LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S STARTER at REDS: RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD (1-4, 6.54 ERA in 11 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Earned his first win as a Dodger in his start on April 30 against St. Louis, firing 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits and three runs…he is 1-4 on the season with a 6.54 ERA with 35 strikeouts
- Struck out a season-high nine batters on April 14 vs. the Cubs
- Pitched in five games (four starts) during spring ball, going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA (12 ER/18.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts against just two walks…held a 1.13 WHIP
VS. REDS:
- Will face the Redlegs for the ninth time in his career…last pitched against the club August 22, 2022 with Philadelphia where he fired seven
innings, giving up three hits, one run and two walks while sitting down one en route to the win - Threw his second career complete game shutout against the club on May 2, 2019 with the Mets…one of two career complete game shutouts
- In his career against the Reds, he owns a record of 7-0 with a 2.22 ERA (14 ER/56.2 IP) and a 0.92 WHIP along with 55 strikeouts and eight walks in eight starts
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
- Since 1901, Matt McLain is only the third Reds player to produce at least 30 hits in his first 20 career apps (Sam Crawford, 30 hits, 1901 & Dick Harley, 32 hits, 1901).
- Reds batters are tied for fourth in the Major Leagues with 58 stolen bases (TB 82, Pit 68, Ari 59, Oak 58), matching last season’s total…haven’t recorded more than 58 steals in a season since 2019 (80sb).
- The Reds are tied for 27th in the Major Leagues with 48 HR (Cle 35, Wsh 48, Det 48), their fewest in 61 games since the 1974 team produced 48 HR through its first 61 games…from 4/18-4/25, this year’s team did not produce a home run in a season-high 8 consecutive games, their longest team homerless streak since 1992.
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 2 (1-0) of a 3-game series vs Juan Dorado’s Dodgers and Game 6 (2-3) of a 7-game homestand that included a 3-1 series loss to the Brewers.
- Following this series, the Reds hit the road again for a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (3g), KC (3g) and Hou (off day, 3g).
- Tonight’s game is the MLB.TV Free Game of the Day.
SERIES NOTES
- Last night’s dramatic 9-8 win snapped the Reds’ 9-game losing streak to the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park…the Reds last beat LAD here in a 3-1 win on 9/17/21.
- The Dodgers’ .615 winning percentage at Great American Ball Park (40-25) is the second-best by any National League team (NYM, .619).
- Last season’s 7-0 series win by the Dodgers was only the third season series sweep by either team, all won by LAD (6-0 in 2006, 6-0 in 2017).
CARDINALS UP NEXT
- This weekend the Reds and Cardinals will meet for the second time this season, including a 2-2 series split from 5/22-5/25 at GABP.
- In 2022, the Cardinals won 12 of the 19 games and 5 of the 6 series.
- From 9/15-9/18, 2022 at Busch Stadium, the Reds and Cardinals faced off in a 5-game series (3-2 Cardinals series win) for the first time since 7/25-7/27, 1958 (3-2 Reds series win).
NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK / MONTH
- IF/OF Nick Senzel was Player of the Week for 4/24-4/30, the first award of his career (6g, .476, 1 2b, 2hr, 9rbi, 1sb, 8r, 17tb, .560obp, .810slg, 1.370ops)…he led NL hitters in hitting, RBI and runs scored while ranking second in OBP, T3rd in hits & total bases and fourth in slugging.
- In the second week of his Major League career, rookie SS Matt McLain was named Player of the Week for 5/22-5/28 (7g, 15-31, .484, 3 2b, 2hr,
7rbi, 3bb, 1hbp, 1sb, 9r, .543obp, .774slg, 1.317ops)…led all Major League batters in hits, tied for the lead in runs scored and ranked among the ML leaders in BA (2nd), OBP (2nd) and OPS (5th). - 1B Spencer Steer was the Rookie of the Month for May (27g, .318, 35h, 18r, 8 2b, 1 3b, 6hr, 19rbi, .372obp, .573slg, .945ops)…led National League rookies in games (tied), runs, hits and RBI.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP
- Tonight is making his fifth Major League appearance and start.
- On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19.
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k).
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari).
- In that 3-1 win on 5/16 at Col, allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, his first career batter faced, but didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo HR in the sixth inning snapped the scoreless tie…Williamson retired 14 consecutive batters leading up to Tovar’s home run
