PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:..Have won two straight and three of their last four games…Have won seven of their last nine games on the road since dropping back-to-back games on 4/1-2…Won a season-high four straight games from 4/3-7…Have not lost back-to-back games since dropping the final two contests of their season-opening series in Cincinnati.
CHECKING THE BROOM CLOSET: This afternoon the Pirates will look for their second sweep of the season and first in Colorado since sweeping a four-game series from August 29 to September 1, 2019…Pittsburgh’s other sweep this season came at Fenway Park from April 3-5…Pittsburgh swept two road series in 2022, going 4-0 against the Reds from September 12-14 and winning three at Dodger Stadium from May 30 to June 1.
JACK’S JACKS: Jack Suwinski recorded his second career multi-home run game Tuesday night after going deep in each of his first two at-bats (his other was a three-homer game on June 19, 2022)…Suwinski has now gone deep in back-to-back games four times in his career…Prior to last night, the previous time he did it was September 23-24.
SUCCESSION OF SOUTHPAWS: This afternoon the Pirates will be opposed by a starting lefthander for the fourth time on their seven-game road trip…Carlos Santana ranks eighth in MLB coming into today with a .471 average against lefties.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE IN COLORADO: Four of Pittsburgh’s five hits during the fourth inning Tuesday went for extra bases on doubles by Connor Joe and Carlos Santana, a home run by Jack Suwinski and triple by Tucupita Marcano…It was the first time the Buccos had four extra base hits in one inning here at Coors Field since August 9, 2003, in the fourth inning (Tike Redman double, Jason Kendall double, Reggie Sanders homer and Craig Wilson triple).
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Pittsburgh enters today ranked seventh in all of Major League Baseball with a .432 slugging percentage, eighth in OPS (.757) and fifth in extra base hits (61)…Pittsburgh ranked 27th in slugging (.364) and 28th in OPS (.655) in 2022.
ABOUT TODAY’S STARTER: Johan Oviedo will get the start this afternoon in the finale of this seven-game road trip…Oviedo struck out a career-high 10 batters while allowing one run in 7.0 innings while losing a 3-0 decision in his last outing Friday at St. Louis…Since allowing four earned runs in 4.2 innings in his season debut, Oviedo has allowed one run in 13.2 innings in his last two starts.
DEEP THOUGHTS: The Pirates have gone deep eight times in the first six games of their road trip…Pittsburgh is tied for fourth in the National League and tied for sixth in all of MLB with 23 home runs.
BACK TO THE BURGH: Tomorrow night the Pirates will begin a four-game series against the Reds as part of a seven-game homestand…The homestand will continue Tuesday night with the beginning of a three-game series against the Dodgers… Monday’s off day for the Pirates will end a stretch of playing 17 straight days.
CUTCH’S MILESTONES WATCH: Andrew McCutchen enters today four total bases shy of tying Arky Vaughan for ninth place on the Pirates all-time list with 2,484…McCutchen is also one double shy of tying Dave Parker for seventh place on the Pirates all-time list with 296 and one hit shy of breaking a tie with Dave Parker (1479) and moving into sole possession of 13th place on the Pirates all-time hit list with 1480…Al Oliver is 12th with 1490 hits.
WELCOME HOME CUTCH: Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 12 straight games, has hit safely in five straight and six of his last seven games and at a .333 clip (14-for-42) with a .983 OPS in his last 11 contests dating back to April 5.
GETTING STRETCHED OUT: Pittsburgh’s starters have worked at least 6.0 innings in each of the last eight games…That’s the longest stretch since also making eight straight starts of at least 6.0 innings from April 10-19, 2019…The last time Pittsburgh’s starting rotation worked at least 6.0 innings in more than eight straight games was a 10-game stretch from August 3-12, 2017 (special thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau).
CALL TO THE PEN: Pittsburgh’s bullpen has gone 8-for-10 (80%) in save opportunities…The 80-percent success rate is sixth in MLB and third in the National League behind the Marlins (4-for-4, 100 %) and Mets (6-for-7, 85.7%)…Individually, David Bednar has converted five of his six save opportunities…Bednar’s five saves coming into today are the most in the National League and tied for second-most in all of MLB (Toronto’s Jordan Romano leads with seven).
24 – RHP JOHAN OVIEDO
JOHAN OVIEDO: The 25-year-old righthander is making his fourth start today…Lost a 3-0 decision (7.0ip/1r) while striking out a career-high 10 batters in his last start.
vs. COLORADO: 0-0 in one career start…Allowed three runs in 6.0 innings but had a no-decision on 7/2/21 at Coors Field while pitching for the Cardinals.
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
WHAT’S GOING ON
• The Colorado Rockies wrap-up their brief three-game homestand today with the third of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• The Rockies dropped last night’s game 5-3 despite getting out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
• Following today’s game, the Rockies embark on a seven-game road trip to Philadelphia (Thursday-Sunday) and Cleveland (April 24-26).
• Since winning their first two games of the season the Rockies have gone 3-13 … their .278 winning percentage overall on the season is the lowest in franchise history through 18 games.
RESET
• The Rockies have dropped a season-high seven-straight games, their longest losing streak since a seven-game skid Sept. 24-Oct. 1, 2022 … last lost eight or more straight games in 2019, when they had a nine game losing streak Aug. 27-Sept. 4 and an eight-game skid April 5-13.
• Colorado has been outscored 50-21 (-29) over the past seven games … the Rockies have slashed .236/.297/.382 with seven home runs over the losing streak, including a .158 (9-for-57) average with runners in scoring position … have posted a 5.55 team ERA (60.0 IP, 37 ER) with an opponent average of .276 (66-for-239), including a .393 average with runners in scoring position (22-for-56).
SERIESLY
• Including this series, the Rockies have failed to win any of their first six series of the season, dropping four and splitting two … last went winless through their first six series of the season in 2005, when they recorded their first series win in their seventh series of the season, April 22-24 vs. Los Angeles-NL.
ON THE FARM
• Triple-A Albuquerque beat the Oklahoma City Dodgers 13-10, with both teams combining for 31 hits … OF Brenton Doyle was reinstated from the injured list prior to the game and went 3-for-5 with a home run, his third of the season … INF/OF Nolan Jones returned to the Isotopes after a quick recall to Colorado and went 2-for-4 with four runs scored, four RBI and his seventh home run of the season.
• RHP Gabriel Hughes made his second start of the season for High-A Spokane and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts across five innings.
• INF/OF Sterlin Thompson went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Spokane’s 6-5 win in 10 innings … in seven games, Thompson has gone 15-for-28 (.536) with four doubles and one home run.
• The Rockies’ four Minor League affiliates have combined to go 23-16 so far this season, a .590 organizational winning percentage that ranks fourth in the Majors.
YO-HO-HO
• Elias Díaz played the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh from 2015-19 … in nine games against his former club, he has gone 10-for-30 with two doubles, one triple and two home runs.
• Kris Bryant has a career slash line of .353/.460/.612 with 31 doubles and 21 home runs in 100 career games against the Pirates … his .353 average (131-for-371) is the third-highest all-time against Pittsburgh (min. 100 games played), trailing only Lefty O’Doul (.360, 1928-34) and Albert Pujols (.354, 2001-22).
OFF THE SCHNEID
• Kris Bryant homered for the second consecutive day last night, his first two home runs at Coors Field as a member of the Rockies … hit each of his first six home runs with the Rockies on the road, including his first home run of the season last Friday at Seattle.
• Bryant is slashing .314/.368/.500 on the season and has reached base safely in 16 of 17 games … has reached base safely in 53 of 59 total games in his Rockies career, slashing .309/.374/.483 in his Rockies career.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER AUSTIN GOMBER LHP #26
HI, I’M AUSTIN
• Winter Garden, Fla., native enters his 10th professional season, his fifth in the Majors and his third with the Rockies.
• Acquired by Colorado, along with four other players including INF Elehuris Montero in exchange for 3B Nolan Arenado.
• Originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Atlantic University.
A QUICK RECAP
• Has been on the losing side of each of his first three starts this season, the first Rockies starter to start 0-3 through three starts since Jon Gray in 2019.
• Started in a 5-3 Rockies loss last Friday at Seattle … pitched a season-low 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on six hits with a season-high four walks and two strikeouts.
• Took the loss in his second start on April 8 against the Nationals at Coors Field, allowing five runs over 4.2 innings.
• Made his first start of the season April 2 at San Diego, a 3-1 Rockies loss … suffered the loss despite tossing six innings and allowing three runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts … allowed all three runs in the third inning on a Xander Bogaerts two-run home run and a Trent Grisham solo home run.
A PIRATE’S LIFE
• Has made seven career appearances (three starts) against the Pirates, going 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA (21.1 IP, 12 ER), 10 walks and 21 strikeouts.
• In his three career starts against the Pirates, is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA (13.0 IP, 8 ER),six walks and 15 strikeouts … has made it five full innings once against Pittsburgh.
• Made one start against the Pirates in 2022, drawing a no-decision in an 8-3 Rockies loss … allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits across five innings.
GO GO GOMBER
• Last season, made 17 starts and 16 appearances out of the bullpen in his second season as a Rockie … went 5-7 (Rockies 9-24) while posting a combined 5.56 ERA (124.2 IP, 77 ER) across his 33 appearances … his 124.2 innings pitched set a new career-high.
• Began the season in the Rockies rotation, making 12 starts through June 15 and going 3-7 with a 6.43 ERA (63.0 IP, 45 ER), 20 walks and 49 strikeouts.
• Moved to the bullpen at the end of June and made two relief appearances June 22 at Miami and June 26 at Minnesota … allowed four runs over a combined 4.1 innings (8.31 ERA).
• Went back to the rotation in July and made four starts prior to the All-Star Break, going 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA (21.2 IP, 10 ER), four walks and 15 strikeouts … allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last three starts prior to the Break, pitching to a 3.38 ERA (16.0 IP, 6 ER).
• Returned to the bullpen following the All-Star Break and posted a 4.68 ERA (32.2 IP, 17 ER) with seven walks and 24 strikeouts across 14 relief outings in the second half.
ON YOUR LEFT
• Since joining the Rockies, has held left-handed hitters to a .228/.280/.388 slash line with 10 home runs allowed.
• Held opposing left-handed hitters to a .221 average last season (30-for136), the lowest lefty opponent average by a Rockies left-hander since Kyle Freeland in 2018 (.185) and the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced).
START IT UP
• As a starter in 2022, went 5-7 (Rockies 7-10) across 17 starts while pitching to a 5.75 clip (87.2 IP, 56 ER) … walked 25 and struck out 68
while opponents hit .292 (101-for-346) with 13 home runs … seven of his starts were quality.
• Posted a 5.72 ERA (50.1 IP, 32 ER) with 14 walks and 32 strikeouts across nine starts at Coors Field … 5.79 ERA (37.1 IP, 24 ER) with 11 walks and 36 strikeouts in eight starts on the road.
• 8.68 SO/9 on the road compared to a 5.72 SO/9 at home.
BACK IT UP
• Made 16 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022, his most since 18 relief outings as a rookie with St. Louis in 2018 … posted a 5.11 ERA (37.0 IP, 21 ER) out of the bullpen with nine walks and 27 strikeouts … opponents hit .254 (36-for-142) with seven home runs.
• Made 12 appearances of two or more innings, four with three or more innings and one career-long outing of 4.2 IP (Aug. 24 vs. TEX).
• In his outing against Texas on Aug. 24, became the first Rockie in history to toss 4.2 or more scoreless frames out of the ‘pen while allowing one or fewer hits.
HAPPY HOME VS. ROCKY ROAD
• In 50 career home games (25 starts) with both St. Louis and Colorado, is 11-8 with a 4.08 ERA (169.2 IP, 77 ER).
• Since joining the Rockies, has gone 8-6 with a 4.21 ERA (124.0 IP, 58 ER) at Coors Field with 30 walks and 89 strikeouts … in 2021, went 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (47.1 IP, 11 ER) in nine starts at home, posting a 0.95 WHIP.
• Since 2020, is 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA (137.2 IP, 59 ER) in 34 games (21 starts) in his home ballpark … in road games through the same span, is 7-13 with a 5.70 ERA (142.0 IP, 90 ER) in 38 games (25 starts).
WALK IT OUT…OR DON’T
• 2.45 BB/9 in 2022 was the lowest of his career while his 2.79 SO/BB ratio was his highest … BB/9 was the sixth-lowest among National League lefties and his SO/BB ratio ranked 10th (min. 120.0 IP).
• Did not issue a walk in seven-straight relief outings from Aug. 31-Sept. 29, the longest single-season streak by a Rockies lefty since James Pazos from Sept. 6-28, 2019 (seven games).
• Has walked three or more batters 10 times in 43 starts since joining the Rockies, going 0-8 with a 9.98 ERA (39.2 IP, 44 ER) in those starts … haswalked two or fewer batters 33 times over that span, going 14-11 with a 4.20 ERA (177.2 IP, 83 ER) in those starts.
EARLY GOINGS
• Of his 52 career Minor League starts in which he pitched six or more innings, 49 were quality starts and 13 were scoreless.
• Made his Major League debut on June 2, 2018 vs. Pittsburgh and pitched three scoreless, hitless innings of relief for the Cardinals.
• In 2018, became the first Cardinals rookie left-hander since 1912 to win five games in the month of August … did not allow a hit to the first 14 right-handed batters he faced prior to June 25 (Rajai Davis, ninth-inning single).
THIS N’ THAT
• Did not allow more than five hits in any of his first eight starts at Coors Field in 2021 and allowed five hits just once (Aug. 7 vs. Miami)
… recorded eight-straight starts allowing five or fewer hits at home, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history (Ubaldo Jiménez, 2008).
• Posted a 3.27 ERA with 238 strikeouts in his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University.
• First team All-Sun Belt Conference during his junior year with a league-leading 2.97 ERA.
