BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles fell to the Cubs yesterday, 10-3, to open a three-game series at Wrigley Field…The Cubbies used a six-run sixth inning after the O’s pulled within 3-2…Ryan O’Hearn doubled and scored, tying a career high with three hits for the third time this season, while Austin Hays notched his team-leading 22nd multi-hit effort while driving in a pair of runs.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Orioles began a five-game road trip yesterday in Chicago with three games against the Cubs through Sunday…Following an off day on Monday, the O’s travel to Tampa Bay for two games from June 20-21.
Baltimore is 21-13 (.618) away from Camden Yards this season, the third-best road record in MLB behind Atlanta (22-11) and Arizona (20-11), though the team has dropped three of the last four and four of the last six road games; the Birds went 38-43 (.469) on the road in 2022 after going a combined 114-237 (.325) away from Oriole Park from 2017-21.
AGAINST THE CUBS: The Orioles and Cubs meet for the only time in 2023 this weekend at Wrigley Field…The O’s went 3-1 against the Cubbies last season, winning both games in Chicago from July 12-13…Baltimore and Chicago split a pair of games at Oriole Park on June 7 and August 18…Though the teams have only matched up 16 times since they first met in 2003 entering this year, this marks the first time they’ve played in back-to-back seasons.
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won six of their last eight games, 34 of 53, 37 of 57, and 39 of 60…The 43-26 (.623) overall record is the third-best in MLB (see box at right)…Baltimore is 91-61 (.599) since July 3, 2022, the fifth-best record in MLB during that time…This year marks the eighth time in Orioles history (since 1954) that the team has won 43 of the first 69 to start a season and only the second time in the last 44 seasons, joining 1997 (47-22).
STRIKE A POSE: Baltimore pitchers rank seventh in MLB with 629 strikeouts…The team is on pace to strike out nearly 1,500 batters (9.1/G), which would shatter the club record of 1,248 strikeouts (7.7/G) set in 2016 and matched in 2019.
O’s relievers rank third in MLB with 295 strikeouts, trailing San Francisco (304) and Kansas City (303).
OPENING STATEMENTS: Orioles starting pitchers have not allowed more than three runs in eight straight games and in 17 of the last 18 games…The starters have a 3.26 ERA (17 ER/47.0 IP) since June 8 and a 3.77 ERA (41 ER/98.0 IP) since May 27…In the team’s first 51 games through May 26, O’s starters had a 4.97 ERA (147 ER/266.0 IP).
BROHEARN: Ryan O’Hearn has slashed .396/.429/.792 (21-for-53) with six doubles, five homers, 12 runs scored, 13 RBI, and three walks in his last 16 games (15 GS) since May 16… Among players with at least 50 plate appearances during that time, he ranks second in slugging and OPS (1.221), and second in batting average…He’s matched his career high with three hits three times during this stretch (6/16 at CHC, 6/11 vs.KC, & 5/20 at TOR).
TONY TWO-BAGGER: Anthony Santander is the 10th Oriole (14th occurrence) in team history (since 1954) with at least 20 doubles through the first 69 games of a season and the first since Jonathan Schoop also had 20 in 2017…Eight of his 20 in 2023 have come since May 29…Santander has recorded at least 20 doubles in four straight full seasons since 2019.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays ranks third in the AL and seventh in MLB with a .309 batting average…He’s also among AL leaders in slugging percentage (7th, .506) and OPS (9th, .853)…Only one Oriole has ever won a batting title: Orioles Legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who hit .316 in 1966…Hanser Alberto, who finished with a .305 batting average in 2019, is the only Oriole in the last 14 seasons to finish the year with a qualified batting average of at least .300.
His 22 multi-hit games are tied for seventh in the AL; three of those have come in the last four games and five have come in 13 games this month.
The next hit will be the 400th of his career.
YOUNG GUNN: Gunnar Henderson is slashing .366/.381/.756 (15-for-41) with one double, five homers, seven runs scored, 12 RBI, one walk, and two stolen bases in 11 games (10 GS) since June 1…He is tied for third in MLB in home runs, ranks fifth in the AL with 31 total base, and is tied for fifth in the AL in RBI this month…Henderson homered in three straight games from June 10-13, becoming the first O’s rookie to do so since Ryan Mountcastle from June 2-5, 2021…He scored a run in five consecutive games from June 8-13, one shy of his career high set earlier this year from April 11-16.
He earned his first AL Player of the Week honor last week; he’s the first Oriole to win the award since Mountcastle in June 2021.
Ranks among AL rookies in triples (T-1st, 2), home runs (2nd, 10), runs scored (T-2nd, 35), slugging percentage (3rd, .451), walks (3rd, 30), on-base percentage (4th, .341), OPS (4th, .792), extra-base hits (4th, 20), and total bases (4th, 88).
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman is batting .333/.387/.464 (23-for-69) with three doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored, four RBI, and six walks in 17 games since May 26…He’s raised his batting average by 20 points from .262 to .282 during that span…Thursday was his first home run since May 26 vs. Texas and his second of the year batting right-handed, joining April 10 vs. Oakland and also marked his sixth three-hit game of the season after having five such games in 2022.
He ranks second in the AL with 46 walks, third with 117 times on base (71 H, 46 BB), and fourth with a .390 on-base percentage.
ROSTER MOVES: The Orioles recalled Spenser Watkins from Triple-A Norfolk today
STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 15th start of the season, ninth on the road, and fourth career start against the Cubs today…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), Wei-Yin Chen (4-0 in 2012), and Erik Bedard (4-0 in 2006)…Tossed 7.0 shutout frames on May 25 at New York-AL, becoming the oldest O’s pitcher (35-214) to work 7.0-or-more scoreless innings in a start since Freddy García
(36-236) also tossed 7.0 scoreless frames on May 30, 2013 vs. Washington… Also marked his first shutout start of 7.0-or-more innings since also tossing 7.0 scoreless frames on August 27, 2022 vs. Pittsburgh with Philadelphia… 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 his eighth win of the season after allowing three runs on seven hits (1 HR) with four strikeouts in 6.1 innings on June 11 vs. Kansas \City…Did not win his eighth decision in 2022 until his 23rd start on August 16 at Cincinnati with Philadelphia…Did not issue a walk in a start for the first time since May 3 at Kansas City…Threw 90 pitches, 59 strikes.
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Gibson earned his eighth win in his 13th start of the season on June 6 vs. Kansas City…Entering play today, he is one of nine MLB pitchers with eight-or-more wins and his eight wins are tied for third in MLB…Did not win his eighth decision in 2022 until his 23rd start on August 16 at Cincinnati.
CAREER AGAINST THE CUBS: Making his fourth career start against the Cubs today…Owns a 0-3 record with a 7.53 ERA (12 ER/14.1 IP) in three career starts against the Cubs…Dealt the loss in his last start against the Cubs with Philadelphia on July 22, 2022 at Citizens Bank Park…Allowed six runs on six hits (1 HR) with three walks, a hit batter, and zero strikeouts in 4.1 innings…Threw 78 pitches, 50 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE NL CENTRAL: Making his 20th career start against the NL Central…Has made two starts against the division in 2023, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (6 ER/ 10.0 IP) in those games…Did not factor in the decision in his last start agains the division on June 6 at Milwaukee…Allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings…Threw 96 pitches, 58 strikes…Owns a 4-7 career record against the NL Central with a 5.15 ERA (61 ER/ 106.2 IP) in 19 starts in the division.
INTERLEAGUE SOLDIER: In 31 career Interleague starts, Gibson owns a 6-15 record with a 5.40 ERA (103 ER/171.2 IP), 10 quality starts, and one complete game…Made his first Interleague start of the season on May 14 vs. the Pirates… Was dealt his third loss of the season after allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings…Threw 95 pitches, 57 strikes.
LIFE ON THE ROAD: Making his ninth road start of the 2023 campaign today… Has pitched to a 4-1 record with a 4.18 ERA (22 ER/47.1 IP) through his first eight starts away from Oriole Park this season…Did not factor in the decision in his last road start on June 6 at Milwaukee after allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings…Threw 96 pitches, 58 strikes…Has completed 7.0 innings in two of his last three assignments away from Oriole Park.
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Orioles
The Cubs and Orioles meet for the second-straight season after playing two game sets in Chicago and Baltimore last season (Cubs went 1-3) … prior to 2022, the teams had previously met at Wrigley Field back in 2014 when current Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was Cubs bench coach
FOUR SCORE: The Chicago Cubs, winners of their last four games, today play the second of three contests against the Baltimore Orioles after taking yesterday’s series opener, 10-3 … including the three-game sweep of the Pirates, the Cubs have plated 38 runs on 41 hits and 21 walks during the first four games of this homestand.
The Cubs enter today having won six of their last seven games dating to June 9 and this four-game winning streak is the team’s longest since another four-game run April 16-19 at the Dodgers (1-0) and Athletics (3-0).
Chicago is three-games over .500 (10-7) in its last 17 games starting May 29.
This is the 15th contest (8-6) in a stretch that began June 2 in which the Cubs play 15 of 21 games on the road … this stretch wraps up with the team’s two London Series against against St. Louis June 24-25.
FIVE WOULD BE DIVINE: The Cubs today look to record a five-game winning streak for the first time since recording seven-straight victories Sept. 25-Oct. 2 of last season.
STEELE BACK ON THE BUMP: Cubs southpaw Justin Steele makes today’s start after he was activated off the 15-day I.L. … he landed on the shelf June 3 (retro to June 1) with a left forearm strain.
Steele has not allowed a home run in his last 49.0 innings since his start April 19, longest active streak among major league starting pitchers.
Steele has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his 12 starts this season.
STUFF YOU SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF: Following a 3-1 setback to complete a three-game sweep at the hands of the Angels, the Cubs found themselves a season-high tying 7.5-games back in the N.L. Central Division … since then, the team has gone 6-1 and erased 4.5 games from the standings, currently 3.0 games behind division-leading Milwaukee (35-34).
The Cubs have recorded at least 12 hits in each of their last four games, the first time the team has turned that trick since a four-game stretch June 28-July 1, 2018.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+11) … Pittsburgh is at -16, Milwaukee -24, Cincinnati -28 and St. Louis -18.
Chicago this season has walked in 10 percent of its plate appearances, the third-highest percentage in baseball (San Diego, 11.0% & Dodgers, 10.9%).
POWER AND AVERAGE: Christopher Morel yesterday was 3-for-5 with a double, homer, two runs and three RBI to increase his season average to .301 (31-for-103) with 12 homers, 25 runs scored, 26 RBI and a 1.063 OPS … he’s one of just four N.L. players with 12 or more homers and an average above .300, joining the Dodgers Freddie Freeman (.325, 13 HR), Arizona’s Corbin Carroll (.308, 14 HR) and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. (.327, 15 HR).
INTERLEAGUE INTERLUDE: The Cubs are 11-11 against the American League this season, having started out 8-2 in the first 10 games through May 12 in Minnesota before dropping nine of their next 12 … yesterday’s win snapped a four-game interleague skid for Chicago.
SERIES STUFF: Thanks to taking two of three in San Francisco to close out the previous trip, and sweeping a three-game set against the Pirates to open the homestand, the Cubs have won consecutive series for the first time since taking four-straight sets April 7-19 vs. Texas (2-1), vs. Seattle (2-1), at the Dodgers (2-1) and at Oakland (3-0).
THAT’S JUST GLOVELY: Dansby Swanson has gone 52-straight games at shortstop without an error dating to April 20 (173 TC) … he is the third Cub since 1901 to go at least 52-straight games without an error at shortstop: Don Kessinger in 1969 went 54-consecutive games at shortstop without an error (274 TC) and Mick Kelleher went 60-straight games at shortstop without a miscue, spanning the 1976-79 campaigns (199 TC).
Swanson’s 2.6 WAR is tied for first among N.L. shortstops with the Giants Thairo Estrada and tied for third among all shortstops, according to FanGraphs … Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco leads all shortstops with a 3.4 mark.
I MEAN, IT HAD TO TURN AT SOME POINT: Including two bases-loaded singles and a bases-loaded walk Wednesday night, the Cubs are 6-for-12 with a hit by pitch and a walk with the bases loaded dating to June 9 … prior to this, the team had been 0-for-10 in their previous 10 plate appearances with the bases loaded dating to May 23.
Looking further back, prior to June 9, the team had just one hit in its 22 at-bats with the bases loaded dating to the eighth inning April 29.
STARTING STUFF: Cubs starting pitchers have posted a 3.92 ERA (160 ER/367.1 IP) this season, the second-best mark among N.L. starting rotations (Atlanta, 3.91) and sixth-best in the majors … the rotation’s 1.20 WHIP ranks sixth among major league teams.
Marcus Stroman leads the N.L. with a 2.45 ERA … Justin Steele’s 2.65 ERA would rank second, however, he is just shy of qualifying among N.L. leaders.
Chicago has recieved 31 quality starts, the most in the N.L. and sixth-most in baseball.
WHAT A RELIEF: Adbert Alzolay has posted a 1.10 ERA (2 ER/16.1 IP) in his last 13 game since May 6, walking two, striking out 13 and posting a 0.80 WHIP … Julian Merryweather since April 17 has pitched to a 1.14 ERA (3 ER/23.2 IP) with one win and allowed 18 hits and 10 walks with 37 strikeouts in 24 appearances.
Mark Leiter Jr. has averaged 13.99 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (43 SO/27.2 IP), the fifth-best mark among N.L. relievers.
Starting Pitcher – #35 LHP Justin Steele (6-2, 2.65)
Last Time Out
Justin tossed 3.0 perfect innings May 31 against Tampa Bay before departing the game due to left forearm tightness … has gone 49.0-straight innings without allowing a home run dating to April 19, the longest active streak among major league starting pitchers.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
5/31 TB ND, 3-4 3.0 0 0 0 0 1 29-19 2-0
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 4-1 2.43 7 7 37.0 33 11 10 10 28
Road 2-1 2.90 5 5 31.0 23 12 10 6 30
AVG vs. LHB: .222 (12-for-54) / AVG vs. RHB: .229 (44-for-192)
Justin is expected to be activated from the injured list to make his 13th start of the 2023 season today … has posted a 2.06 ERA (24 ER/104.2 IP) since July 22, 2022, which is the lowest ERA in the majors during the run (min. 19 GS) … his 2.77 ERA in 2023 is the fifth-lowest in N.L among qualified pitchers … has a 2.66 ERA (32 ER/108.1 IP) in 21 starts at Wrigley Field since the beginning of the 2022 season, the sixth-lowest home ERA in the N.L. during that span (min. 20 GS) … opposing batters are hitting .188 (15-for-80) with 26 strikeouts off his slider.
Left his start May 31 vs. Tampa Bay after 3.0 perfect innings with left forearm tightness … was placed on the injured list June 3 (retroactive to June 1) and was activated June 17.
Had a 17-start streak of allowing three earned runs or fewer at Wrigley Field from April 24, 2022-May 10, 2023 … pitched to a 2.20 ERA (23 ER/94.0 IP) during the run … his 2.20 home ERA during the stretch was the third-lowest in the N.L.
Went eight starts before suffering his first loss of the season May 16 in Houston.. allowed a season-high five runs in the outing … at the time of his first loss, was the only pitcher in the N.L. with at least six wins and zero losses.
Allowed two or fewer earned runs in 14-straight starts from July 22, 2022-May 5, 2023, tied for the second-longest stretch in Cubs franchise history (since 1901), behind Jack Taylor’s streak of 15 games June 13-Aug. 14, 1902 (tied with Jake Arrieta, 14 G, 7/30/15-4/4/16).
Went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA (4 ER/13.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts in four Cactus League starts in 2023 … started and tossed the first 2.0 innings of the Cubs combined no-hitter, March 3 at San Diego.
