Archives for May 2021

This season, we’ve seen the two longest streaks of pitcher’s strikeouts without surrendering a walk and one is still active.  In this post, we’ll look a little bit deeper into the less likely of the two streaks – the one that just ended.

Brewers’ 26-year-old righty Corbin Burnes fanned 58 batters without issuing his first walk this season – which gave him the record for most strikeouts without a walk from the start of a season, as well as for the most strikeouts between walks for anywhere within a season.  Burnes didn’t walk his first batter until the fifth inning of his sixth 2021 start.

So far this season (through May 14), Burnes has a 1.57 earned run average in six starts. In 34 1/3 innings, he’s surrendered just 21 hits and six earned runs.  His efforts have not been rewarded in the W-L columns, however. He has two wins, three losses and one no-decision on the season. The Brewers have been shutout in all three of Burnes’ losses.  Through May 13, the Brew Crew had been shutout four times, and they were averaging  just 3.66 tallies per game, fifth-lowest in MLB.

 

Over the course of his streak, Corbin Burnes faced 125 batters and fanned 58 (46.4 percent) of them,

Here’s is a look at Burnes’ streak:

• On April 3, Burnes pitched 6 1/3 innings versus the Twins and gave up just one run on one hit, while fanning 11. (The run came on a Byron Buxton home run in the seventh.)  Burnes left trailing 1-0 and the Brewers lost 2-0, getting just one hit off four Twins’ pitchers. (Loss for Burnes.)
• On April 8, Burnes tossed six shutout innings versus the Cardinals, again giving up just one hit, while fanning nine. He left with a 1-0 lead, but the Brewers eventually lost 3-1.  (No decision for Burnes.)
• On April 14, Burnes pitched six scoreless frames against the Cubs, giving up just two hits and fanning ten. He left with a 3-0 lead and the Brewers won 7-0, with Burnes getting the win.
• On April 20, Burnes pitched six shutout frames against the Padres (four hits, ten whiffs). He left with a 5-0 lead and got the win as the Brewers prevailed 6-0).
• Burnes had a bit of a hiccup on April 26, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits versus the Marlins (striking out nine). He took the loss as the Brewers fell 8-0. Burnes went on the IL after the game and didn’t return to the mound until May 13.
• On May 13, Burnes pitched five innings versus the Cardinals, giving up one earned run (and, in the fifth inning, his first walk of the season), while fanning nine. He got the loss as the Brewers fell 2-0.

In Burnes’ streak, he went to three-ball counts on just 16 batters – retired 14 of them, ten on strikeouts (including the only two batters he started at 3-0).

Burnes came into the 2012 season with a career MLB record of 12-6, with a 4.48 earned run average and 3.4 walks (versus 11.8 strikeouts) per nine innings (146 2/3 innings pitched).

–—-A new Streak to Watch —-

The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, riding a zero-walk streak of his own, has been considerably more fortunate than Burnes. Cole has a still-active, within-a-season, streak of 56 strikeouts since his last walk. The streak began in the second inning of an April 12 game against the Blue Jays. Cole walked the leadoff batter that inning, gave up a single and then fanned the side (for the first three strikeouts of the 56-whiff, walk-free). Since that frame, he has pitched another 38 1/3 innings and fanned 53 more batters without giving up a free pass. Including the April 12 win, Cole has gone 4-1. With one no-decision in his streak. On the season, he is 5-1, 1.37 with 78 strikeouts (three walks) in 52 2/3 innings.  We’ll have to see if Cole passes Corbin’s streak in his next start.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

 

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The first month of MLB’s 2021 regular season has come to an end and it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s traditional monthly wrap up:

• A look at the April stories and stats that caught BBRT’s eye;
• April won-lost records (future Wrap Ups will include the most recent month and year-to-date stats and standings);
• BBRT’s Players and Pitchers of the Month; and
• BBRT’s “Trot Index.”

Note: If you are more into stories than stats, you can scroll down to the “Highlights” section. 

Just Try to Sneak One past Nicky “Two-Strikes”

Two strikes?  No problem. This April, White Sox’ 2B Nick Madrigal hit hit .355 in at bats where he had two strikes on him – and, within that set of at bats, hit .364 on 0-2 counts.  Small sample size?  Yes, but consider that, in his two MLB seasons, Madrigal has hit .333 in 87 at bats which stretched to a two-strike count, has hit .529 (9-for-17) on 0-2 pitches and has hit .405 after falling behind 0-2 in an at bat (15-for-37). 

Before we get into the details, here are a few events that helped shape April 2021 in MLB (more on these and other April “happenings” in the “Highlights” section).  In April, we saw:

• Two no-hitters (Carlos Rodon & Joe Musgrove);
• A triple play (Reds);
• Three three-homer games (J.D. Martinez, Ryan McMahon, Vlad Guerrero, Jr.);
• A player (White Sox’ rookie Yermin Mercedes) start a season with a record eight straight hits;
• A starting pitcher (Corbin Burnes) strikeout 49 batters without giving up even one walk; 
• Angels’ two-way player Shohei Ohtani do something that hasn’t been done in 100 seasons – start a game on the mound when he was also leading MLB in home runs on the season.  (Last done by, of course, Babe Ruth – back in 1921.);
• Two qualifying batters hit .400 for the month (Mike Trout and Yermin Mercedes) and a third (Byron Buxton) outhitting them both, but one plate appearance short of qualifying for the leader board;
• Two qualifying pitchers (Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodon) turning in April ERA’s under 1.00 and a third (Danny Duffy) turning in an even lower ERA than deGrom and Rodon, but falling one inning short of qualifying for the leader board;
• One player (Joey Votto) notching his 300th career home run; 
• One team (Tigers) averaging below .200 for the month;
• One division, the NL East with no team over .500 – and the only team in the Division (Marlins) with a positive run differential was in last place at the end of April;
• The Padres swiping 33 bases; the Mets just three;
• Despite the DH taking pitchers’ whiffs out of the mix, we saw that the top three teams in batters’ strikeouts in April were all from the AL (Rangers, Tigers, Rays). 

Hmm.  How About Those Record Books?

There were 14 complete games recorded in April 2021 – six of them in seven-inning doubleheader contests.  Of the ten complete-game shutouts that went into the record books, four were part of seven-inning doubleheaders. 

Again, more on these and other April “stories” in the Highlights section.  Before we get deeper into April stats, let’s look at BBRT’s Players and Pitchers of the Month.

—–PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH (SEPTEMBER)—–

NATIONAL  LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Braves

Ronald Acuna, Jr. – just 23-years-old – continues to make his presence known on the field.  His .341 April average was second among NL (qualifying) players, his eight home runs tied for tops in the NL (one behind the Red Sox’ J.D. Martinez overall), his 25 runs scored were the most in MLB and  his 18 RBI were seventh in the NL.  Add in his 15 walks and two HBP and his .443 on-base percentage was third among NL qualifying hitters. .  During the month, Acuna scored two or more runs in eight games. Acuna also stole three bases in April.

Honorable Mention(s): Jesse Winker of the Reds provided average and power with a .370-6-16 line, with his average leading NL qualifiers and his 30 hits tied for third in the NL.  BBRT also looked at the Dodgers’ Justin Turner, who put up a .330-6-20 stat line in April. 

Pitcher of the Month –Jacob deGrom,  LHP, Mets

 Jacob deGrom, started five games in April, putting up (among qualifiers) an MLB-best 0.51 ERA,   and second-lowest WHIP (0.57), while fanning an NL-tops 59 batters in 35 innings (tying Nolan   Ryan’s record for the most whiffs in the first five starts of a season (1978).   In his five starts,   deGrom gave up   just 16 hits and only two earned runs (one earned run in each of his two   losses  – over 14 innings).  On April 23, he tossed a two-hit, 15-strikeout, complete-game shutout against the Nationals. 

Honorable Mention(s): Joe Musgrove of the Padres pitched to a 2-2 record, with a 1.24 ERA (second only to deGrom among NL qualifiers).  He also tossed the first no-hitter in Padres’ history and fanned 41 batters (five walks) in 29 innings.  The Brewers’ Corbin Burnes also deserves mention, after going 2-2 with a 1.53 ERA during the month, striking out 49 batters (without a single walk) in 29 1/3 innings.  Unfortunately, Burnes was on the Injured list when April closed, so we’ll have to wait to see how much farther he can take the streak. 

Life Just Isn’t Always Fair

While Jacob deGrom’s 0.51 April ERA resulted in a 2-2 record for the month, Steven Matz (Blue Jays) translated a 4.00 ERA into a 4-1 April record. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month – Byron Buxton, OF, Twins

This was a tough decision, with an eight-time All Star and three-time MVP (Mike Trout), a rookie (Yermin Mercedes) and a often-injured, seven-season MLB veteran (Byron Buxton) having his best start ever all in the running.  All three offered one of those “bright and shiny things” that grab BBRT’s attention – a .400+ average (although Buxton fell one plate appearance short of qualifying for the leader board).  BBRT’s is going with Buxton, who put it all together in April with a .426 average, eight home runs (second in MLB only to J.D. Martinez’ nine), 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, three stolen bases, an .897 slugging percentage and Gold Glove caliber defense. Buxton was held hitless only twice in 18 games. He did it all. 

Honorable Mention(s): In April, Mike Trout played like – Well, like Mike Trout. In fact, he may be having the best April start in his already storied career. His .425 average was tops among MLB qualifiers and he added six home runs, 14 RBI and 18 runs scored (in 21 games). White Sox’ rookie Yermin Mercedes (.415-5-16) pretty much kept pace with Buxton and Trout at the plate, but serves primarily as a DH (which costs him a “point” or two).  You’ll find more on Mercedes in the Surprise Player of the Month recognition.  I also considered the Red Sox’ primary DH  J.D. Martinez, who hit .333-9-25.  Martinez’ nine April homers and 25 RBI each led all of MLB, his 33 hits were third and he had a three-homer game and ten multi-hit games.

Pitcher of the Month – Carlos Rodon, LHP, White Sox

 Going with White Sox’ starter Carlos Rodon, whose April was nothing short of remarkable. His   four victories (no losses) tied for the most in MLB.  His 0.72 ERA was  the lowest among Al   qualifiers and second only the Mets’ Jacob deGrom  He also fanned 36 batters in 25 innings and,   of course (another bright and shinny thing), threw a no-hitter. In addition, Rodon gave up a total   of seven hits in four starts and held hitters to a MLB-low (among qualifiers) .085 batting average.   His WHIP of 0.64 was the lowest among AL qualifiers. 

Honorable Mention(s); The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole was  4-1 in six starts, with a  1.43 ERA (second among AL qualifiers). In addition, Cole’s had 0.72 WHIP in April and his 62 strikeouts (in 37 2/3 innings) were (second only to Shane Bieber’s 68.  The Indians’ Shane Bieber finished the month with an MLB-leading 68 whiffs in 42 1/3 frames.  Still, he had two fewer wins (3-2) than Rodon; a higher ERA (2.76); and a higher WHIP (0.99).  Similarly, while the Royals’ Danny Duffy’s ERA was a minuscule 0.39, his WHIP of 1.04 was higher than Rodon’s, he pitched fewer innings (23 – one short of qualifying for the leader board ) and recorded only about half as many strikeouts (27).  Overall, Rodon – in BBRT’s view – had a slight edge over these three Honorable Mentions (and then, there’s that no-hitter).  

Surprise Player of the Month – Yermin Mercedes, DH, White Sox 

 A rookie as Player of the Month, in his first full month in the major leagues?  That would   be White Sox’ DH Yermin Mercedes, who came out of the gate smokin’ – becoming the   first MLB player in the modern era to collect a hit in each of his first eight plate   appearances of a season.  The 27-year-old Mercedes didn’t drop below .500 until his tenth   game of the season and finished the month at .415. His 34 hits tied for the most in MLB   this April and he also popped five home runs and drove in 16 tallies.  His month included   seven multi-hit games and he was held hitless in only three of 22 games played. 

Honorable Mention(s): Coming into the 2021 season, Orioles’ OF Cedric Mullins‘ career MLB average was .225 (115 MLB games over three seasons).  He ended this April tying for the MLB lead in base hits (34 in 26 games), with a .337 average. BBRT also wants to recognize Brewers’ catcher Omar Narvaez. The 29-year-old came into this season with a career .267 average and had hit just .176 in 40 games for the Brewers in 2020. This April, he put up a .368-3-11 line in 22 games.

How About a Surprise At Bat of the Month

On April 27, Brewers’ right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser started for the Brewers (against the Marlins in Milwaukee. He went 5 1/3 innings (three runs on five hits and one walk,with seven strikeouts) for the win.  But the surprise of the game came not when Houser was on the mound, but when he was at the plate.  He came into the game just 2-for-28 in his career with 21 strikeouts. In his first at bat of the game, on the first pitch he saw from Daniel Castano, Houser smacked his first MLB home run – a 418-foot blast to center.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

In April 2021, 37.7 percent of the MLB season’s 28,326 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (24.4%); walks (8.8%); home runs (3.1%); HBP (1.3%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.

The 37.7 percent figure is up slightly from 2020’s (full season) 37.3 percent;  2019’s (full season) 36.2 percent and 2018’s 34.8 percent Trot Index. See a trend there? 

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There were some surprises in April.  How about the Royals sitting atop the Al Central Division? How they got there adds to the surprise.  Consider that the Royals were outscored by opponents in April, while the second place White Sox has a plus-29 run differential. The Royals did it partly by going 6-1 in one-run games.  The team was led on offense by 2B Whit Merrifield (.274-3-15), 1B Carlos Santana (.247-6-20) and C Salvador Perez (.268-5-13). That trio was responsible for 14 of the team’s 22 home runs and 45 or the squad’s 99 RBI. Danny Duffy led the starting rotation (3-1, 0.39, 27 strikeouts in 23 innings).  Those one-run wins really reflect the handling of the bullpen – six different pitchers recorded saves during month.  At the other end of the AL Central Division, The Tigers were the only MLB team with a winning percentage under .300 (.296), as well as the only squad with a batting average under .200 (.199). 

Other AL surprises saw the Red Sox in first place in the NL East.  The Red Sox relied heavily on their offense – which recorded April’s third-highest team average, and scored the second-most runs  in the AL (trailing only the Astros). The BoSox’ offense was led by DH J.D. Martinez (.351-9-25) and 3B Rafael Devers (.293-7-21).  The BoSox were the only MLB team with two 20-RBI players in April. Among the table setters was OF Alex Verdugo (.300 with 19 runs scored). 

On the Road Again

The AL East-leading Red Sox were 8-8 at home and 9-2 on the road. 

Oakland stood atop the AL West, despite a negative-four run differential.  Houston, with the AL’s largest positive run differential (+31), ended April in third place – but trailed the A’;s by just 1 1/2 games.  Power played a role the A’s April success.  While Oakland had the AL’s fourth-worst April team batting average, they had the league’s third-most home runs and seventh-most runs scored.   Matt Olson led the team with seven April homers (.296-6-17) and the A’s had six additional hitters with at least three April  long balls.  

Talk About a Turn Around

The Oakland A’s lost seven of their first eight games this season – being outscored 59-19.  Then they turned it around, running up a 13-game winning streak in which they outscored the opposition 81-36 – while outhitting opponents .259 to .233, out-homering them 24 to 8 and putting up a 2.69 ERA to their opponents 6.31. 

Over in the National League, the West was “The Division of the Pitcher.” The Giants, Dodgers and Padres were in a tight race and those three were among only four MLB team’s with April earned run averages under 3.00.  The surprising Giants were in first place, and they have benefited from outstanding performance by their rotation.   Five of the six starters they have used have ERA’s under 2.50: Alex Wood – 1.50; Anthony DeSclafani – 1.50; Johnny Cueto (1.80); Kevin Gausman – 2.14; and Aaron Sanchez – 2.22. A revitalized Buster Posey (.361 with six homers in 17 games) has helped the attack – which features seven players with three or more April home runs. 

Over in the Central, the Brewers at 16-10 held sway through April – despite an injury-ravaged first month of the season. They entered May with a MLB-leading 14 players on the Injured List – not a category you really want to lead in. Like the West’s leaders, pitching is taking a key role. (The Brew Crew had NL’s lowest team batting average in April and scored the leagues’s fifth-fewest runs, but also gave up the third-fewest tallies.) Key contributors have been Corbin Burnes (2-2, 1.53); Brandon Woodruff (2-0, 1.55); Freddy Peralta (3-0-2.45) and, out of the bullpen, Josh Hader has notched five saves, sports a 0.93 ERA and has fanned 19 pf the 36 batter he has faced.

Run That By Me Again

No team in the National League played better than .500 ball in April – and the only NL East team with a positive run differential (the Marlins at +11) ended the month in last place. 

What can you say about the NL East?  It had no team over .500, was home to three of the of NL’s four lowest scoring teams and housed two of the NL’s most scored upon teams.  The Phillies, who sit atop the Division as of May 1, had a .500 record, were outscored through April by 15 runs, scored the NL’s third-fewest April runs and were in the middle of the pack (seventh) in April ERA. One bright spot,  It is MLB’s tightest division race, with just 1 1/2 games separating the five teams.  

————-April 2021  Team Statistical Leaders August——————-

RUNS SCORED. … MLB Average 108

National League – Diamondbacks (136); Reds (136); Dodgers (127)

American League –  Astros (131); Red Sox (129); White Sox (127)

The Mets scored the fewest runs in April (58); while the Tigers were at the bottom of the American league at 75.  The only other team to score fewer than 90 April runs was the Nationals (77). When you look at Runs Per Game in April, the Reds led at 5.44, while the Tigers were at the bottom at 2.78 (the only team under 3.00). Joining the Reds in scoring 5+ runs per game in April were the Diamondbacks (5.23); White Sox (5.08); and Astros (5.04).

BATTING AVERAGE … MLB Average .232

National League – Reds (.249);  Nationals (248); Diamondbacks (.237)

American League – White Sox (.265);  Angels (.262); Red Sox (.258)

The Tigers averaged an MLB-low .199 for the month.  The Brewers had the lowest average in the AL at .215. 

ON-BASE PERCENTAGE … MLB Average .309

National League – Dodgers (.340); Diamondbacks (.324); Braves (324)

American League – White Sox (.343); Red Sox (.325); Astros (.322)

Dodgers’ batters suffered through more HBP’s than any other team (23), followed by the Brewers (21). Rockies’ batters were plunked just three times  in April. 

HOME RUNS … MLB Average 29

National League –  Braves (38); Reds (38); Diamondbacks (36)

American League – Yankees (37); Blue Jays (35); A’s (33); Angels (33)

Despite the presence of the DH in the AL, NL teams held the top two spots in April home runs.  For those who like less “punch,” the Mets were at the bottom of the April HR list with just 15 homers.

WALKS DRAWN … MLB Average 84

National League – Dodgers (126); Padres (110);  Diamondbacks (106)

American League – Yankees (113); Rays (93); A’s (92)

The Padres hit into an MLB-high 29 double plays in April, the Royals into just ten 

STOLEN BASES …. MLB Average 12

National League – Padres (33); Marlins (18); Cubs (16); Phillies (16)

American League – Royals (22); Rangers (19); A’s (19)

I thought the pace was faster in the Big Apple.  The Mets stole the fewest stolen bases in April – just three in seven attempts.  The Yankees were next lowest – four steals in five April attempts.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average 222

National League – Brewers (262); Cubs (260); Dodgers (259)

American League –  Rangers (285); Tigers (280); Rays (273)

Mets’ batter fanned the least often in April – 172 times.  

EARNED RUN AVERAGE … MLB Average 3.98

National League – Padres (2.87); Mets (2.90); Giants (2.95); Dodgers (2.98)

American League – Yankees (3.09); Blue Jays (3.42); Red Sox (3.55)

The highest ERA for April belonged to the Angels at 5.13. In the National League that “high” (low?) mark for April went to the Braves at 4.97. 

STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average 231

National League – Padres (304); Dodgers (270); Brewers (268)

American League – Yankees (276); Red Sox (257); White Sox (251)

Whiff-Masters

Seven teams fanned at least ten batters per nine frames in April, led by the Padres at 11.2. 

WALKS (fewest) …. MLB Average 84

National League – Mets (54); Dodgers (70); Phillies (72)

American League – Twins (64);  Blue Jays (66); Yankees (67)

The Dodgers and Yankees walked the fewest batters per nine innings (2.6).

SAVES … MLB Average 6

National League – Giants (11); Padres (11); Dodgers (9)

American League – Rays (9); Royals (9); Mariners (8); Indians (8)

The Mets had just two saves in April. 

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for April ———-

Note:  In stats for which MLB has set qualifying standards, a must have accummulated at least 3.1 plate appearances for each game his team has played and a pitcher’s innings pitched must be at least equal fo one inning for each game his team has played.

AVERAGE (qualifying hitters)

National League – Jessie Winker, Reds (.370); Ronald Acuna, Jr.,Braves (.341): Brandon Nimmo, Mets (.339)

American League –  Mike Trout, Angels (.425); Yermin Mercedes (.415); J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (.351)

The lowest August average (among qualifiers) belonged to the Reds’ Eugenio Suarez at .130 (12-for-92). Twenty-two qualifying hitters hit under .200 for the month. 

HOME RUNS

National League – Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (8); Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (8); Ryan McMahon, Rockies (8)

American League –  J.D. Martinez (9); Byron Buxton, Twins (8); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (8)

No player had more at bats without a long ball in April than Angels’ 2B David Fletcher (106). Fletcher, in fact, had only two extra-base hits in the month (out of 27 hits) – both doubles.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Jesus Aguilar, Marlins (22); David Peralta, Diamondbacks (22); Justin Turner, Dodgers (20); Javier Baez Dodgers (20) 

American League – J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (25);  Nate Lowe, Rangers (22); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (21): Javier Baez, Cubs (20)

HITS

National League – Eric Hosmer, Padres (31); Justin Turner, Dodgers (31); Ronald Acuna, Jr. Braves (30)

American League – Yermin Mercedes, White Sox (34); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (340; J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (33)

DOUBLES

National League –  Ozzie Albies, Braves (9); Kris Bryant,Cubs (9); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (8)

American League – Michael Brantley, Astros (10); J.D. Martinez, Reds Sox (10); Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (9); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (9); Luis Robert, White Sox (9); Kyle Seager, Mariners (9) 

TRIPLES

National League – David Peralta, Diamondbacks (4); Chris Owings, Rockies (3);  many with 2

American League – Akil Baddoo, Tigers (3); many with two

Mike Trout of the Angels led qualifying players in slugging percentage at .781, Ronald Acuna led NL qualifiers at .705.

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Jazz Chisholm, Jr., Marlins (7); seven with five.

American League – Ramon Laureano, A’s (8);  Whit Merrifield, Royals (8); Marcus Semien, Blue Jays (6)

Jazz Chisholm, Jr. of the Marlins had the most stolen bases without being caught in April (7).. 

WALKS

National League – Max Muncy, Dodgers (27); Freddie Freeman, Braves (19); Bryce Harper, Phillies (16); Asdrubal Cabrera (16); Anthony Rizzo,Cubs (16)

American League – Joey Gallo, Rangers (24); Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (20); Robbie Grossman, Tigers (18)

Mike Trout had the highest on-base percentage among qualifying hitters at  .523.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Eugenio Suarez, Reds (40); Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (37); Javier Baez, Cubs (36); 

American League – Joey Gallo, Rangers (40); Matt Chapman, A’s (37); Randy Arozarena, Rays (35); 

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Jack Flaherty, Cardinals (4-0); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (4-2)

American League – Aaron Civale, Indians (4-0); Carlos Rondon, White Sox (4-0); Eduardo Rodriguez, Red Sox (4-0); Gerrit Cole Yankees (4-1): Steven Matz, Blue Jays (4-1); Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox (4-2)

The Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez, Indians’ Logan Allen  and Tigers’ Tarik Skubal led MLB in April  losses. Martinez went 1-4, 4.76; Skubal was 0-4, 6.14) and Allen was 1-4, 9.19. 

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (qualifiers, one inning pitched for each team game played)

National League – Jacob deGrom, Mets (0.51); Joe Musgrove, Padres (1.24); Trevor Rogers, Marlins (1.29)

American League – Carlos Rodon, White Sox (0.72); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (1.43); Tyler Glasnow, Rays (1.67)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Jacob deGrom, Mets (59 / 35 IP); Trevor Bauer, Dodgers (52 / 40 IP); Colin Burnes (49 / 29 1/3 IP)

American League – Shane Bieber, Indians (68 / 41 1/3 IP); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (62 / 37 2/3 IP); Tyler Glasnow, Rays (56 / 37 2/3 IP)

SAVES

National League – Mark Melancon, Padres (9); Josh Hader, Brewers (7); Jake McGee, Giants (7)

American League – Matt Barnes, Red Sox (6); Diego Castillo, Rays (6); Cesar Valdez, Orioles (6)

Tyler Rogers (Giants), Tim Hill (Padres) and J.P. Feyereilsen (Brewers) made the moar mound appearances in April at 15. 

—–APRIL 2021 HIGHLIGHTS —-

Just a Walk in the Park

On Opening Day (April 1), The Mariners went into the bottom of the tenth inning tied at seven with the Giants.  The Mariners had scored six in the bottom of the eighth to come back from a 6-1 deficit – and the Giants tied it in the top of the ninth.  As per the goofy (that’s an editorial comment) MLB rule, the Mariners’ 1B Evan White started the bottom of the tenth inning at second base. Reliever Jose Alvarez walked CF Taylor Trammel and 2B Dylan Moore to load the bases with no outs. He then walked LF Jake Fraley – to give Fraley and the Mariners a true walk-off win – with the wining run scored by the only player who not only didn’t draw a walk that inning, but never saw a pitch.. Fraley, by the way had five plate appearances that day, drawing three walks, being hit by a pitch and lining out.  End of day, batting average .000, on-base percentage .800 and a game-winning RBI.

Not A Bad Way to Start the Season

On April 4, Tigers’ 22-year-old rookie outfielder Akil Baddoo (a Rule Five pickup form the Twins) made his major league debut – and became just the 31^st player in MLB history to hit a home run on the very first MLB pitch he ever saw (off Indians’ starter Aaron Civale) For more on that homer, click here.  Baddoo went one-for-three in the game, which the Tigers lost 9-3.  The very next day (April 5), Baddoo had a two-for-four game and hit his first MLB Grand Slam (as the Tigers lost to the Twins 15-6). The, on the very next day (April 6), Baddoo came on as a pinch runner in the eighth, stayed in the game and got a single at bat – producing his first-ever walk-off hit (an RBI single). as the Tigers topped the Twins 4-3 in ten frames.   Baddoo ended the month at .222-4-13.

The White Sox Yermin Mercedes had just one at bat (2020) coming into the 2021 season (a pinch hit round out.).  The 28-year-old, with an eight-season minor league average of .302, got his first MLB start on April 2 (at DH) and made the most of it.  His day?  It went like this: single; two-run single; single; single; two-run double.  A nice five-for-five on the day and season.  But he wasn’t done yet, he started at DH again on April 3 and went: solo home run; single, RBI double – before making his first out of the season on a fly ball to deep center.  Mercedes, according the the Elias Sports Bureau, is the first player in the modern era (post-1900) to being a season with base hits in his first eight at bats.  Mercedes finished April at ..415-5-16.

Kent Emanuel made his major-league debut for the Astro on April 25. The 28-year-old southpaw had toiled in the minor league since 2013 (after being drafted out of the University of North Carolina).  In seven minor-league campaigns he had gone 35-25, 4.77.  On April 25, he took a spot in the Astros’ bullpen hoping to make his MLB debut (he had been called up to the big club the day before).  He didn’t have to wait long.  Astros’ starter Jake Ordorizzi left after just one out and five pitches (forearm tightness) and Emanuel was heading to the mound. He acquitted himself well. Emanuel finished the game – tossing 8 2/3 innings of two-hit, two-run ball (no walks and five strikeouts) for the win.  In the process, he became just the fourth pitcher (according to STATS) in MLB history to pitch at least 8 2/3 innings of relief in their first MLB appearance.  (More proof of that “In baseball, we count everything.”)

Let Me Take Care of This

On April 6. 27-year-old right-hander Matt Peacock made his MLB debut for the Diamondbacks, coming on the eleventh inning of the Rockies/D-backs contest in Colorado. Peacock gave up two runs in his three innings of work – both unearned due to the rule starting each extra inning with a runner on second.  Still, he got the win in that first appearance – also contributing to the victory with his bat, singling and scoring as the Diamondbacks pushed across three runs in the top of the thirteenth (to earn a 10-8 win).

Three-for-Fourteen … In a Good Way

  On April 6, Rockies’ 3B Ryan McMahon collected three homers and a double (for 14 total   bases), scored three times and drove in four. The 14 total bases tied the Rockies’ single-game     record. Despite McMahon’s heroics, the Rockies lost 10-8 to the Diamondbacks in 13 innings.   McMahon hit a solo home run when given the green light on a 3-0 pitch from Luke Weaver in   the bottom of the second;  launched another solo shot (on a 1-1 pitch) off Weaver in the fourth   inning; and poked solo homer (on a 1-2 pitch) off reliever Alex Young in the seventh. He got   three more at bats in the game and produced a line out to second base, a ground out to   shortstop and an RBI double.

No Foolin’ … Two April No Hitters

April 2021 saw two MLB no-hitters – there has never been more than two no-hitters in April in any MLB season.  (There have been two April no-hitters in eight different seasons.)

On April 9, right-hander Joe Musgrove tossed the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres’ history (at the time, the Padres were the only MLB team to never have a pitcher toss a no-hit game). The only runner to reach base in the Padres’ 3-0 victory over the Rangers was Texas’ RF Joey Gallo, who was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. Musgrove fanned ten batters in the 112-pitch outing. Musgrove was traded by the Pirates to the Padres this past January.

The second 2021 no-hitter was fashioned on April 14 by White Sox’ southpaw Carlos Rodon – who came within two outs of a perfect game as his White Sox topped the Indians 8-0 in Chicago.  Rodon – who fanned seven in the 114-pitch outing – hit Indians’ C Roberto Perez with a pitch (on a one ball-two strike count) with one out in the ninth inning.  It was the White Sox’ 20th no-hitter, the most by any American League team (three short of the Dodgers’ overall MLB mark).

Long and Short Tales

The San Diego Padres played their first official MLB game on April 8, 1969.  The team didn’t have a pitcher toss a no-hitter until Joe Musgrove’s April 9, 2021 gem – 52 seasons and 20,506 games (including that Opening Day contest) later.  The Montreal Expos, on the other hand, played their first official MLB game on the same day as the Padres (April 8, 1969) and waited only nine games (ten days – including Opening Day) until their first no-hitter (tossed by Bill Stoneman on April 17).

Two – N0 three – For the Road

  On April 11 – as the Red Sox topped the Orioles 14-9 in Baltimore – Red Sox’ DH J.D. Martinez         notched 2021’s second three-homer game – with solo shots in the third, sixth and eighth innings.  It   was Martinez’ third three-homer contest – the previous two were for the Tigers and Diamondbacks.   In the process Martinez became one of just five players with three-homer games for three different   teams (Johnny Mize, Dave Kingman, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez).

Baseball Roundtable (No) Hit Parade Extra

On April 11, fast-pitch hurler Hope Trautwein tossed a “perfect” perfect game – striking out all 21 batters she faced in The University of North Texas’ 3-0 win over The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

On the Move

On April 14, as the Twins topped Boston 4-3 in Minnesota, Luis Arreaz collected four hits (in five at bats) out of the leadoff spot.  In the game, Arreaz was consistently “on the move” – taking the field in left field and at both third base and second base.

A Long Time A’Coming

On April 17, 36-year-old middle infielder Sean Kazmar, Jr. appeared as a pinch-hitter for the Atlanta Braves in a 13-4 loss to the Cubs in Chicago.  It was a big moment for Kazmar – his last at bat in the major leagues had come on September 23, 2008 – 12-years, six-months and 25 days (and 1,106 minor-league games) ago.  Kazmar – signed by the Padres in 2004 MLB draft (out of the College of Southern Nevada) – appeared in 19 games for San Diego as a 23-year-old in the 2008 season (hitting .205-0-2). As of April 17, his pro career consisted of 20 MLB games and 1,670 minor league contests.  Kazmar was called up after an injury (HBP) to the Braves’ 2B Ozzie Albies.

The all-time record (post-1900), according to the Elias Sport Bureau, for time between MLB appearances belongs to pitcher Paul Schreiber, who went 22 years and two days between appearances for the 1923 Dodgers (September 2) and 1945 Yankees September 8).  Schreiber’s career included 301 minor-league pitching appearances and 12 in the majors.  He pitched a total of 20 1/3 MLB innings to a 0-0 record and a 3.98 ERA. Schreiber had retired as a player in 1932, and had gone on to a coaching (and batting practice pitching) role for the Yankees.  He was activated (as a player) by the Yankees in 1945 when the World War II depleted the Yankee pitching staff.

Just Try to Hit My Change

On April 16, Twins’ utility man Willians “la Tortuga” Astudillo (primarily a catcher, but who has played every position except SS in his four-season MLB career) took the mound for the Minnesota Twins (down to the Angels 10-3) in the bottom of the eighth inning.  He pitched a clean (1-2-3) inning, retiring the Angles on just seven pitches. His fastball topped out at an unimpressive 72.5 mph, but the difference in speeds he delivered was solid.  His change up (we assume it was an intentional change up) was clocked at 46 mph – a true change from  his “heater.” Side note:  46 mph was the slowest Astudillo pitch measured. Reportedly, he tossed a couple of pitches too slow for Statcast to track.

Burnes Brings the Heat – and Applies It Right on the Spot

 Brewers’ righty Corbin Burnes opened the 2021 season on a roll. Not only did he     fan 49 batters in his five April starts (29 1/3 innings).  He accomplished all those   whiffs without issuing a single base on balls. Burnes faced a total of 106 batters   without issuing a free pass – striking out 46.2 percent of those batsmen. According   to the Elias Sport Bureau, the previous record (for a starter) for strikeouts before       issuing a first walk of the season was 35 (Adam Wainwright, 2013).  Burnes finished   April with an 2-2  record, a 1.53 ERA and a microscopic  0.55 WHIP. He now holds   the record for strikeouts before the first walk of the season for a starting pitcher   and is within one whiff of reliever Kenley Jansen’s season-opening record for a   pitcher in any role.  Unfortunately, Burnes begins May on the IL. 

Three-for-One!

In the eighth inning of the Reds’ April 17 win against the Indians (in Cincinnati), Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto started the first triple play of the 2021 season – and it came at a most opportune time. The Reds were trailing 2-1 and the Indians were looking to extend the margin (runners on first and third and no outs).  Indians’ 1B Josh Naylor nailed (pun intended) a liner that Votto snatched on the fly. Votto then dove to the bag to double off Indians’ RF Franmil Reyes, who had been on first. Indians’ LF Eddie Rosario (on third), who mistakenly thought Votto made the catch after the ball hit the ground, had crossed the plate during the play at first and was on his way to the Indians’ dugout. Votto tossed to Reds’ 3B Max Schrock to complete the triple killing. The play held the score at 2-1 and the Reds went on to win 3-2 in ten innings.

Put Me in Coach

Between April 11 and April 22, the Giants started Curt Casali (signed as a free-agent this January) behind the plate five times – and all five contests resulted in zero tallies for the opponents.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that made Casali just one of five catchers to backstop shutouts in at least five consecutive starts.   Curt Casali started nine games behind the plate for the Giants this April.  In those contests, San Francisco is 8-1, with a 1.37 earned run average.  In games not started by Casali at catcher, the Giants are 8-8, with an ERA of 3.76.  For more on Casali’s streak, click here.

Whiff ‘N Poof

 On April 18, the Indians’ Shane Bieber fanned 13 batters in eight innings as the Indians topped   the Reds 6-3 in Cincinnati, (Bieber gave up three runs on six hits and two walks.) In the process,   he tied the record for strikeouts in the first four starts of a season (Yes, as I’ve said before … In   baseball, we count everything)  fanning 48 batters in 29 1/3 innings. (Nolan Ryan fanned 48 in   his first four 1978 starts.)  Well, on April 23, the Mets’ Jacob deGrom pushed Ryan and Bieber off   the top of the record books. In a complete-game, two-hit shutout (over the Nationals) deGrom   fanned 15 batters – giving him 50 whiffs in his first four 2012 starts (29 innings).

It’s in The Genes

On April 23, 1999, Cardinals’ 3B Fernando Tatis set an MLB record by hitting two Grand Slams in one inning (the third) – as the Cardinals topped the Dodgers 12-5 in Los Angeles. (Most surprising to BBRT is that Chan Ho Park was in the game long enough to give up both blasts.) On April 23 of this season, Fernando Tatis, Jr. – SS for the Padres – hit a pair of homers (off Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw). Although they were solo shots and not in the same inning, they did seem to reflect a family tradition.

A Four-by-Four

On April 23, the Rays’ Tyler Glasgow became the 88^th pitcher to notch four strikeouts in an inning.  It’s been done 92 times – with the only Chuck Finley (three times), A.J. Burnett (twice) and Zack Greinke (twice) “accomplishing” the feat more than once. (There was one additional four-strikeout inning, but it involved two pitchers.  The Mets’ Jerry Blevins and Addison Reed combined for four whiffs in the ninth inning of a Mets game on April 17, 2016,.) Glasnow accomplished the feat in the top of the first inning of the Jays/Rays game. His victims were Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. (who reached first after swinging at a wild pitch) and Danny Jansen. Despite the four whiffs, Glasnow had a tough inning – giving up four runs on four hits and a walk.  According to STATS, that tied the MLB record for most runs surrendered in a four-whiff frame (joining Doc White, Phillies, July 21, 1902). Glasnow settled down after the first inning, going six innings (five hits, two walks, five runs and ten strikeouts) – but taking the loss as the Blue Jays prevailed 5-3.

That’s a No-NO …. No, No, It Isn’t

On April 25, Madison Bumgarner (now of the Diamondbacks, that doesn’t seem right) tossed a complete game, no-hit shutout against the potent Braves’ lineup.  But wait, it was the second game of one of those seven-innings each doubleheaders – which meant is didn’t qualify under MLB rules as a no-hitter (has to be nine innings). So, despite facing the minimum number of hitters (in this case 21, one batter reached on an error but was erased on a double play), Bumgarner’s gem will not be listed among MLB no-no’s.  

Move Over Babe

On April 26, the Angels Shohie Ohtani started on the mound for the Angels (against the Rangers) – and batted second in the lineup.  On that day he also happened to be the MLB 2021 co-leader in home runs with seven.  The last time a pitcher started a game while leading MLB in long balls?  Babe Ruth on June 13, 1921 (according to the Elias Sports Bureau).  Ohtani, by the way, went two-for-three, with three runs scored and two RBI – and got the pitching victory, giving up four runs in five innings (three hits, two walks and nine strikeouts). 

Three-for-Three

On April 27, Blue Jays ‘ 1B Vlad Guerrero, Jr. personally demolished the Washington Nationals – as the Blue Jays topped the Nats 9-5 in Toronto.  Guerrero enjoyed a three-homer, seven-RBI day – becoming the third player to have a three-homer day this April. Notably, the 22-year-old Guerrero did not “prey on the weak.”  After grounding into a double play to end the first inning, he hit a Grand Slam (on a 2-1 pitch) off Washington ace Max Scherzer in the bottom of the third; took Scherzer deep again (on a 3-2 pitch) leading off the fifth; and hit a two-run shot off Kyle Finnegan (on a 1-1 offering) in the seventh. 

The Three-Homer Tidbits

The youngest player ever to hit three homers in a game was the Tigers’ Al Kaline, who accomplished the feat on April 17, 1955 at the age of 20 years-119 days.  The oldest was Stan Musial (on July 8, 1962) at 41 years-229 days. 

Nice Round Numbers

On April 30,  as the Reds topped the Cubs 8-6 in Cincinnati, Reds’ 1B Joey Votto hit his fifth home run of the season and 300th of his career – a two-run shot in the bottom of the third inning  that gave the Reds their first lead.  Votto finished the game three-for-four, with one run scored and three RBI.  

Primary Resources:  MLB.com; Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; ESPN.com

Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer:  The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and incorporates Negro League records from 1920-46 into the MLB record book.

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