Saves - Most for a Single Starter

Last night, as I watched Jose Valverde come in and save yet another victory for Justin Verlander, it got me thinking.

• Of Valverde's saves this season, how many were Verlander victories?
• How does this compare to the highest percentages all-time?

One visit to Baseball-Reference and a few lines of code later and I had my answer.

Valverde 2011:

• Total saves: 33
• Saves of Verlander victories: 10
• Percentage: 30.3%
• Ranking All-Time: 57th

Highest percentage of reliever's saves for a single winning pitcher (1918-2010, minimum 20 total saves):

Relief Pitcher	Total Saves	Winning Pitcher	Saves	Pct.	Team
Mike Henneman	21	Bill Gullickson	10	47.6%	1991 Detroit Tigers 84-78 (.519)
Luis Arroyo	29	Whitey Ford	13	44.8%	1961 New York Yankees 109-53-1 (.673)
Sparky Lyle	23	Dock Ellis	10	43.5%	1976 New York Yankees 97-62 (.610)
B.J. Ryan	32	A.J. Burnett	13	40.6%	2008 Toronto Blue Jays 86-76 (.531)
Roy Face	20	Bob Friend	8	40%	1958 Pittsburgh Pirates 84-70 (.545)
Dennis Eckersley	48	Bob Welch	19	39.6%	1990 Oakland Athletics 103-59 (.636)
Rollie Fingers	23	Don Sutton	9	39.1%	1984 Milwaukee Brewers 67-94 (.416)
Phil Regan	21	Claude Osteen	8	38.1%	1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 95-67 (.586)
Don Stanhouse	24	Jim Palmer	9	37.5%	1978 Baltimore Orioles 90-71 (.559)
Joe Page	27	Allie Reynolds	10	37%	1949 New York Yankees 97-57-1 (.630)

Because the list has too many 20-save pitchers for my liking, here are lists with minimums of 30 and 40 saves:

Relief Pitcher	Total Saves	Winning Pitcher	Saves	Pct.	Team
B.J. Ryan	32	A.J. Burnett	13	40.6%	2008 Toronto Blue Jays 86-76 (.531)
Dennis Eckersley	48	Bob Welch	19	39.6%	1990 Oakland Athletics 103-59 (.636)
Danny Graves	32	Jimmy Haynes	11	34.4%	2002 Cincinnati Reds 78-84 (.481)
Dennis Eckersley	33	Dave Stewart	11	33.3%	1989 Oakland Athletics 99-63 (.611)
Leo Nunez	30	Ricky Nolasco	10	33.3%	2010 Florida Marlins 80-82 (.494)
John Franco	30	Frank Viola	10	33.3%	1991 New York Mets 77-84 (.478)
Fernando Rodney	37	Justin Verlander	12	32.4%	2009 Detroit Tigers 86-77 (.528)
Mike Timlin	31	Erik Hanson	10	32.3%	1996 Toronto Blue Jays 74-88 (.457)
Ted Abernathy	31	Bob Buhl	10	32.3%	1965 Chicago Cubs 72-90-2 (.444)
Mike Marshall	32	Jerry Koosman	10	31.3%	1979 Minnesota Twins 82-80 (.506)

Relief Pitcher	Total Saves	Winning Pitcher	Saves	Pct.	Team
Dennis Eckersley	48	Bob Welch	19	39.6%	1990 Oakland Athletics 103-59 (.636)
Francisco Rodriguez	40	John Lackey	12	30%	2007 Anaheim Angels 94-68 (.580)
Brian Wilson	41	Tim Lincecum	12	29.3%	2008 San Francisco Giants 72-90 (.444)
John Smoltz	45	Russ Ortiz	13	28.9%	2003 Atlanta Braves 101-61 (.623)
Dennis Eckersley	43	Mike Moore	12	27.9%	1991 Oakland Athletics 84-78 (.519)
Steve Bedrosian	40	Shane Rawley	11	27.5%	1987 Philadelphia Phillies 80-82 (.494)
Rodney Beck	48	John Burkett	13	27.1%	1993 San Francisco Giants 103-59 (.636)
Robb Nen	41	Livan Hernandez	11	26.8%	2000 San Francisco Giants 97-65 (.599)
Mariano Rivera	45	Orlando Hernandez	12	26.7%	1999 New York Yankees 98-64 (.605)
Jose Mesa	42	Omar Daal	11	26.2%	2001 Philadelphia Phillies 86-76 (.531)