COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
DOG DAYS
- The Colorado Rockies kick off their 10-game road trip tonight with the first of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals … following this series, will travel to Milwaukee for three games (Aug. 7-9) and Los Angeles-NL for four games (Aug. 10-13).
- The Rockies are coming off of a 2-4 homestand in which they dropped two of three to both the Oakland Athletics and the San Diego Padres.
- Colorado has gone 8-9 since the All-Star Break, winning two series, dropping three and splitting one … 11 of the Rockies’ last 13 losses since July 4 have come by three or fewer runs … conversely, six of their nine wins across that same span have been by three or fewer runs.
STEP RIGHT UP
- The Rockies have used 31 total pitchers this season, tied for the most in franchise history with the 2019 club … the Rockies have also tied the franchise record by using 15 different starting pitchers this season, tied with the 1993 and 2014 clubs for the most starters used in franchise history.
THIS FOR THAT
- The Rockies made five trades over the past two months prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline, acquiring a total of seven Minor League pitchers in return, three of whom now rank in the Rockies’ top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline.
- On Tuesday, the Rockies acquired RHP Alec Barger from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for LHP Brad Hand … in a separate trade, the Rockies also acquired LHP Justin Bruihl from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.
- On Sunday, the Rockies acquired RHP Jake Madden (#20 Rockies prospect) and LHP Mason Albright (#21 prospect) from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for INF C.J. Cron and OF Randal Grichuk, along with cash considerations. • On July 24, the Rockies acquired RHP Victor Vodnik (#22 prospect) and RHP Tanner Gordon from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Pierce Johnson. • On June 24, Colorado acquired Minor League RHP Connor Van Scoyoc via trade with the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for INF Mike Moustakas. • With the trades, the Rockies now have one of the youngest groups of position players in baseball per Stats Perform … at an average age of 27-years-and-219-days-old, the Rockies rank fifth in the Majors behind Baltimore (27-173), Pittsburgh (27-143), Kansas City (27-7) and Cleveland (26-280).
GOLDEN
- Third baseman Ryan McMahon is tied for the Major League lead with 17 defensive runs saved, the most among all infielders, while shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s 10 defensive runs saved are tied for the third-most among all shortstops … the Rockies are the only team in the Majors with two players on the left side of the infield with at least 10 defensive runs saved.
- 2022 Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Monday … his 22 DRS in 2022 led all second basemen and ranked second in the Majors overall.
- Rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Month by Fielding Bible/ Sports Info Solutions after he led all center fielders with six runs saved in July … his nine defensive runs saved on the season are tied for third among all center fielders while his 95.4 MPH average arm strength ranks seventh among all outfielders.
- Rookie outfielder Nolan Jones has totaled four DRS … his seven outfield assists are tied for the 10th-most in the Majors and are tied for the Major League lead since June 21 … his average arm strength of 98.9 MPH is the best among all outfielders.
IT MUST BE THE PIZZA
- The Rockies are looking for their first win in St. Louis since July 31, 2018, having lost 12 in a row at Busch Stadium … have not won a series in St. Louis since sweeping the Cardinals in four games in 2009, going 6-35 in St. Louis since 2010.
- Conversely, have gone 22-19 against the Cardinals at Coors Field since 2010 … dropped two of three to the Cardinals April 10-12, their first time losing a home series to the Cardinals at Coors Field since 2018.
DO IT LIKE TOVAR
- Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar recorded his 100th career hit last Friday, the 12th Rockie in history to reach the mark in 105 or fewer games, the first since David Dahl in 2018 … Tovar accomplished the feat four days before turning 22-years-old on Tuesday, the fifth-youngest Venezeuelan born player to log at least 100 games, 100 hits and 10 home runs before his 22nd birthday … youngest to do so since Ronald Acuna Jr. on Sept. 18, 2018 (20-years-and-274-days-old).
- Has begun his Rockies career by starting 110 consecutive games, the longest stretch of consecutive starts without a bench appearance to begin a Rockies’ career, per Elias … the previous streak was 69 games by Trevor Story in 2016.
BOMBERS BACK
- The Rockies hit 33 home runs in July, their first time hitting at least 30 home runs in any month since September 2021 … Colorado has connected on 26 home runs since the All-Star Break, the sixth-most in the National League.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #32 CHRIS FLEXEN RHP
WELCOME TO COLORADO
- After signing a Minor League contract with the Rockies on July 13, Flexen makes his second start as a member of the Rockies.
- Selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Memorial HS (Newark, Calif.) … was committed to play for Arizona State University but chose to sign with New York-NL.
- Released by New York-NL on Dec. 11, 2019 before signing with the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 18, 2020.
- Designated for assignment by Seattle and traded back to the Mets on July 3 with Trevor Gott for Zach Muckenheim … released by New YorkNL on July 6.
SHOWER WELL
- Made his Rockies debut last Friday against the Oakland Athletics at Coors Field … allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits, including two home runs in an 11-3 Rockies loss … walked a career-high six batters and hit a batter.
2023 SO FAR
- Pitched in 17 games (four starts) for the Mariners in 2023 prior to being DFA’d … went 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA (42.0 IP, 36 ER), 19 walks and 29 strikeouts.
- Went 0-4 in four starts with Seattle, all from April 5-23 … posted a 10.38 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched with 20 earned runs.
- Last start with Seattle came on April 23 against St. Louis … tossed four innings and allowed six runs on nine hits, two home runs, with three walks and three strikeouts.
- Moved to the bullpen after his start on April 23 … posted a 5.84 ERA (24.2 IP, 16 ER) as a reliever … pitched more than one inning in nine of his 13 appearances.
INSERT NELLY LYRIC
- Has lost each of his three career starts against St. Louis, posting an 11.57 ERA (9.1 IP, 12 ER) while allowing 17 hits (.405 opponent average) and three home runs.
- Lone start at Busch Stadium came on April 20, 2019, a 10-2 Mets loss … allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits with four walks across 4.1 innings.
ALTITUDE
- Has made three career appearances at Coors Field, including his start as a member of the home team on July 29 … has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits with seven walks, one hit batter and six strikeouts.
- Prior to joining the Rockies, made one start at Coors Field on Aug. 2, 2017 and one relief appearance on June 21, 2018.
FEELIN 22
- Went 8-9 with two saves and a 3.73 ERA over 137.2 innings in 33 games (22 starts) … limited opponents to a .250 average (132-for-529), walked 51 and struck out 95.
- Went 7-9 with a 4.02 ERA (121.0 IP, 54 ER) in his 22 starts.
- Went 3-0 with 1.95 ERA (27.2 IP, 6 ER) in five starts in July … limited opponents to a .204 (21-for-103) average, while walking 12 and striking out 18 …among AL pitchers in July, ranked 5th in ERA (min. 27.0 IP).
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue their longest homestand (10 games/11 days) of the season with the opening game of a three-game weekend series against the Colorado Rockies, tonight at 7:15 p.m. … The Cardinals fell, 5-3, to the Minnesota Twins last night, and are 2-5 in the first seven games of the homestand (1-3 vs Cubs, 1-2 vs. Twins).
FLIGHT PATTERN: St. Louis enters the day in last place in the NL Central, 11.0 games behind 1st place Milwaukee and 10.5 games back in the NL Wild Card chase … St. Louis has spent 88 of 124 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19, May 29-July 7 & July 28-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1995 when they were 45-65 (.409) after 110 games … With 52 games remaining on the schedule, the Cardinals need to go 33-19 (.635) to finish at .500.
TAP THE ROCKIES:
- St. Louis’ .772 home win pct. (44-13) vs. the Rockies is its best against any opponent since Busch III opened in 2006.
- St. Louis has won their season series vs. the Rockies in each of the last 12 seasons (2010-2022) and 21 times in 27 seasons since Colorado joined MLB as an e
expansion team in 1993. - The Cardinals have defeated the Rockies in 12 straight home games (Aug. 1, 2018-present), 18 of their last 19 (May 18, 2016-present) and are 35-6 (.854) at Busch III vs. the Rox in their last 41 meetings since Sept. 30, 2010.
- St. Louis’ current 12-game home winning streak over the Rockies is the club’s longest at Busch Stadium III and tied for the 7th-longest at home against the same opponent in franchise history.
- The 12-game streak is also currently the 2nd-longest active home winning streak between any two MLB teams behind the Red Sox’s 13-game losing streak to the Rays at Tropicana Field (April 23, 2022-present). – Elias
10,000 WINS MILESTONES: Since St. Louis owner Chris von der Ahe changed the team nickname to Cardinals from Perfectos in 1900, the organization has recorded 9,999 wins … This ranks as the 2nd-most wins in Major League Baseball by a team which hasn’t changed its nickname or city location (i.e. Dodgers & Giants) behind the Pittsburgh Pirates (10,294), who became the Pirates from the Allegheny’s in 1891 … Cincinnati, which switched its nickname from the Red Stockings to Reds to Redlegs to Reds has 10,834 overall, but since they changed their name to Redlegs from 1954-58 for fear their team would be associated with Communism, snapping their streak. – Cardinals Gameday Associates
UNCLE CHARLIE: Adam Wainwright owns the lowest career ERA (1.38) and highest win. percentage (.923, 12-1) of any pitcher against the Rockies with 75.0 IP or more … Since Divisional play began in 1969, Wainwright’s 1.38 ERA against the Rockies is the 2nd-best vs. any single opponent among pitchers with 13+ starts, trailing only Mel Stottlemyre vs. the California Angels (1.22 ERA in 13 starts).
ROOKIE RANKINGS: Led by Jordan Walker (10) & Alec Burleson (8), the Cardinals are ranked 8th in the N.L. in homers (18) by rookie players this season with Cincinnati (37) leading the pack … The Cardinals 243 rookie homers since 2015 are the most in the N.L. in the Statcast Era (2015-present), 20 more then the LA Dodgers (223) … Rockies rookies rank 3rd in the N.L. this season with 29 home runs.
PITCH PERFECT: Since the MLB trade deadline passed on Aug. 1, the Cardinals bullpen has been flawless, posting 7.0 scoreless innings, matching the San Francisco Giants (13.1 IP) Texas Rangers (7.1 IP) bullpens as the lone MLB firemen to have not allowed an earned run to begin the month. The Cardinals starters had a string of 5-straight games with 6.0+ IP snapped last night when Matthew Liberatore came just 1/3 of an inning shy of making it 6-straight games with 6.0+ IP by the Redbirds starters.
EIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH: When Jordan Walker slammed his 10th home run of the season Wed. night, the Cardinals became the 5th team in MLB this season with eight or more players posting double-digit home run totals … The Braves (9) lead MLB, while the Rangers, Dodgers and Rays are tied with the Cardinals at eight … The franchise record stands at 11 by the 2019 team (Bader, Carpenter, DeJong, Edman, Fowler, Goldschmidt, Martinez, Molina, Ozuna, Wieters, Wong), while the 2000 and 2016 teams each had nine with 10+ home runs.
YOUNG BUCK: Jordan Walker continues to add to his storied rookie season as his double-digit home run total made him the 3rd-youngest Cardinals player to hit 10 or more home runs (21-years, 72-days), behind Curt Flood (20.209) in 1958 and Rogers Hornsby (21.018) in 1917 … The most recent Cardinal to hit double-digit home runs at age 21 was Albert Pujols (37) in 2001.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (3-5, 7.18)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Makes his 14th start of the season & 471st career appearance (404th career start).
- Owns the lowest career ERA (1.38) and highest winning percentage (.923, 12-1) of any pitcher against the Rockies with 75.0 IP or more.
- Since Divisional play began in 1969, Wainwright’s 1.38 ERA against the Rockies is the 2nd-best against any single opponent among pitchers with 13+ starts, trailing only Mel Stottlemyre vs. the California Angels (1.22 ERA in 13 starts).
- Currently riding a four-game losing skid (June 24-present), tying his career-high established from August 19-Sept. 4, 2010.
- Wainwright is one of 13 pitchers (two Cardinals) in MLB history to make 400 or more career starts exclusively with one organization. Clayton Kershaw (414) joins Wainwright as the two active. Bob Gibson ranks 6th, while Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators leads at 666.
- Is two wins shy of 200 career and 12 wins from 210 (T-2nd all-time Cardinals history with Jesse Haines).
- Adam turns age 42 on August 30, Waino is one of three active players age 40+ with Rich Hill (43) and Miguel Cabrera (40). Has made 51 starts since turning age 40.
- Pitched 5.0+ innings in 10 of 13 starts (one quality start).
- Has missed a total of 48 games this season. Missed the first 33 games of the season (March 30-May 5) due to a groin injury suffered while working out during the WBC Finals and another 15 games (July 5-23) due to a right shoulder strain.
BUSCH STADIUM III (2006-present)
- His 211th career start at Busch Stadium III tonight ties Clayton Kershaw (211 at Dodger Stadium) and Félix Hernandez (211 at T-Mobile Park) for 16th-most at a single stadium in MLB history.
- Has 1,193 regular season strikeouts at Busch Stadium III, 13th-most all-time at a single stadium. Dazzy Vance (1,201 at Ebbets Field) ranks 12th.
- Has thrown 1,415.1 innings at Busch, 39th all-time at a single stadium. His first out ties Fergie Jenkins (1,415.2 at Wrigley Field) for 38th, while Félix Hernandez (1,422.2 at T-Mobile Park) and Chuck Finley (1,422.2 at Angel Stadium) tie for 36th.
- Earned 107 career regular season wins at Busch Stadium III, tied with Wilbur Cooper (107 at Forbes Field) for 22nd-most wins at a single stadium.
- Needs one Home win to pass Jesse Haines (107) for 2nd all-time among Cardinals.
- Is one of 22 pitchers in MLB history to hold a stadium’s record for both appearances (241) and starts (210). Joins Bob Forsch (233 app/207 GS at Busch II) as Cardinals on that list.
LAST TIME OUT
- Allowed a pair of 2-run HR to Ian Happ and Yan Gomes in a 5-1 defeat to the Cubs on Saturday at Busch Stadium. Marked his 4th loss in a row, tying a career high.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/29 CHI L 5-1 L-5 6.0 7 4 4 3 3 2 87-52
