During a season in which so many young stars dominated the headlines, it's fitting that 20-year-old Julio Urias (20 years, 68 days) of the Los Angeles Dodgers will become the youngest starting pitcher in postseason history. He'll have a lot less pressure after the Dodgers won Game 3 to take the series lead, and he'll face a Cubs team that is hitting .152 off left-handers in the postseason.
I thought it would be fun to look at the 10 youngest pitchers to start in the playoffs. Most performed well in their first start and went on to have excellent careers.
Bret Saberhagen, 1984 Royals, ALCS Game 2 (20 years, 175 days)
Pitching line: 8 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 SO (ND)
Saberhagen had been a good prospect entering his senior year of high school in Reseda, California, but hurt his shoulder, lost his delivery and scouts lost interest. A Royals scout named Guy Hansen, however, saw him and recommended the Royals draft him, which they did, although not until the 19th round. He sat out his draft year, spent one season in the minors, and was in the majors at age 20. At age 21, he became a Cy Young Award winner and World Series hero, pitching a shutout in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series. He'd win another Cy Young Award and win 167 games, although he battled injuries throughout his career.