TAMPA BAY NOTES:
DOWN TO THE WIRE — Tampa Bay fell to Texas in walk-off fashion to open a three-game set…LF Randy Arozarena (0-for-3, RBI) gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the opening frame with a sacrifice fly and DH Josh Lowe (2-for-3, HR, RBI, SB) added a solo homer in the second inning…Tampa Bay, however, was held scoreless the remainder of the game…LHP Shane McClanahan did not factor into the decision after tossing 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts…RHP Pete Fairbanks (0.2IP, 1H, 1ER, 1SO) allowed a lead-off double in the ninth inning with the score knotted, 2-2…after striking out a batter and inducing a 4-3 putout that advanced the runner to third base, Fairbanks threw a wild pitch, allowing the winning run to score.
It marked the fourth time in franchise history the Rays lost on a walk-off wild pitch and the first since an errant pitch from J.P. Howell led to a 3-2 defeat on 8/26/09 at Toronto.
RIDIN’ ON THE RALE-ROAD — Luke Raley has hit safely in nine straight road games, batting .406 (13-for-32) with three doubles, two homers, 10 RBI and four multi-hit games in that span…it is tied with Josh Lowe (9G: 4/3-29) for the second-longest such streak by a Ray this season, trailing only an 11-game run by Yandy Díaz from 4/18-5/14.
The only longer active streaks in the majors belong to HOU Kyle Tucker (14G), NYY Jake Bauers (10G), LAA Mickey Moniak (10G), CLE Josh Naylor (10G) and LAA Taylor Ward (10G)…overall, Raley has reached base safely in 13 straight road games and recorded a hit in 15 of his last 17 since 6/4.
Raley has reached base safely in 40 of his last 45 starts overall since 5/6, slashing .309/.393/.572 (47-for-152) with 12 doubles, two triples, 23 RBI and 10 steals…his .957 OPS in that timeframe ranks fifth in the AL (min. 175PA).
ROLLING AGAINST THE RANGERS — In 25 career games against Texas, Yandy Díaz is slashing .367/.436/.478 (33-for-90) with five doubles, one triple, one HR, 7 RBI and 10 walks…min. 80 AB, his .367 AVG against the Rangers is third highest among all active players, trailing NYM Starling Marte (.391) and DET Miguel Cabrera (.381).
In 11 career matchups with the Rangers, Isaac Paredes is 10-for-29 (.345) with five doubles, 2 HR and 10 RBI.
Jose Siri is hitting .315 (17-for-54) with 3 HR and 8 RBI in 16 games against the Rangers…Siri had a career-high four hits at Texas on 9/13/21.
HOLDING IT DOWN — RHP Kevin Kelly has thrown 20.1 scoreless innings spanning 21 appearances since 5/14, holding opponents to an .092 (6-for-65) batting average…it
marks the second-longest streak by a rookie in club history, behind Álex Torres (25.0IP, 9/24/11-6/22/13)…Kelly has begun his career with 41.2 homerless innings, the second-longest such streak by a Rays rookie behind Torres (42.2IP).
LHP Jake Diekman has allowed just one earned run over his last 15.1 innings since 5/26, striking out 24 hitters while limiting opponents to an .096 (5-for-52) average during that span.
In 17 appearances since 5/31, LHP Colin Poche is 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA (16.1IP, 3ER) while holding opposing batters to a .132 (7-for-53) average.
RHP Jason Adam owns a 1.86 ERA (19.1IP, 4ER) with five saves while posting a .141 (9-for-64) opponent average over his last 19 appearances since 5/26.
SIRI-OUS POWER — Since 5/1, Jose Siri has recorded 16 home runs in 49 games…the 16 long balls in that timeframe are tied with TEX Adolis García (67G) for third most in the AL, trailing LAA Shohei Ohtani (28HR, 65G) and CWS Luis Robert Jr. (22HR, 64G)…over that stretch, 44.4 pct. (16HR, 36H) of his hits have been homers.
According to Baseball Savant, Siri’s 16.8 pct. barrel rate ranks in the 95th percentile of all major league batters.
CRUNCH TIME — Tampa Bay is batting .287 with runners in scoring position, the second-highest mark in the majors behind tonight’s opponent, the Texas Rangers (.299)…the Rays are also batting .281 with RISP/2 outs, the second-highest such average in the majors behind Houston (.283).
Josh Lowe is hitting .438 (14-for-32) with five doubles and 20 RBI with RISP/2 outs…his .438 AVG in such situations is the second-highest mark in the majors (min. 30AB), trailing only TEX Jonah Heim (.500).
Luke Raley is batting .500 (7-for-14) with one double, one HR and 10 RBI with runners in scoring position since 6/24.
BEST OF THE BEST — Tampa Bay is 33-25 (.569) against teams currently at or above .500, tied with Baltimore for the best mark in the AL and trailing only Atlanta (33-18, .647) in all of MLB.
Despite owning the best overall record in the AL, Tampa Bay has seen its lead in the AL East diminish to 1.0 game over Baltimore…Tampa Bay is 13-17 over its last
30 games while Baltimore has gone 18-12 in its last 30.
BRILLIANCE ON THE BASEPATHS — The Rays pace MLB with 114 stolen bases…it marks the third-most steals through 97 games in club history, behind the 2009 (140SB) and 2010 (120SB) squads.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best three players with 20+ steals, including Wander Franco (28), Josh Lowe (20) and Taylor Walls (20)…Arizona is the only other club in the majors with multiple players having 20+ steals (Corbin Carroll – 28 and Jake McCarthy – 20).
Tampa Bay is tied with Atlanta for the major league lead with a 49.0 pct. extra-base taken percentage, which is defined as the percent of times a runner advances more than one base on a single or more than two bases on a double, when possible.
Rays baserunners have gone from first to third on singles an AL-leading 57 times, fourth most in MLB behind Atlanta (65), Colorado (63) and Cincinnati (58)…they have scored from first base on doubles 27 times, tied for second most behind Texas (33).
TEXAS TWO-STEP — Tampa Bay and Texas continue a three-game set tonight in Arlington…the Rays took two of three from the Rangers from 6/9-11 at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay and Texas split a four-games series last season at Globe Life Field from 5/30-6/2.
Tampa Bay played at Globe Life Field during the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, ultimately falling in six games.
The Rays won a franchise-best five straight games at Texas from 5/31/17-9/10- 19, and dropped a franchise-worst six consecutive contests at Texas from 8/4/05- 4/10/07.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP TAJ BRADLEY (5-5, 5.43)
TONIGHT’S START — The 22-year-old rookie makes his first start of the second half this evening at Globe Life Field, including his 13th of the season and eighth on the road…since recording his first career quality start on 6/21 vs. Baltimore, he has gone 0-2 with an 11.68 ERA (12.1IP, 16ER) and a .379/.413/.793 (22-for-58) opponent slash line over his last three starts — the Rays are 0-3 in those games…ranks among MLB’s rookie leaders (min. 50.0IP) in SO rate (2nd, 29.7%), SO/BB ratio (2nd, 4.21) and strikeouts (3rd, 80).
LAST TIME OUT — Suffered his fifth loss of the campaign in Tampa Bay’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of Atlanta on 7/8 at Tropicana Field (5.0IP, 5H, 4ER, 2BB, 4SO, HR)…retired each of the first nine batters he faced, but all four of his runs allowed came in the fourth inning after a Matt Olson RBI-single and a three-run homer by Sean Murphy…completed the fifth inning unscathed to conclude his outing…tossed a career-high 93 pitches (62 strikes) in the setback.
RANGER DANGER — Bradley will be making his second career start against the Rangers after taking the loss and issuing a career-high four walks on 6/10 at Tropicana Field (3.2IP, 4H, 5R, 4ER, 4BB, 4SO)…has struggled against the AL West, pitching to a 1-1 mark with a 7.71 ERA (16.1IP, 14ER) and 1.78 WHIP in four starts against the division.
ROAD WOES — After going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (21.0IP, 4ER), 1.05 WHIP and .200 (15-for-75) opp. average over his first four career road starts from 4/18-6/4, he is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA (11.2IP, 14ER), 2.23 WHIP and .375 (21- for-56) opp. average in his last three road starts since 6/15…his 1.71 road ERA from 4/18-6/4 was fourth best among major league starters (min. 4GS), but his 10.80 mark since 6/15 is second worst, ahead of only HOU Cristian Javier’s 11.48 ERA (min. 3GS).
YOUNG BLOOD — Bradley, 22, is the fourth pitcher in Rays history (5th instance) to make 10+ starts in his age 22 or younger season, joining Luis Patiño (2021), Scott Kazmir (2005-06) and Joe Kennedy (2001)…there is only one pitcher in the majors younger than Bradley who has made 10+ starts in 2023: 20-year-old MIA Eury Pérez (11GS).
Bradley is the fourth-youngest pitcher to appear in a major league game this season, older than only Pérez, ATL AJ Smith-Shawver (20) and ARI Justin Martínez (21).
STRIKEOUT SAVANT — Despite recording only nine strikeouts over his last three starts, Bradley’s 80 punchouts are the third most through a pitcher’s first 13 starts with the Rays in franchise history, trailing Charlie Morton (91SO: 3/29-6/5, 2019) and Matt Moore (82SO: 9/22/11-6/9/12).
Since his MLB debut on 4/12, Bradley’s 29.7 pct. strikeout rate is third highest among AL starters (min. 10GS), behind TOR Kevin Gausman (33.2%) and LAA Shohei Ohtani (32.2%)…however, after posting a 34.5 pct. strikeout rate in his first 10 career starts, he has turned in a 14.3 pct. mark over his last three outings since 6/27.
On 6/15 at Oakland, Bradley recorded each of his first nine outs via the strikeout…his 11 punchouts on the day were tied with six other pitchers for the second most by a Rays rookie in club history, trailing only Dan Wheeler (12SO) on 9/12/99 vs. OAK …the last Tampa Bay rookie to record 11+ K’s was Jake Odorizzi (11SO) on 5/9/14.
TROUBLE WITH THE LONG BALL — Bradley permitted only four homers in his first nine career starts from 4/12-6/15 — his 0.84 HR/9.0 IP in that span was 12th lowest in the AL (min. 40.0IP)…over his last four starts since 6/21, he has yielded eight homers, good for 3.44 HR/9.0 IP, the highest mark in the AL in that span (min. 15.0IP), trailing only COL Chase Anderson (3.52) among all major league pitchers.
ABOVE THE CURVE — Bradley has held opponents to a .146 (6-for-38) average and a .263 slugging pct. on his curveball…he has allowed just two extra-base hits on the pitch (2B, HR)…marks the second-lowest opp. AVG on any AL starter’s curve (min. 40AB ending with curve) behind Tyler Glasnow (.120), and the fourth-lowest opp. SLG under the same parameters.
THIS AND THAT — He has held opponents to a .172 (5-for-29) batting average in full counts and has struck out 50.6 pct. (80 of 158) of batters after reaching two strikes…opposing 6-9 hitters are batting .193 (17-for-90) with 3 HR against him compared to .316 (49-for-145) with 8 HR vs. the first five spots in the order…opponents are slashing .243/.316/.437 against him the first time through the order and .289/.322/.500 thereafter.
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas took the series opener from the Rays yesterday, 3-2, as club now owns a 4-0 record to begin this 9-G, 10-day homestand against CLE (3-0), TB 1-0 + 2G) and LAD (3 G), with an off day on Thursday…Texas is the lone club in MLB to win 4 games since the All-Star Break, and one of 4 teams that are undefeated since the beginning of the 2nd “half” (3-0; MIL/SF/TOR)…team has won 4 straight games for 1st time since since season-best 5-game winning streak from 6/2-6 (5-0), and is 5-2 in last 7 G…club is still 6-6 in last 12 G and 7-8 in last 15 G…team is 16-19 (.457) beg. 6/7, 6th-lowest win pct. in the A.L. and 10th-lowest in MLB…
this stretch came after club reached season high point at 20- over on 6/6 (40-20)…team’s 42-28 (.600) record since 4/28 is still tops in A.L. and 4th-best in MLB…TEX is 46-33 in last 79 G and 51-35 last 86 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 56-39 (.589), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in the A.L. (TB: .619, 60-37; BAL: .613, 57-36) and 4th-best in MLB…56 wins rank 3rd in A.L. and 4th-most in MLB (61-ATL, 60-TB, 57-BAL, 56-TEX).
- The 56-39 mark is the 2nd-best 95-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
WITH A WIN TONIGHT, Texas would:
- Reach a season high-tying 5 game winning streak for the 2nd time this season (also 6/2-6).
- Go 5-0 to open the 2nd “half” for the 1st time since 2011, which would be T2nd-longest post-break win streak in TEX history (6-1977, 5-2011, 4-2023).
- Improve to 57-39 in 2023, tied for the best 96-G start in WSH/TEX franchise history (57-39 in 2012).
- Be assured of at least a season series split against TB (currently 2-2 with 2 G left between both clubs).
STANDINGS: TEX owns a 3.5-game lead in A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU for the 1st time since 7/2 (4.0 GA)…current division lead is the largest in A.L. and 2nd in MLB (ATL is 10.0 GA of MIA)…TEX has owned a lead of 2.0+ G in the West for 56 consecutive days beg. 5/23, as last smaller lead was thru 5/22 (+1.0 GA)…season-best 6.5-G lead in West after win 6/23 at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 73 straight, 80 of 81, and 93 of the last 95 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 109 of the season’s first 110 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: Texas secured a series sweep over Cleveland (3-0) over the weekend, the club’s 5th time to win all games of a series in ’23 (1st since 3-0 from 6/2-4 vs. SEA)… the series win vs. CLE ended span in which club had gone 0-3-0 in last 3 series and 0-4-1 in prev. 5…longest drought since 0-6-3 span from 8/23-9/18/22…team is now 3-6-1 in last 10 series following a stretch of 6 straight series victories from 5/19-6/7, longest span for team since club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16…club is 18-10-2 overall in series this year, going 9-4-2 at home and 9-6-0 on the road…is 14-7-2 in last 23 series and 17-8-2 in last 26… TEX has gone 8-3-2 in last 13 series at GLF.
VS. TAMPA BAY: Texas and Tampa Bay are 2-2 against each other this season (1-2 at TB; 1-0 + 2 G vs. TB)…clubs were MLB’s top 2 teams (by winning pct.) when they met from 6/9- 11 at The Trop…while both teams continue to hold division leads, they now have the 2nd (TB) and 4th (TEX) best records in the Majors entering today’s games…both clubs own the highest (+160, TEX) and 2nd-highest (+151, TB) run differentials in MLB…TEX has lost 6 of 9, 9 of 18, and 12 of last 23 G vs. TB, and is 4-4 vs. Rays all-time at GLF (beg. 2020).
AT HOME: TEX is 31-18 (.633) at home, 4th-best home record in MLB: TB (.700, 35-15), ATL (.646, 31-17), LAD (.644, 29-16)…marks TEX’s best 49-G start at home since 2019 (31-18)…club has won 4 straight at home, but has a 9-11 mark in Arlington beg. 6/7…has still won 18 of 28, 19 of 30, 23 of 36, and 28 of last 45 at GLF (beg. 4/5)…TEX owns a 117-124 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 37-25 last 62 G beg. 9/11/22.
- TEX leads MLB in R (307) and R/G (6.27) at home in 2023, and has scored 31 more runs at home than 2nd-place TB (276) despite playing 1 fewer home game.
WALK IT OFF: The Rangers secured their 3rd walk-off win of the season last night after a Pete Fairbanks wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Josh Smith to score the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning (also Nathaniel Lowe RBI single on 6/5 vs. STL and Jonah Heim 3-R HR on 4/11 vs. KC)…it is the 1st walk-off win for TEX on a wild pitch since 3/31/19 vs. CHC (Joey Gallo scored)…the Rangers improved to a 3-4 record in walk-off games this season.
TEXAS HEAT: Aroldis Chapman yesterday notched his 1st win as a Ranger (now 5-2 in ’23) after throwing a scoreless 9th inning and striking out all 3 batters faced…after tossing two 102.8 mph sinkers, he twice broke his own record (previously 102.5 mph on 7/15 vs. CLE) for highest pitch velocity by a Ranger in the Statcast ERA (since 2015)…since joining the Rangers on 6/30 via trade w/ KC, Chapman has recorded 5 pitches that have surpassed the previous TEX record held
by Emmanuel Clase (101.8 mph on 9/14/19 vs. OAK).
- In 6 relief app. with TEX, Chapman has recorded 6.0 SHO IP and 10 SO against 0 BB, while only allowing 2 hits.
ZEKE FREAK: Ezequiel Duran launched his career high 13th HR of the season last night, a 418 ft. blast that tied the game at 2-2…up to that point, TB starter Shane McClanahan had retired 14 of 16 TEX batters faced…Duran’s 10 HR at Globe Life Field this season are T2nd with Jonah Heim by a Ranger, while they also rank T7th in the A.L. for homers by a player at home.
TWO PIECE: After Robbie Grossman and Josh Jung both doubled last night, the Rangers have now recorded at least one 2B in a season-high 25 straight games (beg. 6/18)…it is T4th-longest doubles streak in WSH/TEX franchise history, and club’s longest since a 27-G run from 4/7-5/7/15… the longest doubles streak in WSH/TEX history? 34 G from 6/19-7/26/96.
WE MEET AGAIN: Tonight’s pitching matchup features a rematch between starters Nathan Eovaldi and Taj Bradley, as both pitchers faced off on 6/10 in the 2nd game of a 3 G set in Tampa Bay…Eovaldi got the best of that first encounter, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing 4 R-ER on 7 hits for the last of his 8 consecutive wins this season from 4/18-6/10, while Bradley lasted 3.2 innings and allowed 5 R-4 ER on 4 hits.
- Eovaldi, who will be making his 1st start of the 2nd “half” tonight, tossed a scoreless 2nd inning for the A.L. in the All-Star Game…he enters today’s games ranked among A.L. pitchers in opp. OPS (1st, .620), opp. GIDP (1st, 16), wins (2nd, 10), innings (2nd, 117.2) and HR/9 (2nd, 0.61)…Eovaldi is 9-1 with a 2.29 ERA (26 ER/102.0 IP) over his last 15 starts (beg. 4/18), leading A.L. qualifiers in that span in innings and ERA.
LANGFORD SIGNS: The Texas Rangers today announced the signing of OF Wyatt Langford, the team’s 1st-round selection (4th overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft…the former University of Florida standout has been rated among the top prospects in baseball in mid-season rankings released by Baseball Prospectus (no. 5) and Baseball America (no. 11).
SHORTS: Texas is winless in last 4 series vs. TB (0-3-1), with last series win over Rays coming on 4/12-15/21 at TB (3-1)… TEX is batting .325 (26-80) w/ bases loaded in 2023.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (10-3, 2.83)
TONIGHT: The 33-year-old right-hander and former Ray (2018) is scheduled to make his team-leading 19th start of the season, 1st since the All-Star break, tonight in game 2 of this 3-G set vs. Tampa Bay…will work on extra 6 days’ rest after he logged a scoreless 2nd inn. for the A.L. in 2023 MLB All-Star Game last Tues. in Seattle, his 2nd career All-Star selection (also 2021 w/ BOS)…currently ranks among qualified A.L. pitchers in opp. OPS (1st, .620), opp. GIDP (1st, 16), wins (2nd, 10), innings (2nd, 117.2), HR/9 (2nd, 0.61), GIDP/9 (3rd, 1.22), GB pct. (3rd, 53.2), WHIP (4th, 1.02), H/9 (4th, 6.81), BR/9 (4th, 9.41), opp. BA (5th, .213), ERA (5th, 2.83), FIP (5th, 3.18)…is 9-1, 2.29 ERA (26 ER/102.0 IP) over his last 15 starts (beg. 4/18), leading A.L. qualifiers in that span in innings, ERA, opp. OPS (.574), and ranking 2nd in wins (10-BAL’s Dean Kremer)…remains the only MLB pitcher with multiple CG in 2023, and his 2 CG’s this season are the most by a Ranger since Mike Minor in 2019 (also 2)…Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…was an All-Star with the Red Sox in 2021 and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting…his Red Sox stint also included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run…has pitched for 6 teams in his career: LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)…joins Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues…TEX is 10-8 in Eovaldi’s 18 starts in ’23, winning 5 of 9 and 8 of last 13.
NASTY NATE: Has gone 10-3, 2.83 ERA in 18 starts this season…joined Lance Lynn as 2nd TEX pitcher since ’13 with 10+ wins prior to All-Star break (Lynn was 11-4 in ’19).
- Has 109 strikeouts and just 31 walks in 2023 (3.52 SO/BB figure ranks 13th among A.L. qualifiers), becoming the 3rd pitcher in Washington/Texas franchise history w/ 109+ K’s and 31-or-fewer BB in his first 18 starts with the club (also: Lance Lynn in 2019 – 123 SO, 26 BB & Gaylord Perry in 1975 – 115 SO, 29 BB).
- Remains the only MLB pitcher with multiple complete games in 2023, and his 2 CG’s this season are already the most by a Ranger since Mike Minor in 2019 (also 2).
- Over last 15 starts (beg. 4/18): 9-1, 2.29 ERA (26 ER/102.0 IP), 90 SO/28 BB, .193 opp. BA (68-387)…became the first TEX pitcher to amass 9+ wins and post an ERA of 2.29-or-lower over a 15-start span since Cole Hamels from 6/7-8/25/16 (9-3, 2.17 ERA)
- Ranks 2nd in A.L./7th in MLB with 117.2 IP, the most frames covered by a Ranger in his first 18 GS of a season since Yu Darvish in ’14 (122.0 IP)…has 5.0+ IP in all 18 starts, the most consecutive outings of at least 5.0 innings by a Ranger to open a season since Darvish in 2013 (club record-tying 32 straight).
LAST START: Made his final start of the 1st “half” in Texas’ 10-6 defeat on 7/6 at BOS (ND, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R-ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, 96 pitches/54 strikes)…exited with one out in the 6th and the Rangers leading, 5-4, but was removed from the ledger after Red Sox rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th…issued season high-tying 4 walks (2x) for a 2nd straight start (also 4 BB on 7/1 vs. HOU).
VS. TAMPA BAY: Tonight’s outing will be Eovaldi’s 2nd start against the Rays this season, as he earned the win in Texas’ 8-4 victory on 6/10 at Tropicana Field (W, 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R-ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1 HR)…outdueled tonight’s scheduled Tampa Bay starter RHP Taj Bradley (L, 3.2 IP, 5 R-4 ER) in that outing…all 4 runs allowed came in 4th inning, which included a 3-run HR by Francisco Mejía…Eovaldi owns a lifetime 6-6 record and 4.17 ERA (38 ER/82.0 IP) in 16 games/14 starts vs. Tampa Bay.
- He went 3-4, 4.26 ERA (27 ER/57.0 IP) in 10 G/GS for the Rays in 2018 prior to being traded to Boston on 7/25/18 in exchange for LHP Jalen Beeks.
AT HOME: Has seen slightly better results in 11 starts on the road (6-1, 2.76 ERA) than in 7 starts at Globe Life Field (4-2, 2.93 ERA) this season…opponents are batting .200/.256/.369/.625 (32-160) w/ 5 HR in Arlington vs. .221/.280/.337/.617 (57-258) w/ 3 HR on the road…tossed 1st 9-inn. CG SHO of career on 4/29 vs. NYY (9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO), 1st CG SHO by a Ranger since Martín Pérez on 5/20/22 at HOU (9.0 SHO IP), and the 1st CG SHO ever thrown by a TEX pitcher at Globe Life Field.
STREAKING: Posted career-best 29.2-inning scoreless streak from 4/24-5/17, the longest scoreless streak in MLB this season and T5th-longest in Rangers history: 39.0-Kenny Rogers, 5/6-6/1/95; 36.0-Charlie Hough, 8/23-9/14/83; 33.1-Yovani Gallardo, 6/10-7/7/15; 31.0-Rogers, 4/27-5/20/05; 29.2-Eovaldi, 4/24-5/17/23/Jeff Zimmerman, 5/25-8/2/99…marked the longest scoreless streak in MLB since ARI’s Zac Gallen had 44.1 SHO IP from 8/8-9/11/22.
- Recorded 8.0+ SHO IP in 3 straight starts from 4/29-5/6, becoming just the 3rd pitcher in TEX history with 3 consecutive outings of at least 8.0 scoreless innings: Martín Pérez (3, 4/13-23/14) and Charlie Hough (3, 8/28-9/7/83)…Eovaldi also struck out 25 batters while issuing just 3 walks over that stretch, just the 6th pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to have a 3-start span with 25.0+ SHO IP, 25+ SO, and 3-or-fewer walks (credit: STATS)…he was the first MLB pitcher to pull the trick since LAD’s Clayton Kershaw from 7/8-23/15 (26.0 SHO IP, 38 SO, 0 BB), and joined WSH’s Walter Johnson (27.0 SHO IP, 25 SO, 3 BB from 4/19-30/1913) as the only A.L. pitchers to ever do it.
2023: Opponents have batted .213/.271/.349/.620 (89-418) with 36 extra-base hits (8 HR, 5 3B, 23 2B), incl. a .202 opp. BA vs. LHB and .223 vs. RHB…has thrown an avg. of 96.4 pitches per outing (7th in A.L.), and has accounted for 6 of 12 G w/ 100+ pitches by TEX starters in ‘23 (6-Eovaldi, 2-Gray, 2-Pérez, 1-Dunning, 1-Heaney)…6.88 run support average is 3rd-highest among A.L. qualifiers.
