Pro Hogs

Keuchel records rare feat

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel reacts after striking out Chicago White Sox's Melky Cabrera in the ninth inning to end a baseball game Saturday, May 30, 2015, in Houston. The Astros won 3-0. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

It didn't feel like a particularly historic occasion when Dallas Keuchel of Houston struck out 11 and blanked the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Saturday. But Keuchel was the first pitcher all season to throw a shutout while striking out at least 10.

In 2014, there were 12 games in which a pitcher pulled that off, with Madison Bumgarner and Jordan Zimmermann each doing it twice. But we're now about 30 percent of the way through this season, and Keuchel is the only one to do it.

As much as strikeout totals have climbed, shutouts by starting pitchers are becoming a rare sight. In fact, strikeouts can drive up pitch counts, making it harder for a starter to finish the game.