Dusty Baker explains why he pulled Cristian Javier from a no-hitter

Astros Manager Dusty Baker defended and explained his decision to pull Cristian Javier from a no-hitter in Game 4 of the World Series. 

Pulling a pitcher from an in-progress no-hitter is always controversial. That controversy only gets inflated when it’s on the stage of the World Series. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker had a tough choice to make on Wednesday night.

Cristian Javier had a no-hitter going through six full innings. Does he let him go for it, on the biggest stage? Or does he make the calculated choice to go to the bullpen?

Bullpen it was. It ended up being the right choice, as the ‘Stros threw the first-ever combined no-hitter in World Series history as they tied the series up 2-2.

Why did he make that choice? Well, the explanation is that he may have extended Javier too far if he let him stay in. Javier’s highest pitch count of the year was 115, and he already had 97. Javier had gone above 100 just three times this season.

Dusty Baker had more than just Game 4 in mind when he pulled Cristian Javier

Baker after the game explained he was thinking about much more than just Game 4. Yes, it was obviously the right choice to get the bullpen in — speaking in retrospect — for the final three innings, but it also now allows them to load up the clip for a Game 7 if the series goes that far.

Javier has been incredibly good in the postseason. He’s tabbed two wins in three appearances, and in his two starts this postseason he has a crisp 0.00 ERA.

Keeping Javier’s arm rested in the event the series goes the full seven games is a huge advantage for the Astros. The temptation to give a player an opportunity to go the whole game is steep, but clearly, Baker made the right choice. It’s chess, not checkers. Every move has impacts far beyond just one game in the World Series.