MLB Weekly Digest May 14th Edition

Read Time:4 Minute, 54 Second

The last week in MLB was about a starting pitcher making history, a club in the National League losing a key member of their starting rotation for several weeks and a once great pitcher gets traded to another club.

Seattle Mariners Starting Pitcher James Paxton Tosses No-Hitter Against Toronto Blue Jays

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton was superb in his start earlier this week against the Toronto Blue Jays as he fired the second no-hitter of the 2018 season by a starter and did so on just 99 pitches.

Congratulations to @james_paxton on completing a no-hitter! @Mariners pic.twitter.com/Wa7WLTs7qW

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 9, 2018

Paxton had all pitches in his repertoire working and dominantly ended the no-hitter, by needing just seven pitches to retire the side in the ninth inning.

He became the fifth player in franchise history to throw an individual no-hitter, per an announcement by the Mariners.

.@James_Paxton throws the 5th individual no-hitter in #Mariners history and the 6th no-no overall in club history.

— MarinersPR (@MarinersPR) May 9, 2018

The left-hander is just the second Canadian-born player to throw a no-hitter in MLB history and the first to accomplish that feat since Dick Fowler in 1945, per MLB Stat of the Day.

Big Maple does it!@James_Paxton is the 2nd Canada-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter (Dick Fowler, A’s, 9/9/45). pic.twitter.com/dzn9LFgnfz

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) May 9, 2018

He’s also the first American League pitcher to have a 16-strikeout game and a no-hitter in the same season since Nolan Ryan in 1991, per Stats By Stats.

James Paxton of the @Mariners becomes the 2nd Canadian-born pitcher with a no-hitter, and he did it in Canada!

Paxton is the first AL pitcher with a 16+ strikeout game and a no-hitter in the same season since Nolan Ryan in 1991 – Ryan did both in the same game. #TrueToTheBlue

— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) May 9, 2018

This was the third no-hitter in MLB this season, and the last time there were three no-hitters through May 8^th was 1969, per ESPN Stats & Info.

James Paxton throws the 6th no-hitter in @Mariners franchise history on just 99 pitches.

It is the 3rd no-hitter in the MLB this season. The last time there were 3 no-hitters through May 8th was in 1969.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 9, 2018

This was a great accomplishment by Paxton, by tossing a no-hitter and it was more special for him to do it on Canadian soil.

The other impressive aspect of the no-hitter was how it ended, as Paxton’s final three pitches were 98 mph or higher.

.@James_Paxton’s last three pitches:
98 mph
100 mph
99 mph

THAT’S how you finish a no-no. pic.twitter.com/BWdmtS863U

— MLB (@MLB) May 9, 2018

San Francisco Giants Starting Pitcher Johnny Cueto Out Six to Eight Weeks With Elbow Sprain

The San Francisco Giants will be without another member of their starting rotation for several weeks. Johnny Cueto has been diagnosed with an elbow sprain and will be out six to eight weeks, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Source confirms Johnny Cueto has an elbow sprain. Surgery was not recommended, which is good news. He’s expected to miss 6-8 weeks. @JonHeyman was first with update.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) May 7, 2018

Cueto may need to undergo Tommy John surgery if rehab doesn’t work, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

Johnny Cueto had two examinations and several other docs reviewed his MRI results before he made a determination on a course of treatment. TJ surgery is always an option if rehabbing doesn’t work.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 7, 2018

Cueto has made just five starts this year, but he’s been virtually untouchable.

He has posted a microscopic 0.84 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in 32 innings with 26 K’s, 16 hits allowed, six walks issued and just one home run surrendered.

Cueto is under contract until 2021 making $21.8 million per year, and there’s a $22 million team option for 2022.

He’s dealt with some injuries over the past several years, but when healthy has proven to be a valuable member of a rotation.

The Giants will need a healthy Cueto to have any chance of winning the NL West or staying in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.

New York Mets Deal Matt Harvey to Cincinnati Reds for Catcher Devin Mesoraco

The New York Mets earlier last week traded struggling pitcher Matt Harvey to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Devin Mesoraco and cash, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

OFFICIAL: The Mets have traded Matt Harvey to the Reds for Devin Mesoraco and cash.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 8, 2018

The Mets designated Harvey for assignment after his poor performance on the mound this year as he posted a 7.00 ERA in 27 innings for them.

It was great the Mets were able to get something for Harvey as the catcher position was an area of need for the team.

Harvey on a new team with shallow expectations might be what he needs to turn his season around.

It seems that has happened as he threw the ball exceptionally well in his debut a couple of days ago for the Reds. He fired four scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, yielding just one hit on 55 pitches with two strikeouts and zero walks issued.

This was the first scoreless appearance for Harvey since April 3^rd facing the Philadelphia Phillies.

If Harvey continues to keep opposing teams scoreless, the Reds will have a tremendous trade chip during the trade deadline.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

[email protected]

http://ngscsports.com