CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
REDS HOTS
• Bench coach Freddie Benavides this afternoon will serve as the Reds’ acting manager…manager David Bell had a minor medical procedure and is expected to return tomorrow…over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Benavides went 5-3 while serving as the Reds’ interim manager during Bell’s 3 suspensions (5-2 in 2019, 0-1 in 2020).
• With a 3-1 record through Monday, the Reds were 2 games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2021 season 4 games over at 83-79.
• In 2022, the Reds didn’t earn their third win until the 16th game (4/24) and didn’t win their fourth until the 26th game (5/7).
TODAY’S GAME
• Is the first game of the 2023 championship season at Citizens Bank Park.
• Is Game 1 of 3-game series vs Dillon Siddiqi’s Phillies and Game 1 of the Reds’ first road trip of the season, a 7-day, 6-game jaunt that concludes with a 3-game set at Atl.
• The Reds are coming off a 3-2 homestand vs Pit (2-1) and Chc (1-1, 1ppd).
SERIES NOTES
• With a minimum of 50 games played, the Reds’ .328 winning percentage at Phi’s Citizens Bank Park (20-41) is their lowest at any road ballpark.
• The Reds went 3-13-2 in their 18 previous series vs the Phillies at CBP, their only series wins there in August 2006, May 2017 & August 2021.
• Since May 2014, the Reds have lost 17 of their last 24 games at CBP.
CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER
• Wednesday afternoon’s game vs the Cubs was postponed by threatening weather after a 1-hour, 43-minute delay and will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader on Fri, 9/1 (1:10, 6:40)…was the 20th weather postponement in the 21 seasons of Great American Ball Park.
• Yesterday’s scheduled Phillies home opener was postponed at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday due to an uncertain weather forecast.
• For only the third time since 1997, when @EliasSports began recording such data, Reds games were postponed on consecutive days…games on 8/15 & 8/16, 2020 were rescheduled after a Reds player tested positive for COVID-19…6 games were postponed following 9/11 and rescheduled
for the end of that 2001 season (10/2-10/7).
REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto (8/19/22 surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (4g, 3-16, .188, solo HR, 2bb, 10k)…Sat at Nashville, he hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown.
• IF/OF Nick Senzel (11/14/22 surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (2g, 1gs in CF, 1gs at 3B, 1-6, .167, 1 2b, 2bb, 2k, 1hbp).
• RHP Tony Santillan (low back Pars stress fracture)…is rehabbing with Louisville…he pitched the sixth inning of Tue’s 7-2 win vs Indianapolis (1ip, 1bb, 2k, 4bf, 22 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 1.0 inning tonight vs Indianapolis.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) today is scheduled to throw a side in Louisville.
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is rehabbing at the Reds’ player development complex in Goodyear.
2022: A SEASON OF RECORDS
• 66 players appeared in at least 1 game for Reds, a new club record for number of players in a season…the previous franchise record was held by the 2003 Reds (57 players).
• 38 players pitched in at least 1 game for the Reds, a new club record for number of pitchers in a season and including position players Matt Reynolds (2g), Max Schrock (1g) and Alejo Lopez (3g).
• 17 pitchers started at least 1 game for the Reds, tying the 2003 club record for number of starters in a season.
• Reds pitchers hit 110 batters, a new Major League single-season record (2021 Cubs pitchers, 98hbp)…the previous club record for batters hit by Reds pitchers in a season was 80 in 2005.
• 10 Reds pitchers recorded at least 1 save (Ross Detwiler, Alexis Díaz, Buck Farmer, Ian Gibaut, Joel Kuhnel, Dauri Moreta, Tony Santillan, Lucas Sims, Hunter Strickland, Art Warren), tying the 2021 single-season franchise record.
2022 YOUNG GUNS
• In 62 combined starts, Reds rookie starting pitchers RHP Hunter Greene, LHP Nick Lodolo and RHP Graham Ashcraft went 14-26, 4.34 (334ip, 161er)…all 3 made their Major League debuts in 2022.
• 6 times in 2022 the Reds started rookie pitchers in 3 straight games (last, 7/31-8/2, Lodolo, Greene, Ashcraft).
• In LHP Reiver Sanmartin (Game 2), Greene (Game 4) and Lodolo (Game 6), in 2022 the Reds used as many as 3 rookie starting pitchers in the first 6 games of a season for only the second time in their history…the 1902 Reds staff used 3 rookie starting pitchers in their first 5 games, and 4 of their first 6 games that season were started by rookie pitchers (Bob Ewing 2 starts, Len Swormstedt, Martin Glendon).
2022 MISCELLANEOUS
• SS Kyle Farmer last year was the Reds’ Most Valuable Player and Good Guy Award winner…RHP Alexis Díaz was the club’s 2022 Most Outstanding Pitcher.
• SS Kyle Farmer and RHP Hunter Strickland were the only players to spend the entire season on the roster without a stint on an injured list.
THE SKIPPER…: David Bell is in his fifth season as a Major League manager (254-297, .461, 2020 Wild Card)…was hired on 10/22/18…on 9/22/21, the club announced a 2-year contract extension through 2023.
• Returning to Bell’s staff are bench coach Freddie Benavides (10th season on Major League staff), 3B coach J.R. House (5th), pitching coach Derek Johnson (5th), game planning/IF coach Jeff Pickler (5th), bullpen catcher José Duarte (5th), coach/ coordinator of advance scouting Kyle Arnsberg (2nd) and hitting coach Joel McKeithan (2nd).
• New to the staff in 2023 are assistant hitting coach Terry Bradshaw, 1B Coach Collin Cowgill, assistant hitting/integrated performance coach Tim LaMonte, assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman (alone LISHE-man), bullpen coach Matt Tracy and bullpen catcher Joe Singley
This Afternoon’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
• In just his second season, is making his 26th Major League appearance and start…is his first vs the Phillies.
• At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0… courtesy @EliasSports.
• Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, in his age 22 season ranked among National League rookie pitching leaders in starts (1st, 24), innings pitched (2nd, 125.2), strikeouts (2nd, 164), opponents’ BA (2nd, .222), WHIP (2nd, 1.21) and ERA (6th, 4.44).
• Led the Reds’ staff in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
• Was 1 of only 7 pitchers in the National League and 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues to throw a shutout.
• Was the National League Player of the Week for 6/6-6/12, the only Reds player so honored in 2022 (2gs, 1-0, 0.75, 12ip, 3h, 1er, 2bb, 15k, .079baa).
• Was 1 of only 6 Major League rookies in 2022 to win his league’s Player of the Week award (Chc’s Seiya Suzuki, LAA’s Reid Detmers, Sea’s Julio Rodríguez, KC’s Vinnie Pasquantino, Cle’s Steven Kwan).
• In 2022 became the only Major League rookie since 1900 to produce in a season at least 3 apps in which he threw at least 6.0 innings with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 1 hit (5/15 at Pit, 6/6 vs Ari, 8/1 at Mia)…no pitcher in modern history, regardless of rookie status, has produced more than 3 such games…in his final start of the season, in Game 160 vs Cubs, recorded 6.0 innings and 8 strikeouts but allowed 2 hits.
• Allowed 2 runs or fewer in all 9 of his starts in which he pitched at least 6.0 innings, 8 times allowed no more than 1 run and 4 times in those 9 apps allowed 0 runs.
• In his last 8 starts of the season posted a 1.75 ERA (46.1ip, 30h, 66k).
• In his last 6 starts of the season posted a 1.02 ERA, the third-lowest ERA ever by a Reds rookie over any single-season, 6-start span behind Gary Nolan (0.75, June-July 1967) and Elmer Riddle (0.88, August 1941).
• From 8/5-9/16 missed 43 days and 40 games while on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain…went 4-12, 5.26 in 20 starts prior to the injury and 1-1, 0.78 in 4 starts after he came off the 15-day IL.
• Following his 2022 rookie season was the Reds’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exemplary contributions to his community.
• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the June 2017 first-year player draft…was rated by MLB.com the best overall prospect and by Baseball America the best high school player in that draft…the Twins selected high school SS Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
• leading into the 2017 draft, became the 13th high school athlete ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
• Missed the 2019 season while recovering from 4/9/19 “Tommy John” surgery.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #6 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the New York Yankees, 4-2, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx … Aaron Nola, facing Gerrit Cole for the first time in his career, went 6.0 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts … Kyle Schwarber homered for the second game in a row and Bryson Stott had another multi-hit game, raising his season average to .435 … The Phillies started 1-5 for the first time since the 2007 club did so, on their way to an 89-73 record and the National League East title.
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: Today marks the 20th home opener in the history of Citizens Bank Park (since 2004) … During the 2022 postseason, the Phillies went 6-2 in eight games (.750 win %) at CBP, outscoring the opposition 44-23 (+21 run differential) … The Phillies posted an .839 OPS in 284 combined plate appearances at home during the postseason and slugged 18 home runs (2.25 per game, .508 SLG) … Philadelphia’s 18 home runs at their home park rank T-1st in MLB history during the postseason with the 2017 Astros (2020 Rays hit 23 HR but games were held at neutral sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic) … Overall, there have been 138 teams in MLB history to play at least five postseason games in a single postseason at home – the 2022 Phillies rank 2nd out of those 138 clubs with an average of 2.25 home runs per game (HOU in 2020, neutral site, 2.40 HR/G) … Last year, the Phillies became only the eighth team in MLB history to win each of their first six postseason games at home … All-time in the postseason at CBP, the Phillies are 22-11 (.667 win %) with a +63 run differential (178-115) … Since Oct. 3, 2007, the day CBP hosted its first postseason game, Philadelphia’s .667 winning percentage during the postseason at home is best in MLB (min. 25 G) – the Astros at Minute Maid Park rank 2nd (.625), Red Sox at Fenway 3rd (.649), Giants at Oracle 4th (.643) and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium 5th (.623).
FLAGS FLY FOREVER: The Phillies were National League champions in 2022 for the eighth time in franchise history (1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2022) … The road to the pennant began with a twogame sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card Series at Busch Stadium, followed by a three-gamesto-one Division Series win over the Atlanta Braves and a victory over the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, four games to one, clinching the series with three straight wins at Citizens Bank Park … In the Fall Classic, the Phillies fell to the Houston Astros in six games; it was only the second postseason meeting between the two clubs, the first being the 1980 NLCS …On May 31, the Phillies were eight games under .500 at 21-29 with a .420 winning percentage that ranked 11th in the National League and 22nd in MLB … Starting June 1, the Phillies went 66-46, 20 games over .500 with a .589 winning percentage that ranked 4th in the NL and 7th in baseball … The Phillies clinched their first postseason berth since 2011 with a 3-0 win against the Astros on Oct. 3 … The Phillies became only the fifth team in MLB history to start 21-29 or worse through their first 50 games and then make the World Series, joining the 2019 Washington Nationals (19-31 start), 2005 Houston Astros (18-32 start), 2003 Florida Marlins (21-29) and 1914 Boston Braves (20-30).
200 SCHWARBOMBS: On Tuesday, Phillies OF Kyle Schwarber became the fifth-fastest left-handed hitter in major league history to reach 200 home runs and the 16th-fastest overall … Schwarber, who reached 200 career home runs in 824 games, was eclipsed by only Ryan Howard (658 G), Eddie Mathews (779 G), Babe Ruth (817 G) and Adam Dunn (822 G).
WHEELS UP: Today, RHP Zack Wheeler will take the mound at Citizens Bank Park, a place where he owns a career 2.37 ERA (77 ER, 292.0 IP) in 45 career starts (since 5/29/14) … Since joining the Phillies prior to the 2020 season, Wheeler has made 38 starts at CBP (since 7/25/20) and is 17-8 with a 2.21 ERA (61 ER, 248.0 IP) and has 256 strikeouts to 46 walks (5.57 SO/BB ratio) … Since 2020, among all pitchers to make at least 30 starts in their home park, Wheeler’s 2.21 ERA ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Sandy Alcantara who has a 2.16 ERA in 38 starts at loanDepot park … The Phillies are 23-15 in Wheeler’s 38 starts at CBP (.605 win %)
APPOINTMENT VIEWING: Today, the Phillies will debut a massive new video display on the scoreboard in left field … The new PhanaVision videoboard is 77% larger in size than the previous scoreboard … Measuring at approximately 152 feet wide by 86 feet tall, the new display will deliver nearly 13,000 square feet of digital space to entertain and engage fans at every game … With a 16:9 aspect ratio, the new scoreboard can display 516 life-size Phillie Phanatics simultaneously … The new videoboard features 11.6 million pixels at 10-millimeter spacing, bringing excellent image clarity and contrast to fans … It weighs 116,298 pounds and is supported by 190 tons of structural steel … Additionally, a modernized production control room has been built to support the enhanced system.
IN MEMORIAM: Prior to today’s game, the Phillies will observe a moment of silence for long-time owners, Bill and Elia Buck … Mr. Buck, the longest-tenured ownership partner in Phillies history, and part of the group that purchased the club in 1981, passed away on March 29 … Mrs. Buck, part of the same ownership group, passed away this past November.
NEW TONIGHT, AT (THE) 6: On 12/8/22, the Phillies signed SS Trea Turner to an 11-year contract, taking him through the 2033 season … Last year with LAD, Turner was selected as an All-Star for the second time in his career, was named All-MLB First Team and won his first career Louisville Silver Slugger Award after slashing .298/.343/.466 with a 121 OPS+ and 27 steals in 30 attempts … Per Statcast, his average sprint speed of 30.3 feet per second ranked 5th out of 582 qualified players … In 2021, Turner led the majors in AVG (.328) and hits (195), led the NL in stolen bases (32) and total bases (319) and posted a career-best 6.8 fWAR (FanGraphs) which ranked 3rd among all ML position players … In 2019 with WSH, he reached base safely in 15 of 17 postseason games and won his first World Series championship.
TOLLS OF BRILLIANCE: Catcher J.T. Realmuto was named All-MLB First Team last season, took home his third Silver Slugger Award and second Gold Glove Award and finished 7th in NL MVP voting … Additionally, he finished with 6.5 fWAR, 3rd in MLB history for a catcher aged 31 or older, led MLB with 1281.2 innings at catcher (regular and postseason combined) which was 240.0 innings more than HOU’s Martin Maldonado who ranked 2nd at 1041.2, and finally, became only the second catcher in MLB history with 20 HR and 20 SB, joining Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez (1999).
TODAY’S STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
LAST START: 4/1 at TEX: L, 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, BB, 7 SO, HR … Walker vs Eovaldi … The Phillies fell to the Texas Rangers, 16-3, at Globe Life Field in Arlington … Offensively, Trea Turner, Darick Hall, Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott had multi-hit games.
TODAY’S START:
• Citizens Bank Spark: Wheeler is making his CBP debut this season … In 2022, his 1.85 ERA (16 ER, 78.0 IP) in 13 home starts was the lowest by a Phillie with at least 13 home starts since 1917 (Grover Cleveland Alexander, 1.59) … He had a 1.45 ERA (11 ER, 68.1 IP) with only 4 HR allowed in his final 11 home starts of 2022, with more than half of them (6 of 11) being scoreless outings … His 2.21 home ERA (61 ER, 248.0 IP) since joining the Phillies is also 2nd to only Alexander (2.04) among all Phillies pitchers with at least 25 starts at home since ER became an official NL stat in 1912 … Since Wheeler joined the Phillies, only Sandy Alcantara (2.16) has a lower home ERA among pitchers with at least 30 starts at home
• It’s How You Finish: Wheeler allowed 4 ER in 4.1 IP in his debut … Last year, he allowed 12 ER in his first 12.2 IP before posting a 2.31 ERA from 4/28 on … That ERA was 2nd-lowest ERA among all NL pitchers (min. 125.0 IP) behind Julio Urias (2.12) and ranked 6th in MLB
• Firepower: Since the start of 2021, Zack Wheeler’s AVG 4-seam velocity of 96.6 mph is T-8th hardest among all starters (min. 2000 total pitches thrown) … His counterpart Hunter Greene is tied with Jacob deGrom atop that list at 99.0 mph
• Ace True Value: Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Zack Wheeler’s 13.4 fWAR is the 2nd-highest in MLB, trailing only Corbin Burnes’ 14.3 and is more than half a win over the 3rd place pitcher (Aaron Nola, 12.8) … Since 2020, he ranks 4th in MLB in BB% (5.5%) 7th in ERA (2.87, min. 400.0 IP), SO/BB (4.85), & IP (441.2) 8th in WHIP (1.05) and T-9th in quality starts (43)
• Couldn’t Have Done it Without Ya: In the 2022 postseason, Wheeler set a Phillies record and tied the ML record for most starts in a postseason with 6 … Seven pitchers in ML history have had 6 starts in a single postseason: Tyler Glasnow (2020), Blake Snell (2020), Justin Verlander (2019), Corey Kluber (2016), Madison Bumgarner (2014), Chris Carpenter (2011) and Curt Schilling (2001) … Wheeler had a quality start in each of his first 4 postseason starts, becoming the first pitcher in MLB to start his postseason career with 4 straight quality starts since Michael Wacha in 2013
• vs NL Central: 12-7, 2.87 ERA (63 ER, 197.1 IP) in 32 starts
HOME:
• 2022: 6-3, 1.85 ERA (16 ER, 78.0 IP) in 13 starts
• Career: 36-31, 3.36 ERA (227 ER, 607.2 IP) in 98 starts
• CBP: 20-9, 2.37 ERA (77 ER, 292.0 IP) in 45 starts
2022 SEASON:
• NL Rankings: 5th in SO/BB (4.79), 8th in BB % (5.6%) & BB/9.0 IP (2.00), 9th in SO/9.0 IP (9.59), 10th in SO % (26.9%) & OPP OPS (.626)
• His 2.82 ERA (48 ER, 153.0 IP) was 6th-best among NL pitchers with at least 150.0 IP; fell 9.0 IP short of qualifying for ERA leaders
• In his final 23 starts (since 4/28), went 12-4 with a 2.31 ERA (36 ER, 140.1 IP), 0.98 WHIP (30 BB, 108 H) and 152 SO (9.75 SO/9.0 IP), holding opponents to a .212/.261/.341 slash line
• Named NL Pitcher of the Month for May, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA (6 ER, 32.2 IP), 1.01 WHIP, 40 SO, 5 BB and an NL-leading 1.4 fWAR
• Was his first ever Pitcher of the Month Award and first by a Phillie since Cliff Lee in August 2011
• His 19.1-inning scoreless streak, 6/28-7/13, was the longest by a Phillie in 2022
• On the IL, 8/22-9/20, with right forearm tendinitis
• In his final three starts allowed one run on nine hits in 15.0 IP (0.60 ERA), BB, 15 SO while facing seven batters over the minimum
2022 POSTSEASON:
• Made six starts in his first career postseason, posting a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) and 0.73 WHIP (7 BB, 19 H) … His six starts were a Phillies single-postseason record and tied the ML record
• In Game 1 of the NLWCS at STL, became the second Phillie ever to toss at least 6.0 IP with two or fewer hits in his first-ever postseason start, joining Roy Halladay, who threw a no-hitter on 10/6/10 vs CIN
• Began his postseason career with 11.1 scoreless IP
• In Game 1 of the NLCS at SD, made just the 17th start in postseason history of 7.0+ scoreless IP, 1 or 0 hits, and only the second by a Phillie (Roy Halladay in no-hitter, Game 1 of 2010 NLDS)
• Was the first pitcher since 2013 (STL’s Michael Wacha) to begin a postseason with four straight quality starts
CAREER
• In 2021, finished 2nd to MIL’s Corbin Burnes in NL Cy Young Award voting, was named Second-Team All-MLB and was a NL Gold Glove Award finalist … Made his first career All-Star team in 2021 and set career highs in starts, IP, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, complete games and shutouts … His 247 strikeouts were 10th-most ever by a Phillies
