TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays allowed a solo homer in the bottom of the 9th inning last night, taking a loss in Cincinnati to begin their road trip…Were walked off for the 6th time this season…Have now been shutout seven times this season (tied for 5th fewest in the AL)…All seven occasions have come over their last 50 games played (since June 19)…Are now 20-17 in one-run games for a .541 win% (3rd in the AL)…Have played to a one-run finish seven times in their last 12 contests. Last night marked Toronto’s 2nd 1-0 loss of the season (also Aug. 8 at CLE)…The club has still won 13 of its last 24 games, 22 of its last 38, and is 41-31 over its last 72 contests…Its .569 win% over that span (since May 26) is tied with Seattle for 2nd highest in the AL (BAL – .583)…Enters today outside of the playoff picture, currently a half-game back of Seattle (67-55) for the 3rd AL Wild Card spot.
GOING ONE AND OH: Blue Jays pitchers now have an MLB-high 35 games with one or no runs allowed this season, eight more than any other team (LAD/SEA – 27)… Also recorded 35 such games last season, and have only twice in team history had more than that (40 in 1991, 37 in 1989).
THE VAR-SHOW CONTINUES: Daulton Varsho had Toronto’s only extra-base hit last night, doubling to center field in the 2nd inning… Has four extra-base hits in his last five games (2-2B, 2 HR)…Over his last 13 contests, has hit .282 (11- for-39) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, and 10 RBI (.949 OPS)…With the return of Kevin Kiermaier, moved back to left field where he owns seven defensive runs saved tied for 2nd most in the Majors (Steven Kwan – 12)…Also owns 13 runs saved in center, which is tied with Kiermaier for the most in MLB…His 20 total runs saved are the most in the Majors (2nd: Fernando Tatis Jr. – 19).
BERRÍ-0’s: José Berríos did not allow a hit until the bottom of the 6th last night…Finished with 5.2 scoreless innings, the lone hit, and four walks to go along with eight strikeouts…Marked his 5th scoreless start of the campaign, four of which have come on the road. The righty has now gone 5-1 with a 2.10 ERA (14 ER/60.0 IP) over his last 10 road starts…Has kept a 2.84 ERA (43 ER/136.1 IP) across his last 23 starts overall…His 2.84 ERA since April 14 is the best in the AL (2nd: Gerrit Cole – 2.96) and behind only Blake Snell (2.20) for the best in MLB…For the season, ranks 7th among AL pitchers in innings pitched (146.0) while 10th in ERA (3.39).
HIS BRANDON OF BASEBALL: Brandon Belt singled and drew a walk to finish 1-for-3 last night…Has reached base safely in each of his last 14 starts while going 15-for-49 (.306) with 12 runs, four doubles, three home runs, five RBI, and 12 walks (.443 OBP, 1.014 OPS)…His 4.44 pitches/PA this season tops all MLB batters (min. 300 PA) while his 6.33 PA/BB rate trails only Ryan Noda (5.68) for the highest in the AL.
OUT WHITTING THEM: Whit Merrifield singled to start last night’s contest and then stole his 23rd base…Now has 43 hits since the All-Star Break, 3rd most among AL hitters…His 21 runs scored over that span are tied for 7th while his .336 AVG ranks 8th…Is now batting .301 on the season, good for 6th among AL hitters (10th in MLB), while his 23 stolen bases are tied for 9th most.
ROAD WORK AHEAD: The Blue Jays are on a six-game, seven-day road trip (0-1 so far)…Own a 35-29 road record this season for a .547 win%, 5th best in the AL (8th in MLB)…Have gone 15-7 over their last 22 road games for a .682 win%, the best road record in the AL since June 20th (2nd: SEA – .679)…After this weekend series in
Cincy, will have Monday off before playing a three-game series in Baltimore (75-47). Blue Jays hitters are 1st in the AL with a .263 road batting average and a .331 road OBP while ranking 3rd in road OPS (.755) and 4th in road SLG (.425)…The pitching staff ranks 5th in the AL in road ERA (3.94), 9th in road WHIP (1.29), and 10th in road opponents’ AVG (.251).
BIGGI-OBP: Cavan Biggio managed a walk last night, his 5th free pass in six games…Now owns a .458 OBP since the All-Star break, which is 3rd highest in the AL (5th in MLB) behind Jose Altuve (.489) and Shohei Ohtani (.464).
HOUNDING INNINGS: Chris Bassitt will make his 1st career start at Great American Ball Park tonight, his 29th different venue at the Major League level…His 145.2 innings pitched for the year are 8th most among AL pitchers, while his 15 quality starts are tied for 5th most.
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for an MLB-best 3.68 ERA this season (2nd: SEA – 3.70)…Are 3rd in MLB with 1,150 strikeouts (MIN – 1,177; MIA – 1,159)… Rank 5th in the AL in both opponents’ batting average (.239) and WHIP (1.24)…The rotation has recorded 56 quality starts, 5th most in MLB.
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 1,085 hits this season, tied for 2nd most in the AL (TEX – 1,149)…Are 2nd in the AL in team OBP (.329), 3rd in AVG (.258), 5th in OPS (.741), and 8th in SLG (.412).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 14th interleague series of the year…Has gone 24-14 vs. NL clubs so far…The .632 win% in interleague games is the best among AL teams and trails only Cincinnati (.633) for the best in MLB…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: 14-8
2023: 0-1 Road: 5-5
Road: 0-1 Great American Ball Park: 5-5
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 .636 win% vs. CIN is its 2nd best vs. any opponent (.667 vs. PIT).
Brandon Belt has played in 54 career games against the Reds…Has batted .291 (53-for-182) with 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 29 RBI for a .968 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 – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 26th start of the season and his 14th on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 8/12 vs. CHC, giving up 4 runs over 6.0 innings (4H, 2BB, 6K). Has 7 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, the most in MLB and tied for 3rd most in team history (Rogers Clemens – 9 in 1997; Dave Stieb – 8 in 1990).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Earned his 11th win of the year on 8/6 at BOS, tossing 7.0 frames of one-run ball (7H, 3BB, 6K)…Was his 15th quality start of the year. Shouldered the loss on 7/31 vs. BAL, giving up 4 runs over 6.0 innings with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Improved to 10-5 on 7/20 vs. SD, throwing 6.0 shutout innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year. Picked up his 9th win of the year on 7/15 vs. ARI, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball (7H, 0BB, 5K)…Was his 13th quality start of the season. Took a no-decision on 7/4 at CWS, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings of work (6H, BB, 5K). Won his 8th game of the year on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked his 10th quality start of the year. Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5. Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns. Tossed the 1st complete game and shutout of his career on 5/27/21 vs. LAA (9.0 IP, 2H, BB, 9K). Received two 5th-place votes in AL Cy Young balloting in 2021, finishing 10th in the vote…Earned his 1st All-Star honours. Earned AL Pitcher of the Month for September 2020, his 1st monthly award…Pitched to a 0.34 ERA that month, allowing one run over 26.2 innings in four starts…Was the lowest September ERA in the Majors since Greg Maddux had a 0.29 ERA for Atlanta in 1995. Started and won Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. CWS on 9/30/20. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE REDS: Facing the Reds for the 3rd time in his career…Making his 1st career start at GABP…Mets the Reds last season on 8/8 at Citi Field as a member of the Mets, giving up one unearned run over 8.0 innings of work (8H, BB, HB, 8K)…His only other meeting came as a member of the A’s in 2019, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk over 7.2 frames with 9 strikeouts
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TRANSACTIONS
- Today the Reds recalled from Louisville IF Noelvi Marte (#16) and placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, IF Kevin Newman (left oblique strain).
- Marte is rated the Reds’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline (24th overall) and No. 2 by Baseball America (52nd overall)…in 92 apps for ACL Reds (3g), Chattanooga (50g) and Louisville (39g) combined to hit .279 (20 2b, 4 3b, 11hr, 45rbi, 18sb, .812ops)…played 3B (57gs), SS (54gs) and DH (6gs).
- When he plays, Marte will become the 14th Reds player to make his Major League debut this season and the 20th rookie to appear in at least 1 game.
- The Reds and Indians each had 10 rookies on yesterday’s 26-player rosters, the most of any team in the Major Leagues.
- Through yesterday’s games, the 19 rookies with at least 1 game for the Reds were the most of any team in the Major Leagues…courtesy @Eliassports.
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 2 (1-0) of a 3-game series vs Dan Shulman’s Blue Jays and Game 4 (2-1) of a 5-game homestand that included a 1-1 series split with the Guardians.
- Is Game 13 (5-7) 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, 1-0 vs Tor).
- Following tomorrow afternoon’s game, 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 8-14 all-time in 8 interleague series vs Tor, including 5-5 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 .239 in 19 career apps vs his childhood team (17-71, 5 2b, 4hr, 10rbi, 9bb, 17k, .325obp, .479slg, .804ops).
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).
LET THE KIDS PLAY
- 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 Encarnacion-Strand, RHP Lyon Richardson).
- 19 rookies have played in at least 1 game for the Reds, the most of any team in the Major Leagues.
- 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 45 HR (Spencer Steer 18, Matt McLain 13, Elly De La Cruz 10, Christian EncarnacionStrand 4)…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).
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)… haven’t recorded more than 139 stolen bases in a season since 1999 (164sb).
- 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…the Reds’ modern single-game record for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
- 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
- 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…courtesy @OptaSTATS and @EliasSports.
- 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).
Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP
- Tonight is making his 17th career appearance and start.
- In his last 8 starts beginning 7/1 went 3-1, 2.98 (42.1ip, 28h, 14er, 14bb, 41k, 5hr, .190baa).
- Twice picked runners off second base, KC’s Bobby Witt Jr. (PO/CS 145) and SD’s Fernando Tatis Jr. (PO/CS 165).
- Once was called for a pitch timer violation, on 5/22 vs StL (Paul Goldschmidt batting).
- Once was called for a disengagement violation, on 8/7 vs Mia (Jorge Soler batting, Jon Berti to second on the balk).
- On 6/26 at Bal walked his second batter, Adley Rutschman, to snap at 10.0 his consecutive innings streak without issuing a walk.
- On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19.
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k).
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari).
- In that 3-1 win on 5/16 at Col, allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, his first career batter faced, but didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo HR in the sixth inning snapped the scoreless tie…Williamson retired 14 consecutive batters leading up to Tovar’s home run.
- 2 of his starts were shortened by rain, a third was suspended & completed the next day and a fourth start was postponed & played the next day.
- In the top of the third inning on 6/26 at Bal did not return after a 1 hour, 44-minute rain delay.
- On 7/6 at Wsh, remained in the game following a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay in the top of the second inning…pitched 3.0 innings.
- On 7/17 vs SF, the game was suspended with the score tied at 2-2 with 1 out in the eighth inning (completed the next day, 4-2 loss in 10 innings).
- His start on 8/12 at Pit was postponed 49 minutes prior to the scheduled first pitch…was played the next day.
