Astros' Ronel Blanco Throws Historic 14.2 Hitless Innings to Open 2024 MLB Season

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco has had quite the start to his 2024 MLB season.

After tossing a no-hitter in his first start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Blanco kept his streak going through 5.2 innings of his second start against the defending champion Texas Rangers.

This is the longest no-hit streak to start a season since at least 1961, per Elias Sports Bureau, and only allowing a single hit through the first 15 innings of a season is also a MLB record, per OptaStats.

The only player in MLB history to throw back-to-back no-hitters was Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer in 1938.

Blanco made his major league debut in 2022 but did not debut as a starting pitcher until June 2023. This was his ninth career start and he entered the game with a 4-1 career record.

Houston has slumped to a 3-7 start to the year, but Blanco has been a bright spot as he has accounted for two of the wins. He still has not allowed an earned run in his 15 innings, but he still has awhile to go in order to contend with the longest scoreless streaks among starters in league history.