SAN FRANCISCO — The New York Mets might be the reigning National League champions, but they haven't thrown a complete game this season. Neither have the defending American League champion Kansas City Royals.
The Baltimore Orioles, leading the AL East, are still awaiting their first complete game. So are the A's, Blue Jays, Yankees, Brewers, Padres, Rockies and Marlins.Count 'em up. A third of baseball's franchises haven't gotten a starting pitcher to go the distance.Yet Johnny Cueto has done it four times. Madison Bumgarner has three complete games. And it is no coincidence that the Giants, for just the second time in the franchise's San Francisco era, hold baseball's best record at the All-Star break.