CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTS
• Reds batters are slashing .296/.354/.493 with 13 runs scored after the seventh inning…scored 11 of those 11 runs on this road trip, including 6 runs in the eighth inning or later in this series.
TONIGHT’S GAME
• Is Game 3 (0-2) of 3-game series vs Jeff Francoeur’s Braves and Game 6 (1-4) 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
• Tonight the Reds will try to avoid their first series sweep loss to the Braves during the regular season since 4/25-4/27, 2014, also here at
Truist Park (3g).
• The Reds suffered a 2-game series sweep loss at Truist in the 2020
Wild Card Series.
• The Reds are 25-25 vs Atl in the last 50 regular season games and, including this one, are 4-3-1 in the last 8 season series.
• Including this one the Reds are 2-2-2 in their last 6 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 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.
• The Reds went 3-14-2 in their 19 previous series vs the Phillies at CBP, their only series wins there in August 2006, May 2017 & August 2021.
• Since May 2014, the Reds have lost 19 of their last 27 games at CBP.
…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 (8g, 7gs at 1B, 1gs at DH, 4-32, .125, 1 2b, solo HR, 4rbi, 3bb, 20k)…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 (6g, 2gs in CF, 1gs in LF, 2gs at 3B, 1gs at DH, 6-22, .273, 2 2b, 1hr, 3rbi, 1sb, 4bb, 6k, 1hbp, .907ops)…in a start last night at Toledo made his first professional appearance in LF…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 (3g, 0-1, 10.13, 2.2ip, 2h, 3er, 2bb, 4k, 1hr, .200baa)… last night at Toledo suffered a blown save and the 7-3 Bats loss (0.2ip, 2h, 3er, 1bb, 1k, Jonathan Davis solo HR, 5bf, 22 pitches)…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 Fri at Toledo.
• 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 tonight at Toledo.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
• In just his second season, tonight is making his 27th Major League appearance and start…will be his second career appearance vs the Braves.
• Made his Major League debut at Truist Park, earned the 6-3 win on 4/10/22 at Atl in the Reds’ fourth game of last season…first career strikeout was Matt Olson (2nd batter)…recorded 2 strikeouts in each of his first 3 innings…didn’t allow a hit until Matt Olson singled to lead off the fourth…RHP Art Warren threw a scoreless ninth inning for his first career save.
• Was the Reds’ 2023 Opening Day starting pitcher.
• At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0… courtesy @EliasSports.
• Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In 2022, in his age 22 season ranked among National League rookie pitching leaders in starts (1st, 24), innings pitched (2nd, 125.2), strikeouts (2nd, 164), opponents’ BA (2nd, .222), WHIP (2nd, 1.21) and ERA (6th, 4.44).
• Led the Reds’ staff in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
• Was 1 of only 7 pitchers in the National League and 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues to throw a shutout.
• Was the National League Player of the Week for 6/6-6/12, the only Reds player so honored in 2022 (2gs, 1-0, 0.75, 12ip, 3h, 1er, 2bb, 15k, .079baa).
• Was 1 of only 6 Major League rookies in 2022 to win his league’s Player of the Week award (Chc’s Seiya Suzuki, LAA’s Reid Detmers, Sea’s Julio Rodríguez, KC’s Vinnie Pasquantino, Cle’s Steven Kwan).
• In 2022 became the only Major League rookie since 1900 to produce in a season at least 3 apps in which he threw at least 6.0 innings with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 1 hit (5/15 at Pit, 6/6 vs Ari, 8/1 at Mia)…no pitcher in modern history, regardless of rookie status, has produced more than 3 such games… in his final start of the season, in Game 160 vs Cubs, recorded 6.0 innings and 8 strikeouts but allowed 2 hits.
• Allowed 2 runs or fewer in all 9 of his starts in which he pitched at least 6.0 innings, 8 times allowed no more than 1 run and 4 times in those 9 apps allowed 0 runs.
• In his last 8 starts of the season posted a 1.75 ERA (46.1ip, 30h, 66k).
• In his last 6 starts of the season posted a 1.02 ERA, the third-lowest ERA ever by a Reds rookie over any single-season, 6-start span behind Gary Nolan (0.75, June-July 1967) and Elmer Riddle (0.88, August 1941).
• From 8/5-9/16 missed 43 days and 40 games while on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain…went 4-12, 5.26 in 20 starts prior to the injury and 1-1, 0.78 in 4 starts after he came off the 15-day IL.
• Following his 2022 rookie season was the Reds’ nominee for MLB’s prestigious Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exemplary contributions to his community.
• Was selected by the Reds in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the June 2017 first-year player draft…was rated by MLB.com the best overall prospect and by Baseball America the best high school player in that draft…the Twins selected high school SS Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
• Heading into the 2017 draft, became the 13th high school athlete ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
• Missed the 2019 season while recovering from 4/9/19 “Tommy John” surgery
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Reds tonight conclude a three-game series with the third 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, 7-6, last night and have won each of the first two games of this 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 10-9 against the Reds here at Truist Park since the facility opened in 2017, and had won just one of the five series here between the clubs prior to this season…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.
• RH Spencer Strider has pitched in two games and made one start in his career against Cincinnati, going 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) and
16 strikeouts…The right-hander made his season debut last year with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief against the Reds, fanning five, and pitched 6.0 one-run innings with 11 strikeouts in a start at Great American Ball Park last July…In two starts this season, he has combined to allow three runs over 11.0 innings, fanning 18…Atlanta has won both games.
• RH Hunter Greene made his major league debut against Atlanta, April 10, 2022 here at Truist Park, and allowed four hits and three runs over 5.0 innings in his only career appearance versus the Braves…He struck out seven…The 6-foot-3, 195- pound native of Stevenson Ranch, CA, opened last season one of Cincinnati’s top prospects, and went 5-13 with a 4.44 ERA over 24 starts…In his final eight turns, he was 2-3 with a 1.75 ERA in 46.1 innings.
WIN: Atlanta beat Cincinnati, 7-6, last night to win its second straight game of the series…The Braves will go for the sweep tonight.
• Atlanta has not swept Cincinnati since taking all \three games from April 25-27, 2014 at Turner Field…Neither club has swept the other here at Truist Park.
• The Braves have one sweep this season, taking all three from St. Louis, April 3-5.
• Each of the first two games of this series have been decided by one run, and Atlanta improved to 3-1 in one-run games following last night.
• Atlanta is one of four teams in baseball with three one-run wins, joining the Guardians (4-2), Blue Jays (3-0) and Pirates (3-0)…The Braves went 26-18 (.591) in one-run games last year, the third-best record in the National League.
ONE HUNDRED FOR OZZIE: Drove the first pitch of his at-bat in the fourth inning out to right field last night for the 100th home run of his career.
• He is the 25th player all-time to hit 100 home runs with the club, and the only primary second baseman to do so.
• At 26 years, 94 days old, he is the youngest player to reach 100 home runs with the Braves since Ronald Acuña Jr. accomplished the feat at 23 years, 184 days old on June 20, 2021 vs. St. Louis…Research courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau.
• Each of his 100 career home runs have come while playing second base, making him one of four active players to hit 100 home runs while playing the position…He joined Houston’s Jose Altuve (190), San Diego’s Rougned Odor (170) and Detroit’s Jonathan Schoop (153).
HARD HIT: Matt Olson drove his fourth home run of the season in last night’s first inning, and the shot left his bat at 118.6 miles per hour…His four home runs are tied for fifth most in the majors.
• At 118.6 mph, the homer stands as the hardest-hit ball in the majors this season, and the hardest by a Braves player since tracking began in 2015…Atlanta’s previous best was 118.5 mph by Tyler Flowers (single) on June 24, 2016 vs. New York (NL).
• Olson is averaging 96.3 miles per hour on his batted balls this season, the fifth-hardest average in baseball…Only Matt Chapman (99.3), J.D. Martinez (97.9), MJ Melendez (97.7) and Joc Pederson (97.1) average harder.
• Nine of Olson’s 15 hits this season have gone for extra bases (five doubles, four homers), and his nine extra-base hits are most in the National League.
WALKS: Atlanta drew six more walks last night, and the Braves’ 54 bases-on-balls this season are fourth most in the majors.
• At 10 walks apiece, 1B Matt Olson and C Sean Murphy are each tied for fifth in the majors and on pace for 135 free passes.
• Bob Elliott set the franchise record with 131 walks for the Boston Braves in 1948.
VS. THE CENTRAL: Atlanta moved to 5-0 against the N.L. 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 86-51 (.625) against the NL Central, the best record in the majors…Oakland is 10-6 (.625) to rank second behind Atlanta.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #65 Spencer Strider
Today’s Game
• Set to make his third career appearance, second start against Cincinnati.
• Struck out 11 while holding hitters to one hit over 6.0 innings of one-run baseball in his last outing against the Reds on July 2, 2022.
• In that last start against Cincinnati, Strider became the first rookie in the modern era (since 1900) to have two games in which he struck out 11 or more and allowed one hit or less after he went 6.0 innings with 11 strikeouts and one hit allowed… He also did so on June 15 at Washington.
• Last start against San Diego allowed four hits, three runs and a home run while fanning through 5.0 frames tossed.
• Is now 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA against NL West teams.
• Pitched to a 1.69 ERA in five appearances, four starts, with 21 strikeouts through 16.0 innings pitched in Spring Training.
2022 Recap
• Pitched his first full major league season and went 11-5 with a 2.67 ERA (39 ER/131.2 IP) and 202 strikeouts…Led rookie pitchers in the majors with 4.9 fWAR and 3.7 bWAR.
• Fanned 202 and allowed just 86 hits on the season.
• Is the only pitcher in baseball history to record at least 200 strikeouts and allow fewer than 100 hits in a year.
• Became the quickest pitcher in baseball history to ever reach 200 strikeouts in a single season, doing so in his 130.0th inning…Hall-of-Famer LHP Randy Johnson held the previous record, reaching 200 strikeouts in 130.2 innings in 2001.
• Was the third rookie in franchise history to strikeout 200 in a season, and the first in the modern era…The other rookies to reach 200 strikeouts were RHP Kid Nichols, who struck out 222 in 1890, and Bill Stemmyer, who fanned 239 in 1886. ..Just 16 rookies have done so in history, with Yu Darvish being the last to do so (221 strikeouts in 2012).
• His 13.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings is the highest by a rookie pitcher in MLB history (min. 12 starts)…Chicago’s Kerry Wood held the previous mark with 12.6 K/9.0 IP.
• No pitcher in Braves franchise history has pitched at least 100 innings in a season and fanned even 11.0 batters per 9.0 innings…In fact, just two pitchers, Brandon Beachy with 10.7 in 2011 and Charlie Morton with 10.5 last year, have been above 10.0.
• Ranked 11th in the majors with 202 strikeouts…However, did so in just 131.2 innings…Each of the 10 pitchers with more threw at least 166.0 innings on the season.
• Among pitchers to throw at least 100.0 innings on the season, Strider’s 13.81 K/9.0 IP were easily most in the majors, over 1.5 strikeouts more than the closest pitcher…Blake Snell fanned 12.02 batters per 9.0 innings to rank second.
• Opened the season pitching out of the bullpen, and moved into the rotation on May 30 at Arizona…Made 11 appearances out of the bullpen and went 1-1 with a 2.22 ERA (6 ER/24.1 IP)…In 20 starts, went 10-4 with a 2.77 ERA (33 ER/107.1 IP).
• Prior to his move into the rotation, Atlanta was 23-25 and its starters had pitched to a 4.38 ERA…From the date of Strider’s first start, May 30, to the end of the season, the Braves went 78-36 and the starters pitched to a 3.46 ERA.
• Started on September 1 vs. Colorado and pitched a career-most 8.0 innings, holding the Rockies to just two hits and no runs in the effort…The Braves beat the Rockies, 3-0, to give Strider his ninth win of the season.
• Set the single-game, Atlanta-era record with 16 strikeouts in the game, which also ranks second in all-time franchise history…John Smoltz previously held the Atlanta-era record, punching out 15 on two occasions: May 24, 1992 at Montreal and April 10, 2005 versus the New York Mets…Warren Spahn holds the all-time Braves record with 18 punchouts on June 14, 1952 versus the Chicago Cubs.
• Strider’s 16 strikeouts are the most in a single game by a Braves rookie in franchise history.
• He became the fourth different rookie in the modern era to strike out at least 16 batters in a game without issuing a walk…Dwight Gooden had exactly 16 K’s in two consecutive starts in 1984 (9/12 vs. PIT, 9/17 @ PHI)…Kerry Wood struck out 20 against Houston on May 6, 1998, and Jon Gray fanned 16 Padres on September 17, 2016.
• Research courtesy Elias.
• Was named NL Rookie of the Month for July…Went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA (8 ER/26.2 IP) over five starts in the month.
• Five of the eight runs came in one start, July 17 at Washington…In his other four turns, went 2-0 and pitched to a 1.19 ERA (3 ER/22.2 IP) with 37 strikeouts.
Career Recap
• Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft.
