San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King was on the way to etching his name into MLB record books, flirting with a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs during Game 1 of the National League wild card series at Petco Park.
The dream ended on Nico Hoerner’s infield single with one out in the seventh inning, with third baseman Manny Machado unable to pick up the ball cleanly.
There have been three no-hitters in MLB postseason history, most recently the Houston Astros’ combined no-hitter in the 2022 World Series. Don Larsen (1956 perfect game) and Roy Halladay (2010) are the only other pitchers to have accomplished the feat.
King finished with eight strikeouts in 97 pitches in seven innings, getting the win in the Padres’ 8-0 victory.
Here are all of the no-hitters pitched in MLB postseason history:
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong steals second base in front of the tag by Jake Cronenworth during the third inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reacts after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run during the first inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox stand during the national anthem prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Nick Sogard #20 of the Boston Red Sox tags out George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees for a double play during the fourth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
New York Yankees third baseman Amed Rosario throws to first for an out during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Ben Rice of the New York Yankees celebrates on second base after hitting double to center field against Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox during the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Chicago White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor (31) reacts with Chicago catcher Kyle Teel (8) after game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stretches to first base to hit a RBI single in the eighth inning against Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The Houston Astros line up for the beginning of the game against the Chicago White Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Colson Montgomery #12 of the Chicago White Sox hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Lucas Spence of the Houston Astros watches as a home run hit by Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox clears the fence in the fourth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Manager Joe Espada of the Houston Astros relieves Bryan King #74 in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery gets hit by a pitch in the seocnd inning against the Houston Astros during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox slides into home plate to score a run past Yainer Diaz of the Houston Astros in the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox slides into second base in front of Jeremy Pe–a of the Houston Astros in the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies equipment in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Ha-Seong Kim of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A general view before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is tagged out by Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws out Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill (49) in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber breaks his bat in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A detailed view of the shoes of Mauricio Dubon of the Atlanta Braves as he sits on the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Bryan de la Cruz of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he scores off an RBI triple by Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
First ever no-hitter was a perfect game
The first ever no-hitter in MLB postseason history was in 1956 when New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen threw a perfect game in Game 5 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Yankees would go on to defeat the Dodgers and capture the 1956 World Series pennant in seven games, winning the series 4-3 after going down 2-0 after two games.
Larsen was named World Series MVP.
A 54-year drought is broken
It would take another 54 years for the second-ever no-hitter to happen. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay did it in Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
He led the Phillies to a 4-0 win at Citizens Bank Park. With Halladay leading the way, Philadelphia would eventually go on to sweep the NLDS against the Reds.
Team-effort in first combined no-hitter
They say teamwork makes the dream work and that phrase rang true for the Houston Astros during Game 4 of the 2022 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
A combination of Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly took over against the Phillies. Javier pitched six innings and Abreu, Montero and Pressly each took an inning for themselves.
They defeated the Phillies, 5-0, in Game 4 as they would eventualy go on to capture the World Series pennant. It took the Astros six games to knock off the Phillies. Jeremy Peña became the first rookie to win the World Series MVP.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A look back at every no-hitter in MLB postseason history
