LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TIME TO GET OUR WINGS: The Dodgers were swept for the first time this season by the Giants in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. It had been 10 years since San Francisco last swept the Blue Crew at Dodger Stadium (2012). The Dodgers are now 2-4 against the Giants this season and dropped down to third place, behind the Giants by one game. The Dodgers are 12-10-1 in their 23 series this season. Tonight, the Dodgers will travel South to play game one of two against the Los Angeles Angels. After the game Wednesday night, the Dodgers will return to Chavez Ravine to play the 2022 World Champions Houston Astros, in a three-game series beginning Friday night. The Dodgers are in third place behind the Diamondbacks and the Giants in NL West. This is the first time since 2018 that the Boys in Blue are in third place past June 18th. The Dodgers are now 5-10 in the month of June, which is the seventh worst record in the Majors this month, behind Kansas City (.125), Washington (.200), Colorado (.278), Detroit (.294), St. Louis (.313) and New York-NL (.313).
SWEPT ONTO THE FREEWAY: The Dodgers failed to find an answer for the third straight game against San Francisco, losing 7-3. Tony Gonsolin tossed 5.2 innings and gave up a season-high seven hits and a career-high seven runs. James Outman, David Peralta and Will Smith contributed with RBI singles but that was not enough as the G-Men did their damage with a big four-run sixth inning and completed their first sweep against the Blue Crew at Chavez Ravine since August 20-22, 2012. Mookie Betts had his season-best 11-game hitting streak snapped last game but has still hit safely in 12 of 15 games this month and he is a hitting .302 (19-for-63) with 11 runs scored, four homers and 10 RBI in the month of June. In 51 career games against the Angels, the former MVP is slashing .289/.368/.552 with 12 doubles, 13 homers and 32 RBI.
Vs. LAA: The Dodgers enter the Freeway series having won six in a row against the Angels, dating back to 2021. The six-game winning streak is tied for the second longest in the series history, two games behind the eight-game winning streak from August 5, 2014 through September 8, 2015.
STEADY FREDDIE: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-5 with a run and his league leading 25th double of the year Sunday afternoon. He ranks third in the Major Leagues with 59 runs scored, trailing Marcus Semien (60) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (63). Freeman leads the Major Leagues with 25 doubles, is second with 39 extra-base hits and third in batting average (.324) and fourth in total bases (159). He is just four hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
PROVIDING THE POP: The Dodgers’ offense continues to sizzle towards the top of the National League in various categories, ranking first in walks (301) and second in runs per game (5.40), runs scored (389), extra-base hits (255), home runs (116), OPS (.775) and slugging (.446).
KING KERSH: Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will take the ball for the Boys in Blue as he seeks win No. 205 of his career. In his last turn, he tossed six innings, allowing two runs with five strikeouts in a no decision against the White Sox. The left-hander is vying for his 10th ASG appearance as he is 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA and 98 strikeouts and is among the NL leaders in ERA (6th), wins (T-2nd), strikeouts (T-2nd) and WHIP (1.11, 6th) and BA against (.226, 7th). Kershaw sits alone at 21st on the all-time strikeout list and is chasing former teammate and still current big leaguer Zack Greinke for 20th place:
All-Time Major League Strikeout Leaders
- Zack Greinke 2,940
- Clayton Kershaw 2,905
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. ANGELS: LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW (8-4, 2.95 ERA in 14 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Over 14 starts, the Texas native owns a 8-4 record with a 2.95 ERA (27 ER/82.1 IP) with 93 strikeouts against 21 walks and has generated a 1.11 WHIP
- Notched his 200th career win in his start on April 18 against the Mets, making him the only Los Angeles Dodger to win 200 games with the same franchise…joins Don Sutton (233) and Don Drysdale (209) on the Dodger all-time list
- Currently 21st all-time on the Major League strikeout list with 2,905…he needs 95 more to become the 20th player in Major League history with 3,000 strikeouts
- Has fired 6.0+ strikeouts in 11 out of his 13 starts this season
- On June 8, Kershaw had his 82nd career start with 6.0+ scoreless innings for the third time this season (last: 4/29/23 vs STL). He holds the franchise record and ranks 8th all-time in MLB history
- He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April after posting a 5-1 record with a 1.89 ERA (8 ER/38.0 IP) and 41 strikeouts and a 0.76 WHIP
VS. ANGELS
- Will face the Angels for the 16th time in his career…is 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA (24 ER/101.1 IP) and 108 strikeouts against 26 walks
- Last faced the club on July 15, 2022, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings while giving up one hit and six punchouts en route to the win
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the first of two games on a homestand against the Dodgers (June 20- 21)…Halos went 5-2 on last road trip against the Texas Rangers (3-1) and Kansas City Royals (2-1)…LAA was 5-1 on last homestand against the Chicago Cubs (3-0) and Seattle Mariners (2-1).
LEAGUE LEADER: As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in home runs (24), RBI (56), total bases (175), XBH (41), slugging percentage (.632) and OPS (1.016)….
On the mound, he also leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.178), ranks fifth in strikeouts (105) and is ninth in WHIP (1.05).
HISTORIC SPAN: During the last road trip, Shohei Ohtani became the first player since 1957 to record 2+ doubles, 6+ home runs and 10+ walks in a seven game span…Two players did it during the 1957 season: Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams.
HEATING UP: Angels have won 11 of last 14 games… The stretch includes a five game win streak from June 4-9, which matched the longest win streak of season (also won five straight from April 30-May 5).
HIGH WATER MARK: At 41-33, Angels have matched season-high at eight games over .500…This is also the first time the Angels are eight games over .500 this late in a season since finishing the 2015 season with an 85-77 record…With a win today, LAA would move to nine games over .500 for the first time since May 25, 2022 (27-18).
SO EXTRA: Entering tonight’s game, Shohei Ohtani has an active streak of seven consecutive games with an extra-base hit…It is tied for the third longest streak in franchise history and trails only Darin Erstad’s nine game streak in 1998 and Tim Salmon’s eight game streak in 2000.
UNIQUE STREAK: Shohei Ohtani recorded an extra-base hit, walk and run scored in six straight games from June 12-17…The only other players to do so are Babe Ruth (7 straight games in 1921) and Barry Bonds (6 straight games in 1997). (credit: STATS Perform)
THE DRAGON: Saturday at KC, Chris Devenski had his streak of 13.0 consecutive scoreless innings snapped… The streak spanned 11 games and he stranded 15 of 16 (94%) inherited runners in that span, allowing two hits with four walks with 14 strikeouts.
SHO OFF: Tomorrow, Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make the pitching start on the mound for the Angels while also leading the Majors in home runs as a batter…In 2021 he made 14 pitching starts with at least a share of the MLB home run lead, and became the first player with multiple pitching starts in a season while leading
Majors in homers since Babe Ruth in 1919.
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels selected the contract of INF Kevin Padlo and transferred LHP José Suarez to the 60-day injured list…Yesterday, INF Anthony Rendon (left wrist contusion) was placed on the 10-day injured list.
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 60 of 74 games played this year (81%).
‘PEN PALS: Since June 4, the Angels bullpen ranks second in the American League with a 2.68 ERA (50.1 IP – 15 ER).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.74 ERA (31 IP – 6 ER) and has converted all 19 of his save opportunities (the 19 saves are a new career high)…He has tied Lee Smith’s Club record from 1995 with 19 consecutive successful save chances to start a season.
FREEWAY SERIES: Today is the first of four games against the Dodgers this season…In addition to the current two game series, the teams will meet again at Dodger Stadium July 7-8 in the final two games before the All-Star Break…Angels are looking to snap a six game losing streak in Freeway Series action, dating back to 2021…Halos lead the all-time Freeway Series 73-67.
INTERLEAGUE PLAY: LAA owns a 270-229 (.541) all-time Interleague record (9-6 in 2023)…The 270 all-time Interleague wins are third most all time behind Red Sox (299) and Yankees (293).
HOME RUN #150: On Saturday, Shohei Ohtani recorded his 150th career home run and became the fastest player in Angels history to reach the mark and is also the fastest Japanese-born player to reach 150 MLB HR…Among players with 150+ HR and 75+ SB, only Willie Mays, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez reached both milestones in fewer games than Ohtani (ESPN Stats & Info).
CATCHING ON: This season, Angels catchers rank third in the Majors with a .785 OPS and are tied for third in the Majors with 12 home runs.
THE INJURED LIST: Halos currently have 13 players on the injured list and have used the IL 19 total times this year.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP REID DETMERS
1-5, 4.48 ERA
Earned first win of season in last home start on June 8 vs. Cubs
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 13th start of the season today and seventh at home…Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season…Is in third Major League season with Angels.
- LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor in decision in last start on Wednesday at Texas after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing one earned run on three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
- IN THE WIN COLUMN: Earned first win of the season in last home start on June 14 vs. Cubs, after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing one earned run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
- 12K: Matched career high with 12 strikeouts on May 19 vs. Minnesota and carried a no-hitter through 5.2 innings…Previously tallied 12 strikeouts on July 31, 2022 vs. Texas.
- STREAKS SNAPPED: Victory on June 14 ended a career-high streak of five consecutive losing decisions…Also ended streak of 10 straight winless starts to begin a season, which finished tied for third-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark – 12 starts in 1968 and Hector Santiago – 11 starts in 2014).
- STAY UNFAMILIAR: This season, opponents are batting .214 (42/196) the first two times through the order, but are batting .489 (23/47) the third time through the batting order.
- EARLY SUCCESS: Has a 2.75 ERA (36 IP – 11 ER) in the first three innings of games, compared with an 6.84 ERA (26.1 IP – 20 ER) from the fourth inning on…20 of 36 runs allowed this year (56%) have come in 5th and 6th inning.
- GOING OFFSPEED: In 2023, is holding opponents to a .258 (42/163) average against offspeed pitches, including a .171 (6/35) clip on curveballs.
- VS. DODGERS: In two career starts vs. Dodgers, is 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA (8.2 iP – 9 ER) and 11 strikeouts.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 21 career games at Angel Stadium, is 6-6 with a 3.87 ERA (114 IP – 49 ER) and 119 strikeouts…This year, is 1-2 with a 3.87 ERA (31 IP – 16 ER) in six home starts…Last season, was 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA (72.2 IP – 26 ER) in 13 home starts, including no-hitter on May 10 vs. Rays (seventh individual no-hitter in Angel Stadium history).
- INTERLEAGUE PLAY: In six career Interleague games, is 2-4 with a 5.34 ERA (28.2 IP – 17 ER) and 36 strikeouts…This season, is 1-2 with a 5.34 ERA (15 IP – 8 ER) in three home starts.
