OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost three straight after winning four of the previous five games…are 26-44 (.371) over the last 70 games dating back to June 6 after going 12-50 (.194) over the first 62 contests…are 38-94 (.288) overall, which is the lowest winning percentage in the majors…the last three Major League teams to finish with a winning percentage under .292 are the 2018 Orioles (47-115, .290), 2003 Tigers (43-119, .265) and 1962 Mets (40-120, .250)…have been swept 17 times this year, which ties the Oakland record set in 1978…have swept two series…are 9-14-2 over the last 25 series after going 1-16 over the first 17… have a run differential of -309, which is the lowest in the majors…the lowest in Oakland history is -287 in 1979 and the lowest in Athletics history is -344 in 1915.
AGAINST THE WEST: The A’s are 6-29 (.171) against American League West teams, which is the lowest intra-division winning percentage in the majors… the lowest mark in Oakland history is .306 (11-25) in 1997 and the lowest mark by any team against its own division is .224 (17-59) by the Nationals last year… are batting .196 (217-for-1108) with 88 runs scored (2.5 runs per game) against teams from the West and have allowed 207 runs for a run differential of -119 (-3.4 per game).
A’S IN AUGUST: The A’s are 8-17 (.320) in the month of August, which is tied with the Yankees for the third lowest winning percentage in the majors…had the worst record in the majors in April and May, the eighth worst in June and fifth worst in July…this marks the seventh consecutive full month and 11th time in the last 12 months the A’s have finished with a losing record…have a 5.55 ERA (133 er in 215.2 ip), which is fourth highest in the majors…the highest August ERAs in Oakland history are 5.54 in 2000 and 5.26 in 1997 and 2017…are batting .218 (176-for-809) which is second lowest in the majors…have the fourth lowest OPS (.680) and fifth lowest on-base percentage (.388)…have 34 home runs, which is their most in a month this year.
OFFENSE: The A’s were shut out for the second time in the last six games and the 14th time this year last night, which is tied with the Tigers, Mets and Royals for the most in the majors…were also shut out 14 times last year, which were the A’s most since 2012 (16)…are 10-for-86 (.116) with a double and three runs scored over the last three games…are 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position over that stretch…overall, rank last in the majors in batting (.222), slugging (.364), OPS (.665), runs (476) and extra base hits (330), third in fewest doubles (178), fourth in lowest on-base percentage (.300), tied for fifth in most grounded into double plays (102), seventh in most strikeouts (1210) and tied for seventh in fewest home runs (134)…rank second in sacrifice hits (26) and fifth in hit batters (77)…the hit batters are fourth most in Oakland history (98 in 2021, 88 in 2001, 87 in 2019) and the sacrifice hits are the most since 2012 (27)…the 134 home runs are three short of the A’s season total of 137 last year.
IN THE PINCH: A’s pinch hitters have 35 hits, which is tied for second most by an A’s team over the last 32 years (had 57 in 1997)…the A’s lead the majors in pinch hits, rank second in plate appearances (158), tied for third in walks (14), tied for fifth in doubles (5), tied for eighth in extra base hits (8) and tied for 10th
in home runs (3).
PITCHING: The A’s have a 5.76 ERA, which is the highest in the majors, the highest in Oakland history (5.48 in 1997) and third highest in Athletics history (6.07 in 1936, 5.79 in 1939)…also have the highest opponents on-base percentage in the majors this year (.357), the second highest slugging percentage (.466) and OPS (.823) and third highest batting average (.272)…have hit 79 batters, which is the most in the majors, an Oakland record and two short of the Athletics record of 81 set in 1911…have a ML leading 554 walks, which are the most by an A’s team since 2008 (576)…have the most wild pitches in the majors (59), are tied for third in fewest shutouts (4), rank fifth in most home runs (182) and sixth in fewest strikeouts (1063).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers are 1-6 with a 7.43 ERA (38 er in 46.0 ip) over the last 11 games and have allowed 16 home runs over that stretch…are 13-60 with a 6.09 ERA for the season…have the fewest wins and highest ERA in the majors and the second most losses…the fewest wins from starting pitchers in Major League history is 21 by the Pirates last year…the ERA is currently the highest in Athletics history (5.94 in 1997)…have tossed 7.1 innings or fewer in each game and have the second fewest innings pitched in the majors (601.1).
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen has a win, a save and a 1.69 ERA (3 er in 16.0 ip) on the road trip…has a 5.40 ERA overall, which is the highest in the majors and the highest in Oakland history (5.22 in 1980)…also has the most losses in the majors this year (34) and the second most innings pitched (555.1)…has set Athletics single-season records for most losses, walks (298) and runs allowed (360) by relievers…is 22-for-46 (47.8%) in save opportunities…has the second lowest save percentage in the majors, the second fewest saves and is tied for the 10th most blown saves (24)…has allowed 96-of-246 (39.0%) inherited runners to score, which is the third highest percentage…has the second most inherited runners.
ON THE BASES: The A’s are 121-for-145 (83.4%) in stolen base attempts…rank fifth in the majors in steals, attempts and percentage…the stolen bases are the most by an A’s team since 2012 (122) and the only time in Athletics history the A’s had a stolen base percentage above 81.5 was in 2020 (89.7%)…A’s opponents are 90-for-131 (68.7%) in stolen base attempts, which is the lowest success rate in the majors…the 41 caught stealings are the most…A’s pitchers have 13 pickoffs, which is fourth most.
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 2-3 on this seven-game road trip to Chicago-AL (2-2) and Seattle (0-1)…went 1-5 on the last road trip to Washington (0-3) and St. Louis (1-2) and are 18-49 (.269) on the road, which is second the worst road record in the majors (Royals, 18-51/.261)…have clinched a losing record on the road for the second consecutive season (went 31-51 last year)…return home following the game tomorrow for a six-game homestand against Los Angeles-AL (three games) and Toronto (three games)…went 2-4 on the last homestand against Baltimore (0-3) and Kansas City (2-1) and are 20-45 (.308) at home, which is the lowest home winning percentage in the majors.
ONE-RUN GAMES AND OTHER CLOSE CALLS: The A’s are 18-24 (.429) in one-run games and 20-70 (.222) in games decided by two or more runs…rank third in the majors in one-run losses and tied for third in games (42)…have seven walkoff wins, which is tied for fifth in the majors…have 15 last at bat wins…are 6-7 (.462) in extra inning games…are tied for eighth in the majors in extra inning losses, tied for ninth in games (13) and tied for 10th in wins.
A’S VS. MARINERS
- The A’s have lost the season series for the third consecutive year and ninth time in the last 11 seasons as they are 0-8 with five games remaining. Are 12-34 (.261) over the last three years and 74-115 (.392) over the last 11. Have lost eight straight, 11 of the last 12 and 31 of the last 39…the eight-game losing streak is tied for second longest in Oakland history against Seattle…the longest is a 13-game streak from July 23, 2021-May 23, 2022. Were swept in a four-game series in Seattle, May 22-25…it was the first time the A’s were swept in a four-game series at Seattle since Aug. 12- 15, 1991…have lost five straight, nine of the last 10 and 17 of the last 21 at T-Mobile Park.
Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-3 0-5 0-8
2022 4-5 4-6 8-11
Oakland History: 378-339
at the Coliseum: 202-153
at T-Mobile Park: 99-119
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Zack Gelof hit his 10th home run of the season last Thursday night in his 35th career game, breaking Mark McGwire’s Athletics record for fewest games to 10 career home runs (41)…McGwire hit his 11th home run in game 42 and his 12th and 13th in game 43…his 23 extra base hits are the most in Athletics history by a player over his first 39 career games and his 12 doubles are tied for third (Gonzalez 17, Barton 14)…his 42 hits are tied for fifth most in Oakland history and his 24 runs rank sixth…Esteury Ruiz stole his 50th and 51st bases of the season Sunday to become the eighth player (28th time) in Athletics history to steal 50 bases…his 51 steals are the most by an Athletic since Rickey Henderson had 66 in 1998
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Ken Waldichuk (2-7, 6.05 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his 30th appearance and 19th start of the season…it will be his 17th traditional start as he also has two appearances as an opener…has also pitched three times in relief of an opener…went 1-4 with a 7.46 ERA and 1.012 opponents OPS in 12 games, including 10 starts in April and May…is 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA (32 er in 59.1 ip) and .778 opponents OPS in 17 games, including eight starts, since then.
RANKINGS: Ranks fourth among Major League rookies in strikeouts (111), sixth in innings pitched (110.0) and tied for eighth in games started (18)… has allowed the most runs (79), ranks second in most walks (59) and most home runs (21), third in most hits (125) and tied for fifth in most losses (7)… the 59 walks are tied for ninth most among all pitchers…among pitchers with 100 or more innings, he has the highest opponents on-base percentage in the majors (.376), second highest OPS (.892), third highest ERA (6.05), fourth highest slugging percentage (.516) and sixth highest batting average (.287).
DECISIONS: Has 13 no decisions, which is tied for fourth most in the majors among starters…it is also tied for third most in Oakland history…only Ron Darling (15 in 1993) and Mike Fiers (14 in 2019) have more…has left with the lead and was in position to win in five of his no decisions.
OPPONENTS BATTING: Has yielded five home runs in 10.2 innings over his last two starts…surrendered seven home runs in 8.2 innings over his first two starts and nine home runs in 90.2 in 25 games in between…14 of the 21 home runs he has allowed have been solo shots…has allowed 24 hits to left-handed hitters, 15 of which are for extra bases (nine doubles, one triple, five home runs)…opponents are 2-for-16 (.125) with a double, home run and three walks with the bases loaded…as a starter, he has a .242 (32-for-132) opponents batting average and .833 OPS the first time through the order, .300 (36-for-120) with a .976 OPS the second time and .347 (26-for-75) with a 1.050 OPS the third time
HOME AND AWAY: Is 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA (25 er in 50.2 ip) and .818 opponents OPS in 13 games at home compared to 2-5 with a 7.43 ERA (49 er in 59.1 ip) and .953 OPS in 16 games in the road…is now 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA and .781 OPS in 16 career games in the Coliseum, 2-6 with a 7.16 ERA and .937 OPS in 20 games on the road.
STARTING, RELIEVING AND OPENING: Has pitched in 29 games…that includes 16 traditional starts, two starts as an opener (May 28, June 20), three appearances in relief of an opener (May 24, July 5, July 25) and eight traditional relief appearances…began the season in the starting rotation and made nine starts through May 19…has tossed five innings or fewer in 10 of his 16 traditional starts and never more than 6.1 innings…logged 1.0 inning and 1.2 innings in his two starts as an opener (May 28 vs. Houston, June 20 at Cleveland)…has tossed at least 2.0 innings in eight of his 11 relief appearances… has left five of his starts in position to win only to have the bullpen blow the save.
2023 DAY-BY-DAY: Began the season in the A’s starting rotation and went 1-4 with a 6.85 ERA in nine starts through May 19 before splitting his duties between the pen, the rotation and opening…allowed six runs on a career-high nine hits in his first start of the season on April 2 against Los Angeles (AL) and was the losing pitcher in the A’s 6-0 loss…surrendered a three-run home run to O’Hoppe in the fourth to snap a career-high 14.0-inning scoreless streak dating back to last year…allowed three home runs against the Angels and a career-high four in his next start on April 7 at Tampa Bay…the seven home runs in back-to-back starts match the most in Oakland history by a pitcher over a two-game stretch…Mike Fiers (Sept. 3-9, 2019) is the only other one to do it over the last 25 years…allowed a career-high eight runs in 3.0 innings in the start against the Rays, which was his shortest outing of the season in a traditional start…tossed a season-high 6.1 innings April 12 at Baltimore but had a no decision in the A’s 8-4 win…left with a 4-2 lead but Familia blew the save…it was the first of five times he left with the lead in position to win only to have the bullpen blow the save (April 12, 24 and 30; August 7 and 13)…tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his fourth start on April 18 at Chicago (NL) but had a no decision as the A’s were shutout 4-0…struck out a season-high seven batters in 5.2 innings on April 30 against Cincinnati… finished April 0-2 with a 7.26 ERA and .976 opponents OPS in six starts… had the highest opponents OPS (.976) and slugging percentage (.598) in the majors in April, the fourth highest on-base percentage (.378) and the fifth highest ERA and batting average (.307)…the ERA was the highest April ERA in Athletics history among pitchers with 30 or more innings…allowed 10 home runs, which were the most in the majors and matched Gil Heredia (2001) for the most home runs in April in Athletics history…then went 1-2 with a 7.78 ERA and 1.062 OPS in six games in May…walked a career-high six batters and tossed a career-high 114 pitches on May 6 at Kansas City but picked up his first win of the season in the A’s 5-4 victory…then walked five batters in each of his next two starts and his streak of three consecutive games with five or more walks matches the longest by an A’s pitcher over the last 30 years (Chad Gaudin, July 12-23, 2007)…was moved out of the starting rotation after allowing four runs on five hits and five walks in 5.0 innings in a 5-1 loss at Houston on May 19…took the loss in his first relief appearance on May 24 at Seattle…struck out a season-high tying seven batters in 2.2 innings but allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks…made his first start as an opener on May 28 against Houston (1.0 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 1 er, 2 so)…earned the first save of his career on June 12 against Tampa Bay when he tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in the A’s 4-3 win…became the first A’s pitcher to toss three or more scoreless innings for the save in a one-run game since Elias Sosa on May 2, 1978…made his second start as an opener on June 20 at Cleveland (1.2 ip, 2 h, 2 so)…allowed six runs in 2.1 innings of relief on June 25 at Toronto…went 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA, .203 opponents batting average and .678 OPS in five games, including two starts, in July…struck out a season-high tying seven batters on Aug. 7 vs. Texas…struck out a season-high tying seven batters in 5.2 innings in a no decision against Baltimore on Aug. 19.
LAST START: He had a no decision in the A’s 8-5 win at Chicago (AL) last Thursday…allowed a one-out solo home run to Benintendi in the first inning…then retired 10 of the next 13 batters through the fourth inning and had a 3-1 lead entering the fifth…allowed a solo home run to Andrus, a RBI single to Benintendi and a two-run home run to Robert Jr. to give the White Sox a 5-3 lead…the A’s tied the game in the sixth and he was relieved by Erceg to start the bottom of the sixth.
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 6-game homestand (4-0) today with the second of 3 games against the Oakland Athletics (1-0)…Seattle opened the homestand with a 3-game series sweep of the Kansas City Royals (Aug. 25-27)…following Wednesday’s series finale vs. Oakland, the Mariners will embark on a 10-game road trip at the New York Mets (3 G, Sept. 1-3), Cincinnati Reds (3 G, Sept. 4-6) and Tampa Bay Rays (4 G, Sept. 7-10)…tonight’s game vs. the A’s will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers on the call…the game will also be broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and Mariners.com with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners won last night’s series opener with the Oakland A’s by a score of 7-0… the Mariners are 12-1 in their last 13 games, 20-4 over their last 24, 22-5 over their last 27, 25-6 over their last 31, 28-8 over their last 36 and 37-14 over their last 51 games…the Mariners are 58-20 when scoring at least 4 runs and 17-36 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 38-28 at T-Mobile Park and 37-28 on the road this season…they are 25-21 in day games and 50-35 at night. It’s Series Stuff – The Mariners will look to secure their 5th-consecutive series win in tonight’s game… Seattle has won 10 of their last 11 series and hold a 13-2-1 series record over their last 16 series dating back to June 30. Julio The Hit Maker – Julio Rodríguez has 5 4+ hit games in his last 10 games (8/16-c), the most by any player in a 10-game span since 1900 (h/t Sarah Langs and Elias Sports Bureau) Topa Chico Sparkling Pitcher – Justin Topa has not allowed an earned run in his last 15.0 IP over 17 games since July 24. Keeping it Close – The Mariners have either won or lost by 2-or-fewer runs in 36-consecutive games, tied for the 10th-longest streak in MLB history.
ATOP THE AL WEST…the Mariners hold sole position of first place in the AL West, leading both Texas and Houston by 1.0 game…the Mariners have gained 8.5 games on the Rangers since Aug. 15 and have trailed Texas for the division lead by as many as 10.5 games on June 28 and trailed by 10 games as recently as July 19…the last time the Mariners held sole possession of the division lead after game #130-or-later in the season was on Aug. 24, 2003 (game #130)…Seattle has not been alone atop the division after game #131-or-later since 2001 when Seattle won the division by 14.0 games in its historic 116-win season.
DOMINATING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL…the Mariners are 37-14 (.725) over their last 51 games dating back to July 1, best record in the Majors during that span (7/1-c)…since July 1, the Mariners offense leads the American League with a .824 OPS, trailing only Atlanta (.859) and Los Angeles-NL (.828) for the MLB lead, while leading the Majors in wRC+ (131) during the span…Mariners pitchers lead MLB in that span (7/1-c) with a 3.17 ERA (162 ER, 459.2 IP), ranking ahead of Toronto (3.39) and Baltimore (3.49).
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ: AL PLAYER OF THE MONTH?…since Aug. 1, Julio Rodríguez is batting .429 (45×105) with 19 runs, 10 doubles, 7 home runs, 30 RBI and 11 stolen bases, getting on base at a .474 clip and slugging .724 (1.198 OPS)…he ranks among the qualified AL leaders in August in hits (1st), doubles (1st), RBI (1st), stolen bases (1st), batting average (1st), on base percentage (1st), slugging percentage (2nd) and OPS (2nd)…he has recorded 13 multi-hit games during the month and 6 games with 3+ hits. Streaking – Julio has hit safely in a career-high 13-consecutive games (8/13-c), surpassing an 11- game streak from earlier this season (July 22-Aug. 2, 2023)…during the active streak, Julio is batting .516 (32×62) with 13 runs scored, 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 21 RBI, 4 walks and 8 stolen bases, while reaching base at a .552 clip and slugging .855 with a 1.407 OPS…he has also homered in a career-high 3-consecutive games (8/26-c). Hit Parade – Julio leads the AL with 153 hits this season, ranking ahead of Bo Bichette-TOR (152) and Marcus Semien-TEX (151), while trailing Freddie Freeman-LAD (176) for the MLB lead…he has also recorded 47 multi-hit games this season, 3rd-most in the Majors behind Ronald Acuña Jr.-ATL (56) and Freddie Freeman-LAD (53)…Julio also has 28 hits in his last 10 games (8/16-28) tied for the 5thmost in any 10-game span in MLB history…Heinie Manush of the Washington Senators has the MLB record with 30 hits from June 10-23, 1933.
HOME SWEET HOMESTAND…the Mariners homestand is highlighted by Julio Rodríguez Funko Pop! Collectible Night tonight and Death Cabby for Cutie Day on Wednesday, Aug. 30…tickets are available at Mariners.com/Tickets.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Teoscar Hernández has an active 7-game hitting streak (8/21-c), batting .419 (13×31) with 1 double, 4 home runs and 12 RBI during his season-high hitting streak, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Teo has been one of the best qualified hitters in the AL in August, batting .371 (36×97) with 13 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 19 RBI and a 1.048 OPS?…he ranks among the AL leaders in batting average (3rd), wRC+ (3rd), OPS (4th), fWAR (T-7th), doubles (2nd), RBI (T-8th) and extra-base hits (T-2nd, 15) during the month.
MARINERS STARTER – RHP GEORGE KIRBY
2023 MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 10-8 3.28 25/25 156.1 147 59 57 14 142 17
Home 6-3 2.87 12/12 75.1 60 25 24 7 78 8
Road 4-5 3.67 13/13 81.0 87 34 33 7 64 9
vs. OAK 1-0 3.86 1/1 7.0 7 3 3 1 2 1
Career MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 18-13 3.33 50/50 286.1 282 113 106 36 275 30
Home 9-6 3.07 25/25 146.2 137 54 50 17 155 17
Road 9-7 3.61 25/25 139.2 145 59 56 19 120 13
vs. OAK 2-0 4.28 5/5 27.1 30 13 13 6 27 2
ABOUT KIRBY…
- 25-year-old right-hander is making his 26th start of the season, 2nd against Oakland…he is also making his 51st career start, and 6th career start against the Athletics. Selected by the Mariners in the first round (20th overall) of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout by Holub. Played 3 seasons (2017-2019) at Elon University (NC), going 19-8 with a 3.30 ERA (88 ER, 240.0 IP) in 45 games (34 GS) with the Phoenix. Became the first rookie in MLB history to record a save in the postseason in his first career relief appearance. Graduated from Rye HS (Rye, NY) where he was named to the all-metro, all-state, all-section and all-league baseball teams 3 times.
LAST TIME OUT…ND in last start on 8/23 at CHW…pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits (1 HR) with 9 strikeouts.
THESE BOOTS WERE NOT MADE FOR WALKING…leads all qualified pitchers in the Majors with a 10.14 strikeouts-to-walk ratio, ranking ahead of Zach Eflin-TBR (7.35)…his 10.14 SO/BB ratio currently ranks as the 3rd best in a single season in MLB history among qualified starting pitchers in the American League.
NIFTY FIFTY…through his first 50 career starts Kirby recorded 275 strikeouts and 36 walks…his 7.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio is highest in Major League history through a pitcher’s first 50 career starts…Kirby ranks ahead of Shane Bieber (6.00), Corbin Burnes (5.81) and Masahiro Tanaka (5.73).
NO WALKS ALLOWED…has not given up a walk in 4 consecutive starts which matches a career high that he set ealier this season (5/26-6/20)…Kirby has only allowed 14 walks all season.
CAREER-HIGH INNINGS…threw 9.0 innings and allowed only 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and struck out 7 over 103 pitches in his start against BAL on 8/12…his 9.0 IP is a new career high (previously: 8.0, 2x, last: 5/31/23 vs. NYY)…the last time a Mariners pitcher tossed 9.0+ innings in a team loss was Félix Hernández on 7/26/13 vs. Minnesota.
NO FREE PASSES…has the fewest walks allowed through the first 25 starts in a season in franchise history with 14…he currently ranks ahead of Hisashi Iwakuma who allowed 21 walks through 25 starts in 2014
