Even without offspeed stuff, Arrieta simply the best

First came the stuff. Then the command.

Now the reputation, the stone-cold stare and, it would seem, a whole lot of intimidation. That Jake Arrieta, he just keeps getting better and better.

The only way the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner could have been hotter than he was Thursday night was if he had ridden to the mound for the ninth inning on the back of a little red Corvette.

Arrieta’s no-hitter in the Cubs’ 16-0 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, his second no-no in his past 14 starts, including three postseason outings, was affirmation of a point he’s pounded home since last June.

He’s the best pitcher on the planet at this point in time. With apologies to Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Chris Sale and other great pitchers, there’s no one close to Arrieta right now.

Jake Arrieta’s second no-hitter • Pair-rieta: Jake’s 2nd no-no a drubbing • Rogers: Arrieta simply the best • Arrieta 3rd Cub with multiple no-nos • Did you know? Facts from Arrieta’s 2nd no-no • Reds get no-hit at home for 1st time since ’71 • All-time no-hitters by club • Flashback: Arrieta no-hits LA in August 2015Sights & soundsArrieta finishes no-hitterArrieta discusses no-noMaddon on ArrietaRoss on catching Arrieta

There were only nine regular-season starts between Arrieta’s two no-hitters. That’s the third-fewest in history, behind only Johnny Vander Meer’s back-to-back no-nos in 1938 and Warren Spahn’s two in ’60 and ’61, near the end of his Hall of Fame career.

Like Scherzer, Arrieta turned the corner toward becoming a consistently dominating starter in his age-28 season. He took a major step forward last season, at 29, and amazingly is continuing to get better as a 30-year-old, perhaps because opponents like the Reds have come to learn just how tough he is, night in and night out.

Working with a lead all night after Kris Bryant’s first-inning homer, Arrieta walked four and struck out six. But the Cincinnati hitters seldom made good contact on his pitches, even if his slider wasn’t nearly as sharp as it …

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