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Jeremiah Estrada Has Struck Out 13 Straight Batters and They All Went Down Swinging

Stephen Douglas

May 28, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) celebrates with San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (20) after the Padres defeat the Miami Marlins 4-0 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) celebrates with San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (20) after the Padres defeat the Miami Marlins 4-0 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports / David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports
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San Diego's Jeremiah Estrada is unhittable right now. We know that because people keep swinging and they are literally not hitting his pitches. Estrada has struck out an MLB record 13 consecutive batters over his last three appearances. All 13 have gone down swinging. His latest secured a Padres win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

Estrada faced three batters and threw 12 pitches. Ten of them were strikes. Only five those were even fouled off.

After the game fans gave the 25-year old a standing ovation while teammates gave him a Gatorade bath. Which is good because he's been downright filthy this season.

While Estrada's on a particularly hot heater right now, he's been cooking all year. He has made 12 total appearances, striking out 28 batters in 16.1 innings. He's given up just five hits and one run and only one person has a hit off him in his last five appearances.

So where did Estrada come from? The California native was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2017 and spent seven unremarkable seasons in the Cubs' system before the Padres claimed him off waivers back in November. San Diego has been rewarded with one of the best relievers in baseball and he's not even costing them a million dollars. Even if he doesn't record another out this season they got their money's worth.

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Stephen Douglas

STEPHEN DOUGLAS

Stephen Douglas is a Senior Writer on the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in journalism and media since 2008, and now casts a wide net with coverage across all sports. Stephen spent more than a decade with The Big Lead and has previously written for Uproxx and The Sporting News. He has three children, two degrees and one now unverified Twitter account.

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