Thursday, May 15, 2014

2014: COMPLETE GAME #23

Continuing his remarkable opening salvo in 2014, the Reds' Johnny Cueto notched his third complete game yesterday, a three-hit shutout against the Padres. Cincy won the game 5-0.

In addition to the complete game, Cueto pitched eight or more innings for the sixth time in '14, which is twice as many times as the next group of starting pitchers in 2014 (among them Adam Wainwright, Julio Teheran, C. J. Wilson, and Tim Hudson).

Cueto only managed that feat once in 2013, a season in which he was slowed by injuries. In 2012, a season in which he threw over 200 IP, he pitched at least eight innings in a start four times.

(The leaders in 8+ IP games for the past several years: Cliff Lee had 13 such games in '13; Justin Verlander had 15 in '12; James Shields had 15 in '11; Lee had 17 in 2010.)