In today’s MLB, dominant pitchers often average at least nine strikeouts per nine innings.
It’s not set in stone, but that’s the case for most of the best pitchers in the league.
Generally speaking, strikeouts are tied to success from the mound: the more you can get opposing hitters to swing and miss on your stuff, the less they will hurt you.
On the other hand, if they make a lot of contact, that’s when homers, doubles, or singles occur.
That’s why the no-hitter achieved last night by Los Angeles Angels‘ pitcher Reid Detmers was so odd.
It featured nine innings without the opposing offense being able to register a hit, yet it included only two strikeouts by the winning pitcher.
“Reid Detmers threw a no-hitter in his 11th career MLB start on Tuesday, the 7th fewest by a pitcher to throw a no-hitter over the last 50 seasons. His 2 strikeouts were the fewest in a no-hitter since Francisco Liriano in 2011,” ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Reid Detmers threw a no-hitter in his 11th career MLB start on Tuesday, the 7th fewest by a pitcher to throw a no-hitter over the last 50 seasons.
His 2 strikeouts were the fewest in a no-hitter since Francisco Liriano in 2011. pic.twitter.com/ImMefIbhNA
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 11, 2022
Contact Management
This is in no way a knock on Detmers, who was in complete control on Tuesday night, with only one walk.
But, as it happens in most no-hitters and perfect games, there was a portion of fortune in it, especially considering there was a lot of contact by the Rays.
It was, for the most part, soft contact, as Detmers allowed a season-low 87.6 mph average exit velocity in the start.
The Rays, however, had 36 percent of their batted balls against Detmers leave their bats at 95 mph or higher.
There was at least some hard contact.
In the end, it didn’t matter: the Angels won 12-0, and Detmers, a 22-year-old lefty still taking his first steps in the majors, is now in the history books.
Kudos to him.
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