Five amazing stats from Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter

by | Apr 22, 2016

Don’t feel bad, Cincinnati Reds. It’s not like anyone has really solved Jake Arrieta of late.

Just as he did some eight months and a mere nine starts ago, Arrieta completed a no-hitter on Thursday night at Great American Ballpark.

It was last August 30 when the Chicago Cubs right-hander dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers for his first career no-no. That came in the midst of an historic post-All-Star break tear that saw him win 12 out of 13 decisions with an ERA of 0.75 en route to the NL Cy Young Award.

Now, after starting 2016 at 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA, a WHIP of 0.68, and his performance versus the Reds, he’s somehow added to his legend.

Descriptive words and phrases really can’t do him or the moment justice. Perhaps these facts will:

5. A reflection on the overall dominance of the Cubs — and perhaps a curse-breaking omen: before their 16-0 victory, only two other teams had scored 13 or more runs and threw a no-hitter in same game. Both would go on to win the World Series.

4. Arrieta isn’t just besting his current competition, he’s lapping them. Over his past 119.1 innings during the regular season, he’s allowed seven earned runs. Max Scherzer and Dallas Keuchel each allowed five…on Thursday alone. David Price surrendered eight to Tampa Bay.

3. Here is the stellar company Arrieta now keeps after becoming one of four reigning Cy Young winners to toss a no-hitter in the following season: two Hall of Famers and a future resident in Cooperstown.

2. His incredible transformation from run-of-the-mill starter in Baltimore to otherworldly ace in Chicago is best reflected by this:

1. Arrieta has posted 24 consecutive quality starts. During that streak, he’s gone 20-1 with an 0.86 ERA. In 14 of those outings, he hasn’t been scored upon.