Friday, March 29, 2024
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MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (26-15) at Texas Rangers (25-16)

ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Rangers tonight continue a three-game series in what is the only scheduled matchup between the clubs this season… The two teams played three games here in Arlington last season.

  • Atlanta hit five home runs in a 12-0 win over Texas last night.
  • The Rangers took two-of-three from the Braves last season…Atlanta and Texas are playing in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in history, after also doing so in 2002 and 2003.
  • Atlanta and Texas have played 25 games since the advent of interleague play in 1997, with the Braves going 12-13 (.480) all-time against the Rangers… However, Atlanta won each of the first six games between the clubs in 2002 & 2003, and has gone just 6-13 (.316) since 2005.
  • The Braves have not won a series with the Rangers since a three-game sweep in 2003.
  • Here in Arlington, Atlanta has lost five-of-seven dating to 2014, and is just 4-9 since 2005.
  • LH Jared Shuster was recalled today from Triple-A Gwinnett and is set to make his third major league start…He has never faced the Rangers…The 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of New Bedford, MA is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA (8 ER/8.2 IP) over his first two major league starts, with his last coming on April 7 vs. San Diego…In five starts with the Stripers, he is a perfect 2-0 with a 3.28 ERA (9 ER/24.2 IP).
  • RH Dane Dunning has made one career start against Atlanta, pitching here at Globe Life Field on April 30 of last season…He allowed just four hits and one run over 7.2 innings, earning the win…The 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander has pitched in 10 games but made just two starts for Texas this season, going 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA (6 ER/31.1 IP).

WIN: Atlanta hit five two-run home runs last night in a 12-0 shutout of Texas…The win snapped the Braves’ four-game losing streak, tied for Atlanta’s longest skid of the season.

  • Atlanta pitchers have combined to throw five shutouts this season, tied for third most in baseball… Only Tampa Bay (7) and Toronto (6) have more.
  • The victory was Atlanta’s largest shutout win since 2017, when the Braves blanked the Nationals, 13-0, on July 8.
  • Atlanta hit five home runs and five doubles, with 10 of its 12 hits on the game going for extra bases…That stands as the most extra-base hits in a game for the Braves since May 21, 2021, when the club had 14 vs. Pittsburgh.
  • The Braves improved to 7-8 in interleague play with the win, and are in the middle of 14 consecutive games against the American League.

HITS, RUNS AND RBI: Atlanta scored 12 runs on 12 hits last night…All nine Braves’ starters had at least one hit, eight different Braves scored runs and seven Atlanta batters collected at least one RBI.

  • Last night was the second time this season all nine Atlanta starters collected at least one hit, joining the 14-run, 18-hit effort on May 3 at Miami.
  • Atlanta’s eight different runners to score were its second most this season, behind just that May 3 game at Miami when nine different Braves crossed the plate.
  • Seven different Braves with an RBI stand as the most in a game this season, and the most since seven had an RBI on August 15 of last season vs. the Mets.

ROSARIO STREAKING: Eddie Rosario returns to Atlanta’s lineup tonight and has hit in each of his last 10 games dating to May 1…He is batting .333/.350/.436 during the run, with four doubles and six RBI.

  • Rosario’s run is the sixth-longest active streak in the majors, and the second longest in the National League…Jonah Heim, who Atlanta faces tonight with Texas, has the longest streak in baseball with hits in 13 straight.
  • Rosario has raised his batting average 38 points during the streak, from .221 when it started to .259 following Saturday’s game.
  • Rosario’s run is the longest by a Braves player this season, and his longest personal hitting streak since joining the Braves in July 2021.

OZZIE ALBIES: Had a pair of doubles last night, going 2-for-5 with an RBI…In 14 games this month, Albies is batting .283/.306/.550 with 10 extra-base hits.

  • Albies has 20 extra-base hits on the season, tied for fourth most in the National League…Only Paul Goldschmidt (23), Freddie Freeman (21) and teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. (21) have more.
  • His 20 extra-base hits this season are most among second basemen in the majors, four more than anyone else to play the position (Texas’ Marcus Semien – 16).
  • Since his debut on August 1, 2017, Albies has 295 extra-base hits while playing second base, easily most among the position in baseball…Houston’s Jose Altuve ranks second with 265…Albies appeared in just 29 games in 2020, and 64 last season.
  • As a right-handed batter this season, Albies is hitting .439/.448/.842 with 12 extra-base hits…His 246 wRC+ from the right side is best in baseball among hitters with at least 50 plate appearances.

TEN YEARS: Marcell Ozuna today celebrates 10.000 years of major league service time…He debuted in the majors on April 30, 2013, and has played with the Marlins, Cardinals and Braves.

  • Ozuna went 1-for-5 with a homer last night, and is batting .278/.366/.806 with six homers in his last nine games.

Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #45 Jared Shuster
LHP • 6-3 • 210 • 24 yrs
2023 Record: 0-1, 8.31 ERA • 2023 MiLB Record: 2-0, 3.28 ERA
vs. RHB: .400 (10-25), 0 HR • vs. LHB: .200 (2-10), 0 HR
Home: 0-0, 9.00 ERA (4/4.0) • Away: 0-1, 7.71 ERA (4/4.2)

Tonight’s Game

  • Set to make his third of the season with Atlanta and first of his career against Texas.
  • Will be his third career start.
  • Was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after his last start against San Diego on April 7.
  • Surrendered six hits, four runs and four walks while fanning four over 4.0 innings pitched.
  • Is 2-0 with a 3.28 ERA and 23 strikeouts in five starts with the Stripers.
  • Averaging 8.39 strikeouts per nine innings with Gwinnett while having a 5.19 rate with Atlanta.

2023 Recap

  • Made his major league debut against Washington on April 2.
  • Allowed six hits, four runs and five walks through 4.2 innings pitched.
  • Was the third player from the Braves’ 2020 First-Year Player Draft to debut with the club.
  • Joined Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder as the other hurlers from the ‘20 draft class to play for Atlanta.
  • Became the eighth Braves pitcher to debut with a start against the Nationals/Expos.
  • Pitched to a 1.74 ERA in six appearances, four starts, with 19 strikeouts through 20.2 innings pitched in Spring Training.
  • Began the Spring without allowing a run in his first four outings (12.2 IP).

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:

WINS AND LOSSES: Texas lost to the Braves last night, 0-12, and are now 0-1 on this 7-day, 6-game homestand vs. ATL (0-1 + 2 G) and COL (3 G)…TEX has still won 2 of 3, 4 of 6 and 7 of 10…TEX is 7-5 in last 12 G, but 11-5 in last 16 G…TEX is 11-9 in last 20 G, but still 17-10 in last 27 G and 21-12 in last 33 G beg. 4/9…have a 22-16 record last 38 G since club’s 3-0 start to the season…club has 5 different win streaks of 3+ G in 2023 (season-best 4-0 both 4/16-19 and 4/28-5/2)…team totaled 7 wins streaks of 3+ G in all of 2022.

  • At 25-16 (.610), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in A.L. and 5th-best in MLB (see chart)…club’s 25 wins rank 3rd in A.L./5th in MLB (31-TB, 27-LAD, 26-ATL/BAL, 25-TEX).
  • The 25-16 start marks Rangers’ best 41-G start to a season since 2013 (27-14), one of the 6 best starts in club history.
  • TEX is 9 G above .500, one shy of matching high-water mark of 10-over after win on Sun. at OAK (25-15)…it marked club’s 1st time to be 10-over since 6/28/19 (46-36), and earliest date to reach 10-over in a season since 2013 (May 11).

BEST RECORDS IN MLB, 2023
Win Pct. Team W-L
.738 Tampa Bay 31-11
.643 Los Angeles-NL 27-15
.634 Atlanta/Baltimore 26-15
.610 Texas 25-16

STANDINGS: Rangers have a 3.0-game lead in the A.L. West after entering yesterday with a season-best 4.0-G lead…this still marks the latest point in a season for Texas to hold a lead of 3.0+ G in the division since finishing the 2016 campaign 9.0 GA of 2nd-place Seattle…club currently holds a 3.0-G lead over 2nd-place Houston…the 3.0-G lead is T3rd-largest division advantage in MLB entering today (ATL is + 6.0 GA in N.L. East and TB is +4.5 GA in A.L. East)…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 45 of the season’s first 46 days (exception: 4/8).

SERIES STUFF: TEX has won 3 straight series, going 4-0-1 in last 5 series and 8-1-1 in last 10…team is 5-0-0 in series against A.L. West foes in 2023…team is 9-3-1 overall in series this year, going 5-1-1 at home 4-2-0 on the road…club did not win an 8th series in 2022 until 6/21-22 vs. PHI…TEX won 4 straight series 4/10-23, longest such span since going 5-0-0 from 6/15-7/1/18…TEX is 3-0-1 in last 4 series at GLF, as lone series loss at home in ‘23 was 4/3-5 vs. BAL (1-2).

AT HOME: The Rangers are 12-7 (.632) at home this season, this after starts of 7-12 (in 2022) and 9-10 (in 2021) at GLF the past 2 years…the .667 home win pct. is 5th in the A.L. and 6th in MLB (19-3, .864-TB; 12-4, .750-TOR; 16- 6, .727-LAD; 13-7, .650-BAL; 14-8, .636-MIN; 12-7, .632- TEX)…TEX has a 98-113 all-time record at Globe Life Field (2020-23), but are 18-14 last 32 G here (beg. 9/11/22).

  • TEX leads MLB in R/G (6.32) at home in 2023, and 120 R are 6th-most in Majors…team is also 5th in MLB w/ 1.63 HR/G at home, this after ranking 9th in Majors at 1.25 HR/G at home in 2022.

VS. ATLANTA: Rangers/Braves will be playing at Globe Life Field for a 2nd straight year, as TEX took 2 of 3 from 4/29-5/1/22…Rangers lead 13-12 all-time, winning 2 of 3 and 9 of last 13…since going 0-6 in 1st 2 meetings in 2002-03, Rangers are 13-6 beg. 2005 vs. ATL, winning each of last 6 series between the clubs.

  • TEX is 5-7 in Interleague this season, losing 7 of last 9 G, but are 4-2 vs. N.L. at Globe Life Field in ‘23…club is 9-4 in last 13 Interleague games at GLF (beg. 4/30/22).

ROSTER MOVES: The Rangers this afternoon announced that RHP Joe Barlow (#68) has been recalled from Round Rock (AAA)…to make room for Barlow on Texas’ active roster, LHP Cody Bradford has been optioned to Round Rock. The 27-year-old Barlow has gone 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA (4 ER/13.2 IP) over 11 relief appearances for the Express in 2023, and will be seeking his Texas season debut…this would be his 3rd straight campaign to see Major League action with the Rangers (also 2021-22)…has converted 24 of 29 (82.8%) save chances in his Major League career, as his 24 saves since the beginning of 2021 are easily the most among Texas pitchers in that span (Ian Kennedy is 2nd with 16 saves).

BLANKED: Texas suffered its 4th shutout defeat of the season, 0-12, in last night’s homestand opener against Atlanta… the 12-run loss marked the Rangers’ largest margin of defeat since falling 1-15 on 9/13/21 vs. HOU (-14)…it was also the club’s largest shutout defeat since being blanked 0-14 on 7/19/21 at DET, and its largest in Arlington since an 0-13 drubbing on 9/22/18 vs. SEA at the former Globe Life Park.

  • The Rangers recorded 10 hits in last night’s defeat, the 7th instance in club history (beg. 1972) in which Texas has been shut out while recording 10+ hits…was team’s 1st time to do so since compiling 10 hits in an 0-9 loss on 5/27/04 at CWS… last night was the 1st instance in MLB this season in which a club tallied 10+ hits in a shutout defeat, with the last occurrence being COL on 9/22/22 vs. SF (10 H in an 0-3 loss).

SINGLED OUT: Each of the Rangers’ 10 hits last night were singles, as it was just the 4th time this season for the club to be held without an extra-base hit (last 4 1B on 5/8 at SEA)… TEX had not produced a game in which it totaled 10-or-more singles without an XBH since 9/12/17 vs. SEA (also 10 1B)… there has been only one other game in MLB this season in which a club tallied 10+ hits with all going for singles: STL on 4/1 vs. TOR (10 1B, no XBH).

GREAT DANE: Dane Dunning enters tonight’s start with a 3-0 record and 1.72 ERA (6 ER/31.1 IP) in 10 G/2 GS this season…opponents have batted .182/.242/.227/.469 (20- 110), the lowest opp. OPS allowed in MLB (min. 30.0 IP).

THE MAN IN MAY: Marcus Semien went 3-for-5 with a trio of singles last night, his A.L.-leading 16th multi-hit game of the season (tied-TOR’s Bo Bichette)…Semien has hit safely in 12 of 13 G in May at .358/.453/.528/.981 (19-53), ranking among A.L. leaders for the month in times on base (1st, 29), OBP (2nd), hits (T2nd), BA (4th), RBI (T4th, 11), and OPS (T8th).

STAY STREAKING: Jonah Heim extended his career-best 13-game hitting streak with a 2nd-inning single last night…it is the longest active hit streak in MLB and T2nd-longest by a Ranger this season: 14-Grossman from 4/16-5/6, 13-Heim from 4/30-current/Lowe from 4/30-5/14.

  • Nathaniel Lowe went 0-for-3 with a walk last night, snapping his career-best 13-G hitting streak…the walk, however, maintained Lowe’s season-high 19-G on-base streak dating back to 4/25…marks the longest on-base streak by a Texas batter since a 21-G run by Marcus Semien from 8/18-9/10/22.

HEART OF A LION: Sandy León in the 9th inn. last night (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R-ER, 1 HR, 1 HBP) became the 19th position player (25th instance) in Rangers history to appear as a pitcher…he is the first position player to pitch for Texas in 2023 (last Charlie Culberson on 9/2/22 at BOS)…per STATS LLC, León’s 8 career appearances as a pitcher are the 6th-most all-time among primary catchers (1st: 15-CIN’s Amos Booth).

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #33 Dane Dunning, RHP (3-0, 1.72)
TONIGHT: The 28-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 11th appearance/3rd start of the season in tonight’s middle game of this series vs. ATL… among A.L. pitchers with 30+ IP this season, ranks among leaders in ERA (3rd, 1.72), opp. BA (6th, .182), and GB pct. (T9th, 50.0%)…has made 2 starts since joining the rotation on 5/5 after Jacob deGrom went on the IL, going 1-0, 1.64 (2 ER/11.0 IP) with 2 BB/8 SO and no HR allowed…earned win in last start on Wed. at SEA (see below)…ranks among staff leaders in wins (T3rd, 3), innings (5th, 31.1), and strikeouts (6th, 19)…has yet to allow a HR in ‘23 and is scoreless in 6 of 10 G…began season with 18.0 scoreless innings…established career highs in many categories last season, ranking 2nd on the Texas staff in starts (29), innings (153.1), and strikeouts (137)…missed time in 2022 for a pair of IL stints: 7/11-25/22 (right ankle impingement) and 9/27/22-end of season (right hip surgery)…had season-ending surgery on 9/26/22 for a right hip labral repair, with the surgery performed by Dr. William Robertson in Arlington…has gone 12-18 with a 4.20 ERA for Rangers over the last 3 seasons (2021-23) since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a 3-player trade involving RHP Lance Lynn on 12/8/20…pitched 3 seasons at the University of Florida, helping the Gators to College World Series appearances in both 2015 and 2016…is a native of the Jacksonville, Fla. area…Texas is 1-1 in Dunning’s 2 starts in 2023.

LAST START: Earned win in last start on Wed. at SEA (W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 71 pitches/50 strikes), posting quality start in Rangers’ 4-3 victory that secured a series win…gave up single runs in the 1st and 5th innings, and only frame with more than 14 pitches was the 5th (17)…ended a span in which he had gone winless in 27 consecutive road starts with CWS and TEX, the 2nd-longest winless road span as a starter in modern era behind only COL’s Scott Elarton (29 from 2001-05)…only previous career road win as a starter was w/ CWS on 9/9/20 at PIT.

VS. ATLANTA: Only career outing vs. ATL came last year, earning win in start on 4/30/22 at GLF (W, 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 7 SO, 98 pitches) that came in club’s 1972 throwback uniforms…produced a game score of 74 that remains 2ndbest of his career (80 game score on 8/6/22 vs. CWS – 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R).

  • Has gone 3-1, 3.78 (20 ER/47.2 IP) over 11 G/8 GS in his career in Interleague play, allowing 3 R-2 ER over 5.0 IP spanning 3 relief app. in 2023…is 3-1, 3.80 (18 ER/42.2 IP) in 8 starts vs. N.L. clubs, last of which was 8/23/22 at COL (ND, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R-ER)…has 3 lifetime starts vs. N.L. at Globe Life Field: 2-0, 1.80 (4 ER/20.0 IP), quality starts in all 3 outings.

AS A STARTER: Has gone 2-0, 1.64 (2 ER/11.0 IP) in his 2 starts for TEX in ‘23, spanning his last 2 outings, exiting both starts with Texas holding a multi-run lead…made 8 straight relief app. to open the year, but a majority of Dunning’s Major League appearances (63 of 73) have come as a starter…he owns a lifetime 12-18 record and 4.34 ERA (151 ER/313.0 IP) in those 63 career starts, with opponents batting .260/.335/.414/.749 (312-1200)…he went 4-8, 4.46 ERA (76 ER/153.1 IP) in 29 starts for Texas in 2022, registering an A.L.-high 17 no-decisions…the 17 ND’s were T3rd-most in MLB and a WSH/TEX franchise record for a starting pitcher…Dunning’s 55 starts in a Rangers uniform over the last 3 seasons (beg. 2021) are tied for the most by a Ranger with LHP Martín Pérez (55 starts).

AT GLOBE LIFE FIELD: Is 1-0, 1.46 (2 ER/12.1 IP) in 4 relief app. in Arlington this season and will be making his 1st start at home since 9/21/22 vs. LAA (W, 5.0 IP, 2 R-ER)…has gone 10-5, 3.23 (60 ER/167.0 IP) over 34 G/29 GS in his career at Globe Life Field, where he is the all-time leader in wins (10), starts (29), innings (167.0), and strikeouts (161)…in his 29 starts in this facility: 9-5, 3.36 (57 ER/152.2 IP)…his 10 quality starts at GLF rank 2nd all-time to only Martín Pérez (12).

2023: Opponents have batted .182/.242/.227/.469 (20-110) with 5 extra-base hits (all doubles), incl. opp. BA’s of .152 (7-46) vs. LHB and .203 (13-64) vs. RHB…3 wins are T3rd-most on club (5-Eovaldi, 4-Pérez)…20.1 relief innings are T14thmost in A.L…has 3 relief app. of 3.0+ SHO IP, tied for most in MLB (also TB’s Josh Fleming)…earned win on 4/17 at KC (4.1 SHO IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 SO), as he and Jacob deGrom (4.0 SHO IP) became just the 2nd Rangers duo in the last 40 years (beg. 1984) to each have at least 4.0 SHO IP in the same game (also 5.0-Kameron Loe, 4.0-C.J. Wilson on 8/26/05 vs. MIN).

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