WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
OPPONENT – PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Nationals and Phillies will face off 13 times in 2023 (6 in D.C., 7 in PHI)…Bryce Harper (2012-18), Trea Turner (2015-21) and Kyle Schwarber (2021) played for the Nationals…Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long served the same role with the Nationals from 2018-21…MASN’s Kevin Frandsen spent two seasons (2012-13) with the Phillies…Jake Alu is from Princeton, N.J. and attended Princeton Day School.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
The Washington Nationals continue a four-game set in Philadelphia tonight after splitting a doubleheader yesterday…The Nationals dropped the first game, 8-3, but took the nightcap, 5-4.
- In game two, Joey Meneses tied the game in the seventh with a two-run homer and then gave the Nationals the lead with a solo shot in the ninth…Meneses has now homered in the Nationals last three series and four of the last five.
- Andrés Machado (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO), Jordan Weems (Win, 1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Kyle Finnegan (Save, 1.0 IP, 2 SO) combined to hold the Phillies hitless though the final 3.1 innings.
STATUS CHECK
The Nationals have won five of six, seven of their last 10, 12 of their last 18, 16 of their last 26 and are 22-17 (.564) since June 24…This stretch includes series victories over the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
NEXT ON 20-20: LANE THOMAS
Lane Thomas hit his 20th home run and stole his 15th base yesterday…With five more stolen bases, Thomas would record the sixth 20 home run – 20 stolen base season in Nationals History (2005-pres.) and the first since 2016.
- Thomas is 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI, two walks, three stolen bases and eight runs scored in his last five games, with multi-hit games in three of them.
- In his last eight games at Citizens Bank Park, he is 12-for-34 (.353) with a double, a triple, a homer, six RBI, three walks, two stolen bases and five runs scored with multi-hit games in five of the eight.
- Thomas ranks in the National League in hits (4th, 129), doubles (T5th, 28), runs (8th, 78), average (10th, .287),…He leads the National League (T1st in MLB) with a career-high 11 outfield assists.
BORN TO RUN
Abrams is fourth in the National League with 27 stolen bases… He has stolen 24 consecutive bases without being caught, the longest single-season streak in Nationals history (2005-pres.)and now tied for the longest streak overall in Nationals history (2005-pres.) with Roger Bernadina (24 SB, June 9, 2010 to June 24, 2011) according to the Elias Sports Bureau…It is the longest active streak in MLB…Abrams was last caught stealing on May 3 vs. Chicago (NL).
- Since being moved to the leadoff spot on July 7, Abrams is hitting .327 with five doubles, a triple, four homers, 10 RBI, seven walks, two hit by pitch, 16 stolen bases and 23 runs scored…He’s hit safely in 21 of the 27 and has reached safely in 22 of the 27.
NOBODY SHUTS OUT THE NATS
The Nationals have not been shut out since April 19 vs. Baltimore, a streak of 96 straight games…It is the longest single-season streak in Nationals history (2005-pres.) and the longest streak in MLB this season.
- The next longest single-season streak is held by the Seattle Mariners (97 G, June 12-Oct. 3, 2021).
BACKSTOP BATS
Some notes on Washington’s catchers:
- Riley Adams has produced multi-hit efforts in five of his last seven starts and in six of his last nine…During this nine-game stretch, he is 14-for-34 (.412) with six doubles, a homer, six RBI and three walks.
- Keibert Ruiz is hitting .325 (26-for-80) with six doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, seven walks, one stolen base and nine runs scored over his last 22 games…He’s hit safely in 17 of the 22 games.
OK, KYLE
Kyle Finnegan has seven saves, five holds and has pitched to a 0.71 ERA (2 ER/25.1 IP) with a .146 opponents’ average (12-for-82) in his last 23 appearances.
- He’s set a new career-high and is eighth in the NL with 18 saves this season.
- Finnegan surrendered seven earned runs and three home runs in his first three outings…Since the next outing on April 7 at Colorado, he has pitched to a 1.51 ERA (8 ER/47.2 IP) with 49 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 45 games.
BULLISH ON THE ‘PEN
The Nationals have the best bullpen ERA in the NL (3rd in MLB) since July 21 at 2.39 (16 ER/60.1 IP)…Washington relievers are 7-1 with 60 strikeouts and just 20 walks in those 18 games.
- Over his last 11 games, Jordan Weems has not allowed a run in 10.1 innings, has held opponents to a .162 batting average (6-for-37), has walked just two hitters and struck out 13.
- In his last five games, Andrés Machado is 2-0 with 5.0 scoreless and hitless innings…He has stranded all seven inherited runners he’s been bequeathed in those games.
STARTING PITCHER – #1 MACKENZIE GORE
Left-handed starter was acquired by Washington at the 2022 Trade Deadline…Entered 2020 as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball and 2021 as the No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America …Was cited by Baseball America as having the “Best Fastball” in San Diego’s system entering the 2022 season and the “Best Slider”
in 2021 and 2018…Was the 2017 Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year, just the second baseball player to win the award at the time (Dylan Bundy in 2011; Bobby Witt Jr. in 2019).
LAST START
Allowed two earned runs on three hits, walked two and struck out five in 6.0 innings….He took a no decision in the Nationals’ 3-2 victory…Gore is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA (5 ER/ 16.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts over his last three starts.
vs. PHILADELPHIA
Faced the Phillies twice this season…He is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER/ 16.2 IP) over four career appearances against Philadelphia.
RANKS
Gore ranks 12th in MLB (6th in the NL) with 10.37 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (min. 110.0 IP).
- He ranks among NL lefties (min. 110.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9.0 (3rd, 10.37), strikeouts (3rd, 129), ERA (5th, 4.34) and opponents’ slugging percentage (5th, .433).
SWING AND A MISS
Gore ranks fourth among all MLB left-handed pitchers with 275 swings and misses this season, according to MLB Statcast…On May 28 at Kansas City, he induced a career-high 23 swings and misses in 7.0 innings.
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE
Gore’s curveball boasts a 39.8% whiff rate (swing&miss/total swings), seventh among all MLB curveballs (min. 100 PA) and the third-highest among MLB lefties.
EARNING THE CAPITAL K IN MacKenzie
Gore’s 129 strikeouts through 22 starts are the fifth-most in Nationals history (2005-pres.) by any pitcher in his first 21 starts with the club behind Max Scherzer (181; 2015), Patrick Corbin (159; 2019), Stephen Strasburg (150; 2010) and Gio Gonzalez (147; 2012).
- Gore’s 10.37 strikeouts per 9.0 innings would rank 10th in a season in Nationals history (2005-pres.)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
DOUBLEHEADER RECAP: The Phillies split a doubleheader with the Nationals with the Phils taking Game 1 and the Nats taking Game 2 … In Game 1, Zack Wheeler (W, 9-5) went 6.0 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 6 strikeouts and 0 walks – The Phillies hit four home runs: Schwarber (2), Bohm, Cave … In Game 2, Ranger Suarez (ND) went 5.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts … The Phillies were up 4-2 in the 7th before the Joey Meneses hit a 2-run home run to tie it … Meneses homered again in the 9th to put Washington ahead.
HATS OFF TO YOU THOMS: Since Rob Thomson was named manager of the Phillies on June 3, 2022, the Phils are 29 games over .500 at 127-98 with a .564 winning % that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.665), LAD (.641), HOU (.613), BAL (.590) and SEA (.576).
BALL GO BOOM: Over the last seven games (since 8/2), the Phillies have scored 46 runs and are averaging 6.6 runs per game … In 272 combined plate appearances, they are slashing .281/.338/.514 with an .852 OPS … They have hit 14 home runs in those seven games including 11 homers in their last four games.
NATITUDE PROBLEM: Since 7/29/21 (G2), the Phillies have won 28 of their last 35 games against the Nats (.800 win %) and have outscored them 250-146 (+104 run differential) – that includes a 12-4 record at CBP and a 16-3 record at Nats Park … In that span, the Phillies are slashing .290/.366/.549 with a .915 OPS – they have hit 77 home runs (2.2 HR per game) and have scored 250 runs (7.1 runs per game) – with RISP they are slashing .311/.414/.550 with a .963 OPS in 366 plate appearances.
PHILLY SPECIAL: Since the start of this homestand (8/4-current), Trea Turner is 7-for-19 at the plate with five extra-base hits (4 2B, HR) and 6 RBI … Turner is slashing .368/.400/.737 with a 1.137 OPS in 20 plate appearances during this stretch … Over his last 37 games at Citizens Bank Park (since 5/6), Turner has posted an .804 OPS with 22 runs scored, 17 extra-base hits (10 2B, 3B, 6 HR), 23 RBI, 12 walks and 9 stolen bases.
BEEP BEEP: In Game 2 last night, Trea Turner reached on an infield single to shortstop and registered a sprint speed of 32.1 feet per second, which, (as of print time) was T-5th out of 145,382 events tracked by Statcast this season – the ball in play had a .130 xBA (expected batting average) … For Turner personally, it was his second 32.1 feet per second sprint speed this season (other: infield single on 6/15 at ARI) … Of those 145,382 events this season, there are only four faster than Turner, but all four were either outs made or fielding errors: Bobby Witt Jr. (32.7 ft/sec on 6/5), Julio Rodriguez (32.7 ft/sec on 4/23), Geraldo Perdomo (32.4 ft/sec on 6/18) and Ji Hwan Bae (32.3 ft/sec on 4/17) – Turner has the two fastest sprint speeds on base hits in MLB this season … Following the 32.1 ft/sec infield single, Turner proceeded to steal his 22nd base of the season without being caught – he is just the third player in the last 11 years to begin a season with 22 straight steals without being caught (Nicky Lopez in 2021 and Alcides Escobar in 2013) … The last two Phillies to steal 22 straight without being caught to open a season were Chase Utley (23-for-23 in 2009) and Jimmy Rollins (25 straight to begin the 2008 season) … Turner has swiped 27 straight without being caught (9/6/22-current).
HARP ON IT: Over his last 14 games, two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper is slashing .298/.359/.526 with an .886 OPS in 64 plate appearances (7/25-current) … Harper has 4 doubles, 3 home runs and 9 RBI during this stretch … At Citizens Bank Park this season, Harper is slashing .326/.411/.493 with a .904 OPS and 22 walks to 32 strikeouts … Per Statcast, Harper has a .484 xSLG this season which is 56 points higher than his actual SLG entering play tonight of .428 – that 56 point difference is the 16thlargest of any qualified player in MLB this season.
HARPER BREAKDOWN BY MONTH
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: Through 53 games at CBP, the Phillies are averaging 38,744 in attendance, which ranks 6th among all clubs in MLB behind only the Dodgers (48,153), Cardinals (41,013), Yankees (40,857), Padres (40,855) and Braves (39,510) … Of Philadelphia’s first 53 openings at home, 25 have been sellouts (47%) and 41 have been over 35,000 (77%) … Among all clubs in MLB, the Phillies have the largest year-to-year increase in attendance per game this season at +10,319 (up from 28,425 per game through 53 home games in 2022) – CLE ranks 2nd at +7,112 per game … Per Baseball Reference, the last time a team saw a +10,000 spike in attendance from one year to the next was in 2010 when the Twins moved to Target Field from the Metrodome and saw a +10,332 spike from 2009 … For reference, the Phillies saw a +12,224 spike in attendance in 2004 when CBP was opened (40,125 per game) after averaging 27,901 per game during the final year at Veterans Stadium in 2003.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies are 37-20 over their last 57 games (since 6/3) and their .649 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (38-16, .704 win %) … The Phils opened the 2023 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 61-47 with a .565 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.625) and LAD (.581) and 7th in MLB.
ZEN MASTER: Tonight, Michael Lorenzen will make his second start for the Phillies since being acquired from the Tigers in a deadline deal for minor league infielder Hao-Yu Lee … In his first start, Lorenzen went 8.0 innings and allowed only 2 runs as he picked up the win in a 4-2 Phils victory over MIA on Aug. 3 … Lorenzen became the first Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee in 2009 to go 8.0 innings in his debut with the club … A first time All-Star this season with DET, Lorenzen is 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA (5 ER, 31.2 IP) over his last 5 starts (since 7/6).
TONIGHT’S STARTER – MICHAEL LORENZEN • RHP #22
2023: 6-7, 3.48 ERA Career: 37-36, 4.00 ERA
LAST START: 8/3 at MIA: W, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, HR, BB, 5 SO … Lorenzen vs Cueto … The Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins, 4-2, and took three of four games on South Beach … J.T. Realmuto homered in the 2nd to put the Phils up 2-0 and Brandon Marsh had a 2-run single in the 7th … Seranthony Domínguez picked up his 2nd save of the season with a scoreless 9th
TONIGHT’S START:
- First Impressions: Lorenzen made his first start as a Phillie last time out, going 8.0 IP for the second time in his career … Lorenzen became the first Phillies pitcher to toss at least 8.0 IP in his debut since Cliff Lee pitched a complete game in his first game as a Phillie on 7/31/09 … It was the second longest outing of Lorenzen’s career and the 11th time in his career he threw over 100 pitches
- Shut Down and Shut Out: In his last 5 starts, Lorenzen has posted a 1.42 ERA (5 ER, 31.2 IP), with 3 of those 5 starts being scoreless (7/6-20) … It marked the first time in his career that he had a 3-game streak in which he tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings and his 22.2 inning scoreless streak from 6/30-7/27 was the longest of his career… He is one of 9 pitchers this year to have a 3-game scoreless streak with at least 5.0 IP in each game and only Zac Gallen has a longer streak (4)
- Quality Control: Lorenzen earned his 9th quality start of the year in his last start … It surpassed his total from 2022 for the most quality starts in any season of his career
- Citizens Bank Spark: Lorenzen will be playing in his 6th game and making his 2nd start at CBP tonight … In his last start in Philly, Lorenzen struck out a career-high 9 batters
- Life in the Fast Lane: This season, Lorenzen’s .185 OPP AVG (22-119) against his 4-seamer ranks 11th in MLB and his OPP SLG (.303) ranks 7th (min. 100 PA) … His fastball is averaging 94.4 mph and he has struck out 35 batters with it
- In Play? No Problem: Lorenzen’s .264 BABIP is the 10th best mark in baseball among pitchers with at least 100.0 IP (best: Tyler Wells, .206)
- Left in Charge: Lorenzen is holding left-handed batters to a .200 AVG this season which ranks 12th in MLB (min. 130 batters faced)
- Start Your Engines: Since becoming a full-time starter at the beginning of last year, Lorenzen has posted a 3.83 ERA (90 ER, 211.1 IP) with 173 strikeouts and 72 walks while holding batters to a .228 AVG (176-773)
- Hey Now, You’re an All-Star: Lorenzen was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career … Representing the AL, he tossed a scoreless 0.2 IP with 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout
- Pitch Usage: 4-Seam Fastball (34.1%), Slider (24.5%), Changeup (20.7%), Sinker (11.8%), Sweeper (7.2%), Cutter (1.1%) and Curveball (0.7%)
- vs NL East: 6-8, 3 SV, 3.72 ERA (56 ER, 135.1 IP) in 61 games (12 starts)
HOME:
- 2023: 3-4, 3.92 ERA (25 ER, 57.1 IP) in 10 starts
- Career: 19-15, 10 SV, 3.77 ERA (151 ER, 360.2 IP) in 166 games (33 starts)
