BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles fell to the Braves, 5-4, last night at Truist Park… Marked their second loss when leading after seven innings and their first loss against a National League opponent.
BURNING RUBBER: The O’s and Braves square off in a rubber game in today’s series finale…The Birds have gone 3-2 in rubber matches this season, winning each of their last three, after going 11-11 in such games in 2022.
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won 14 of their last 18 games, 16 of their last 21, and 18 of their last 24…The .750 winning percentage (18-6) since April 10 is the best in the big leagues over that stretch…The 22-11 overall record is tied for the second-best start through the first 33 games of a season since the team moved to Baltimore, done in 1969, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1997, 2005, and 2017, and trailing the 24-9 mark in 1970 (see chart at right).
Baltimore owns the third-best record in MLB, trailing Tampa Bay (27-7) and Atlanta (23-11).
The O’s have won seven straight series, the longest streak since the team won eight series in a row from July 21 to August 13, 2014; the O’s record for most consecutive series wins is nine in a row from July 31 to August 27, 1968.
Last season, the Birds didn’t reach 22 wins until the 52nd game on June 1 (22- 30); they did not reach 23 wins until the 55th game on June 4 (23-32).
The Orioles are 70-48 since July 1, 2022, a 96-win pace; the .593 winning percentage during that time is the third-best in the AL and fifth-best in MLB, trailing the Dodgers (.694, 84-37), Braves (.672, 80-39), Astros (.625, 75-45), and Rays (.603, 73-48).
OPENING STATEMENTS: Baltimore is 11-0 in series openers to begin the 2023 campaign, the only team to have won all of their series openers this season…Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the streak of 11 consecutive series-opening victories to begin a season is the longest in Orioles history and tied for the third-longest streak by any MLB team with the 1883 and 1890 Philadelphia Athletics, 1959 Cleveland Indians, and 1973 San Francisco Giants, trailing a streak of 19 straight series-opening wins by the 1907 Chicago Cubs and a 12-game streak by the 1919 New York Giants…It is tied for the longest streak at any point in a season in O’s history, done three times prior: August 30 to September 30, 1974; May 23 to June 20, 1978; and May 16 to June 18, 1980.
AGAINST THE BRAVES: Baltimore and Atlanta meet for the only time this season with this weekend’s three-game set, the first matchups between the teams since 2021 and the second series ever between the clubs at Truist Park, formerly known as SunTrust Park…The Braves swept a three-game series at Camden Yards from August 20-22, 2021…The O’s took two of three games in Atlanta from June 22-24, 2018.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Orioles wrap up their 11-day, 10-game road trip today; marks their longest of the season…The O’s are 6-3 on the trip against the Tigers (3-1), Royals (2-1), and Braves (1-1).
Baltimore’s 13-7 road start is tied with the 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1997 squads for the fifth-best start through 20 away games in O’s history, behind 15-5 starts in 1969 and 2012 and 14-6 starts in 1970 and 2005.
ON THE ATTACK: Baltimore ranks fourth in the AL and sixth in MLB with 184 runs scored after finishing 10th in the AL and 20th in MLB with 674 runs in 2022…The Birds rank among AL teams in walks (1st, 131), on-base percentage (4th, .339), slugging percentage (4th, .432), and OPS (4th, .771).
The Orioles rank tied with Seattle for first in the AL and tied with Milwaukee and Seattle for fifth in MLB with 4.00 pitches per plate appearance; the O’s have five players in the top 21 in the AL in pitches per plate appearance: Gunnar Henderson (4th, 4.284), Adley Rutschman (6th, 4.276), Anthony Santander (13th, 4.15), Adam Frazier (14th, 4.144), and Cedric Mullins (21st, 4.09).
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander has recorded five straight multi-hit games since May 2, tied with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr (4/5-9), Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott (4/8- 12), and Tampa Bay’s Harold Ramírez (4/16-22) for the longest such streak in MLB this season…He is the first O’s batter with five consecutive multi-hit performances since José Iglesias, who had seven in a row from August 15 to September 2, 2020.
Each of his last four hits have gone for extra bases (2-2B, 2 HR), as well as five of his last six hits (2-2B, 3 HR).
Has recorded multiple extra-base hits in back-to-back games for the fourth time in his career, joining August 8-10, 2021; August 24-25, 2021; and September 26-27, 2022.
Is the fourth Orioles hitter with multiple extra-base hits in two straight games this season, joining Adam Frazier from March 30 to April 2, Austin Hays from April 10-11, and Ryan Mountcastle from April 30 to May 2.
Has never recorded multiple extra-base hits in three straight games; since 1954, the only Orioles to have done so are Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (4G, 9/19-22/66 & 3G, 7/19-21/66), Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer Eddie Murray (3G, 9/12-14/80), Javy López (3G, 7/26-29/04), and Cedric Mullins (3G, 6/5-8/21).
KING OF THE CASTLE: Ryan Mountcastle has reached base safely in 15 straight games, the longest by an O’s batter this season and the second- longest on-base streak of his career behind a 17-gamer from July 28 to August 26, 2021…Eight of his last 10 hits have gone for extra bases (6-2B, 2 HR) since April 30. His homer off Ryan Yarbrough in the fourth inning on Tuesday had an exit velocity of 112.2 mph, the hardest-hit home run by an O’s batter since he had a 113.1 mph homer on September 16, 2021 vs. New York-AL; since 2020, Mountcastle owns three of the four hardest-hit home runs and five of the seven hardest-hit home runs by an Oriole, per Statcast.
HE GETS ON BASE: Adley Rutschman has reached base safely 62 times this year (35 H, 27 BB), which leads the AL and ranks second in MLB behind Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. (69)…Rutschman also leads the AL in walks and ranks fourth in on-base percentage (.408).
STARTING PITCHER – #68 TYLER WELLS – RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his seventh appearance (sixth start) of the season, fourth appearance (third start) on the road, and second appearance (first start) today against the Braves…Went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA (49 ER/103.2 IP) in 23 starts for the O’s in 2022…Made his first career start on April 10, 2022 at Tampa Bay; dealt the loss after allowing four runs on three hits (1 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings…Did not walk a batter in five consecutive starts from April 21 to May 15, 2022, becoming the only Oriole starting pitcher in franchise history (since 1954) to not walk a batter in five consecutive games…Allowed three earned runs-or-fewer in 17 straight starts from April 16 to July 15, 2022…Ended the 2022 season on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation…Also spent time on the Injured List with lower left side discomfort in 2022…Originally selected by Minnesota in the 15th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State, San Bernardino before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2020.
LAST TIME OUT: Earned his second straight win on May 2 at Kansas City, allowing four runs on three hits (3 HR, a career high) with three walks, a hit batter, and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Surrendered three runs in the first inning, including a leadoff homer to Bobby Witt Jr. and a two-run home run to MJ Melendez…Also allowed a solo shot to Salvador Pérez leading off the sixth…
WATCH ME WHIP: Wells posted a 0.72 WHIP in April, tied for the seventh-lowest mark by an O’s pitcher in a calendar month in club history (since 1954) and lowest since Scott McGregor recorded a franchise-record 0.61 WHIP in May 1978…Wells issued just three walks and 18 hits in 29.0 innings through his first five appearances (four starts) in April.
CAREER AGAINST BRAVES/NL EAST: Making his second career appearance (first start) against the Braves…Did not allow a run in 0.2 innings with one strikeout in his lone game against Atlanta on August 8, 2021 at Oriole Park…Making his ninth career appearance (third start) against the NL East…Owns a 1-0 record with a 1.53 ERA (3 ER/17.2 IP) in his first eight career games against the division…His last time out against NL East was on September 14, 2022 at Washington; did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on two hits (2 HR) with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
ROAD WARRIOR: In 34 career road appearances (14 GS), Wells has gone 6-5 with a 3.17 ERA (34 ER/96.2 IP) and two saves…Has made three road appearances (2 GS) this season, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA (7 ER/16.1 IP)…Made 12 starts away from home in 2022, sporting a 5-5 record with a 3.81 ERA (24 ER/56.2 IP) and 41 strikeouts.
LOVING LEFTIES: Opposing left-handed batters are slashing .181/.219/.319 (55- for-304) against Wells through his first 73 career games (28 GS)…He has recorded more career strikeouts against lefties (82) than hits allowed (55)…Owns the third-lowest on-base percentage and fourth-lowest batting average to lefties in MLB since he debuted in 2021 (min. 300 BFP).
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Comeback – OF Kevin Pillar came off the bench in the eighth inning last night and drove a 1-0 pitch out to left field for a two-run homer, giving Atlanta a lead, 5-4. The Braves would win by that score. The shot was the first pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later for Atlanta since Johan Camargo drove a two-run shot in the 10th inning at Washington, June 23, 2019. The Braves improved to 8-11 (.421) this season in games that they’ve trailed at any point, the best such record in the N.L.
TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and Orioles today conclude a three-game weekend series in what is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season… The two last played in 2021, with Atlanta sweeping a three-game series in Baltimore.
• Atlanta rallied to beat Baltimore, 5-4, last night to even the series at a game apiece.
• Atlanta and Baltimore have played 50 games since the advent of interleague play in 1997, with the Braves going 26-24 (.520) all-time against the Orioles.
• The two have played just one series here at Truist Park, a three-game set in 2018…Baltimore won two-of-three…Entering this series, just four teams had played fewer games here since the stadium opened in 2017, with Kansas City and Oakland playing twice each, and Cleveland and Minnesota yet to visit.
• RH Bryce Elder has never faced Baltimore, and has faced just one member of the Orioles current roster…James McCann is 1-for-1 with an RBI in his only plate appearance…The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander has made six starts for Atlanta this season, going 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA (7 ER/36.0 IP) and 32 strikeouts.
• RH Tyler Wells has pitched in one career game against Atlanta, making a relief appearance in 2021 and pitching 0.2 scoreless innings…The 6-foot-8, 265-pound native of Yucaipa, CA has pitched in six games and made five starts for Baltimore this season, compiling a 2-1 record with a 3.34 ERA (13 ER/35.0 IP)…The Orioles have won his last four starts.
WIN: Atlanta rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Baltimore, 5-4, last night… With the win, Atlanta jumped Baltimore for the second-best record in baseball.
• The win was the second of the season for Atlanta when trailing after seven innings, joining a come-from-behind win, 6-4, over Miami here on April 26.
• Kevin Pillar’s pinch-hit, go-ahead home run was the 100th homer of his major league career, and the first of his career to give his team the lead in the eighth or later off the bench.
• The Braves and Orioles have split the first two games of this series, and Atlanta is set to play its first rubber game of the season.
INTERLEAGUE: The Braves are in their third interleague series of the season this weekend, and are 4-4 against the American League so far.
• Atlanta swept Kansas City, April 14-16, before getting swept by Houston, April 21-23.
• The Braves went 13-7 (.650) against the A.L. last season, tied for the third-best interleague record in the majors…Only the Brewers and Dodgers, both at 15-5 (.750), were better
ROSTER MOVES: The Braves today reinstated INF Orlando Arcia from the injured list…The club optioned INF Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.
• Arcia returns to Atlanta after missing 21 games with a microfracture in his left wrist.
• In 13 games prior to injury, Arcia batted .333/.400/.511 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI…He has not committed an error in 61 total
chances at shortstop.
BRYCE ELDER: Set to make his seventh start of the season this afternoon, and is 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA (7 ER/36.0 IP) over his first six turns…His 1.75 ERA is fourth best in the majors and ranks second in the National League.
• Elder last started on May 2 at Miami and pitched 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and fanning six…Three of his six starts this season have been scoreless efforts of at least 6.0 innings.
• He has five starts in his career of at least 6.0 innings without allowing a run, the most such starts in Atlanta franchise history (since 1966) in a player’s first 16 games…Larry McWilliams and Ian Anderson both had four such starts.
RONALD ACUÑA JR.: Reached base two times last night, going 1-for-4 with a walk…Acuña Jr. has reached base in each of his last 24 games, the longest active streak in the National League. • Just one player in baseball, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, has a longer active on-base streak…Alvarez has reached in 30 straight games.
• For Acuña Jr., the run is his longest on-base streak since a 29 game run, spanning June 25, 2021 – May 22, 2022.
• Acuña Jr. is reaching base at a .444 clip for the season, the third-highest rate in baseball, while his .352 average ranks second.
HARD OUTS: Atlanta made five outs on balls put in play harder than 100.0 mph last night, four of which had expected batting averages of over .570…For the game, Atlanta’s expected batting average was .360, compared to a .260 mark for Baltimore.
• The Braves’ 102 hard-hit outs on the season, defined as outs on balls put in play with an exit velocity of at least 95.0, are most in the National League and tied
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #55 Bryce Elder
2023 Record: 3-0, 1.75 ERA • 2022 Record: 2-4, 3.17 ERA
vs. RHB: .284 (21-74), 1 HR • vs. LHB: .140 (8-57), 2 HR
Home: 0-0, 2.04 ERA (4 ER/17.2 IP) • Away: 3-0, 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP)
Tonight’s Game
• Set to make his first career start against Baltimore and seventh on the season.
• Enters play with 11 consecutive outings of at least 5.0 innings pitched.
• Spun 7.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball without issuing a walk and fanning six hitters while earning his third win of the season at Miami.
• He has five starts in his career of at least 6.0 innings without allowing a run, the most such games in Atlanta franchise history (since 1966) in a player’s first 15 starts…Larry McWilliams (’78) and Ian Anderson (’20-21) both had four such starts.
• His 1.75 ERA on the season is the second lowest in the National League and fourth in the majors among qualified starters.
• Trails only Minnesota’s Sonny Gray (1.35), New York’s (AL) Gerrit Cole (1.35), Chicago’s (NL) Jordan Steele (1.45).
• His groundball rate of 57.6% of balls put in play is the fifth highest in the majors among qualified starters.
• Has recorded an out on 67.6% of those grounders put in play, the third highest rate in baseball among qualified starters.
• Is 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA over his last 11 games started after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, dating to his August 14, 2022.
• In that stretch, Elder is averaging 6.1 innings pitched per outing, tied for the third highest rate in the National League (min. five starts).
• Elder’s 2.36 ERA through 15 career starts is the third lowest in Atlanta franchise history to begin a career…Only Michael Soroka in 2018-19 (1.98) and Zane Smith in 1984-85 (2.21) began their careers with a lower earned run average through 15 starts.
• The 87.2 innings pitched through his first 15 games started are the most by an Atlanta player to begin their career since Michael Soroka in 2018-19.
• His 23 earned runs allwoed are tied for the second fewest during that span, also behind Soroka who only surrendered 20.
2023 Recap
• Elder has held opponents to one run or less in four of his six starts this season while pitching at least 5.0 frames in every outing.
• His seven appearances of at least 5.0 innings pitched while holding opponents to one run or less are the second most through a player’s first 14 career games started…Michael Soroka has the most with eight such games.
