What’s the Distinction Between a Perfect Game, No-Hitter, and Shutout in Baseball?

Baseball has some quirky terms that aren’t always clear from the words themselves—like ‘dying quail,’ ‘frozen rope,’ or ‘Uncle Charlie.’ But even terms that seem more straightforward need a little clarification. So, what exactly separates a no-hitter, a perfect game, and a shutout from one another?

Now, let’s start with the basics: All three terms describe a baseball game where a pitcher performs exceptionally well. In other words, the pitcher earns the credit for “throwing” a no-hitter, perfect game, or shutout. If multiple pitchers contribute, it’s called a “combined” no-hitter, perfect game, or shutout. (Though no “combined perfect game” has occurred in MLB history, Puerto Rico did manage one against Israel during the World Baseball Classic in early 2023.)

What does a shutout mean in baseball?

The most frequent of the three is a shutout, which happens when a pitcher prevents the opposing team from scoring a single run throughout the game. Batters can reach base in various ways, including through hits. However, as long as no one safely crosses home plate, and the pitcher stays in the game for every out, it qualifies as a shutout, according to MLB.com.

What exactly is a no-hitter in baseball?

As the name indicates, a no-hitter is a game where one team fails to get any hits off a pitcher (or pitchers). But, as The Bat Nerds point out, there are several ways a player can still reach base:

• Walk
• Hit-by-pitch
• Catcher interference
• Fielding error
• Wild pitch or passed ball on a third strike

Since it's hard for a team to score without getting any hits, most no-hitters are also shutouts. However, the MLB has seen a few instances of non-shutout no-hitters over the years.

What defines a perfect game in baseball?

The most elusive feat for a pitcher is a perfect game, where no player from the opposing team reaches base. Since no hits occur in a perfect game, all perfect games are no-hitters. And because scoring is impossible without getting on base, a perfect game is essentially a shutout as well. To call it rare would be an understatement: only 24 single-pitcher perfect games have been recorded in MLB history, compared to over 300 no-hitters. The most recent pitcher to achieve this feat is Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees, who threw a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics on June 28, 2023.

Here’s a brief summary: