This is our old blog. It hasn't been active since 2011. Please see the link above for our current blog or click the logo above to see all of the great data and content on this site.

Most starts with no strikeouts

Posted by Andy on November 6, 2008

Just got curious as to who the leaders were for this.

In 2008:

                   Year Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+
 Paul Byrd         2008     6 Ind. Games
 Carlos Silva      2008     4 Ind. Games
 Greg Reynolds     2008     4 Ind. Games
 Kyle Kendrick     2008     4 Ind. Games
 Nick Blackburn    2008     4 Ind. Games
 Brian Moehler     2008     3 Ind. Games
 John Lannan       2008     3 Ind. Games
 Matt Harrison     2008     3 Ind. Games
 Zach Duke         2008     3 Ind. Games
 Kevin Correia     2008     3 Ind. Games             

Last 10 years:

                   Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+-----+-------------------------+
 Kirk Rueter          32 Ind. Games
 Tom Glavine          18 Ind. Games
 Scott Erickson       16 Ind. Games
 Paul Byrd            16 Ind. Games
 Jarrod Washburn      15 Ind. Games
 Carlos Silva         15 Ind. Games
 Kenny Rogers         15 Ind. Games
 Joe Mays             15 Ind. Games
 Josh Fogg            15 Ind. Games              

Holy crap, did anybody out there know that Rueter had so many zero-K games?

Since 1956:

                   Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+-----+-------------------------+
 Tommy John           75 Ind. Games
 Bob Forsch           51 Ind. Games
 Jim Kaat             50 Ind. Games
 Jim Barr             48 Ind. Games
 Mike Torrez          45 Ind. Games
 Claude Osteen        44 Ind. Games
 Mike Caldwell        44 Ind. Games
 Paul Splittorff      43 Ind. Games
 Lary Sorensen        40 Ind. Games
 Kirk Rueter          40 Ind. Games
 Jerry Reuss          40 Ind. Games
 Ross Grimsley        40 Ind. Games

4 Responses to “Most starts with no strikeouts”

  1. Jgeller Says:

    It makes sense that Rueter had so many 0-k games.
    In the last 10 seasons, 101 pitchers threw 1000 innings. At 3.31, his SO/9IP is half a strikeout per game lower than the next lowest figure. Also, he averaged only 5.7 innings per game in that time frame.
    Of note is that Rueter's teams went 20-20 in these games. Tommy John's teams went 30-45. Tom Glavine's teams went 13-24 in his 37 career 0-k games. Major league pitchers this season with 0-k games went 45-118. So perhaps it didn't matter as much for Rueter as it did for others.

  2. Andy Says:

    This stat selects for somewhat better pitchers, of course. Guys who get slammed, giving up no strikeouts and a bunch of earned runs, don't get a lot of starts. It's no surprise that this list favors finesse pitchers like Rueter and Byrd who found a way to be successful in the majors with low strikeout rates.

  3. splint Says:

    No time for loafing in the field with this group.

  4. JohnnyTwisto Says:

    8 of the 11 career leaders are lefty.

    Reuter was just awful to watch pitch. I doubt he ever threw a ball over the plate in his entire career.