Quirky data is always fun to look at. I decided to sort through the 2017 pitching data to find the “No Sweat Inning”. The No Sweat Inning identifies the pitcher who needed the fewest pitches to complete a full inning of work. Pitchers who inherited baserunners, had the benefit of a double play, or had a runner caught stealing were excluded from consideration as a “No Sweat” pitcher gets no help in getting three outs. Below are the candidates:

Sam Tuivailala (Cardinals): in a 6 – 0 loss to the Reds on 9/13/17, Tuivailala pitched the 8th inning. 4 pitches, 4 strikes, 3 outs.

Zach Britton (Orioles): in a 3 – 2 loss to the Indians on 9/10/17, Britton pitched the 8th inning. 4 pitches, 3 strikes, 3 outs.

Cory Gearrin (Giants): in a 5 – 0 loss to the Padres on 8/30/17, Gearrin pitched the 7th inning. 4 pitches, 4 strikes, 3 outs.

Taylor Rogers (Twins): in a 9-6 win over the Orioles on 7/7/17, Rogers pitched the 8th inning and picked up a Hold. 4 pitches, 4 strikes, 3 outs.

Ariel Hernandez (Reds): in an 8 – 3 loss to the Rays on 6/21/2017, Hernandez pitched the 8th inning. 4 pitches, 3 strikes, 3 outs.

Warwick Saupold (Tigers): in a 9 – 1 loss to the Rays on 6/18/17, Saupold pitched the 8th inning. 4 pitches, 4 strikes, 3 outs.

Kevin Siegrist (Cardinals): in an 8 – 5 loss to the Brewers on 6/13/2017, Siegrist pitched the 7th inning. 4 pitches, 4 strikes, 3 outs.

Jose Alvarado (Rays): in a 2 – 0 loss to the Brewers on 8/4/17, Alvarado pitched the 9th inning. 9 pitches, 3 strikeouts.

Drew Storen (Reds): in a 9-3 win over the Orioles on 4/18/17, Storen pitched the 9th inning. 9 pitches, 3 strikeouts.

Doesn’t fit but amazing: Blaine Hardy on 5/14/17 for Tigers against Angels. 1 IP, 2 pitches (both strikes). 1 inherited runner. 1 Grounded into double play and 1 pitch to get the other batter he faced. These three outs came over the span of 2 separate innings (2/3 of the 7th and 1/3 of the 8th).

Thanks to baseball-reference.com PLAY INDEX

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