BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
GOING DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS: The Orioles beat the Astros last night, 9-5, to secure their fourth win in a row and second straight to begin this series…Baltimore hit four home runs, including two from Austin Hays and one each from Heston Kjerstad and Ryan O’Hearn… Hays, O’Hearn, and Anthony Santander all tallied two hits and scored a pair of runs. Hays recorded his fifth career multi-home run game and his first since September 15, 2021 vs. New York-AL; he joins Adam Frazier, Gunnar Henderson, James McCann, Ryan Mountcastle, and Santander with multi-homer games by an Oriole this year. The Birds have won nine of their last 10 road games and 12 of their last 14 away from Camden Yards; the offense has recorded at least 10 hits in nine of those last 10 road contests.
THIS IS 40: With a win today, Baltimore would move 40 games over .500 for the first time since the end of 1979 (102-57)…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other seasons the O’s have been at least 40 games over .500 were 1969, 1970, and 1971…The Birds won the World Series in 1970 and won the AL Pennant in 1979, 1971, and 1969.
SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE: The O’s have won four games in a row, 12 of their last 17, 14 of 21, 18 of 26, 21 of 30, 24 of 35, and 29 of 43…The Birds have won or split their last nine series, 10 of 13 series, and 13 of 17 series…At 95-56 (.629), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Birds are 47-24 (.662) since the start of July, the best record in the AL and the second-best mark in MLB during that time, behind only the Dodgers (.681, 47-22)…The team is 157-105 (.599) since June 2022, the best record in the AL and third-best in MLB during that time. The Orioles hold a 2.5-game lead over the Rays in the AL East and have clinched the season series tiebreaker against Tampa Bay; the magic number to clinch the division is eight games. The team has won at least 95 of the first 151 games to begin a season for the fourth time in franchise history (since 1954), joining 1979 (99-52), 1970 (97-54), and 1969 (104-47).
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: The Orioles have gone 88 consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without being swept…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the fourth-longest streak in MLB history, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), and 1903-05 New York Giants (105)…Baltimore’s current streak is the longest in O’s history, ahead of 46 such series from 1971-72…The Birds have not been swept in a series of at least two games since May 13-15, 2022 at Detroit (0-3), and not at home in a series of at least two games since August 27-29, 2021 vs. Tampa Bay (0-3).
STRIKE A POSE: Orioles pitching has struck out 1,337 batters this year, surpassing the 2016 and 2019 clubs (1,248) for the most in a single season in team history…The team broke the record on September 6. Starting pitchers have struck out 760 batters this year, surpassing the 1968 rotation (747) for the most in a single season in team history. Relievers have fanned 577 hitters in 2023, fourth-most in one year in O’s history; the 2021 club holds the record with 637 punchouts from relievers.
O THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: The Orioles began their final road trip of the season on Monday in Houston…After today’s game against the Astros, Baltimore travels to Cleveland for a four-game set against the Guardians beginning on Thursday. Baltimore is 50-26 (.658) away from Camden Yards this season, the best road record in MLB; the .658 road winning percentage would be the best in team history (since 1954) and the fourth-best mark in a full season by an AL club since 1977, trailing only Seattle (.728, 59-22) in 2001, Houston (.704, 57-24) in 2018, and Minnesota (.679, 55- 26) in 2019. The O’s have won 50 road games in a season for the third time in team history (since 1954), joining 1997 (52) and 1980 (50). The Orioles have scored 427 runs on the road this year, second-most in the AL and fourth-most in MLB; the 5.62 runs per game away from Oriole Park would be the second-highest mark on the road in O’s history (since 1954) behind 1996 (6.31).
AGAINST HOUSTON: The Orioles and Astros complete the regular season series against each other today…Baltimore has secured at least a season split with the two wins in this current set after dropping two of three games against the ‘Stros from August 8-10 at Camden Yards…The O’s went 4-3 against the Astros last year, including throwing three shutouts.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman is tied for fifth in the AL with 235 times on base (149 H, 84 BB, 2 HBP), the most by a primary catcher since Milwaukee’s Yasmani Grandal reached safely 240 times (126 H, 109 BB, 5 HBP) in 2019, per STATS…His times on base this year are the second-most by a primary catcher in O’s history (since 1954), trailing only Javy López (236 in 2004)…The 84 walks are the second-most by an O’s catcher behind Mickey Tettleton (106 in 1990).
STARTING PITCHER – #39 KYLE BRADISH RHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make 28th start of the season, 17th on the road, and third career start against the Astros today…Entering today’s game, Bradish ranks among qualified AL starting pitchers in opponent slugging percentage (3rd, .350), ERA (4th, 3.12), batting average (3rd, .224), WHIP (6th, 1.09), and on-base percentage (6th, .283)… Made 23 starts in his rookie season with the Orioles in 2022…Went 4-7 with a 4.90 ERA (64 ER/117.2 IP) with 111 strikeouts to 46 walks…Was one of 13 O’s players (7 pitchers) to make their debut in 2022…Started on the bump for Adley Rutschman’s debut on May 21 vs. Tampa Bay…Tossed 16.0 consecutive scoreless innings across four starts from August 26 to September 6…Acquired by the Orioles along with RHP Kyle Brnovich, RHP Zach Peek, and RHP Isaac Mattson from Los Angeles-AL in exchange for RHP Dylan Bundy on December 4, 2019…Originally drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of New Mexico State…Teammates at NMSU with INF Joey Ortiz.
LAST TIME OUT: Was dealt his seventh loss of the season on September 14 vs. Tampa Bay after allowing four runs on seven hits (1 HR) and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched…Allowed more than three runs for the fourth time this season (last: 5, 7/26 at PHI)…Completed at least 7.0 innings for the fifth time this season (last: 7.0 IP, 8/1 at TOR)…Threw 100 pitches, 66 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE ASTROS: Making his third career start against the Astros today…Earned the win in his last outing against the Astros on September 22, 2022 at Oriole Park…Pitched 8.2 scoreless innings with two hits and 10 strikeouts…Threw 100 pitches, 70 strikes…Has earned the win in each of his two career starts against the Astros with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/16.2 IP), working a combined 16.2 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts and two walks.
CAREER AGAINST THE AL WEST: Earned the win in his last outing against the AL West on August 20 at Oakland…Tossed 6.0 scoreless innings with two hits, one walk, one hit batter, and eight strikeouts…Threw 92 pitches, 60 strikes…Sports a 5-0 record with a 1.34 ERA (9 ER/60.1 IP) and seven quality starts in 10 career outings against the division.
HIGH QUALITY: Bradish logged five straight quality starts from August 6 to September 8, the longest such streak of his career…The last longer streak by an Oriole was Alex Cobb’s six-gamer from July 26 to August 24, 2018…Bradish’s 16 quality starts on the year are tied for the team lead (Gibson); the last O’s hurler with more than 16 such outings was Dylan Bundy, who logged 19 quality starts in 2017. DAWG DAYS OF SUMMER: During the month of August, Bradish ranked among qualified AL starting pitchers in ERA (3rd, 2.12), batting average against (3rd, .189), OPS (4th, .548), K/9 (4th, 10.62), wins (T-4th, 3), slugging percentage (5th, .283), and strikeouts (8th, 35)…Surrendered three earned runs-or-fewer in each of his five outings in the month, including two scoreless starts.
PUTTING UP ZEROS: Bradish’s six scoreless starts this season lead the O’s and are tied for fifth-most in the AL entering today…The last O’s starter with more than six such outings in a season was Kevin Gausman, who logged seven scoreless starts in both 2016 and 2017.
LIMITING THE DAMAGE: Bradish has surrendered one or no home runs in 41 of 42 starts since June 13, 2022…In 33 straight starts from June 13, 2022 to July 26, 2023, he did not allow more than one homer, marking the third-longest active streak among MLB starting pitchers, and the longest by an O’s starter since Ubaldo Jiménez accomplished the feat in 36 straight starts from July 23, 2015 to September 10, 2016.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: In an afternoon matinee today, the Astros will try to salvage a win in the finale of their three-game series with the Orioles, who enter today’s game with the top record in the AL…RHP Cristian Javier will get the start for Houston, which will be his second of the season against the Orioles, with his first resulting in a win on Aug. 9 at BAL (2ER/5IP)…he’ll be opposed by Astros nemesis RHP Kyle Bradish, who tossed 16.2 scoreless innings across two starts against the Astros in 2022.
ABOUT JAVIER: RHP Cristian Javier has had an up and down season, but has pitched the Astros to a 19-9 record in his 28 starts…he opened the season in vintage form, going 7-1 with a 2.90 ERA (26ER/80.2IP) in his first 14 starts…he then had a rough three-start stretch from June 21-July 3, in which he logged a 15.19 ERA (18ER/10.2IP)…since those outings, Javier has gone 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA (33ER/55IP) in 11 starts.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON: With just 10 games remaining on the schedule, the first-place Astros enter today’s game with a slim half-game lead over the Rangers (83-68) and Mariners (83-68)…the Astros have held first place for over two weeks, since ascending to the top of the division after a win over the Rangers on Sept. 5…the Astros have won the AL West in five straight full seasons (2017-19, 2021-22).
FOR THE BIRDS: The Astros and Orioles are playing their final game of the season today, with the Orioles owning the edge so far, three games to two…both teams have tons to play for, with the Astros still vying for a postseason spot and the Orioles look- ing to clinch a division title…if the season ended today, these two teams would rank as the top seeds in the AL postseason.
TODAY’S FIRST PITCH: In honor of one of the Astros Founda- tion’s pillars, domestic violence awareness, Maisha Colter, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse-Texas Chief Executive Officer will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to today’s game.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros lost 9-5 to the Orioles last night, scoring all five of their runs on three home runs…RF Kyle Tucker (2RBI), 3B Alex Bregman (RBI) and C Yainer Diaz (2RBI) did the damage for the Astros on the night…RHP Hunter Brown (5.1IP) started for Houston and was handed the loss after pitching into the 6th.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are 38-39 at home, and have done most of their damage on the road, where they’ve gone 46- 29 (.613), which ranks as the second-best road record in the AL, trailing only the Orioles (50-26)…among AL teams in road games, the Astros lead the AL in runs (436), HR (123), batting average (.268), OBP (.339), SLG (.461) and OPS (.800).
FOLLOW THE LEADER: RF Kyle Tucker leads the American League in RBI on the season with 108, surpassing his previous career high of 107, reached last season…his RBI total is the most by an Astro since 3B Alex Bregman had 112 RBI in 2019… Tucker is looking to join OF Lance Berkman (128 RBI in 2002) and 1B Jeff Bagwell (116 RBI in 1994) as the only players in franchise history to lead their league in RBI.
20/20 TEAMMATES: RF Kyle Tucker (28 HR, 28 SB) and OF Chas McCormick (20 HR, 19 SB) would became teammates with 20/20 seasons should McCormick record one additional stolen base in 2023…only twice in club history have two team- mates posted 20/20 seasons in the same year, in 1997 (Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio) and in 1999 (Bagwell, Carl Everett).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: For just the fifth time in franchise history, the Astros have 10 players on their roster with 10-plus homers for the season (also, 2015, 2017-19)…the 2023 Astros are closing in on tying the franchise record of 11 players with double-digit homers, reached in 2015 and 2017, and need just one homer out of IF/OF Mauricio Dubón to get there.
BARTENDER, YAINER BOMBS!: Rookie C Yainer Diaz has smacked 23 homers on the season, including 14 of those hom- ers hit while playing as a catcher…he has matched the franchise record for homers by a rookie catcher, also reached by C Mitch Meluskey, who hit 14 homers as the Astros backstop in 2000.
Single-Season Homers by an Astros Rookie
- Yordan Alvarez (2019): 27 T3. Carlos Correa (2015): 22
- Yainer Diaz (2023): 23 T3. Jeremy Peña (2022): 22
MOVING ON UP: Last night, 3B Alex Bregman moved into sole possession of eighth place in club history in homers (164), surpassing OF César Cedeño (163)…Bregman is now two homers shy of matching 1B Glenn Davis (166) for seventh on that list.
SEÑOR SCORELESS: RHP Bryan Abreu has not allowed a run in his last 22 appearances (21.2 IP), striking out 24 batters during that span…his streak is the longest active scoreless innings streak in the Majors and the longest by any Astros pitcher this season…this streak ties as the longest of his career, also reached from July 16-Sept. 11, 2022.
STANEK’S ASSIGNMENT: RHP Ryne Stanek made his first injury rehab appearance for Triple A Sugar Land last night, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning on 13 pitches, working around one hit allowed…Stanek is recovering from a sprained right ankle, sustained on Sept. 4 at TEX.
TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP CRISTIAN JAVIER
LAST START – 9/15 AT KC: allowed 3 runs (2 ER) on 5 hits through 5.0 innings while striking out 6 batters to 1 walk…is averaging 11.40 strikeouts-per-nine innings through his first 3 starts of the year (19SO/15IP)…would be his best strikeout-per-nine-innings average in a month this season.
ABOUT JAVIER: the Dominican hurler has made 28 starts in 2023 with the Astros going 19-10 in his starts…the Astros have won 5 of his last 7 starts. went 7-1 with a 2.90 ERA (26ER/80.2IP) in his first 14 starts this season…then had a rough 3-start stretch from June 21-July 3, in which he logged a 15.19 ERA (18ER/10.2IP)… since those 3 outings, has gone 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA (33ER/55IP) in 11 starts. has allowed a .193 (50×259) opponent batting average and a .656 opponent OPS against right-handed hitters this season…lefties have had much more success, hitting .282 (84×298) with an .849 OPS opposite Javier. has been backed by huge run support on the season…ranks 6th in the AL in run support average (5.97), which is also the highest among Astros starters (min. 125 IP).
500 CLUB: reached 500 career strikeouts during his outing on Sept. 3 vs. NYY…reached that number in his 104th career game, making him the 7th player in Astros history to reach 500 strikeouts within their first 104 career appearances (all coming with the Astros). vs. BAL: will be making his 2nd start vs. the Orioles this season and his 5th total appearance vs. them in his career. allowed 2 runs on 4 hits through 5.0 innings while striking out 3 batters to pick up the win in an 8-2 victory at Camden Yards on Aug. 9. will be his 3rd career start vs. the Orioles, with his first 3 appearances vs. them coming in relief…has logged a 1.64 ERA (2ER/11IP) and a 0.73 WHIP in his 2 starts vs. BAL.
LEAGUE LEADERBOARD: has pitched primarily as a starter over the last 2 seasons for the Astros (2022-23)…among qualifying AL pitchers over that span, ranks 6th in opponent average (.206) and 8th in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.13).
INVISIBALL: has held opponents to a .200 average (326×1634) throughout his MLB career… it’s 2nd-lowest opponent’s batting average among qualified AL pitchers since entering the league in 2020, just behind Shohei Ohtani (.199).
HOME SWEET HOME: has fared well when pitching at Minute Maid Park throughout his career, going 17-8 with a 2.89 ERA (73ER/227IP) in 53 career home games (34 starts)…since his debut in 2020, his 2.89 ERA at home ranks 4th in the AL. has recorded a 3.86 ERA (27ER/63IP) at home this season compared to a 5.40 ERA (50 ER/83.1IP) on the road. his 2.89 career ERA at Minute Maid Park ranks 5th in the ballpark’s history (min. 200 IP)…Roger Clemens ranks 1st with a 2.55 ERA (89ER/313.2IP).
