CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• Reds batters are slashing .302/.357/.460 with 11 runs scored after the seventh inning…scored 9 of those 11 runs on this road trip.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 2 (0-1) of 3-game series vs Mitch George’s Braves and Game 5 (1-3) of the Reds’ first road trip of the season, a 7-day, 6-game jaunt that included a rainout followed by a 2-1 series loss at Phi.
• Following this series the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 7-game homestand vs the Phillies (4g) and Rays (3g), who will play in Cincinnati for a second straight year (3-0 Reds sweep from 7/8-7/10).
• The Reds opened this season with a 3-2 homestand vs the Pirates (2-1) and Cubs (1-1, 1ppd).
SERIES NOTES
• The Reds are 25-24 vs Atl in the last 49 regular season games, including 3-4 in 2022, and went 4-2-1 in the previous 7 season series.
• The Reds went 2-1-2 in their previous 5 regular season series at SunTrust/Truist Park, including a 5-3 win on 8/18/17 in their inaugural game at the new ballpark.
• The Reds also suffered a 2-game series sweep loss at Truist in the 2020 Wild Card Series.
• The 7-6 loss in the second game of the 2022 season, at Truist Park, was the Reds’ 1,000th loss to the Braves since 1900.
• From 1997-2016 the Reds went 27-42 at Turner Field and didn’t win a series at that park after 9/4-9/6, 2009 (0-3-4 in 7 series, 8-14 in 22 games).
PHILLIES UP NEXT, AGAIN…
• The Reds and Phillies will meet for the second consecutive weekend, this time at Great American Ball Park…the Reds are 34-40 all-time vs Phi at GABP, including 1-2 last season.
• With a minimum of 50 games played, the Reds’ .328 winning percentage at Phi’s Citizens Bank Park (21-43) is their lowest at any road ballpark.
…FOLLOWED BY THE RAYS
• The Reds are 13-5 all-time vs TB, including 7-2 in Cincinnati.
• Overall the Reds won 4 of the previous 6 series vs the Rays, including 3-game series sweeps in June 2003 at TB, June 2005 at Great
American Ball Park and July 2022 at GABP.
• Dating back to the 2014 season, the Reds have won the last 4 games vs TB at GABP, including last season’s 3-0 series sweep here in July.
• The Rays last won in Cincinnati on 4/12/14 (1-0 win).
REHABBING
• 1B Joey Votto is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (7g, 6gs at 1B, 1gs at DH, 4-28, .143, 1 2b, solo HR, 3rbi, 3bb, 17k)…began his rehab on 4/1 at Nashville and hit a solo HR off Caleb Boushley on the first pitch he was thrown… on 8/19/22 had surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.
• IF/OF Nick Senzel is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (5g, 2gs in CF, 2gs at 3B, 1gs at DH, 5-17, .294, 2 2b, 2rbi, 1sb, 4bb, 5k, 1hbp, .867ops)…on 11/14/22 had surgery to repair a sesamoid fracture in his left great toe.
• RHP Tony Santillan is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment (2g, 2ip, 1bb, 3k)…threw a perfect seventh inning in Fri’s 5-3 loss vs Indianapolis (1ip, 1k, 11 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 1.0 inning tonight at Toledo…is recovering from a low back Pars stress fracture.
• RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow flexor strain) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment…started and threw 4.0 hitless innings in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (2bb, 4k, 14bf, 61 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 5.0 innings on Fri at Tol.
• RHP Lucas Sims (low back spasms) is with Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment…threw a scoreless fifth inning in Sun’s 8-1 loss vs Indianapolis (1h, 0bb, 1k, 4bf, 12 pitches)…is scheduled to pitch 1.0 inning tomorrow at Toledo.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #85 Luis Cessa, RHP
• Last name is pronounced SESS-uh.
• Tonight is making his second appearance and start of the season…will be his ninth appearance and first career start vs the Braves.
• In his season debut on Tue vs Cubs, left with a 3-1 lead but was charged with a second run scored off Ian Gibaut…became the victim of a blown save when the Cubs took an 8-3 lead with 6 runs in the top of the seventh inning.
• Made his fifth Opening Day roster (2016, 2019, 2021 for NYY and 2022, 2023 for Cin).
• In 2022, in his second season with the Reds went 1-3, 4.30 in a career-high 10 starts and 3-1, 4.91 in 36 relief apps.
• In August 2022 joined and remained in the rotation after the Reds lost to trade or injury starting pitchers RHP Luis Castillo (to the Mariners), RHP Tyler Mahle (to the Twins), RHP Robert Dugger (right shoulder pain), RHP Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain), RHP Graham Ashcraft (right biceps soreness), RHP T.J. Zeuch (back soreness), RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder tightness) and LHP Mike Minor (left shoulder soreness).
• Beginning 8/22 at Phi made his last 9 apps of the 2022 season as a starter (1-3, 3.77, .226baa).
• Between games of the day/night doubleheader vs Pit on 7/7/22 went on the 15-day injured list with a left inter-costalis muscle strain…missed 20 games (13-7) until he was reinstated on 8/2, after RHP Tyler Mahle was traded to the Twins.
• After he came off the 15-day IL on 8/2, posted a 3.26 ERA (.211baa) in his last 15 apps and 9 starts of the season.
• During 2023 spring training made 1 appearance for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
• Pitched the sixth and seventh innings of Mexico’s 10-inning, 5-4 loss vs Colombia in Arizona Pool C (2ip, 2h, 1er, 0bb, 1k, 25 pitches).
• Returned to the Reds after Mexico’s 5-4 quarterfinal win vs Puerto Rico and finished the spring with 1 “A” game appearance, started and received no decision in the 4-3 loss at Mil (3ip, 2h, 2er, 1bb, 2k).
• Is the only player, manager or coach in Reds history to wear uniform #85.
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Reds tonight continue a three-game series with the second of six scheduled meetings between the two teams this season… The teams will play again, June 23-25, for three games at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
• The Braves beat the Reds, 5-4, in 10 innings last night to win the first game of the series.
• Atlanta has gone 4-3 against Cincinnati in each of the past two seasons…Prior to 2021, Atlanta had not won the season set with Cincinnati since going 5-2 in 2014…From 2015-2019, the Braves went 15-19 (.441) against Cincinnati.
• The Braves are 9-9 against the Reds here at Truist Park since the facility opened in 2017, and have won just one of the five series here between the clubs…The two teams split four games in 2022 and 2019, while the Reds won three-game sets in 2017 and 2018…Neither club has swept the other here.
• From 2017 through 2022, the two teams went 17-17 against each other in 34 total games… Cincinnati outscored Atlanta by just one run, 159-
158, in those games.
• RH Kyle Wright is set for his first start of the season, and the second of his career against Cincinnati…The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander also faced the Reds in his season debut a year ago, April 9 here at Truist Park, and pitched 6.0 shutout innings to earn the win…In 27 career appearances here at Truist Park, Wright is 13-5 with a 3.71 ERA (56 ER/136.0 IP).
• RH Luis Cessa has made eight career appearances against Atlanta, all in relief, and has compiled a 4.82 ERA (5 ER/9.1 IP) without a decision… The native of Cordoba, Mexico is in his third season with Cincinnati, and pitched 5.1 innings of two-run baseball in his season debut, April 4 vs. the Cubs.
WIN: Atlanta beat Cincinnati, 5-4, in 10 innings last night to snap a three-game losing streak and win the first game of the series…The game was the Braves’ first extra-inning affair of the season.
• The Braves went 6-7 in extra-innings last season, and from 2020 through 2022, when MLB began placing a runner on second base to start extra
innings, Atlanta’s 13-19 (.406) record in extras ranked 27th in baseball.
• Atlanta’s win stopped a three-game losing streak for the Braves, matching the club’s longest from last season…The Braves have yet to lose four straight games since September 14-18 of 2021.
• The Braves plated the first run of the game last night in the sixth, and moved to 7-0 when scoring first this season…Atlanta’s seven such wins are most in the National League, and trail just Tampa Bay (9 wins) for most in baseball.
• Atlanta is one of just four teams in baseball this season to win every game in which it has led at any point…Milwaukee, Texas and Tampa Bay are also undefeated in such games.
KYLE WRIGHT: The Braves today returned RHP Kyle Wright from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list…LHP Dylan Dodd was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.
• Wright opened the season on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation…He pitched his first full major league season last year and went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA (64 ER/180.1 IP)…His 21 wins were most in the majors.
• He became the first Braves pitcher to lead the N.L. outright in wins since 2003, when Russ Ortiz paced the league with 21, and the first Atlanta pitcher to lead the majors in wins since Tom Glavine in 2000… Glavine also had 21 that season.
• Wright had three more wins on the season than any other pitcher in baseball…Houston’s Justin Verlander finished second with 18.
• Atlanta went 24-6 in Wright’s starts last season… That was tied for the most such team wins in a start by one pitcher last season…The Yankees went 24-8 when Jameson Taillon started.
• The Braves lost three consecutive games started by Wright, May 3 to May 15…Since that date, Atlanta went 20-3 in Wright’s 23 starts, and did not lose back-to-back games in which he pitched….The Braves have won each of his last nine turns.
FIRST INNING: Ronald Acuña Jr. singled leading off the first inning last night, his seventh such hit of the season…Acuña Jr.’s seven first-inning hits are most in the majors.
• Atlanta has won each of the seven games in which Acuña Jr. collects a hit in the first inning.
• Acuña Jr. is batting .700/.727/1.100 in the first inning this season, and his 1.827 OPS in the inning in highest in baseball (min. 10 plate appearances)… Teammate Austin Riley ranks second with a 1.768 OPS in the first.
• Since 2000, the most first-inning hits by a Braves player is 46, first set by Edgar Renteria in 2006, and then matched by Michael Bourn (2012) and Freddie Freeman (2018)… Acuña Jr. is on pace for 103 hits in the first this season.
VS. THE CENTRAL: Atlanta moved to 4-0 against the NL Central this season with last night’s win…The Braves finished 21-12 (.636) against the Central last season after they went 22-12 (.647) against the division in 2021.
• Atlanta swept St. Louis in three games last week.
• That 22-12 record last season was the best by any National League team against the Central.
• Since 2018, when the Braves started a string of five consecutive division titles, Atlanta is 85-51 (.625) against the NL Central, tied for the best record in the majors…Oakland is 10-6 (.625) to match Atlanta’s percentage.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #30 Kyle Wright RHP
Today’s Game
• Wright is set for his first start of the season, and the second of his career against Cincinnati…He also faced the Reds in his season debut a year ago, April 9 here at Truist Park, and pitched 6.0 shutout innings to earn the win.
• In 27 career appearances here at Truist Park, Wright is 13-5 with a 3.71 ERA (56 ER/136.0 IP).
• The Braves today returned RHP Kyle Wright from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list…LHP Dylan Dodd was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.
• Wright opened the season on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation…He pitched his first full major league season last year and went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA (64 ER/180.1 IP)…His 21 wins were most in the majors.
• He became the first Braves pitcher to lead the N.L. outright in wins since 2003, when Russ Ortiz paced the league with 21, and the first Atlanta pitcher to lead the majors in wins since Tom Glavine in 2000…Glavine also had 21 that season.
• Wright had three more wins on the season than any other pitcher in baseball… Houston’s Justin Verlander finished second with 18.
• Atlanta went 24-6 in Wright’s starts last season…That was tied for the most such team wins in a start by one pitcher last season…The Yankees went 24-8 when Jameson Taillon started.
• The Braves lost three consecutive games started by Wright, May 3 to May 15…Since that date, Atlanta went 20-3 in Wright’s 23 starts, and did not lose back-to-back games in which he pitches….The Braves have won each of his last nine turns.
2022 Recap
• N.L. Pitching Ranks: Wins (1st, 21), K/9.0 IP (9th, 8.648)
• Pitched his first full major league season and went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA (64 ER/180.1 IP)…Lead the majors in wins.
• He is just the seventh Braves pitcher to win 20 games in a season since the club moved to Atlanta in 1966, and the first since Ortiz in 2003…Tom Glavine (‘91, ‘92, ‘93, ‘98, ‘00), Phil Niekro (‘69, ‘74, ‘79), John Smoltz (‘96), Ortiz (‘03), Greg Maddux (‘93) and Denny Neagle (‘97) all reached the mark for the franchise.
• Wright had two career victories entering this season…The last pitcher with fewer career victories before a 20-win season was Cincinnati’s Tom Browning, who went 20-9 in 1985 after entering the year 1-0 in three career starts.
• Atlanta went 24-6 in Wright’s starts last season…That is tied for the most such team wins in a start by one pitcher on the year…The Yankees went 24-8 when Jameson Taillon starts.
• He opened his career with losses in each of his first seven career decisions, going 0-7 with a 7.86 ERA (39 ER/44.2 IP) over 16 total appearances… Atlanta was just 2-14 in his games.
• Since his first career win in his 17th appearance, he is 23-6 with a 3.33 ERA, and Atlanta is 28-7 in his 35 total games, all starts.
• Ended the season on a career-best eight-game winning streak, dating to August 10…Went 8-0 with a 3.14 ERA (18 ER/51.2 IP) over his final nine turns, while Atlanta won all nine.
• In the only game he did not win, September 6 at Oakland, he allowed a career-most eight runs in 4.0 innings…In his eight wins during the run, he pitched to a 1.90 ERA (10 ER/47.1 IP).
• Wright’s eight-game winning streak was the longest active run in the National League, and the second longest in majors…Only Cleveland’s Cal Quantrill, who won his last 11 decisions, has a longer run.
• In 17 starts at Truist Park this year, Wright went 13-2 with a 2.86 ERA (33
ER/103.2 IP).
• Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, just five pitchers have won as many home starts for the club in a single season…Phil Niekro won 14 in 1969 to set the single-season record that Russ Ortiz later matched in 2003, and John Smoltz (1996) and Tom Glavine (1992, 1993) both won 13 at home.
• Wright’s 13 wins in his home park this season are easily most in the majors, and just one other pitcher, Houston’s Luis Garcia, even won double-digits… Garcia had 11 wins at Minute Maid Park.
Career Recap
• Was selected by Atlanta with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft…Was the first player from that draft class to appear in the majors.
• Entered 2020 ranked by MLB.com as Atlanta’s No. 4 prospect, and as the No. 51 prospect in baseball.
• Is 29-19 with a 3.47 ERA (156 ER/404.1 IP) over 81 career minor league games, including 78 starts.
