Naturally, the Toronto Blue Jays pitchers with the most bWAR in a season have often been among the baseball betting favourites for the AL Cy Young Award at the BetMGM sportsbook.
This list features many of the best pitching seasons in Blue Jays history.
Highest Single-Season bWAR for the Toronto Blue Jays
| Rank | Player | bWAR | Season |
| 1 | Roger Clemens | 11.9 | 1997 |
| 2 | Pat Hentgen | 8.6 | 1996 |
| T-3 | Roger Clemens | 8.1 | 1998 |
| T-3 | Roy Halladay | 8.1 | 2003 |
| 5 | Dave Stieb | 7.9 | 1984 |
| 6 | Dave Stieb | 7.6 | 1982 |
| 7 | Jimmy Key | 7.4 | 1987 |
| T-8 | Mark Eichhorn | 7.3 | 1986 |
| T-8 | Roy Halladay | 7.3 | 2002 |
| 10 | Dave Stieb | 7 | 1983 |
1. Roger Clemens – 11.9 (1997)
Not only was Roger Clemens’ 1997 the best pitching season in Blue Jays history. It is one of the greatest pitching seasons ever, with Clemens earning the Triple Crown and the AL Cy Young Award.
Only two pitchers since 1920 – Steve Carlton and Dwight Gooden – have amassed a higher bWAR in a season.
2. Pat Hentgen – 8.6 (1996)
Pat Hentgen led the majors in bWAR, complete games, and innings in 1996. He was, unsurprisingly, the winner of the AL Cy Young Award ahead of Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.
This was comfortably the best season of Hentgen’s career. He had only four other seasons with a bWAR higher than three.
T-3. Roger Clemens – 8.1 (1998)
Clemens’ second season as a Jay wasn’t quite at the heights of his first, but still led the AL in bWAR and won the Cy Young.
He was traded to the New York Yankees in the 1998-99 offseason.
T-3. Roy Halladay – 8.1 (2003)
The 2003 season saw Roy Halladay win his first Cy Young. It came in a season when Halladay led the majors in bWAR and pitched 266 innings.
Halladay didn’t receive another Cy Young vote until 2006.
5. Dave Stieb – 7.9 (1984)
Dave Stieb had three consecutive seasons with a bWAR of seven or higher. The 1984 campaign was the third of that run.
Stieb finished seventh in AL Cy Young voting.
6. Dave Stieb – 7.6 (1982)
Following a strong 1981, Stieb took his game to another level in 1982. He led the AL in bWAR and innings.
A total of 7.6 bWAR was only enough for a fourth-place Cy Young finish.
7. Jimmy Key – 7.4 (1987)
Leading the majors in WHIP and ERA only earned Jimmy Key a second-place Cy Young finish in 1987.
Key was runner-up to Clemens, who had a 9.4 bWAR with the Boston Red Sox.
T-8. Mark Eichhorn – 7.3 (1986)
An excellent reliever throughout his career, Mark Eichhorn peaked in only his second big-league campaign.
Eichhorn pitched 157 innings in relief with a 2.31 FIP.
T-8. Roy Halladay – 7.3 (2002)
A year before he won his first Cy Young, Halladay led the American League in bWAR and innings, but didn’t receive a single Cy Young vote.
Despite a dominant season from Halladay, the 2002 Jays finished six games below .500.
10. Dave Stieb – 7 (1983)
In 1983, Stieb led the AL in bWAR. The right-hander didn’t receive any All-Star votes, but he was named an All-Star for the third time in his career.
Stieb leads all Blue Jays pitchers in bWAR.
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