LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S STARTER at ORIOLES: RHP EMMET SHEEHAN (2-0, 4.35 ERA in 4 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- New York native notched his second big league win on June 29th against the Rockies, tossing five innings and giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out five
- Became the first starting pitcher since at least 1967 to fire 8.0 consecutive hitless innings to begin his Major League career according to Elias ( Billy Rohr; April 14, 1967)
- Made his Major League debut versus the Giants on June 16, spinning six no-hit innings, only giving up two walks while striking out three in the no decision… joins Ross Stripling as the only Dodger pitchers to pitch at least six no-hit innings in their MLB debut (April 8, 2016)
- Owns a 4-1 record across 12 games (10 starts) with Double-A Tulsa with a 1.86 ERA (11 ER/53.1 IP) with 88 strikeouts and 23 walks…has limited the opposition to a .131/.246/.235 slashline
- He led the Texas League in ERA, strikeouts, batting average against (.131) and WHIP (0.88)
- Currently ranked as the Dodgers’ 13th ranked prospect
VS. ORIOLES:
- Will face Baltimore for the first time in his career
BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
MAGIC EIGHT BALL: The O’s beat the Marlins yesterday, 5-4, to complete the three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to a season-long eight games…Swept Miami in a series of any length for the first time since the teams first met in 1997…Have swept back-to-back series for the first time since July 4-6 vs. Texas (3 G) and July 7-10 vs. Los Angeles-AL (4 G) last season…Started the game with two doubles and a home run, the first time the Orioles had three straight extra-base-hits to open a game since May 10, 2018 against Kansas City (2-2B, HR).
Kyle Bradish earned his sixth win of the season after pitching 7.1 scoreless innings with three hits, one walk, eight strikeouts, and one hit batter; marked the longest outing by an O’s starter since Dean Kremer’s shutout on September 23, 2022 vs. Houston.
Anthony Santander launched a two-run home run in the first inning for his 100th career homer and 17th of the season; he is the 29th player to hit 100 homers in an O’s uniform (since 1954).
Adley Rutschman tallied his 50th career double in the first inning, becoming the second-fastest Oriole by appearances (202 G) to reach 50 career doubles in team history behind Manny Machado (166 G).
Danny Coulombe allowed one run on two hits in 0.2 inning to secure his first save in his 233rd career appearance.
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won eight games in a row since July 5, the longest active streak in the majors and Baltimore’s longest since a 10-gamer from July 3-13, 2022… They have outscored their opponents, 60-20, during the streak for a +40 run differential; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Orioles won eight straight games with a run differential of at least +40 within one season was in from August 24-31, 1983 (+45)…At 57-35 (.620), the Orioles have the second-best record in the AL and third-best in MLB and are one of only three teams with a .600 winning percentage (see box at right)…The Birds are 119-84 (.586) since the beginning of June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best in MLB during that time.
The current stretch marks the second winning streak of at least seven games for the Orioles this year, joining a seven-gamer from April 16-24; Atlanta (4x) and Tampa Bay (2x) are the only other teams with multiple win streaks of at least seven games this season.
Marks the third winning streak of at least seven games for the O’s since last season; the Birds had four such streaks in the previous 16 seasons from 2006-21.
On Friday, the O’s moved to 20 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2014 season (96-66) and for the first time before August since 1997.
Entering play today, the O’s are 1.0 game back of the Rays (60-36) for first place in the AL East.
COMEBACK KIDS: Baltimore’s 33 comeback wins rank tied with the Cincinnati for the most in MLB this year, and their 69 come-from-behind victories since the start of 2022 are tied with Los Angeles-NL for the most in MLB.
HOME COOKING: The O’s are 29-18 (.617) at Oriole Park this season and have the third-best home record in the AL and sixth-best in MLB…The Birds have won four straight at Camden Yards after dropping four in a row from June 27 to July 1…After completing a three-game sweep of the Marlins over the weekend, the Orioles will close out the current six-game homestand with a three-game set against the Dodgers through Wednesday.
AGAINST THE DODGERS: The Orioles and Dodgers are meeting for the only time in the regular season this week…Have not faced the Dodgers since a 1-2 series loss in Baltimore from September 10-12, 2019…The current series marks the fourth between the two teams at Oriole Park.
The teams did not meet in the regular season until 2002, but the O’s swept the Dodgers in four games to win the 1966 Fall Classic, their first World Series title.
At the age of 20, Jim Palmer beat Sandy Koufax in Game 2 to become the youngest pitcher to ever throw a shutout in the World Series.
Frank Robinson, who also won the Triple Crown in 1966, was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
PITCH PERFECT: O’s starting pitchers have a 2.43 ERA (20 ER/74.0 IP) with 54 hits (6 HR), 21 total runs, 21 walks, four hit batters, and 67 strikeouts in 12 games This month, including nine quality starts…Baltimore’s 2.43 starter ERA in July is the best in the AL and second in MLB behind San Diego (2.25)…Overall, Baltimore’s 2.86 ERA (34 ER/107.0 IP) in July is the second-best in MLB this month (see box at right).
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Baltimore is batting .297/.371/.528 (85-for-286) with 18 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 60 runs scored, and 31 walks as a team in the last seven games since July 5…During that time, the Orioles lead MLB in runs scored, rank second in extra-base hits (35), batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS (.899), tied for second in home runs, and third in hits…In the previous five games from June 30 to July 4, the O’s slashed .198/.261/.290 (32-for-162) and scored an MLB-low 10 runs.
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander has hit safely in eight straight games while slashing .367/.472/.767 (11-for-30) with three doubles, three homers, six runs scored, seven RBI, four walks, and two hit-by-pitches since July 5…His current streak is his second-longest of the season behind a nine-gamer from May 2-10…He’s also been on base in 13 straight games, longest active stretch by an Oriole, while reaching at a .446 clip since June 30.
Has two multi-homer games this year and his 12 career multi-homer games are tied for ninth-most in O’s history (since 1954).
Santander is batting .299/.369/.557 (73-for-244) with 16 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 39 runs scored, 43 RBI, 23 walks, four hit-by-pitches, and three stolen bases since the beginning of May; during that time, he ranks among AL leaders in slugging (4th), total bases (4th, 136), homers (5th), extra-base hits (5th, 32), OPS (5th, .926), hits (T-9th), and RBI (T-9th).
Leads MLB switch hitters with 50 home runs since the start of last season.
ROSTER MOVES: The Orioles today recalled right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez from Triple-A Norfolk…He will start tonight’s game…In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Eduard Bazardo was optioned to the Tides after yesterday’s game.
STARTING PITCHER – #30 GRAYSON RODIRGUEZ THP
QUICK HITS: Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk prior to tonight’s game, his second stint with the O’s…Slated to make his 11th start of the season, sixth at home, and first career start against the Dodgers tonight…Will be his first start since May 26 vs. Texas…Worked 5.0 shutout innings on April 23 vs. Detroit and April 29 (G2) at Detroit to become the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to toss 5.0-ormore scoreless innings in back-to-back games since Dave Ford (21-259) from September 2-14, 1978, and the youngest O’s starter to accomplish the feat since Jack Fisher (21-188) did so in three straight starts from August 29 to September 8, 1960…Made his MLB debut on April 5 at Texas, becoming the first Oriole to make his debut this season…Thirteen players (7 pitchers) made their debut for the O’s in 2022…Also became the first O’s pitcher to start his Major League debut since DL Hall on August 13, 2022, and the youngest O’s pitcher (23-140) to start his debut since Kevin Gausman (22-137) on May 23, 2013 at Toronto…Had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022…Originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
LAST TIME OUT: Dealt his second loss of the season in his last start on May 26 vs. Texas…Allowed a season-high nine runs (8 ER) on six hits (3 HR) with three walks and six punchouts in 3.1 innings…Tied his season highs in earned runs (also: 5/15 vs. LAA) and home runs (also: 5/4 at KC)…Also tied for his shortest start of the season (also: 5/15 vs. LAA)…Threw 83 pitches, 49 strikes.
AGAINST THE DODGERS/NL WEST: Making his first career start against the Dodgers and the NL West tonight…Will also be his first Interleague assignment.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: Making his sixth home start of the 2023 campaign tonight…Owns a 1-2 record with a 9.55 ERA (23 ER/21.2 IP) through his first five assignments at Oriole Park this season…Earned his first career home win on May 9 vs. Tampa Bay.
HIGH TIDE: Since being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 27, Rodriguez has made seven starts for the Tides, pitching to a 4-0 record with a 1.69 ERA (7 ER/37.1 IP) and five quality starts in those games…His 54 punchouts in that span are the most in the International League…Was named International League Pitcher of the Month for June, going 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) in five starts during the month…His 39 strikeouts in June led the International League, while his four victories were tied for the most…Did not factor into the decision in his last Triple-A start on July 9 at Durham…Worked 3.0 scoreless innings on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts…Threw 56 pitches, 37 strikes… Tossed a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts (also: 7/18/21 [G1] at ERI w/BOW) on July 4 at Durham…Made 14 starts for the Tides in 2022, going 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA (17 ER/69.2 IP) and 97 strikeouts…Named International League Pitcher of the Month for May 2022, going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA (8 ER/32.0 IP) and 48 strikeouts in six starts…Left his start on June 1 vs. Jacksonville with a strained right lat muscle…At the time of his injury, he led the International League in starts (11), ERA (2.09), innings pitched (56.0), batting average against (.168), WHIP (0.84), and strikeouts (80).
PACKING A PUNCH: Rodriguez’s 56 strikeouts through his first 10 career Major League starts are the most by an O’s hurler in his first 10 games in franchise history (since 1954)…Recorded a career-high nine punchouts on April 29 (G2) at Detroit, becoming the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to record nine-or-more strikeouts in a start since John Parrish (22-241) also fanned nine batters on July 24, 2000 vs. New York-AL.
