TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas beat the Dodgers yesterday, 8-4, as club finished with a 7-2 record on the 9-G, 10-day homestand against CLE (3-0), TB (3-0) and LAD (1-2) that opened the 2nd “half”…TEX has dropped 2 of 3 after a season-high 6-G win streak (7/14-19) that was club’s longest since going 6-0, 6/22-28/19…team’s 7-2 (.778) to start the 2nd “half”, 2nd-best record in MLB to MIN (8-2, .800)…the 2 losses are tied w/ MIN for fewest in MLB since the break… TEX is 8-4 in last 12, 9-8 in last 17 G, and 10-10 in last 20 G…team is 19-21 (.475) beg. 6/7, a stretch which came after club reached season high point at 20-over on 6/6 (40-20)… team’s 45-30 (.600) record since 4/28 is still best in A.L. and 3rd-best in MLB over that span (ATL: .653, 47-25; LAD: .611, 44-28)…TEX is 49-35 in last 84 G and 54-37 last 91 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 59-41 (.590), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in the A.L. and 4th-best in MLB (ATL: .653, 64-34; BAL: .616, 61-38; TB: .592, 61-42)…59 wins rank 3rd in A.L. and 4th-most in MLB (64-ATL, 61-BAL/TB, 59-TEX).
- The 59-41 mark matches the best 100-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
STANDINGS: TEX owns a 3.0-game lead in A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU for a 3rd straight day…TEX was 4.5 GA on Tues.-Wed., which was largest advantage since 7/1 (5.0
GA)…current division lead is still tied for largest in A.L. (also MIN) and 3rd in MLB (ATL is 11.5 GA of MIA/PHI and LAD is 4.0 GA of ARI/SF)…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 79 straight, 86 of 87, and 99 of the last 101 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 115 of the season’s first 116 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: The weekend series loss vs. LAD followed back-to-back sweeps to open 2nd “half” (vs. CLE and TB), but club is 2-4-0 in last 6 series and 2-5-1 in last 8 series… TEX is 4-7-1 in last 12 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…is 19-11-2 overall in series this year, going 10-5-2 at home and 9-6-0 on the road…is 15-8-2 in last 25 series and 18-9-2 in last 28…on the road, team has lost 3 straight and is 1-4-0 in last 5 road series after winning WSH/TEX franchise-record 6 straight away sets from 5/5-31…team has dropped 3 straight road series despite winning 3 straight road series openers.
ON THE ROAD: The Rangers enter this 6-G road trip to HOU (3 G) and SD (3 G) having lost 2 straight, 4 of 5, 6 of 8, and 10 of last 16 away games…club is still 25-21 (.543) on the road this season, good for the 3rd-best away record in the A.L. (BAL: .633, 31-18; HOU: .585, 31-22)…club has still won 12 of 23, 14 of 26, 16 of 29, and 19 of last 33 on road.
- Rangers rank 5th in MLB in R/G (5.37) on the road this season, but have 3-or-fewer runs in 5 of last 8 away tilts…club’s .749 road OPS is 3rd-highest in A.L. (.785-LAA, .766-TB), but still .100 points lower than OPS at Globe Life Field (.849).
VS. HOUSTON: Texas is 3-4 vs. HOU in the 2023 Lone Star Series for the coveted Silver Boot, taking 2 of 3 at MMP (4/14-16) and dropping 3 of 4 at GLF (6/30-7/3)…TEX has lost season series in 5 of last 6 years (tied 5-5 in 2020)…TEX is 4-5 in last 9 G vs. HOU, but has lost 9 of 13, 20 of 28, and 28 of last 38 G (beg. 6/15/21)…the April series win here in Houston snapped a span of 10 straight series losses at MMP since going 3-0 from 7/27-29/18…TEX is 7-30 (.189) in last 37 G at MMP since start of 2019, lowest win pct. at any A.L. park in that span.
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK: The Rangers overcame an early 4-0 deficit yesterday to beat the Dodgers in Arlington… it marked the 4th time in 7 wins since the break for Texas to prevail after falling behind by multiple runs (trailed by 4 on 7/14 vs. CLE, by 3 on 7/16 vs. CLE, by 2 on 7/17 vs. TB).
- The Rangers came back from a pair of 4-run deficits on the homestand (7/14 vs. CLE, yesterday vs. LAD), equaling club’s win total when trailing by 4+ runs in the entire 1st “half”…team’s 2 such wins before the break came on Opening Day, 3/30 vs. PHI (trailed by 5) and 6/18 vs. TOR (came back from season-high 6-R deficit).
MARTÍN IS THE MAN: Martín Pérez allowed a grand slam to Max Muncy in the 1st inning yesterday to put the Rangers in an early 4-0 hole…it would be the Dodgers’ only runs on the day, as Texas won 8-4…Pérez pitched 6.0 innings to earn the win, making some history in the process…he became just the 2nd pitcher in Rangers history to allow a 1st-inning grand slam and still record the victory…the other instance came on 4/14/80 vs. CLE, when Doc Medich (W, 6.2 IP, 4 R-ER) permitted a 1st-inning slam to Jorge Orta in a 7-4 Texas win.
- Yesterday was just the 4th time in Rangers history for the club to win after the opponent hit a 1st-inning slam…the others: 4/14/80 vs. CLE, 4/28/89 vs. BOS, and 5/16/05 at CWS…in the 1989 game, Texas won 7-6 in 12 innings after Nick Esasky hit a slam off Kevin Brown in the 1st inning…that game was suspended in the 11th inning (due to rain w/ game tied) and completed the next day.
- Yesterday was win no. 63 in Pérez’s career w/ TEX, breaking a tie w/ Derek Holland (62) for 2nd-most wins by a left-handed pitcher in TEX history (133-Kenny Rogers). LUCKY 7: After yesterday’s win, Texas finished the 9-G homestand with a 7-2 record…it marked the club’s most wins in any homestand in Globe Life Field history (beg. 2020), as Texas had not seen 7 wins in one homestand since going 7-4 from 5/30-6/9/19 vs. KC (3-1), BAL (2-1), and OAK (2-2).
NO LONG BALL? NO PROBLEM: Texas won yesterday despite not hitting a HR, as club was 2-0 in homerless games on the homestand (also 2-0 win, 7/15 vs. CLE)…in fact,
Rangers have won each of last 3 homerless games at Globe Life Field…yesterday’s 8 R marked 2nd-highest run total by Texas without hitting a HR in GLF history (9 R, 6/25/21 vs. KC)…team now has 9 homerless wins in ’23.
DOUBLE UP: Texas did not homer yesterday, but had 4 doubles, extending club’s doubles streak to 30 straight games (beg. 6/18)…it is the 3rd-longest doubles streak in MLB this season (36-ATL, 34-LAA) and 2nd-longest in Rangers franchise history (34 G, 6/19-7/26/96).
- Rangers rank 2nd in MLB with 223 doubles this season (BOS-225)…the figure is one shy of club’s doubles total in 2022 (224 2B).
TEXAS HEAT: Aroldis Chapman recorded 2 SO in a scoreless 8th inning yesterday…Chapman in his 7 app. w/ TEX since he was acquired from KC on 6/30…he has K’d 6 of last 8, 7 of 10, and 8 of last 12 batters faced.
- Chapman’s last pitch yesterday was a 103.4-mph sinker to whiff Yonny Hernandez, as he once again set a new record for fastest pitch thrown by a Ranger in the Statcast Era (beg. 2015).
SHORTS: The Rangers traded LHP Taylor Hearn to Atlanta earlier today in exchange for cash considerations… Hearn had been DFA’d on Wed…Marcus Semien has a 16-G hitting streak at Minute Maid Park (beg. 5/7/21) at .297/.361/.563/.924 (19-64)…3rd-longest hit streak ever by a visiting player at MMP (23-Joey Votto from 4/20/09-9/17/13; 18-Logan Morrison from 4/8/11-6/13/15)…Nathaniel Lowe has a 7-G hit streak and he is slashing .438/.514/.750/1.264 (14-32) in 9 G since the AS break…Aroldis Chapman has not allowed a home run in 52.1 consecutive innings (beg. 7/26/22)…3rd-longest active homerless streak in MLB.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #22 Jon Gray, RHP (6-5, 3.31)
TONIGHT: The 31-year-old right-hander is set to make his 19th start/appearance of the season in tonight’s road trip opener at Minute Maid Park…was moved
up to start on regular rest after Nathan Eovaldi’s next start was pushed to the weekend…posted 4.1 SHO IP in last start Wed. vs. TB before exiting due to injury (see below)…has taken losses in 4 of his last 7 starts (0-4) and has allowed 13 R-12 ER in his last 4 starts (22.1 IP) to raise his season ERA from 2.89 to 3.31, still 10th-lowest among A.L. qualifiers…despite his recent struggles, Gray has still gone 5-4, 2.85 ERA (23 ER/72.2 IP) over his last 12 starts (beg. 5/8) to lower his season ERA from 4.40…this is Gray’s 2nd season with Texas after signing a 4-year free agent contract with the club on 12/1/21…was hindered by several injuries last season, but still managed to post a 7-7 record, 3.96 ERA (56 ER/127.1 IP), and 134 strikeouts over 24 starts…prior to joining the Rangers, the right-hander had spent his entire pro career with Colorado, ranking 3rd in Rockies history with 849 strikeouts while also placing among the all-time team leaders with 151 starts, 829.1 innings, and 53 wins from 2015-21…was the 3rd overall selection by Colorado in the 2013 MLB Draft after pitching 2 seasons at the U. of
Oklahoma…is a native of the Oklahoma City area, growing up in Chandler…TEX is 10-8 in Gray’s 18 starts in 2023.
LAST START: Took ND in Rangers’ 5-1 win on Wed. vs. TB (4.1 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 63 pitches/46 strikes)…left the game with a bruised left shin after being struck by a Yandy Diaz line drive in the top of the 5th inning…X-rays were negative and Gray is making tonight’s start on regular 4 days’ rest…posted a perfect
1st inning, but permitted multiple hits in each of his final 4 innings of work, as he benefitted from a runner being thrown out at home, his own pickoff, and a GIDP.
VS. HOUSTON: Has gone 1-3, 3.94 (14 ER/52.0 IP) in 6 G/GS vs. HOU in his career, including 0-1, 6.75 (6 ER/8.0 IP) in 2 GS in 2023…is 0-2, 5.11 (7 ER/12.1 IP) in 3 G/GS at Minute Maid in his career, with his teams scoring a total of 3 runs in those 3 contests…took ND on 4/15 at HOU (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-ER), when he left the outing after just 2.0+ innings after taking a line drive off his right forearm…took loss in Rangers’ 5-3 defeat in series opener on 6/30 vs. HOU at GLF (L, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R-ER)…surrendered a solo HR to Jose Altuve on 1st pitch of the game…led 3-2 after the 5th, but exited trailing 5-3 following Houston’s 3-run rally in the 6th, which featured a 2-run 2B by Mauricio Dubón.
HELP ME, PLEASE: Gray has received a total of 10 runs in support from the Rangers’ offense over his last 8 starts (1.97 RSA), including a span of 3 straight outings in which he received zero run support from 6/7-24…his 4.79 RSA in ’23 is still 17th-highest among A.L. qualifiers, but is the lowest among current TEX rotation members: Pérez (8.06), Eovaldi (6.70), Heaney (5.89), Dunning (5.40).
- Gray has suffered a pair of 1-0 losses on solo HR this season (6/7 vs. STL and 6/24 at NYY)…the only other starting pitcher in TEX history to endure multiple 1-0 losses in a single season on a solo HR was Yu Darvish (twice in 2013)…before Gray this season, the only MLB pitchers to pull the trick since Darvish both came in 2016: SF’s Madison Bumgarner & STL’s Michael Wacha (2 each).
ON THE ROAD: Has seen far better results in 8 starts on the road (4-2, 2.31 ERA) than in 8 starts at home (2-3, 4.13 ERA) this season…among A.L. pitchers with at least 6 away starts in 2023, Gray’s 2.31 road ERA (12 ER/46.2 IP) is 3rd-lowest to only CLE’s Aaron Civale (1.97) and HOU’s J.P. France (2.05)… has allowed one-or-zero runs in 4 of his last 5 road outings, going 3-2, 1.64 ERA (6 ER/33.0 IP) in that span…opponents are batting .207/.276/.323/.599 (34-164) with 4 HR against Gray on the road vs. .264/.336/.418/.754 (55-208) with 9 HR at Globe Life Field in ’23.
COMPLETE GAME: Was tough-luck loser in start on 6/7 vs. STL, a 1-0 Rangers defeat (CG, 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 12 SO, 1 HR, 100 pitches/76 strikes)… according to Stathead, it marked just the 2nd time in modern MLB history that a pitcher took the loss despite 9+ IP, 12+ SO, 4-or-fewer hits, 1 R allowed, and zero BB…the other instance?: TB’s James Shields on 10/2/12 vs. BAL…the lone run in Gray’s loss to the Cards was a solo HR by Alec Burleson in the 8th inning…it was the 23rd instance of a TEX starter taking a 1-0 loss in a CG, 1st since Matt Harrison on 9/22/12 at SEA…produced 2nd-highest game score of his career (87), trailing only CG SHO on 9/17/16 vs. SD (95 game score).
SCORELESS STREAKS: Has produced 2 longest scoreless streaks of his career since the start of May: 20.0 IP (5/26-6/7) and 17.0 IP (5/8-20)…Gray’s loss on 6/7 vs. STL ended spans in which he won a career-best 5 consecutive starts (5/8-6/2) along with a career-high 6-G win streak (4/9-6/2)…Gray was the 1st Ranger to win 5 consecutive starts since Lance Lynn from 6/17-7/11/19…Rangers went 5-0 in his 5 May starts, with Gray going 4-0, 1.95 (7 ER/32.1 IP) over 5 GS in May, 2nd-lowest monthly ERA of his career (min. 4 GS) to only a 1.89 figure over 5 G/GS in July 2016.
2023: Has allowed 3-or-fewer runs in 12 of his 18 starts…opp. BA by time thru the lineup: 1st (.236, 35-148), 2nd (.267, 35-131), 3rd (.213, 19-89), 4th (.000, 0-4)… number of GS in ’23 by starting catcher: 11-Heim, 6-León, 1-Garver…Rangers went 5-0 in his 5 May starts, with Gray going 4-0, 1.95 (7 ER/32.1 IP) in 5 GS for the month, 2nd-lowest monthly ERA of his career (min. 4 GS) to only 1.89 over 5 G/GS in July 2016…recorded 1,000th career strikeout on 4/26 at CIN (Spencer Steer)…made early exit in start on 4/15 at HOU (ND, 2.0 IP, 1 R-ER) after he took a liner off his right forearm…earned 1st win on 4/9 at CHC (5.2 IP, 2 R-ER), when Will Smith stranded bases loaded in the 6th inning…began start 5/13 at OAK w/ 6.2 hitless innings before a Jace Peterson 2-out single to RF in the 7th…it was the longest no-hit bid by a TEX starter since 4/15/18 at HOU, when Bartolo Colon retired the first 21 Astros…Gray surpassed 1000.0 career innings during the start (on 2nd out in 6th inn.)…in win on 5/20 vs. COL, escaped a 27-pitch 1st inning in which the Rox loaded the bases with no outs and did not score…marked Gray’s 1st career meeting vs. the team that drafted him.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros will open a 10-day, nine-game homestand tonight with the first of three against the division-leading Rangers…RHP Brandon Bielak will open the series for Houston as he makes his eighth career appearance against the Rangers, but his first start…he’ll be opposed by RHP Jon Gray, who the Astros touched up for five runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings earlier this season on June 30 in Arlington.
ABOUT BIELAK: RHP Brandon Bielak has made 11 starts this season after entering the rotation following the injury to RHP José Urquidy…he’s been solid on the season, limiting his opponents to three-or-fewer runs in eight of his 11 starts… he’s coming off an impressive performance at Coors Field last Wednesday, in which he held the Rockies to one hit and three walks in 5.2 innings en route to the victory.
RISING TIDES: The Astros are 12 games over .500 (56-44), which matches their high-water mark for the season…they’ve also been 12 games over .500 three times before, after wins on June 3 (35-23), June 5 (36-24) and on Friday (55-43).
THE SILVER BOOT: In the Lone Star Series, the Astros have claimed the Silver Boot/season series vs. TEX in each of the last six seasons, with a combined record of 70-35 (.667) in that span (2017-22)…the Astros are 4-3 vs. TEX thus far in 2023…Swinging Pendulum: These two Texas teams each have had stretches of dominance in the Lone Star Series, which began in 2001…in the first six seasons (2001-06), the Astros held the upper hand with a 20-16 record…that was followed by a long stretch of dominance by the Rangers, who went 79-33 vs. HOU from 2007-16…in 2017, the Astros reversed that trend and are 74-38 vs. TEX since then.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: The Astros eked out a 3-2 victory over the A’s in Oakland yesterday thanks to a 9th-inning, go-ahead ho- mer by 2B Mauricio Dubón…C Yainer Diaz (2×4) also homered in the game, his 11th homer of the season…the pitching was great in the game with RHP Hunter Brown (2ER/6IP) picking up a quality start.
ABOUT THE TRIP: The Astros concluded their last three-city road trip of the season yesterday in Oakland with a successful 6-3 record…the trip took them from Anaheim (2-1) to Colorado (1-1) to Oakland (3-1)…on the season, the Astros are 31-22 (.585) in road games, which is the second-best road winning percentage in the AL, trailing only Baltimore (31-18, .633). MATON’S MONDAY: Prior to tonight’s game, the Astros Foundation and Phil and Katelynn Maton will host AJ, A Wish Kid from
Make-a-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana…AJ will arrive at the ballpark at 3 p.m. and will head to a shopping spree at the Center Field Team Store…he’ll then sign his one-day contract as an honorary Astro in the press conference room and will watch batting practice on the field.
THE 100 CLUB: Astros closer RHP Ryan Pressly recorded his 100th career save on Friday, with 99 of those coming as a member of the Astros…he needs one more save to become just the fourth player in club history to reach the 100-save plateau, which would join him with LHP Billy Wagner (225), RHP Dave Smith (199) and RHP Brad Lidge (123).
INJURY UPDATES: The Astros have been working through several injuries…below are a few updates on sidelined players:
- 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) has participated in full pregame workouts on the field over the last several days, including prior to yesterday’s day game…he’s scheduled to hit off a high-speed pitching machine today in pregame activities.
- LF Yordan Alvarez (right oblique discomfort) has played in three minor league rehab games so far, going 3×9 with a double, two walks and two RBI…he last played on Saturday (1×2, BB, RBI) and had a scheduled off day yesterday.
- OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) hit on the field on Saturday at the Coliseum, his first time to hit on the field since prior to the All-Star break…he’s also scheduled to take BP today on the field.
- RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) is scheduled to start tomorrow for Double A Corpus Christi in what will be his third rehab appearance…Urquidy last pitched for Triple A Sugar Land last Wednesday, tossing 3.0 innings and 45 pitches (29 strikes), while allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVE: Prior to yesterday’s game, the Astros recalled LHP Parker Mushinski from Triple A Sugar Land and optioned RHP Joel Kuhnel to Triple A.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP BRANDON BIELAK
LAST START – 7/19 AT COL: allowed 1 hit and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 5.2 scoreless innings…since being recalled on July 3, he’s recorded a 1.02 ERA (2ER/17.2IP) with 13 strikeouts, a 0.85 WHIP and a .123 opponent batting average…also hasn’t allowed a home run during that stretch.
- his 5.2 scoreless innings were the most scoreless innings by an Astros starter at Coors Field since Roy Oswalt tossed a 1-hit complete game shutout on Sept. 6, 2008
BACK IN THE BIGS: was recalled from Triple A Sugar Land on July 3; Houston optioned RHP Shawn Dubin to Triple A Sugar Land to make room for Bielak on the 26-man roster.
- is making his 2nd stint in the Majors this season and has appeared at the MLB level in each of the last 4 seasons (all with the Astros)…has settled into a starting role this season after serving in a hybrid starter-relief role through the first 3 seasons of his career. VS. TEX: will face the Rangers for the 1st time this season…in his 7 career appearances against the Rangers, he’s recorded a 4.15 ERA (4ER/8.2IP) with 7 strikeouts, a 1.15 WHIP and a .257 opponent batting average.
- is making his 1st career start against the Rangers as his previous 7 appearances he’s come out of the bullpen
