Insane Facts About Jake Arrieta’s Run, Second No-Hitter, and Where He Stacks All-Time

Jake Arrieta is no longer a secret that only Chicago Cubs fans knew about. While we have literally witnessed Jake come into his own since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer sent Steve Clevenger and Scott Feldman to Baltimore for Jake and reliever Pedro Strop, he had been a relative unknown among Major League Baseball until about September of last season in the midst of Jake Arrieta’s run.

The Orioles have acquired RHP Scott Feldman & CA Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in exchange for RHPs Jake Arrieta & Pedro Strop.

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 2, 2013

Jake had some high expectations when he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2007 amatuer draft, but his inconsistency eventually saw him fall out of favor with the team. With Jake struggling in 2013, Baltimore gave up on the young hurler and shipped him to the Cubs in the aforementioned deal. While the Orioles had questions about his mechanics, which prompted them to change his delivery, once he came to Chicago he was allowed to revert back to his more familiar cross-body approach.

Historic Run

That change gave Jake his confidence, which converted to success in Chicago. Just how much? Here you go:

	Games	Wins	Loses	ERA	WHIP	FIP	xFIP	ERA+	WAR
2013	9	4	2	3.66	1.123	4.94	4.51	106	0.0
2014	25	10	5	2.53	0.989	2.26	2.73	150	5.0
2015	33	22	6	1.77	0.865	2.35	2.61	219	7.3
2016	4	4	0	0.87	0.677	2.77	2.91	467	0.8*

Jake is not only improving with each passing season, he is getting much better. While hard to believe, we are actually witnessing it with each start he has. While no one in their right mind would have ever guessed Jake would be this good, there was someone that went on record saying it. In 2013. And it was Jake Arrieta himself.

Jake Arrieta has a 2.25 ERA in 72 starts since this tweet. Opponents are batting just .192/.250/.285 against him. pic.twitter.com/XkltOHFlGx

— Ace of MLB Stats (@theaceofspaeder) April 22, 2016

What the what!? Oh, and apparently Casey Williams takes credit for Jake’s rise to the top of the pitching echelon.

I guess I’m the motivation Arrieta needed ?? you’re welcome Chicago! @JArrieta34

— Casey Williams (@CWilliams2599) April 22, 2016

Sure, an online troll is the reason Jake Arrieta has one of the most rigorous workout regimens in the game today. Riiigghhtt… keep telling yourself that Casey.

But that’s not why you called.

Jake’s dominance has been such that the only way an opposing team has beaten him in his last 24 starts has been to no-hit the Cubs. Yes, the only time the Cubs fail to win when Jake is on the mound is when they have LESS THAN ONE HIT IN THE GAME!!!

Jake Arrieta’s 24 straight quality starts are tied for 3rd-longest streak in MLB history (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/ajUJ9rVZ9m

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 22, 2016

This merely starts the conversation on just how good Jake has been during this stretch. While Jake is tied for third with the most consecutive quality starts in baseball history (game logs only go back to 1913), some are beginning to measure Arrieta’s run with that of Bob Gibson’s during the 1967-68 season.

Most consecutive quality starts since 1913
26 Bob Gibson 1967-68
25 Eddie Cicotte 1916-17
24 Walter Johnson 1914-15
24 Jake Arrieta (Active)

— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) April 22, 2016

In a Sports Illustrated piece by Cliff Corcoran, he tries to gauge just how good Jake Arrieta’s run is historically. Jake has 24 consecutive regular season starts in which he has allowed three or fewer runs and pitched six or more innings, the best such streak since 1913. In fact, there are only three other pitchers to of held streaks of 20 or more; Greg Maddux and Johan Santana (21), and Mike Scott (20).

Similarly, when comparing quality starts (a slightly less strict stat) there is only one player since 1913 that has more QS than Jake.

Bob Gibson.

Gibson’s streak is considered by some to be the most dominate stretch by a pitcher ever. From September 12th, 1967 to July 30th, 1968 Bob notched 26 consecutive quality starts, two ahead of Jake. But this isn’t the end of their similarities in numbers during their respective streaks.

While it is extremely tough to measure a player from today and the extreme offensive era we now live in, to that of Gibson’s era which was dominated by pitching… when you put each hurlers stats next to each other you will be extremely surprised.

	QS	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K/BB
GIBSON	26	20-6	0.90	0.80	4.12
ARRIETA	24	20-1	0.86	0.70	8.75

Not that you could just stack their stats next to each other and tell the whole story, but they certainly allow you to begin speaking Jake’s name in the same breath as the greats. While Bob’s streak will more likely still go down as the better of the two, remember that Jake pitches in Wrigley Field while Gibson pitched in spacious Busch Stadium.

Arrieta compares nicely to others that have had great runs. While many consider Clayton Kershaw to be the best in the game today (I believe at any moment he can turn it on and dominate like no other in today’s game), Jake outperformed him in 2015 enroute to his first Cy Young Award. The other Dodger from 2015 (now Arizona Diamondback) Zack Greinke posted a 45 2/3rd scoreless streak, and was considered by everyone to be the Cy Young winner before  the mid way point in September.

Additionally, Orel Hershiser and even the Cubs own Rick Sutcliffe had impressive streaks of 59 consecutive scoreless innings and a 16-1 record respectably.

But just how well does Jake compare to those greats?

Orel Hershiser vs Jake Arrieta

Source: FanGraphs — Jake Arrieta, Orel Hershiser

Orel was a 30 year old when he threw his 59 consecutive scoreless innings streak. Jake is entering his 30 year old season, and has started with a 4-0 record with a no-hitter under his belt.

Rick Sutcliffe vs Jake Arrieta

Source: FanGraphs — Jake Arrieta, Rick Sutcliffe

Rick went on a tear to propel the Cubs into the playoffs in 1984. After coming here from Cleveland he posted a 16-1 record, bringing his combined record to 20-6. He was 28, and although he dominated the National League Jake’s 28 year season far exceeded the Red Barron’s.

Second No-Hitter

Now onto Jake’s no-hitter. Arrieta became the second pitcher ever to not lose a game in between no-hitters. Back in 1938, Cincinnati Reds hurler Johnny Vander Meer threw back-to-back no-hitters, and until Jake Arrieta’s no-no on Thursday, was the only pitcher to not suffer a loss between the two gems.

This could have been Jake’s fourth no-hitter. In 2014 Jake had taken two games into at least the eighth inning without allowing a hit. Jake’s first career complete game shutout was actually against the same Cincinnati Reds team, which Brandon Phillips broke up his no hit bid in the eighth with a liner that just eluded Matt Szczur’s diving attempt.

 

Doug Gottlieb spoke about Jake’s no-hitter Friday.

The first note that jumps out at you is this. Since Aug. 30, Arrieta has almost as many no-hitters (two) as regular-season starts in which he actually gave up a run (three).

HE HAS ALMOST AS MANY NO-HITTERS AS STARTS IN WHICH HE’S GIVEN UP A RUN!!!

This is no longer a story about a man, a pitcher, or someone on a hot streak. This is a story about a created player in MLB The Show, with every stat pegged at 99 and you’re playing on Rookie level.

To understand his greatness, here are a couple of mind boggling stats to try and explain how good Jake Arrieta’s run has been.

Jake Arrieta has allowed exactly five runs in 13 starts since August 20th. There have been 322 pitcher that have given up at least five runs in one start since that time. Additionally, Jake has given up a total of seven runs in his last 119 1/3 innings. ESPN’s stats and info found eight pitchers that have given up at least seven runs, IN ONE INNING. Plus 26 teams have given up seven runs or more in an inning.

Arrieta has given up 53 fewer runs than the American League runner up in Chris Archer, 45 less hits than the man the no-hit the Cubs last year, Cole Hamels, and has a better ERA over any 24 game stretch from Bob Gibson in his 1968 season.

Making what we are seeing as possibly the Best.Pitching.Performance.Ever.

More weird occurrences with Jake’s second no-hitter.

When Arrieta dominated the LA Dodgers in his first no-hitter, the only batter in the lineup without a hit was Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell. Fast-forward 11 starts later when the Cubs beat the Reds 16-0 and the only Cubs hitter without a hit was shortstop Addison Russell.

Jake became the 28th pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters, he has also become the second pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter on the road in consecutive seasons. He also joined Larry Corcoran and Ken Holtzman as the only three Cubs pitchers to throw multiple no-hitters.

Jake joined another impressive list as he joined Sandy Koufax (1964), Bob Gibson (1971), and Clayton Kershaw (2014) to throw a no-hitter the next season after winning the Cy Young Award.

There were a couple of firsts as well. Jake is the first opposing pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Reds in the Great American Ballpark. Also, in his 822nd career start, David Ross called his first ever no-hitter.

While Jake Arrieta’s stretch has been very well documented from any sports source on the planet, there literally cannot be enough said about his historic streak that just will not stop. While Cubs games are must see TV for all Cubs fans, Jake has made every fifth day must see TV for the entire country.

Keep watching in amazement, I have a feeling we just might not have seen the best of Arrieta yet.

 

Information provided by: Fangraphs, ESPN, CBS Sports, Springfield New Sun, Sports Illustrated