BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
SOMETHING IN THE ORANGE: The O’s have won four of their last five games, 12 of 18, 14 of 22, 18 of 27, 21 of 31, 24 of 36, and 29 of 44…The Birds have won or split their last nine series, 10 of 13 series, and 13 of 17 series…At 95-57 (.625), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Birds are 47-25 (.653) 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 (.671, 47-23)…The team is 157-106 (.597) since June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-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 seven. The team has won at least 95 of the first 152 games to begin a season for the fifth time in franchise history (since 1954), joining 1979 (99-53), 1971 (95-57), 1970 (98-54), and 1969 (105-47).
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).
STATING HIS CASE: Gunnar Henderson leads MLB rookies with 6.1 bWAR, 27 home runs, and 63 extra-base hits, is tied for the lead among MLB rookies with nine triples, and leads AL rookies with 4.6 fWAR, 94 runs, 80 RBI, and 263 total bases, while ranking among AL rookie leaders in game-winning RBI (T-1st, 9), hits (2nd, 137), doubles (2nd, 27), and walks (4th, 51)…According to STATS, he leads AL rookies with a .500 slugging percentage while ranking among qualified AL rookies in OPS (2nd, .828) and on-base percentage (3rd, .328). His 6.1 bWAR and .500 slugging percentage would be the best single-season marks by a rookie in O’s history; Henderson ranks among rookie leaders in team history in several offensive categories (see box at right). Henderson leads the team with 94 runs scored this season, the most in a rookie season in club history; only three previous rookies have led the O’s in runs – Cal Ripken, Jr. (1982, 90), Willie Tasby (1959, 69), and Tito Francona (1956, 62). He’s the third rookie in O’s history to record 25+ doubles and 25+ home runs, joining Cal Ripken, Jr. (1982) and Eddie Murray (1977), who both won AL Rookie of the Year; Henderson’s 27 homers are tied with Murray for the third-most by a rookie in a season in O’s history, behind only Ripken, Jr. (28) and Ryan Mountcastle (33 in 2021). He is one stolen base shy of becoming the first rookie in team history with 20+ doubles, 5+ triples, 20+ homers, and 10+ stolen bases; he would be the 20th rookie in MLB history with such a stat line, joining Arizona’s Corbin Carroll this year, and the first in the AL since Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. last season. He leads the O’s with 12 Defensive Runs Saved, per Sports Info Solutions; nine of those are at shortstop, seventh in MLB despite playing over 300 fewer innings at the position than anyone ahead of him. Henderson leads MLB with six runner runs, a metric designed to evaluate the performance of runners taking extra bases, per Statcast.
STRIKE A POSE: Orioles pitching has struck out 1,347 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 769 batters this year, surpassing the 1968 rotation (747) for the most in a single season in team history. Relievers have fanned 578 hitters in 2023, fourth-most in one year in O’s history; the 2021 club holds the record with 637 punchouts from relievers.
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: The Orioles began their final road trip of the season on Monday in Houston…After winning two of three games against the Astros this week, Baltimore wraps up the regular season road schedule with a four-game set in Cleveland today through Sunday. Baltimore is 50-27 (.649) away from Camden Yards this season, the best road record in MLB; the .649 road winning percentage would be the best in team history (since 1954) and the sixth-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, Minnesota (.679, 55-26) in 2019, and Cleveland and Houston (.654, 53-28) in 2017. 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 428 runs on the road this year, second-most in the AL and fourth-most in MLB; the 5.56 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 THE GUARDIANS: The O’s and Guardians complete their season series against each other with four games at Progressive Field this weekend…Baltimore lost two of three against Cleveland at Oriole Park from May 28-31…Since then, the Orioles are 60-36 (.625), the best record in the AL and third-best in MLB, while the Guardians are 47-51 (.480)…The Birds went 3-3 against Cleveland in 2022, with each team winning two of three on the road.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman ranks fifth in the AL with 237 times on base (150 H, 85 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 most by a primary catcher in O’s history (since 1954), surpassing the 236 by Javy López in 2004…The 85 walks are the second-most by an O’s catcher behind Mickey Tettleton (106 in 1990).
THE SKIPPER: Brandon Hyde is set to manage his 700th career game and 699th with the Orioles tonight…Four previous O’s managers have managed 700 games – Earl Weaver (2,541), Buck Showalter (1,353), Paul Richards (1,063), and Hank Bauer (726)…Hyde won his 300th game with the O’s on September 4…He won AL Manager of the Year by The Sporting News, an award voted on by fellow AL managers, was named Baseball America MLB Manager of the Year, and finished second in the BBWAA AL Manager of the Year voting in 2022.
STARTING PITCHER – #30 GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his 22nd start of the season, 11th on the road, and first career start against the Guardians tonight…Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17, his second stint with the O’s…Made his MLB debut on April 5 at Texas, becoming the first Oriole to make his debut this season, 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: Earned his sixth win of the campaign on September 16 vs. Tampa Bay… Worked a career-high 8.0 scoreless innings on five hits and seven strikeouts…Fanned Curtis Mead on a 100.1 mph fastball in the second inning, the second-fastest strikeout pitch by an O’s starter in the Statcast era (since 2015); he owns the top four spots and 10 of the 11 fastest punchout pitches in this period…His 117 strikeouts this season are the 10th-most by an O’s rookie and most since John Means fanned 121 batters in 2019…Has surrendered three earned runs-or-fewer in 10 of his last 11 outings since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17…Threw 95 pitches, 72 strikes.
CAREER AGAINST THE GUARDIANS AND AL CENTRAL: Making his first career start against the Guardians and sixth career start against the AL Central tonight…Earned the win in his last outing against the AL Central on August 28 vs. Chicago-AL…Tossed 6.0 scoreless innings on one hit and one walk with six strikeouts…The one hit allowed marked a career-low in a game…Threw 96 pitches, 62 strikes…Sports a 2-0 record with a 3.65 ERA (10 ER/24.2 IP) in five career outings against the AL Central.
CRAZY EIGHTS: Rodriguez tossed a career-high 8.0 scoreless inningsa in his last outing on September 16 at Tampa Bay, tied for the longest outing by an Oriole this season (also: Gibson, 8/24 vs. TOR)…At 23 years, 304 days old, he became the youngest O’s starter to work 8.0 scoreless frames since Zack Britton (23-141) tossed a shutout on May 12, 2011 vs. Seattle, and the youngest rookie right-hander to do so since Brad Bergesen (23-257) worked 8.0 scoreless frames on June 9, 2009 vs. Seattle.
HITTING HIS STRIDE: Since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on July 17, Rodriguez has gone 4-2 with a 2.59 ERA (19 ER/66.0 IP), a 1.06 WHIP, and seven quality starts in 11 MLB outings…During this span, he ranks among qualified AL starting pitchers in opponent slugging percentage (1st, .307), opponent OPS (3rd, .585), ERA (3rd), H/9 (5th, 7.09), and opponent batting average (7th, .218).
CLUB 100: Rodriguez has thrown 22 pitches of at least 100 mph this season, the most by an O’s starter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008); no other Orioles starting pitcher has thrown more than one such pitch, per Baseball Savant…The 22 pitches are also the fourth-most among MLB starting pitchers this season.
THROWING GAS: Rodriguez threw the fastest strikeout pitch by an O’s starter in the Statcast era (since 2015) on July 28 vs. New York-AL, fanning Anthony Rizzo on a 100.2 mph fastball…Now owns each of the 34 fastest strikeout pitches by Orioles starters this season…His strikeout of Rizzo was tied for the eighth-fastest punchout pitch among MLB rookie starters this season…Owns the four top spots and 10 of the 11 fastest punchout pitches by O’s starters in the Statcast era (since 2015).
HIGH QUALITY: Rodriguez posted five straight quality starts from August 8 to September 4, the longest such streak by an O’s rookie since Brad Bergesen’s seven-gamer from June 26 to July 30, 2009…Notched 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 allowed two earned runs-or- fewer in 13 of his first 21 career Major League starts, including in eight of his last 10 outings.
PACKING A PUNCH: Rodriguez’s 117 strikeouts through his first 21 career Major League starts are the most by an O’s hurler in that span franchise history (since 1954)…Collected his 100th career punchout in his 19th career start on September 4 at Los Angeles-AL, becoming the second-fastest Oriole by appearances to reach the mark in team history (since 1954) behind Tom Phoebus (18 G, 1966-67)…His 9.46 K/9 would be the best by a rookie in team history (since 1954), ahead of Dylan Bundy’s 8.53 mark in 2016 (min. 100.0 IP)…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.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:
No team release available.
