CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TRANSACTION
- Today the Reds transferred from the Arizona Complex League Reds to Class AAA Louisville the rehabilitation assignment of RHP Tejay Antone, who is recovering from his second “Tommy John” surgery (April 2017, August 2021)…he last pitched for the Reds on 8/24/21 at Mil.
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 3 (1-1) in a series of 4 night games vs Tucker Barnhart’s Cubs and Game 9 (4-4) of an 11-day, 10-game road trip (1-2 at Mil, 2-1 at LAD, 1-1 at Chc).
- Beginning 9/15/14, the Cubs have won 31 of the last 45 night games vs the Reds at The Friendly Confines.
- Following this series the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Nationals (3g) and Marlins (3g).
SERIES NOTES
- The Reds’ 3-game sweep from 5/26-5/28 was their first series sweep of the Cubs since 7/2-7/4, 2021 (3g at Great American Ball Park) and their first series sweep at Wrigley Field since 8/12-8/14, 2013 (3g).
- Joey Votto leads all active players with 147 RBI vs Cubs and ranks second among all active players with 48 HR, trailing only Albert Pujols (57hr).
- Votto’s 48 HR are the second-most by a Reds batter vs the Cubs (Frank Robinson, 53)…his 227 games vs Cubs are second-most by a Reds player (Pete Rose, 243).
NATIONALS UP NEXT
- Dating back to a 6-3 Reds win on 6/4/16, the Nationals have won 14 of the last 20 games at Great American Ball Park, but the Reds won 8 of the last 11 games there.
- From 7/3-7/6 the Reds produced their first 4-game sweep of the Nationals since 7/3-7/6, 2008 and their first ever 4-game sweep at Nationals Park.
BIG ROAD MACHINE
- Beginning 5/26, the Reds went 24-9 over their last 5 road trips covering 11 road series.
- The Reds won 8 of their previous 10 road series, including a streak of 7 straight road series wins snapped by the Brewers in the last series before the All-Star Game break…also lost at Mil in the first road series of the second half…haven’t lost a road series to a team other than the Brewers since 5/15-5/17 at Col (1-2).
- From 5/26-7/6, the Reds won at least 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history (3-0 at Cubs, 2-1 at Bos, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0 at Hou, 2-1 at Bal, 4-0 at Wsh)…won 8 straight road series in 1923 (7/2-8/25) and 1976 (6/25-8/12)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Went 8-1 on their road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only the second time ever, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0, 9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8 wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- The 10-3 loss on 6/26 at Bal snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
- The Reds’ 27 road wins (27-20) was their highest total prior to the All-Star Game break since 1999 (29-13).
RUNNING MEN
- The Reds lead the Major Leagues with 122 stolen bases, their highest total since 2016 (139sb)…in 2022, the Reds recorded 58 steals.
- The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
- 5 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (6sb on 6/2 vs Mil, 9sb on 6/3 vs Mil, 5sb on 6/25 at Bal, 6sb on Tue at Wsh, 5sb on 7/8 at Mil)…prior to 6/2, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
- Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2, Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest single-game total since 5/30/1976 vs LAD (9sb)…the Reds’ single-game record since 1900 for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
- With Elvis Peguero pitching, Elly De La Cruz on 7/8 at Mil became only the fourth Reds batter ever to steal second, third and home in the same inning (Hans Lobert 9/27/1908, Dode Paskert 5/23/1910, Greasy Neale 8/15/1919)…became the first Major League batter to steal second, third and home in the same inning since Mia’s Jon Berti did it on 8/25/2020 at NYM…became the first Reds batter with a straight steal of home since Brandon Phillips did it on 7/10/2009 at NYM.
RED HOTS
- The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19.
- The Reds’ 12-game winning streak from 6/10-6/23 tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
- The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since June 2014 (18-10).
- From 6/14-7/8 Reds batters established a new franchise record for consecutive games with at least 1 home run (22g, 45hr), a streak snapped in the 1-0 loss at Mil in the final game heading into the All-Star Game break…the 1956 Reds held the team record by homering in 21 consecutive games.
- The Reds have used 53 players…RHP Michael Mariot was on the roster for 1 day (7/8) but did not appear in a game…in 2022, the Reds used a club record 66 players.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP
- Tonight is making his 14th career appearance and start…will be his second vs the Cubs and second at Wrigley Field.
- In his last 4 starts went 2-0, 2.18 (20.2ip, 16h, 5er, 9bb, 14k, .229baa).
- 2 of his last 6 starts were shortened by rain and a third appearance was suspended & completed the next day.
- In the top of the third inning on 6/26 at Bal did not return after a 1 hour, 44-minute rain delay.
- On 7/6 at Wsh, remained in the game following a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay in the top of the second inning.
- On 7/17 vs SF, the game was suspended with the score tied at 2-2 with 1 out in the eighth inning (completed the next day).
- Twice picked runners off second base, KC’s Bobby Witt Jr. (PO/CS 145) and SD’s Fernando Tatis Jr. (PO/CS 165).
- On 6/26 at Bal walked his second batter, Adley Rutschman, to snap at 10.0 his consecutive innings streak without issuing a walk.
- On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19.
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k).
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari).
- In that 3-1 win on 5/16 at Col, allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, his first career batter faced, but didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo HR in the sixth inning snapped the scoreless tie…Williamson retired 14 consecutive batters leading up to Tovar’s home run.
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Reds
The Cubs and Reds play 13 games spanning four series … the teams played a weather-shortened two-game set in Cincinnati, April 3-4, splitting the series, before the Reds swept a three-game set at Wrigley Field May 26-28 … following this series, the clubs meet four times in three days Sept. 1-3 in Cincinnati for the final time this season … Chicago last season went 11-8 vs. the Reds, its first season series victory over Cincinnati since going 11-8 in 2018.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: The Chicago Cubs tonight square off against the Cincinnati Reds in game three of a four-game set … Cincinnati won the series-opener on Monday night, 6-5, before the teams combined for 29 runs, 34 hits and eight home runs in Chicago’s 20-9 win last night … all nine members of the Cubs starting lineup recorded at least one hit and the club belted seven home runs (Swanson – 2, Bellinger, Tauchman, Hoerner, Wisdom, Amaya) to back Justin Steele (4 ER/6.0 IP), who earned his MLB-high-tying 12th win of the season.
The Cubs are 11-3 in their last 14 games since July 18 … following play on July 20, the Cubs sat 7.0-games out of a wild-card spot and 8.5-games back of the division lead … the club enters today 3.5-games out of a wild card spot and 4.0-games back of division-leading Cincinnati.
The Cubs are 1-1 on this seven-game homestand against the Cincinnai Reds (1-1) and the Atlanta Braves (3 games beginning Friday).
Dating to June 9, the Cubs have scored 275 runs, the most in the major leagues, and their .271 batting average (422-for-1,557) ranks second in the majors.
Today marks the ninth (6-2) of 16-straight gamedays through August 9.
The Cubs (+67) are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (Pittsburgh, -68; St. Louis, -28; Milwaukee, -14; Cincinnati, -7).
RISING TIDES: The Cubs, at 54-53, are 28-17 since June 9 when the team was a season-low 10-games below .500 at 26-36 following a loss at the Angels June 8.
Starting June 9, the Cubs’ 28-17 record (.622 winning percentage) is tied for the third-best in the majors, surpassed only by Atlanta (30-13/.698) and today’s opponent, Cincinnati (30-16/.652).
In 45 games since June 9, the Cubs have hit .271, scored 275 runs and have stolen 45 bases … the previous time the Cubs stole 45 bases in a 45-game span in a single season was from Aug. 8-Sept. 25, 1990, and the previous time Chicago scored at least 275 runs in a 45-game stretch was from Aug. 11-Sept. 27, 2017 (also 275 runs).
A HISTORIC NIGHT AT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: The Cubs last night scored 20 runs (their most since a 21-0 win over Pittsburgh, April 23, 2022) on 21 hits (their most since recording 23 hits, June 30, 2022, vs. Cincinnati) … the Cubs scored 13 runs off Ben Lively, who became the first pitcher to allow 13 earned runs in a game vs. the Cubs since St. Louis’ Bill Sherdel did so on June 25, 1918.
Chicago hit seven home runs last night, tying a single-game franchise record (last, May 17, 1977 vs. San Diego) … two of the seven home runs last night were of the pinch-hit variety (Wisdom and Amaya), the first time the Cubs have hit two pinch-hit homers in the same game since Sept. 21, 2019, vs. St. Louis.
Ed Hartig notes that the Cubs scored 13-plus runs through the first four innings for the first time since August 14, 2009, vs. Pittsburgh (17 runs in a 17-2 win).
Hartig also pointed out that last night marked the 16th time in franchise history that the Cubs scored at least three runs in at least five innings in a single game (last – August 18, 1995 in a 26-7 win at Colorado).
A MONTH WORTHY OF AN AWARD: Cody Bellinger today was selected as July’s N.L. Player of the Month presented by Cheverolet … Bellinger finished the month of July hitting .400 (40-for-100) with five doubles, eight home runs and 24 RBI in 26 games.
In the month of July he led major league hitters in hits, average and total bases (69), ranked third in RBI (24), fifth in slugging (.698), tied for fifth in homers and sixth in OPS (1.122).
Per Elias, he became the seventh Cub (ninth instance) to hit at least .400, with eight-or-more home runs in a calendar month (last Rick Wilkins, June 1993).
In 38 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion), Bellinger is hitting .363 (53-for-146) with seven doubles, nine homers and 29 RBI … his .363 average is the second-highest in the majors during the run, trailing Luis Arraez (.387).
IN RAREFIED AIR: Dansby Swanson last night recorded his ninth career multi-homer game (second this season – also, July 25 at White Sox) … according to ESPN Stats
and Info, Swanson yesterday became the third Cubs shortstop since 1960 with two home runs and five RBI in a game (last, Ernie Banks – April 29, 1960 at St. Louis).
In 10 games since being activated from the injured list July 22, Swanson is batting .333 (12-for-36) with a double, five home runs, 14 RBI, a .405 OBP and a 1.183 OPS … during the run, Swanson’s 14 RBI are tied with Pete Alonso for the most in the major leagues.
GOLDEN DEFENSE: Per Fangraphs, entering play today, the Cubs have recorded 27 defensive runs saved in 2023, the third-best mark in the N.L. and tied for fifth-most in the major leagues … Chicago finished the 2022 season with four defensive runs saved, which ranked 21st in the majors.
Dansby Swanson’s 12 defensive runs saved are the second-most among major league shortstops, trailing Wander Franco (15), and are tied for the sixth-most among all major leaguers.
Swanson is one of four major leaguers (also Ryan McMahon, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Matt Chapman) to have at least a .795 OPS and 12 defensive runs saved this season.
WHAT A RELIEF!: In 47 games dating to June 6, the Cubs bullpen has posted a 3.20 ERA (60 ER/168.2 IP), the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the majors during the run, trailing San Francisco (3.15).
Javier Assad since June 27 has pitched to a 0.40 ERA (1 ER/22.1 IP) in nine games … during that span, Assad’s 0.40 ERA is the second-lowest among major league relievers (min. 15.0 IP), trailing Felix Bautista (0.00).
Starting Pitcher – #11 LHP Drew Smyly (8-7, 4.50)
Last Time Out
Drew earned his eighth win of the season while pitching 4.1 innings out of the bullpen July 28 at St. Louis … it was his first win as a reliever since Oct. 2, 2021 when a member of the Braves … allowed just two hits, his fewest in an outing since April 21 vs. the Dodgers … surrendered just one run, his fewest in an appearance since June 19 at Pittsburgh … has pitched to a 6.94 ERA (28 ER/36.1 IP) in his last eight games (six starts) since June 14.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Entered/Left
7/28 @STL W, 3-2 4.1 2 1 1 1 6 61-37 0-1/3-2
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 3-3 5.94 10 9 50.0 53 34 33 13 51
Road 5-4 3.26 11 10 58.0 56 26 21 24 46
AVG vs. LHB: .319 (30-for-94) / AVG vs. RHB: .242 (79-for-326)
Drew will make his first start since July 17 vs. Washington after making his last two appearances out of the bullpen … began the season with a 3.27 ERA (26 ER/71.2 IP) in his first 13 starts … opposing batters are hitting .215 (47-for-219) with 70 strikeouts against his curveball.
Pitched a combined 8.0 innings out of the bullpen in two outings July 22-28, posting a 5.63 ERA (5 ER/8.0 IP) while striking out 11 batters.
Recorded his 1000th career strikeout in the second inning (Kiner-Falefa looking) July 8 at New York (A.L.).
Completed his 1000th career inning in the first inning May 28 vs. Cincinnati.
Allowed two-or-fewer runs in nine-straight starts from April 10-May 27, posting a 2.13 ERA (12 ER/50.2 IP) during the run, the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors (min. 9 GS).
April 21 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.) retired the first 21 batters of the game, becoming the first Cub to take a perfect game bid into the eighth inning since José Guzmán (April 6, 1993 vs. Atlanta) … was the first Cub to record a start of 7.0-plus innings with one hit, no runs, no walks and at least 10 strikeouts since Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game (May 6, 1998 vs. Houston).
Went 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA (11 ER/16.1 IP) with a 13:2 SO:BB ratio during Cactus League play
