PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #96 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-0, at CBP in South Philly … Starter Taijuan Walker (L, 11-4) went 6.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts … Walker pitched into the 7th inning and made one mistake to Chrisitan Yellich who hit a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning … Offensively, the Phillies had 2 hits and 2 walks as Brewers starter Corbin Burnes tossed 8.0 scoreless innings.
AMERICA’S TEAM: The Phillies have won 12 straight games against the American League (since 5/7: 1 G vs BOS, 2 G vs TOR, 3 G vs DET, 3 G at OAK and 3 G at TB) … Philadelphia’s current 12-game Interleague winning streak is tied for the second-longest in major league history (13 G is the record) and is the longest since 2017 when the Dodgers won 13 straight against the AL …The Phillies are only the eighth team with a 12+ game Interleague winning streak in MLB history: NYY, 13 G (6/12/03-6/10/04); TB, 13 G (6/9-26/04); MIA, 13 G (8/13/13-6/10/14); LAD, 13 G (6/29-8/19/17), MIN, 12 G (6/22/06-5/19/07); BOS, 12 G (6/16-29/06); STL, 12 G (6/13/04-5/21/05) … It is also the longest Interleague winning streak in franchise history (previous was 5 G, 2x: 6/21-29/03 and 9/1/97-6/6/98) … At the All Star Game last Tuesday in Seattle, Rob Thomson and his coaching staff were joined by Nick Castellanos and Craig Kimbrel on the National League team – the NL’s win was their first over the American League since 2012 – in fact, the NL had been just 4-21-1 against the AL since 1996 … Thomson became the first Canadian to ever manage an All Star Game – Castellanos went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored on Elias Diaz’s game-winning pinch-hit home run in the 8th as he played center field for the first time in his career – Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th and picked up his first career save in an All Star Game (9th career selection).
ROAD WORK: On June 3, the Phillies woke up in Washington D.C. with an 11-22 record at that point on the road this year – since then, they have won 15 of their last 18 games away from CBP which included a franchise record-tying 13-game road winning streak from June 13-July 7 (other 13 G streak was 4/7-6/2/76) … At 26-25 away from home this year, the Phillies rank 13th in MLB with a .510 winning percentage on the road (7th in the NL), but since June 3, their .833 winning percentage ranks 1st in MLB (next: CIN, 15-4, .789 win %).
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies opened this season on the road and went 1-5 in six games through TEX (0-3) and NYY (1-2) … Since then (4/7-current), they are 51-39 with a .567 winning percentage that is T-6th in MLB (with HOU & ARI) and trails only ATL (.636), BAL (.622), TEX (.593), TB (.574) and LAD (.568) … Since June 3, they have gone 27-12 and their .692 winning percentage in that span ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (29-9, .763).
THE VIBES ARE BACK: This season, the Phillies were seven games under .500 at 25-32 (.439 win %) when they entered play on June 3, which was also the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as Phillies manager … Since then, they have gone 27-12 (.692 win %) with a +53-run differential (196-143) and enter tonight eight games over .500 at 52-44 … When Thomson took over last year on June 3, the Phillies were also seven games under .500 at 22-29 (.431 win %), and in their first 39 games with him as manager (6/3-7/15/22), they went 25-14 (.641 win %) with a +47-run differential (187-140) … Since Thomson was hired on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 117-90 and their .565 winning percentage ranks 5th in MLB, behind only ATL (.673), LAD (.641), HOU (.611) and BAL (.585).
FOURMULA FOR SUCCESS: When scoring at least four runs, the Phillies have won six straight (since 7/5), 15 of 16 (since 6/13) and 20 of 22 (since 6/3) … Overall this year, the Phillies are 39-12 when they score at least four (.765 win %) and 13-32 when held to three or fewer (.289 win %).
A CASE FOR COOPERSTOWN: Phils reliever Craig Kimbrel, the reigning NL Reliever of the Month for June, was selected as an All-Star for the 9th time in 2023 and picked up his first career save in an ASG … Kimbrel is only the 13th pitcher in MLB history with 9+ career selections to the ASG – of those 13 players, 9 are enshrined in Cooperstown: Warren Spahn (14 ASG), Mariano Rivera (13 ASG), Tom Seaver (12 ASG), Tom Glavine (10 ASG), Randy Johnson (10 ASG), Steve Carlton (10 ASG), Goose Gossage (9 ASG), Juan Marichal (9 ASG) and Carl Hubbell (9 ASG) – the only four pitchers with nine+ ASG selections who are not in the HOF are Roger Clemens (11 ASG), Clayton Kershaw (10 ASG), Justin Verlander (9 ASG) and Kimbrel … Kimbrel currently ranks 8th in strikeouts as a reliever (1,158) since at least 1893 (chart to the right) and earlier this season he became only the 8th member of the 400 save club – he enters tonight’s game with 410 career saves (8th all time, Jansen 7th at 411) … Kimbrel is 16-for-16 in saves this season and the Phillies are 42-1 when leading after 8 innings (.977 win %) … He is currently riding a 16.0-inning scoreless streak (since 6/11), over which he has 23 strikeouts to 3 walks while holding the 57 batters he has faced to a .094/.158/.113 slash line.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – RANGER SUÁREZ • LHP #55
Height: 6-1 Weight: 217 Age: 27 (born: 8/26/95)
2023: 2-4, 3.84 ERA Career: 27-19, 3.24 ERA
LAST START: 7/15 vs SD: ND, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO, HR … Suárez vs Snell … In Game 1 of the doubleheader, the Phillies won 6-4 … Kyle Schwarber homered and had 2 RBI, Brandon Marsh went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and Johan Rojas made his major league debut with a spectacular catch in the 1st inning
TONIGHT’S START:
- Nice to Meet You: Suárez is making his first start against the AL Central and only his fourth appearance against the division … Coming into tonight, the AL Central was the only division Suárez hasn’t made a start against
- Road Warrior: Suárez has a 3.49 ERA (22 ER, 56.2 IP) in his last 10 road starts … Since the start of last season, Suárez’s 2.96 ERA on the road ranks 6th among NL pitchers and T-13th among ML pitchers with at least 100.0 IP … In 9 of his last 10 road starts, Suárez has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer
- Trouble With the Curve: Suárez has thrown his curveball 227 times in 68.0 IP this season after only throwing it 198 times in 155.1 IP last year … He is holding batters to a .152 average (7-46) with his curveball and has struck out 18 batters with a whiff rate of 34%
- Ground Level: Suárez’s ground ball % of 50.3% is 7th -highest among all National League pitchers with at least 60.0 IP and his ground ball/fly ball rate of 1.66 is 10th
- Pitch Usage: Sinker (29.3%), 4-Seam Fastball (20.8%), Curveball (20.3%), Changeup (17.4%), Cutter (11.6%), Slider (0.5%)
2023 SEASON:
- Recorded a 5-game streak with at least 6 IP and 1 or no runs (6/4-27) … It was the 10th time a Phillies Pitcher had done so and the first time since Cole Hamels in 2014 • Posted a 17-inning scoreless streak (6/9-20)
- Struck out at least 7 batters in a career-high four straight starts (6/9-27)
- Tied his career-high for strikeouts in a game (8) twice (6/9 & 6/27)
ROAD:
- 2023: 2-2, 2.39 ERA (10 ER, 37.2 IP) in 6 starts
- Career: 13-11, SV, 3.01 ERA (68 ER, 203.0 IP) in 63 games (27 starts)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:
GUARDS SQUANDER LEAD LATE, BUT WIN SERIES IN PITT
Following back-to-back lopsided victories over the Pirates on Monday (11-0) & Tuesday (10-1) nights, the Cleveland Guardians conceded the series finale to Pittsburgh by a 7-5 margin Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park…Cleveland has gone 9-5-1 over club’s last 15 series (26-21 record since May 26). » The Guardians held a 4-2 advantage before surrendering a 5-run rally to Pittsburgh in the bottom half of a pivotal 7th inning… after NICK SANDLIN issued a one-out walk while holding a 2-run lead, the Pirates jumped on SAM HENTGES for 3 hits and one additional walk in the midst of a controversial overturned replay call on a potential double play ball that would have ended the frame and kept the 4-2 score intact…instead, one run scored on the fielder’s choice to make it 4-3, while Ji Man Choi and Jared Triolo then both capitalized with a pair of 2-run singles to put Pittsburgh ahead, 7-4…JOSH BELL added a solo homer (11) in the 8th, but Cleveland ultimately did not recover…the Guardians grabbed a 1-0 lead on an ANDRÉS GIMÉNEZ RBI-single in the 4th…Cleveland hung 3 more tallies in the 5th on a 2-run 2B from AMED ROSARIO
and a Bell RBI-single…AARON CIVALE pitched into the 6th inning (5.1IP, 5H, 2R-ER, BB, 3SO, 88 pitches)…Civale gave up both runs and 4 of his 5 hits allowed – 3 singles/one 2B – in the 5th.
Cleveland (47-49) sits in 2nd place in the AL Central standings, 2.0 games behind 2nd-place Minnesota (50-48) and 3.0 games ahead of 3rd-place Detroit (-5.0G, 44-52)…the club entered the All-Star break in 1st place for just the fourth time across Terry Francona’s tenure (2013-23), as Cleveland also did so in 3 consecutive campaigns from 2016-18…Guardians have won 15 of 26, 22 of 39 and 25 of last 45, though have also dropped 43 of last 81 overall since starting the year 9-6.
THE GANG PLAYS SOME BASEBALL
The Guardians and Phillies meet this weekend for a 3-game series, the first meeting between the clubs since Cleveland took 2 of 3 from Philadelphia from September 20-22, 2019 at Progressive Field…the Phillies have won 4 of the last 6 matchups since 2016… Cleveland is 7-4 at home against Philly since the 2002 season…this is just the 8th series between these two squads…the Guardians are 8-11 all-time against Philadelphia.
This is the second consecutive Interleague series for the Clevelanders after taking 2 of 3 from Pittsburgh from Monday-Wednesday…the Guardians combined for 21 runs and a +20 run differential against the Pirates in the first 2 contests before dropping the final matchup 7-5…Cleveland is 6-9 at Progressive Field and 14-19 overall in Interleague play this season.
FOR MY STARTER DISH, I’LL TAKE A CHEESESTEAK
Cleveland’s starting pitching has had a strong start to the second half, holding opponents to 2-or-fewer earned runs in any of the rotation’s six outings…other than XZAVION CURRY’s spot start on Monday, each pitcher has thrown 5.0-or-more innings in their start.
The rotation’s 2.45 ERA (8ER/29.1IP) to start the second half currently ranks 2nd in the American League behind Texas (2.41 ERA) and 3rd in MLB…the club’s .200 opposing batting average during this stretch ranks 2nd in the AL behind New York-AL and 5th in MLB…Cleveland’s starters have allowed just 21 hits through 6 games, the lowest mark of any team in MLB…this solid stretch from the starting staff comes following a stretch of 6 games to close out the first half in which the rotation posted a 4.81 ERA (21ER/39.1IP).
THE CITY OF ROCK ‘N ROLL PLAYING THE HITS
Since June 1, Cleveland has out-hit their opponents in 29 games, 4 more than any other MLB team (Texas, 25)…the Guardians 20 wins in those 29 games are tied with Boston for most in the AL and trail only Atlanta (22)…however, Cleveland’s 9 losses when outhitting their opponents since June 1 are more than any other ML team, ahead of Houston and Los Angeles-AL (8).
The Guardians lead MLB with 24 double-digit hit games in 43 games since May 30, just ahead of Texas (22)…in Cleveland’s 53 games before May 30, the club had just 10 double-digit hit games… the club’s 431 hits since May 30 is just one hit behind Texas (432) for most in MLB during that stretch.
Cleveland is the only team with 4 players ranking in the top20 in hits since May 30, no other team has more than 2…JOSH NAYLOR (62) is T2nd with TEX’s Corey Seager, behind MIA’s Luis Arraez (66)…JOSÉ RAMÍREZ (52, T9th), AMED ROSARIO (50, T16th) and STEVEN KWAN (49, T18th) round out the foursome in the top 20.
WHO’S HOT TO START THE HALF
JOSH NAYLOR has not missed a beat to start the second half…since July 14, he’s hitting .381 (8-for-21) with 3 doubles, 4 home runs and 11 RBI…his 4 homers are T1st in MLB with 4 other players, and his 11 RBI ranks 3rd…he’s posted a 1.530 OPS during this stretch, 3rd in MLB…since May 30, Naylor leads MLB with a .395 batting average (62-for-157), 18 points better than MIA’s Luis Arraez (.377), who has the 2nd-highest average during that stretch…Naylor’s 43 RBI since May 30 also ranks T1st with Shohei Ohtani…he is currently the only MLB player with a .310-or-better batting average with 70+ RBI.
JOSH BELL has hit a home run in back-to-back games and is hitting .368 (7-for-19) in 6 games to start the second half…his 1.139 OPS is 2nd on the team during this stretch behind Naylor (1.530)…he’s 4-for-9 (.444) against left-handed pitching since July 14…seeking a homer in 3 straight games, done twice previously, last from June 16-17, 2022 while he was with Washington.
STEVEN KWAN has his safely in 5 of 6 games to start the second half, owning a .360 (9-for-25) batting average with 3 doubles, one home run and 4 RBI…MYLES STRAW is hitting at a .350 (7-for-20) clip with 2 doubles over his past 6 games.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – #63 GAVIN WILLIAMS RHP
WILLIAMS AT HOME, MLB
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023 1-1 5.60 3 3 17.2 19 11 11 6 13
Career 1-1 5.60 3 3 17.2 19 11 11 6 13
WILLIAMS’ MLB CAREER
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023 1-2 3.94 5 5 29.2 24 13 13 11 23
Career 1-2 3.94 5 5 29.2 24 13 13 11 23
TONIGHT’S START
The 6-6, 250-pound 23-year-old right-hander is making his sixth career start, fourth at home, in the opener of this 3-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies…Williams is the organization’s #1 prospect, MLB’s #5 pitching prospect and the #13 prospect overall (MLB.com)…he was selected in the first round, #23 overall, out of East Carolina University by Cleveland in the 2021 MLB Draft… became the 7th different rookie to make their Major League debut for the Guardians this season…is starting on 5 days’ rest for the third time in his career…is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA (4ER/13.1IP) on 5 days’ rest.
LAST TIME OUT
Williams last appeared on July 15 at Texas and was charged with his second career loss…he allowed 2 runs (earned) on 4 hits over 5.0 innings with 4 strikeouts and 4 walks…the Rangers reached base in their first 3 at-bats with a Marcus Semien single, Corey Seager double and Nathaniel Lowe walk…after an Adolis García fielder’s choice, Williams escaped the jam by inducing a double play…after Jonah Heim and Travis Jankowski singles to start the 2nd, Semien hit a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead…Williams retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced, the lone blemish coming from a 3rd-inning Heim walk.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Williams debuted on June 21 at Oakland (5.2IP, 4H, 4R/ER, HR, 3BB, 4SO)…worked a gem in his second start at Kansas City, twirling 7.0-shutout innings of one-hit ball with 6 strikeouts and one walk…became just the second pitcher in franchise history to throw 7.0+ innings with one-or-fewer hit allowed within their first two Major League games…the other was Addie Joss in 1902 (9.0IP, 1H)…earned his first career win on July 8 against the Royals.
LET ME WARM UP FIRST
Williams has finished starts strong in his first month of MLB action, retiring 8-or-more of the last 11 hitters he faced in 4 of his first 5 career starts…besides retiring 10 of his last 11 hitters faced on July 15 at Texas, he retired 8 of the last 11 he faced on July 3 vs. Atlanta, each of his last 13 hitters faced on June 27 at Kansas City and 8 of the last 9 on June 21 vs. Oakland.
ROAD TO THE SHOW
2023: Opened up the season at AA Akron and was effective in his 3 starts…over 14.1 innings he allowed just one earned run (0.63 ERA) on 6 hits with 20 strikeouts against 3 walks… was promoted to AAA Columbus following his start on April 20… made 9 starts at Columbus, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.93 ERA (15ER/46.0IP) with 61 punchouts and 21 walks…opposing hitters sported a .186 average (29-for-186)…at the time of his promotion to the Bigs, among AAA pitchers (min 45.0IP), he was 2nd in SO/9 (11.93), 4th in WHIP (1.09) and 5th in ERA (2.93)…over his Minor League career he owns an 11.81 SO/9 and 3.59 SO/BB.
