Cade Cavalli’s Near-No-Hitter Headlines MLB’s Top 3 Pitching Performances
Cavalli flirts with history, Ashcraft redefines efficiency, and Tolle silences Toronto.
Thursday’s abbreviated eight-game MLB schedule still produced three exceptional starts. Washington’s Cade Cavalli flirted with history, Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft delivered a masterclass in efficiency, and Boston’s Payton Tolle silenced Toronto with a different version of dominance.
The rankings consider innings, strikeouts, run prevention, baserunners, and game context, with the classic Game Score serving as a baseline.
1. Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals
Line: 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K — Game Score: 88
Cavalli overwhelmed a Cubs lineup that entered Thursday having won eight of its previous nine games. The Washington right-hander retired the first 15 hitters before Dansby Swanson drew a leadoff walk in the sixth, ending the perfect-game bid.
The no-hitter survived until Michael Busch dropped an opposite-field single into left with two outs in the seventh. Cavalli responded by retiring Alex Bregman and then returned for a scoreless eighth, reaching 10 strikeouts on his career-high 103rd and final pitch.
Cavalli became only the second Nationals pitcher after Max Scherzer to record multiple starts of at least seven innings, 10 strikeouts and no more than one hit in the same season. Washington won 7-0, handing Chicago only its second loss in 10 games. (Reuters recap)
2. Braxton Ashcraft, Pittsburgh Pirates
Line: 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K — Game Score: 86
No pitcher worked more efficiently than Ashcraft. The Pirates’ right-hander needed only 85 pitches—64 strikes—to finish his first career complete game in Pittsburgh’s 13-1 victory over Miami.
Ashcraft faced the minimum through eight innings with help from three double plays. Owen Caissie’s leadoff homer in the ninth spoiled the shutout, but Ashcraft completed the inning and became just the third Pirates pitcher during the pitch-tracking era to throw a nine-inning complete game on 85 pitches or fewer.
He generated nine ground-ball outs and recorded at least one strikeout with each of his four pitches, including four with his curveball. The outing also provided a battered Pittsburgh bullpen with a full day of rest. (MLB.com recap)
3. Payton Tolle, Boston Red Sox
Line: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K — Game Score: 80
Tolle did not record a strikeout until the sixth inning, yet Toronto never solved him. The 23-year-old left-hander needed only 91 pitches and retired the final 17 Blue Jays he faced.
After allowing baserunners in each of the first three innings, Tolle adjusted his direction, attacked Toronto inside, and consistently produced weak contact. His eight scoreless frames helped Boston snap a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 victory while sparing an overworked bullpen. (MLB.com recap)
Cavalli delivered the day’s most dominant line, Ashcraft produced its rarest display of efficiency, and Tolle proved that overpowering stuff is not the only route to a commanding start.
