COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
WHAT’S HAPPENING
• The Colorado Rockies play the second of three games in Seattle tonight following their first homestand of the season in Denver … split a four-game series against the Washington Nationals to begin the homestand before dropping two of three to the Cardinals.
• The Rockies are in Seattle for the first time since July 20-21, 2021 when the two teams split a two-game set … Colorado is 25-27 all-time against the Mariners, 13-15 in the Emerald City … have won nine of the last 15 meetings in Seattle since July 2, 2006.
42
• RHP Armando Reynoso is the only player in Colorado Rockies history to don the number 42, sporting the uniform as a Rockie from 1993-96 prior to Major League Baseball universally retiring Jackie Robinson’s number in 1997.
• Reynoso went 12-11 with a 4.00 ERA (189.0 IP, 84 ER) through 30 starts in the Rockies’ inaugural season and was 30-31 with a 4.65 ERA (503.0 IP, 260 ER) overall through 89 games (87 starts) in his Rockies career.
AS DÍAZ DOES
• Elias Díaz has reached base in 11-straight games (.412/.474/.676) and 12 of 13 games with a plate appearance this season (.357/.426/.571) … his on-base streak is tied for the longest of his career recorded Aug. 14-30, 2021 (.316/.366/.605).
• His eight-game hitting streak (.500/.538/.792) is also tied for the longest of his career, matching a stretch from July 11-27, 2022 (.467/.543/.800).
• His .357 average (15-for-42) is tied for the sixth-best in the National League and his 15 hits are the second-most among Major League catchers trailing Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman (20 hits).
HOME RUN OR GO HOME
• The Rockies are 0-9 this season when allowing at least one home run and 5-0 when not giving up a long ball … this is the deepest any team has gone into a season with their results entirely parallel to whether they allowed a home run since the 2002 Giants did so in 15-straight to begin the year (via Stats Perform).
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN
• Through 13 games, the Rockies average game time of 2:33 is slightly below the league average of 2:38 … in 2022, the Rockies did not play a game shorter than 2:33 until their 21st game of the season, a 4-3 win over Cincinnati on April 30 (2:31) … 16 of their games across that span were over three hours … Colorado has yet to play a game in 2023 that has lasted longer than three hours (longest: 2:56).
• The Rockies’ shortest game of the season was a 2:03 affair April 2 in San Diego, the 12th-shortest game in Rockies’ history, the shortest since a 1:58 time of game on July 1, 2008 … in that contest, Aaron Cook tossed a 79-pitch complete-game shutout against the Padres at Coors Field, one of only nine CGSO tossed at Coors Field at the time.
• The shortest game in team history came on June 30, 2006 at Seattle when the Rockies topped the Mariners 2-0 in 1:52.
FIRE UP THE FOUNTAINS
• C.J. Cron’s four home runs are tied for the sixth-most in the National League … his home run last Saturday measuring 479 feet is the third-longest in the Majors this season trailing Giancarlo Stanton (485’) and Jarred Kelenic (482’).
• The Rockies have hit 15 home runs through 14 games thus far in the season … their average of 1.07 home runs per game is up from the team’s 0.92 mark in 2022 and their 1.00 mark on the road surpasses the Rockies’ 0.63 mark from last season.
THIS N’ THAT
• Since allowing one earned run in his first outing of the season, LHP Brad Hand has put together five consecutive scoreless appearances (3.2 IP), striking out seven through this span.
• Elias Díaz’ .400 (6-for-15) batting average with runners in scoring position is tied for the seventh-highest in the Majors (min. 15 at-bats).
• Charlie Blackmon has a hit in six-straight games … slashing .391/.482/.435 through this span.
KBOOM
• Kris Bryant has reached base safely in 20-straight games dating back to July 24, 2022 at Milwaukee, hitting safely in 18 of 20 games across that span (.346/.414/.513) … it is the second-longest active on-base streak in the Majors behind Shohei Ohtani’s 35-game streak, and the longest in the NL.
• Bryant has reached base in 50 of his 55 games played with the Rockies.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER #18 RYAN FELTNER RHP
YOUNG GUN
• The now-26-year-old rookie right-hander made 20 appearances and 19 starts in 2022 in his first full season with the Rockies … went 4-9 Rockies 6-13) with a 6.03 ERA (94.0, 63 ER) in his 19 starts (four QS), walking 33 and striking out 82.
• Was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Ohio State University.
• Born in Orlando, Florida but attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio … was the 2015 Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and was selected by Toronto in the 25th round of the 2015 Draft but chose to attend Ohio State.
HOW IT’S GOING
• Did not get a decision in the Rockies 7-6 win over the Nationals on Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings while walking three and striking out three.
• Took the loss in his first start on April 3, allowing five runs over 4.2 innings to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
• His five walks against the Dodgers established a career high while his seven strikeouts matched a career high (5x, last: Sept. 5, 2022 vs. Milwaukee).
404 NOT FOUND
• Before today, has never faced the Seattle Mariners … has only faced one American League team, taking the loss on June 26 in Minnesota while allowing five runs on eight hits across four innings.
• Prior to today’s outing, has faced 14 of the 30 Major League teams.
HOME HAPPENINGS
• In 2022, went 2-4 (Rockies 4-4) with a 6.46 ERA (39.0 IP, 28 ER) across eight starts at Coors Field, walking 15 and striking out 33 … allowed five home runs while opponents hit .248 (38-for-153).
• Tossed seven one-run innings in his first start at Coors Field May 30 vs. Miami, allowing four hits with one walk and six strikeouts … the lone run came on a solo homer from Jesús Sánchez … tossed at least six innings just once in his seven remaining home starts, posting a 7.59 ERA (32.0 IP, 27 ER).
• Lone career relief appearance came July 29 vs. Los Angeles-NL, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with three hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
ROAD WOES
• Posted a 5.73 ERA (55.0 IP, 35 ER) across 11 road starts in 2022, logging a 2-5 record (Rockies 2-9) with 18 walks and 49 strikeouts … opponents slashed .281/.338/.484 with 11 home runs (61-for-217).
• Allowed three or fewer runs in seven of 11 starts, but failed to make it to the sixth inning in five of those seven and in eight of 11 road starts overall.
BODY OF WORK
• Through his first 23 career starts has gone 4-11 with a 6.46 ERA (110.0 IP, 79 ER), 46 walks and 98 strikeouts … his 6.46 ERA ranks as the third-highest in franchise history through a Rockies pitcher’s first 23 starts, trailing Mark Thompson (6.62) and Bryan Rekar (6.53).
• Was one of three pitchers in franchise history to have 10 losses through his first 20 career starts, along with Eddie Butler (2014-16) and Tyler Matzek (2014-15) … his .286 winning percentage ranks as the second-lowest through a starter’s first 21 starts in franchise history, behind Drew Pomeranz’ .250 winning percentage (2011-12) … has received 12 runs of support across his 10 career losing decisions with no runs of support in six of the starts.
SKIP A GRADE
• Had his contract selected by the Rockies on Sept. 5, 2021 from Double-A Hartford, the first Rockies starter to skip Triple-A and go straight to the Majors since Antonio Senzatela, who finished the 2016 season with Hartford before making the 2017 Rockies Opening Day roster … the last Rockies starter to go straight from Double-A to the Majors without making a start at Triple-A in a single season was Chad Bettis in 2013 (Double-A Tulsa to debut on Aug. 1, 2013 at Atlanta).
• Began the 2021 season with High-A Spokane where he went 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA (37.1 IP, 9 ER) in seven starts … promoted to Double-A Hartford on June 17 and went 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA, 22 walks and 80 strikeouts in 13 starts with the Yard Goats.
FREQUENT FLIER
• Recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 5 in place of Chad Kuhl (15-day IL, right hip flexor strain), his fifth stint on the active roster this season, not including a stint as the 27th man in the Aug. 2 doubleheader in San Diego … remained in the rotation after Antonio Senzatela torn his ACL.
• Recalled for the first time on April 27 and made his season debut that day at Philadelphia before being optioned on May 1 … recalled a second time May 25 and made three starts (1-1, 5.40) before being optioned on June 5 … recorded his first Major League win on May 30 vs. Miami, tossing a career-high seven innings and allowing one run on four hits.
• Recalled a third time on June 11 and made three starts, going 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA (13.2 IP, 10 ER) … was originally optioned to Albuquerque on June 27, but the option was rescinded and he was instead put on the 15-day injured list with a right rhomboid strain … reinstated from the IL and optioned to Albuquerque on July 12.
• Recalled for the fourth time July 29 and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief against the Dodgers at Coors Field that night, his first professional relief appearance … optioned the next day.
• Served as the 27th man in the Rockies’ Aug. 2 doubleheader against San Diego … started the second game, allowing three runs through 3.2 innings.
TRIPLE DIP
• In 11 starts for Triple-A Albuquerque in 2022, went 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA (51.2 IP, 22 ER), 49 hits, 18 walks and 60 strikeouts.
• Went 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA (13.1 IP, 6 ER), six walks and 12 strikeouts in three starts in July, including one rehab start on July 7.
• Earned the win in his last start, July 24 vs. Sugar Land, allowing two runs on four hits across five innings.
CUP OF COFFEE
• Made two starts for the Rockies in 2021, his Major League debut on Sept. 5 vs. Atlanta at Coors Field and Sept. 12 at Philadelphia … combined to go 0-1 with a 11.37 ERA (6.1 IP, 8 ER), eight hits, five walks and six strikeouts.
• Did not factor into the Rockies’ 5-4 at Citizens Bank Park in his second start, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts … struck out Jean Segura in the first inning for his first Major League strikeout.
BEFORE TIMES
• Did not pitch in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League season.
• Spent the entire 2019 season with Low-A Asheville, where he went 9-9 with a 5.07 ERA (119.0 IP, 67 ER), 46 walks and 116 strikeouts … tied for the team lead in wins and starts and ranked second in strikeouts and innings pitched.
• Made nine starts with Rookie Level Grand Junction in his professional debut in 2018 … posted a 0.88 ERA (30.2 IP, 3 ER), four walks and 39 strikeouts … tossed 18 consecutive scoreless innings in a span of five starts from Aug. 3-26.
O-H-I-O
• Spent three seasons with Ohio State (2015-18), posting a career record of 9-14 with a 4.88 ERA, 102 walks and 204 strikeouts in 34 starts … ranked tied for 24th in career strikeouts.
• Went 5-5 with a 4.52 ERA his junior season … listed as the Top 2018 Big Ten Prospect by D1baseball and Perfect Game, and the No. 3 prospect by Baseball America.
• Three-time Scholar Athlete (2016-17) and two-time Academic All-Big Ten (2017, 2018) … majored in communications.
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 9-game, 10-day homestand with the 2nd of 3 games against Colorado (1-0)…Seattle will also host Milwaukee (3 G, 4/17-19) and St. Louis (3 G, 4/21-23) at T-Mobile Park during the current homestand…tonight’s game against the Rockies will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Ryan Rowland-Smith on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners opened their second homestand of the season last night with a 5-3 win over Colorado…the Mariners offense has scored 5+ runs in 3 consecutive games…the Mariners have won back-to-back games, and are 4-3 over their last 7 games…Seattle went 3-3 on the recent road trip to Cleveland (2-1) and Chicago-NL (1-2).
• Interleague George – In 3 career interleague appearances, George Kirby has a 1.06 ERA (2 ER, 17.0 IP) with 16 strikeouts and just 1 walk…among active players with at least 3 career interleague starts, Kirby’s 1.06 ERA is the lowest, ranking ahead of Tanner Houck-BOS (1.31) and Aaron Ashby-MIL (1.33).
• Steak Streak – Jarred Kelenic is the first Mariners player age 23-or-younger to record an RBI in 5+ consecutive games (6 G, 4/8-c) since Alex Rodriguez recorded an RBI in 7-consecutive games from July 1-7, 1999.
• Extra-Hard-Hit – Jarred Kelenic leads the Majors in extra-base hits (8) of at least 105 mph, ranking ahead of Matt Chapman-TOR, Rafael Devers-BOS and Matt Olson-ATL with 7 apiece.
• 15 Consecutive – Today marks the fifth of 15 consecutive interleague games for Seattle: at Chicago-NL (1-2), vs. Colorado (4/14-16), vs. Milwaukee (4/17-19), vs. St. Louis (4/21-23) and at Philadelphia (4/25-27)…Seattle will face interleague opponents in back-to-back series only one other time during the 2023 schedule: Sept. 1-3 at New York-NL and Sept. 4-6 at Cincinnati.
• Efficiency – Last night, Gabe Speier became the third Mariners pitcher in the pitch-tracking era (since 1988) to record 3 outs on 2-or-fewer pitches in an outing, joining Jeff Nelson (July 13, 1995) and J.J. Putz (July 4, 2007)…in Nelson’s outing, he threw only one pitch, inducing a triple play in the top of the ninth inning vs. Toronto.
HONORING JACKIE…today marks the 76th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historic MLB Debut and also the 26th anniversary of then-MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s announcement that Robinson’s No. 42 would be retired across MLB…10-years after Commissioner Selig’s landmark announcement, Ken Griffey Jr. requested and received permission to wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day…in 2009, the practice of every player, coach and manager wearing No. 42 on April 15 became a new tradition.
BOMBS AWAY…Jarred Kelenic has hit a home run in a career-high 4 consecutive games, tied for the longest streak in the Majors this season (also: Brandon Lowe-TB, April 8-11)…Kelenic is the first Mariners player to homer in 4+ consecutive games since Tom Murphy from Aug. 13-20, 2019, and is the first Mariners player age 23-or-younger to homer in 4+ consecutive games since Ken Griffey Jr. homered in 8 consecutive at the age of 23 from July 20-28, 1993, tied for an MLB record…with a home run in tonight’s game Jarred would become the 6th player in franchise history to homer in 5+ consecutive games (done 7x), and the first since Nelson Cruz posted 2 individual 5 HR streaks during the 2015 season (July 31-Aug 4 & April 11-15).
JK: JUST KRUSHING…Jarred Kelenic went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, 1 double, 1 home run and 2 RBI in last night’s game to extend his career-high hitting streak to 8-games (4/5-c)…during the streak, he is batting .464 (13×28) with 7 runs, 4 doubles, 4 home runs, 7 RBI, 3 walks and 1 stolen base, while reaching base at a .516 clip and slugging .1.036 (1.552 OPS)…overall this season, he ranks 3rd in the Majors with a 1.203 OPS after 12 games, trailing only Matt Chapman-TOR (1.318) and Luis Arraez-MIA (1.253)…his 1.203 OPS is the best by any player 23-or-younger over their first 12 games of a season since Ronald Acuña Jr. posted a 1.500 OPS over 12 games to begin the 2021 season and Juan Soto who posted a 1.445 OPS over 12 games to begin the 2020 season.
TY IS THAT GUY…Ty France went 1-for-3 with 1 double and 1 hit-by-pitch in last night’s game, extending his hitting streak to 11 games…it’s the 2nd-longest hitting streak of his career, trailing only a 13-game streak from May 18 – June 1, 2022…during the current streak, Ty is batting .354 (17×48) with 11 runs, 6 doubles, 8 RBI, 4 walks, 2 hit-by-pitch and 1 stolen base, while getting on base at a .426 clip and slugging .479 (.905 OPS)…his 11-game streak is tied for the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (also: William Contreras-MIL), trailing only Bryson Stott-PHI (14 G).
HIP-HIP-JORGE…George Kirby holds a 9.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio after 2 starts this season (9 SO/1 BB), tied for 8th-best in the Majors among pitchers with at least 2 starts…dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season, Kirby holds a 6.05 SO/BB ratio over 27 starts, 5th-best in the Majors (min. 25 GS) behind only Aaron Nola (8.10), Kevin Gausman (7.32), Corey Kluber (6.62) and Justin Verlander (6.38).
GETTING A LITTLE DEFENSIVE…dating back to the beginning of the recent road trip (4/7-c), the Mariners infield (1B, 2B, 3B, SS) has posted a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) over 131 total chances…Seattle’s infield is 1 of 3 in the Majors to not commit an error during that span, joining Baltimore and New YorkNL…J.P. Crawford ranks tied for 2nd among all Major League infielders with 3 Defensive Runs Saved this
season, trailing only Francisco Lindor-NYM (4 DRS).
HOME SWEET HOMESTAND…today is Jackie Robinson Day, with all Mariners players and on-field staff wearing #42 and the first Mariners All-Star, Ruppert Jones, throwing the ceremonial first pitch… additionally, the first 10,000 fans at tonight’s game will take home a Jackie Robinson Day – “42” Hat… other dates on the homestand include Little League Day (April 16), Rally Cap Night Ticket Special (April 17), Hello Kitty Night (April 18), Weather Education day (April 19), All-Star Hat Night (April 21) and more… for more information, visit Mariners.com/Promotions or Mariners.com/Tickets.
TONIGHT’S MARINERS STARTER – RHP GEORGE KIRBY
ABOUT KIRBY…
• 25-year-old right-hander is making his 3rd start of the season, 1st against Colorado…he is also making his 28th career start, and 1st career start against the Rockies.
• Selected by the Mariners in the first round (20th overall) of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Ty Holub.
• Played 3 seasons (2017-2019) at Elon University (NC), going 19-8 with a 3.30 ERA (88 ER, 240.0 IP) in 45 games (34 GS) with the Phoenix.
• Became the first rookie in MLB history to record a save in the postseason in his first career relief appearance.
• Graduated from Rye HS (Rye, NY) where he was named to the all-metro, all-state, all-section and all-league baseball teams 3 times.
LAST TIME OUT…ND on 4/9 at Cleveland after turning in a quality start where he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and 0 walks with 4 strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.
NATIONAL PHENOMENON…in 3 career interleague appearances, Kirby has a 1.06 ERA (2 ER, 17.0 IP) with 16 strikeouts and just 1 walk… among active players with at least 3 career interleague starts, Kirby’s 1.06 ERA is the lowest, ranking ahead of Tanner Houck-BOS (1.31) and
Aaron Ashby-MIL (1.33).
MISSION CRITICAL…the Mariners own a 8-4 record in games that Kirby tosses at least 6.0 innings…in games Kirby goes 5.2 innings or less, the Mariners are just 8-7.
PLAYOFF KIRB…made two appearances in the postseason…earned the save in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series at Toronto, his first professional save…also started in Game 3 of the AL Division Series vs. Houston, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts…became just the 2nd player in franchise history to throw at least 7.0 shutout innings in the postseason, joining Luis Castillo (10/7 at TOR, G1 ALWCS)
AUGUST ROOKIE OF THE MONTH…was named Rookie of the Month for August 2022, after going 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA (7 ER, 29.1 IP) with 34 strikeouts and 3 walks in 5 August starts…he led AL rookies in fWAR (1.4), ERA, wins, WHIP (1.13) and SO/BB ratio (11.33)…becomes just the 3rd Mariners pitcher to win Rookie of the Month joining Michael Pineda (April 2011) and Rafael Soriano (Aug. 2003), and the 2nd Mariner to win the award this season (also: Julio Rodríguez, May and June).
GOING ON STRIKE…began his outing on 8/24 vs. Washington by throwing 24-consecutive strikes, the most to start a game since the pitch tracking era (1988-current), passing the 21 thrown by Joe Musgrove on 8/30/18 vs. STL with PIT.
WALK LESS, LISTEN MORE…did not allow more than 1 walk in each of his first 22 career starts, the longest streak to begin a career in MLB history…it was the 2nd-longest streak to begin a season in MLB history trailing the 27 done by Carlos Silva-MIN in 2005.
NO DINGERS HERE…did not allowed a home run in 14-consecutive starts from 7/2-9/28/22, which was the longest streak in the Majors in 2022…the 14-start streak without allowing a home run was a franchise record passing Erik Hanson (12, 9/20/89-5/23/90)…he went 75.0 innings without allowing a long ball.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING…was the fourth-most valuable pitcher in the AL from 7/2/22-the end of the regular season according to Fangraphs WAR, amassing 3.1 fWAR…in 12 starts after allowing a career-high 7 runs to the Orioles on 6/27/22, Kirby went 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (15 ER, 64.2 IP) with 74 strikeouts and 8 walks from 7/2-9/17/22…the Mariners went 9-3 in those games.
A HISTORIC SEASON…his 6.05 strikeout to walk ratio is the highest in a rookie season in MLB history since the start of the Modern Era (1900-c.), ranking ahead of Chris Paddack-SD (4.94) in 2014 (min. 25 GS).
MARINERS ROOKIES…among Mariners rookie pitchers who have made at least 15 starts as a rookie, he ranks among the leaders in ERA (5th, 3.39), SO/9 (2nd, 9.2), SO (5th, 133), WHIP (4th, 1.208) and SO/BB (1st, 6.05).
BY GEORGE!…his 7.79 SO/BB ratio through his first 20 starts is the highest mark in MLB history, ranking ahead of Roy Oswalt-HOU (7.65 in 2001) (excludes openers).
CAN WHIFF WITH THE BEST OF ‘EM…struck out 123 batters over his first 22 career starts, which is the 3rd-most through a players first 22 career starts in Mariners history, trailing only Michael Pineda (137) and Felix Hernandez (136)…Kirby is also tied for the 3rd fastest Mariners pitcher (18 starts) to 100 career strikeouts, trailing Hernandez and Pineda, who both reached the milestone in 17 starts.
WATCH ME WHIFF…induced 223 swings-and-misses in 2022 according to Baseball Savant, which was the T6th-most among MLB rookies and T3rd-most among AL rookies…trailed only Joe Ryan-MIN (312) and Reid Detmers-LAA (267) in the AL.
K STANDS FOR KIRBY…career-high-tying 9 strikeouts on 8/24/22…reached the mark 3 times in 2022…he was one of 4 Mariners pitchers with 9+ strikeouts in 2022, joining Robbie Ray (season-high 12 SO), Luis Castillo (season-high 10 SO) and Logan Gilbert (season-high 11 SO).
