CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
STREAKING
The Reds have won a season-high 7 straight games, 10 of their last 12 games and beginning 4/24 won or tied 11 of their last 16 series (10-5-1), including this one…won their last 4 series (2-1 vs LAD, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 2-0 at Hou)…won their last 5 road series (3-0 at Cubs, 2-1 at Bos, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 2-0 at Hou)…have won 5 straight road series for the first time since since 5/29-6/29, 2014 (3-1 at Ari, 2-1 at Mil, 2-1 at Pit, 2-1 at Cubs, 4-0 at SF).
KOMEBACK KIDS
The Reds leads the National League with 22 come-from-behind wins, just 2 comeback wins behind the Angels and Orioles…the Reds have won 11 games in their final at bat.
TRANSACTIONS
- The Reds today reinstated from the 10-day injured list OF Jake Fraley (right wrist contusion) and optioned to Louisville OF TJ Hopkins.
- Fraley suffered the injury on 6/6 vs LAD, when he was hit by a Caleb Ferguson pitch, and went on the injured list 4 days later.
- Last night the Reds traded to the Astros RHP Joel Kuhnel for cash considerations…Kuhnel was designated for assignment Tuesday, when the Reds promoted RHP Daniel Duarte…Kuhnel made 2 apps for the Reds this season.
RED HOTS
- The Reds’ season-high 7-game winning streak is the longest active winning streak in the Major Leagues and their longest since a 7-game winning streak from 6/17-6/24, 2018…haven’t won more than 7 consecutive games since a 10-game winning streak from 7/19-7/29, 2012.
- Reds baserunners in 60 attempts have scored 59 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
- Reds batters ranks second in the Major Leagues with 75 stolen bases (TB 95), their highest total since 2019 (80sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all last season…have been successful on 35 of their last 38 attempts, including 12 of their last 13 steal attempts.
- 9 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher)…12 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
- The starting time for the Reds’ game on Fri, 6/30 vs SD has been changed to 5:10 p.m. ET (from 7:10) to help alleviate the congestion anticipated from the crowd of approximately 100,000 expected to attend events on the riverfront, including a sold-out concert by superstar entertainer Taylor Swift.
TODAY’S GAME
- Is Game 3 (2-0) of a 3-game series vs Ryan Posner’s Astros and Game 9 (7-1) of a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (2-0).
- With a 3-0 series win at KC, the Reds are coming off their third series sweep of the season (3-0 vs Tex, 4/24-4/26 & 3-0 at Cubs, 5/26-5/28) and their second 3-game series sweep of the Royals (1999).
- Following this afternoon’s game the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Rockies (3g) and Braves (3g)…went 3-4 on their most recent homestand (1-3 vs Mil, 2-1 vs LAD).
SERIES NOTES
- The Reds have won 47 of the last 66 games vs the Astros and 18 of the last 21 series, including this one.
- The Reds are trying to sweep the Astros for the second consecutive series and for the third time in the last 4 meetings (2013, 2019).
- The Reds and Astros are meeting for the fourth time since Houston joined the American League in 2013.
- The teams are playing at Minute Maid Park for the first time since an Astros 2-1 series win here in June 2016.
- The Reds went 10-5 in the Astros’ final National League season in 2012 and 41-20 in Hou’s last 4 seasons in the NL.
- In June 2019 the Astros made their only visit to Great American Ball Park as an American League team, a 3-0 series sweep by the Reds.
THE ONLY REDS
- LHP Andrew Abbott is the first Major League pitcher since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, to begin his career with 3 consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings…over his first 3 starts has begun his Major League career with 17.2 scoreless innings, a new club record since 1893…in Fri’s 2-1 win at Hou, he broke that team record held by Wayne Simpson, who in 1970 began his Major League career with 15.0 scoreless innings…@EliasSports.
- In Mon’s 10-inning, 5-4 win at KC, RHP Ricky Karcher became the only Reds pitcher since 1969, when the save became an official statistic, to record a save in his Major League debut…was the third pitcher in the Major Leagues this season to record a save in his Major League debut, joining TB’s Braden Bristo (4/13 vs Bos) and Min’s Brent Headrick (4/19 at Bos)…SF’s Keaton Winn joined that short list on 6/13 at StL
Today’s Pitcher – #34 Luke Weaver, RHP
- This afternoon is making his second career appearance and start vs the Astros, his second at Minute Maid Park.
- In the 4-3 loss on 4/20 at Pit, came off the 15-day injured list to make his 2023 season and Reds debuts…in the first inning allowed all 4 runs on 3 hits, including 2-out, back-to-back home runs by Connor Joe (3-run) and Jack Suwinski (solo)…in his last 5.0 innings faced only 16 batters and retired his last 10 batters…Joe’s 3-run HR snapped Weaver’s career-high 29.0-inning homerless streak (24g) dating back to his only start of 2022 (6/18/22 vs Min, Gary Sánchez).
- On 3/8, left his third spring training appearance with right forearm tightness…didn’t pitch in another Cactus League “A” game for the Reds.
- On Opening Day went on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow flexor strain, snapping his 5-season streak on an active Opening Day roster (Cardinals 2018, Diamondbacks 2019-2022).
- On 4/9 and 4/14 made 2 rehabilitation apps with Louisville (0-0, 3.00, 9ip, 3h, 3er, 4bb, 9k, 1hr, 0.78whip, .107baa).
- On 1/13/23 was signed to a 1-year contract through the 2023 season.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Astros will try to stave off a sweep today in the finale of their three-game set against their former NL Central rival, the Cincinnati Reds…rookie RHP Ronel Blanco will get the start for Houston, his third on the season, opposite RHP Luke Weaver and the Reds…the Astros have faced Weaver once before, when he pitched for the D-backs on Sept. 19, 2020 in Houston (3ER/5.1IP).
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: Following yesterday’s game, the Astros optioned RHP Brandon Bielak to Triple A Sugar Land. In a corresponding move, RHP Shawn Dubin was recalled from Triple A Sugar Land. Dubin will wear No. 66.
ABOUT BLANCO: RHP Ronel Blanco will be making his third Major League start today and his first since June 7 at TOR (2ER/6IP)…Blanco made the Astros Opening Day roster as a reliever this season and made nine appearances before being optioned to Triple A on May 6…at Triple A, he worked to get extended, before being recalled on June 1…since his recall, Blanco has pitched well in his first two Major League starts, going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (4ER/11.1IP)…Blanco’s transition to a starter can be credited to Astros GM Dana Brown, who identified Blanco in Spring Training as a potential starter.
GRINDERS: The Astros are within a streak of playing 26 games in 27 days (since May 26), and are 11-11 within this streak… over the last several weeks, the Astros played on 17 consecutive days (May 26-June 11) and are now within a run of playing on nine consecutive days (June 13-21).
VS. THE REDS: The Astros and Reds have a long history with each other, as the two clubs have played on 850 occasions, the most games played by the Astros against any single opponent… Houston is 401-448-1 in those all-time matchups…prior to this series, the Astros and Reds had not played since the 2019 season, a three-game sweep by the Reds in Cincinnati…the last time the Reds were in Houston was back in 2016, with the Astros winning two of three from June 17-19.
YESTERDAY’S GAME: The Astros lost a 10-3 decision yester- day to the streaking Reds…it was all Cincinnati, as the Reds scored two in the 1st and went on to score in five of the nine innings…2B Jose Altuve (4×4) had the game of the day for the Astros, as he doubled twice and homered in what was his 35th career four-hit game…C Yainer Diaz provided the Astros other homer on the day, a solo shot in the 6th.
LAST NIGHT’S TRADE: After last night’s game, the Astros and Reds completed a trade with Houston acquiring RHP Joel Kuhnel (pronounced COO-null) in exchange for cash considerations…to make room for Kuhnel on the 40-man roster, the Astros transferred RHP Lance McCullers Jr. to the 60-day IL…additionally, Kuhnel was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land.
PITCHING IN: The Astros have the lowest team ERA (3.30) and have allowed the fewest runs (264) in the Majors…the Astros starters rank second in Majors in ERA (3.30), while their bullpen checks in at fourth in the Majors in ERA (3.31).
Lowest Team ERA – MLB Runs Allowed – MLB
- Houston: 3.30 1. Houston: 264
- Tampa Bay: 3.50 2. Tampa Bay: 267
- Minnesota: 3.58 3. Minnesota: 270
INJURY UPDATES: The Astros have been working through several injuries…below are a few updates on their sidelined players:
- RHP Lance McCullers Jr. underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the flexor tendon in his right forearm and remove a bone spur…McCullers will be out for the remainder of the year, but is expected to return at some point during the 2024 season.
- LF Yordan Alvarez has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is expected to be sidelined for four-plus weeks.
- RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) has been throwing on flat ground, but is scheduled to pitch off the mound this homestand…once he begins throwing off the mound, the Astros will have a clearer timeline for his return.
- OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) hit on the field during Astros BP yesterday as he continues to ramp up his baseball activities…his progress over the next two weeks will clear up the timeline for his return.
MISSING PIECE: The Astros are without a huge piece of their lineup in OF Yordan Alvarez, who’s missed the last eight games…Alvarez still ranks tied for third in the Majors with 55 RBI, while ranking second in the AL in OPS (.978), second in SLG (.589) and tied for third in homers (17).
JOSE, JOSE, JOSE, JOSE!: 2B Jose Altuve recorded his 35th career four-hit game yesterday, passing Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio (34g) for the most four-hit games in Astros franchise history…Altuve’s 35 four-hit games are the second-most among active players, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (48g).
ABREU’S REBOUND: 1B José Abreu has rebounded after a tough first couple months in an Astros uniform to post a .300 (18×60) average with four doubles, three homers, 13 RBI and an .845 OPS in 15 games in June…Abreu ranks tied for fourth in the AL in RBI this month and eighth in total bases (31).
TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP RONEL BLANCO
LAST START – 6/7 AT TOR: made the 2nd start of his career and tossed a career-high 6 IP while striking out 5 batters and allowing 2 runs on 3 hits…was his 1st career quality start.
BACK ON THE BUMP: returns to the Astros starting rotation, giving them a 6-man rotation through this turn, and will be making his first appearance since his 6/7 start at Toronto.
STARTING DEBUT: picked up the 1st winning decision of his career in his 1st career start on 6/1 vs. LAA…became the 20th pitcher in Astros history to go 5+ IP while allowing 2-or-less runs in his starting debut…was the 2nd to do so this season, joining JP France (5IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 5SO, 5/6 at SEA).
FROM THE START: is set to make his 3rd career start in the Majors after appearing predominantly as reliever through the first 8 seasons of his professional career… initially moved to the Astros rotation at the beginning of June to form a six-man starting staff with the team amidst a stretch of 17 games in 17 days (5/26- 6/11)…entering the ‘23 season had made just 21 starts at the minor league level, with the last coming in ‘19 and none above the Single A level.
VS CIN: will be making his first career appearance against the Reds.
WHERE IT STARTED: worked as a starter toward the end of Spring Training, making 2 starts out of his 6 appearances and working up to 50 pitches…had a fantastic Spring Training, recording a 0.64 ERA (1ER/14IP) and did not allow a run through his two starts (6.1IP).
WHIFF: has generated a 49.2 percent whiff rate on his slider while in the Majors this season, which he’s thrown 55.4 percent of the time…ranks in the 94th percentile in whiff percentage of MLB pitchers.
WITH THE ‘STROS: has made the Astros’ Opening Day roster in each of the last two seasons, with last year’s appearance serving as his Major League debut… made 7 appearances in ‘22 before spending the majority of the season with Triple A Sugar Land and made 9 appearances in relief this season prior to being optioned to Sugar Land on 5/6…has recorded a 4.55 ERA (15ER/29.2IP) in his MLB career…averaging 10.01 K’s-per-nine-innings throughout his MLB career.
