If you had Jered Weaver becoming the first pitcher to throw a “Maddux” during the 2016 MLB season, go out and buy yourself a parlay ticket, because you clearly know your stuff.
Weaver on Sunday shut out the A’s on 95 pitches in the Angels’ 2-0 win in Oakland. Not a single A’s player reached second base.
So what makes this a “Maddux”? A “Maddux” is a complete game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches, named after the ever-efficient Greg Maddux, who did it so often.
The shock here is that the three-time All-Star pitcher has completely lost his fastball, yet he still managed to blank Oakland throwing mostly 81-85 mph on his fastball.
Weave allowed just three hits and one walk over nine scoreless, striking out one. Typically a pitcher who blanks another team for nine innings is missing some bats, but that really wasn’t the case with Weaver. History shows just how rare it is for a pitcher to throw a shutout with one or fewer strikeouts.
Jered Weaver is first #Angels pitcher to throw a shutout with one-or-fewer strikeouts since Tommy John on July 8, 1984 (Game 2) at Boston.
— Matt Birch (@MBirchAngels) June 19, 2016
Despite the shutout, Weave is still struggling this season. His ERA is at 5.10, and his record is now 6-6.
Weaver’s contract with the Angels is up after the season, and given the way he has completely dropped off the past two seasons, it would be a surprise to see him continue his career. But it’s a great sign — for both him and the Angels — that he can still throw the occasional shutout.
