There’s dominance, and then there’s whatever Pedro Martinez has been doing to hitters this season.
With his third 17-strikeout performance of the month—this one coming on April 24 against Toronto—Martinez has officially exited the realm of elite and entered something bordering on mythological.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s the math.
A Month for the Ages
In his first six starts of the 1995 season, Martinez has racked up 92 strikeouts in 45 innings. That’s an eye-watering 18.4 K/9 pace—and yes, that’s a real number, not a typo. He’s cleared the 14-strikeout mark in five of his six outings, including three games with exactly 17 strikeouts.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Date | Opponent | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/24/1995 | @ Toronto | 8.1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 17 | Win |
| 04/19/1995 | Los Angeles | 6.1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 14 | — |
| 04/13/1995 | Washington | 8.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | Win |
| 04/07/1995 | @ Detroit | 7.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | Win |
| 04/02/1995 | Oakland | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 | Win |
| 03/28/1995 | Baltimore | 8.0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | Win |
It’s not just the punchouts—it’s how he’s getting them. Martinez hasn’t allowed more than six hits in any start. In four of the six, he’s walked two or fewer. And in five of the six, he walked off the mound with a win.
This isn’t just hot form. It’s surgical destruction.
A Rarity Among Aces
Fanning 15 or more batters in a single start is an achievement. Doing it multiple times in a career puts you in a small, revered club. Doing it three times in a month? That’s Pedro’s world, and the rest of the league is just trying to survive it.
Let’s zoom out. Since 1983, pitchers have recorded 15 or more strikeouts in a start just 60 times. Martinez owns six of those—including a 20-strikeout masterpiece in 1993. That ties him with Randy Johnson for the most 15+ K games in league history.
But the separation lies in how cleanly Pedro is doing it. Compare:
- Randy Johnson: Often dominant, often wild—five-walk games, high pitch counts.
- Ed Correa: A strikeout machine in his own right, but plagued by inconsistency.
- Pedro Martinez: Relentlessly efficient. In his last three 17-strikeout games, he’s walked just five batters total over 24.1 innings.
The Big Picture
Right now, Martinez is on a run that could define not just his season, but his legacy. With pinpoint command, a mid-90s fastball that darts late, and a changeup that might be illegal in 12 states, he’s not just striking batters out—he’s demoralizing them.
And it’s not just the bottom of the order he’s feasting on. Toronto, Baltimore, Washington—these aren’t pushovers. They’re good teams. They just haven’t looked like it when Pedro’s on the mound.
The only blip? A 14-strikeout, 6-run outing against the Dodgers where he still looked unhittable at times, despite some traffic and long balls. Even his off day would be a career night for most starters.
What Comes Next?
Is it sustainable? Probably not at this rate—nobody holds a 17-K-a-week pace forever. But Martinez doesn’t need to keep posting cartoon numbers to dominate. He’s already proven, again and again, that when he’s locked in, no one in the league can touch him.
And if you’re a hitter stepping into the box next week?
Godspeed.