CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 1 in a series of 4 night games vs Mike Burkhart’s Cubs and Game 7 (3-3) of an 11-day, 10-game road trip (1-2 at Mil, 2-1 at LAD, 0-0 at Chc).
- Beginning 9/15/14, the Cubs have won 30 of the last 43 night games vs the Reds at The Friendly Confines.
- Following this series the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Nationals (3g) and Marlins (3g).
SERIES NOTES
- The Reds’ 3-game sweep from 5/26-5/28 was their first series sweep of the Cubs since 7/2-7/4, 2021 (3g at Great American Ball Park) and their first series sweep at Wrigley Field since 8/12-8/14, 2013 (3g).
- In his career against the Cubs, Joey Votto ranks second among all active players with 48 HR, trailing only Albert Pujols (57hr), and is tied with Pujols for the most RBI vs Cubs (146)…Votto’s 48 HR are the second-most by a Reds batter vs the Cubs (Frank Robinson, 53)…his 226 games vs Cubs are second-most by a Reds player (Pete Rose, 243).
NATIONALS UP NEXT
- Dating back to a 6-3 Reds win on 6/4/16, the Nationals have won 14 of the last 20 games at Great American Ball Park, but the Reds won 8 of the last 11 games there.
- From 7/3-7/6 the Reds produced their first 4-game sweep of the Nationals since 7/3-7/6, 2008 and their first ever 4-game sweep at Nationals Park.
BIG ROAD MACHINE
- Beginning 5/26, the Reds went 23-8 over their last 5 road trips covering 10 road series.
- The Reds won 8 of their last 10 road series, including a streak of 7 straight road series wins snapped by the Brewers in the last series before the All-Star Game break…also lost at Mil in the first road series of the second half.
- The Reds won at least 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history…won 8 straight road series in 1923 (7/2-8/25) and 1976 (6/25-8/12).
- Went 8-1 on their road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only the second time ever, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0, 9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8 wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3).
- The 10-3 loss on 6/26 at Bal snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
- The Reds’ 27 road wins (27-20) was their highest total prior to the All-Star Game break since 1999 (29-13).
RUNNING MEN
- The Reds and Rays are tied for the Major League lead with 120 stolen bases (TB, 120), the Reds’ highest total since 2017 (120sb)…haven’t recorded more than 120 steals since 2016 (139sb)…in 2022 the Reds recorded 58 stolen bases…are trying to lead the National League in steals for the first time since 2015 (134sb).
- The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
- 5 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (6sb on 6/2 vs Mil, 9sb on 6/3 vs Mil, 5sb on 6/25 at Bal, 6sb on Tue at Wsh, 5sb on 7/8 at Mil)…prior to 6/2, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
- Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2, Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest single-game total since 5/30/1976 vs LAD (9sb)…the Reds’ single-game record since 1900 for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
- With Elvis Peguero pitching, Elly De La Cruz on 7/8 at Mil became only the fourth Reds batter ever to steal second, third and home in the same inning (Hans Lobert 9/27/1908, Dode Paskert 5/23/1910, Greasy Neale 8/15/1919)…became the first Major League batter to steal second, third and home in the same inning since Mia’s Jon Berti did it on 8/25/2020 at NYM…became the first Reds batter with a straight steal of home since Brandon Phillips did it on 7/10/2009 at NYM.
RED HOTS
- Since the All-Star Game, Reds pitchers lead the Major Leagues with a 3.17 ERA (142ip, 50er).
- The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19.
- The Reds’ 12-game winning streak from 6/10-6/23 tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
- The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since June 2014 (18-10).
- From 6/14-7/8 Reds batters established a new franchise record for consecutive games with at least 1 home run (22g, 45hr), a streak snapped in the 1-0 loss at Mil in the final game heading into the All-Star Game break…the 1956 Reds held the team record by homering in 21 consecutive games.
- The Reds have used 52 players…RHP Michael Mariot was on the roster for 1 day (7/8) but did not appear in a game.
- 12 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season, the most in the Major Leagues (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, RHP Randy Wynne, RHP Jake Wong, IF Christian Encarnacion Strand)…16 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #41 Andrew Abbott, LHP
- Tonight is making his 11th Major League appearance and start, his first vs the Cubs.
- Since his Major League debut on 6/5, ranks among the Major League leaders in ERA (2nd), batting average against (3rd, .184), starts (T3rd), innings pitched
(5th), wins (T4th) and WHIP (4th, 0.96). - His 16.0-inning scoreless streak is tied for the longest active scoreless streak in the Major Leagues (LAD’s Clayton Kershaw 16ip).
- Began his career with 17.2 scoreless innings, a new club record since 1893, until Col’s Brenton Doyle hit a leadoff HR in Abbott’s fourth start…the previous team record was held Wayne Simpson, who in 1970 began his Major League career with 15.0 scoreless innings.
- Since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, his 66 strikeouts are the second-most by a Reds pitcher in his first 10 career apps (73, Gary
Nolan, 1967). - Since 1912, when earned runs became an official statistic in the National League, his 1.90 ERA is the third-lowest by a Reds pitcher after 10 career starts (LHP Tom Browning, 1.65, 1984-85 & RHP Jim Konstanty, 1.89, 1944).
- Is 1 of only 4 Reds pitchers since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, to begin his career with 4 or 5 wins without a loss in his first 5 career starts (Mel D. Queen, 4-0 in 1967; Pat Zachry, 4-0 in 1976; Santo Alcala, 5-0 in 1976).
- Since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, is the only Major League pitcher to begin his career with 3 consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings.
- Has stopped losing streaks of 4, 2 and 3 games…in 6 starts overall following losses is 4-1, 0.96.
- In his 4-3 win on 7/2 vs SD recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts, tied for the most by a Reds pitcher this season (Nick Lodolo, 4/8 at Phi)
CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. Reds
The Cubs and Reds play 13 games spanning four series … the teams played a weather-shortened two-game set in Cincinnati, April 3-4, splitting the series, before the Reds swept a three-game set at Wrigley Field May 26-28 … following this series, the clubs meet four times in three days Sept. 1-3 in Cincinnati for the final time this season … Chicago last season went 11-8 vs. the Reds, its first season series victory over Cincinnati since going 11-8 in 2018.
SEEING RED: The Chicago Cubs today return home for the start of a seven-game, seven-day homestand after their season-high eight game winning streak was snapped yesterday in a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals … the eight-game winning streak was the club’s longest since an 11-game run from July 31-Aug. 12, 2016 … Chicago finished the six-game road trip at 5-1 (2-0 vs. White Sox, 3-1 vs. Cardinals).
The Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 games since July 18 … following play on July 20, the Cubs sat 7.0-games out of a wild-card spot and 8.5-games back of the division lead … the club enters today 3.5-games out of a wild card spot and 4.0-games back of division-leading Cincinnati.
The Cubs today begin a seven-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds (4 games) and the Atlanta Braves (3 games beginning Friday).
Dating to June 9, the Cubs have scored 250 runs, second-most in the majors (Atlanta, 260), and their .266 batting average (393-for-1,482) ranks seventh in the majors.
Today marks the seventh (5-1) of 16-straight gamedays through August 9.
The Cubs (+57) and Cincinnati (+3) are the only N.L. Central Division clubs with positive run differentials (Pittsburgh, -71; St. Louis, -27; Milwaukee, -14).
RISING TIDES: The Cubs, at 53-52, are 27-16 since June 9 when the team was a season-low 10-games below .500 at 26-36 following a loss at the Angels June 8.
Starting June 9, the Cubs’ 27-15 record (.628 winning percentage) is third-best in the majors, surpassed only by Atlanta (29-12/.707) and today’s opponent, Cincinnati (29-15/.659).
Ed Hartig notes this is just the third season in franchise history in which the team has found itself at least 10-games under .500 only to once again reach the .500 mark (also 1968 and 1996).
BELLI BOMBS AWAY: Cody Bellinger in the month of July leads major league hitters in hits (39), average (.406) and total bases (67), is third in RBI (24) and OPS (1.137), fourth in slugging (.698) and is tied for fifth in homers (8).
In 37 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion), Bellinger is hitting .360 (49-for-136) with six doubles, eight homers, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, a .397 OBP and a .581 slugging percentage … that includes a career-high 13-game hitting streak from June 24-July 7.
A MONDAY NIGHT STRO SHOW: Marcus Stroman toes the rubber tonight, aiming for his 11th win of the season … Stroman has posted an 8.00 ERA (24 ER/27.0 IP) in six starts since June 25, following his seven-start winning streak from May 19-June 20 (1.29 ERA).
Stroman tonight will make his seventh career start vs. Cincinnati … is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA (10 ER/35.1 IP) lifetime against the Reds.
GOLDEN DEFENSE: Per Fangraphs, entering play today, the Cubs have recorded 25 defensive runs saved in 2023, tied for the fourth-best mark in the N.L. and tied for fifth-most in the major leagues … Chicago finished the 2022 season with four defensive runs saved, which ranked 21st in the majors.
Dansby Swanson’s 11 defensive runs saved are the second-most among major league shortstops, trailing Wander Franco (14), and are tied for the seventh-most among all major leaguers.
BY THE MONTH: Chicago is 15-10 in July and is aiming to finish a month of play at least five games over .500 for the first time since May 2021 when the club went 19-8 … the Cubs finished the month of June at 14-11, after going 14-13 in June and 10-18 in May … here’s a look at the numbers by month:
2023 AVG OBP SLG R/G BB SO ERA IP ER BB SO
Mar/April .276 .347 .448 5.4 95 224 3.64 239.2 97 91 249
May .232 .319 .375 3.6 115 282 4.73 247.1 130 78 212
June .237 .316 .380 4.8 83 224 3.34 218.0 81 79 189
July .269 .343 .429 5.8 85 217 4.46 224.0 111 79 209
START AT THE TOP: In 16 games since the All-Star break, the Cubs 1-4 hitters are batting .301 (80-for-266) with 29 extra-base hits (12 home runs), 49 RBI, a .368 OBP and a .504 slugging percentage … in the 20 games prior to the break from June 17-July 9, Chicago’s first four hitters in the order were hitting just .197 (64-for-325) with a .262 OBP, a .342 slugging percentage and 2.50 runs scored per game.
ABOUT THE BATS: The Cubs this season have batted .268 (250-for-933) with runners in scoring position, the fourth-best mark in the N.L. and eighth-best in the majors.
Nico Hoerner is batting .337 (34-for-101) with runners in scoring position, the sixth-best mark among N.L. qualifying hitters.
Since July 17, the Cubs have three of the top 15 batting averages in the National League … Cody Bellinger (8th, .373), Yan Gomes (9th, .372), Mike Tauchman (15th, .341).
ABOUT THE ARMS: In 46 games dating to June 6, the Cubs bullpen has posted a 3.16 ERA (56 ER/159.2 IP), the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors during the run.
Javier Assad since June 27 has pitched to a 0.48 ERA (1 ER/18.2 IP) in eight games, while posting a 0.80 WHIP and 18 strikeouts … during that span, Assad’s 0.48 ERA is the lowest among major league relievers (min. 15.0 IP).
Adbert Alzolay on Friday recorded his 12th save in 13 chances this season … in his last 14 outings since June 20, he has issued one walk in 60 batters faced, striking out 19 in that span.
Starting Pitcher – #0 RHP Marcus Stroman (10-7, 3.51)
Last Time Out
Marcus received a no-decision July 26 at Chicago (A.L.) … allowed at least seven runs in a start for the first time since June 3, 2022 vs. St. Louis (9) and at least nine hits for the first time since Aug. 25, 2022 vs. St. Louis (11) … has posted an 8.00 ERA (24 ER/27.0 IP) in six starts since June 25.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left
7/26 @CWS ND, 10-7 3.1 9 7 7 2 4 85-54 2-7, 2 on
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 6-5 3.07 11 11 67.1 44 24 23 22 61
Road 4-2 4.01 11 11 58.1 59 30 26 26 48
AVG vs. LHB: .181 (45-for-248) / AVG vs. RHB: .264 (58-for-220)
Marcus is scheduled to make his team-high 23rd start of the 2023 season today, his 12th at Wrigley Field … has pitched to an 8.00 ERA (24 ER/27.0 IP) in six starts since June 25, following his seven-start winning streak from May 19-June 20 … dating to Aug. 30, 2022, has pitched to a 3.17 ERA (59 ER/167.2 IP), the fourth-lowest ERA in the majors during that span (min. 29 GS) … his 15 quality starts are tied for the third-most in the majors this season and his 24 such outings since the All-Star break of last season are the most in the N.L. and tied for second-most in the majors … his .181 average allowed (45-for-248) against left-handed hitters is tied for the second-lowest among qualified major league starters … his 125.2 IP is ninth in the N.L.
Earned his 10th win of the season July 15 vs. Boston, the fifth time in his career that he’s reached double-digit wins (last, 2021).
Started the Cubs’ second game in London vs. the Cardinals, suffering the loss (3 ER/3.1 IP) … left in the fourth inning with a blister on his right index finger.
Had a seven-start winning streak from May 19-June 20, the longest streak in the major leagues this season and longest in a single season since Justin Verlander also recorded a win in seven-straight starts, June 24-Aug. 4, 2022 … was the longest by a Cubs starting pitcher since Kyle Hendricks earned a win in eight-straight starts, May 16-June 22, 2021.
Was named the N.L. Player of the Week for May 29-June 4 … allowed one run (no earned runs) on five hits in 15.0 innings with 14 strikeouts in two starts during
the week, earning a win in both outings.
May 29 vs. Tampa Bay tossed his second career complete game shutout (also Sept. 8, 2014 vs. Cubs), the Cubs first complete game since Alec Mills’ no-hitter, Sept. 13, 2020 at Milwaukee … took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning for the second time in his career (also July 24, 2014 vs. Boston).
Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout April 23 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.), retiring Freddie Freeman looking in the third inning.
Became the second Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 (also Jake Arrieta, 2016) with three outings of at least 6.0 scoreless innings in the team’s first 16 games.
Became the third Cubs starting pitcher since 1901 to allow two or fewer combined runs over his first four starts of a season (also Steve Stone, 1976; Jason Hammel, 2016).
Posted a 14.0-inning scoreless streak to begin the season, the fourth-longest by a Cubs pitcher since 1901.
Made his third career Opening Day start March 30 vs. Milwaukee (0 ER/6.0 IP), earning the win … improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (3 ER/21.0 IP) in his three career Opening Day starts.
In three Cactus League starts with the Cubs, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts.
Made two starts for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, posting a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP).
