MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (18-23) at Colorado Rockies (18-24)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

RED HOTS

• Today the Reds recalled from Louisville LHP Brandon Williamson (#55) and optioned to Louisville RHP Alan Busenitz (BOOZ-nits)…Williamson will start tonight for the Reds in his Major League debut.
• Reds relievers are tied for the Major League lead in bullpen wins (w/ Ari, Bal, Mia) while leading the National League in both innings pitched (166.2) and bullpen ERA (3.67).

TONIGHT’S GAME

• Is Game 2 (0-1) of a 3-game series vs Chase Anderson’s Rockies and Game 5 (2-2) of a 6-game road trip that included a 2-1 series win at Mia’s loanDepot park.
• Following this series the Redlegs return home to Great American Ball Park for 7 games vs the New York Yankees (3g) and Cardinals (4g)…on Fri vs NYY, the Reds will debut their new City Connect uniforms.

SERIES NOTES

• Last season the Rockies earned the 4-2 series win, including their first series sweep of the Reds since September 2010.
• Beginning in 2002 and with a minimum of 40 games, the Reds’ .333 winning percentage at Coors Field (22-44) is the second-lowest at any current road ballpark in that span (Phi’s Citizens Bank Park, 21-43, .328).
• The Reds’ 3-1 series win from 5/30-6/2, 2016 is their only series win at Coors Field since 8/27-8/29, 2012.

NEW YORK YANKEES UP NEXT…

• The Reds and New York Yankees this weekend at Great American Ball Park will meet for the first time since a 2-1 Reds series win last July at
  Yankee Stadium…will be Cin’s first ever home weekend series vs NYY.
• Will be former Red Aaron Boone’s first visit to GABP as Yankees manager.
• The Redlegs are 10-12 all-time vs NYY, including 4-4 at Great American Ball Park, and 4-3 in 7 season series.
• During the New York Yankees’ visit to Cincinnati on 6/3/2003, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter was named the team’s 11th captain.
• The teams met in 3 World Series, including New York Yankees wins in 1939 (4-0) and 1961 (4-1) and the Big Red Machine’s 4-0 sweep in 1976.
• Before the interleague schedule expanded this season to include games vs all 15 American League teams, from 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-
  247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams (0-2 vs Cle, 2-0 at Cle, 1-2 at Tor, 1-1 at Bos, 3-0 vs TB, 2-1 at NYY, 2-1 vs Bal, 1-1 vs Bos)…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vsAL teams (.381).

…FOLLOWED BY THE CARDINALS

• In 2022, the Cardinals won 12 of the 19 games and 5 of the 6 series.
• From 7/15-7/24 and surrounding the 2022 All-Star break, the Reds and Cardinals played 5 straight games for the first time since 9/7-9/11, 1962.
• From 9/15-9/18, 2022 at Busch Stadium, the Reds and Cardinals faced off in a 5-game series (3-2 Cardinals series win) for the first time since 7/25-7/27, 1958 (3-2 Reds series win).
• The Cardinals’ .506 winning percentage at Great American Ball Park
  (85-83) is the highest among NL Central Division opponents and seventh-highest of any National League team.

Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP

• Tonight will become the fourth Reds player this season to make his Major League debut (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain) and the seventh rookie to appear in a game.
• Entered the season rated by Baseball America the 10th-best prospect in the organization.
• Began the season at Class AAA Louisville (8gs, 2-4, 6.62, 34ip, 44h, 20bb, 27k, 7hr, 1.88whip, .310baa).
• Was selected by the Mariners in the second round (59th overall) of the 2019 first-year player draft.
• Was an MiLB.com Mariners Organization All-Star in 2019 and 2021.
• On 3/14/22 was acquired from the Mariners, along with RHP Justin Dunn, OF Jake Fraley and a player to be named, for 3B Eugenio Suárez and OF Jesse Winker.
• On 3/29/22 the Reds completed the trade by acquiring minor league RHP Connor Phillips as the player to be named.
• When acquired by the Reds in March 2022, his curveball was rated by Baseball America the best in the Mariners’ organization.

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY

• The Colorado Rockies continue their six-game homestand today with game two of three against the Cincinnati Reds, their first series facing the NL Central opponent this season.
• The Rockies dropped two of three to Philadelphia to begin the homestand, their first series loss in the month of May … the Rockies had won three-straight series entering this homestand after losing or splitting each of their first seven series of the season, a franchise record.
• The Rockies entered this homestand coming off a 4-2 road trip to New York and Pittsburgh, taking two of three in each stop.
• Following this series and an off-day on Thursday the Rockies will embark on a short three-game road trip to Texas to face the Rangers Friday-Sunday.

MAY FLOWERS

• The Rockies are off to an 9-4 start in May, a .692 winning percentage that is tied for the second-best mark in baseball this month trailing only the Dodgers (11-2, .846) … Colorado went 9-20 in April, their worst record in the month of April in franchise history.
• The Rockies have won 10 of their last 14 and are 12-7 through their last 19 since April 24, a .632 winning percentage that is tied for the second-best mark in the Majors over that span, trailing the Dodgers (15-4, .789) and tied with Arizona and Atlanta.
• Colorado has posted a 3.70 team ERA (168.0 IP, 69 ER) over its last 19 games, the fourth-lowest mark in the NL over that span … Rockies starters have posted a 4.22 ERA (91.2 IP, 43 ER) with seven quality starts over this span after posting five quality starts over the first 23 games of the season.
• Relievers have posted a 3.07 ERA (76.1 IP, 26 ER) with 32 walks and 86 strikeouts since April 24, the seventh-lowest ERA in the Majors … have allowed three home runs, the second-fewest in the Majors over this span.
• Since April 24, Colorado hitters are slashing .270/.330/.427 with 17 home runs while going 52-for-156 (.333) with runners in scoring position which leads the Majors during that span … in the first 23 games of the season through April 23, the Rockies slashed .256/.318/.392 with a .268 average with RISP.

OH, DOYLE RULES

• Last night, OF Brenton Doyle connected on two home runs, his third and fourth of the season, while going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one double and three RBI … third time this season a Rockie has had a two-home run game (last: Jurickson Profar, May 9 at Pittsburgh). • Became the fourth Rockie all-time to hit two home runs from the ninth spot in the order (last: Brian Serven, May 21, 2022 in game two of a doubleheader) … 10 total bases and three extra-base hits the most in franchise history from the ninth-spot in the order in Rockies history.
• His 10 total bases are tied for fourth-most by a Rockies rookie in team history and most since Ben Paulsen’s 12 on July 26, 2015 vs. Cincinnati.
• Doyle’s four home runs are tied for fifth-most among NL rookies while his six stolen bases are sixth-most among all rookies.
• Is the only Rockie in franchise history to record four home runs and six stolen through his first 17 career games.

THROW THE BALL

• Jake Bird leads all NL relievers with 27.0 innings and is tied for second in the NL with 28 strikeouts out of the bullpen … has posted a 0.84 ERA (21.1 IP, 2 ER) with seven walks and 24 strikeouts over his last 14 appearances since April 11.
• Brent Suter’s 26.2 innings of relief are third in the Majors and second in the NL behind Bird … his 1.01 ERA (26.2 IP, 3 ER) is the second-lowest in the Majors among relievers with at least 20 innings pitched … it is also the second-lowest through a Rockies pitcher’s first 17 games (min. 17 IP) with the club, trailing Chuck McElroy’s 0.53 ERA in 1998.

CATCH THE BALL

• From Opening Day through the end of April, the Rockies’ 21 errors and 20 unearned runs were the most in the National League … since May 1, the Rockies have made four errors, tied for the fifth-fewest in Majors during that span … they have allowed three unearned runs in the month, tied for the third-fewest unearned runs this month in the NL.
• Rockies catchers have thrown out 14 of 34 attempted base stealers throughout the season, the most catcher caught stealings in the Majors and the best caught stealing percentage (47.4).

BLACK, WHITE & RED ALL OVER

• The Rockies have won four-straight at home against the Reds, having swept Cincinnati April 29-May 1, 2022 at Coors Field … have won five of their last seven against the Reds overall … the Rockies are 69-44 overall against Cincinnati in Denver, winning 10 of the last 14 meetings at Coors Field since 2018.
• Through 95 career games against the Reds, OF Kris Bryant is slashing .304/.402/.564 with 26 doubles, 23 home runs and 63 RBI, his most home runs and RBI against any single opponent in his career … has three multi-homer games against the Reds including a three-homer game on June 27, 2016 in Cincinnati.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #45 CHASE ANDERSON RHP
HEADING OUT WEST

• Chase Anderson will make his first start in a Rockies uniform today after being claimed off of waivers from Tampa Bay on May 12.
• Designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on May 10 … was acquired by Tampa Bay via trade with Cincinnati in exchange for cash considerations
  on May 3.
• Was signed by the Reds to a Minor League contract on Feb. 20 after spending the 2022 season with the club.

RAYS OF SUNSHINE

• Made two appearances for Tampa Bay this season, both in relief after being acquired from Cincinnati on May 3.
• He totaled five innings without allowing a run … allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out two.
• Tossed three scoreless innings on May 3 vs. Pittsburgh, garnering his first career save in an 8-1 Rays win.
• Latest appearance came on May 9 at Baltimore … tossed two scoreless innings with one walk and no hits.

HISTORY AT A MILE HIGH

• Over his 10-year career he has made six starts at Coors Field, going 2-3 with a 7.67 ERA (29.1 IP, 25 ER), 13 walks and 22 strikeouts …
  has allowed 37 hits in his 29.2 innings at Coors Field (.322 average), including five home runs.
• Last start in Colorado came on April 25, 2021 as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies … suffered the loss in the 12-2 contest after allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings … allowed all six runs in the fourth inning.

JOURNEYMAN

• The Rockies are Anderson’s seventh club in his MLB career.
• Previously made stops with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-15), Milwaukee Brewers (2016-19), Toronto Blue Jays (2020), Philadelphia Phillies (2021), Cincinnati Reds (2022), and Tampa Bay Rays (2023).

FAMILIAR FACES

• Has made 16 career appearances (15 starts) against Cincinnati, going 6-3 with a 3.72 ERA (82.1 IP, 34 ER).
• Lone relief appearance was also his most recent appearance against the Reds, May 31, 2021 at Cincinnati as a member of the Phillies … last started against Cincinnati in 2019.