TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays dropped the back half of their two-game series with the Phillies by a score of 9-4 in Toronto on Wednesday…Was their 1st home series split of the season…Wrapped up the homestand at 2-3 and are now 11-7-1 in home series play for the year (22-15-2 overall). oronto has still won 13 of its last 23 games, 22 of itslast 37, and is 41-30 over its last 71 contests…Its .577 win% over that span (since May 26) is tied with Baltimore for the highest in the AL…Enters today holding the 3rd AL Wild Card spot, 3.0 games back of Houston (70-52) for the 2nd spot, and a half-game up on Seattle (66-55).
VARSHO-ING OFF: Daulton Varsho gave the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning on Wednesday with a two-run homer to right…Marked his 15th home run, all of which have come off right-handed pitchers…Only Brandon Lowe (16) has hit more homers off righties without one off a lefty this season. The outfielder also drew a walk to finish 1-for-2 on the day…Over his last 12 games, has hit .278 (10-for-36) with a double, a triple, three home runs, and 10 RBI (.944 OPS)…With the absence of Kevin Kiermaier, has upped his defensive runs saved in center field to 13, tying Kiermaier (13) for the best at the position in MLB…Also owns seven DRS in left…His 20 total runs saved are the most in the Majors.
BIGGI-OBP: Cavan Biggio singled and scored in the 2nd inning on Wednesday before driving in two runs with a 3rdinning single…Has reached base safely in eight of his last nine contests while batting .310 (9-for-29) with a double, a home run, six RBI, and five walks (.444 OBP)…Over his last 50 games, has gone 34-for-122 (.279) with 26 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs, 21 RBI, and 15 walks (.847 OPS)…Since the All-Star break, owns a .473 OBP, which is 2nd highest in the
Majors behind Jose Altuve (.500).
VLAD HABITS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base safely three times on Wednesday night, picking up a single to go along with a pair of walks…Worked multiple free passes in a game for the 8th time this season…Has reached base safely in 24 of his last 26 games while hitting .245 (24-for-98) with eight extra-base hits, 12 RBI, and a 16BB/17K ratio (.759 OPS)…Has recorded an AL-leading 204 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season, 15 more than the next closest batter (Julio Rodríguez –
189), while his average exit velocity of 93.3 ranks 7th.
BB STANDS FOR BRANDON BELT: Brandon Belt walked and scored a run on Wednesday… Has reached base safely in each of his last 13 starts while going 14-for-46 (.304) with 12 runs, four doubles, three home runs, five RBI, and 11 walks (.439 OBP, 1.026 OPS)…His 4.43 pitches/PA this season tops all MLB batters (min. 300 PA).
SO MANY FRIENDS: The Blue Jays sold out all five games during their homestand…Their average attendance of 37,536 this season is 3rd highest in the AL (8th in MLB).
ROAD WORK AHEAD: The Blue Jays are kicking off a six-game, seven-day road trip…Own a 35-28 road record this season for a .556 win%, 3rd best in the AL (5th in MLB)…Have gone 15-6 over their last 21 road games for a .714 win%, the best road record in the Majors since June 20th (2nd: LAD – .696)…After this weekend series in Cincy, will have Monday off before playing a three-game series in Baltimore (74-47). Blue Jays hitters are 1st in the AL with a .266 road AVG and a .333 road OBP while ranking 2nd in road OPS (.761) and 4th in road SLG (.428)…The pitching staff ranks 5th in the AL in road ERA (3.99), 10th in road WHIP (1.29), and 11th in road opponents’ AVG (.252).
BERRÍOS BACK ON THE BUMP: José Berríos gets the ball tonight, aiming for his 10th win of the season…Has gone 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA (14 ER/54.1 IP) over his last nine road starts…For the season, ranks 11th among AL pitchers in innings pitched (140.1) while 13th in ERA (3.53).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for an MLB-best 3.70 ERA this season…Are 3rd in MLB with 1,140 strikeouts (MIN – 1,164; MIA – 1,150)…Rank 5th in the AL in WHIP (1.24) and 7th in opponents’ average (.240)…The rotation has recorded 56 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in MLB.
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 1,085 hits this season, 2nd most in the AL (T-3rd in MLB)…Are also 2nd in the AL in team OBP (.330), 3rd in AVG (.259), 5th in OPS (.744), and 8th in SLG (.414).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 14th interleague series of the year…Has gone 24-13 vs. NL clubs so far…The .649 win% in interleague games is the best among MLB teams (2nd: CIN – .621)…Has set a club record with the 24 wins vs. NL clubs (14 in 2021). The Blue Jays have hit 676 home runs all-time in Interleague Play, the most among all 30 teams (2nd: NYY – 647).
VS. THE REDS: All-Time: 14-7
2022: 1-2 Road: 5-4
Road: 0-0 Great American Ball Park: 5-4
The Blue Jays took two of three games from the Reds when the clubs last met, last season at Rogers Centre…Last played in Cincinnati in June of 2014, losing two of three games…Toronto’s all-time .667 win% vs. CIN is tied for its best vs. any opponent (.667 vs. PIT).
Brandon Belt has played in 54 career games against the Reds…Has batted .291 (52-for-179) with 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 29 RBI for a .970 OPS.
Bo Bichette’s only career meeting with the Reds came in May of last season…Drove in at least one run in all three games of that series as he went 3-for-12 (.250)
with two home runs and five RBI (.833 SLG).
Santiago Espinal had hits in all three games vs. Cincy last season, going 4-for-12 (.333) on a double.
STARTING PITCHER
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 25th start of the season and his 14th on the road…Gave up 6R/4ER over 4.1 frames his last time out, on 8/11 vs. CHC, allowing 9 hits with no walks and 3 strikeouts. Has held opponents to a .449 OPS with RISP & 2 outs this season, the 5th-best mark among MLB hurlers (min. 50 batters faced). Over his last 22 starts, has gone 9-6 with a 2.96 ERA (43 ER/130.2 IP), 120 strikeouts, and a 1.17 WHIP…His ERA over that span (since 4/14) trails only Gerrit Cole (2.96) by percentage points for the best mark among AL pitchers.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Picked up his 9th win of the year on 8/5 at BOS, giving up 3 runs over 5.2 innings (6H, 0BB, 6K). Tossed 6.0 frames of one-run ball on 7/30 vs. LAA, scattering 6 hits and a pair of walks with 6 strikeouts. Allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings on 7/24 at LAD, giving up 5 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts…Was his 200th career MLB start. Gave up one run over 5.1 innings on 7/14 vs. ARI, scattering 7 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts. Took a no-decision on 7/6 at CWS(1), throwing 7.0 scoreless innings with a hit, a walk, and 6 strikeouts…Gave up just 1 hit over 7.0 frames for the 2nd time in his career, also doing so exactly 2 years prior against the same team as a member of the Twins (7/6/21 vs. CWS). Picked up his 8th win of the year on 6/24 vs. OAK, giving up 3R/2ER over 6.0 innings (6H, 2BB, 8K).
Improved to 7-4 on the year on 6/14 at BAL, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff single to Adley Rutschman…Marked the longest no-hit bid by a Blue Jay since Ross Stripling also tossed 6.0 hitless innings on 8/17/22 vs. BAL…Finished the game with a season-high 7.2 innings of shutout ball (3H, BB, HBP, 5K)…Improved to a perfect 10-0 lifetime against the O’s (13 starts), joining Jon Lester (14-0) and Red Faber (12-0) as the only pitchers in MLB history to win each of his first 10 career decisions against Orioles/Browns franchise. Won his 6th game of the year on 6/8 vs. HOU, tossing 6.0 innings of 2-run ball (4H, 2BB, 2K)…Marked his 7th quality start of the season. Pitched 5.2 frames of shutout ball on 5/28 at MIN (4H, 5BB, 5K)…Became the winningest pitcher in Target Field history, earning his 33rd career victory to break a tie with Kyle Gibson (32). Worked 7.0 shutout frames on 4/25 vs. CWS, scattering 4 singles and a walk with a season-high 9 strikeouts…Completed 7.0 innings in consecutive starts for the 13th time in his career (last: 3G from 6/4- 15/22)…Has allowed 3 runs over his last 3 starts, posting a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) with a pair of walks and 18 punchouts. Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/14 vs. TB, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was removed from the game with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Yandy Díaz.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Drafted in the 1st round (32nd overall) by the Twins in 2012. Pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, going 1-0, 8.10 ERA (6.2 IP, 6 ER) with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Named to 2018 and 2019 AL All-Star teams, pitching 1.0 inning in both games. Acquired by Toronto from Minnesota on 7/30/21 in exchange for INF Austin Martin and RHP Simeon Woods Richardson. In 2021, set a career high with 204 strikeouts, good for 5th in the AL…His 3.52 ERA was 5th best in the AL while his 192.0 innings pitched ranked 2nd.
VS. THE REDS:
Facing the Reds for the 3rd time in his career…Last met Cincinnati on 9/25/20 as a member of the Twins, giving up 4 runs over 5.0 innings (5H, 2BB, 7K)…Has allowed 4 runs in each of his 2 starts vs. CIN…Is making his 1st career start at Great American Ballpark. José Berríos, RHP #17
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Buck Martinez’ Blue Jays and Game 3 (1- 1) of a 5-game homestand that included a 1-1 series split vs the Guardians.
- Is Game 12 (4-7) of a stretch in which the Reds will play 11 of 14 games at Great American Ball Park (0-3 vs Wsh, 1-2 vs Mia, 2-1 at Pit, 1-1 vs Cle, 0-0 vs Tor).
- Following this series, the Reds will head to the West Coast for the third time this season (3g at LAA, 4g at Ari, 3g at SF).
SERIES NOTES
- The Reds are 7-14 all-time in 7 interleague series vs Tor, including 4-5 at Great American Ball Park.
- The teams are meeting for the second consecutive season, but the Blue Jays are visiting GABP for the only the third time ever and for the first time since 2014.
- Joey Votto has hit .254 in 18 career apps vs his childhood team (17-67, 5 2b, 4hr, 10rbi, 9bb, 16k, .342obp, .507slg, .850ops).
INTERLEAGUE NOTES
- Before the interleague schedule expanded this season to include games vs all 15 American League teams, from 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188- 247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team.
- In 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams, their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL (.381).
ANGELS UP NEXT
- Beginning Monday night in Anaheim, the Reds and Angels will meet for the first time since 2019, when each team swept its 2-game series at home.
- The Reds are 6-10 all-time vs the Angels, including 1-7 in Anaheim.
- In 2013 the Reds and Angels played the first interleague Opening Day game in Major League history, a 3-1 Angels win in 13 innings in which the teams established the modern Major League record for strikeouts by both teams in a season-opening game (Cin pitchers 17, LAA pitchers 13).
LET THE KIDS PLAY
- The Reds are the first team in Major League history with 3 rookies, in a single season, with at least 10 HR & 10 stolen bases each (Elly De La Cruz 10 & 19, Matt McLain 13 & 11, Spencer Steer 18 & 11).
- For the first time since 1890, when Cincinnati joined the National League, 3 Reds rookies have produced at least 10 HR…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Reds rookies have combined for 44 HR (Spencer Steer 18, Matt McLain 13, Elly De La Cruz 10, Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3)…the franchise record for home runs in a season by rookies is 54 in 2008 (Joey Votto 24, Jay Bruce 21, Chris Dickerson 6, Ryan Hanigan 2, Paul Janish 1).
- Elly De La Cruz is the first Major League player since RBI became a statistic in 1920 to produce in his first 60 career apps at least 60 hits (64), 10 HR (10), 25 RBI (26) and 15 stolen bases (19).
- IF Matt McLain (5/22-5/28) and IF Elly De La Cruz (6/19-6/25) each earned National League Player of the Week awards, McLain in the second week of his career and De La Cruz in his third week.
- Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer on 7/4 at Wsh became the first set of rookie teammates in Major League history to finish in the same game 4-for-4 with at least 1 RBI (since RBI became an official statistic in 1920)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- 13 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season, the most of any team in the Major Leagues…19 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
RUNNING MEN
- The Reds lead the Major Leagues with 139 stolen bases (TB 2nd, 130), their highest total since 2016 (139sb)…in 2022, the Reds recorded 58 steals…are trying to lead the National League in stolen bases for the first time since 2015 (134sb).
- The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
- 6 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (last, 8/16 vs Cle)…prior to this season, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
- Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2, Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest single-game total since they swiped 9 bases on 5/30/1976 vs LAD.
- With Elvis Peguero pitching, Elly De La Cruz on 7/8 at Mil became only the fourth Reds batter ever to steal second, third and home in the same inning (Hans Lobert 9/27/1908, Dode Paskert 5/23/1910, Greasy Neale 8/15/1919)…became the first Major League batter to steal second, third and home in the same inning since Mia’s Jon Berti did it on 8/25/2020 at NYM…became the first Reds batter with a straight steal of home since Brandon Phillips did it on 7/10/2009 at NYM.
RED HOTS
- 13 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season, the most in the Major Leagues (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher, RHP Randy Wynne, RHP Jake Wong, IF Christian EncarnacionStrand, RHP Lyon Richardson)…19 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
- The Reds have used 54 players…RHP Michael Mariot was on the roster for 1 day (7/8) but did not appear in a game…in 2022, the Reds used a club record 66 players.
- The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19.
- The Reds’ 12-game winning streak from 6/10-6/23 tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
- The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since June 2014 (18-10).
- From 6/14-7/8 Reds batters established a new franchise record for consecutive games with at least 1 home run (22g, 45hr), a streak snapped in the 1-0 loss at Mil in the final game heading into the All-Star Game break…the 1956 Reds held the team record by homering in 21 consecutive games.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #66 Brett Kennedy, RHP
- Tonight is making his ninth Major League appearance and eighth start, his third appearance and second start of the season.
- Will be his first career appearance vs the Blue Jays.
- Is in his second stint with the Reds this season.
- Was on the Reds’ roster on 7/4 and 7/5 and made 1 appearance.
- Started and earned the 8-4 win on 7/4 at Wsh in his first Major League appearance since a start at Cin on 9/17/18.
- Was optioned to Louisville on 7/6, when RHP Tony Santillan came off the 60-day injured list.
- Has made 1 appearance for the Reds since he was recalled on 8/7, when RHP Lyon Richardson was optioned to Louisville.
- In the 9-2 win on 8/11 at Pit made his first Major League relief appearance.
- Began this season with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
- On 5/13 was signed by the Reds to a minor league contract and assigned to Louisville.
- For the Bats went 4-2, 3.52 in 12 starts and 1 relief appearance (64ip, 63h, 20bb, 57k, 6hr, 1.30whip, .257baa).
- Was selected by the Padres in the 11th round of the June 2015 first-year player draft.
- Prior to 2023, made all 6 of his Major League apps in 2018, all for the Padres.
