or more victories in a two-year stretch. This season's three twosomes could make this select group if they continue at their current pace. Maddux would join Stewart as the only pitchers to make the list on three occasions.

TOP TANDEMS

Yrs.    Team              Tandem            W-L

89-90   Oakland           Dave Stewart      43-20
                          Bob Welch         44-14
88-89   Oakland           Dave Stewart      42-21
                          Storm Davis       35-14
82-83   Chicago (A.L.)    LaMarr Hoyt       43-25
                          Richard Dotson    33-22
83-84   Detroit           Jack Morris       39-24
                          Dan Perry         37-19
83-84   Chicago (A.L.)    LaMarr Hoyt       37-28
                          Richard Dotson    36-22
96-97   Atlanta           Greg Maddux       34-15
                          John Smoltz       39-20
97-98   Atlanta           Greg Maddux       37-13
                          Denny Neagle      36-16
85-86   New York (N.L.)   Dwight Gooden     41-10
                          Ron Darling       31-12
86-87   Boston            Roger Clemens     44-13
                          Bruce Hurst       28-21
88-89   Kansas City       Bret Saberhagen   37-22
                          Mark Gubicza      35-19
90-91   Oakland           BobWelch          39-19
                          Dave Stewart      33-22
92-93   Atlanta           Tom Glavine       42-14
                          John Smoltz       30-23
98-99   Houston           Jose Lima         36-15
                          Shane Reynolds    34-19
98-99   Atlanta           Greg Maddux       36-15
                          Kevin Millwood    33-15
98-99   Texas             Aaron Sele        35-18
                          Rick Helling      33-14

Yrs.    Team              Total W-L   (Pct.)

89-90   Oakland             87-34     (.719)

88-89   Oakland             77-35     (.688)

82-83   Chicago (A.L.)      76-47     (.618)

83-84   Detroit             76-43     (.639)

83-84   Chicago (A.L.)      73-50     (.593)

96-97   Atlanta             73-35     (.676)

97-98   Atlanta             73-29     (.716)

85-86   New York (N.L.)     72-22     (.766)

86-87   Boston              71-34     (.676)

88-89   Kansas City         72-41     (.637)

90-91   Oakland             72-4t     (.637)

92-93   Atlanta             72-37     (.661)

98-99   Houston             70-34     (.673)

98-99   Atlanta             69-30     (.697)

98-99   Texas               68-32     (.680)