BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The O’s fell to the Blue Jays last night, 4-1, in the third game of the four-game series, losing in Toronto for the first time this season…Ryan Mountcastle reached base safely in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks, while Adley Rutschman also had two hits and drove in the lone run…Grayson Rodriguez allowed two hits and two walks over 5.2 innings but was charged with three runs after a pair of runners scored after he exited the game.
Baltimore allowed three hits, the fewest in a loss since August 5 (G1), 2020 vs. Miami (2).
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: With Monday’s win, the Orioles have now gone 74 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 tied for the fifth-longest such streak in MLB history with the 1904-06 Philadelphia Athletics, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), 1903-05 New York Giants (105), and 1922-24 New York Yankees (83).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won four of their last six games, nine of 14, 17 of 24, and 18 of 27…At 66-42 (.611), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Birds are 128-91 (.584) since June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best in MLB during that time…The team had a season-best eight-game winning streak from July 5-16, Baltimore’s longest since a 10-gamer from July 3-13, 2022. The O’s hold 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.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Baltimore has scored in the first inning in three of the last four games while plating 11 total runs in the opening inning since July 30…Entering Sunday, the Orioles had scored 44 first-inning runs this season, ranking 25th in MLB…The O’s are 36-10 (.783) when scoring first this year, the best record in MLB.
AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS: The Orioles and Blue Jays are meeting for the third time this season in a four-game series that concludes today…Baltimore is 7-2 against Toronto this season, including 5-1 north of the border, and 16-12 (.571) 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 now gone 10 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.
The Birds are 23-14 (.622) against the AL East in 2023.
ROAD WARRIORS: Baltimore is 34-21 (.618) 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 72-64 (.529) 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 294 runs away from Camden Yards in 2023, the most in the AL and second-most in MLB behind the Dodgers (306).
HOT O’S SUMMER: The Orioles finished last month with a 17-9 (.654) record, tied with the Mariners for the best record in MLB…Since the All-Star break, the O’s are 12-7 (.632), the second-best record in the AL and third-best in MLB…The Birds have played 43 straight games against teams currently with a winning record while going 25-18 (.581) since June 13.
AY, TONE: Anthony Santander is slashing .273/.348/.513 (83-for-304) with 20 doubles, one triple, 17 homers, 48 runs scored, 51 RBI, 31 walks, four hit-by-pitches, and three stolen bases in 79 games since the start of May…During that time, he ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (4th, 38), total bases (T-5th, 156), homers (T-6th), slugging percentage (9th), and OPS (10th, .861).
Santander has 28 doubles, surpassing his career high of 24 set in 2021 and matched in 2022; he drove in his 300th run with his grand slam on Tuesday night.
He ranks among AL leaders in extra-base hits (T-3rd, 48) and doubles (T-5th, 28) this season.
His 19 home runs lead the O’s, are tied for 10th in the AL, and rank third among MLB switch hitters in 2023; Santander’s 52 homers since the start of last season are the most among MLB switch hitters.
TOP GUNN: Gunnar Henderson is slashing .280/.337/.566 (51-for-182) with seven doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 31 runs scored, 35 RBI, 15 walks, one hit-by-pitch, and four stolen bases in 47 games since the start of June…During that time, he’s among AL leaders in home runs (T-4th), slugging percentage (7th), total bases (9th, 103), and extra-base hits (T-9th, 23)… He ranks among AL rookies this season in bWAR (1st, 3.2), triples (1st, 5), fWAR (2nd, 2.6), runs scored (2nd, 59), home runs (2nd, 18), RBI (3rd, 49), walks (3rd, 44), extra-base hits (3rd, 37), and total bases (3rd, 160)…His 92.4 mph average exit velocity leads MLB rookies as does his 53.7 percent Hard-Hit rate, which also ranks ninth in the AL and 14th in MLB, per Statcast.
MOUNT UP: Ryan Mountcastle is 7-for-9 with four doubles, four runs scored, five RBI, and three walks in the first three games of this series…His 10 times on base are the most in a three-game span in his career…He’s slashing .413/.472/.696 (19-for-46) with seven doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored, nine RBI, and six walks in 17 games while tallying a hit in 12 of his 13 starts since returning from the Injured List on July 9…Mountcastle has batted .330/.394/.643 (60-for-182) with 12 doubles, 15 home runs, 32 runs scored, 41 RBI, 18 walks, and two hit-by-pitches in 48 career games against the Blue Jays…His 1.037 career OPS against Toronto is the best in MLB history (min. 150 PA).
MOUNTAIN TIME: Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that Félix Bautista was voted the American League Reliever of the Month for July…He’s now won the award in back-to-back months and for the third time this season, joining April…Prior to this year, Jim Johnson (May 2012) was the only O’s pitcher in team history to take home the honor… Bautista did not allow a run and registered a win or a save in all 11 appearances last month, going 3-0 with eight saves and 25 strikeouts in 14.0 innings…He leads the AL and ranks third in MLB with 29 saves and has secured a win or save in 35 of his 47 appearances (74.5%) this season…That would be the fourth-highest such percentage in O’s history (since 1954)… Bautista is looking to become the seventh Oriole (eight occurrences) in team history to lead the league in saves and the first since Zack Britton locked down 47 games in 2016…Jim Johnson has the team record of 51 saves set in 2012.
His 101 strikeouts are more than 12 qualified pitchers; he has 23 more strikeouts .
Bautista’s 17.59 K/9 (101 K/199 BFP) would be the fourth-best by a qualified reliever in MLB history; Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman (2014), Cleveland’s James Karinchak (2020), and Milwaukee’s Devin Williams (2020) are tied for the record with a 17.67 mark.
He is the seventh O’s reliever to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and the first since B.J. Ryan fanned 100 in 2005; Ryan holds the Orioles record for strikeouts as a reliever in one season with 122 in 2004.
STARTING PITCHER – #15 JACK FLAHERTY RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his Orioles debut today against the Blue Jays; was acquired by the O’s from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for LHP Drew Rom, INF César Prieto, and RHP Zack Showalter on Tuesday…Will be his 21st start of the season, 13th on the road, and second career start against Toronto…Has spent his entire professional career with St. Louis after being selected in the first round (No. 34 overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Harvard-Westlake High School (CA)…Since his MLB debut in 2017, Flaherty has more strikeouts (706) than any other Cardinal while throwing the third-most innings (633.0) in that span…Pitched to a 41-31 record with a 3.58 ERA (252 ER/633.0 IP) and 50 quality starts in 122 career appearances (118 starts) with St. Louis…His 706 strikeouts in his first 122 career appearances are the most by a Cardinals pitcher in that span in franchise history (since 1882)…Allowed six hits-or-fewer in 30 straight starts from September 20, 2020 to April 28, 2023, the longest such streak in team history…Flaherty’s 6.32 run support average this season is the fifth-highest in the NL and ninth-highest in MLB.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into his last start with the Cardinals on July 26 at Arizona…Surrendered three runs on eight hits (1 HR) with two walks and four
strikeouts in 5.0+ innings…Left with one runner on, who was stranded…Has allowed three earned runs-or-fewer in four of his last five starts since July 1…Threw 95 pitches, 59 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE BLUE JAYS:Is slated to make his second career start against the Blue Jays today…Will be his first career outing at Rogers Centre…Earned the win in his only assignment against Toronto with St. Louis on April 1, 2023 at Busch Stadium…Worked 5.0 scoreless innings on zero hits with a career-high seven walks, a hit batter, and four strikeouts…Became the first Cardinals pitcher to toss 5.0-ormore hitless innings in his season debut since Daniel Ponce De León on July 23, 2018 at Cincinnati…Threw 95 pitches, 49 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL EAST: Making his third career start against the AL East… Earned the win in his last start against the division on July 1, 2023 vs. New York-AL with St. Louis…Worked 6.0 scoreless frames on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts…Marked his fourth scoreless start of the season…Threw 96 pitches, 60 strikes…Has worked 11.0 scoreless innings across his two career starts against the division, earning the win in each of those games.
ROAD WARRIOR: Is scheduled to make his 13th road start of the campaign…Has pitched to a 3-3 record with a 3.69 ERA (28 ER/68.1 IP) through his first 12 such starts this season.
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Flaherty (.217, 27.1%) is one of 10 MLB pitchers to own an opponent batting average of .220 or lower and a strikeout percentage of 25 percent-or-better since 2018 (min. 2500 batters faced)…His 83 games with five-or-fewer hits in that span are tied for third-most among NL starting pitchers, while his 27
scoreless outings are the sixth-most.
SHIFTING SPEEDS: Opposing batters are slashing .176/.262/.324 (13-for-74) with seven extra-base hits (5-2B, 2 HR) and 26 strikeouts against Flaherty’s curveball this season…In 2022, Flaherty held hitters to a .150/.190/.200 (3-for-20) slash line against the off-speed pitch…Its whiff rate has increased from 35.9 percent in 2022 to 41.7 percent this season.
HOMER (UN)HAPPY: Flaherty did not allow a home run in nine straight starts from May 15 to July 6, the longest such streak by a Cardinals starter and tied for the third-longest streak by an MLB starting pitcher this season…Has allowed 10 home runs in 109.2 innings across his 20 starts this season; entering play today, he ranks among qualified MLB pitchers in HR/9 (T-9th, 0.82).
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays scored a trio of runs in the 6th inning last night, besting the Orioles by a final score of 4-1… Had more runs (4) than hits (3) in a game for the second time this season, after notching 12 runs on 11 hits on June 25 vs. OAK…With a win today, can earn their first series split of the year. Toronto has won six of its last 10 games, 15 of its last 24, and is 34-24 over its last 58 contests…Its .586 win% over that span (since May 26) is the highest in the AL (2nd: BAL – .569)…Is currently holding the 3rd Wild Card spot, 2.0 games back of Houston (62-47) for the 2nd spot, and 2.5 games up on Boston.
PRETTY GOOD, YUSEI: Yusei Kikuchi tossed 6.0 innings of one-run ball last night, scattering six hits and a walk with three strikeouts…Earned his career-best 9th win (7 in 2021)…Has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his last 12 starts, pitching to a 2.95 ERA (21 ER/64.0 IP) and a 1.19 WHIP while holding hitters to a .233 average with 20 walks and 71 strikeouts…His 2.95 ERA since May 30th ranks 6th among AL pitchers.
ON BRAND-ON: Brandon Belt had two of the Blue Jays’ three hits last night, doubling and scoring in the 4th inning before singling in the 7th…Also worked a walk in the 6th, finishing the game 2-for-3, his 13th multi-hit game of the season. The DH reached 20 doubles on the year for the 7th time in his career, and the first time since notching 32 two-baggers in 2019…Over his last 57 contests, has batted .279 (51-for-183) with 16 doubles, eight homers, 22 RBI, and 38 walks (.402 OBP)…His 4.49 pitches/PA this season tops all AL batters (min. 200 PA), behind only Patrick Wisdom (4.54) for the highest in the Majors.
SNAPPING THE STREAK: George Springer drove in the opening run of the game on Wednesday, looping an RBI single to center field in the 4th inning…Snapped a career-long 0-for-35 skid, which was tied for the longest drought in team history (Ed Sprague in 1994; Danny Jansen in 2021)…Also drew a walk in the 6th, finishing the game 1-for-3.
GETTING ON WITH IT: Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 6th inning last night, his 45th RBI of the season…Extended his on-base streak to 19 games, the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (Julio Rodríguez – 27G)…Has gone 16-for-64 (.250) with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, six RBI, and a
15BB/21K ratio for a .407 OBP and an .861 OPS over that stretch…Marks the 3rd-longest on-base streak of his career, trailing a 30-gamer from July 11-Aug. 17, 2018 and a 24-game stretch from June 11-July 9, 2021. The third baseman ranks 2nd in MLB with a 59.2 hard-hit percentage (1st: Aaron Judge – 64.1), 6th in average exit velocity (94.0 MPH), and 13th in hard-hit balls (157)…Leads the AL with 33 doubles, trailing only Freddie Freeman (38) for the MLB lead…Has 48 extra-base hits, tied for 3rd most among AL hitters, while his 53 walks are 7th most.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are in the midst of a seven-day, seven-game homestand (3-3 so far)…Have gone 30-23 this season at Rogers Centre…The .566 win% at home is tied for 4th best in the AL…After this series with the Orioles, will head out to Boston (57-51) for three games over the weekend, followed by four in Cleveland (53-56). Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.256), 4th in home OBP (.330), 6th in home OPS (.739), and 8th in home SLG (.409)…The pitching staff ranks 1st among AL teams with 3.44 home ERA while sitting 2nd with a .224 home opponents’ average and 3rd with a 1.19 home WHIP.
KEVIN PUTTING IN THE K’S: Kevin Gausman takes the hill for his 22nd start of the year today…Struck out nine batters over 6+ frames of one-run ball last Friday against the Angels…Leads the AL with 171 strikeouts (2nd: Pablo López – 165), behind only Spencer Strider (208) for the MLB lead… Currently tops the Majors with a 2.81 FIP (2nd: Zach Eflin – 2.92)…Also ranks 1st in the AL in K rate (33.0%) and SO/9 (12.05) while ranking 4th in SO/BB (5.34) and 5th in ERA (3.10).
PITCHING IN: Toronto pitchers have combined for a 3.82 ERA this season, 4th among AL teams (5th in MLB)…Are 2nd in MLB with 1,039 strikeouts (MIN – 1,045)…Rank 6th in the AL in opponents’ average (.242) and 7th in WHIP (1.26)…The rotation has 51 quality starts, T-3rd most in the AL (T-4th in MLB).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 968 hits this season, 5th most in MLB…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.259), 4th in OBP (.329), 5th in OPS (.746), 6th in SLG (.417), and 7th in extra-base hits (329).
DIVISIONAL DOWNTURN: The Blue Jays have now gone 8-22 against divisional opponents this season (5th among AL East clubs), the 3rd fewest intra-division wins in MLB (OAK – 5, COL – 7)…The .267 divisional win% is currently the lowest in team history (.282 in 1979)…Went 43-33 (.566%) in divisional play in 2022, the 2nd-best winning percentage within the division and the club’s best since registering a .581 win% in 2006 (43-31).
VS. THE ORIOLES: All-Time: 222-227
2023: 2-7 Home: 118-106
Home: 1-5 Rogers Centre: 81-67
The Blue Jays are 2-7 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 lost a season series to the O’s for the first time since 2017 (7-12).
George Springer has gone 10-for-32 (.313) with two doubles, two homers, and five RBI in the eight games against the Orioles this year…In 71 career meetings vs. Baltimore, is 92-for-288 (.319) with 19 doubles, 19 home runs, and 50 RBI (.963 OPS).
Danny Jansen is now 7-for-27 (.259) across nine games vs. the O’s this season, including four homers and seven RBI (.704 SLG)…Has batted .247 (40-for162) with 10 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 31 RBI in 51 career games vs. Baltimore (.856 OPS).
Whit Merrifield has hits in all but two of the nine games vs. BAL this year, going 9-for-32 (.281) with two doubles, a homer, and three RBI…Holds a career .254 (52-for-205) average with 12 doubles, four home runs, and 20 RBI in 54 contests (.664 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 22nd start of the season and his 11th at Rogers Centre… Picked up his 8th win of the year his last time out, on 7/28 vs. LAA, throwing 6.0+ innings of one-run ball with 5 hits, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. His 171 strikeouts are the most in the AL (2nd: Pablo López – 165), and are the 2nd most ever by a Blue Jay in their first 21 outings of a season (1st: Roger Clemens – 173 in 1997). Owns a 2.80 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the 2nd-best mark among qualified hurlers (2nd: Corbin Burnes – 2.77).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Allowed 4 runs over 6.0 innings on 7/22 at SEA, giving up 5 hits, a career-high-tying 4 homers, no walks, and 9 strikeouts. Named an All-Star for the 2nd time in his career (also: 2021). Gave up 2 runs over 6.0 innings on 7/8 at DET, allowing 5 hits and a pair of walks with 7 strikeouts…Marked his 14th quality start of the year. Took a no-decision on 7/2 vs. BOS, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 5 hits, a walk, and 7 strikeouts. Took the loss on 6/27 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts…Fanned LaMonte Wade Jr. in the 4th inning to reach 1,500 career strikeouts, becoming the 21st active player to reach the mark…Was his MLB-leading 7th double-digit strikeout game of 2023. Improved to 7-3 on 6/21 at MIA, giving up 3 runs over 6.0 innings (8H, BB, 6K). Pitched 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 6/6 vs. HOU, scattering 4 hits with no walks and a career-high-tying 13 strikeouts (also: 13K on 4/29/23 vs. SEA)…Became the 4th player (8th time) in franchise history to punch out at least 13 batters without any walks in a single game (last: José Berríos on 7/12/22 vs. PHI). Took a no-decision on 5/21 vs. BAL, tossing 8.0 frames of two-run ball on a season-high 115 pitches (6H, 2BB, 4K)…Matched his longest outing of the year (8.0IP on 4/12 vs. DET). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 4/29 vs. SEA, giving up 5 hits with a walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts…Threw a then season-high 108 pitches (74 strikes) while inducing a career-high 28 swing-and-misses…Got 20 whiffs on his splitter alone, the most on a single pitch in the Majors this season, and the most on a splitter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Took a no-decision on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Set career-best marks in 2021 innings pitched (192.0), wins (14), quality starts (20), ERA (2.81), strikeouts (227), opponents’ AVG (.210), and WHIP (1.04). Named an All-Star for the 1st time in his career in 2021 and finished 6th in NL Cy Young voting…Signed a 5-year deal with Toronto on 12/1/21. Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
VS. THE ORIOLES:
Facing the Orioles for the 2nd time this season and the 4th time in his career…Took a no-decision on 5/21 at Rogers Centre, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 6 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts…Has allowed 2 runs in each of his last 2 starts against his former club, posting a 2.45 ERA (4 ER/14.2 IP) with a 1.02 WHIP while holding hitters to a .228 average.
