BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
TWINNING: The O’s defeated the Twins last night, 3-1 in 10 innings, to open the three-game set at Target Field…The Birds improved to 5-5 in extra-inning contests this year…Have won three games in a row for the first time since June 24-26.
Cole Irvin tossed his first quality start in an O’s uniform, working 6.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts; the run scored after he left the game…Has pitched to a 1-1 record with a 2.66 ERA (7 ER/23.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts to four walks in his last five starts, in which the O’s have gone 4-1.
Ramón Urías drove in the winning run with an RBI double in the 10th that scored Colton Cowser, the automatic runner at second base to begin the extra frame.
Félix Bautista earned his fourth win of the season after working a career-high tying 2.0 innings (4x, last: 5/20/23 at TOR) with a walk and three strikeouts.
FINISHING UP THE FIRST HALF: With two games remaining before the All-Star Break, the O’s sit at 52-35 (.598), which currently ranks as the eighth-best pre-All-Star Break winning percentage in club history (since 1954)…The only seasons in which the O’s had a better winning percentage before the break were 1969 (.677, 65-31), 1966 (.667, 58-29), 1979 (.656, 59-31), 1997 (.647, 55-30), 1971 (.632, 55-32), 1964 (.632, 48-28), and 1970 (.621, 54-33).
YOUNG GUNN: On Thursday at New York-AL, Gunnar Henderson recorded his first career leadoff home run and set career bests with four hits and five RBI…He also matched career highs reaching safely four times and scoring three runs…He’s the fifth O’s rookie (sixth occurrence) with a leadoff home run, joining Cedric Mullins (2x), Joey Rickard, Ryan Flaherty, and Matt Angle…Became the fourth Orioles rookie with four hits and at least two homers in a game, joining Ryan Mountcastle, Chris Richard, and Curt Blefary…Also became the first MLB player with four hits and two home runs in the first four innings of a game since Matt Carpenter did so for St. Louis on July 20, 2018 at Chicago-NL…Became the youngest O’s batter (22-007) to log a multi-homer performance since Manny Machado (20-082) on September 26, 2012 vs. Toronto, and the youngest to do so on the road since Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer Eddie Murray (21-219) on October 1, 1977 at Boston.
Henderson is slashing .305/.354/.590 (32-for-105) with four doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 14 runs scored, 21 RBI, seven walks, and three stolen bases in 27 games since the start of June…During that time, he ranks among AL leaders in slugging (4th), homers (T-4th), and OPS (6th, .944).
He was voted the AL Rookie of the Month for June, his first monthly award and sixth O’s rookie to earn the honor; named AL Player of the Week for the week of June 5-11, his first career weekly award.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Baltimore is in the middle of a seven-game road trip to complete the pre-All-Star Break schedule…The O’s went 2-2 in the Bronx and won the first game of the three-game set in the Twin Cities against Minnesota last night…The Orioles open after the break with a six-game homestand against Miami and Los Angeles-NL from July 14-19.
Baltimore’s 26-17 (.605) road record is the best in the AL and third-best in MLB.
The Birds went 38-43 (.469) on the road last year, 14th-best in MLB, after going a combined 114-237 (.325) away from Camden Yards from 2017-21.
AGAINST THE TWINS: The Orioles and Twins are meeting for the second and final time in the regular season this weekend…Baltimore dropped the first two games to Minnesota at Oriole Park last weekend but rallied for two runs in the eighth inning on Sunday in a 2-1 comeback win…The O’s lost 16 straight games to the Twins from March 31, 2018 to May 31, 2021, the longest losing skid by the Orioles against Minnesota since the team moved to the Twin Cities in 1961 and the third-longest against a single opponent in club history (since 1954).
PITCH PERFECT: O’s starting pitchers have a 2.13 ERA (10 ER/42.1 IP) with 31 hits (5 HR), 11 total runs, 13 walks, and 35 strikeouts in seven games this month…Only five teams have a better starter ERA in July: Minnesota (0.88), San Diego (1.74), New York-NL (1.85), Seattle (1.96), and Atlanta (2.06)…Overall, Baltimore’s 2.61 ERA (18 ER/62.0 IP) in July is the third-best in the AL and fifth-best in MLB.
GENUINE DRAFT: The 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft is scheduled for July 9-11 during All-Star Week in Seattle…The Draft will feature 20 rounds across the three days, including the first two rounds, compensatory rounds, and competitive balance rounds on the opening night of the Draft…The Draft will begin exclusively on MLB Network, ESPN and MLB.com on Sunday, July 9 at 7 p.m. ET…The Draft will resume at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 10, with the first pick in Round 3, and will continue through Round 10 on MLB.com…Day 3 of the Draft on Tuesday, July 11, will begin at 2 p.m. featuring picks in rounds 11-20 on MLB.com.
The Orioles have three picks on Day 1 of the Draft: No. 17, No. 53, and No. 63.
Marks the first time since 2018 that the Orioles do not have one of the top five picks; that year, Baltimore selected right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez with the No. 11 overall pick out of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas.
STARTING PITCHER – #68 TYLER WELLS RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 18th appearance (17th start) of the season, ninth appearance (eighth start) on the road, and fifth career appearance (third start)
against the Twins this afternoon…With a strikeout today, Wells would become the third O’s pitcher since 2008 with 100+ strikeouts before the All-Star Break, joining Dylan Bundy (113 K in 2018) and Jason Hammel (101 K in 2012)…Went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA (49 ER/103.2 IP) in 23 starts for the O’s in 2022…Made his first career start on April 10, 2022 at Tampa Bay…Ended the 2022 season on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation…Also spent time on the Injured List with lower left side discomfort in 2022…Originally selected by Minnesota in the 15th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State, San Bernardino before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2020.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in his last outing on July 3 at New York-AL…Allowed two runs on five hits (2 HR) with two walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Marked his seventh quality start of the season…Threw 86 pitches, 56 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE TWINS: Making his fifth career appearance (third start) against the Twins today…Has pitched to a 2-0 record with a 1.88 ERA (3 ER/14.1
IP) through his first four career outings against his former organization…Earned the win in his last start against the AL Central foe on July 3, 2022 at Target Field… Surrendered one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings… Threw 90 pitches, 57 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: Making his 22nd career appearance (13th start) against the AL Central this afternoon…Owns a 6-4 record with a 3.42 ERA (29 ER/76.1 IP), one save, and six quality starts through his first 21 assignments against the division…Earned the win in his last start against the AL Central on June 9 vs. Kansas City…Allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and four punchouts in 6.2 innings… Left with three runners on, one of which later scored…Marked his fourth quality start of the season…Threw 92 pitches, 58 strikes.
WATCH ME WHIP: Wells enters play today leading MLB in WHIP (0.90), opponent on-base percentage (.236), and batting average (.188)…Has allowed 90 baserunners (67 H, 22 BB, 1 HBP) across 17 appearances (98.2 IP) this season, the fewest in MLB (min. 90.0 IP); his 67 hits surrendered this season are tied for the fewest among pitchers who have thrown at least 90.0 innings…He posted a 0.72 WHIP in April, tied for the seventh-lowest mark by an O’s pitcher in a calendar month in club history (since 1954) and lowest since Scott McGregor recorded a franchise-record 0.61 WHIP in May 1978…Wells issued just three walks and allowed 18 hits in 29.0 innings through his first five appearances (four starts) in April.
MR. CONSISTENT: Wells has tossed 5.0-or-more innings in each of his 17 appearances (16 starts) this season, tied for the fourth-most such outings in MLB…Is the first O’s pitcher to complete at least 5.0 frames in each of his first 17 games of the season since Miguel González also accomplished the feat in 17 straight assignments to begin the 2013 season…The last Oriole to do so in his first 18 starts of a season was Mike Mussina in his first 24 starts of 1994…Wells entered 2023 with 12 such performances, all in 2022.
LOVING LEFTIES: Opposing left-handed batters are slashing .185/.224/.324 (74-for401) against Wells through his first 84 career games (39 starts)…He has recorded
more career strikeouts against lefties (119) than hits allowed…Among pitchers with at least 400 left-handed batters faced in that span, Wells ranks first in opponent on-base percentage, third in opponent OPS (.548), and fifth in opponent batting average.
RACKING UP STRIKEOUTS: Wells has recorded 99 strikeouts this season, the most by an O’s pitcher through his first 17 games of the season since Dylan Bundy tallied
110 punchouts in his first 17 outings in 2018…His 99 strikeouts are a career high, surpassing his season total from last season (76)…Wells struck out at least seven batters in five straight starts from May 13 to June 4, tied with Erik Bedard (2007) for the second-longest streak by an Orioles pitcher since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, trailing only an eight-game streak by Connie Johnson in 1957
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: After completing their nine-game, 10-day roadtrip with a record of 4-5 (2-1 in Detroit, 0-3 in Atlanta and 2-1 in Baltimore), the Twins began their six-game, seven-day homestand with a three-game sweep over the Royals, followed by a loss to the Orioles last night…today, the Twins will play the second of three against the Orioles leading up to the All-Star break…the Twins have gone 26-20 at home and 19-24 on the road.
After the All-Star break, the Twins will go on a seven-game roadtrip with three against Oakland from July 14-16 and four against Seattle from July 17-20.
TWINS DROP OPENER WITH O’s IN EXTRAS: The Twins lost to the Orioles last night by a score of 3-1 in 10 innings at Target Field, making them 8-4 in extras this season…Bailey Ober was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing one run on four hits in 6.0 innings pitched, with three walks and five strikeouts…Jhoan Duran (2-4) was issued the loss, allowing two runs to cross in the top of the 10th inning…the offense recorded five hits and was led by Willi Castro, who went 1-for-3 with the only RBI on the night…the attendance was 32,724, the fourth highest at Target Field this season and highest since June 13 vs. Milwaukee (34,514).
IT’S ALL SON SHINE, NOTHING BUT SON SHINE: Sonny Gray will be the lone representative for the Twins during the All-Star break this upcoming week…it marks his third career selection after being named to the 2015 team with Oakland (DNP) and the 2019 team with Cincinnati (DNP)…Gray has gone 4-2, 2.50 ERA (93.2 IP, 26 ER) with 36 walks, 96 strikeouts and just three home runs allowed in 17 starts…among AL starters, he ranks first in home runs allowed (3) and opponent slugging percentage (.326), second in FIP (2.82) and ERA, and fifth in WAR (2.90)…Gray is the 18th different starting pitcher in club history to be selected to the All-Star team…below are the Twins All-Star SPs (since 1961):
PLAYER YEAR PLAYER YEAR PLAYER YEAR
Camilo Pascual……………1961 Jim Perry……………………..1971 Johan Santana…………. 2005
Jim Kaat……………………..1962 Bert Blyleven………………..1973 Johan Santana…………. 2006
Camilo Pascual……………1962 Frank Viola…………………..1988 Francisco Liriano……… 2006
Camilo Pascual……………1964 Scott Erickson………………1991 Johan Santana…………. 2007
Jim Grant…………………….1965 Jack Morris…………………..1991 Ervin Santana………….. 2017
Jim Kaat……………………..1966 Brad Radke………………….1998 José Berríos……………… 2018
Dean Chance……………….1967 Joe Mays……………………..2001 José Berríos……………… 2019
Jim Perry……………………..1970 Eric Milton …………………..2001 Jake Odorizzi……………. 2019
TWINS AND O’s: The Twins and Orioles are playing each other for the fifth of six meetings in 2023…the Twins are 2-2 vs. Baltimore this season, going 2-1 at Camden last weekend, followed by a loss last night at Target Field…if the Twins win the next two games, they will secure the season series over the Orioles for the sixth-consecutive season (4-3 in 2022, 4-2 in 2021, 6-0 in 2019, 6-1 in 2018 and 5-2 in 2017).
The Twins are 38-19 vs. Baltimore since the start of 2014…that marks the most wins against Baltimore among non-American League East teams in that span.
Byron Buxton has an .886 OPS in his last 10 games vs. Baltimore, with four home runs and 10 RBI in that span.
Carlos Correa is hitting .296 (29-for-98) with seven doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI, six walks, a .349 on-base percentage, a .520 slugging percentage and an .869 OPS in his last 26 games vs. the Orioles (since May of 2017).
Max Kepler is hitting .337 (35-for-104) with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 24 RBI, 12 walks, a .402 OBP and a 1.113 OPS in 29 career games against Baltimore.
SEVEN’S TRAVELS: Below are the Twins starters over the last seven games:
DATE/OPP STARTER W/L IP H R ER HR BB K SWING/MISS FINAL
6/30 at BAL López W 6.0 3 1 1 1 3 6 14 W, 8-1
7/1 at BAL Ober W 7.0 2 0 0 0 0 8 11 W, 1-0
7/2 at BAL Gray ND 6.0 2 0 0 0 3 7 9 L, 1-2
7/3 vs. KC Ryan ND 6.0 6 2 2 1 1 9 21 W, 8-4
7/4 vs. KC Maeda W 7.0 3 2 1 1 1 9 15 W, 9-3
7/5 vs. KC López W 9.0 4 0 0 0 0 12 17 W, 5-0
7/7 vs. BAL Ober ND 6.0 4 1 1 0 3 5 13 L, 1-3
ALSO: Seven-consecutive quality starts is the club’s longest streak since 10-consecutive from July 9-20, 2011…the franchise record (Twins and Senators since 1901) is 17 from August 26-September 9, 1915. (Elias)
NUMBER ONE HIT: Carlos Correa went 1-for-4 last night and has now reached safely in all seven games since being inserted in the leadoff spot on June 30…in those seven games, he is hitting .357 (10-for-28) with two doubles, two walks, five runs scored, a .419 on-base percentage and an .848 OPS…additionally, in those seven games since June 30, his .419 on-base percentage is tied for 11th best in the AL.
DONNIE BARRELS: Since June 1, Donovan Solano has posted a .393 on-base percentage in 31 games, reaching 42 times in 107 plate appearances (25 hits, 15 walks, 2 HBP)…in 39 home games this season, he is hitting .318 (35-for-110) with 15 walks, a .409 on-base percentage and an .855 OPS…in 16 home games since June 1, he is hitting .333 (17-for-51) with a .443 on-base percentage and a .992 OPS.
Solano’s .372 OBP and 27 walks this season are both career highs.
FAST WILLI: Willi Castro stole another base last night giving him four in his last four games and 19 on the season…his 19 steals before the break are the most for a Twin since Eduardo Núñez swiped 22 in 2016…seven different Twins have reached 20 steals before the ASB (Rod Carew – 3x, Chuck Knoblauch – 4x, Cesar Tovar – 2x, Carlos Gómez – 1x, Larry Hisle – 1x, Eduardo Núñez – 1x and Willie Norwood – 1x), with Carew’s 35 in 1976 being the record…Castro’s 19 steals are tied for seventh most in the AL…he is on pace to steal 34 bases this season, which would mark the most for a Twin since Ben Revere stole 40 in 2012.
Other Twins on the current roster to play in the game include: Carlos Correa (HOU – 2014), Kyle Farmer (LAD – 2015), Joey Gallo (TEX – 2014), Jorge López (MIL – 2014), Michael A. Taylor (WAS – 2014) and Christian Vázquez (BOS – 2014).
STARTING PITCHER – SONNY GRAY #54
2023: 4-2, 2.50 ERA CAREER: 94-79, 3.50 ERA
Making his 265th career appearance and 256th career start…also his 18th start/appearance this season.
Looking for his first win since April 30 vs. Kansas City…his 11-game winless streak is tied for the second longest in his career (also, September 1, 2020 to May 22, 2021).
Facing Baltimore for the 14th time in his career…is 6-5, 4.19 ERA (68.2 IP, 32 ER) with 26 walks and 72 strikeouts in his 13 previous starts.
Acquired by the Twins on March 13, 2022 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds,
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision despite recording a quality start in his last appearance on July 2 against Baltimore at Oriole Park at Camden Yards…pitched 6.0 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in a 2-1 Twins’ defeat, opposite Cole Irvin…allowed a season-low two hits, the fewest hits he has allowed since August 27, 2022 vs. San Francisco when he permitted just one hit…recorded 1-2-3 first and second innings before permitting a single to Anthony Bemboom in the third… recorded another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth…yielded his final hit to start the fifth inning, a double to Ramón Urías…relieved by Griffin Jax who pitched a scoreless seventh inning…Jhoan Duran entered in the eighth inning…Duran struck out the first batter he faced before allowing three-consecutive singles, including an RBI single to Aaron Hicks…issued a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Jordan Westburg for the final run of the game…replaced by Emilio Pagán who recorded the final out of the inning…the Twins’ only run came from a Willi Castro RBI double in the fifth inning.
Marked Gray’s first scoreless outing since April 24 vs. New York-AL…the 11-game stretch of allowing one-or-more runs marked the sixth longest of his career and was the longest since a 13-game span from August 20, 2019-August 20, 2020 with Cincinnati.
Gray has not earned a win in his last 11 starts, last earning a victory on April 30 vs. Kansas City; the 11-start streak without a win is tied for the second-longest such stretch of his career (also, September 1, 2020 to May 22, 2021).
TWO STARTS AGO: Took his second loss of the season despite recording a quality start on June 26 against Atlanta at Truist Park…pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits (1 HR), with one walk and five strikeouts in a 4-1 Twins’ defeat, opposite Spencer Strider…tossed 102 pitches, his first time throwing over 100 pitches since May 23 vs. San Francisco when he threw 105 pitches…retired nine of the first 13 batters he faced, including a 1-2-3 first inning…yielded an RBI groundout to catcher Travis d’Arnaud after allowing two singles in the fourth inning…allowed his third home run of the season to designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to start the seventh…recorded the next two outs before permitting a single to Michael Harris II and exiting the game…relieved by Emilio Pagán, who allowed a two-run home run to Ronald Acuña Jr. (1 ER charged to Gray)…Josh Winder later pitched a scoreless eighth inning…the Twins’ only run came from a Joey Gallo home run in the second inning off Strider.
GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE: Gray is facing the Orioles for the 14th time in his career, going 6-5, 4.19 ERA (68.2 IP, 32 ER) with 26 walks and 72 strikeouts in his 13 previous starts…is 0-0, 2.45 ERA (11.0 IP, 3 ER) with six walks and 12 strikeouts in two starts against the Orioles since joining the Twins…is 2-2, 7.03 ERA (24.1 IP, 19 ER) with 11 walks and 24 strikeouts in five career home games vs. Baltimore.
EAST SIDE BOYZ: Today will be Gray’s 10th start against an American League East opponent since joining the Twins…is 1-1, 2.17 ERA (45.2 IP, 11 ER) with 21 walks and 50 strikeouts in his previous nine starts in that span (BOS – 3, BAL – 2, TOR – 2, NYY – 2)…in 61 career appearances (57 career starts) against the AL East, Gray is 17-23, 4.13 ERA (325.0 IP, 149 ER) with 128 walks and 304 strikeouts.
Owns the fourth-lowest ERA against the AL East since the start of 2022 (min. 45.0 IP).
BULLSEYE: Gray is making his 10th home start of the season; is 3-1, 2.29 ERA (51.0 IP, 13 ER) with 15 walks and 58 strikeouts in his nine prior home outings…is 7-3, 2.50 ERA (118.2 IP, 33 ER) with 40 walks and 136 strikeouts in 22 home starts since becoming a Twin…Twins are 13-9 in those starts.
Currently holds the fourth-lowest home ERA in baseball this season (min. 50.0 IP)…also holds the sixth-lowest home ERA since the start of 2022 (min. 115.0 IP).
THE ARSENAL: Gray has used a six-pitch mix this season, per Baseball Savant…currently uses his 4-seam fastball the most at 23.0 percent…recorded all seven strikeouts in his last start on July 2 at Baltimore off his sweeper…primarily uses his curveball (199 pitches) and changeup (101 pitches) against lefties and his cutter (191 pitches), sinker (231 pitches) and sweeper (219 pitches) against righties…here’s a look at his repertoire so far:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (92.8)…………….. 23.0% (354 pitches, 121/233)………. .350 (28-for-80), 6 2B, 1 HR, 3 K
Curveball (79.2)………………………. 19.6% (302 pitches, 103/199)…….. .258 (17-for-66), 5 2B, 1 HR, 17 K
Sinker (92.7)………………………………….. 17.2% (265 pitches, 231/34). .241 (13-for-54), 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 22 K
Sweeper (83.8)…………………………. 17.1% (263 pitches, 219/44)………………. .128 (11-for-86), 3 2B, 44 K
Cutter (87.6) ……………………………. 16.3% (250 pitches, 191/59)………………… .222 (10-for-45), 3 2B, 8 K
Changeup (87.4)………………………… 6.7% (103 pitches, 2/101)…………… .136 (3-for-22), 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 K
Owns the lowest opponent batting average against a sweeper among American League pitchers (min. 75 PA) and ranks second in all of baseball, trailing COL’s Justin Lawrence (.102).
His 44 strikeouts on his sweeper are the second most in the majors, behind LAA’s Shohei Ohtani (56).
Tied for the sixth-most strikeouts in the American League off breaking pitches at 61
TO THE RIGHT: Gray has seen more success against right-handed hitters as opposed to lefthanded hitters this season…Gray has held righties to a .221 (42-for-190) batting average with 63 strikeouts as opposed to lefties who are batting .245 (40-for-163) with 33 strikeouts… allowed just one hit each to both lefties and righties in his last start on July 1…since becoming a Twin, lefties are slashing .221/.270/.328 against him while righties are batting .234/.317/.348.
Owns the 15th-most strikeouts against righties among qualified American League pitchers.
TIMER VIOLATIONS: In Statcast’s pitch timer violation leaderboard, Gray is tied for the third-most violations this season at six; all violations for Gray have been pitcher violations…averages 257 pitches-per-violation.
