
MLB's 32 Pitchers Most Likely to Throw a No-Hitter in 2011
After six no-hitters in 2010, and already two this season, it appears that one of the rarest accomplishments in baseball is becoming a little more common.
The most no-hitters we have ever seen in a single season (in the modern era of baseball) is seven, accomplished in both 1990-1991, making a combination of 14 for the two-year span, the most ever.
Dating back to last season we have already seen eight no-hitters in the past two year span.
Will Major League pitchers be able to throw six more no-hitters this season to break both the single season and two-year-span records?
Which pitchers are most likely to accomplish this rare historic pitching accomplishment? These are in no particular order with the exception of pitchers who have already thrown a no-hitter (placed at the end of the list).
Active pitchers who already have one or more no-hitters were automatically included and placed at the end of the list. Although some of these pitchers have not given any indication that they are capable of repeating with another no-no, I felt they are still young enough to put together one more dominant performance in their careers.
(Carlos Zambrano, Kevin Millwood, Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett also have no-hitters during their career, but were excluded from the list based on statistics that I felt made it unlikely they would repeat their previous accomplishment. Feel free to disagree with me if you like).
Brandon McClintock covers the Oakland Athletics and Major League Baseball for BleacherReport.com. You can follow me on Twitter: @BMcClintock_BR.
Dan Haren: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
1 of 32
Dan Haren is off to a hot start for the LA Angels. He currently has a 4-2 record with a 1.87 ERA. Most impressive though is his .193 opposing batter's average.
Haren definitely has the stuff to throw a no-no during his career, and could be one of the pitchers to toss one as early as this season.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 30 | 9 | 8 | 57.7 | 1.2 | 8.7 | 0.47 | 0.244 | 0.870 | 0.193 | 0.223 | 0.291 | 1.87 |
Jered Weaver: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2 of 32
Jered Weaver is another Angel pitcher with a chance to throw a no-hitter during his career. Weaver arguably has some of the best "stuff" in the Majors though, and could toss more than one no-no before his career is complete.
So far this season Weaver is 6-2 with a 1.87 ERA and a .188 opposing batter's average.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 28 | 8 | 8 | 57.7 | 2 | 8.6 | 0.31 | 0.243 | 0.920 | 0.188 | 0.238 | 0.260 | 1.87 |
Felix Hernandez: Seattle Mariners
3 of 32
Felix Hernandez is the reigning AL Cy Young winner for a reason. He is one of the elite pitchers in the American League and also possesses some of the most dominant stuff in the league.
King Felix is currently 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA, but has a .230 opposing batter's average.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 25 | 8 | 8 | 56.7 | 2.4 | 8.1 | 0.48 | 0.283 | 1.110 | 0.230 | 0.276 | 0.325 | 3.02 |
Michael Pineda: Seattle Mariners
4 of 32
The rookie is living up to the hype early on. Michael Pineda is currently 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA and .210 opposing batter's average.
He adds another potential ace to the rotation behind reigning AL Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez.
At just 22 years old, he definitely has the ability to throw a no-hitter during his career, but how cool would it be for him to throw one as a rookie?
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 22 | 6 | 6 | 38.3 | 2.8 | 9.2 | 0.47 | 0.270 | 1.070 | 0.210 | 0.268 | 0.319 | 2.58 |
Kyle Lohse: St. Louis Cardinals
5 of 32
The 32 year old Kyle Lohse is off to a hot start for the Cardinals. He currently has a 4-2 record with a 2.24 ERA and a .187 opposing batter's average.
The Cardinals are counting on him to continue performing as they cope with the loss of Adam Wainwright this season.
The way he is pitching so far this season it is not unreasonable that he could catch a team off guard at some point in 2011 and toss a no-no.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 32 | 7 | 7 | 52.3 | 1.7 | 5 | 0.52 | 0.205 | 0.880 | 0.187 | 0.231 | 0.278 | 2.24 |
C.C. Sabathia: New York Yankees
6 of 32
C.C. Sabathia is currently 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .259. He is one of the top pitchers in the American League, and will be in the Cy Young running when the season winds down.
Sabathia has the ability to be unhittable at times, and by virtue of that, could wind up tossing his first career no-hitter in Yankee pinstripes as he weighs the option of opting out of his contract in search of a larger pay day this offseason.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 30 | 8 | 8 | 53 | 3.1 | 7.5 | 0.34 | 0.311 | 1.360 | 0.259 | 0.314 | 0.322 | 2.89 |
Josh Beckett: Boston Red Sox
7 of 32
Surprised to see Josh Beckett here? You shouldn't be with the season he has had so far.
Beckett is currently 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .162.
It's nice to see him rebounding from a down season last year and returning to his dominant form. He could become the third pitcher in the Boston rotation with a no-hitter to his credit (joining Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz).
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 31 | 6 | 6 | 38.3 | 2.8 | 8.2 | 0.7 | 0.191 | 0.890 | 0.162 | 0.235 | 0.285 | 2.35 |
Alexi Ogando: Texas Rangers
8 of 32
Alexi Ogando pitched great for the Rangers last season as a reliever, and has pitched even better this season as a starter.
He is currently 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA and an almost unhittable .179 opposing batter's average.
The 27 year old has the stuff, but can he hold up for an entire season as a starter in the Texas heat?
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 6 | 6 | 37.3 | 2.2 | 6.5 | 1.21 | 0.186 | 0.960 | 0.179 | 0.247 | 0.321 | 2.17 |
Josh Johnson: Florida Marlins
9 of 32
Josh Johnson has already taken a no-hitter deep into a game three times this season. He is currently 3-1 with a 1.68 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .160.
The way he has pitched so far this season, the question is more a matter of when than if?
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 48.3 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 0.19 | 0.212 | 0.850 | 0.160 | 0.228 | 0.215 | 1.68 |
Tim Lincecum: San Francisco Giants
10 of 32
Tim Lincecum is already a two-time Cy Young winner. The question has always been how many in regards to Lincecum no-hitters, not if he could have one magical night.
Lincecum is currently 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .205.
He is still the most dominant pitcher in baseball at times though, and has the ability to throw a no-hitter on any given night when he is on.
2011 could be the season he adds another no-hitter to San Francisco's rotation (Jonathan Sanchez also has one).
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 47.3 | 3 | 11 | 0.38 | 0.289 | 1.120 | 0.205 | 0.278 | 0.304 | 2.47 |
Matt Cain: San Francisco Giants
11 of 32
Matt Cain, the Giants no. 2 starter behind Lincecum, is a steady horse in the SF rotation.
Cain is currently 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA and opposing batter's average of .244, but when he is dialed in he can go on stretches of shear dominance.
Cain should wind up contending for a few Cy Young awards before his career winds down, and I would not be surprised in the slightest to see him toss a no-hitter or two during his career.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 26 | 7 | 7 | 42.7 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 0.84 | 0.269 | 1.270 | 0.244 | 0.300 | 0.375 | 3.38 |
Trevor Cahill: Oakland Athletics
12 of 32
Trevor Cahill is one part of Oakland's new "Big Three" that lead their talented rotation.
The criticism against Cahill last season was that he relied to heavily on balls in play for outs, and was the recipient of a lot of luck for his 2010 successes. This season he has turned into a strikeout pitcher, removing that argument from his doubters.
Cahill is currently a perfect 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA and an opposing batter's average of just .211.
Can he join rotation-mate Dallas Braden with a no-no on his resume?
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 23 | 7 | 7 | 45.3 | 3 | 7.5 | 0.4 | 0.260 | 1.130 | 0.211 | 0.274 | 0.275 | 1.79 |
Brett Anderson: Oakland Athletics
13 of 32
Brett Anderson, Oakland's second part of the new "Big Three", arguably has the best stuff of the Oakland aces.
Anderson took a perfect game into the fifth inning recently before losing both the perfect game and the no hitter.
Anderson is 2-2 on the season with a 2.77 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .255.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 23 | 7 | 7 | 48.7 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 0.55 | 0.178 | 1.190 | 0.255 | 0.294 | 0.337 | 2.77 |
Gio Gonzalez: Oakland Athletics
14 of 32
Gio Gonzalez, Oakland's third ace in the rotation (behind Cahill and Anderson), has some of the nastiest pitches in the league. When he is on, he can be unhittable and flat out filthy.
Gio is currently 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .230.
He may be a bit too wild to toss a perfect game, but a no-hitter is definitely not out of the question for this young pitcher.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 25 | 7 | 7 | 43.7 | 4.1 | 8.5 | 0.82 | 0.282 | 1.330 | 0.230 | 0.317 | 0.354 | 2.68 |
Tim Hudson: Atlanta Braves
15 of 32
And now for a member of Oakland's former "Big Three"; the Atlanta Braves' Tim Hudson is pitching well this season with a current record of 4-2 and a 2.86 ERA.
His opposing batter's average is .219, and he has looked unhittable in stretches already this season.
For one, I am personally rooting for Hudson, one of my favorite competitors of all time to watch pitch.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 35 | 7 | 7 | 50.3 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 0.18 | 0.244 | 0.990 | 0.219 | 0.254 | 0.268 | 2.86 |
David Price: Tampa Bay Rays
16 of 32
David Price will be dominating batters in the American League for a long time, contending for Cy Young awards, and perhaps putting together at least one, if not multiple, no-hitters.
So far this season, Price is 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .253.
Price is just 25 years old, he will continue to improve as he reaches the prime of his career.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 25 | 7 | 7 | 49.7 | 1.6 | 7.2 | 0.72 | 0.297 | 1.210 | 0.253 | 0.297 | 0.376 | 3.26 |
Clayton Kershaw: Los Angeles Dodgers
17 of 32
Clayton Kershaw is currently 4-3 on the season with a 3.12 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .241.
It's worth noting though that in 2009 his batting average against was .200, and .211 in 2010. Kershaw will improve as the season progresses, and he has the ability to dominate a ballgame.
At just 23 years old, you can expect to see Kershaw dominating national league hitters for a long time.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 23 | 8 | 8 | 52 | 3.1 | 9.2 | 1.04 | 0.295 | 1.250 | 0.241 | 0.301 | 0.354 | 3.12 |
Josh Tomlin: Cleveland Indians
18 of 32
Josh Tomlin is off to a pretty good start to his sophomore season for the Indians.
The righty is currently 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .174.
He's definitely one of the reasons the Tribe is off to a hot start in the AL Central.
I wouldn't have put him on one of these lists at the beginning of the season, but he caught my attention with his quick start so far. Let's see if he can put it all together for a complete-game no-no before the season is finishes.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 26 | 6 | 6 | 40.7 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 1.55 | 0.157 | 0.840 | 0.174 | 0.221 | 0.354 | 2.43 |
Brandon Morrow: Toronto Blue Jays
19 of 32
Brandon Morrow has only made three starts so far this season, and is currently 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .222.
He showed baseball fans what he was capable of last season though in his dominant 20 strikeout performance.
If Morrow puts together a performance reminiscent of that dominant day, with some timely defense behind him, he could easily wind up with a no-hitter under his belt as well.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 26 | 3 | 3 | 17.7 | 3.6 | 12 | 0.51 | 0.317 | 1.190 | 0.222 | 0.292 | 0.318 | 3.06 |
Jaime Garcia: St. Louis Cardinals
20 of 32
Jaime Garcia recently took a perfect game into the eighth inning before losing the perfecto and the no-no.
He no doubt has the ability to put it all together though based on that dominant performance. Oh yeah, and he's just 24 years old too, so we'll be seeing him around for a while!
Garcia is currently 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .205.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 24 | 7 | 7 | 45.3 | 2.2 | 8.7 | 0.4 | 0.263 | 0.990 | 0.205 | 0.256 | 0.267 | 1.99 |
Anibal Sanchez: Florida Marlins (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
21 of 32
Annibal Sanchez pitched a no-hitter on September 6, 2006 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Sanchez is currently 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .247.
He did take a no-hitter deep into a game once this season, so we can assume he is still capable of putting together a repeat performance of his brilliant 2006 game.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 41.7 | 3.7 | 9.3 | 0.86 | 0.307 | 1.370 | 0.247 | 0.318 | 0.367 | 3.46 |
Clay Buchholz: Boston Red Sox (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
22 of 32
Clay Buchholz pitched his no-hitter on September 1, 2007 against the Baltimore Orioles.
This season he is 3-3 with a 4.19 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .289, not really the statistics of a pitcher you would expect to toss a no-hitter.
We have seen him do it before though, so perhaps he gets hot and does it again?
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 26 | 7 | 7 | 38.7 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 0.302 | 1.630 | 0.290 | 0.362 | 0.480 | 4.19 |
Jon Lester: Boston Red Sox (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
23 of 32
Jon Lester tossed his no-hitter on May 9, 2008 against the Kansas City Royals.
Lester was a pre-season candidate mentioned for the 2011 Cy Young award, an indication of the talent he possesses in his left-arm.
So far he is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .217.
It would not be a surprise to see Lester get his second no-no at some point in 2011.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 46.3 | 2.9 | 8.9 | 0.97 | 0.270 | 1.140 | 0.217 | 0.290 | 0.343 | 2.33 |
Jonathan Sanchez: San Francisco Giants (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
24 of 32
Jonathan Sanchez threw his no-hitter on July 10, 2009 against the San Diego Padres.
The Giants no. 3 starter is currently 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .212.
You know the ability is there with Sanchez, but you question his preparation and desire at times. Sanchez can be downright unhittable when he is on, as evidenced by his low batting average against, but other times he frustrates Giants fans with poor outings.
He can put it all together though for another gem if he is on.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 28 | 7 | 7 | 38 | 6.2 | 11 | 0.47 | 0.297 | 1.500 | 0.212 | 0.341 | 0.329 | 3.55 |
Mark Buehrle: Chicago White Sox (2 No-Hitters Thrown)
25 of 32
Mark Buehrle has tossed two no-hitters already in his career; one on April 18, 2007 against the Texas Rangers and the other on July 23, 2009 against the Tampa Bay Rays (Perfect Game).
Buehrle isn't off to his best start in 2011 with a 3-4 record and a 4.05 ERA with an opposing batter's average of .288.
With two no-no's under his belt already though, he can't be counted out of reaching back and tossing his third to put him in elite company (only five pitchers in history have 3+ no-hitters).
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 32 | 8 | 8 | 53.3 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 0.51 | 0.311 | 1.370 | 0.288 | 0.329 | 0.410 | 4.05 |
Ubaldo Jimenez: Colorado Rockies (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
26 of 32
Ubaldo Jimenez was the first pitcher in 2010 to throw a no-hitter. He tossed his masterpiece on April 17, 2010 against the Atlanta Braves.
Jimenez is off to a very shaky start in 2011 with an 0-2 record and a 5.88 ERA. He has an opposing batter's average of just .222 though, so he has remained hard to hit.
Jimenez has been one of the National League's best pitchers in recent years. He should figure it out soon and turn his season around, and if he does he is a threat to toss a no-hitter any time he takes the mound.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 5.5 | 9.3 | 1.04 | 0.275 | 1.580 | 0.222 | 0.348 | 0.434 | 5.88 |
Dallas Braden: Oakland Athletics (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
27 of 32
Dallas Braden tossed his perfect game on Mother's day, May 9, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Braden may be one of the most unlikely pitchers on this list to repeat this level of dominance, but his perfect game came against the top offense in baseball last year. He does have the competitiveness to repeat the accomplishment if he returns from injury this season to pitch effectively.
Before going on the disabled list, Braden was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .265.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 2.5 | 7.5 | 1 | 0.206 | 1.280 | 0.270 | 0.320 | 0.460 | 3.00 |
Edwin Jackson: Chicago White Sox (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
28 of 32
Edwin Jackson pitched his no-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 25, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He finished the season with the Chicago White Sox.
Jackson is currently 2-4 with a 4.98 ERA and a .288 opposing batter's average.
It's unlikely that Jackson will put together another no-hitter with those types of numbers, but it is possible based on his first go-'round.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 43.3 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 0.83 | 0.328 | 1.55 | 0.288 | 0.347 | 0.441 | 4.98 |
Matt Garza: Chicago Cubs (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
29 of 32
Matt Garza pitched another no-hitter in 2010 on July 26 against the Detroit Tigers.
Garza was traded to the Chicago Cubs during the offseason, and has gotten off to a slow start in the National League.
He is currently 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .273. He'll need to lower his BABIP if he ever wants another no-no though.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 7 | 7 | 44.7 | 2.6 | 11.7 | 0.2 | 0.388 | 1.390 | 0.273 | 0.320 | 0.369 | 4.23 |
Roy Halladay: Philadelphia Phillies (2 No-Hitters Thrown)
30 of 32
Roy Halladay tossed a pair of no-hitters last season. May 29, 2010 against the Florida Marlins (Perfect Game) and October 6, 2010 against the Cincinnati Reds in the Playoffs.
Halladay is a threat to throw a no-hitter every time he takes the mound with his stuff.
In 2011 he is currently 5-1 with a 2.19 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .226.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 34 | 7 | 7 | 53.3 | 1.2 | 9.6 | 0.17 | 0.308 | 0.990 | 0.226 | 0.254 | 0.261 | 2.19 |
Francisco Liriano: Minnesota Twins (1 No-Hitter Thrown)
31 of 32
Francisco Liriano earned his no-no just last week on May 3, 2011 against the Chicago White Sox.
Twins fans are hoping this marks the return of Liriano to his prior level of dominance before missing time from Tommy John surgery.
Liriano has struggled in 2011 though, despite the no-no.
He is currently 2-4 with a 6.61 ERA. His opponent's batting average against him though is just .225.
Walks have been killing Liriano so far this season, and he even found a way to produce six base-on-balls in his no-hitter as well.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 27 | 6 | 6 | 32.7 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.237 | 1.590 | 0.225 | 0.356 | 0.400 | 6.61 |
Justin Verlander: Detroit Tigers (2 No-Hitters Thrown)
32 of 32
Justin Verlander is the most recent pitcher to throw a no-hitter, his second in his career. The first came on June 12, 2007 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The second, May 7, 2011 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Verlander definitely has the stuff to throw more no-hitters during his career. Whether or not he will, no one can know for sure, but by reaching 100 MPH in the ninth inning of his no-hitter last week he showed that he has dominant stuff even late into games.
Verlander is 3-3 this season with a 3.16 ERA and an opposing batter's average of .187.
| AGE | G | GS | IP | BB9 | SO9 | HR9 | BABIP | WHIP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ERA |
| 28 | 8 | 8 | 57 | 2.8 | 8.7 | 0.95 | 0.222 | 0.980 | 0.187 | 0.251 | 0.325 | 3.16 |

.png)







