CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TRANSACTIONS

• Today the Reds transferred from Dayton to Louisville the rehabilitation assignment of RHP Derek Law (right elbow flexor mass strain)…he is expected to pitch for the Bats in tonight’s game vs Indianapolis.
• RHP Randy Wynne, designated for assignment when RHP Jake Wong was promoted Monday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville.
• RHP Silvino Bracho, designated for assignment when RHP Randy Wynne was promoted Sunday, yesterday cleared waivers and today accepted an outright assignment to Louisville.

TONIGHT’S GAME

• Is Game 3 (1-1) of a brief 3-game road trip, all to Bal’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards to face Tessa Sayers’ Orioles.
• Mon’s 10-3 loss here snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
• Friday night the Redlegs return to Great American Ball Park for their final homestand of the first half, a 3-game series against the Padres, and then head into the All-Star Game break with a 7-game road trip to Wsh (4g) and Mil (3g).

SERIES NOTES

• The Reds are 7-10 all-time vs the Orioles, including 5-4 at Great American Ball Park and 2-6 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• The Reds’ 17 regular season games vs Bal are their fewest against any other Major League team.
• The Reds are playing in Camden Yards for only the third time, including a 2-1 series loss in 2011 and a 3-0 series sweep loss in their most recent meeting here in 2014.
• In 2011 the Reds played in Baltimore for the first time since the 1970 World Series.
• Baltimore was the last city the Reds visited during interleague play.
• The series at Great American Ball Park in June 2005 featured 3 of the Top 20 home run hitters of all time, including Bal’s Sammy Sosa (580, 7th at that time) and Rafael Palmeiro (559, 10th) and Cin’s Ken Griffey Jr. (510, 19th)…entering that series, the trio had combined for 1,649 home runs and 4,835 RBI…for the first time in Major League history, 3 players with at least 500 homers appeared in the same game.
• 4,328 days elapsed between the Orioles’ first 2 visits to Great American Ball Park (2005, 2017).

PADRES UP NEXT

• The Padres won 8 of the last 9 games, including all 6 games in 2022, and 14 of the last 16 games overall.
• The Reds’ 10-inning, 2-1 win on 5/2 at SD snapped their 7-game losing streak vs the Padres…was the Reds’ first win vs SD since their final meeting of the 2021 season, a 5-4 win on 7/1 at GABP.
• On their most recent homestand the Reds went 4-2 vs the Rockies (3-0) and first-place Braves (1-2)…Sat’s 7-6 loss vs Atl snapped the Reds’ 12-game winning streak…the Braves won 2 of 3 games last weekend to snap the Reds’ 5-series winning streak.
• The attendance for last weekend’s 3-game weekend series vs the Braves was 126,724, the highest for any 3-game series during the regular season at Great American Ball Park.

BIG ROAD MACHINE

• The Reds went 8-1 on their road trip prior to this one (2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0 at Hou)…for only the second time, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0, 9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8 wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3)…courtesy @EliasSports.
• The Reds have won 5 straight road series (3-0 at Cubs, 2-1 at Bos, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0 at Hou) for the first time since since 5/29-6/29, 2014 (3-1 at Ari, 2-1 at Mil, 2-1 at Pit, 2-1 at Cubs, 4-0 at SF)…haven’t won 6 straight road series since 7/23-8/22, 2010 (2-1 at Hou, 2-1 at Mil, 2-1 at Pit, 3-0 at Chc, 3-0 at Ari, 2-1 at LAD).

RED HOTS

• The Reds’ 12-game winning streak, snapped by Sat’s 7-6 loss vs Atl, tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
• The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19…courtesy @OptaSTATS and @EliasSports.
• Reds baserunners in 65 attempts have scored 64 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
• 10 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher, RHP Randy Wynne)…13 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY: The Orioles fell to the Reds last night, 3-1, in the second game of the three-game set…Baltimore and Cincinnati are now tied for the MLB lead with 28 comeback wins each…Rain halted play in the top of the eighth inning; play resumed after a 1-hour, 43-minute delay.

Tyler Wells was dealt his fourth loss of the season after allowing two runs on four hits (1 HR) with one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Has lost back-to- back starts for the second time in his career, joining July 15-22, 2022…Retired the first nine batters of the game…Lowered his MLB-leading WHIP to 0.88.

Jordan Westburg singled in the second and fourth innings to collect his first career multi-hit game…Reached base three times for the first time in his career after drawing a walk in the seventh.

Rutschman led AL catchers with 1,291,399 votes in Phase 1; an O’s backstop has not won a fan election since Matt Wieters in 2014, who didn’t participate in the game
after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery in June that season; Rutschman would be the third Orioles catcher to start an All-Star Game, along with Gus Triandos in 1958 and 1959, and Terry Kennedy in 1987.

Rutschman leads qualified AL catchers in hits (75), on-base percentage (.378), walks (52), and times on base (127), and ranks among the leaders in wRC+ (T-1st, 122), MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (42-38) at Baltimore Orioles (48-30) wOBA (T-1st, .346), OPS (2nd, .789), average (2nd, .266), bWAR (2nd, 1.8), fWAR (2nd, 1.8),
RBI (3rd, 34), and home runs (T-4th, 10).

Rutschman has reached base safely at least four times in seven games this season, tied for the second-most in MLB behind only San Diego’s Juan Soto with nine such games.

He is one of four qualified players with more walks (52) than strikeouts (48), along with Los Angeles-NL’s Will Smith (38 BB/35 K), Cleveland’s José Ramírez (33 BB/29 K), and Miami’s Luis Arraez (24 BB/16 K).

His 15.5 percent walk rate ranks in the top three percent of the league and his 14.3 percent strikeout rate ranks in the top 10 percent, per Statcast.

BURNING RUBBER: Baltimore and Cincinnati square off in a rubber game in tonight’s series finale…The Birds have gone 8-4 in rubber matches this season and have won three in a row…The O’s went 11-11 in such games in 2022.

HOME COOKING: The O’s are in the middle of a nine-game, 10-day homestand…After going 2-1 against the Mariners over the weekend, the Birds conclude a three-game set against the Reds tonight after splitting the first two games…Following a scheduled off day tomorrow, the Twins come to Camden Yards from June 30 to July 2.

Baltimore has won eight of the last 11 games at Oriole Park since June 9.

The O’s are 25-15 (.625) in Baltimore this year and own the fourth-best home record in MLB, behind the Rays (.773, 34-10), Rangers (.641, 25-14), and Braves (.634, 26-15); the Orioles have played at a .600 clip at home in 16 previous seasons, most recently when they did so in three straight from 2014-16.

AGAINST THE REDS: The Orioles and Reds conclude their only matchup of the season tonight…The O’s have not hosted the Reds in Baltimore since sweeping a three-game set against them from September 2-4, 2014; the Birds are 6-2 all-time against the Reds at Oriole Park…Baltimore and Cincinnati have only squared off in the regular season 17 times in team history (since 1954), with the O’s holding a 10-7 advantage in those matchups; entering this season, the 15 games against the Reds were tied for Baltimore’s fewest against a single active opponent with the Cardinals and Dodgers, who the Birds host for three games each later this summer…The Orioles and Reds first met in the regular season in 2005, but faced off in the 1970 World Series, with the Orioles defeating the Big Red Machine, 4-1, to win their
second World Series title.

NO JUNE SWOON: Baltimore is batting .282/.355/.467 (102-for-362) with 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 runs scored, 54 RBI, and 39 walks in 11 home games in June…Overall, the Orioles have hit .261/.325/.429 at Oriole Park and .245/.320/.417 on the road this season.

HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays ranks third the AL (see box at right) and sixth in MLB with a .315 batting average…He also ranks among AL leaders in doubles (4th, 22), slugging percentage (6th, .502), hits (T-7th, 84), and OPS (T-8th, .856)…Only one Oriole has ever won a batting title: Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who hit .316 in 1966…Hanser Alberto, who finished with a .305 batting average in 2019, is the only qualified Oriole in the last 14 seasons to finish the year with a batting average of at least .300.

No player has ever led the AL in batting average at the All-Star Break and not been an All-Star, according to the Elias Sports Bureau; there have been six such instances in the NL, most recently Hunter Pence in 2007 and Larry Walker in 2002.

TONY’S TATERS: Anthony Santander is slashing .297/.357/.557 (57-for-192) with 12 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 31 runs scored, 36 RBI, 16 walks, two hit-by-pitches, and one stolen base in 49 games since the start of May…During that time, he ranks among AL leaders in slugging percentage (4th), OPS (4th, .914), total bases (4th, 107), extra-base hits (T-4th, 25), home runs (T-5th), RBI (5th), hits (T-6th)…He homered in three straight games from June 23- 25 for the second time in his career (also: 8/8-11/21) and is the second Oriole to homer in three straight games this season, joining Gunnar Henderson from June 10-13.

Santander ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (T-6th, 35), slugging (8th, .493), total bases (9th, 141), doubles (T-9th, 20).

His 14 home runs lead the O’s and rank fourth among MLB switch hitters.

STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLR GIBSON RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 17th start of the season, eighth at home, and second career start against the Reds tonight…Became the first O’s pitcher in club history (since 1954) to start and win each of his three first appearances with the team…Started a season 4-0 for the second time in his career, joining a 6-0 start with Texas in 2021; became the fifth Oriole starting pitcher since 2004 to begin a year 4-0, joining John Means (4-0 in 2021), Bud Norris (4-0 in 2013), Wei-Yin Chen (4-0 in 2012), and Erik Bedard (4-0 in 2006)…Tossed 7.0 shutout frames on May 25 at New York-AL, becoming the oldest O’s pitcher (35-214) to work 7.0-or-more scoreless innings in a start since Freddy García (36-236) also tossed 7.0 scoreless frames on May 30, 2013 vs. Washington…Also marked his first shutout start of 7.0-or-more innings since also tossing 7.0 scoreless frames on August 27, 2022 vs. Pittsburgh with Philadelphia…The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has also spent time with the Twins, Phillies, and Rangers across 10 Major League seasons.

LAST TIME OUT: Dealt his fifth loss of the season in his last start on June 23 vs. Seattle… Allowed five runs on seven hits (1 HR) with three walks and four strikeouts in 3.0 innings, his shortest start of the season…Has lost back-to-back starts for the first time since losing three straight from May 3-14…Marked his shortest home start since May 19, 2019 vs. Kansas City with Minnesota (1.2 IP)…Threw 86 pitches, 46 strikes.

HOW SWEEP IT IS: Gibson is holding opposing batters to a .185/.197/.277 (12-for-65) slash line against his sweeper this season…Has induced 54 swings and misses on 252 sweepers for a 21.4 swing-and-miss percentage…The 54 whiffs by way of the sweeper are tied for the second-most among MLB pitchers behind Shohei Ohtani (97)…Has recorded more strikeouts with the pitch (25) than hits allowed (12).

HOMER (UN)HAPPY: Gibson has allowed just eight home runs in 92.0 innings across his 16 starts; entering play today, he ranks among qualified pitchers in HR/9 (13th, 0.78)…Did not allow a homer in five straight starts from May 14 to June 6, his longest such streak since keeping opponents in the yard in seven straight outings from September 26, 2020 to April 29, 2021 with Texas…Also marked the longest homerless streak by an O’s starter since Spenser Watkins also allowed zero home runs in five straight starts from May 22 to July 13, 2022.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Gibson earned his eighth win in his 13th start of the season on June 11 vs. Kansas City…Entering play today, he is one of 17 MLB pitchers with eight-or-more wins and his eight victories are tied for ninth in MLB…Did not win his eighth decision in 2022 until his 23rd start on August 16 at Cincinnati…Is three victories shy of 100 for his career.

CAREER AGAINST THE REDS: Making his second career start against the Reds tonight… Earned the win in his lone start against Cincinnati with Philadelphia on August 16, 2022 at Great American Ball Park…Allowed three runs on six hits (2 HR) with a career-high-tying 11 strikeouts…Threw 92 pitches, 64 strikes.

CAREER AGAINST THE NL CENTRAL: Making his 21st career start against the NL Central…Owns a 4-8 record with a 5.11 ERA (64 ER/112.2 IP) in 20 career starts against the division…Dealt the loss in his last start against the NL Central on June 17 at ChicagoNL…Allowed three runs on three hits with two walks, a wild pitch, and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Recorded seven-or-more punchouts in a start for the third time this season…Marked his eighth quality start of the season…Threw 93 pitches, 56 strikes.

INTERLEAGUE SOLDIER: In 32 career Interleague starts, Gibson owns a 6-16 record with a 5.37 ERA (106 ER/177.2 IP), 11 quality starts, and one complete game…Dealt the loss in his last start against the National League on June 17 at Chicago-NL…Made his first Interleague start of the season on May 14 vs. the Pirates…Was dealt his third loss of the season after allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings…Threw 95 pitches, 57 strikes.

HOME COOKING: Making his eighth home start of the 2023 campaign tonight…Dealt the loss in his last start at Oriole Park on June 23 vs. Seattle…Owns a 4-3 record with a 4.42 ERA (19 ER/38.2 IP) in seven home starts this season…Has pitched to a 50-51 record with a 4.53 ERA (398 ER/791.0 IP) and 60 quality starts in 140 career home appearances (138 GS).