BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
O, WHAT A KNIGHT: The O’s beat the Yankees, 9-3, last night to win the rubber game of the three-game set and the season series against New York-AL…Five Baltimore pitchers combined to strike out 18 batters, the most in a nine-inning game in Orioles history…The Birds scored six runs in the first inning before recording an out, capped by an Adam Frazier three-run homer…Adley Rutschman reached base four times, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk.
The O’s first six batters scored to begin a game for the first time since July 18, 2017 vs. Texas; they became the first MLB team to do so since Los Angeles-AL on April 24, 2022 vs. Baltimore, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Baltimore scored seven runs in the first inning for the first time since August 12, 2017 at Oakland and for the first time at home since August 19, 2006 vs. Toronto; marks the fifth frame of at least seven runs by the O’s this season and third such inning in July; the five frames with at least seven runs this season are tied with Minnesota for second-most in MLB, trailing only Texas (6).
Mike Baumann improved to 8-0, the third O’s reliever in club history (since 1954) to win each of his first eight relief decisions to begin a season, joining Grant Jackson (1973) and Arthur Rhodes (1996); Baumann is the seventh Orioles pitcher to start a season at least 8-0 and the first since Jimmy Key (8-0) in 1997.
Oriole Park drew 114,816 fans for the weekend series, an average of 38,272 per game.
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: With Friday night’s win, the Orioles have now gone 73 consecutive series without being swept…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without getting swept in Orioles history (since 1954), ahead of 46 consecutive sweepless series from 1971-72…It is the sixth-longest such streak in MLB history, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), 1903-05 New York Giants (105), 1922-24 New York Yankees (83), and 1904-1906 Philadelphia Athletics (74).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won seven of their last 11 games, 15 of their last 21, and 16 of their last 24…At 64-41 (.610), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB and are one of only two teams with a .600 winning percentage (see box at right)… The Birds are 126-90 (.583) since the beginning of June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best in MLB during that time…Had a season-best eight-game winning streak from July 5-16, Baltimore’s longest since a 10-gamer from July 3-13, 2022.
Baltimore holds a 1.5-game lead over the Rays in the AL East.
The Orioles have two winning streaks of at least seven games this year; Atlanta (4x), San Francisco (2x), and Tampa Bay (2x) are the only other teams with multiple win streaks of at least seven games this season.
FIND A WAY: This season, Baltimore is 34-10 (.773) when scoring first, the best record in MLB…The 44 such games are the second-fewest ahead of the Mets (42)…The O’s are 43-23 (.652) in games decided by three runs or fewer, the most wins and best winning percentage in MLB…The Orioles are 26-15 (.634) following a loss, second-best record in MLB behind the Dodgers (30-14, .682)…The Birds have won 35 games when trailing, tied with the Reds for the most in MLB…Since the start of last year, Baltimore’s 71 comeback wins are second-most in MLB behind the Dodgers (73).
FLY BY: The Orioles will travel to Toronto this week for a brief four-game road trip before returning to Baltimore to host a six-game, seven-day homestand against the Mets (August 4-6) and Astros (August 8-10)…The Birds had a brief three-game homestand over the weekend, taking two of three games from the Yankees.
AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS: The Orioles and Blue Jays meet for the third time this year beginning tonight through Thursday…Baltimore is 5-1 against Toronto this season and 14- 11 (.560) against the Jays since the start of 2022…The O’s swept a three-game series at Rogers Centre from May 19-21 and took two of three at Oriole Park from June 13-15…The teams meet for the final time in the regular season at Camden Yards from August 22-24. Baltimore has gone nine straight sets against AL East opponents without losing a series for the first time since doing so in 11 straight series from August 1 to September 30, 2012, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
ROAD WARRIORS: Baltimore is 32-20 (.615) away from Oriole Park this season, the best road record in the AL and second-best in MLB behind Atlanta (32-17, .653)…The Birds are 70-63 (.526) on the road since the beginning of 2022, the third-best record in the AL and fifth-best in MLB during that time…The Orioles have scored 276 runs away from Camden Yards in 2023, tied for the third-most road runs in MLB.
WON-0: Baltimore won 1-0 on Friday night behind a walk-off home run by Anthony Santander in the ninth inning…Marked the fourth walk-off home run by the Orioles in a 1-0 victory in team history (since 1954), along with May 16 (G1), 1975 vs. California, September 23, 1981 vs. Detroit, and May 9, 2007 vs. Tampa Bay.
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander tallied the game-winning RBI in both wins against the Yankees over the weekend…His eight such RBI are tied for the team lead with Austin Hays, Adley Rutschman, and Ramón Urías…He recorded his 500th career hit on July 25 at Philadelphia, a double in the first inning…He is the 50th player to reach 500 career hits in an O’s uniform since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954…Hit his 100th career home run on July 16 vs. Miami, becoming the 29th player to hit 100 homers in an O’s uniform…Since the beginning of May, Santander is slashing .270/.344/.505 (79-for-293) with 19 doubles, one triple, 16 homers, 45 runs scored, 47 RBI, 29 walks, four hit-by-pitches, and three stolen bases in 76 games…During that time, he ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (T-4th, 36), homers (T-6th), and total bases (T-7th, 148).
This season, he ranks among AL leaders in doubles (T-6th, 27), and extra-base hits (7th, 46).
Santander has two multi-homer games this year and his 12 career multi-homer games are tied for ninth-most in O’s history (since 1954).
His 51 homers since the start of last season are the most among MLB switch hitters.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman owns a career-high 15-game on-base streak since July 9, during which time he is slashing .281/.379/.509 (16-for-57) with four doubles, three homers, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, eight walks, and a hit-by-pitch.
Last night marked his eighth game reaching base safely at least four times this season, tied for the fourth-most such games in MLB; he registered his eighth three-hit game of the year and first since July 3 at New York-AL.
His 166 times on base (103 H, 62 BB, 1 HBP) are tied for fifth-most in the AL; his 62 walks are tied for second in the AL.
MOUNTAIN TIME: Félix Bautista is tied for the AL lead and tied for third in MLB with 28 saves this season…He has secured a win or save in 34 of his 46 appearances (73.9%) this year…That would be the fourth-highest such percentage in O’s history (since 1954), behind Jim Johnson (74.6%, 53-of-71) in 2012, Randy Myers (77.0%, 47-of-61) in 1997, and Lee Smith (82.9%, 34-of-41) in 1994, per the Elias Sports Bureau…Bautista is looking to become the eighth Oriole in team history to lead the league in saves and the first since Zack Britton locked down 47 games in 2016…Johnson has the team record of 51 saves set in 2012.
His 98 strikeouts are more than 13 qualified pitchers, per STATS.
STARTING PITCHER – #48 KYLE GIBSON RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 23nd start of the season, 14th on the road, and 13th career start against the Blue Jays 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), Wei-Yin Chen (4-0 in 2012), and Erik Bedard (4-0 in 2006)…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: Did not factor into the decision in his last outing on July 25 at Philadelphia…Allowed two runs on four hits (1 HR) with no walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Marked his team-leading 11th quality start of the season…Allowed three of the four hits in the third inning…Retired 11 consecutive
batters before surrendering a solo home run to Bryce Harper in the sixth inning…Threw 92 pitches, 56 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS: Making his 13th career start against the Blue Jays tonight…Earned the win in his last start against the AL East foe on May 19 at Rogers Centre…Set a season high with 7.0 innings; allowed one run on five hits with two walks, a wild pitch, and five strikeouts…Marked his fifth quality start of the season…Snapped a three-game losing streak…Threw 95 pitches, 59 strikes…Has pitched to a 6-2 record with a 4.46 ERA (35 ER/70.2 IP) and five quality starts in 12 career assignments against Toronto.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL EAST: Making his 61st career appearance (60th start) against the AL East…Did not factor into the decision in his last assignment against the division on July 20 at Tampa Bay…Allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks, a wild pitch, a hit batter, and eight strikeouts in 6.0+ innings… Marked his 10th quality start of the season…Left with two runners on, who both later scored…Threw 91 pitches, 63 strikes…Owns a 24-21 record with a 4.43 ERA (169 ER/343.0 IP) and 24 quality starts through his first 60 career appearances (59 starts) against AL East opponents.
LIFE ON THE ROAD: Slated to make his 14th road start of the season tonight… Sports a 5-3 record with a 4.14 ERA (36 ER/78.1 IP) and seven quality starts in 13 assignments away from Oriole Park this season.
CLUB 100: Gibson recorded his 100th strikeout of the season in the second inning on July 25 at Philadelphia…He is one of four MLB pitchers to record 100- plus punchouts in nine of the last 10 seasons, along with Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Clayton Kershaw.
HOW SWEEP IT IS: Opposing batters are slashing .156/.170/.222 (14-for-90) with two home runs against Gibson’s sweeper this season…Has recorded 38 strikeouts via the offspeed pitch, the fourth-most in MLB entering play today…Last season, hitters slashed .214/.214/.357 (6-for-28) with two extra-base hits (2B, HR) against his sweeper.
HOMER (UN)HAPPY: Gibson has allowed just 11 home runs in 127.0 innings across his 22 starts; entering play today, he ranks among qualified pitchers in HR/9 (7th, 0.78)…Did not allow a homer in five straight starts from May 14 to June 6, his longest such streak since keeping opponents in the yard in seven straight outings from September 26, 2020 to April 29, 2021 with Texas.
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN:Gibson earned his ninth win on July 9 at Minnesota, his 19th start of the season…Entering play today, his nine victories are tied for sixth in the AL and tied for 14th in MLB…Did not win his ninth decision in 2022 until his 25th start on August 27 vs. Pittsburgh with Philadelphia…Is two victories shy of 100 for his career.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were unable to complete the sweep yesterday as they were edged, 3-2, in 10 innings by the Angels…Are now an even 7-7 in extra-inning games and 17-13 in one-run contests…Have had five of their last nine games settled by one run (1-4 in those games). Toronto has still won five of its last seven games, 14 of its last 21, and is 33-22 over its last 55 contests… Its .600 win% over that span (since May 26) is the highest in the AL (2nd: BAL – .564)…Is currently tied with Houston (59-47) for the 2nd Wild Card spot and 2.5 games up on Boston.
OUT WHITTING THEM: Whit Merrifield got Toronto on the board with an RBI single in the 5th inning yesterday…Extended his hitting streak to nine games, one shy of a season-high (10G twice)…Has batted .436 (17-for-39) over the current streak, notching two doubles, two homers, and seven RBI (1.080 OPS). The three-time All-Star has reached base safely in 19 of his last 20 contests with a plate appearance while hitting .383 (31-for-81) with three doubles, six home runs, and 19 RBI (1.044 OPS)…Is now batting .304 on the season, good for 5th among AL hitters (9th in MLB), and currently tied for the best of his career (.304 in 2018)…His 21 stolen bases are tied for 8th in the AL.
BEEN BERRÍ GOOD LATELY: José Berríos tossed 6.0 innings of one-run ball yesterday, scattering six hits and a pair of walks with six strikeouts…Marked his 12th quality start of the year…Over his last 20 games, has gone 8-5 with a 2.69 ERA (36 ER/120.2 IP), 111 strikeouts, and a 1.14 WHIP…Now ranks 3rd among AL pitchers in innings pitched (130.1) while ranking 9th in ERA (3.31).
WORKING DOUBLE DOUBLE TIME: Daulton Varsho doubled during the 5th and 7th innings as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon…Was his 18th multi-hit effort of the year…Notched multiple doubles in a game for the 2nd time this season (also: June 13 at BAL).
VLAD TIMING: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the 10th yesterday…Also singled in the 1st and walked in the 8th, finishing the game 2-for-4, his 29th multi-hit game of the year…His 66 RBI are currently tied for 9th most in the AL…Has recorded an AL-leading 185 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season (2nd: Bo Bichette/Kyle Tucker – 161), while his 55.7 hard-hit percentage ranks 5th.
MULTI-TALENTED: Bo Bichette singled, walked, and scored a run yesterday…Leads the AL with 142 hits, 21 more than any other batter in the junior circuit, trailing only Luis Arraez (146) for the most in the Majors…Is now batting .318 to top all AL batters (2nd: Yandy Díaz – .315)…Is also 3rd in the AL in total bases (220), 11th in SLG (.492), T-12th in doubles (25), and T-12th in extra-base hits (43)…His 142 hits before August are 2nd most in team history, behind John Olerud’s 144 in 1993 (courtesy Stats Perform).
THE DAILY DOUBLE: Matt Chapman went 1-for-4 on a walk and a double yesterday…Leads the AL with 33 doubles, trailing only Freddie Freeman (35) for the MLB lead…Now has 48 extra-base hits, tied for 3rd most among AL hitters, while his 52 walks are 7th most…Over his last 32 games, has batted .261 (29-for-111) with 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 10 RBI, and 23 walks (.897 OPS).
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are in the midst of a seven-day, seven-game homestand (2-1 so far)…Have gone 29-21 this season at Rogers Centre…The .580 win% at home is 4th best in the AL…After this series with the Orioles, will head out to Boston (56-49) for three games over the weekend, followed by four in Cleveland (53-53).
Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.262), 3rd in home OBP (.334), 6th in home OPS (.751), and 7th in home SLG (.416)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among MLB teams with 3.25 home ERA, while sitting 2nd in the AL with a .220 home opponents’ average and 3rd with a 1.17 home WHIP.
BRINGING THE HEAT: Yesterday, the Blue Jays acquired Jordan Hicks from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse…Hicks has appeared in 40 games this season, posting a 3.67 ERA while striking out 59 batters across 41.2 innings. The 26-year-old righty has topped out at 104.3 MPH this season, 2nd in the Majors to Jhoan Duran (104.8)…His average fastball velocity of 100.6 is 3rd highest in MLB.
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for an AL-best 3.76 ERA this season…Are 2nd in strikeouts (1,016), 5th in opponents’ average (.240), and 7th in WHIP (1.26)…The rotation now has 50 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in the AL (4th in MLB).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 955 hits this season, 2nd most in MLB (TEX – 1,006)…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.262), 4th in OBP (.331), 5th in SLG (.420), 5th in OPS (.751), and 7th in extra-base hits (323).
BINARY BITES: Toronto has allowed one or no runs on 28 occasions this season, five more than any other team (SEA/TB – 23).
VS. THE ORIOLES: All-Time: 221-225
2023: 1-5 Home: 117-104
Home: 0-3 Rogers Centre: 80-65
The Blue Jays are 1-5 vs. Baltimore so far this season…Were swept in their other series here at Rogers Centre in May, and dropped two of three in Baltimore in June…Have not lost a season series to the O’s since 2017 (7-12). Bo Bichette has gone 8-for-26 (.308) with a pair of doubles and two RBI in the six games against the Orioles this year…In 52 career meetings vs. Baltimore, is 70-for-216 (.324) with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 36 RBI (.893 OPS). Danny Jansen is 6-for-19 (.316) across six games vs. the O’s this season, including three homers and four RBI (.789 SLG)…Has batted .253 (39-for-154) with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, and 28 RBI in 48 career games vs. the O’s (.863 OPS). Whit Merrifield has hits in all six games vs. Baltimore this year, going 8-for-19 (.421) with two doubles and two RBI…Holds a career .266 (51-for-192) with 12 doubles, three home runs, and 19 RBI (.682 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 23rd start of the season and his 11th at Rogers Centre…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 7/25 at LAD, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings (4H, 4BB, 6K). Has 7 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, the most in MLB and tied for 3rd most in team history (Rogers Clemens – 9 in 1997; Dave Stieb – 8 in 1990). Is one of 4 pitchers with double-digit wins in each of the last 3 seasons, alongside Clayton Kershaw, Shane McClanahan, and Joe Musgrove.
Has held opposing RHH to a .204 AVG, the 8th-best mark in the AL.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Improved to 10-5 on 7/20 vs. SD, throwing 6.0 shutout innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year. Picked up his 9th win of the year on 7/15 vs. ARI, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball (7H, 0BB, 5K)…Was his 13th quality start of the season. Gave up 3 runs over 4.0 innings on 7/9 at DET, allowing 9 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts. Took a no-decision on 7/4 at CWS, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings of work (6H, BB, 5K).
Won his 8th game of the year on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked his 10th quality start of the year. Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5. Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns. Tossed the 1st complete game and shutout of his career on 5/27/21 vs. LAA (9.0 IP, 2H, BB, 9K). Received two 5th-place votes in AL Cy Young balloting in 2021, finishing 10th in the vote…Earned his 1st All-Star honours. Earned AL Pitcher of the Month for September 2020, his 1st monthly award…Pitched to a 0.34 ERA that month, allowing one run over 26.2 innings in four starts…Was the lowest September ERA in the Majors since Greg Maddux had a 0.29 ERA for Atlanta in 1995. Started and won Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series vs. CWS on 9/30/20. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE ORIOLES: Facing the Orioles for the 2nd time this season and the 6th time in his career…Gave up 8 runs on 11 hits over 3.0 frames on 6/13 in Baltimore…In his previous 4 starts vs. BAL, went 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA (7 ER/26.2 IP) with 7 walks and 27 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .211 AVG.
