LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the sixth (2-3) of seven games on a road trip against the Chicago White Sox (2-1) and Houston Astros (0-2; June 1-4)…Halos went 5-4 on last homestand against the Minnesota Twins (2-1), Boston Red Sox (3-0) and Miami Marlins (0-3)…LAA was 3-4 on last road trip to Cleveland (1-2) and Baltimore (2-2).
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels recalled RHP José Soriano from Double-A Rocket City…His first appearance would mark his Major League debut… Soriano is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Angels #25 prospect…In a corresponding move, RHP Chase Silseth was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake following last night’s game.
ABOVE .500: With a 30-29 record, Halos are looking to avoid falling back to exactly .500 on the season for an 11th time (previously 1-1, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 14-14 & 22-22)…LAA is also looking to avoid matching longest streak of season (have lost three straight games twice this year – April 14-16 & May 26-28).
BRINGING THE HEAT: RHP Ben Joyce made his Major League debut on Monday at White Sox, working one scoreless inning with two strikeouts…Recorded first career strikeout on 101.8 MPH pitch vs. Gavin Sheets; second fastest pitch for first career strikeout in the Statcast era (102.4 MPH by Julian Fernandez (COL) on 9/5/21 vs. ATL)…Across his two appearances, 21 of 22 pitches have been at 100+ MPH…In the Statcast era (since 2015), only Shohei Ohtani (70) has thrown more pitches at 100+ MPH for the Angels.
DINGER DUO: Wednesday at Chicago (A.L.) was the 27th time that Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani homered in the same game…It’s the third highest total among duos in Angels history (trails only Trout/Pujols – 48 games & Salmon/Anderson – 28 games).
JUST MET A MAN NAMED BARRIA: Since April 8, Jaime Barria leads the Majors (min. 20 IP) with a 0.59 ERA (30.1 IP – 2 ER)…He made his second start of the season Wednesday at White Sox and earned the win (has also made 11 appearances from Angels bullpen this year).
VS. HOUSTON: Astros lead the 2023 season series 4-1 after taking two of three in first series of the year at Angel Stadium from May 8-10 and the first two games of current series in Houston…The teams will meet a total of 13 times this season…Last year, Astros won season series 13-6…Mike Trout leads all active players with 29 career home runs vs. Houston.
LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.175) and ranks third in strikeouts (96).
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 47 of 59 games played this year.
LATE COMEBACKS: Halos have three wins this season when trailing after eight innings, which matches the Angels total from each of the last two seasons…Last time LAA had more than three wins in a season when trailing after eight frames was 2017 (5).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.50 ERA (24 IP – 4 ER) and has converted all 13 of his save opportunities (the 13 saves are a new career high)…He is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 13 save opportunities of a season since Troy Percival had 16 straight successful save opportunities to begin the 2001 season.
CATCHING ON: This season, Angels catchers are tied for third with 10 home runs and rank fourth in the Majors with a .776 OPS.
SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 50 singles this year plus 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles, one triple & two home runs)…Urshela ranks second, behind Toronto’s Bo Bichette (59), for the American League lead in singles…Since May 5, Urshela ranks second in the American League with a .348 (32/92) batting average in that span.
LEAD ASSISTANT: Hunter Renfroe is tied for second in the American League with five outfield assists this season…Since 2017, his 61 outfield assists lead the Majors (Starling Marte is second with 52 assists).
NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by 11 pitches this season, which is second-most in the Majors…Since 1901, he is tied for the fewest career games played (45) when reaching 11 career HBP (also, Tim Locastro for Dodgers/D-backs from 2017-19).
THE MICK: Mickey Moniak is one of three players in the Majors with at least three leadoff HR this year, along with Mookie Betts (5) and Christian Yelich (3)… On May 13 at Cleveland, became the first player in MLB history to make his season debut on his birthday and hit a leadoff home run.
BACHMAN IN THE SHOW: Sam Bachman made his MLB debut on May 26 vs. Miami with 2.0 innings pitched in relief…The Angels first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2021 Draft, Bachman is currently rated by MLB Pipleline as the #4 prospect in the Halos system…He is the highest drafted player from the 2021 Draft to debut and the only pitcher from the first two rounds of that Draft to appear in the Majors.
FEELS FAMILIAR: Tuesday night, Taylor Ward hit his second career leadoff home run…Both came at Guaranteed Rate Field off Lucas Giolito (also, 4/29/22).
UNEARNED: Angels have allowed 31 unearned runs this season, which is tied with San Francisco for the Majors…Halos have committed 36 fielding errors this season, which is fifth-most in the Majors and the most in A.L.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP PATRICK SANDOVAL
3-4, 3.42 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in seven of 10 starts this season
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 11th start of the season and sixth on the road…Second start of 2023 vs. Houston…Is in fifth Major League season with Angels…Made third Opening Day roster (also, 2020 & 2022).
- LAST TIME OUT: Charged with the loss in last start on Sunday vs. Miami after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts
- GET SETTLED: Has yielded nine of 25 runs (36%) on the season in the first inning.
- IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown sliders 33.8% of the time, with opponents batting .211 (16/76) against the pitch…He throws changeups 25.5% of the time and is holding opponents to a .194 (14/72) average with 14 strikeouts.
- VS. HOUSTON: In eight career games (seven starts) vs. Houston, is 0-4 with a 7.55 ERA (31 IP – 26 ER)…Took a no-decision vs. Houston earlier this year on May 8 at Angel Stadium (6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO)
- FORMER ASTROS PRODUCT: Originally drafted by Houston in 11th round of 2015 Draft…Traded to Angels on July 26, 2018 in exchange for Martin Maldonado.
- AT MINUTE MAID PARK: Today marks sixth career appearance (fifth start) at Minute Maid Park…Is 0-2 with a 9.18 ERA (16.2 IP – 17 ER)…Last season, went 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA (9 IP – 5 ER) in two starts in Houston.
- HOME OPENER: Started Angels Home Opener on April 7 vs. Toronto…Tossed 6.0 innings and allowed one earned run…Marked second time starting Angels Home Opener (also, 2020 vs. Seattle).
- LEFT IN THE PARK: Has not allowed a home run to a left-handed batter since Aug. 13, 2021 (Kyle Tucker, HOU)…Allowed just eight total home runs last season (all to right-handed batters)…Since start of 2022, leads the American League with a 0.53 HR/9 innings rate.
- GOOD NIGHT: This year, has a 3.03 ERA (32.2 IP – 11 ER) in night games, compared with a 3.97 ERA (22.2 IP – 10 ER) in day games….Last season, was 4-4 with a 2.50 ERA (72 IP – 20 ER) with 75 strikeouts in his 13 night starts, compared with a 2-5 record and 3.29 ERA (76.2 IP – 28 ER) in his 14 day games.
- WINNING STREAKS: Loss on April 20 at Yankees snapped streak of three straight winning decisions (dating back to last season), which was longest streak of career.
- SANDY IN THE WBC: Made two starts in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Mexico, going 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (7.1 IP – 1 ER) and eight strikeouts…The two starts came against the United States (W; 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) & Japan (ND; 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO).
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TODAY’S TILT: The Astros and Angels will play the third game of their four-game series today with a solid pitching matchup of RHP Cristian Javier opposite former Astro minor leaguer LHP Patrick Sandoval…the Astros have had their way with Sandoval in his career, tagging him to an 0-4 record and a 7.55 ERA (26ER/31IP) in eight games (seven starts).
MR. CRISTIAN:RHP Cristian Javier has been on a role over his last eight outings, posting a 2.51 ERA (13ER/46.2IP), a .177 opponent average, a 0.92 WHIP and an 10.22 strikeouts per 9.0 ratio in those starts…on the season, Javier ranks fifth in the AL in WHIP (0.99) and fifth in opponent average (.203).
RECENT ‘STROS: The Astros are 17-5 in their last 22 games dating back to May 9, placing them a season high 11-games
over .500…since May 9, the Astros have the best record in the Majors, immediately ahead of the Rangers (15-7).
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Astros played an entertaining ballgame last night, downing the Angels 6-2 in what was a star-studded pitching matchup…for the second time this season, LHP Framber Valdez (0ER/7IP) bested the perennial MVP candidate, earning the win over RHP Shohei Ohtani (5ER/6IP)…LF Yordan Alvarez (2×4, HR, 2RBI) and CF Chas McCormick (3×4) led the Astros offense in an 11-hit attack.
SEEING SHOHEI: The Astros got to RHP Shohei Ohtani last night, recording nine hits off the perennial MVP candidate, which tied as the most he’s allowed in his career…he’s allowed nine hits just one other time in his career, which also came against the Astros on Sept. 10, 2021 in Houston.
FRAMTASTIC: LHP Framber Valdez has been one of the best pitchers in the AL this season, as he ranks first in quality starts (10), first in innings pitched (79.0), fourth in ERA (2.16) and fourth in strikeouts (84)…Valdez’s dominance goes back over the last three-plus seasons (2020-23) as he ranks second in the AL over that timespan in wins and ERA. AL Wins Leaders (2020-23) AL ERA Leaders (2020-23) Gerrit Cole: 42 Shane Bieber: 2.87 Framber Valdez: 39 Framber Valdez: 2.91 Dylan Cease: 35 Gerrit Cole: 3.23
GRINDERS: Tonight is the ninth day in a streak of 17 consecutive days with a game for the Astros, with Houston going 6-2 in their last eight…prior to this week, the most days the Astros had played in a row was seven, a streak that opened the season from March 30-April 5.
PITCHING IN: The Astros have the lowest team ERA (3.19) and have allowed the fewest runs (1201) in the Majors…the Astros starters rank third the Majors in ERA (3.27)and have allowed one-or-fewer earned runs in nine of their last 14 games…also, the Astros bullpen ranks second in the Majors in ERA (3.05).
Lowest Team ERA – MLB Runs Allowed – MLB
- Houston: 3.19 1. Houston: 201
- Minnesota: 3.43 2. Texas: 215
- Seattle: 3.60 3. Minnesota: 216
HECTOR’S HOT STREAK: RHP Hector Neris has not allowed a run in his last 18 appearances (16IP), which is the longest scoreless appearance and innings streak of his career…the streak also is the longest scoreless inning streak by an Astro this season and ties as the longest active streak in the Majors.
AMERICAN LEAGUE RANKINGS: LF Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in RBI (50), while ranking second in the AL in SLG (.585), tied for second in homers (15), third in OPS (.976) and fifth in OBP (.391)…3B Alex Bregman ranks tied for fourth in walks (30) and second in walk to strikeout ratio (1.15).
HOT CORNER HEATER: 3B Alex Bregman, who’s on a season-long, nine-game hit streak, is hitting .322 (29×90) with three doubles, three homers, 17 RBI and an .852 OPS in his last 23 games, dating back to May 8…since that date, he’s raised his season batting average from .195 up to .248.
SECOND TO NONE: SS Jeremy Peña has hit second in seven straight games, with the Astros going 5-2 in those games, and has hit second 12 times in 2023 (7-5)…over the last two years, including the postseason, the Astros are 60-14 when he hits second…Peña is hitting .341 (15×44) with five homers and a 1.181 OPS in his 12 games hitting second this season.
TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP CRISTIAN JAVIER
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023: 6-1 2.97 11 11 63.2 47 22 21 16 67
vs. LAA W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2022: 1-0 3.00 1 1 6.0 3 2 2 1 11
CAREER: 4-1 2.65 9 5 37.1 23 11 11 10 63
LAST START – 5/28 AT OAK: picked up his 4th consecutive winning decision in as many starts, allowing 4 runs on 1 hit while striking out 3 batters and surrendering 3 walks… the last Astros pitcher to pick up a winning decision in 4 consecutive starts was RHP Luis Garcia (9/11/22-10/2/22).
MR. MAY: was superb in his 5 starts in May, going 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA (8ER/30IP)…was T-1st of MLB pitchers in May in wins (4)…amongst AL pitchers was 2nd in opponent’s batting average (.157) and 7th in ERA (2.40).
IN CONTROL: has 2-or-fewer walks in 10 of 11 starts this year, including 6 starts with 1-or-fewer walks…his 2.26 walks-per-9-innings ranks as the 11th-lowest amongst AL starters.
STRIKEOUT STREAK: struck out a career-best 7 consecutive batters on 4/23 at ATL…was one away from matching the Astros franchise record, which has been accomplished on several occasions…the last Astros player to strike out eight consecutive batters was RHP Justin Verlander, doing so on October 4, 2022, vs. PHI.
ABOUT JAVIER: dynamic starter is making his 12th start of the season…the Astros have gone 9-2 in Javier’s 11 starts this season and are 15-2 in Javier’s last 17 starts dating back to last season.
- has rounded into form over his last 8 outings, posting a 2.31 ERA (12ER/46.2IP), a .177 opponent average, a 0.92 WHIP…is 11th-lowest ERA of AL starters over that stretch (since 4/21).
INVISIBALL: has held opponents to a .183 average (239×1308) throughout his MLB career…it’s the lowest opponent’s batting average (min. 350 IP) of any MLB pitcher since entering the league in ‘20…the next-closest players are MIL Corbin Burnes (.198) and LAA Shohei Ohtani (.200).
LEAGUE LEADERBOARD: in the AL, he ranks 5th in WHIP (0.99).
VS. LAA: had one of his best starts of the season on 5/10 at LAA, striking out a season-high 11 batters while tossing 6 IP and allowing 3 runs, 2 hits and 1 walk…has been solid against the Angels throughout his career, going 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA (11ER/37.1IP) in 9 games (5 starts)…has been especially tough on OF Mike Trout, holding him to 0x9 with 7 strikeouts in their career matchups…Javier is the only pitcher to strike out Trout 7-or-more times in less than 10 career at-bats in his career.
