2021 No. 3 ranked no-hitter: Corey Kluber vs. Texas Rangers, May 19
Our most recent no-hitter is also our best one thrown during the month of May: Corey Kluber’s performance against the Texas Rangers.
There are statistical reasons it was great. Naturally.
But there’s also a bit of magic in the air that just elevates it all the further: it was Corey Kluber bobblehead night in Texas.
That’s because, as Texas Rangers site Nolan Writin’ proclaimed, the Rangers were no-hit by a player who threw one inning for them in 2020.
He was acquired before the 2020 season in a trade, causing much excitement until COVID nearly wiped out the baseball season and definitely wiped out fans attending games and going home with bobbleheads.
Kluber’s own season was wiped out after one inning in 2020 due to injury, then he left for the Yankees.
This is the kind of poetry that only baseball can write.
With a little defensive help Kluber cruised against the Rangers on May 19, recording nine strikeouts against one walk and falling just short of a Maddux by finishing the task in 101 pitches.
Only a walk by the Rangers’ Charlie Culberson in the third inning separated this from a perfect game.
Oh, and the 2-0 score made this the closest of the no-hitters thrown (so far). Kluber’s WPA was .615.