Alec Mills entered the record books today when the Cubs right-hander tossed a no-hitter in Chicago’s 12-0 victory over the Brewers. Mills issued three walks and struck out five over his gem of an outing, recording his first career complete game to go along with his no-hit bid. Today marked only the 15th start of Mills’ Major League career, as the 28-year-old has worked as something of a swingman during his four seasons in the bigs, though he became a full-time starter this year in the wake of injuries within the Cubs’ rotation and now owns a piece of baseball history.
More from around the Show…
- Kwang Hyun Kim is scheduled to start the first game of the Cardinals’ doubleheader with the Brewers on Monday, marking his return from an injured list stint that retroactively began on September 2. Kim was sidelined with a kidney problem that required a short stay in hospital, but as MLB.com’s Anne Rogers explains, Kim is now taking a blood thinner and observing other precautions that will allow him to return to action after slightly beyond the 10-day minimum IL absence. In his first season in Major League Baseball, Kim has thus far had no problem adjusting, as the southpaw has an 0.83 ERA over his first 21 2/3 innings, starting four of his five appearances.
- Speaking of returning starters, the Astros listed Lance McCullers Jr. as the starter for Wednesday’s game against the Rangers, indicating that the right-hander’s time on the injured list is nearing an end. McCullers hit the 10-day IL on September 6 due to neck nerve irritation, a rather concerning-sounding issue that left a return date up in the air. After taking an anti-inflammatory injection, however, McCullers now seems on track to get back on the mound after only a minimal IL stint. The former first-rounder has a 5.79 ERA over eight starts and 37 1/3 innings this season, though the Astros will surely welcome whatever McCullers can contribute to a rotation mix that has managed middle-of-the-pack numbers despite multiple injuries.
- There haven’t yet been any contract talks between Cesar Hernandez and the Indians, but the second baseman “would be looking to be part of the team for the coming years,” as he told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hernandez was non-tendered by the Phillies last winter and signed a one-year, $6.25MM deal with the Tribe, delivering a .266/.337/.383 slash line over 210 plate appearances in 2020. While this offensive production is slightly below average (95 wRC+), his bat in combination with his strong second base defense has made for a solid 1.0 fWAR contribution over his 46 games in a Cleveland uniform. There are some other interesting middle infield options in the free market, plus this player pool is likely to grow once teams make their own non-tender decisions. Hernandez is the type of decent but unspectacular player who could potentially be squeezed into a one-year contract this winter if teams tighten their budgets in the wake of this pandemic season, so the Indians (certainly a team looking to limit its payroll) could have room to re-sign Hernandez if the price is right.
Hernandez could be a good pickup for the Red Sox this off-season. Assuming he doesn’t get a big offer anywhere the Sox could be looking for a new 2B (though Munoz and Arroyo have actually looked solid recently they still may want someone more established) — and if they decline their option on Peraza they could probably sign Hernandez for about the same amount. And I think he’d be a really good fit in the Red Sox lineup. Despite having a really horrible season, their offense is still pretty solid and they’ll be getting back Sale, and E-Rod next year so they should be looking to at least be competitive — and Hernandez and his solid defense, good speed and contact skills could be the perfect fit for the club.
Good for Mills… he’s obviously not exactly the typical SP you’d expect would throw a no-hitter and he may never really be ‘that guy’ but at least no matter what happens in his career now he’ll always be able to say he threw a no-hitter in the major leagues!
Amen! As was a walk-on at UT Martin and a 22nd round pick, what’s not to root for? He’s been under the radar his whole career without an ounce of “Hey, look at me.” Some analysts have taken some shots because he tops out at 90 mph and that there were some hard hit balls he was lucky weren’t hits. I’d argue that he and Caratini masterfully mixed up of pitches, had some good defense and of course, some luck. And I’ll bet there’s not a pitcher in baseball that isn’t giving him props today. By the way, does anyone else see the similarities to Hendricks?
Lots of similarities to a raw Hendricks. In other starts he misses his spots a bit too much, but man, when he is on like yesterday, it’s literally like watching a Kyle start.
You are correct, Mills does an excellent job most of the time changing speeds and location but his biggest issue is his control.
Mills best pitch is his slow curve because it’s such a change of pace it’s almost impossible to pull the trigger on unless you are sitting on it. When he is locating the curve, the fastball/slider combo is effective. When he isn’t getting called strikes on the curve, teams start spitting on it as well as his slider which he constantly runs off the plate.
The no-no will get Mills some love but lets also not forget his first 15 starts or so he was pitching to a sub 2 era also. He’s been a rare great find by Theo lately and it had to be painful for the Royals to watch. His pitching style would have fit really well in KC.
Alec Mills man, Alec Mills
It’s cool when the great pitchers get no hitters, but I like it even more when guys from out of nowhere do it. Don Larsen’s perfect game. Len Barker’s perfect game. Bud Smith’s no hitter in his rookie year. Philip Humber’s perfect game. Even Armando Galarraga’s should-have-been no no. All of these guys are remembered far more than they would have been for the rest of their relatively unremarkable careers.
I was watching the Rangers game, and they brought up the Mills No-hitter when it was only in the 7th inning. I looked it up, and luckily the Cub’s game was on TBS, so I was able to watch it. (Because no, I am not paying for MLB tv) Great game, and one of the more “out-of-the-blue” no-hitters I’ve ever seen.
I was watching the Jays game when they mentioned it. If there’s a no hitter/perfect game going on late into a game you can often go to mlb.com and can watch it for free. That’s what I did today to watch the bottom of the 9th for Mills’ no-hitter.
2020 no-hitters leaderboard
Chicago 2
Everyone else 0
The Cubs have not thrown two no-hitters this year.
Someone didn’t read the comment right, because they didn’t say the Cubs threw 2 no hitters. The White Sox and the Cubs have both thrown no hitters this year, and they’re both in Chicago. Hence, Chicago 2, rest of MLB 0.
I was implying the White Sox are irrelevant in Chicago. They can go on to win the next five World Series and they still wouldn’t out draw the North Side.
The Brewers complete offensive collapse really got me sitting here wondering if they weren’t hiding trash cans last year too.. No proof, the drop off is just astounding.
A team that loses Moustakas, Grandal, and Cain will drop off with the replacements they have currently. Yelich had a slow start but he also has no one around him in that lineup. Jace Peterson was cleanup today!
This…..so MUCH this! Sterns missed on every signing he brought in. Maybe a little credit for gyorko but that’s not like a hit….just a avg replacement.
Brewers can’t hit and it starts with the top 3 mostly. (No Cain, yelich struggles and hiura sophomore slump)
Yu Darvish would agree with you R.D.
Darvish called out Yelich (and the Brewers) for cheating in the offseason and thus far Yelich is hitless against Yu after hitting over .600 against him last season.
Now, of course, there could be a lot of reasons as to why Yelich is struggling, line up construction being one, messed up offseason being another. The Cubs “heart” has been awful this season as well.
I’m a Cubs fan but also have been a fan of Yelich since Miami. I hope he gets right next year when the Brewers face everyone besides the Cubs.
You don’t have to be a power pitcher to be a good or even great pitcher. I would rather take a pitcher with brains any day.
Maddux.