In a season already full of surprises, José Soriano has delivered something truly unprecedented. The Los Angeles Angels right-hander has become the first pitcher since 1900 to allow one earned run or fewer in each of his first six starts of a season, accomplishing a feat that spans more than a century of MLB history. Before figuring out if he can do it for a seventh time, let’s take a deeper dive into how he got to six.
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Entering his latest outing against the Toronto Blue Jays, Soriano had already been nearly untouchable:
He had also won each of his first five starts, establishing himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball early in the season. And he didn’t slow down. Soriano delivered five shutout innings against Toronto, once again keeping opponents off the scoreboard and extending his historic run.
Despite another masterful performance, Soriano was denied what would have been his sixth consecutive win after the Angels’ bullpen surrendered the lead. It’s the kind of result that can sting in the moment—but it does nothing to diminish what he has already accomplished.
Because what Soriano is doing right now isn’t just impressive, it’s literally unprecedented in the modern era of baseball.
To put Soriano’s stretch into perspective, consider how difficult it is to consistently limit runs in today’s game. With advanced scouting, power-heavy lineups, and deeper bullpens across the league, maintaining that level of efficiency over multiple starts is nearly impossible.
Yet Soriano has done exactly that, six times in a row to begin the season. It’s a combination of command, composure, and pure stuff that has kept hitters guessing and scoreboards quiet.
While the season is still young, Soriano has already placed himself in rare air. No pitcher across the 20th or 21st century has opened a season with this level of run prevention across six starts. That alone puts him in a category all his own—and raises the question of just how far he can take it.
Wins may come and go, and bullpen outcomes may fluctuate, but history is permanent. José Soriano didn’t just dominate, he redefined what a dominant start to a season can look like. And if this is only the beginning, the rest of baseball may be witnessing the emergence of something truly special.
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