If you just look at the back of a baseball card, you might think you know the story. You see the losses piling up. You see the ERA that hovered near the danger zone for a few seasons in D.C. But honestly, if you’re only checking the surface, you’re missing the weird, gritty, and surprisingly resilient reality of the Patrick Corbin game log.
Baseball is a sport of attrition. Patrick Corbin is the king of showing up. While other pitchers are hitting the IL with "elbow soreness" or "forearm tightness," Corbin just keeps taking the ball. Every five days. No matter what.
The 2025 Texas Turnaround
Last year was supposed to be the end. After that massive six-year deal with the Washington Nationals finally expired, most people figured Corbin would just fade away or maybe take a minor league deal somewhere. Instead, he signed a one-year flyer with the Texas Rangers right before Opening Day because their rotation was basically a walking hospital wing.
And then? He actually pitched well.
The 2025 Patrick Corbin game log shows a guy who reinvented himself. He wasn't the 2019 strikeout machine anymore, but he was effective. He finished the season with a 4.40 ERA over 31 appearances (30 starts). For a guy everyone had left for dead, 155.1 innings of mid-rotation production was a massive win for Texas.
Breaking Down the 2025 Numbers
Look at the month of July. That was probably the best stretch we've seen from him in half a decade.
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- July 5 @ Padres: 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 K (Win)
- July 18 vs. Tigers: 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 K (No Decision)
- July 23 vs. Athletics: 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K (No Decision)
He went 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA that month. It was vintage stuff. He leaned heavily on that trademark slider, which still has enough bite to make hitters look silly when he's locating the sinker.
But it wasn't all sunshine. The Patrick Corbin game log is always a bit of a rollercoaster. By September, the fatigue seemed to settle in. On September 23 against the Twins, he got yanked after just 3.2 innings. He looked gassed. His velocity, which usually sits in the low 90s, was dipping into the 89-90 range.
He ended the year on September 28 against Cleveland with a 4-inning, 3-run performance. Not great, not terrible. Just typical Corbin—he gave his team a chance to stay in the game, even if the bullpen eventually blew the 9-8 extra-inning loss.
The Availability Metric
In modern baseball, "availability is the best ability" is a cliché because it’s true. Since 2017, Corbin is essentially the only pitcher in the league who hasn't missed his turn. He’s made 31 or more starts in every full season. That’s insane.
Think about the stress that puts on a body. Think about the mental toll of pitching for a rebuilding Nationals team for years while your stats take a beating. He never complained. He never asked for a "phantom IL" stint to reset.
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Teams like the New York Mets are reportedly sniffing around him right now in early 2026 for that exact reason. They don't need him to be an Ace. They have Kodai Senga for that. They need someone who can eat 160 innings so the bullpen doesn't collapse by August.
What the Advanced Stats Say
If you dig into the 2025 Statcast data, you’ll see some interesting tweaks. He basically ditched the four-seam fastball. It was getting hammered. Instead, he upped the usage of his sinker (28%) and cutter (25%).
The slider remains his "bread and butter" at a 33% usage rate. When that pitch is on, he’s a nightmare for left-handed hitters. In 2025, he held lefties to a significantly lower OPS than righties, which makes him a valuable tactical asset even if he’s not a front-line starter anymore.
His FIP (Fielder Independent Pitching) in 2025 was 4.25, which was actually better than his 4.40 ERA. That suggests he had some bad luck with the defense behind him in Texas. For a guy who relies on contact and ground balls, having a shaky infield can ruin a stat line real quick.
Why 2026 is a Crossroads
Right now, Patrick Corbin is a free agent. He's 36 years old.
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He’s reached that point in a career where every contract is a "prove it" deal. The market for him is fascinating because he's a "floor" raiser, not a "ceiling" raiser. If you sign Corbin, you aren't winning the World Series because of him (though he was huge in 2019, let's not forget Game 7). You’re signing him so your young prospects don't get forced into the big leagues before they're ready.
Potential Landing Spots
- New York Mets: They need veteran depth and have the cash for a low-risk, high-inning veteran.
- Texas Rangers: A reunion makes sense. He liked it there, and they still have rotation question marks with Jon Gray's health.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: A young team that needs a veteran "dad" in the dugout to show the kids how to handle a 162-game grind.
Honestly, he’s probably going to end up on a one-year deal worth somewhere between $2 million and $5 million. It’s a far cry from the $140 million he got back in the day, but in this economy? That's still a great gig for a guy who just loves to pitch.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re tracking the Patrick Corbin game log for fantasy or betting purposes this coming season, keep these rules in mind:
- Watch the Pitch Count: In 2025, his effectiveness plummeted after the 75-pitch mark. If he's cruising through five innings, be wary of that sixth inning "blow up" start.
- Target Left-Heavy Lineups: He still eats lefties for breakfast. If he's facing a team like the Phillies or Dodgers with big-time left-handed power, he might actually surprise you.
- The "Innings Eater" Value: In quality start leagues, Corbin is a sneaky late-round pick. He will give you the volume, even if the ratios aren't elite.
- Monitor Velocity: If his sinker is sitting at 92 mph in Spring Training, he’s going to have a good year. If it’s 89 mph, it’s going to be a long summer.
The story of Patrick Corbin isn't finished. He’s a survivor. In a league obsessed with 100 mph fastballs and "spin rates," there's something respectable about a guy who just goes out there with a sinker and a prayer and gets the job done.
Watch the transactions wire over the next few weeks. Wherever he lands, he’ll be in the rotation. He’ll be there every fifth day. And he’ll probably give you exactly what you expect: a lot of heart, a lot of sliders, and a whole lot of innings.
The best way to stay ahead is to keep a close eye on his first three starts of the 2026 season. If his cutter command is there early, he’s a prime candidate for a mid-season trade to a contender needing a reliable southpaw. Expect him to sign before the end of February to ensure a full throwing program.
Keep an eye on his horizontal movement stats on Baseball Savant once the season starts. If that slider is sweeping more than 10 inches, he's still a problem for hitters. Check his splits regularly, especially how he performs in hitter-friendly parks versus pitcher-friendly ones, as his fly-ball rate tended to creep up toward the end of last season.