PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #119 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Minnesota Twins, 3-0, at Citizens Bank Park … Starter Ranger Suarez (L, 2-6) went 6.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts … The Phillies had 5 hits on the day, all singles … In the bottom of the 7th inning, down 2-0, the Phillies had the bases loaded with 1 out but Kyle Schwarber popped out to 1st base and Alec Bohm struck out looking – Bohm was ejected in the 7th inning and Rob Thomson was ejected in the 8th inning.
HOMECOMING KING: Phils’ skipper Rob Thomson returns to Toronto for the second time as manager this week … On July 12 last year, Thomson became the first Canadian born manager to ever manage a game in his home country … Thomson, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, was born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada and is only the seventh manager born in Canada to guide a major league club and the first since 1934 … He is joined by Arthur Irwin, who managed five clubs (1889-1899), including the Phillies from 1894-95, Bob Addy (1877), Bill Watkins (1884-99), George Wood (1891), Fred Lake (1908-10) and George Gibson (1920-34) … A former catcher, Thomson also represented Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games … Earlier this season he became the first Canadian to manage in the All-Star Game … Last season, he became the first Canadian to ever manage a game in the postseason … Thomson, who guided the Phillies to a 65-46 record last year after taking over, became only the fourth manager to take a team at least seven games under .500 and lead them to the postseason, joining Dick Howser (KC, 1981), Cito Gaston (TOR, 1989) and Jim Tracy (COL, 2009)
WIN ONE FOR THE TOPPER: Tomorrow, Phils manager Rob Thomson will celebrate his 60th birthday … Since he was named manager on June 3, 2022, Thomson has the Phillies 30 games over .500 at 130- 100 with a .565 winning percentage that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.667), LAD (.649), HOU (.610), BAL (.592) and SEA (.572).
ZEN MASTER: Yesterday, MLB announced that Michael Lorenzen was named National League CoPlayer of the Week (also: Matt Olson) … Lorenzen tossed the 14th no-hitter in franchise history in his first start as a Phillie at CBP in only his 2nd start with the club – it’s the first weekly award of Lorenzen’s career and he is the first Phillies player to win a weekly award since Rhys Hoskins on July 5th of last season.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS: The Phillies have hit 52 home runs this season against left-handers which ranks 3rd in MLB behind LAD (60) and ATL (55) – Philadelphia’s 123 extra-base hits against LHP ranks T-3rd in MLB (with TEX), behind only LAD (129) and WSH (126) … The Phillies are 21-16 in 37 games against lefthanded starters this season and their .568 win % ranks 3rd in the NL (ATL, .682 & SF, .594).
LEADING MAN: Since Kyle Schwarber was inserted back into the leadoff spot on June 2, he has posted a .793 OPS and the Phillies are 40-23 (.635 win %) while averaging 5.1 runs per game (320 R, 63 G) … Schwaber has 48 walks in his 62 games played since June 2 (lone day off on 8/9), all coming in the leadoff spot – the last MLB leadoff hitter with 48 walks in a 62-game span before Scwharber was SD’s Rickey Henderson, May 17-Sept. 17, 2001 (57 BB in 62 G) … Schwarber has already set a career high in walks this season with 88 (previous: 86 in 2022) and he ranks 2nd in MLB in both walks and walk rate (16.7 %) behind only Juan Soto (100 BB, 19.2%).
ROAD WORK: The Phillies have won 20 of their last 28 games away from home since June 3 and their .714 winning percentage on the road in that stretch ranks 1st in MLB (next: CIN, 21-11, .656) … This stretch includes a 13-game road winning streak (6/13-7/7) that is tied for the longest in franchise history (also: 13 G streak in 1976) … When that 13-game winning streak began, the Phillies were 10 games under .500 on the road at 13-23 – they became the first team in MLB history to be 10 games or more under .500 on the road before winning 11+ straight to get back over .500.
AMERICA’S TEAM: The Phillies have won 18 of their last 24 games against the American League (.750 win % since 5/7) – they have outscored the AL 115-74 in those 24 games (+41 run differential) … With a 25-16 record overall against the AL this season, the Phillies have the 5th best Interleague winning % in MLB at .610 … The Phillies have a 9-5 record in series play against the AL and have won nine of their last 12 series dating back to April 18-19 at CWS … Earlier this year, the Phils had a franchise-record 12-game winning streak against the AL (5/7-7/6), which included wins over BOS (1), TOR (2), DET (3), at OAK (3) and at TB (3) … The streak is tied for the 2nd-longest Interleague winning streak in MLB history (13 is the record) and was the longest since 2017 when the Dodgers won 13 straight against the AL.
SECRETARIO DE DEFENSA: Center fielder Johan Rojas made his ML debut one month ago today on July 15 against the Padres … Since then, he has played in 23 games and started 17, all in center field … Rojas has 171.0 innings in center field this season (51st in MLB, 24th in the NL) but already has racked up 6 defensive runs saved which ranks 3rd among all National League center fielders, behind only COL’s Brenton Doyle (9 DRS) and ARI’s Alek Thomas (8 DRS) … Since his ML debut one month ago, Rojas ranks T-1st among all players in MLB with 6 DRS, most among all MLB center fielders … Since his debut, Rojas is tied with Patrick Bailey, Matt Olson, Fernando Tatis Jr., Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., all with 6 DRS … At the time of his promotion, Sports Info Solutions credited Rojas with 16 DRS in the minors, which at the time was 12 more than any other minor league center fielder – his 22 DRS combined in the minors and majors would be the most of any player in MLB this year (next: Tatis, 21 DRS) … Per Statcast, Rojas’ average arm strength of 91.3 MPH ranks 11th out of 61 major league center fielders (min. 50 throws) and his top throw of 99.5 MPH ranks 4th among those 61, behind only Cody Bellinger (102.5 MPH), Brenton Doyle (102.4 MPH) and Julio Rodriguez (99.7 MPH).
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies are 40-22 over their last 62 games (since 6/3) and their .645 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (43-18, .705 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 64-49 with a .566 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.631) and LAD (.600) and 7th in MLB.
PHILLY SPECIAL: Over his last 9 games (8/5-current), Trea Turner is slashing .457/.486/.800 with 6 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI and a 1.286 OPS … He had a hit in every game during t
TONIGHT’S STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
2023: 9-5, 3.74 ERA Career: 83-62, 3.45 ERA
LAST START: 8/8 vs WSH: W, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 HR, 0 BB, 6 SO … Wheeler vs Williams … The Phillies split a doubleheader with the Nationals with the Phils taking Game 1 and the Nats taking Game 2 … The Phillies hit four home runs: Schwarber (2), Bohm, Cave
TONIGHT’S START:
- Quality Control: Wheeler ranks T-3 rd in the National League with 15 quality starts … He has earned one in 6 straight outings and it is only the 5th time in his career he has had at least a 6-game streak with a quality start and first time since 5/18-6/16/22 … He is one of 16 ML pitchers to do so this year and joins Joe Musgrove (9 games) as the only other pitcher with an active streak of at least 6 quality starts
- In the Zone: In his last 7 starts (43.2 IP), Wheeler has walked only 3 batters … It is the first time in his career that he has walked 3 or fewer batters in a 7-game span … On the year, Wheeler’s 4.4% walk rate ranks 7th among pitchers with at least 100.0 IP … It is currently the lowest walk rate of his career (previous best: 5.4%, 2021)
- American Dream: This season, Wheeler has posted a 2.81 ERA (15 ER, 48.0 IP) against the AL … Since 5/10, which was his first game against TOR this year, he has posted a 0.99 ERA (3 ER, 27.1 IP) in 4 starts
- Zack With a K: Wheeler’s SO/BB rate of 6.20 is the best in the NL and 3rd best in MLB … It is currently the best SO/BB rate of any season in his career (2nd best: 2021, 5.37) … Wheeler currently ranks 8th in the NL in strikeouts (155), with everyone in front of him having at least 1 more start
- Whiffs: Wheeler is running the following whiff rates on each pitch in his arsenal: Sweeper (43.1%), 4-seam Fastball (30.1%), Curveball (29.8%), Slider (22.1%) and Sinker (16.4%)
- The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Since he signed with the Phillies as a free agent (since 2020), Wheeler ranks 1st among all pitchers in MLB in fWAR at 17.5 and he leads Corbin Burnes who ranks 2nd at 16.8, Kevin Gausman ranks 3rd (16.4), Aaron Nola 4th (15.2) and Sandy Alcantara 5th (13.7)
- Statcast Rankings: 98th percentile in extension, 95th percentile in walk rate, 89th percentile in fastball spin, 87th percentile in average exit velocity, 83rd percentile in barrel rate and curve spin, 81st percentile in fastball velocity, 78th percentile in chase rate and 76th percentile in SO rate
- Pitch Usage: 4-seam fastball (41.4%), Sinker (17.7%), Slider (16%), Sweeper (12.7%), Curveball (11.8%), Changeup (0.4%)
ROAD:
- 2023: 6-3, 3.44 ERA (27 ER, 70.2 IP) in 12 starts
- Career: 44-29, 3.48 ERA (251 ER, 649.2 IP) in 109 starts
2023 SEASON:
- Took a no-hitter into the 8th inning on 6/8 vs DET which was the longest no-hit bid of his career (previous: 6.1 innings on 7/30/13 vs MIA)
- Reached 10 years of ML service on Sunday (6/11) vs LAD
- Recorded his 18th career double-digit strikeout game and 10th as a Phillie on 5/27 at ATL
- Racked up a career-high 23 swings and misses on 4/23 vs COL
- Made his 200th career start on 4/23 vs COL
- In July, had the following NL ranks: 1st in SO/BB (19.50), 2nd in BB/9.0 IP (0.57) and FIP (2.66), 3rd in OPP OBP (.236), 4th in WHIP (0.57), 5th in strikeouts (39), 11th in OPP AVG (.223), 12th in IP (31.2) and 13th in OPP SLG (.397)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays snapped a three-game slide on Sunday with an 11-4 win over the Cubs…Improved to 22-16 in series finales. Toronto has won 12 of its last 21 games, 21 of its last 35, and is 40-29 over its last 69 contests…Its .580 win% over that span (since May 26) is 2nd-highest in the AL (BAL – .594)…Is currently holding the 3rd AL Wild Card spot, 2.0 games back of Houston (68-52) for the 2nd spot, and now 2.0 games up on Seattle (63-55).
HIGH FIVE, DAULTON: Daulton Varsho gave Toronto the lead in the 2nd inning on Sunday with a three-run shot to right field, his 14th home run of the season…Marked his 1st home run at Rogers Centre since June 6 vs. HOU. The outfielder also drove in a pair of runs with a single in the 4th, finishing the day 2-for-5 with a career-high five RBI (4 RBI, 3x)…Was also his 20th multi-hit game of the season…Over his last 10 games, has hit .281 (9-for-32) with four extra-base hits and eight RBI (.866 OPS).
FOUR-HIT WHIT: Whit Merrifield went 4-for-6 on Sunday with a trio of singles, a double, an RBI, and two runs scored…Is one of just 10 AL batters with at least three 4+ hit games, a list which also includes teammates Bo Bichette (5) and George Springer (3). The three-time All-Star now has 40 hits since the All-Star Break, the most among AL hitters…His 19 runs scored over that span is tied for 9th…Is hitting .348 (46-for-132) with four doubles, nine home runs, and 24 RBI over his last 33 games for a .950 OPS…Is now batting .302 on the season, good for 5th among AL hitters (9th in MLB), while his 22 stolen bases are 10th most.
R-YU SERIOUS:
Hyun Jin Ryu gave up a pair of unearned runs over 5.0 innings of work on Sunday, scattering two hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts…Earned his first win since May 26, 2022 at LAA…Has allowed no earned runs in back-to-back outings (9.0 IP)…Over three starts since coming off the IL, has posted a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14.0 IP) and a 1.07 WHIP.
CAVAN A GOOD TIME: Cavan Biggio singled twice, was hit by a pitch, and scored two runs as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon…Was his 10th multi-hit game of the season…Over his last 48 games, has gone 32-for-117 (.274) with 25 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs, and 18 RBI (.836 OPS).
VLAD HABITS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had an RBI single in both the 2nd and 4th innings on Sunday…Finished 2-for-5 for his 33rd multi-hit game…Has recorded an AL-leading 202 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season, 18 more than the next closest batter (Kyle Tucker – 184), while his average exit velocity of 93.3 ranks 8th.
SANTI-MATTER: Santiago Espinal singled in a run on Sunday…Over his last 11 starts, has batted .306 (11-for-36) with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI for a .787 OPS.
HOME FOR NATIONAL FOES: The Blue Jays are on a five-game, six-day, all-interleague homestand (1-2 so far)…Have gone 31-26 this season at Rogers Centre…The .544 win% at home is 9th in the AL…After this series with the Phillies, will have Thursday off before embarking on a six-game road trip to Cincinnati (62-58) and Baltimore (74-45). Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home OBP (.329), 5th in home AVG (.254), 7th in home OPS (.732), and 10th in home SLG (.403)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd among AL teams with 3.40 home ERA while sitting 3rd with a .227 home opponents’ average and 5th with a 1.20 home WHIP.
BEING ON BRANDON: Brandon Belt singled and drew three walks to finish 1-for-3 with two runs scored on Sunday…Has reached base safely in each of his last 11 starts while going 13- for-40 (.325) with 11 runs, four doubles, three home runs, five RBI, and nine walks (1.099 OPS)…His 4.44 pitches/PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 200 PA), behind only Patrick Wisdom (4.50) for the highest in the Majors.
YUSEI’S STREAK:
Yusei Kikuchi gets the ball tonight, coming in with five straight starts of one-or-no earned runs…That five-game streak trails only Dave Stieb (6G from Sept. 13, 1988-April 10, 1989) and Hyun Jin Ryu (6G from Aug. 5-Sept. 2, 2020) for the longest in team history.
PITCHING IN:
Toronto pitchers have combined for an MLBbest 3.70 ERA this season (2nd: SEA – 3.71)…Are 3rd in MLB with 1,121 strikeouts (MIN – 1,146; MIA
- 1,135)…Rank 5th in the AL in WHIP (1.25) and 7th in opponents’ average (.240)…The rotation has 55 quality starts, T-4th most in MLB.
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 1,076 hits this season, 3rd most in MLB (TEX – 1,127; ATL – 1,116)…Are currently 2nd in the AL in team OBP (.331), 3rd in AVG (.261), 5th in OPS (.748), 6th in SLG (.417), and 7th in extra-base hits (360).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 13th interleague series of the year…Has gone 23-12 vs. NL clubs so far…The .657 win% in interleague games is the best among MLB teams (2nd: CIN – .630)…Has set a club record with the 23 wins vs. NL clubs (14 in 2021).
VS. THE PHILLIES: All-Time: 42-30
2023: 0-2 Home: 21-13
Home: 0-0 Rogers Centre: 17-12
The Blue Jays lost both games at Citizens Bank Park when the clubs met earlier this season…Won both meetings here at Rogers Centre last year…Have won 16 of their last 20 home games vs. their 1993 World Series opponent, dating back to 2011.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base in four of his nine plate appearances during the two games in Philly in May (2B, 2-BB, HBP)…Has gone 14-for-52 (.269) with two doubles, five home runs, and 10 RBI in his 15 career games vs. PHI (.957 OPS).
Daulton Varsho racked up eight hits in his five games vs. the Phillies last season, including four extra-base hits and four RBI…In 12 career meetings, has batted
.273 (12-for-44) with four doubles, a home run, and four RBI (.736 OPS).
Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 46 career games against the Phillies…Has hit .224 (32- for-143) with seven doubles, six home runs, and 20 RBI along the way (.726 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 24th start of the season and his 11th at Rogers Centre…Took the hard-luck loss his last time out, on 8/8 at CLE, matching a season best with 7.0 innings of one-run ball (3H, BB, 6K)…Has pitched into the 5th inning in all 23 starts this year, the only Blue Jay starter to do so. Has allowed one run or fewer in each of his last 5 starts, and in 7 of his last 9…Over that span (since 6/20), has gone 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA (14 ER/51.1 IP), the 3rd-best ERA among AL hurlers.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Improved to 9-3 on 8/2 vs. BAL, twirling 6.0 innings of one-run ball (6H, BB, 3K)…Marked his 7th quality start of the season. Picked up his career-best 8th win of the year on 7/26 at LAD, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. 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. 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-and-misses. Improved to 6-2 on 5/30 vs. MIL, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a season-high 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. 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 PHILLIES:
Facing the Phillies for the 1st time in his career…Has made 7 starts against NL opponents this season, going 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA (10 ER/37.0 IP) and 40 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .226 AVG…In 20 career interleague starts, owns a 4-5 record and a 4.44 ERA (48 ER/97.1).
