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Ranking the No-Hitters of Sean Manaea, Mike Fiers and Homer Bailey

By Zachary Engberg

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 21: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on April 21, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 3-0. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 21: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on April 21, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 3-0. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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2. Homer Bailey at Pittsburgh Pirates, Sept. 28, 2012

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: (ALTERNATIVE CROP) Homer Bailey #34 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his no-hitter with Ryan Hanigan #29 against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game on September 28, 2012, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Reds defeated the Pirates 1-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: (ALTERNATIVE CROP) Homer Bailey #34 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his no-hitter with Ryan Hanigan #29 against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the game on September 28, 2012, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Reds defeated the Pirates 1-0. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Homer Bailey’s first no-hitter – and the first of the five – was impressive for a number of reasons.

It was the only one to happen on the road, coming in Pittsburgh against an NL Central division rival in front of 35,000 fans. It was the latest in the season, coming in the last week of September while the Reds were preparing for the postseason (they lost in the NLDS to future WS champion San Francisco). Bailey also got the least run support: a single run, coming in the top of the first inning on a sac fly by Todd Frazier.

Bailey struck out 10 and allowed only two baserunners, one on an error to lead off the third and one on a walk to Andrew McCutchen – who was caught stealing third one pitch after successfully swiping second – in the seventh inning, facing one above the minimum for the game.

Bailey’s performance had the most WPA at 0.799 and the highest Game Score at 96 on baseball-reference. 

He allowed the least balls in the air (five flyouts and two lineouts) and the most groundballs with 11.

Bailey also had the fewest contact rate, allowing only 39 strikes to be contacted (either fouled off or put in play) and he produced the second-most swinging strikes (15, the only one with more was his first, which had 16).

Fun added bonus: one of his out came on a foul bunt strikeout by opposing pitcher A.J. Burnett in the third inning (sometimes, pitchers batting is nice).