PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #120 RECAP: The Phillies fell to the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-1, at Rogers Centre in Canada … Starter Zack Wheeler (ND) went 7.0 innings and allowed 1 run on 3 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts … The clubs traded zeroes until the 6th inning when a Johan Rojas double scored Edmundo Sosa to put the Phils ahead 1-0 … Toronto scored their lone run off Wheeler in the 6th to tie the game at 1-1 … Wheeler left after 7.0 innings and was relieved by Seranthony Dominguez who permitted four baserunners (H, 2 BB, HBP) – the Blue Jays scored once in the frame to take a 2-1 lead which they would hold.
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: Phils manager Rob Thomson is celebrating his 60th birthday today … Since he was named manager on June 3, 2022, Thomson has the Phillies 29 games over .500 at 130-101 with a .563 winning percentage that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.668), LAD (.651), HOU (.612), BAL (.590) and SEA (.574).
RMS RACE: Over the last 63 games (since 6/3), the Phillies’ starting rotation has gone 24-14 with an MLB-best 3.21 ERA (135 ER, 378.2 IP) … During this current run, they have the lowest opponents OPS among all starting staffs in MLB at .667 (next: MIL, .691), the lowest opponents OBP at .284 (next: SEA, .286), the lowest opponents SLG at .383 (next: CLE, .387), the lowest WHIP at 1.12 (next: SEA, 1.14) and the most innings pitched at 378.2 (next: HOU, 363.2) … The staff has gone at least 6.0 innings in 41 of those 63 games (65%), at least 7.0 innings in 18 of those 63 games (29%) and of their 63 starts, 34 have been quality starts (54%) … Since June 3, the Phillies bullpen has tossed the fewest innings of any relief corps in MLB at 194.1 (29th is MIN at 203.1 and most is SF at 307.1) but have the 5th-lowest ERA in MLB at 3.47 … Philadelphia’s starters and relievers have combined for 16.9 fWAR this season which leads MLB (next: SEA, 16.4) and is more than three full wins clear of the next closest NL club (ATL, 13.5 fWAR) … Philadelphia’s starters rank 2nd in MLB in fWAR at 12.7 and the bullpen ranks 7th at 4.2.
RISP AND REWARD: Despite going hitless last night with RISP, the Phillies are batting .276 (90-326) with RISP since July 1 and their .276 AVG in that span ranks 8th in MLB – their .360 OBP with RISP since July 1 ranks 5th in MLB and their .807 OPS ranks 9th … Overall, the Phillies rank 17th in MLB this season with a .251 AVG with RISP, however, from the start of the season through June, the Phillies ranked 25th with a .239 AVG with RISP.
GLOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: Using Statcast’s Outs Above Average, the Phillies have the second-best defense up the middle in MLB this season … The Phillies have gotten 26 OAA from the following three positions combined: second base, shortstop and center field … Their 26 OAA from those three positions rank 2nd among all clubs in MLB, and trails only Kansas City (35 OAA from 2B, SS & CF) … Individually, Bryson Stott has moved into the top 10 among all players in baseball with 10 OAA this season which ranks 3rd among all MLB second baseman, trailing only SF’s Thairo Estrada (12 OAA) and TEX’s Marcus Semien (11 OAA) … Only three Phillies have finished a season with 10 OAA since Statcast started tracking in 2016: SS Freddy Galvis (10 OAA) in 2016, OF Peter Bourjos (11 OAA) in 2016 and OF Odubel Herrera (11 OAA) in 2017.
ROAD WORK: The Phillies have won 20 of their last 29 games away from home since June 3 and their .690 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.
ZEN MASTER: Monday, MLB announced that Michael Lorenzen was named National League Co-Player of the Week (also: Matt Olson) … Lorenzen authored 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.
AMERICA’S TEAM: The Phillies have won 18 of their last 25 games against the American League (.720 win % since 5/7) – they have outscored the AL 116-76 in those 25 games (+40 run differential) … With a 25-17 record overall against the AL this season, the Phillies have the 5th best Interleague winning % in MLB at .595 … 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.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies are 40-23 over their last 63 games (since 6/3) and their .635 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (44-18, .710 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 64-50 with a .561 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.634) and LAD (.604) and 7th in MLB.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – AARON NOLA • RHP #27
2023: 9-8, 4.49 ERA Career: 87-70, 3.70 ERA
LAST START: 8/10 vs WSH: ND, 5.0 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 6 SO … Nola vs Lyles … The Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals, 6-2, as they took three of four games from their division rival … Down 1-0 in the 6th, Trea Turner blasted a 2-run homer to put the Phils in front 2-1 … In the 7th, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto both hit 2-run homers as the Phillies stretched the lead to 6-1 … Washington scored a run in the 8th to make it 6-2, but Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless 9th to secure the game and series for the Phils
TONIGHT’S START:
- Sharp as a WHIP: Nola has a 1.14 WHIP on the season, which ranks 6th in the NL and T-19th in the ML … Since 2018, Nola’s 1.09 WHIP is T-8th in the major leagues and T-6th in the NL … Nola’s 1.13 career WHIP is T-8th best in Phillies history (min. 500.0IP)
- In Play? No Problem: Nola’s opponents have a .276 batting average on balls in play this season, which ranks T-5th in the NL (best: Corbin Burnes, .238) … It is the 2nd-lowest mark in his career (best: 2018, .251)
- Walk It Out: Nola only walked 1 batter in his last outing and has a 5.8% walk rate on the year … Nola has posted a sub-6% walk rate in 2 seasons in his career and they have both come in the last 2 years (5.2% in 2021 & 3.6% in 2022) … He currently ranks 7th in the NL in walk %
- Pitch Usage: Curveball (32.6%), 4-Seam Fastball (28.1%), Sinker (19.4%), Changeup (11.7%), Cutter (8.2%)
- vs AL East: 36-36, 3.22 ERA (37 ER, 103.1 IP) in 17 starts
ROAD:
- 2023: 5-5, 5.15 ERA (49 ER, 85.2 IP) in 14 starts
- Career: 39-43, 4.18 ERA (319 ER, 686.1 IP) in 116 starts
2023 SEASON:
- 2023 NL Ranks: BABIP (T-5th , .274), IP (5th , 148.1), WHIP (6th, 1.14), BB/9.0 IP (7th, 2.12), SO (9th, 147) and SO/9.0 IP (12th, 9.28)
- Innings Eater: Since the start of the 2018 season, Nola’s 1020.0 IP are the 2nd-most in the majors … This season, Nola has gone at least 6.0 IP in 18 of his 24 starts (75%) … His 18 instances of 6.0 or more innings are tied for tied for the 4th most in the majors behind SF’s Logan Webb, NYY’s Gerrit Cole and ARI’s Zac Gallen
- Philly Value: Since 2018, Nola is one of two pitchers in baseball to accrue more than 20.0 fWAR (24.1) and pitch for only one team (other: Shane Bieber, 20.5) … In that span, he ranks 5th overall in fWAR behind only Max Scherzer (27.3), Jacob deGrom (27.1), Gerrit Cole (26.7) and Zack Wheeler (26.6) … His 32.5 fWAR as a Phillie is 7th most in franchise history trailing Curt Simmons (33.5) for 6th place
- What Is It Good For: Additionally, since the start of the 2022 season, Nola’s 8.9 fWAR is the best among all NL pitchers and is the 2nd most among ML pitchers, behind only Kevin Gausman (10.1)
- Road Scholar: Since the start of the 2022 season, among all ML pitchers in road games, Nola has recorded the most SO (208), the most IP (193.2) and has the 3rd best SO/BB ratio (6.50) … Nola’s 30 starts on the road in that span are tied for the 3rd most in MLB
- 7th Heaven: On 8/10, Nola made his 227th career start … Nola now holds sole possession for the 7th most starts in Phillies history … Nola trails Steve Carlton (499), Robin Roberts (472), Chris Short (301), Cole Hamels (294), Grover Alexander (280) and Curt Simmons (263)
- Phils’ Ranks: Recorded the 30th double-digit SO game of his career and 3rd of 2023 on 7/4 at TB … Is now in sole possession of 3rd place in club history (Curt Schilling is 2nd with 48)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays edged the Phillies by a score of 2-1 last night…Improved to 21-18 in series openers…Are now 20-16 in one-run games…The .556 win% in one-run contests is 3rd best in the AL (6th in MLB). Toronto has won 13 of its last 22 games, 22 of its last 36, and is 41-29 over its last 70 contests…Its .586 win% over that span (since May 26) is tied with Baltimore for the highest in the AL…Is currently holding the 3rd AL Wild Card spot, 2.0 games back of Houston (69-52) for the 2nd spot, and 2.0 games up on Seattle (64-55).
ONE AND DONE: With yesterday’s effort, Blue Jays pitchers now have an MLB-high 34 games with one or no runs allowed this season, eight more than any other team (SEA – 26)…Recorded 35 such games last season, and have only twice had more than that (40 in 1991, 37 in 1989).
GOING STREAKING: Yusei Kikuchi pitched 6.0 innings of one-run ball last night, allowing four hits and no walks to go with seven strikeouts…Marked his 9th quality start of the season… Was his 6th straight start allowing one-or-no earned runs, tying Dave Stieb (Sept. 13, 1988-April 10, 1989) and Hyun Jin Ryu (Aug. 5-Sept. 2, 2020) for the longest in team history…Over those six starts, has gone 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA (5 ER/35.0 IP), 36 strikeouts, and 1.00 WHIP while holding opposing batters to a .213 AVG. The lefty’s 1.29 ERA since the All-Star break ranks 2nd best in the Majors (min. 25.0 IP), behind only Michael Lorenzen (1.26)…His 3.44 ERA for the year is now 11th among qualified AL pitchers.
MULTI-HIT WHIT: Whit Merrifield singled twice and scored both Toronto runs last night…Marked his 35th multi-hit game of the season, 10th most among AL batters…Now has 42 hits since the All-Star Break, the most among AL hitters…His 21 runs scored over that span are tied for 4th while his .350 AVG ranks 6th. The three-time All-Star is hitting .353 (48-for-136) with four doubles, nine home runs, and 24 RBI over his last 34 games for a .952 OPS…Is now batting .304 on the
season, good for 4th among AL hitters (8th in MLB), while his 22 stolen bases are 10th most.
CAVAN BBIGGIO: Cavan Biggio walked twice and ended up with the game-winning RBI as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 8th inning…Over his last 49 games, has gone 32-for-118 (.271) with 25 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs, 19 RBI, and 15 walks (.843 OPS).
BEING ON BRANDON: Brandon Belt singled and walked as he finished 1-for-3 last night…Has reached base safely in each of his last 12 starts while going 14-for-43 (.326) with 11 runs, four doubles, three home runs, five RBI, and 10 walks (.453 OBP, 1.081 OPS)…His 4.43 pitches/PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 200 PA), behind only Patrick Wisdom (4.50) for the highest in the Majors.
HOME FOR NATIONAL FOES: The Blue Jays are at the end of a five-game, six-day, all-interleague homestand (2-2 so far)…Have gone 32-26 this season at Rogers Centre…The .552 win% at home ranks 8th in the AL…After this series with the Phillies, will have tomorrow off before embarking on a six-game road trip to Cincinnati (62-59) and Baltimore (74-46). Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home OBP (.329), 6th in home AVG (.253), 8th in home OPS (.729), and 10th in home SLG (.400)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd among AL teams with 3.36 home ERA while sitting 3rd with a .225 home opponents’ average and 4th with a 1.19 home WHIP.
FEELING GEORGE-OUS: George Springer plated Toronto’s 1st run last night with an RBI single in the 6th…Has hits in 10 of his last 11 games while going 17-for-43 (.395) with five extra-base hits and six RBI (.558 SLG). Since snapping a career-long 0-for-35 hitless streak on Aug. 2 vs. BAL, the Connecticut native has gone 18-for-48 (.375) with four doubles, a home run, seven RBI, and six walks (.957 OPS).
KEVIN’S K’S: Kevin Gausman enters tonight’s start leading the AL with 183 strikeouts (2nd: Pablo López – 180), behind only Spencer Strider (217) for the MLB lead… Currently tops the Majors with a 2.70 FIP…Also ranks 1st in the AL in fWAR (4.4), K rate (32.5%) and SO/9 (11.85) while ranking 4th in ERA (3.04), 5th in SO/BB (5.38), and 11th in innings pitched (139.0).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for an MLB-best 3.68 ERA this season (2nd: SEA – 3.72)…Are 3rd in MLB with 1,134 strikeouts (MIN – 1,156; MIA – 1,141)…Rank 5th in the AL in WHIP (1.24) and 7th in opponents’ average (.239)…The rotation now has 56 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in MLB.
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 1,080 hits this season, 3rd most in MLB (TEX – 1,138; ATL – 1,080)…Are currently 2nd in the AL in team OBP (.331), 3rd in AVG (.260), 5th in OPS (.746), and 8th in SLG (.416).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 13th interleague series of the year…Has gone 24-12 vs. NL clubs so far…The .667 win% in interleague games is the best among MLB teams (2nd: LAD – .618).
VS. THE PHILLIES: All-Time: 43-30
2023: 1-2 Home: 22-13
Home: 1-0 Rogers Centre: 18-12
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 now won 17 of their last 21 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-55 (.255) with two doubles, five home runs, and 10 RBI in his 16 career games vs. PHI (.917 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 13 career meetings, has batted .261 (12-for-46) with four doubles, a home run, and four RBI (.719 OPS).
Brandon Belt leads all current Blue Jays with 47 career games against the Phillies…Has hit .226 (33- for-146) with seven doubles, six home runs, and 20 RBI along the way (.729 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 24th start of the season and his 12th at Rogers Centre…Won his 9th game of the year his last time out, on 8/9 at CLE, tossing 7.0 shutout frames with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was his 16th quality start of the year, good for 3rd most in the AL. His 183 strikeouts are the most in the AL (2nd: Pablo López – 180), and are the 2nd most ever by a Blue Jay in their first 22 outings of a season (1st: Roger Clemens – 192 in 1997). Owns a 2.77 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the best mark among qualified hurlers (2nd: Corbin Burnes – 2.81).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Gave up 3 runs over 4.1 innings on 8/3 vs. BAL, surrendering 8 hits and a pair of walks with 6 punchouts. Picked up his 8th win of the year on 7/28 vs. LAA, throwing 6.0+ innings of one-run ball with 5 hits, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings on 7/22 at SEA, giving up 5 hits, a career-high tying 4 homers, no walks, and 9 strikeouts. Named an All-Star for the 2nd time in his career (also: 2021). Gave up 2 runs over 6.0 innings on 7/8 at DET, allowing 5 hits and a pair of walks with 7 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year. Took a no-decision on 7/2 vs. BOS, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 5 hits, a walk, and 7 strikeouts. Took the loss on 6/27 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts…Fanned LaMonte Wade Jr. in the 4th inning to reach 1,500 career strikeouts, becoming the 21st active player to reach the mark…Was his MLB-leading 7th double-digit strikeout game of 2023. Pitched 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 6/6 vs. HOU, scattering 4 hits with no walks and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts (also: 13K on 4/29/23 vs. SEA)…Became the 4th player (8th time) in franchise history to punch out at least 13 batters without any walks in a single game (last: José Berríos on 7/12/22 vs. PHI). Took a no-decision on 5/21 vs. BAL, tossing 8.0 frames of two-run ball on a season-high 115 pitches (6H, 2BB, 4K)…Matched his longest outing of the year (8.0IP on 4/12 vs. DET). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 4/29 vs. SEA, giving up 5 hits with a walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts…Threw a then season-high 108 pitches (74 strikes) while inducing a career-high 28 swing-and-misses…Got 20 whiffs on his splitter alone, the most on a single pitch in the Majors this
season, and the most on a splitter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Took a no-decision on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Set career-best marks in 2021 innings pitched (192.0), wins (14), quality starts (20), ERA (2.81), strikeouts (227), opponents’ AVG (.210), and WHIP (1.04). Named an All-Star for the 1st time in his career in 2021 and finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting…Signed a 5-year deal with Toronto on 12/1/21. Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE PHILLIES:
Facing the Phillies for the 2nd time this season and the 9th time in his career (8th start)…Tossed 6.0 shutout frames in Philly on 5/10, scattering 3 hits with no walks and 9 strikeouts…Has thrown 6.0 scoreless innings in each of his last 3 meetings with the Phils…Of his 7 career starts vs. PHI, 4 have been quality starts.
