BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
A SEASON SERIES VICTORY: The O’s defeated the Blue Jays last night, 13-3, to clinch the season series against the Jays while improving to 5-0 in Toronto this season…The Orioles scored 10 unanswered runs in the final four innings and have now won six straight games at Rogers Centre dating back to 2022…Gunnar Henderson had three hits and four RBI, including a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning, while Anthony Santander hit a grand slam in the eighth inning…Ryan Mountcastle had three hits, including two doubles, while scoring three times and driving in two…Kyle Bradish allowed three runs in 7.0 innings, his 11th quality start of the year, to earn his seventh win.
Baltimore moved to a season-high 25 games over .500. The 13 runs are tied for the third-most runs by the Birds in 2023; all four O’s games with 13+ runs this season have come on the road with three coming since July 6. Santander’s blast was his second career grand slam (5/5/23 at ATL) and the fifth grand slam by the Orioles this year, tied for fourth in MLB; he is the first Oriole with multiple grand slams in one season since Manny Machado hit three in 2017.
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: With Monday’s win, the Orioles have now gone 74 consecutive series without being swept…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without getting swept in Orioles history (since 1954), ahead of 46 consecutive sweepless series from 1971-72…It is tied for the fifth-longest such streak in MLB history with the 1904-06 Philadelphia Athletics, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), 1903-05 New York Giants (105), and 1922-24 New York Yankees (83).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won four of their last five games, nine of 13, 17 of 23, and 18 of 26…At 66-41 (.617), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Birds are 128-90 (.587) since June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best in MLB during that time…The team had a season-best eight-game winning streak from July 5-16, Baltimore’s longest since a 10-gamer from July 3-13, 2022. The O’s hold a 1.5-game lead over the Rays in the AL East. The Orioles have two winning streaks of at least seven games this year; Atlanta (4x), San Francisco (2x), and Tampa Bay (2x) are the only other teams with multiple win streaks of at least seven games this season.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Baltimore has scored in the first inning in three straight games while plating 11 total runs in the opening inning since July 30…Entering Sunday, the Orioles had scored 44 first-inning runs this season, ranking 25th in MLB…The O’s are 36-10 (.783) when scoring first this year, the best record in MLB.
AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS: The Orioles and Blue Jays are meeting for the third time this season in a four-game series that runs through Thursday…Baltimore is 7-1 against Toronto this season, including 5-0 north of the border, and 16-11 (.593) against the Jays since the start of 2022…The O’s swept a three-game series at Rogers Centre from May 19-21 and took two of three at Oriole Park from June 13-15…The teams meet for the final time in the regular season at Camden Yards from August 22-24. Baltimore has gone 10 straight sets against AL East opponents without losing a series for the first time since doing so in 11 straight series from August 1 to September 30, 2012, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
ROAD WARRIORS: Baltimore is 34-20 (.630) away from Oriole Park this season, the best road record in the AL and second-best in MLB behind Atlanta (32-17, .653)…The Birds are 72-63 (.533) on the road since the beginning of 2022, the third-best record in the AL and fifth-best in MLB during that time…The Orioles have scored 293 runs away from Camden Yards in 2023, the most in the AL and second-most in MLB behind the Dodgers (306).
HOT O’S SUMMER: The Orioles finished last month with a 17-9 (.654) record, tied with the Mariners for the best record in MLB…Since the All-Star break, the O’s are 12-6, tied with the Cubs for the best record in MLB…The Birds have played 42 straight games against teams currently with a winning record while going 25-17 (.595) since June 13.
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander is slashing .277/.352/.520 (83-for-300) with 20 doubles, one triple, 17 homers, 48 runs scored, 51 RBI, 31 walks, four hit-by-pitches, and three stolen bases in 78 games since the start of May…During that time, he ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (4th, 38), total bases (5th, 156), homers (6th), slugging percentage (9th), and OPS (10th, .872). Santander has 28 doubles, surpassing his career high of 24 set in 2021 and matched in 2022; he drove in his 300th run with his grand slam last night. He ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (T-3rd, 48) and doubles (T-5th, 28). His 19 home runs lead the O’s, are tied for 10th in the AL, and rank third among MLB switch hitters in 2023; Santander’s 52 homers since the start of last season are the most among MLB switch hitters.
TOP GUNN: Gunnar Henderson is slashing .287/.344/.579 (51-for-178) with seven doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 31 runs scored, 35 RBI, 15 walks, one hit-by-pitch, and four stolen bases in 46 games since the start of June…During that time, he’s among AL leaders in home runs (T-4th), slugging percentage (7th), OPS (8th, .923), total bases (8th, 103), and extra-base hits (T-9th, 23)…He ranks among AL rookies this season in bWAR (1st, 3.3), triples (1st, 5), fWAR (2nd, 2.6), runs scored (2nd, 59), home runs (2nd, 18), RBI (3rd, 49), walks (3rd, 44), extra-base hits (3rd, 37), and total bases (3rd, 160)…His 92.4 mph average exit velocity leads MLB rookies and so does his 53.7 percent Hard-Hit rate, which also ranks ninth in the AL and 14th in MLB, per Statcast.
MOUNT UP: Ryan Mountcastle is 5-for-7 with four doubles, four runs scored, five RBI, and one walk in the first two games of this series…He’s slashing .386/.429/.682 (17-for44) with seven doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored, nine RBI, and four walks in 16 games while tallying a hit in 11 of his 12 starts since returning from the Injured List on July 9… Mountcastle has batted .322/.382/.639 (58-for-180) with 12 doubles, 15 home runs, 32 runs scored, 41 RBI, 16 walks, and two hit-by-pitches in 47 career games against the Blue Jays… His 1.021 career OPS is the second-best in MLB history against Toronto (min. 150 PA) behind Los-Angeles-AL’s Mike Trout, who holds a 1.032 mark.
MOUNTAIN TIME: Félix Bautista leads the AL and ranks third in MLB with 29 saves this season…He has secured a win or save in 35 of his 47 appearances (74.5%) this year…That would be the fourth-highest such percentage in O’s history (since 1954)…Bautista is looking to become the eighth Oriole in team history to lead the league in saves and the first since Zack Britton locked down 47 games in 2016…Jim Johnson has the team record of 51 saves set in 2012.
His 101 strikeouts are more than 14 qualified pitchers. Bautista’s 17.59 K/9 (101 K/199 BFP) would be the fourth-best by a qualified reliever in MLB history; Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman (2014), Cleveland’s James Karinchak (2020), and Milwaukee’s Devin Williams (2020) are tied for the record with a 17.67 mark.
He is the seventh O’s reliever to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and the first since B.J. Ryan fanned 100 in 2005; Ryan holds the Orioles record for strikeouts as a reliever in one season with 122 in 2004.
DEADLINE DEAL: The Orioles yesterday acquired right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Drew Rom, minor league infielder César Prieto, and minor league right-handed pitcher Zack Showalter…Flaherty is active today and right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
STARTING PITCHER – #30 GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his 14th start of the season, seventh on the road, and second career start against the Blue Jays tonight…Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17, his second stint with the O’s…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-or-more 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: Did not factor in the decision in his last outing on July 28 vs. New York-AL…Tossed a career-high 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks with four strikeouts; marked his first career quality start…Left with one runner on, who was stranded…Threw the two fastest strikeout pitches by an O’s
starter in the Statcast era (since 2015), fanning DJ LeMahieu with a 100.1 mph heater and retiring Anthony Rizzo on a 100.2 mph fastball…Now owns each of the 19 fastest strikeout pitches by Orioles starters this season…His strikeout of Rizzo was the sixth-fastest punchout pitch among MLB rookie starters this season…Threw 97 pitches, 70 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS AND AL EAST: Making his second career start against Toronto and fifth career start against the AL East…Did not factor into the decision in his last outing against Toronto on May 20 at Rogers Centre… Allowed two runs on five hits (1 HR) with one walk and six strikeouts in 5.0 innings…
Threw 91 pitches, 54 strikes…Sports a 1-0 record with a 2.38 ERA (6 ER/22.2 IP) in four career outings against the AL East.
ROAD WARRIOR: Is slated to make his seventh career road start tonight… Has pitched to a 1-0 record with a 4.91 ERA (16 ER/29.1 IP) in his first six career assignments away from Oriole Park…Did not factor in the decision in his last road start on July 22 at Tampa Bay…Allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5.2 innings…Left with one runner on, who was stranded…Threw 93 pitches, 56 strikes.
HIGH TIDE: After being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 27, Rodriguez 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 from May 27 to July 16 were 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.
DAMAGE CONTROL: Rodriguez has not surrendered a home run in his last three MLB starts since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17…Has allowed just two-extra base hits (2B, 3B) in those games…Surrendered 24 extra-base hits (9-2B, 2-3B, 13 HR) in his first 10 career starts.
HIGH QUALITY: Rodriguez logged his first career quality start in his last outing on July 28 vs. New York-AL, becoming the youngest O’s hurler (23-254) to do so since Miguel Castro (22-222) on August 3, 2017 vs. Detroit (6.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K)… Has also allowed two earned runs-or-fewer in seven of his first 13 career Major
League starts, the most such outings by an O’s rookie in that span since Wei-Yin Chen permitted fewer than three runs in nine of his first 13 career assignments in 2012.
PACKING A PUNCH: Rodriguez’s 70 strikeouts through his first 13 career Major League starts are tied with Tom Phoebus (1966) for the most by an O’s hurler in that span 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.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were ousted, 13-3, by the Orioles last night…The 13 runs allowed were the most by the team this year. Toronto has still won five of its last nine games, 14 of its last 23, and is 33-24 over its last 57 contests… Its .579 win% over that span (since May 26) is tied with Baltimore for the highest in the AL…Is currently holding the 3rd Wild Card spot, 2.0 games back of Houston (61-47) for the 2nd spot, and 1.5 games up on Boston.
GETTING RATIO’D: Danny Jansen got Toronto on the board last night with a two-run homer in the 2nd inning…Gave him 15 home runs for the year to tie a career high (15 in 2022)…The 15 dingers are 3rd most among AL catchers (Salvador Perez – 17)…Extended his career high in RBI to 48 (44 in 2022). The catcher now owns an AB/HR ratio of 14.67, 7th best in the AL (min. 200 AB), while his 4.58 AB/RBI clip is 4th best…Has gone 25-for-93 (.269) with five doubles, nine homers, and 22 RBI over his last 32 games for a .613 SLG and a .940 OPS.
BRANDON’S BASH: Brandon Belt cranked a solo shot to left-center field in the 3rd inning last night to tie the game at 3’s…Was his 9th homer of the season, his 7th to tie the game or take the lead. The DH added a double in the 6th to finish the game 2-for-4…Was his 12th multi-hit game and his 4th with multiple extra-base hits…Over his last 56 contests, has batted .272 (49-for-169) with 15 doubles, eight homers, 22 RBI, and 37 walks (.395 OBP)…His 4.48 pitches/PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 200 PA), behind only Patrick Wisdom (4.55) for the highest in the Majors.
IN-CLEMENT CONDITIONS: Ernie Clement entered last night’s game as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning…Doubled down the left-field line, his 1st extra-base hit as a Blue Jay…Has gone 4-for-8 with a double and two RBI in 12 games up with Toronto this season.
HICKS IN THE 6IX: Jordan Hicks made his Blue Jays debut as he tossed the top of the 9th inning last night…Threw a sinker at 102.4 MPH, setting the franchise record for the fastest pitch.
LOVE THE GLOVE: Matt Chapman singled and scored Toronto’s 1st run last night…Extended his on-base streak to 18 games, the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (Julio Rodríguez – 26G)…Has gone 16-for-61 (.262) with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, five RBI, and a 15BB/20K ratio for a .416 OBP and an .891 OPS over that stretch. Today, Sports Info Solutions named Matt Chapman as Co-Defensive Player of the Month for July (with Brenton Doyle and Bobby Witt Jr.)…The 30-year old’s seven runs saved and seven “Good Fielding Plays” in July were the most of any third baseman…Has 13 runs saved overall, 2nd only to Ryan McMahon (17).
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are in the midst of a seven-day, seven-game homestand (2-3 so far)…Have gone 29-23 this season at Rogers Centre…The .558 win% at home is tied for 5th best in the AL…After this series with the Orioles, will head out to Boston (57-50) for three games over the weekend, followed by four in Cleveland (53-55). Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.258), 3rd in home OBP (.331), 6th in home OPS (.745), and 7th in home SLG (.413)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd among AL teams with 3.45 home ERA while sitting 2nd with a .224 home opponents’ average and 4th with a 1.19 home WHIP.
TRADING CARDS: Prior to yesterday’s trade deadline, the Blue Jays acquired Paul DeJong and cash from the Cardinals in exchange for Matt Svanson…The shortstop has
hit .233 with 11 doubles, 13 home runs, and 32 RBI across 81 games for St. Louis this season…His .990 fielding percentage at shortstop led the NL and is tied with Carlos Correa for the best in MLB…The swapC marked the Jays’ 3rd trade with the Cards in 11 days (also Génesis Cabrera on July 21 and Jordan Hicks on July 30).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.84 ERA this season, 4th among AL (5th in MLB)…Are 2nd in MLB with 1,032 strikeouts (MIN – 1,035)…Rank 7th in the AL in opponents’ average (.242) and WHIP (1.27)… The rotation has 50 quality starts, 4th most in the AL (5th in MLB).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 965 hits this season, 4th most in MLB…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.260), 4th in OBP (.330), 6th in SLG .419), 5th in OPS (.748), and 7th in extra-base hits (328).
DIVISIONAL DOWNTURN: The Blue Jays have now gone 7-22 against divisional opponents this season (5th among AL East clubs), tied for the 2nd fewest intra-division wins in MLB (OAK – 5)…The .241 divisional win% is currently the lowest in team history (.282 in 1979)…Went 43-33 (.566%) in divisional play in 2022, the 2nd- best winning percentage within the division and the club’s best since registering a .581 win% in 2006 (43-31).
VS. THE ORIOLES: All-Time: 221-227
2023: 1-7 Home: 117-106
Home: 0-5 Rogers Centre: 80-67
The Blue Jays are 1-7 vs. Baltimore so far this season…Were swept in their other series here at Rogers Centre in May, and dropped two of three in Baltimore in June…Have lost a season series to the O’s for the first time since 2017 (7-12).
Bo Bichette has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with a pair of doubles and two RBI in the seven games against the Orioles this year…In 53 career meetings vs. Baltimore, is 72-for-218 (.330) with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 36 RBI (.903 OPS).
Danny Jansen is now 7-for-24 (.292) across eight games vs. the O’s this season, including four homers and six RBI (.792 SLG)…Has batted .252 (40-for-159) with 10 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 30 RBI in 50 career games vs. the Orioles (.868 OPS).
Whit Merrifield has hits in all but one of the eight games vs. BAL this year, going 9-for-28 (.321) with two doubles, a homer, and three RBI…Holds a career .259 (52-for-201) average with 12 doubles, four home runs, and 20 RBI in 53 contests (.677 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 22nd start of the season and his 10th at Rogers Centre… Picked up his career-best 8th win of the year his last time out, on 7/26 at LAD, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts…Has pitched into the 5th inning in all 21 starts this year, the only Blue Jay starter to do so. Has surrendered 2 runs or fewer in 9 of his 11 starts since 5/30, posting a 3.10 ERA (20 ER/58.0 IP) with 19 walks and 68 punchouts…Over that span, ranks 8th among AL hurlers in ERA.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Took a no-decision on 7/21 at SEA, tossing 5.1 shutout frames with 5 hits, a walk, and 8 strikeouts…Marked his 4th scoreless outing of the season. Gave up 2R/1ER over 4.2 innings on 7/16 vs. ARI, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Earned his 7th win of the season on 6/25 vs. OAK, tossing 7.0 frames of one-run ball with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts…Marked his longest outing as a Blue Jay. Faced one batter over the minimum on 6/20 at MIA, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 2 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts on 87 pitches (57 strikes)… Marked his 3rd scoreless start of the season. Took a no-decision on 6/4 at NYM, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 8 strikeouts…Induced a season-high 19 swing-andmisses. Improved to 6-2 on 5/30 vs. MIL, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a seasonhigh 5 walks over 5.0 frames with 4 strikeouts…Punched out Joey Wiemer in the 4th inning for the 500th strikeout of his career…Became the 9th Japanese-born player to record 500 strikeouts and 500.0 innings pitched in the Majors. Shouldered the loss on 5/24 at TB, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks over 5.0 frames with 5 strikeouts…The outing was his 100th career start, becoming the 11th Japanese-born player to reach the century mark. Earned his 3rd win of the year on 4/21 at NYY, tossing 6.0 frames of onerun ball with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts…Has back-to-back starts of 6.0+ innings and 0-or-1 runs allowed for the first time since 6/18-25 of his 2021 All-Star campaign. Improved to 2-0 on 4/15 vs. TB, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with
4 hits, a walk, and a season-high 9 strikeouts…Marked his most punchouts in a single game as a Blue Jay…Completed 6.0 frames for the 1st time since 6/30/22 vs. TB.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Made his MLB debut on 3/21/19 for Seattle against Oakland at the Tokyo Dome in Japan…Became the 1st Japanese-born player to make his Major League debut in Japan, picking up a no-decision (4.2 IP, 4H, ER, BB, 3K). Recorded his 1st career complete game shutout on 8/18/19 at TOR, pitching 9.0 scoreless innings and allowing only two hits and a walk with eight strikeouts…Became just the 13th pitcher (17th time) in club history to throw a complete game shutout within his first 30 career appearances (previous: Mike Montgomery on 6/30/15 at SD). Named to the American League All-Star Team for the 1st time on 7/4/21…Was on the AL club but did not pitch…Became the 14th Japanese-born player to be selected to participate in the Midsummer Classic. Had a career-high 12 strikeouts in 6.0 IP on 7/23/21 vs. OAK…Was his 3rd double-digit strikeout game of the year and the 4th of his career. Spent 8 seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Saitama Seibu Lions, earning himself three NPB All-Star nods while fashioning a 73-46 record and a 2.77 ERA.
VS. THE ORIOLES:
Facing the Orioles for the 3rd time this season and the 11th time in his career (8th start)…Pitched 4.2 innings in both starts vs. BAL this year, posting a 4.82 ERA (5 ER/9.1 IP) with 6 walks and 10 strikeouts…Has allowed 3 runs or fewer in each of his last 6 meetings with the O’s.
