Most Pitchers Used in a World Series Game

It’s no surprise that the games with the most pitchers used in World Series history have all happened since 2010. Reliever usage has increased drastically in the 21st century. 

Contending teams have a bullpen packed with nasty stuff. This can lead to some long extra-innings duels and teams exhausting their respective relief corps. 

Most Pitchers Used in a World Series Game

Most World Series Pitchers Used in a Single Game

1. Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Oct. 27, 2025 

After getting only 4.2 innings from Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers set a World Series record by using another nine pitchers. Four of those pitchers recorded fewer than three outs. Will Klein, who claimed the win, threw double as many pitches (72) as he had in any other big-league appearance in his four-inning outing.

Toronto turned to Eric Lauer to give them some length in extra innings. Lauer threw 68 pitches across 4.2 innings. Los Angeles ultimately won the game on a walk-off home run from Freddie Freeman in the 18th inning. 

2. Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Oct. 26, 2018 

An 18-inning epic at Dodger Stadium in 2018 set the record for the most pitchers used in a World Series game. The Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers each used nine. 

Boston turned to Nathan Eovaldi for six innings of relief work in extra innings. Los Angeles got seven innings from starting pitcher Walker Buehler, but still needed Kenley Jansen and Kenta Maeda to pitch two innings each. 

3. Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros – Oct. 25, 2005 

Starting pitchers Jon Garland and Roy Oswalt pitched seven and six innings, respectively, but the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros still had to go deep into their bullpens in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series.

Having lost the first two games, Houston’s World Series odds had lengthened dramatically in the baseball betting markets. The Astros tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, and no more runs were scored until the White Sox took the lead in the top of the 14th.

After Garland allowed only two earned runs in seven innings, Chicago used a further eight pitchers.

4. Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals – Oct. 27, 2011

The Texas Rangers blew three saves in their Game 6 loss in the 2011 World Series. It was a calamitous performance from Texas’ bullpen, while the St. Louis Cardinals fought back after falling behind early in the game.

With the Rangers holding a 3-2 series lead, both managers were forced to cycle through relievers in pursuit of a win. St. Louis ultimately came out on top in extra innings and went on to win Game 7. 

T-5. Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Oct. 25, 2017 

The second entry from 2017 is the 11-inning Game 2. Los Angeles contributed nine of the 14 pitchers used in the game, with the Astros getting six strong innings from Justin Verlander.

Kenley Jansen blew the save for the Dodgers. Josh Fields conceded two earned runs without recording an out. Brandon Morrow to George Springer, and had to take the loss. 

T-5. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros – Oct. 29, 2017

The 2017 World Series has two entries on this list. With Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel exiting the game before the sixth inning, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros had to go deep into their bullpens in this 25-run thriller.

The game only went 10 innings, but six relievers recorded fewer than three outs due to the amount of offence on show.