PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #70 RECAP: The Phillies took the series opener in Oakland, 6-1 … Kyle Schwarber (#19) belted the 1st pitch of the game over the RF wall to give the Phils the early lead … JT Realmuto (#8) led off the 2nd inning with a solo HR … Starter Taijuan Walker (7-3) won his 3rd straight after posting a season-high 8.0 innings (1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO) … Alec Bohm (#7) hit 2-run shot in the 4th and drove in 3 runs on the night.
TRANSACTIONS: Prior this today’s game, the Phils recalled LHP Cristopher Sánchez from Lehigh Valley (AAA) … To make room for him on the roster, RHP Luis Ortiz was optioned to Lehigh Valley … RHP Seranthony Domínguez was placed on the 15-day IL (retro to 6/16) with a left oblique strain … To replace Dominguez on the roster, RHP Yunior Marte was recalled from Lehigh Valley.
HATS OFF TO YOU, THOMS: Thursday’s win at ARI was the 100th regular season win of Rob Thomson’s managerial career … Thomson is the 56th manager in Phillies franchise history – out of those 56, he ranks T-6th in fewest games needed to reach 100 wins (180 G) … He reached 100 wins faster than any Phillies manager since Pat Corrales in 1983 (also 180) … The only managers in franchise history to reach 100 faster than Thomson are Steve O’Neil (167 G) in 1953, Bill Shettsline (171 G) in 1899, Pat Moran (172 G) in 1916, Dallas Green (178 G) in 1980 and Billy Murray (178 G) in 1908 … Since Thomson was hired on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 101-80 and their .558 winning percentage is 3rd-best in the National League, behind only ATL (.667) and LAD (.641).
THE VIBES ARE BACK: This season, the Phillies were seven games under .500 at 25-32 when they entered play on June 3, which was also the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as Phillies manager … Since then, they have gone 11-2 in 13 games with a +31-run differential (77-46) and have moved over .500 at 36-34… When Thomson took over last year on June 3, the Phillies were also seven games under .500 at 22-29, and in their first 13 games with him as manager (6/3-16/22), they went 11-2 with a +37-run differential (84-47) and sat at .500 at 33-31 on June 16.
I’M GIVING IT MY ALL: The Phillies have won their last four series (2-1 at WSH, 3-0 vs DET, 2-1 vs LAD & 3-1 at ARI) and 11 of their last 13 games (6/3-current) … Over the last three seasons (2021-23), the Phillies are 42-24 in the month of June and their .636 winning percentage ranks 3rd among all MLB clubs behind only BOS (.652) & ATL (.652) … Over the last two seasons (since 2022), the Phillies are 30- 12 in June and their .714 winning % ranks 2nd in MLB, trailing only ATL (.780).
STAFF NOTES: Over the last 13 games, the Phillies are 11-2, thanks in part to a starting staff that has combined to post a 1.96 ERA (17 ER, 78.0 IP) with 84 strikeouts to 19 walks and only three home runs allowed … The rotation has faced 302 batters in this stretch and limited them to a .181 AVG and .516 OPS … Phillies starters have gone at least 7.0 innings in six of those 13 games and at least 6.0 innings in 10 of 13 … The Phils rotation leads the NL and ranks 2nd among all starting staffs in MLB in fWAR at 8.0, trailing only MIN (8.1).
BACK IN THE BAY: The Phillies arrive in Oakland to play the A’s for the first time since 2014 … In the previous game in Oakland between these two clubs on 9/21/14 (8-6 A’s win), Phils GM Sam Fuld entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Oakland in the 7th before remaining in the game as the right fielder – he was later intentionally walked in the 9th and stole second with Carlos Ruiz behind the plate.
THE AMERICAN DREAM: The Phillies have won each of their last 7 games against the American League (since 5/7) which is the longest winning streak against the AL in franchise history (previous: 5 G from 1997- 98 and 5 G in 2003) … Dating back to 4/26, the Phils have won 11 of their last 14 against the AL.
SCHWARBERFEST IS ON: Since being inserted back into the leadoff spot on June 2 at WSH, Kyle Schwarber has posted a 1.027 OPS in 66 plate appearances – he has 9 extra-base hits (2 2B, 3B, 6 HR), 12 walks to 16 strikeouts and has scored 14 runs in that span – the Phillies are 11-3 in those 14 games … Winner of each of the last two NL Player of the Month Awards in June (2021 with WSH, 2022 with Phils), Schwarber has 34 home runs (69 total hits, 49%) and is slashing .264/.370/.693 in 69 games (308 PA) over the past three months of June combined (1.063 OPS) while averaging a home run every 7.68 at bats.
TOOLS OF BRILLIANCE: In the recently completed 3-1 series win over the Diamondbacks in Phoenix, J.T. Realmuto went 7-for-12 with 7 runs, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 6 RBI, 2 walks and a stolen base – he raised his OPS .85 points in three games from .709 on Sunday to .802 entering play today … Realmuto (who played in the first three games of the series) became only the second Phillies player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with multiple doubles, triples and home runs in a single series (any length) – Granny Hamner also did so in June of 1954 at the Chicago Cubs (2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR) … Realmuto is the only catcher in MLB since at least 1900 to do it … Among all MLB players since World War II, Realmuto is one of only 16 players with two or more of each in a single series (any length) … Others: CIN’s Jay Bruce in 2016, SF’s Hunter Pence in 2014, SEA’s Alex Rodriguez in 1998, BOS’ Reggie Jefferson in 1996, COL’s Larry Walker in 1996, DET’s Lou Whitaker in 1983, MTL’s Warren Cromartie in 1978, NYY’s Roy White in 1973, CHI’s Billy Williams in 1965, DET’s Jake Wood in 1962, NYG’s Dusty Rhodes in 1954, Hamner in 1954, BOS’ Willard Marshall in 1951, STL’s Stan Musial in 1949 and CLE’s Jeff Heath in 1939 … Realmuto is the first MLB player with at least two doubles, triples, home runs and walks in a single series since Marshall in 1951.
A REAL UNICORN: On Monday night against the Diamondbacks, J.T. Realmuto became only the eighth player in Phillies franchise history to hit for the cycle as he did so for the ninth time in franchise history (last: David Bell, 6/28/04 vs MTL) … Fittingly, Realmuto became the first catcher in club history to accomplish the feat … The last ML catcher before Realmuto to hit for the cycle was MIL’s George Kottaras on Sept. 3, 2011 at HOU … Per Elias, Realmuto’s cycle marked just the 16th cycle by a player batting as a catcher in the Modern Era (since 1900) … Realmuto is only the 10th player in MLB history to have a 20-home run/20 stolen base season and then hit for the cycle in the next season – he is the first player to do so since Mookie Betts, who did so from 2017-18 … Others: Wil Myers (2016-17), Alex Rios (2012-13), Mike Trout (2012-13), Vladimir Guerrero (2002-03), John Valentin (1995-96), Kevin McReynolds (1988-89), Eric Davis (1988-89) and Chuck Klein (1932-33).
TODAY’S STARTER – CRISTOPHER SÁNCHEZ • LHP #61
2023: 0-0, 6.23 ERA Career: 3-2, 5.53 ERA
LAST START: 4/22 vs COL: ND, 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO … Sánchez vs Freeland … The Phillies defeated the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, in a Saturday matinee at CBP in South Philly … Nick Castellanos went 3-for-4 with 3 extra-base hits (2 HR, 2 2B) and scored 2 runs …Connor Brogdon (1.2 IP), Gregory Soto (1.0 IP), Seranthony Dominguez (1.0 IP) and Craig Kimbrel (1.0 IP) made scoreless appearances in relief of Sánchez.
TODAY’S START:
- Welcome Back: Was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA) prior to today’s contest. Sánchez is making his 1st career start against an AL West opponent. This marks his 2nd stint with the Phillies this season. Was reinstated from the 15-day IL (left triceps strain) prior to his start on 4/22 and was optioned postgame.
- Road Warrior: Sánchez has never made a start on the road. All 5 of his career starts were at Citizens Bank Park. Has gone 1-1 with 1 save and a 6.85 ERA (17 ER, 22.1 IP) across 9 career relief appearances on the road.
- On the Farm: In 8 games (6 starts) for the IronPigs since 4/30, Sánchez has gone 3-2 while posting a 5.05 ERA (23 ER, 41.0 IP) with 26 walks and 33 strikeouts.
- Rehabbing: Made 2 rehab starts for Lehigh Valley (AAA) in Durham from 4/11-16 and combined to allow 1 run on 3 hits with 11 strikeouts against 3 walks in 8.2 IP.
- vs AL West: 0-0, 0.00 ERA (1.1 IP) in 1 game.
ROAD:
- 2022: 0-1, 1 SV, 8.22 ERA (14 ER, 15.1 IP) in 6 games.
- Career: 1-1, 1 SV, 6.85 ERA (17 ER, 22.1 IP) in 9 games.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost three straight after winning a season-high seven consecutive games and are now 7-7 (.500) in June…had just six wins in May and five in April…are 19-53 (.264) overall, which is the second worst record in the majors ahead of the Royals (18-51, .261)…it is the worst record by an A’s team over the first 72 games since the 1920 Philadelphia A’s started the year 17-54 (had one game end in a tie)…are 3-1-1 over the last five series after going 1-16 over the first 17 series…swept Milwaukee last weekend for their first sweep of the season…have been swept nine times.
OFFENSE: The A’s are hitting .204 (50-for-245) over the last eight games but are batting .239 (109-for-457) with 58 runs scored in 14 games in June (4.1 runs per game) after hitting .208 with 87 runs in 29 games in May (3.0 runs per game)…lead the majors in hit by pitches (44), are tied for the lead in sacrifice hits (14) and rank seventh in walks (244)…however, have the lowest OPS (.658), batting average (.223) and slugging percentage (.353) and fifth lowest on-base percentage (.305)…have the fewest extra base hits (170), rank third in fewest runs (258) and most strikeouts (669), fourth in fewest doubles (97) and tied for seventh in fewest home runs (66)…have been shut out eight times, which is tied for second most…A’s pinch hitters lead the majors in hits (15), are tied for second in walks (10) and rank fifth in plate appearances (71).
PITCHING: The A’s have compiled a 3.26 ERA (33 er in 91.0 ip) over the last 10 games and now have a 4.39 ERA (60 er in 123.0 ip) in June…that follows a 5.54 ERA in May and 7.97 in April, both of which were the highest in the majors… have a 6.19 ERA for the season, which is the highest in the majors…the last team to finish the year with an ERA above 6.00 is the 1999 Rockies (6.03)… also have the highest opponents OPS (.837), on-base percentage (.363) and slugging percentage (.474) and the second highest batting average (.273)… lead the majors in most walks (322), home runs (110) and hit batters (47), are tied for the most wild pitches (36) and have the fifth fewest strikeouts (546)… have surrendered six grand slams, which are the most in the majors and tied for fifth most in a season in Athletics history (8 in 1993 and 1999, 7 in 1954 and 1997)…also lead the majors with 14 walks with the bases loaded, which are the most by an A’s team since 2011 (18).
STARTING PITCHING: JP Sears tossed 7.0 innings last night, which matches the season high by an A’s starter…starters now have a streak of 106 consecutive games of seven innings or fewer, which is the longest in Athletics history…the last A’s starter to last more than seven innings is Adam Oller, who went 8.0 innings on Aug. 27, 2022 against New York (AL)…A’s starting pitchers are 4-2 with a 3.46 ERA (20 er in 52.0 ip) over the last 10 games after going 2-32 with a 7.19 ERA over the first 61 games…are 6-34 with a 6.61 ERA for the season… the ERA is the highest in the majors, the wins are the fewest and the 333.2 innings pitched are third fewest…the fewest wins from a starting rotation in a full season in Major League history is 21 by the Pirates last year.
FOR OPENERS: The A’s have used an “opener” six times this year (all since May 24)…A’s openers are 1-2 with a 7.50 ERA (6.0 ip, 10 h, 5 r, 5 er, 7 so) and the “main” pitchers are 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA (30.0 ip, 28 h, 15 r, 15 er, 10 bb, 30 so)…are 2-4 in the six games…used an opener nine times in 2018 (all in September) and three times in 2019 (none after June 5).
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen is 3-1 with six saves, one blown save and a 2.89 ERA (14 er in 43.2 ip) over the last 10 games…had an Oakland record tying streak of six consecutive games with a save snapped on Wednesday…that followed a 29-game stretch without a save, which was the second longest single-season streak in Oakland history…the pen is now 10-for-22 (45.5%) in save opportunities for the season…has the lowest save percentage in the majors, the third fewest saves and is tied for the ninth most blown saves (12)… has a 5.73 ERA, which is the highest in the majors…has 298.1 innings pitched, which is second most…has allowed 53-of-131 (40.5%) inherited runners to score, which is the fourth highest percentage…has the fourth most inherited runners.
ON THE BASES: The A’s have 16 stolen bases in the last 12 games and are 71-for-88 (80.7%) in stolen base attempts for the season…rank fourth in the majors in stolen bases and attempts…had 78 stolen bases all last year…A’s opponents are 8-for-17 (47.1%) in stolen base attempts over the last nine games and are 56-for-83 (67.5%) for the season, which is the third lowest success rate in the majors…the 27 caught stealings are five more than any other team but the 56 stolen bases are tied for 10th most…A’s pitchers have nine pickoffs, which is tied with the Yankees for the most in the majors.
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 2-3 on this seven-game homestand against Tampa Bay (2-2) and Philadelphia (0-1)…went 2-4 on the last homestand against Houston (0-3) and Atlanta (2-1) and are 9-27 (.250) at home, which is tied with the Royals for the lowest home winning percentage in the majors…have a win and a split over the last two home series after losing each of the first nine…leave following the game tomorrow for a six-game road trip to Cleveland (three games) and Toronto (three games) that begins on Tuesday… went 5-4 on the last road trip to Miami (0-3), Pittsburgh (2-1) and Milwaukee (3-0)…it was the A’s first winning road trip since Sept. 14-19, 2021…are 10- 26 (.278) on the road, which is the second worst road record in the majors (Royals, 9-24/.273)…have compiled a 5.42 ERA (200 er in 332.0 ip) at home compared to 7.05 on the road.
WINNING LATE: The A’s have scored the winning run in their final at bat in 10 of their 19 victories…have five walk-off wins, which is tied for second most in the majors (White Sox, 6)…are 10-49 when tied or trailing after seven innings compared to 9-4 when leading after seven innings…are tied for fourth in the majors in wins when tied or trailing after seven innings but no other team has fewer than 14 wins when leading after seven…are 4-4 (.500) in extra inning games…are tied for fifth in the majors in extra inning wins and tied for seventh in losses and games (8).
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: Each of the A’s last two wins, three of the last four and 11 of 19 overall have been by one run…are now 11-12 (.478) in one-run games… are tied for fourth in the majors in one-run games (23) and tied for eighth in losses…however, are 8-41 (.163) in games decided by wo or more runs, including 1-14 in games decided by six or more runs…have a run differential of -6 in June after posting a mark of -78 in May and -118 in April…are -201 for the season, which is the lowest in the majors…had a run differential of -202 all last year, which was second lowest in Oakland history (-287 in 1979).
PLAYERS USED: The A’s have used 45 players, which is tied with the Angels, Brewers and Reds for the most in the majors…employed a franchise record 64 players last year…29 of the 45 have been pitchers, which is second most to the Rays (32)…tied an Athletics record with 34 pitchers last year…12 of the 43 are rookies after using an Oakland-record 34 rookies last year…seven have made their Major League debuts…had 23 do that last year.
THE INJURED LIST: The A’s placed Kevin Smith on the injured list today and have now used the IL 17 times, including 12 times for pitchers…currently have nine players on the IL, including seven pitchers…used the IL 31 times last year, which broke the Oakland record of 27 set in 2016 and matched in 2021.
THIS AND THAT: The A’s are 15-27 (.357) in night games, 4-26 (.133) in day games…are 15-11 when scoring four or more runs, 4-42 when scoring fewer than four runs…have committed four errors in the last three games and now have 42 for the season, which is tied for sixth most in the majors…are tied for fourth in the majors in outfield assists (14)…have an average time of game of 2:45, which is the longest in the majors…however, have not averaged under 2:53 per game since 2010 (2:43)…have allowed at least one run in each of their last 99 games, which is the longest active streak in the majors and the longest by an A’s team since an Athletics record 198-game streak from April 7, 1997-May 17, 1998…the A’s last shutout was on Sept. 4, 2022 at Baltimore (5-0).
A’S VS. PHILLIES
- The A’s lost the season series last year as they dropped two of three in Philadelphia to open the season.
- Meet in Oakland for the first time since 2014 when the A’s won two of three…have played three times in Oakland (2005, 2008, 2014) and
the A’s have won two of three each time.
Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-1 0-0 0-1
2022 0-0 1-2 1-2
Oakland History: 11-11
at the Coliseum: 6-4
at Citizens Bank Park: 4-5
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Ryan Noda leads the American League and ranks fourth in the majors with a .405 on-base percentage…leads the AL and is tied for third in the majors in walks (48)…leads Major League rookies in on-base percentage (.405) and walks (48)…Esteury Ruiz leads the majors in stolen bases (35) and hit by pitches (12)…leads ML rookies in stolen bases (35) and hit by pitches (12) and is tied for third in hits (72).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: James Kaprielian (2-6, 6.89 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas May 20 for his third stint with the A’s this year…is 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA (33.2 ip, 31 h, 17 r, 15 er, 16 bb, 25 so) in six starts over his last two stints after going 0-2 with a 12.94 ERA in six games, including three starts, over his first stint…was on the A’s Opening Day roster and went 0-2 with a 12.15 ERA in three starts before moving to the bullpen…posted a 16.88 ERA in three relief appearances before he was optioned to Las Vegas on April 25…returned on May 13, started at lost to Texas that day and was optioned back to Triple-A the next day…did not pitch with the Aviators before he was recalled by Oakland on May 20.
SLOW STARTS: Has picked up the win in each of his last two starts (4 er in 12.0 ip, 3.00 ERA) after beginning the season 0-6 with a 6.89 ERA and .853 opponents OPS over his first 10 games, including seven starts…is the first A’s pitcher to start the season 0-6 since Mike Mohler lost each of his first eight decisions in 1997…the six-game losing streak is a career high and his six losses are tied for ninth most in the majors…started last season 0-5 with a 5.98 ERA and .853 opponents OPS over his first 10 starts from May 1-June 21…then went 5-4 with a 3.30 ERA and .669 OPS over his final 16 starts.
SEVEN INNINGS OR FEWER: Has tossed 7.0 innings or fewer in each of his nine starts this year and has now pitched seven innings or fewer in all 56 of his career starts…that is the longest streak of consecutive starts of seven innings or fewer in Athletics history (previous: 47, Montas, Sept. 25, 2019-April 18, 2022).
OPPONENTS BATTING: Has allowed six of his eight home runs to left-handed hitters and has a .560 opponents slugging percentage against left-handed hitters compared to .387 against right-handers…opponents are 12-for-22 (.545) with two doubles and three home runs when putting the first pitch in play…they are 4-for-7 (.571) with two walks, a double and two grand slams with the bases loaded.
THIS AND THAT: Has a 5.00 ERA (15 er in 27.0 ip) over innings 1-3, a 9.13 ERA (23 er in 22.2 ip) from the fourth inning on…is 2-3 with a 4.71 ERA (15 er in 28.2 ip) in five starts on five days rest or more compared to 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA (13 er in 13.1 ip) in three starts on four days rest…the A’s are 2-7 in his starting assignments and have been shut out three times in his nine starts… left with an 8-5 lead in his first start but the bullpen allowed seven runs for the blown save…left with the lead in five of his starts last year only to have the bullpen blow the save…now has 21 career no decisions as a starter and has left with the lead and was the pitcher of record in 10 of those no decisions.
2023 DAY-BY-DAY: Had a no decision in his first start on April 3 against Cleveland, a 12-11 A’s loss in 10 innings…left with an 8-5 lead but the bullpen blew the save…allowed a season-high seven runs, surrendered a career-high tying three home runs and logged a career-high 106 pitches in an 11-0 loss at Tampa Bay on April 9…that began a career-high six-game losing streak that ran through May 31…posted a 7.99 ERA and .910 opponents OPS during the losing streak, which spanned nine games, including six starts…walked a career-high seven batters in a 17-6 loss to New York (NL) on April 14…the walks were the most by an A’s pitcher since Sonny Gray also walked seven on May 3, 2015…tossed 3.2 innings, which is a season-low as a starter…was 0-2 with a 12.15 ERA in three starts when he was moved to the bullpen following the start against the Mets…allowed at least five runs in each of those starts to join Todd Van Poppel (1994) as the only pitchers on an Opening Day roster in Oakland history to allow five or more runs in each of their first three starts…tossed a scoreless inning of relief on April 18 against Chicago (AL), but then allowed three runs in 1.0 inning on April 22 at Texas and two in 0.2 innings on April 24 at Los Angeles (AL) and was optioned to Las Vegas on April 25…was recalled on May 13 and struck out a season-high seven in a career-high tying 7.0 innings that day against Texas…allowed three runs and took the loss in a 5-0 decision and was optioned back to Las Vegas the next day…was recalled on May 20 and started and lost in the A’s 2-0 decisio• The Rangers are 15-6-1 overall in series this year, going 7-3-1 at home and 8-3-0 on the road…team is 11-3-1 in last 15 series and 14-4-1 in last 19…TEX has gone 6-2-1 in last 9 series at GLF.
AT HOME: TEX is 22-13 (.629) at home, T2nd-best home record in A.L. w/ BAL (TB .816, 31-7)…club is 1-5 in last 6 G at home, but has still won 9 of 14, 10 of 16, 14 of 22, and 19 of last 30 at GLF beg. 4/5…TEX is 108-119 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 28-20 last 48 G here beg. 9/11/22. On the next day at Houston, despite allowing just one run in 5.0 innings…allowed a season-high eight hits in 5.0 innings in a 5-2 loss to Houston May 26 in Oakland…was 0-6 with a 6.89 ERA and .853 opponents OPS over his first 10 games, including seven starts…then picked up his first win of the season in
the A’s 11-2 victory at Pittsburgh on June 6.
LAST START: He won his second consecutive start in the A’s 4-3 win over Tampa Bay on Monday…shut out the Rays on three hits and two walks over the first five innings…Eflin blanked the A’s on on two hits over the first four innings before Oakland scored four times in the fifth…Kaprielian then allowed a three-run home run to Siri in the sixth inning…was relieved by Waldichuk to start the seventh with the A’s leading 4-3.
