Topps update series baseball is usually my favorite set. Normally, it wraps up the season with stars, All-Stars, rookie debuts and some inserts. In particular, you might get All-Star relic cards or All-Star autographs from that season’s All-Stars. However, 2020 is not normal. The MLB All-Star game was canceled this season and it’s a season with only 60 games. So, no 2020 All-Star relic cards in the set. Top rookies such as Jake Cronenworth and Cristian Javier aren’t in this set, either. For me, it’s not so attractive because I really like to collect baseball cards that highlight the All-Star game. But, I still bought some packs to see whether I can get some cool cards.
I got two active leaders cards and Clayton Kershaw is on the front. One card indicates that his ERA was lowest among active pitchers and the other one shows that his WAR is also in the top. I went on the baseball reference website to see who is also in the top.
Looking at WAR, Justin Verlander’s WAR is 72.3 and he’s the leader of the active pitchers. The former MVP only threw 1 game in the 2020 season and he underwent Tommy John surgery. Thus, we probably won’t see him until the 2022 season. Verlander will turn 39 in 2022.
Zack Greinke’s WAR is 67.1 as a pitcher, second highest among active pitchers. The 2009 Cy Young winner shows that he’s one of very reliable pitchers. He made 12 starts and posted an ERA of 4.03 and a WHIP of 1.13 in 2020. His WAR was 1.2 this season.
Kershaw’s WAR is 67.0. Despite missing the opening day, Kershaw made 10 starts in 2020. He earned 6 wins, posting an ERA of 2.16 and a WHIP of 0.84. His WAR was 1.7 in 2020.
Max Scherzer’s WAR is over 60 as well. He made 12 starts in 2020 and tossed a complete game. His ERA was 3.74 and Scherzer threw 92 strikeouts, 6th most in the National League. Scherzer’s WAR was 2.2 in 2020.
Cole Hamels only made one start in 2020. However, the former World Series MVP has accumulated 58.4 career WAR as a pitcher. Hamels will turn 37 in December and he’s still a free agent at this moment.
Kershaw’s career ERA is only 2.43 so far. In 2020, his ERA was 2.16. In his 13 years with the Dodgers so far, Kershaw’s ERA went above 3 twice. One was in his rookie season, which his ERA was 4.26, and the other time was in 2019, his ERA was 3.03, slightly above 3. Meanwhile, Kershaw had three seasons that he finished with an ERA below 2.
Jacob deGrom has been with the Mets for 7 seasons. In these 7 seasons, his ERA is 2.61 and in 2020, his ERA was 2.38. deGrom won the Cy Young award in 2018 and 2019. His ERA was 1.70 and 2.43 respectively.
Chris Sale underwent Tommy John surgery in March, 2020. He didn’t pitch in 2020 and will likely return in June or July in 2021. He finished in the top 5 in the Cy Young voting from 2013 to 2018.
Kyle Hendricks made his debut in 2014 and he’s been with the Chicago Cubs since then. Hendricks won the ERA title in 2016 and his ERA was only 2.13 then. Hendricks made 12 stars in 2020 and his ERA was 2.88.
Corey Kluber, another two-time Cy Young award winner, just threw one game in 2020. His career ERA is 3.16 so far. He won the ERA title in 2017.
Clayton Kershaw got two wins in the World Series and the Dodgers finally won the first title in 32 years. WAR and ERA are just two of many stats that Kershaw is in the top. Besides WAR and ERA, Kershaw also leads in WHIP and shutouts among active pitchers. There’s no doubt that you can call the best pitcher of the last decade.
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