BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN: The Orioles defeated the Yankees last night, 9-6, in the second game of the three-game set in the Bronx…The O’s rallied from a 5-1 deficit after six innings, scoring a season-high eight runs in the top of the seventh; marked their most runs scored in a single inning since scoring nine in the eighth inning on September 8, 2021 vs. Kansas City, most on the road since scoring nine in the seventh inning on April 15, 2016 at Texas, and tied for the most runs scored by the O’s in a single inning at the current or original Yankee Stadium since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, along with an eight-run third inning on June 5, 1989…Marked Baltimore’s MLB-leading 19th comeback victory of the season (see box at right); the O’s had 36 comeback wins last year.
Adam Frazier hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-4; has hit six home runs in 48 games (149 AB) this season after hitting three in 156 games (541 AB) in 2022; his single-season career high is 10 home runs in 2018 and 2019 with Pittsburgh.
Gunnar Henderson recorded his first career hit and RBI as a pinch hitter with a two-run double in the seventh inning to give the O’s a 6-5 lead.
Ryan Mountcastle hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season with a solo shot in the fourth inning and also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
CLOSE CALL: Of Baltimore’s 49 games this season, 45 have been decided by four or fewer runs, the most in MLB…The O’s have gone 29-16 in those games, the most wins in MLB and second-best winning percentage (.644), behind Tampa Bay (.647, 22-12).
BURNING RUBBER: The O’s and Yankees square off in a rubber game in tonight’s series finale…The Birds have gone 4-3 in rubber matches this season after going 11-11 in such games in 2022…The Orioles are seeking their fourth straight series win against an AL East opponent.
AGAINST THE YANKEES: The O’s and Yankees wrap up a three-game set at Yankee Stadium tonight, the second series between the two teams this season; the O’s dropped two of three to the Yankees from April 7-9 to begin their season-opening homestand, but won their Home Opener on April 7…The Orioles will travel to the Bronx again for four games from July 3-6 and will host the Yanks in Baltimore for three games from July 28-30…The O’s went 7-12 against the Yankees in 2022, 4-6 at home and 3-6 at Yankee Stadium.
ROAD TRIPPIN’: The Orioles conclude their seven-day, six-game road trip tonight…The trip began with a three-game sweep of the Jays in Toronto over the weekend…After an off day Monday, the Birds split the first two games of a three-game set against the Yankees in the Bronx…The O’s are off to a 17-9 start on the road…Baltimore currently owns the best road winning percentage (.654) in the AL and second-best in MLB, behind Atlanta (.708, 17-7); the O’s and Braves are tied for the most road wins in MLB and are the only teams without double-digit road losses so far this season.
LOOKING AHEAD: After the current road trip, the O’s return to Baltimore tomorrow to begin a six-game homestand with three games against the Rangers this weekend and three against the Guardians from May 29-31.
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won 23 of their last 33 games, 26 of 37, and 28 of 40… Entering today’s games, the 32-17 overall record ranks second in MLB to start the season (see box at right)…Through May 24, the Rays (36-15), Dodgers (31-20), Rangers (31-18), Braves (30-19), and Yankees (30-21) are the only other teams with 30 wins this season, and the Rays, Rangers, and Braves are the only other teams with less than 20 losses.
The Orioles are 94-66 since June 1, 2022, a 95-win pace; the .588 winning percentage during that time is the second-best in the AL and fourth- best in MLB, trailing the Braves (.671, 108-53), Dodgers (.665, 109-55), and Astros (.634, 102-59).
HE GETS ON BASE: Adam Frazier owns a 17-game on-base streak since May 6, the longest by an O’s batter this season and tied for the longest such streak of his career with another 17-gamer from August 20 to September 7, 2019 with the Pirates…It is the fourth-longest active streak in the AL and the eighth-longest active streak in MLB… Frazier is slashing .279/.343/.508 (17-for-61) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, seven runs scored, 13 RBI, five walks, and a stolen base during his current streak… Frazier also owns a season-long seven-game hitting streak since May 17, during which time he is slashing .407/.407/.741 (11-for-27) with one double, one triple, two home runs, five runs scored, and seven RBI. Frazier currently owns a 9.5 percent strikeout rate, which ranks in the top two percent of MLB, per Statcast.
He is one of seven qualified MLB hitters with more walks than strikeouts (17 BB/16 K), including teammate Adley Rutschman (40 BB/30 K).
162: Adley Rutschman played in his 162nd career game last night…He has slashed .259/.374/.439 (149-for-576) with 63 extra-base hits (42-2B, 3B, 20 HR), 94 runs scored, 67 RBI, and 105 walks in that span…Among players who have played their first 162 career games with the Orioles, Rutschman ranks first in walks, first in times reaching base safely (258), second in doubles (Machado, 48), third in runs scored (Roberts, 99; Bumbry, 95), and fourth in extra-base hits (Machado, 71; Santander, 70; Gibbons, 64)…His .374 on-base percentage through his first 162 career games also leads O’s batters with at least 250 plate appearances in that span.
WHAT A RELIEF: The Baltimore bullpen owns a 2.98 ERA (62 ER/187.0 IP), second-best in MLB behind the Yankees (2.94)…O’s relievers have 15 wins this season, tied Arizona and New York-AL for the most in the majors…The O’s are second in MLB with 225 strikeouts from the ‘pen, trailing Kansas City (233).
THE CANO SHOW: Yennier Cano has allowed one earned run in 25.2 innings (0.35 ERA); opened the year with 21.2 scoreless innings over 17 appearances…Opponents are slashing .120/.131/.157 (10-for-83) against him, the lowest opponent on-base percentage and slugging percentage among MLB pitchers with at least 20.0 innings pitched.
Has faced 84 batters without issuing a free pass; is the only pitcher to face at least 60 batters without allowing a walk this season and one of three with at least 50 batters faced and no walks allowed, along with Philadelphia’s José Alvarado (52 batters faced) and Los Angeles-AL’s Chris Devenski (51 batters faced).
His streak of 20 straight games without a walk to start the season is the second-longest in O’s history, behind a 22-game streak by Jamie Walker to open the 2009 campaign; Cano has worked 25.2 innings while Walker only threw 12.1 during his streak.
He leads all Major League relievers with 1.5 fWAR, per FanGraphs.
His sinker is worth -11 Run Value, the best pitch by an Oriole and tied for the third-best pitch in MLB, per Statcast.
STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 11th start of the season, seventh on the road, and 11th career start against the Yankees tonight…Became the first O’s pitcher in club history (since 1954) to start and win each of his three first appearances with the team…Started a season 4-0 for the second time in his career, joining a 6-0 start with Texas in 2021; became the fifth Oriole starting pitcher since 2004 to begin a year 4-0, joining John Means (4-0 in 2021), Bud Norris (4-0 in 2013), WeiYin Chen (4-0 in 2012), and Erik Bedard (4-0 in 2006)…In 277 career appearances (271 GS), Gibson owns a 94-94 record with a 4.51 ERA (783 ER/1563.0 IP)…The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has also spent time with the Twins, Phillies, and Rangers across 10 Major League seasons.
LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in his last start on May 19 at Toronto…Allowed one run on five hits with two walks, a wild pitch, and five strikeouts in a season high-tying 7.0 innings (also 4/4 at Texas)…Marked his team-leading fifth quality start of the season and first road win since April 4 at Texas…Snapped a three-game losing streak…Has won each of his last three starts at Rogers Centre… Threw 95 pitches, 59 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE YANKEES: Making his 11th career start against the Yankees tonight…Did not factor into the decision in his last start against the AL East foe on July 23, 2019 at Target Field with Minnesota…Allowed five runs on seven hits (1 HR) with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work…Threw 101 pitches, 57 strikes…Owns a 1-6 record with a 6.75 ERA (38 ER/50.2 IP) through his first 10 outings against New York-AL, but has pitched to a 1-1 record with a 4.29 ERA (10 ER/21.0 IP) in four career starts at Yankee Stadium.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL EAST: Making his 58th career appearance (57th start) against the AL East…Owns a 23-20 record with a 4.50 ERA (162 ER/324.0 IP) and 22 quality starts through his first 57 appearances (56 starts) against the division…Will also be his fourth start against the AL East this season…Earned the win in his last start against the division on May 19 at Toronto…Has gone 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA (7 ER/18.0 IP) and two quality starts in three outings against the AL East this season.
LIFE ON THE ROAD: Making his seventh road start of the 2023 campaign tonight…Has gone 3-1 with a 5.09 ERA (20 ER/35.1 IP) through his first six starts away from Oriole Park this season…Earned the win in his last road start on May 19 at Toronto…Owns a 46-44 record with a 4.53 ERA (396 ER/787.0 IP) and 63 quality starts in 140 career road appearances (136 starts)…Tossed his first career complete-game shutout on September 16, 2020 at Houston with Texas…Allowed just four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in 9.0 scoreless innings…Threw 114 pitches, 74 strikes.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their six-game homestand tonight with the final game of a three-game set vs. Baltimore (1-1 thus far)…will also host San Diego for a three-game series this weekend (Fri.-Sun.)…went 6-1 on their seven-game road trip after winning three-of-four games at Toronto and sweeping a three-game series at Cincinnati.
At 30-21 (.588), have the fourth-best record in the AL and the sixth-best record in the Majors.
Had their season-high five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday…was their longest winning streak since a seven-game streak from 9/18-25/22.
Have still won five of their last six games, seven of their last nine games, nine of their last 12 games and 12 of their last 16 games.
Are 15-6 (.714) in their last 21 games (since 5/2), the best record in the Majors in that span.
Have won or split each of their last four completed series (since 5/8), five of their last six completed series (since 5/1) and 11 of their 15 completed series this season (going 9-4-2).
Each of their last three wins and nine of their last 15 wins have been come-from-behind wins.
Are in a stretch of playing 14-of-20 games (5/5-25) against the AL East…are 7-6 so far.
The Yankees are 6-2 in rubber games this season.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Orioles, 9-6, on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium…LHP Nestor Cortes (6.0IP, 5H, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR) started and did not record a decision… allowed all 4R via the HR… 2B Gleyber Torres (2-for-4, 2R, 2HR, 3RBI, 1HP) recorded his 14th career multi-HR game, hitting a two-run HR in the third inning and a solo HR in the fifth inning…LF Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2-for-4, 2R, 1 triple, 1HR, 2RBI) hit a two-run HR in the fifth inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-5, 1RBI) hit an RBI single in the seventh inning…RF Aaron Judge (0-for-2, 3BB) recorded a season-high-tying 3BB (also 3BB on 5/15 at Toronto)…his walk in the seventh inning was the 500th walk of his career…Yankees pitchers allowed 8R in the seventh inning, their second-most runs allowed in an inning this season…RHP Jimmy Cordero (0.1IP, 3H, 4ER, 1BB, 1K) took his second loss of the season after allowing a career-high 4R…RHP Albert Abreu (1.1IP, 2H, 1R/0ER, 1K) and LHP Nick Ramirez (1.1IP, 1K) each tossed 1.1 innings of relief.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single in the seventh inning on Wednesday…has 7RBI in his last five games, 10RBI in his last nine games (since 5/14), 13RBI in his last 11 games (since 5/12) and 16RBI in his last 16 games (since 5/7).
Is batting .355/.403/.645 (22-for-62) with 13R, 3 doubles, 5HR, 15RBI, 4BB and 1HP in his last 15 games (since 5/8).
Is third in the AL and tied for sixth in the Majors in hits (58)…also ranks fourth in the AL and 10th in the Majors in BA (.307)…is also sixth in the AL in OBP (.383) and OPS (.907), and tied for sixth in the AL in multi-hit games (15).
Over his last 42 games (since 4/9), is batting .315/.383/.539 (52- for-165) with 27R, 7 doubles, 10HR, 26RBI, 13BB and 5HP.
Has reached base in 24 of his last 26 games and 43 of his 49 games this season.
Has hit safely in 17 of his last 20G and 21 of his last 26G.
Eight of his last 16 hits have been XBH (3 doubles, 5HR).
Has reached base multiple times in seven of his last 11 games (since 5/12), 11 of his last 16 games (since 5/7) and 13 of his last 20 games (since 5/2).
Has reached base in 26-of-27 games at home this season, hitting .376/.448/.663 (38-for-101) with 20R, 5 doubles, 8HR, 19RBI, 11BB, 3HP and 1SF in those games…has hit safely in 24-of-27 home games…among Major League batters at home, ranks second in BA (first in AL), third in OBP (first in AL) and OPS (1.112, second in AL), fifth in SLG (third in AL) and tied for fourth in HR (tied for fourth in AL).
CALENDAR DAYS: The Yankees have hit 44HR in 22 games during the month of May, the most in the Majors in that pan…also lead the Majors in May in SLG (.478), rank fourth in runs scored (122), runs scored per game (5.55) and OPS (.802).
HAWAIIAN PUNCH: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run HR in the fifth inning on Wednesday…has hit all three of his home runs this season in the last six games…is 1HR shy of his 2022 total (4HR in 142 games)…also tripled in the third inning…marked his first triple since 8/8/21 at Oakland w/ Texas.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP CLARKE SCHMIDT (2-4, 6.00 ERA)
RHP Clarke Schmidt will make his 11th start of the season in tonight’s series finale vs. Baltimore…the 27-year-old will make the start on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…made his 10th start of the season on Friday at Cincinnati, earning his second win of the season after allowing just 2ER over 5.0IP (5H, 2BB, 6K)…has tossed at least 5.0 innings in four of his last six starts after not doing so in his first four starts this season…struck out Ezequiel Durán (swinging) in the fifth inning on 4/28 at Texas for his 100th career strikeout…made his second career Opening Day roster in 2023 (also 2022)…in 2022, went 5-5 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA (57.2IP, 46H, 23R/20ER, 23BB, 56K, 5HR) in 29 appearances (three starts) over four stints with the Yankees…in three starts, went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 13H, 6ER, 2BB, 14K, 0HR)…as a reliever, went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA (46.0IP, 33H, 17R/14ER, 21BB, 42K, 5HR) in 26 games…tossed at least 2.0 innings in 13 of his relief appearances and at least 3.0 innings in five of those relief appearances…was selected by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his 10th start of the season on Friday at Cincinnati, earning his second win of the season after allowing just 2ER over 5.0IP (5H, 2BB, 6K)…allowed his first two batters faced in the sixth inning to reach before being removed from the game (both runners eventually scored)…his 2R allowed matched a season low (also 2R on 5/3 vs. Cleveland and 5/9 vs. Oakland).
VS. BALTIMORE: Will be making his second career start (seventh appearance) vs. the Orioles…in six career games (one start), is 1-1 with one save and a 4.50 ERA (12.0IP, 10H, 8R/6ER, 10BB/1IBB, 8K, 0HR).
Has made one start vs. Baltimore this season, allowing 4ER over 3.1IP without recording a decision on 4/7 at Camden Yards (5H, 3BB, 3K).
Has allowed 1R/0ER over 3.0IP in two career relief outings at Yankee Stadium vs. the Orioles (1W, 1BB, 1K).
Did not allow an earned run over 7.1IP in four relief outings vs. Baltimore in 2022.
Made his Major League debut at Camden Yards in Game 2 on 9/4/20 in relief (1.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 1K, 1HP)…had never pitched professionally above Double-A in his career prior to his debut.
HOME SWEET HOME: Has made 21 appearances (eight starts) in his career at Yankee Stadium, going 3-5 with one save and a 4.27 ERA (59.0IP, 55H, 35R/28ER, 25BB, 64K, 9HR) in those games.
Is 1-3 with a 5.20 ERA (27.2IP, 16ER) and 34K in six starts at home this season (4/1 vs. San Francisco, 4/18 vs. Los Angeles-AL, 4/23 vs. Toronto, 5/3 vs. Cleveland, 5/9 vs. Oakland and 5/14 vs. Tampa Bay)…has allowed 3R-or-fewer in four of those starts.
In 13 games (one start) at home in 2022, went 2-1 with one save and a 2.49 ERA (25.1IP, 16H, 8R/7ER, 12BB, 22K, 3HR)…allowed 1R-or-fewer in 12 of those appearances…tossed at least 2.0 innings in eight appearances and 3.0 innings in four of those games (all of which were scoreless).
2023: Has made 10 starts this season, going 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA (45.0IP, 57H, 35R/30ER, 16BB, 54K, 8HR)…has tossed at least 5.0 innings in four of his last six starts after not doing so in his first four starts this season. Has surrendered just 1HR over his last four starts after allowing at least 1HR in five of his first six starts of the season (7HR total).
In his eighth start of the season on 5/9 vs. Oakland, earned his first win of the season after allowing just 2ER over a career-high 6.0IP (5H, 2BB, 7K, 1HR, 1WP)…marked his first career win as a starter…reached 100.0 career innings in the first inning.
Recorded a career-high-tying 8K in back-to-back starts on 4/23 vs. Toronto and 4/28 at Texas. Made his second career Opening Day roster.
FOR STARTERS: Will be making his 16th career start…over his first 15 career Major League starts (10 in 2023, three in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020), is 2-7 with a 5.68 ERA (65.0IP, 81H, 49R/41ER, 23BB, 74K, 9HR)…has tossed at least 5.0IP in four of his last six starts after not doing so in his first nine career starts. Is 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA (45.0IP, 30ER) and 54K in 10 starts in 2023…tossed a career-high 6.0IP on 5/9 vs. Oakland…recorded a career-high-tying 8K on 4/23 vs. Toronto and 4/28 at Texas.
Went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 6ER) and 14K in his three starts in 2022 (6/16 vs. Tampa Bay, 8/28 at Oakland, 9/3 at Tampa Bay).
