| Lincecum allowed just three hits in his last start. (Getty Images) |
But history shows that it won't take off because Weaver threw a no-hitter.
Think of the 2010 Twins, who hoped Francisco Liriano's no-hitter last May 3 might turn his and their season around. Two days later, they began a nine-game losing streak.
Think of the 2009 White Sox, who followed Mark Buehrle's perfect game by losing six of their next seven games.
Think of the 2009 Giants, who followed Jonathan Sanchez's no-hitter by losing six of their next eight.
Or the 2004 Diamondbacks, who followed Randy Johnson's perfect game by losing seven of their last nine.
Not every no-hitter sends a team into a tailspin, but the point is that no-hitters are no promise of a quick turnaround to success, either.
Given the way the Angels handled the Twins this week -- and given the way the Twins have played against just about everyone early this season -- the best news for the Angels is that the strange schedule sends them to Minnesota next week.
In fact, Weaver's next start will be against the Twins, on Monday night at Target Field. He'll be the first no-hit pitcher to make his very next start against the team he no-hit since Derek Lowe did it in 2002 against the then-Devil Rays.
Seven days later, Lowe got a no-decision, going seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
On to 3 to Watch:
1. Wei-Yin Chen is no Yu Darvish, but in five seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, he had a 2.59 ERA. He won an ERA title. He was also a free agent, meaning he didn't require a posting fee. And he didn't cost anything close to $100 million. Again, he's no Darvish, but he is 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his first four big-league starts. The Taiwanese-born Chen starts again in Orioles at Red Sox, Friday night (7:10 ET) at Fenway Park. The Orioles staff, who gave up just three runs in winning a three-game series in New York, gets another test.
2. Eleven days ago, Tim Lincecum allowed one run in five innings against the Mets, and I wrote about how the numbers didn't show how bad he looked. Then Lincecum followed it up by allowing one unearned run on just three hits in eight innings against the Padres. You'd think he gets a bigger test in Brewers at Giants, Friday night (10:15 ET) at AT&T Park. Then again, the Brewers haven't scored a run since Monday.
3. Weaver makes his next start Monday at Target Field. But C.J. Wilson makes his next start in Blue Jays at Angels, Saturday night (9:05 ET) at Angel Stadium. Why is that significant? Well, because if you count out five games after that, Wilson's next turn in the rotation after that would be May 11 . . . at Texas . . . against Darvish.