NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees complete their nine-game road trip tonight with the final game of a three-game set at Atlanta (0-2 thus far)…are 2-6 on the road trip so far after going 1-2 at Chicago-AL, 1-2 at Miami and dropping their first two games at Atlanta.
Are in a stretch of playing 19-of-25 games on the road (8/7-9/3)…are 2-6 so far.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Braves, 5-0, on Tuesday at Atlanta…RHP Luis Severino (4.0IP, 5H, 5R/3ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR, 1HP) started and recorded his eighth loss of the season…Yankees batters recorded just one hit, their fewest in a game this season…1B DJ LeMahieu (1-for2, 1BB) recorded the Yankees’ only hit and reached base twice…RF Aaron Judge (0-for-2, 2BB) was the only other Yankee to reach base multiple times…3B Isiah KinerFalefa (0-for-3, 1BB) and DH Giancarlo Stanton (0-for-2, 1BB) both walked…LHP Wandy Peralta (1.0IP, 1BB, 1K, 1HP), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (1.0IP), RHP Tommy Kahnle (1.0IP, 1H, 2BB, 3K) and RHP Clay Holmes (1.0IP) combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings of relief.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu recorded the Yankees’ only hit on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak (since 8/1) to a season-high-tying eight games (also had an eight-game hitting streak from 5/1-10)…is batting .370/.452/.444 (10-for27) with 1R, 2 doubles, 1RBI and 4BB in that span…his last longer hitting streak was a 12-game streak from 4/12-26/22.
Has reached base multiple times in five of his last six games (since 8/4) and 11 of his last 16 games (since 7/21)…owns a .446 OBP over that span.
Is batting .314/.410/.419 (27-for-86) with 7R, 6 doubles, 1HR, 2RBI and 14BB in his last 25 games (since 7/6), hitting safely in 21 of those games.
Has reached base in 25 of his last 27 games (since 7/4)… his .410 OBP in that span is the seventh-highest in the AL (min. 100PA)…has also reached base in 32 of his last 36 games (since 6/23).
As a Yankee (since 2019), has hit .313 (106-for-339) with 63R, 17 doubles, 4 triples, 12HR, 34RBI and 46BB in 90 Interleague games.
Has 12BB in his last 14 games (since 7/23) and 13BB in his last 16 games (since 7/21)…has 21BB in his last 34 games (since 6/27) after recording just 17BB in his first 64 games of the season from 3/30-6/25.
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa has reached base in each of his last seven games (since 8/8), batting .321 (9-for-28) with 2R, 1 double, 6RBI, 2BB and 1SB over that span.
Has reached base safely in 18 of his last 19 starts (since 7/16), 27 of his last 30 starts (since 6/28) and 33 of his last 39 starts (since 6/4).
In his last 50 games (since 6/4), is batting .291 (41-for-141) with 23R, 5 doubles, 3HR, 21RBI, 20BB, 1HP, 3SF and 5SB.
Has 19BB in his last 34 games (since 6/28) after recording just 7BB in his first 60 games of the season from 4/2-6/27.
Is just the sixth player (seventh time) in franchise history and just the third Yankee in the last 110 years (since 1914) to make at least 70 starts in a season and
appear defensively at 2B, 3B, SS and all three outfield positions…joins Randy Velarde (1992), Tony Kubek (1959), Roy Hartzell (1913), Birdie Cree (1909) and Wid Conroy (1905 and 1908).
RANDY MAN: RHP Randy Vásquez will make his fourth career start (fifth appearance) tonight at Atlanta…is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA (19.0IP, 4ER) in four games (three starts) for the Yankees this season…has tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings in each of his last two starts (5.2IP and 0R on 6/8-G2 vs. Chicago-AL and 5.0IP and 0R on 7/5 vs. Baltimore).
GLOVE STORY: According to Sports Info Solutions, INF Anthony Volpe’s 12 defensive runs saved this season are tied for second among Major League shortstops, trailing
only Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco (15DRS)…has made just three errors in his last 62 games that he has appeared defensively (since 5/31) after making seven errors in his first 56 games (3/30-5/30).
PUT THE BROOMS AWAY: The Yankees will look to avoid being swept for the third time this season…only Baltimore (have not been swept), Houston (once) and Los Angeles-NL (once) have been swept fewer times this season…are one of seven teams in the Majors this season to have been swept two-or-fewer times (Baltimore-0; Houston and Los Angeles-NL: once; Seattle, Tampa Bay and Texas: twice).
GOT YOUR NUMBER: INF DJ LeMahieu has batted .346/.346/.538 (9-for-26) with 1 triple and 1HR in his career off Atlanta’s RHP Charlie Morton…DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit .333/.412/.600 (10-for-30) with 2 doubles, 2HR and 4BB in his career off Morton.
WALK IT OUT: Yankees batters have recorded at least 5BB in seven of their last nine games (since 8/6), recording 53BB in that span…their 53BB match their most in a nine-game span in a single season since 2007…also recorded 53BB in nine games from 6/22-30/21…the last time they recorded more in a nine-game span in a single season was 8/18(G2)- 26/06 when they recorded 54BB.
Lead the Majors with 126BB since the All-Star break… also rank fifth in the AL in OBP (.325) in that span.
PEN PALS: Yankees relievers combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings of relief on Tuesday at Atlanta…own a Major League-best 3.22 ERA (458.2IP, 164ER) and .216 opponents’ BA this season…also rank second in the Majors in HR/9.0IP (0.84) and fourth in WHIP (1.21).
WHAT A RELIEF: RHP Jonathan Loáisiga has retired all 10BF since returning from the injured list on 8/7.
BLANK SPACE: The Yankees were shut out for the sixth time this season on Tuesday (also 4/29 at Texas, 5/17 at Toronto, 5/31 at Seattle, 7/7 vs. Chicago-NL and 7/28 at Baltimore)… their six shutouts this year are tied for the fourth-fewest in the AL, trailing only Houston (four), Los Angeles-AL (five) and Tampa Bay (five).
Are 3-1 following their last four shutouts
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP RANDY VÁSQUEZ (2-1, 1.89 ERA)
RHP Randy Vásquez will make his fourth career start (fifth appearance) tonight at Atlanta…will pitch on regular four days’ rest… last pitched on Friday at Miami, making his first career relief appearance and recording the win (3.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR)…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre prior to the game…has made four appearances (three starts) this season for the Yankees, going 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA (19.0IP, 12H, 4ER, 8BB, 12K, 2HR)…marks his fourth stint with the club (also 5/26, 6/8-G2, 7/5)…made his Major League debut on 5/26 vs. San Diego, taking the loss despite allowing just 2ER in 4.2IP (4H, 3BB, 6K, 1HR, 2HP)…became the second Yankees pitcher to make his Major League debut this season (also Jhony Brito on 4/2 vs. San Francisco)…has made 16 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, going 3-8 with a 4.76 ERA (75.2IP, 76H, 44R/40ER, 40BB, 91K, 9HR)… spent the 2022 season with Double-A Somerset, going 2-7 with a 3.90 ERA (115.1IP, 106H, 56R/50ER, 41BB, 120K, 11HR) in 25 starts…following the season, was tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees’ No. 9 prospect and labeled as having the “Best Curveball” among Yankees farmhands…was added to the Yankees 40-man roster on 3/22/22…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 5/21/18.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his first career relief appearance on Friday at Miami, recording the win (3.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR)…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the game…allowed an RBI double to Jake Burger in the fourth inning and a solo HR to Josh Bell in the sixth.
2023: Has made four appearances (three starts) this season for the Yankees, going 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA (19.0IP, 12H, 4ER, 8BB, 12K, 2HR)…has tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings in two of his three starts (5.2IP and 0R on 6/8-G2 vs. Chicago-AL and 5.0IP and 0R on 7/5 vs. Baltimore).
Last pitched on Friday at Miami, making his first career relief appearance and recording the win (3.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR).
Tossed 5.0 scoreless innings without recording a decision in his third start of the season on 7/5 vs. Baltimore, (3H, 3BB, 1K).
Earned his first career win on 6/8-G2 vs. Chicago-AL after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 3K, 1HP).
Made his Major League debut on 5/26 vs. San Diego, taking the loss despite allowing just 2ER in 4.2IP (4H, 3BB, 6K, 1HR, 2HP).
DOWN ON THE FARM: Has made 16 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, going 3-8 with a 4.76 ERA (75.2IP, 76H, 44R/40ER, 40BB, 91K, 9HR)…has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 12 of his 16 starts, 1R-or-fewer in six of those starts and three starts were scoreless.
Is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA (25.2IP, 7ER) over his last five starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (since 6/20) after going 1-5 with a 4.72 ERA (34.1IP. 18ER) over his previous seven starts from 4/23-6/15).
Has tossed at least 5.0IP in eight of his 16 starts this season.
Has allowed just 4HR over his last 11 starts with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (since 4/29) after surrendering 5HR in his first five starts (from 3/31-4/23).
Struck out a season-high 11 batters in his last start with the RailRiders on 8/2 vs. Rochester (W, 6.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 1HR).
Earned his first win of the season on 5/17 at Charlotte after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 3BB, 5K)…his 2H marked a season low.
ON THE ROAD: Will make his second career Major League road appearance tonight (first start)…earned the win in his first career relief appearance on Friday at loanDepot park (3.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR).
In eight road starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, has gone 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA (36.1IP, 23ER) and 42K.
FOR STARTERS: Became just the 12th pitcher in the last 16 seasons (since 2008) to make his Major League debut as a starter for the Yankees after making his Major League debut on 5/26 vs. San Diego…joined RHP Jhony Brito (4/2/23 vs. San Francisco), RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL), RHP Chance Adams (8/4/18 at Boston), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17 vs. Tampa Bay), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15 vs. Boston), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (4/4/14 at Toronto) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12 vs. Chicago-AL)…along with RHP Jhony Brito, marked just the third time during that span the Yankees had two pitchers make their Major League debut as a starter in the same season (also 2014: RHP Chase Whitley and RHP Masahiro Tanaka; 2018: RHP Chance Adams and RHP Jonathan Loáisiga).
NATIONAL STAGE: Became the eighth Yankees pitcher all-time to start against a National League opponent in his Major League debut, joining RHP Jhony Brito (4/2/23 vs. San Francisco: W, 5.0IP, 0R), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL: ND, 6.0IP, 1R/0ER), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona: L, 4.0IP, 6R/4ER), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL: ND, 4.2IP, 0ER), RHP Tyler Clippard (5/20/07 at New York-NL: W, 6.0IP, 1ER), LHP Brad Halsey (6/19/04 at Los Angeles-NL: W, 5.2IP, 2ER) and LHP Brandon Claussen (6/28/03-G2 at New York-NL: W, 6.1IP, 1ER).
Was the eighth Yankee to draw a start at the current Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut (second this season), joining RHP Jhony Brito (4/2/23 vs. San Francisco), RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17 vs. Tampa Bay), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15 vs. Boston) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12 vs. Chicago-AL).
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Yankees tonight conclude a three-game series in what is the final scheduled meeting between the teams this season…The two are playing for the first time since the 2021 season.
- The Braves shut out the Yankees, 5-0, last night and have won each of the first two games of this series.
- With last night’s win Atlanta clinched the series, their first series win over New York since 2001… In the seven seasons between series wins, starting in 2006, Atlanta went 8-18 (.308) against New York and has gone 0-6-1 in season sets.
- The Braves are just 18-26 (.409) all-time against New York since the advent of interleague play in 1997, their worst record against any A.L. team in that span (min. 15 games – Atlanta is 4-9, .308, against Houston since the Astros changed leagues)…The Braves and Yankees have met four times in the World Series, with Atlanta going 1-3 in these sets…The Milwaukee Braves won the title in 1957, before the Yankees won in 1958, 1996 and 1999.
- Atlanta is 4-2 versus New York here at Truist Park following last night’s win, sweeping two games in 2020 before being swept in two in 2021…The Braves are just 6-14 (.300) all-time against the Yankees in the city of Atlanta, and had just one prior series win here all-time.
- RH Charlie Morton tonight makes his 13th career start against New York, and is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA (27 ER/62.2 IP) over his first 12 appearances… The 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-hander last faced them in 2021, making two starts and going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA (5 ER/11.0 IP)…In 23 total starts this season for Atlanta, Morton is 11-10 with a 3.71 ERA (53 ER/128.2 IP) and 136 strikeouts.
- RH Randy Vásquez is set to make just the fifth appearance and fourth start of his major league career, and his first against Atlanta…The 6-foot-0, 165-pound native of Navarette, DR, is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA (4 ER/19.0 IP) over his first four career appearances, including a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/15.1 IP) In his three starts.
WIN: Atlanta shut out New York last night, 5-0, to secure its 12th clean sheet of the season…Cleveland is the only team in the majors with more shutouts this year (13).
- Braves pitching conceded just one hit to the Yankees – a second-inning single by DJ LeMahieu…The performance marked Atlanta’s first one-hit shutout since Julio Teherán’s complete-game effort on June 19, 2016 at New York (NL).
- Bryce Elder tossed the first 7.0 innings of last night’s shutout, marking the second time this season he’s gone as deep without allowing a run…
He also did so on May 30 at Oakland. - Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna each homered, securing the Braves’ MLB-leading 62nd multi-home run game of the year.
THE BIG APPLE: Atlanta tonight concludes a run of seven consecutive games against teams from New York City, and enters play 5-1 over its first six such games… The Braves went 3-1 against the Mets last weekend in Queens, before taking the first two of this series versus the Yankees.
- In 12 total games against the Mets and Yankees this season, Atlanta is 10-2 and has outscored them, 98-45 (+53).
- Over the last calendar year, since August 16, 2022, Atlanta is 15-3 against teams from the city of New York, with a +64 (127-63) run differential.
- The Braves conclude their season series against New York teams next week with three games against the Mets here at Truist Park, August 21-23.
OZUNA STREAKING: DH Marcell Ozuna went 2-for-2 with two walks, a homer and three RBI last night, extending his hitting streak to a season-best 13 games…The run dates to August 4, during which he has batted .333/.418/.563 with two homers and 11 RBI.
- Ozuna’s run is the longest active streak in the National League, and trails just KC’s Maikel Garcia (17 games) for longest in the majors.
- He has had just three longer streaks in his career… He compiled a 15-game run in 2014, and had 16-game streaks in both 2013 and 2016.
- The home run was his 24th of the season, his most since clubbing 29 in 2019 while with the Cardinals…Twenty-two of his 24 have come since the start of May, 11th most in the majors in that span.
- Ozuna batted .085/.194/.203 with a wRC+ of nine over 18 games in March and April…In 85 games since, he has batted .275/.344/.530 with a wRC+ of 131, meaning he has been 31% better than league average since May 1.
MORTON DECISIONS: Charlie Morton enters tonight’s start 11-10 in 23 total starts, and his 21 decisions on the season are two more than any other pitcher in baseball…No other Braves pitcher has more than 17 decisions this season.
- Morton has taken just two no-decisions on the season, and they came in back-to-back starts on June 7 and June 12…He has taken a decision in each of his last 10 turns (6-4, 3.86 ERA).
- In his 11 wins, he has pitched to a 2.45 ERA and allowed opponents to bat just .234 against him… In his 10 losses, he has a 5.19 ERA and is allowing opponents to bat .270.
- The Atlanta-era record for decisions in a season is 41, set by Phil Niekro in 1979…Niekro made 44 starts and went 21-20 that season, leading the N.L. in both wins and losses.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #50 Charlie Morton RHP
2023 Record: 10-10, 3.86 ERA • 2022 Record: 9-6, 4.34 ERA
vs. RHB: .262 (66-252), 6 HR • vs. LHB: .246 (54-220), 7 HR
Home: 5-5, 3.90 ERA (27/62.1) • Away: 5-5, 3.82 ERA (26/61.1)
Today’s Game
- Set to make his 24th start of the season and first against New York (AL).
- Held the Mets to three hits and seven walks over 5.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his last start.
- Joined Jack Flaherty and Dylan Cease as the only players in the majors this year to toss 5.0 shutout innings while issuing at least seven walks and get the win.
- Became just the sixth player in Braves franchise history to do so.
- Snapped a streak of four consecutive losses dating to July 19.
- His 10 wins are tied for fifth most in the National League.
- Has 20 starts in 10 different seasons.
- Earned his 10th win of the season spinning 7.0 shutout-innings against CWS.
- Morton has now won at least 10 games in six different seasons.
- Became the first Braves pitcher since R.A. Dickey in 2017 to toss 7.0 scoreless frames and get the win age 39 or older.
- Joined Justin Verlander and Adam Wainwright as the only active pitchers in baseball to win at least 10 games at the age of 39 or older in a season.
- Became just the fifth pitcher in the Braves franchise history to record 10 wins in a season after turning 39 (Niekro [5], Spahn [4], Smoltz [2], Dickey [1]).
- Morton has struck out 366 hitters with his curveball since the beginning of the 2020; the most in the majors.
- During that span hitters are missing on 53.0% of curveballs thrown, the second highest rate in the majors…The MLB average is 11.5% (among QS).
- Utilizing his curveball on 44.0% of pitches thrown this season; the highest rate in the majors among qualifiers this season.
- Morton’s 1040 strikeouts since the 2018 season are the fourth most in baseball.
- Prior to the 2018 season, Morton threw his curveball on 21 % of pitches throughout his career.
- Since the beginning of 2018 he has thrown his curve on 37 % of pitches.
- Morton’s 31.5% swing and miss rate is the fifth highest among qualifiers in the NL.
- Teammate Spencer Strider leads league with a rate of 40.1%
- Hitters are registering a .321 batting average on balls in play against Morton in ’23.
- Since the beginning of June, Morton owns a .302 BABIP.
- Had a .337 battting average on balls in play through his first 10 starts.
- Hitters are averaging a 9.10 launch angle against Morton; MLB average is 11.80.
- In his age 39 season, Morton is the sixth-oldest active pitcher in the majors.
2023 Recap
- Morton is one six active pitchers with at least 15 starts in 13 different seasons.
- Trails only Zack Greinke (17), Clayton Kershaw (15), Justin Verlander (15), Max Scherzer (14), and Cole Hamels (14).
- Morton struck out Miami’s Bryan De La Cruz for 1,800 on his career.
- Is now one of 13 acitve pitchers in baseball with as many punchouts.
- Became the sixth pitcher in franchise history to pitch at least 6.0 innings and strikeout nine or more in an outing at age 39 or older.
- Passed R.A. Dickey and Hall-of-Famer Cy Young with three such games.
- Trails Hall-of-Famers Phil Niekro (10), John Smoltz (8), and Warren Spahn (4).
- Struck out 10 hitters over 6.2 scoreless innings in his win against Texas on May 15.
- Has now struckout at least 10 hitters in six games since turning 38, passing Hall-of-Famer Cy Young for the ninth most such games dating to 1901.
- Morton is the first player with at least six games of 10 or more strikeouts at his age since Hall-of-Famers Randy Johnson and John Smoltz.
