2. Ranger Suárez throws a Maddux
Ranger Suárez wasn’t talked about nearly enough in 2021. He was excellent out of the bullpen, and then returned to the starting rotation for the first time since 2018 and continued to excel.
Suárez had a 1.12 ERA over 27 relief appearances when Joe Girardi was essentially forced, by starting pitcher issues, to move him to the rotation at the end of July. The lefty hadn’t thrown more than three innings in any of his appearances at that point in the season, and hadn’t made a start since 2018.
Less than two months later, on September 25, Suárez pitched a complete-game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He only needed 97 pitches to dispatch the rival Pennsylvania team, a feat that is known as a Maddux.