BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
EXTRA, EXTRA!: The Orioles beat the Mariners yesterday, 5-3 in 10 innings, to clinch the three-game series win as well as the season series victory (4-2)…Have won an extra-inning game on back-to-back days for the first time since May 20-21 at Toronto.
After making a leaping catch at the wall to rob Ty France of a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth, Cedric Mullins hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the 10th; according to ESPN Stats & Info, he is the first player in the last 10 seasons to rob a home run and hit a home run in the ninth inning or later of the same game.
Shintaro Fujinami earned the save after working a scoreless 10th inning with a wild pitch and a strikeout while stranding the automatic runner at third; marked his
first professional save in his 296th career appearance between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball.
Kyle Bradish did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings; marked his 12th quality start of the campaign, second on the team (Gibson, 13).
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: The Orioles have gone 77 consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without being swept…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most consecutive series without getting swept in Orioles history (since 1954), ahead of 46 consecutive sweepless series from 1971-72…It is the fifth-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), and 1922-24 New York Yankees (83)…The Birds have not been swept in a series of at least two games since May 13-15, 2022 at Detroit (0-3), and have not been swept at home in a series of at least two games since August 27-29, 2021 vs. Tampa Bay (0-3).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won three of their last four games, seven of 10, 10 of 14, 11 of 16, 24 of 34, and 25 of 37…At 73-45 (.619, the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Braves (75-42, .641) and Dodgers (71-46, .607) are the only other teams with at least 70 wins and a .600 winning percentage this season…The Birds are 135-94 (.590) 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 3.0-game lead over the Rays in the AL East.
O’s AT A GLANCE: Baltimore is 43-11 (.796) when scoring first this season, the best record in MLB…The Birds are 22-11 (.667) in one-run games, the best record in the AL and third-best in MLB…They are 37-18 (.673) in games decided by two or one runs and 48-25 (.658) in games decided by three runs or less, both the best such records in MLB…The Orioles have 36 comeback wins this year, second-most in MLB behind Cincinnati (37), and 72 come-from-behind victories since the start of 2022, second-most in MLB behind Los Angeles-NL (77).
AGAINST SAN DIEGO: The Orioles and Padres are meeting for the first and only series of the season this week…The Birds and Friars have not faced each other since 2019, when the O’s were swept in two games in Baltimore from June 25-26 and split a two-game set in San Diego from July 29-30…The O’s hold an 11-10 advantage over the Padres since the teams first met in 2002, including an 8-4 edge in San Diego.
O THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: The Orioles are in the middle of a nine-game, 10-day road trip, which began with three games in Seattle (2-1) over the weekend and continues with three games each in San Diego (August 14-16) and Oakland (August 18-20)…The O’s have scheduled off days on Thursday, August 17 and Monday, August 21 before beginning a nine-game homestand from August 22-30…The current trip is tied for Baltimore’s second-longest of the season with another nine-game, 10-day tour from September 1-10, which features three games each in Arizona (September 1-3), Los Angeles-AL (September 4-6), and Boston (September 8-10)…Baltimore’s only longer trip this season was a 10-game, 11-day expedition from April 27 to May 7, during which the O’s went 6-4 in Detroit (3-1), Kansas City (2-1), and Atlanta (1-2).
Baltimore is 37-22 (.627) away from Camden Yards this season, the best road record in the AL and the second-best in MLB behind Atlanta (38-22, .633).
MOUNT UP: Ryan Mountcastle has reached base safely in a career-high 20 straight games since July 21, tied for the second-longest active streak in MLB (see box at right)…It is the longest on-base streak by an Orioles batter since Austin Hays reached safely in 21 straight games from September 12, 2021 to April 8, 2022, and the longest in a single season since Hays reached safely in his last 20 games of the 2021 campaign…Mountcastle has recorded a hit in 14 of the last 15 games since July 28…His 12-game hitting streak, the second-longest of his career, was snapped on Friday night…Mountcastle is slashing .452/.529/.643 (19- for-42) with two doubles, two home runs, nine runs scored, eight RBI, eight walks, and one stolen base in 12 games this month…In August, he leads MLB in batting average and on-base percentage while ranking sixth in OPS (1.172)…He’s reached base safely in all 23 of his starts since returning from the Injured List on July 9.
He slugged a 472-foot, two-run blast on August 8 vs. Houston, marking the longest home run hit by an Orioles player at Oriole Park in the Statcast era (since 2015) and the second-longest Statcast-era home run at Camden Yards overall, trailing only a 474-foot homer by Houston’s Carlos Correa on August 10, 2019; with an exit velocity of 113.1 mph, it was also tied for the hardest-hit homer of his career.
Mountcastle went 11-for-13 with four doubles, five runs scored, six RBI, three walks, and one stolen base during the four-game set in Toronto from July 31 to August 3… The 11 hits are tied with Merv Rettenmund (September 24-26, 1971 at Cleveland) for the most in a four-game series since the Orioles moved to Baltimore in 1954.
MOUNTAIN TIME: Félix Bautista secured his seventh win Saturday night and is one of six pitchers with at least seven wins in relief this season…He is also tied for the AL lead and tied for third in MLB with 31 saves…Bautista has secured a win or save in 38 of his 51 appearances (74.5%) 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 seventh Oriole (eighth time) 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.
Saturday night marked the fourth time this season Bautista earned the win while entering in the ninth inning and completing 2.0 innings, joining July 20 at Tampa Bay, July 7 at Minnesota, and May 20 at Toronto; in those games, he’s allowed two hits, two walks, and one hit batter while striking out 15 of the 26 total batters faced.
His 108 strikeouts are more than 12 qualified pitchers, per STATS.
Bautista’s 17.25 K/9 (108 K/222 BFP) would be the second-best by a qualified reliever in MLB history in a full season; Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman holds the record with a 17.67 mark set in 2014.
DEFENSIVE TACTICS: On July 15, the Orioles ranked 17th in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), per Sports Info Solutions…Since then, the Orioles have recorded 17 DRS, tied with the Cubs for the fifth-most in MLB during that time, trailing only the Blue Jays (30), Dodgers and Royals (23), and Brewers (19)…On the season, the Orioles rank sixth in MLB with 24 DRS.
ROSTER MOVES: The Orioles today reinstated outfielder Aaron Hicks (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day Injured List and optioned outfielder Colton Cowser to Triple-A Norfolk.
STARTING PTICHER – #30 GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his 16th start of the season, eighth on the road, and first career start against the Padres tonight…Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17, his second stint with the O’s…Worked 5.0 shutout innings on April 23 vs. Detroit and April 29 (G2) at Detroit to become the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to toss 5.0-or-more scoreless innings in back-to-back games since Dave Ford (21-259) from September 2-14, 1978, and the youngest O’s starter to accomplish the feat since Jack Fisher (21-188) did so in three straight starts from August 29 to September 8, 1960…Made his MLB debut on April 5 at Texas, becoming the first Oriole to make his debut this season…Thirteen players (7 pitchers) made their debut for the O’s in 2022…Also became the first O’s pitcher to start his Major League debut since DL Hall on August 13, 2022, and the youngest O’s pitcher (23-140) to start his debut since Kevin Gausman (22-137) on May 23, 2013 at Toronto…Had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022…Originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in his last outing on August 8 vs. Houston…Allowed two runs on six hits with two walks, a hit batter, and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Has not allowed a home run in his last five starts…Marked his second career quality start…Has surrendered three earned runs-or-fewer in each of his last four outings since July 22…Threw 93 pitches, 63 strikes.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: Making his first career start against the Padres and second against the NL West tonight…Did not factor into the decision in his only such career outing on July 17 vs. Los Angeles-NL, his first career Interleague start…Allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks, two wild pitches, and four strikeouts in 5.0+ innings…Two of the runs scored after he exited the game…Marked his first MLB start since May 26…Threw 91 pitches, 54 strikes.
HIGH TIDE: After being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 27, Rodriguez made seven starts for the Tides, pitching to a 4-0 record with a 1.69 ERA (7 ER/37.1 IP) and five quality starts in those games…His 54 punchouts from May 27 to July 16 were the most in the International League…Was named International League Pitcher of the Month for June, going 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) in five starts during the month… His 39 strikeouts in June led the International League, while his four victories were tied for the most…Did not factor into the decision in his last Triple-A start on July 9 at Durham…Worked 3.0 scoreless innings on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts…Threw 56 pitches, 37 strikes…Tossed a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts (also: 7/18/21 [G1] at ERI w/BOW) on July 4 at Durham.
THROWING GAS: Rodriguez threw the two fastest strikeout pitches by an O’s starter in the Statcast era (since 2015) on July 28 vs. New York-AL, fanning DJ LeMahieu with a 100.1 mph heater and retiring Anthony Rizzo on a 100.2 mph fastball…Now owns each of the 20 fastest strikeout pitches by Orioles starters this season…His strikeout of Rizzo was the seventh-fastest punchout pitch among MLB rookie starters this season.
KEEPING IT IN THE YARD: Rodriguez has not surrendered a home run in his last five MLB starts since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17, tied for the third-longest active streak among MLB starting pitchers…Opposing batters are slashing .210/.286/.250 (21-for-100) with three extra-base hits (2-2B, 3B) in those games… Surrendered 24 extra-base hits (9-2B, 2-3B, 13 HR) in his first 10 career starts.
HIGH QUALITY: Rodriguez logged his first career quality start on July 28 vs. New YorkAL, becoming the youngest O’s hurler (23-254) to do so since Miguel Castro (22-222) on August 3, 2017 vs. Detroit (6.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K)…Has also allowed two earned runs-orfewer in eight of his first 15 career Major League starts, the most such outings by an O’s rookie in that span since Wei-Yin Chen permitted fewer than two runs in 10 of his first 15 career assignments in 2012.
PACKING A PUNCH: Rodriguez’s 80 strikeouts through his first 15 career Major League starts are tied with Tom Phoebus (1966) and Dylan Bundy (2016) for the most by an O’s hurler in that span franchise history (since 1954)…Recorded a career-high nine punchouts on April 29 (G2) at Detroit, becoming the youngest O’s pitcher (23-164) to record nine-or-more strikeouts in a start since John Parrish (22-241) also fanned nine batters on July 24, 2000 vs. New York-AL.
SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:
Padres can’t keep lead over D-Backs, drop series with yesterday’s loss
- The Friars lost 5-4 yesterday afternoon in Phoenix, dropping 2 of the 3 games in the desert…the Padres scored 3 runs on 5 hits in the 1st frame, but they added just 1 more run in the 7th.
- Starter Seth Lugo went 5.0 innings with 2 runs and 6 hits allowed…Nick Martinez was saddled with the blown save, and Robert Suarez go the loss with the D-Backs rallying in the B-8th with their go-ahead run.
Padres playing 13 games in 13 days & 19 games in 20 days
- Today is the 10th game of the Padres playing 19 in 20 days, and their sole off day in the span from August 4-23 was on August 10…they’re also in a stretch of playing 32 games in 34 days (from August 4-September 6).
- Since August 11, the Padres also began playing 13 games in 13 days, with 7 of those 13 games against Arizona.
Padres begin longest homestand of the season
- The Padres’ 11th homestand of the season will also be their longest, playing 10 games in 10 days against the Orioles (3 games), D-Backs (4 games), and Marlins (3 games).
- The Padres and Orioles play one another for the 1st time since 2019, and so far this year in Interleague games, the Padres have the fewest runs allowed per game of any team (3.21)…Padres pitchers have also pitched 6 shutouts in Interleague games in 2023, the most in the Majors.
Friars go 1-4 on roadtrip & have lost 7 of their last 9 games
- The Padres, fighting for a Wild Card spot, won just 1 of their 5 games on their roadtrip @ Seattle (2 games) and D-Backs (3 games).
- After getting swept in 2 games @ Seattle and losing 2 of 3 in Arizona, yesterday marked their 3rdstraight series defeat…in their last 3 series since August 4, they’ve gone just 2-7.
Juan Soto looks to snap a 8-game walkless streak
- Juan Soto’s 8 straight games without drawing a walk ties his career-long walkless streak (also had an equally long stretch back in 2018)…Soto has a Major League-leading 99 walks this year, with the next most being Kyle Schwarber’s 88.
Darvish gets the rock, 5 strikeouts shy of Hideo Nomo’s MLB record for a Japanese-born player
- Yu Darvish has a chance tonight to become baseball’s strikeout leader for a Japanese-born player, entering the game with 1913 career strikeouts in Major League Baseball…he trails just Hideo Nomo’s 1918 SO, needing 5 punchies to tie and 6 to set the record…Darvish’s 1stcareer strikeout was in his MLB debut on April 9, 2012 with Texas vs. Seattle (struck out SEA’s Dustin Ackley).
- Nomo is serving in the Padres’ organization as an Advisor to Baseball Operations.
- In Darvish’s last 6 outings, he’s gone 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA, and he’s worked at least 6.0 innings in 5 of those 6 starts…if you don’t include his one start in that stretch on July 24 vs. PIT in which he allowed 7 ER on 4.1 innings of work, he’s posted a 0.87 ERA (3 ER, 31.0 IP).
STARTER – YU DARVISH 11
Darvish set for 2nd career start vs. BAL, his fewest against any team
After making just his 2nd career start vs. TEX on July 29, it left the Baltimore Orioles as the only team Darvish has made just 1 career regular season start against, which came on August 2, 2016 at Camden Yards while with TEX (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER)…his first career start vs. BAL came during his 2012 MLB rookie season in the AL Wild Card Game, when he was tagged with the loss despite the quality outing (6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER).
Success vs. the AL East
Among all active pitchers who have made at least 20 career starts the AL East opponents, his 3.11 ERA ranks 4th vs. the division, trailing only TOR Alex Manoah (2.71), TB’s Shane McClanahan (3.01) and BOS’s Chris Sale (3.11)…his last start vs. an AL East opponent came on July 19 this season, when he tossed 6.0-shutout frames in SD’s 2-0 win.
Darvish poised to pass Nomo in career strikeouts
Darvish has a chance tonight to become baseball’s strikeout leader for a Japanese-born player, entering the game with 1,913 career strikeouts in MLB…he trails just Hideo Nomo’s 1,918 SO, needing 5 punchies to tie and 6 to set the record…Darvish’s 1st-career strikeout was in his MLB debut on April 9, 2012 with Texas vs. Seattle (struck out SEA’s Dustin Ackley)…Nomo is serving in SD’s organization as an Advisor to Baseball Operations.
Darvish quality again last time out last Wed @ SEA
Darvish made his 15th career start vs. SEA and turned in his 10th quality outing vs. the club last Wed, allowing 1 unearned run across 6.0 innings of 6-hit ball in SD’s eventual 6-1 defeat…it was his 10th quality outing of the campaign and his 5th in his last 6 starts since July 14…his 10 quality outings tie for 3rd-most on SD’s staff w/ Lugo, behind only Snell (12) and Musgrove (11)…in Darvish’s last 6 outings, he’s gone 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA, and he’s worked at least 6.0 innings in 5 of those 6 starts…if you don’t include his July 24 start vs. PIT in which he allowed 7 ER on 4.1 innings of work, he’s posted a 0.87 ERA (3 ER, 31.0 IP).
Second half punchouts
Yu posted a 9.42 SO/9 IP ratio across his 15 first-half starts in ’23…in his 6 second half starts this season, he’s punched out 36 across 35.1 IP (9.17 SO/9)…among all ML pitchers who have made at least 100 post-All Star starts, his 11.31 SO/9 IP ratio ranks 1st all-time, ahead of Chris Sale (11.31), Randy Johnson (10.83), Gerrit Cole (10.83) and Max Scherzer (10.46).
Also making SD history with the punchouts
Darvish has struk out 521 batters through his first 81 games pitched with Padres, the most ever by any pitcher by this milepost for the franchise…among all hurlers in their first 81 app in Padres history, the next closest are Jake Peavy (460) and Chris Young (436).
