Monday night featured two one-hitters (both 1-0 games) and a two hitter. Interestingly, none of them were complete games. Mat Latos lasted seven innings before turning the ball over to Sam LeCure, who pitched a hitless eight in a 1-0 Reds loss to the Padres. The lone run scored on a walk, a steal, and two advances on consecutive fly outs. Dan Haren also pitched seven one-hit innings, and won the game as the Dodgers bullpen was perfect against Cleveland, Corey Kluber taking the tough-luck loss. Of course, Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter deep into the game against the Red Sox, and the Cubs wound up holding Boston to two hits.

Looking at games in which the pitching staff held the opposition to two hits or less, last night’s three games brought the season total to 40. That’s in line with last seasons total of 86, which set the record for the 30 team era. The low came in 2003, where there were 40 low hit games in total. Between 1998 and 2005, the total exceeded 70 just once, in 2002. Since 2006, the total has not fallen below 60.

We are definitely in the downswing of offense that reached a peak in the last 1990s. As good hitters become tougher to find, teams will put their resources into developing these players, just as they did with pitchers at the end of the offensive era. We might see more offensive friendly stadiums built when teams get new ones as well, just as we saw more pitcher friendly parks built in the aughties. Extremes in offense and pitching have a way of taking care of themselves.