SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue an 11-day, 8-game road trip with the first of 3 contests against the Los Angeles Angels…Seattle began the current road trip with a 3-game series at Texas (0-3) and a 2-game series at San Diego (1-1)…tonight’s game will be televised live on APPLE TV+ with Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis on the call, with Heidi Watney reporting from the field…the game will also be broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners dropped Wednesday’s finale to the Padres by a 10-3 score…the Mariners are 8-7 over their last 15 games (5/22-c)…Seattle is 22-11 when scoring at least 4 runs and 8-20 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 17-15 at T-Mobile Park and 13-16 on the road this season.
- Programming Note – Tonight’s game will air live on Apple TV+.
- Series Openers – The Mariners are 10-10 in series openers (6-4 on the road) this season.
ALL-STAR LUIS…tonight’s starting pitcher Luis Castillo has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season…in 12 starts, he is 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA (20 ER, 70.2 IP) with 16 walks and 82 strikeouts…he’s held opponents to a .203 batting average (53×261) and has posted a miniscule 0.976 WHIP…among qualified AL starters this season, Castillo ranks T5th in fWAR (2.1), T9th in bWAR (1.9), 7th in ERA, T7th in WHIP, T7th in opponent batting average, 4th in strikeouts-per-9 innings (10.44), 6th in fewest home runs-per-9 innings (0.76), 5th in FIP (2.83) and 8th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.13).
ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE BALLYARD…Julio Rodríguez over his last 15 games (5/22-c) is batting .365 (23×63) with 9 runs, 4 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBI, going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts…he’s gotten on base at a .375 clip, slugging .619 with a .994 OPS during that span…since May 22, Julio has accumulated 1.0 fWAR, tied for 3rd-best player in the Majors over that stretch and trailing only Wander Franco-TB (1.1) and Matt McLain-CIN (1.1)…J-Rod’s 182 wRC+ during that span ranks 6th-highest in the AL during that stretch.
TEN OUT OF TEN…Julio Rodríguez (11 home runs, 12 stolen bases) is one of 5 Major League players with 10+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases this season, along with Ronald Acuña Jr.-ATL, Corbin CarrollARI, Josh Lowe-TB and Bobby Witt Jr.-KC…Julio reached 10/10 in 54 games this season, tied for 2ndfastest Mariners player to reach those feats in a season in franchise history with Alex Rodriguez (1998), trailing only Ruppert Jones (52 G, 1979)…in 1998, Alex Rodriguez finished with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases, becoming the 3rd player in Major League history with a 40/40 season.
HOLD ME CLOSER, TINY FRANCER…Ty France over his last 14 games (5/22-c) is batting .333 (19×57) with 11 runs, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 3 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches, getting on base at a .387 clip, slugging .597 with a .984 OPS…France’s 178 wRC+ during that span ranks 7th-highest in the AL, right behind teammate Julio Rodríguez (182), who ranks 6th.
I’M ON A HIGHWAY TO KEL…Jarred Kelenic went 2-for-4 with a double in his last game…in 58 games this season, he is batting .269 (57×212) with 27 runs, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 7 stolen bases and 19 walks, getting on base at a .330 clip, slugging .491 with an .821 OPS…he leads the Mariners in extra-base hits (26), slugging percentage and OPS, ranking 2nd in total bases (104) to Julio Rodríguez (107)…in 59 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season, Jarred is batting .327 (18×55) with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 13 RBI and 4 walks with a 1.009 OPS.
AGAINST THE UNICORN…against Shohei Ohtani-LAA in his career, J.P. Crawford is batting .313 (5×16) with a home run and 3 RBI…Jarred Kelenic is batting .429 (3×7) with a home run against Ohtani…Eugenio Suárez is batting .500 (3×6) with an RBI.
GLOVE ME GLOVE ME, SAY THAT YOU GLOVE ME…the Mariners defense has a .989 fielding percentage this season, tied for 4th-highest in the Majors and tied for highest in the AL with Tampa Bay and Houston…the Mariners lead the AL in Outs Above Average (12), trailing only San Diego (20) for the Major League lead…Julio Rodríguez (5 OAA) ranks T3rd among MLB center fielders…Eugenio Suárez (5 OAA) ranks T5th among MLB third basemen.
THE PITCHING STAFF…in 61 games this season, the Mariners pitching staff has posted a 4.02 ERA (244 ER, 545.2 IP) with 157 walks and 549 strikeouts…Seattle pitchers lead the Majors in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.50)…the Mariners have allowed 157 walks (fewest in MLB) and 54 home runs (fewest in MLB)…Seattle pitchers rank 1st in fWAR (10.2), 1st in FIP (3.51) and 1st in walk rate (6.9%)…Seattle starting pitchers are 20-21 with a 4.17 ERA (157 ER, 338.2 IP) with 75 walks and 314 strikeouts…Seattle relief pitchers are 10- 10 with a 3.78 ERA (87 ER, 207.0 IP) with 15 saves, 82 walks and 235 strikeouts.
PAULIN’ ALL OVER THE WORLD…in 26 games this season, Paul Sewald is 2-0 with 12 saves and a 2.84 ERA (8 ER, 25.1 IP) with 8 walks and 35 strikeouts…he is 12-for-13 in save opportunities…Sewald has a 0.950 WHIP and has held opponents to a .178 batting average (16×90).
YOU DON’T WANT TO BATT AGAINST MATT…in 30 games this season, Matt Brash is 3-3 with a 4.88 ERA (13 ER, 24.0 IP) with 10 walks and 46 strikeouts…opponents are batting .290 against him this season, with an expected batting average (based on quality of contact) of .225…the .065 disparity between his batting average allowed and xBA ranks 2nd-highest in the American League, trailing only Zach PlesacCLE (.077)…Brash’s 17.3 strikeouts-per-9 innings ranks 2nd-highest in the Majors (min. 20 IP), trailing only Félix Bautista-BAL (18.6).
AS YOU MAY KNOW…in 36 games this season, rookie José Caballero has gotten on-base at a .393 clip, batting .250 (21×84) with 15 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, 6 stolen bases, 14 walks and 7 hit-by-pitches, posting a 128 wRC+, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that despite having the 9th-most plate appearances among American League second basemen this season, Caballero has been the 3rd-most valuable?…by FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement, “Cabby” has posted 1.2 fWAR, ranking 3rd among AL third basemen behind Marcus Semien-TEX (3.1) and Zach McKinstry-DET (1.5)…Caballero ranks ahead of Whit Merrifield-TOR (1.1), Mauricio Dubón-HOU (1.0) and Brandon Drury-LAA (1.0).
MARINERS STARTER – RHP LUIS CASTILLO
2023 MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 4-3 2.55 12/12 70.2 53 22 20 16 82 6
Home 4-1 1.89 8/8 47.2 30 10 10 9 61 2
Road 0-2 3.91 4/4 23.0 23 12 10 7 21 4
vs. LAA 1-0 0.00 1/1 5.2 2 0 0 2 6 0
ABOUT CASTILLO…
- The 30-year-old right-hander is set to make his 13th start of the season, 2nd against the Angels…he is also making his 161st Major League start and 4th career start against Texas.
- Has been named an All-Star in 2019 and 2022.
- Originally signed as an international free agent by the San Francisco Giants on 12/23/11.
- Made MLB debut on 6/23/17 vs. Washington (w/ Cincinnati)
- Signed a 5-year contract extension with the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 24, 2022 after being acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on July 30, 2022.
LAST TIME OUT…L#3 in last start on 6/2 at Texas…allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk in 7.0 innings pitched while striking out 6.
INNINGS EATER…has made 7 starts this season where he has pitched at least 6.0 innings inlcuding his last 3 starts…in those 3 starts Castillo has a 0.47 ERA (1 ER, 19.0 IP) and has allowed only 10 hits and 5 walks while striking out 24…his career-high for games with at least 6.0 innings pitched in a season is 22 which he achieved in 2019.
SEASON-HIGH PUNCHIES…recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on 5/27…he was only 3 strikeouts away from matching his career-high…this marked the 16th time in Castillo’s career that he has recorded 10+ strikeouts in a game (last: 8/27/22 vs. CLE).
1,000 AND COUNTING…recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in his outing on 5/22 against Oakland after striking out Shea Langeliers to begin the 5th inning…Castillo finished the night with 8 strikeouts.
STILL ROLLING…has only allowed 16 walks while striking out 82 batters in 12 starts this season…his 16 walks are tied for the 8th fewest in the Major Leagues with 5 other pitchers…his 82 strikeouts on the season ranks tied 13th in the Major Leagues with Logan Webb-SFG…Castillo’s 5.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks 9th in the Major Leagues.
OFF TO A GOOD START…his 135 strikeouts through his first 20 Mariners starts are the 2nd most in Mariners history through a pitchers first 20 starts…he trails only Robbie Ray (136) and ranks ahead of Félix Hernández (124) and Michael Pineda (123).
MAKING THEM EARN IT…has only allowed 20 earned runs through 12 starts this season which is tied 5th in the Major Leagues…his 2.55 ERA (20 ER, 70.2 IP) ranks 7th in the Major Leagues behind Marcus Stroman-CHC (2.39).
KEEPING THE BASES CLEAN…has only allowed 72 runners to reach base safely through 12 starts this season which is the 4th fewest in the Major Leagues… he also ranks among Major League leaders in opponents average (T-8th, .203/53×261) and WHIP (5th, 0.976).
DOMINATE THE ZONE…had 38 strikeouts in both March/April and May…this was the first time in his career that he has recorded the same number of strikeouts in back-to-back months…his career-high in strikeouts in a single month is 50 which he achieved in 2019.
KEEPING THEM IN THE YARD…gave up his first home run of the season on 4/28, breaking a 5-game span of allowing no home runs…this was his longest span of games to start a season without giving up a home run in his career.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fourth (3-0) of six games on a homestand against the Chicago Cubs (3-0) and Seattle Mariners (June 9-11)…Halos went 3-4 on last road trip against the Chicago White Sox (2-1) and Houston Astros (1-3)…LAA was 5-4 on last homestand against the Minnesota Twins (2-1), Boston Red Sox (3-0) and Miami Marlins (0-3).
CURRENT TRENDS: Angels have won four straight games after losing the previous three…With a win today, Angels would match longest win streak of season (won five straight from April 30-May 5)…Over the last four games, Halos bullpen has worked 14.1 scoreless innings.
BRINGING THE HEAT: Ben Joyce had made four appearances for the Angels this season with 68 of his 80 pitches (85%) being thrown at 100+ MPH…In the Statcast era (since 2015), only Shohei Ohtani (70) has thrown more pitches at 100+ MPH for the Angels.
VS. SEATTLE: Angels lead the season series 2-1 after taking two of three games at T-Mobile Park from April 3-5…Mike Trout is a career .325 (210/647) hitter vs. Seattle and is the all-time leader in career home runs (54) against the Mariners…His 143 career runs scored vs. Seattle and 431 total bases rank second all-time.
MOST CAREER HOME RUNS vs. MARINERS
- Mike Trout – 54
- Rafael Palmeiro – 52
MOST CAREER RUNS SCORED vs. MARINERS - Rickey Henderson – 145
- Mike Trout – 143
MOST CAREER TOTAL BASES vs. MARINERS - Rafael Palmeiro – 435
- Mike Trout – 431
LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in
opponent batting average (.175) and ranks third in
strikeouts (96).
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Wednesday the Angels recalled OF Jo Adell from Triple-A Salt Lake…In a corresponding move, OF Hunter Renfroe was placed on the paternity list.
JUST MET A GUY NAMED BARRIA: Since April 8, Jaime Barria leads the Majors (min. 25 IP) with a 1.02 ERA (35.1 IP – 4 ER)…He has made three starts this season in addition to 11 appearances from Angels bullpen.
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 51 of 64 games played this year.
THE DRAGON: Over his last eight games, Chris Devenski has tossed 10.0 scoreless innings and has stranded all 14 of his inherited runners…In that span, he’s allowed one hit with no walks and 12 strikeouts.
I’M FEELING ‘22: The Angels active roster features their first two picks from the 2022 Draft: Zach Neto (first round) and Ben Joyce (third round)…The pair of 22-year-olds are the only two players from last year’s MLB Draft class to reach the Majors.
THE MICK: Mickey Moniak is one of three players in the Majors with at least three leadoff HR this year, along with Mookie Betts (6) and Christian Yelich (3)… Halos have won nine of his last 11 starts…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.
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.32 ERA (27.1 IP – 4 ER) and has converted all 16 of his save opportunities (the 16 saves are a new career high)…He is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 16 save opportunities of a season since Troy Percival had 16 straight successful save opportunities to begin the 2001 season…Only streak longer in Halos history is the Club record 19 consecutive successful save chances by Lee Smith to start the 1995 campaign.
CATCHING ON: This season, Angels catchers are tied for fourth in the Majors with 10 home runs and rank fourth with a .771 OPS.
SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 52 singles this year plus 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles, one triple & two home runs)…Urshela ranks second, behind Toronto’s Bo Bichette (63), for the American League lead in singles…Since May 5, Urshela ranks third in the American League with a .333 (34/102) batting average in that span.
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).
MY SACRIFICE: Angels have not recorded a sacrifice hit since the penultimate game of the 2022 season (Max Stassi – Oct. 4, 2022 at Oakland)…Current streak of 65 games without a sacrifice hit is the second-longest in franchise history (Angels had a 66-game streak from
May 30 – Aug. 13, 2019).
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).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
5-2, 3.30 ERA
In seven career pitching starts vs. Seattle, is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA (44 IP – 8 ER)
- SHO TIME: Making 13th pitching start of the year and seventh at home…Second start of 2022 vs. Seattle…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
- LEAGUE LEADER: Enters today’s start leading the Majors in opponent batting average (.175) and ranks third in strikeouts (96).
- LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Took the loss in last start on Friday at Houston after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing five earned runs on nine hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
- HEY BABE: Babe Ruth and Ohtani are the only players with 500+ pitching strikeouts and 100+ home runs in a career… (according to ELIAS, Ruth had 501 career pitching strikeouts).
- 10 K: Since start of 2022 season, leads MLB with 14 games with 10+ strikeouts (has four this season – tied for second-most in MLB)…Recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 starts last season, which was the most such games in the A.L.; joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts in at least six consecutive games.
- UNFAMILIAR: This season, is holding opponents to an .099 (9/91) average the first time through the order, a .272 (22/81) average the second time through the order and a .155 (11/71) average the third time through.
- VS. SEATTLE: Is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA (44 IP – 8 ER) in seven career pitching starts vs. Mariners…This season is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (6 IP – 1 ER) against the Mariners following start on April 5 at T-Mobile Park.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 39 career starts at The Big A, is 18-6 with a 2.07 ERA (235 IP – 54 ER) and 303 strikeouts… This season, is 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA (39 IP – 10 ER) and 51 strikeouts after six starts…In 14 starts last season, was 7-4 with a 1.82 ERA (89 IP – 18 ER)…In 2021, went 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA (78.1 IP – 17 ER) and 93 strikeouts after 13 home starts.
- HOME SWEET HOME: Has a career 2.07 ERA (235 IP – 54 ER) in home games, which is the second lowest total of the last 100 years (min. 30 GS)…Only Miami’s José Fernández (1.49 ERA; 272.1 IP – 45 ER) has a lower home ERA.
- 500K: Reached 500 total MLB strikeouts for career with a 13 strikeout performance on May 3 at St. Louis…Fourth game in MLB history where a pitcher recorded 13+ strikeouts in 5.0-or-fewer innings (also, Jacob deGrom in 2022, Alex Cobb in 2013 and Zack Greinke in 2012).
- OFF THE BOARDS: Had franchise record streak of 12 straight pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs snapped on April 27 vs. Oakland (Nolan Ryan had previous record with nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)… Overall, has yielded two-or-fewer runs in 21 of last 26 starts and one-or-fewer runs in 18 of last 26 starts.
- CAN’T HIT THIS: Had streak of 10 straight pitching starts allowing three-or-fewer hits from Sept. 17, 2022 – April 27, 2023…The streak was snapped May 3 at St. Louis and finished tied with Jacob deGrom (10 game streak for Mets in 2021) for the longest streak all-time (excluding Openers).
- SCORELESS AT THE BIG A: Had streak of 35.0 consecutive scoreless innings pitched at Angel Stadium snapped April 27 by A’s…Finished as second longest streak in ballpark history, behind a 36.2 IP streak by Mark Clear in 1979.
