LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the second (0-1) of six games on the final road trip of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1; Sept. 19-21) and Minnesota Twins (Sept. 22-24)…Halos went 0-3 on last homestand against Detroit…LAA was 1-2 on last road trip at Seattle.
SCHANUEL’S STREAKS: Nolan Schanuel has reached base safely in each of his first 23 MLB games, which is the longest streak to start a career in Angels history (see list below)…It’s the longest such streak in MLB since Rocco Baldelli reached safely in his first 24 career games for the 2003 Devil Rays…Schanuel also set a franchise record with a 10-game hit streak to begin his MLB career.
WELCOME TO THE JO SHOW: Last night marked the first appearance for Jo Adell for the Angels since July 8…He missed 59 games on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
GRICHUK’S HIT STREAKS: Randal Grichuk went 0-for3 last night, to snap a streak of 14 consecutive starts with a hit…The 14-game streak as a starter tied his career high (also had a 14-game streak for the Rockies spanning the final two games of the 2022 season and first 12 games this year)…Grichuk went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter last Wednesday at Seattle snapping a 10- game traditional hit streak.
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 15 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 38 times this year for 33 different players.
CAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR: Inland Empire’s Jadiel Sanchez has been selected as the DH for the California League All-Star team.
VS. TAMPA BAY: Rays lead the season series 3-1 after taking last night’s series opener and two of three contests at Angel Stadium from Aug. 18-19.
HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League lead and rank third in the Majors with 218 home runs this season…Only the Braves (291) and
Dodgers (236) have homered more.
NIKE RBI SCHOLARSHIP: Today, MLB awarded college scholarships, each valued at $5,000 per year, to 12 incoming college freshmen who are alumni of the Nike Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (Nike RBI) program, including Angels Nike RBI athlete Khoi Anderson, who will attend Vanguard University.
WINS AND LOSSES: With 83 losses on the season, Angels will finish below .500 for an eighth consecutive season, which is the longest streak in franchise history (previously did so in seven straight campaigns from 1971-77)…LAA has lost six straight games and looking to avoid tying season-high seven game losing streak from Aug. 1-7.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP REID DETMERS 3-10, 4.82 ERA
Has a 3.00 ERA (30 IP – 10 ER) with 23 strikeouts through last five starts
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 27th start of the season today and 15th at home…Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season…Is in third Major League season with Angels.
- SUPPORT ME: Averaging 3.46 runs of support per nine innings this season, which is the lowest in the A.L. (min. 130 IP).
- LAST TIME OUT: Took no decision on September 11 at Seattle after pitching 7.0 innings and surrendering three runs on five hits, zero walks, and seven strikeouts.
- VS. TAMPA BAY: Making second career start vs. Rays…Thew a no-hitter in first career outing against Tampa Bay on May 10, 2022, surrendering a sole baserunner on a walk and striking out two across nine spotless innings; Was 12th no-hitter in Angels history and the 10th individual no-hitter.
- AT TROPICANA FIELD: Making first career start at Tropicana Field.
- STAY UNFAMILIAR: This season, opponents are batting .239 (99/415) the first two times through the order, but are batting .306 (34/111) the third time through the batting order.
- GOING OFFSPEED: In 2023, is holding opponents to a .228 (74/324) average against offspeed pitches, including a .195 (16/82) clip on curveballs.
- WHIFF SPECIALIST: Ranks ninth in American League this season with 25.8% strikeout rate (min. 130 IP)… Ranks second on Halos with 154 punchouts in 2023.
- HOME COOKING: Has a 4.29 ERA (77.2 IP – 37 ER) in 14 home starts this season, compared with a 5.40 ERA (60 IP – 36 ER) in 12 starts on the road…In career, is 7-8 in 29 home starts with a 3.92 ERA (160.2 IP – 70 ER) versus a 4-11 record and 5.26 ERA (126.2 IP – 74 ER) in 27 starts as a visitor.
- SO CLOSE: Came within eight outs of a second career no-hitter after tossing 7.1 hitless innings against the Rangers on August 16, but was foiled by an 8th inning double off the bat of Marcus Semien.
- HISTORIC STRETCH: From June 8 – July 2, had five straight starts with 8+ strikeouts and two-or-fewer runs allowed…The only other player in Angels history with such a streak was Nolan Ryan (seven games; his final three games in 1972 and first four in 1973).
- 12K: Matched career high with 12 strikeouts on May 19 vs. Minnesota and carried a no-hitter through 5.2 innings…Previously tallied 12 strikeouts on July 31, 2022 vs. Texas.
- STREAKS SNAPPED: Victory on June 14 ended a career-high streak of five consecutive losing decisions… Also ended streak of 10 straight winless starts to begin a season, which finished tied for third-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark – 12 starts in 1968 and Hector Santiago – 11 starts in 2014).
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
RAY REPORT — Tampa Bay continues its final homestand of the season, a six-day, six-game stint featuring matchups with Los Angeles-AL and Toronto…the Rays are 31-16 in their last 47 games, including wins in 10 of 14, following an MLB-worst 5-15 (.250) stretch from 7/1-26…the Rays are 2.5 games back of the first-place Orioles in the AL East and currently occupy the AL’s first Wild Card spot, leading Toronto by 8.5 games and Seattle/Texas by 9.5 games…they have spent a total of 114 days in first place in the division, surpassing the 2008 Rays (113) for the most in a season in club history. The Rays clinched their ninth postseason berth in club history on Sunday and became the eighth team in the Wild Card era (since 1995) to make the Postseason in five consecutive seasons at least once, joining the Braves (2x: 1995-2005; 2018-23), Yankees (2x: 1995-2007; 2017-22), Astros (2017-22), Dodgers (2013-23), Cardinals (2011-15), Guardians (1995-99) and Phillies (2007-11). If the postseason began today, the Rays would host the Blue Jays in a best-of-three Wild Card series at Tropicana Field, with the winner advancing to play the Orioles in a best-of-five ALDS. With last night’s win, Tampa Bay surpassed the 2013 Rays for the fifth-most wins in a single season in team history…the 2023 club needs to win seven of its last 10 games to match the single-season record set by the 2021 team (100 wins).
YANDY MAN CAN—Yandy Díaz ranks among AL leaders in AVG (2nd, .323), on-base pct. (2nd, .402), OPS (3rd, .909), hits (5th, 163), slugging pct. (6th, .507) and runs (T8th, 90). His .323 batting average is the second highest through 152 games in franchise history, trailing only Aubrey Huff (.328, 2002), while his .402 OBP is also second highest behind Fred McGriff: (.409, 1999). His 18 games with 3+ hits pace all AL batters and are fourth most in the majors behind ATL Ronald Acuña Jr. (22G) and MIA Luis Arraez/LAD Freddie Freeman (both 20G). His 50 multi-hit games overall are second most in the AL, trailing SEA Julio Rodríguez (54G)…the 50 games are the most in a single season by a Rays batter since Corey Dickerson had 51 in 2017.
FRIENDLY CONFINES — Tampa Bays owns an MLB-best 51-25 (.671) record at home, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (50-26, .658) and Atlanta (48-26, .644)… with wins in two of their next five games, the 2023 club will take sole possession of the second-most home wins in franchise history, ahead of the 2009 and 2021 Rays (both 52-29). Tampa Bay is 13-4 in its last 17 home games since 8/11 after going 5-12 at Tropicana Field from 6/24-8/10. Since becoming the Rays in 2008, Tampa Bay is 731-511 (.589) at home, the third-best mark in the majors during that span behind Los Angeles-NL (777-464, .626) and New York-AL (767-474, .618).
LEFT SIDE, STRONG SIDE! —Tampa Bay is an MLB-best 22-8 (.733) against left-handed starting pitchers this season. Min. 100 AB, Harold Ramírez is batting an AL-best .368 (39-for-106) vs. southpaws, trailing only ATL Ozzie Albies (.387) for the MLB lead…under the same parameters, his .368 AVG vs. lefties would be the third-best mark in a single season in team history behind Jason Bartlett (.379 in 2008) and Jeff Keppinger (.376 in 2012). Yandy Díaz is batting .480 (12-for-25) with five doubles, 3 HR, 10 RBI and three walks against two strikeouts vs. left-handers since 8/22. Of the 16 left-handed starting pitchers the Rays have faced at home this season, STL Matthew Liberatore is the only one to receive a win (8/10 – 8.0IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 7SO). As a team, Rays batters are hitting .263 against left-handed pitching, the highest single-season mark by a Tampa Bay team since the 2013 Rays hit .276 off southpaws.
BALANCED ATTACK — Tampa Bay has scored 7+ runs in an AL-best 50 games, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (56G) and Atlanta (52G) for the MLB lead…Rays pitching has allowed three runs or fewer in 81 games this year, the second-best mark in the majors behind only Toronto (82G).
IN A PINCH—Tampa Bay is batting an MLB-best .302 (26-for-86) in pinch-hit situations, ahead of Miami (.278) and Washington (.270). The Rays .302 pinch-hit AVG would signal the second-high mark in a single-season in team history behind the 2005 Devil Rays (.309). Harold Ramírez has 10 base knocks as a pinch hitter, tied with Brandon Guyer (2015) and Travis Lee (2005) for the single-season franchise record… Ramírez’s .526 PH AVG ranks third in the majors (min. 10AB) behind CIN Tyler Stephenson (.600) and BAL Ryan McKenna (.545).
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING — The Rays 217 homers are tied with Minnesota for second in the AL behind the Angels (218) while their 155 stolen bases lead the league, ahead of the Royals (153SB)…they are attempting to become the fifth team to lead the AL in both categories, joining New York-AL in 1931, 1933 and 1938 and Cleveland in 1995 (Elias)… the 217 homers are the most through 152 games in club history, ahead of the 2017 team (214HR), while the 155 steals are third most behind the 2009 (182SB) and 2010 Rays (164SB)…they are 11 homers shy of matching the 2017 Rays (228HR) for the club single-season record.
CASH MONEY — According to Elias, Kevin Cash, 45, is the youngest manager in MLB history to reach the postseason in five consecutive seasons, ahead of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was 48 years old when he clinched his fifth straight postseason berth with Los Angeles-NL in 2020. Cash has guided the Rays to a 733-613 (.545) record since taking over as manager in 2015, the fifth-best team winning pct. in the majors during that span behind the Dodgers (838-507, .623), Astros (795-551, .591) Yankees (765-580, .569) and Guardians (740-604, .551).
COAST TO COAST — Tampa Bay and Los Angeles-AL continue a three-game set tonight at Tropicana Field…the Rays took two of three in Los Angeles from 8/18-19, producing 33 runs on 42 hits during the three-game series…the Rays collected season highs in runs (18) and hits (19) in game two of the doubleheader on 8/19. The Rays are 28-11 (.718) against the Angels since the beginning of 2017, their best mark against any AL opponent in that span, ahead of Detroit (26-13, .667).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP AARON CIVALE (7-3, 3.06)
TONIGHT’S START — The right-hander makes his ninth start since being acquired at the trade deadline on 7/31…marks his 22nd start of the season, including his 11th at home…he is set to surpass his previous single-season career high of 21 starts and is 6.2 IP shy of his career-high 124.1 IP; both marks were set in 2021…has gone 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA (40.2IP, 20ER) in his first eight starts with Tampa Bay; the Rays are 6-2 in those games…ranks fifth in the AL with a 3.00 ERA (78.0IP, 26ER) since 7/1.
LAST TIME OUT — Civale did not factor into the decision of the Rays 4-3 win at Baltimore on 9/14 (5.0IP, 4H, 3ER, BB, 8SO, 2HR)…struck out the side in order in the first inning, his fourth time doing so in his career (last 10/5/22 vs. KC)…recorded six of his first nine outs via the strikeout…allowed solo homers to Ryan O’Hearn and Gunnar Henderson, marking the second time this season he has permitted 2+ HR (also 6/14 at SD)…limited the Orioles to one run in a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fifth frame, inducing a fielder’s choice groundout followed by a double play.
AARON AND THE ANGELS — Civale earned the win in his lone career start against Los Angeles-AL on 5/19/21 at Angel Stadium, working 7.0 innings of two-run ball in a 3-2 Cleveland victory (7.0IP, 4H, 2ER, BB, 8SO, HR)…his 114 pitches in the outing remain a career high. He is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA (29.1IP, 12ER) in five starts opposite AL West clubs this season, three of which have come against Seattle… also owns a 3.68 ERA (78.1IP, 32ER) across his 13 career starts against the division…his 0.94 WHIP against the AL West is his lowest against any division.
HOME COOKING — Civale has tossed 5.0+ innings in a career-best 13 straight home starts dating back to 8/15/22 (prev. 9GS, 6/22/19-9/21/20)… it ties the fifth-longest active run among AL pitchers — SEA Luis Castillo (21GS) hold the longest streak.…during the streak, he is 5-1 with a 3.49 ERA (77.1IP, 30ER) while holding opponents to a .207 (59-for-285) in those outings.
BUMPS IN THE ROAD — Civale has posted a 5.87 ERA (15.1IP, 10ER) with seven walks (4.11 BB/9.0IP) over his last three starts…in 11 outings from 7/2-8/29, Civale went 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA (62.2IP, 16ER) and nine walks (1.29 BB/9.0IP)…his 2.30 ERA during that span was third lowest in the majors behind SD Blake Snell (1.74) and BAL Kyle Bradish (2.26). He has yielded five home runs in his last five starts since 8/23 (1.78 HR/9.0IP) after allowing one in his previous 10 outings from 6/25-8/16 (0.15 HR/9.0IP). All 10 of the home runs allowed by Civale this season have come with the bases empty…the last multi-run homer he allowed was a two-run shot by Drew Waters on 9/30/22 vs. Kansas City; one of those two runs were unearned.
CUT IT OUT — Civale’s cutter is rated as the most valuable cutter in the majors by Baseball Savant, producing a run value of 16, which outpaces NYM Kodai Senga’s cut fastball (15)…run value is defined as “the run impact of an event based on the runners on base, outs, ball and strike count.” Civale throws his cutter 37.6 pct. of the time, his highest usage rate on any pitch in his career over a single season, ahead of his sinker in 2019 (35.1%)…opponents are batting .239 (38-for-159) with only two homers and 30 strikeouts against his cutter.
GOING STREAKING — Civale has held opponents to four or fewer runs in 35 consecutive starts dating back to 5/20/22, the longest active streak in the majors, ahead of LAD Clayton Kershaw (30GS)…he has yielded four or fewer hits in three consecutive starts, his longest streak since a career-best eight start run from 7/13-9/30, 2022; opponents are batting .185 (10-for-54) against him during his curent streak.
RISP MANAGEMENT — Opposing hitters are batting .191 (18-for-94) with a .479 OPS against Civale with runners in scoring position, the lowest opp. OPS in the AL with RISP (min. 100BF), ahead of TEX Nathan Eovaldi (.500)…the .191 opp. average ranks seventh under the same parameters. IS THE MAGIC NUMBER—For his career, Civale is 29-1 with a 3.12 ERA (291.2IP, 101ER) in games when he receives three or more runs of support… he has a 2-23 record with a 4.98 ERA (179.0IP, 99ER) in games receiving two or fewer runs of support…Civale has received 5.53 runs of support per 9.0 IP in his first eight starts with the Rays compared to 4.56 over 13 starts with the Guardians.
