MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (64-61) at Los Angeles Angels (61-64)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS

• Recalled from Louisville OF Michael Siani (#38, see-AH-nee).
• Selected from Louisville the contract of OF Nick Martini (#23).
• Placed on the 7-day concussion injured list, retroactive to yesterday, OF Stuart Fairchild.
• Designated for assignment OF Henry Ramos.
• Transferred from the ACL Reds to Louisville the rehabilitation assignment of RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder strain).

TONIGHT’S GAME

• Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Noah Scott’s Angels and Game 1 of a 10-game road trip (0-0 at LAA, 4g at Ari, 3g at SF).
• Is the Reds’ third trip of the season to the West Coast.
• Sunday, the Reds completed a 2-3 homestand (1-1 vs Cle, 1-2 vs Tor) and a 5-9 stretch in which they played 11 of 14 games at Great American Ball Park (0-3 vs Wsh, 1-2 vs Mia, 2-1 at Pit, 1-1 vs Cle, 1-2 vs Tor).

SERIES NOTES

• The Reds and Angels are meeting for the first time since 2019, when each team swept its 2-game series at home.
• The Reds are 6-10 all-time vs the Angels, including 1-7 in Anaheim.
• In 2013 the Reds and Angels played the first interleague Opening Day game in Major League history, a 3-1 Angels win in 13 innings in which the teams established the modern Major League record for strikeouts by both teams in a season-opening game (Cin pitchers 17, LAA pitchers 13).
• 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.

BIG ROAD MACHINE

• The Reds are 26-12 over their last 6 road trips covering 12 road series.
• The Reds have won 9 of their last 12 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.
• From 5/26-7/6, the Reds won at least 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history (1923, 1976).

DOUBLE DIPPING

• Tomorrow’s will be the Reds’ second doubleheader of the season and their first ever twinbill vs the Angels…yesterday’s was the 19th postponement in Angels history, the second this season (Sun) and the 14th at this ballpark.
• On 8/13 at PNC Park the Reds and Pirates split a day/night DH.
• On 9/1 at Great American Ball Park will play a day/night DH vs Chc.
• Prior to that 8/13/23 doubleheader split at Pit, the Reds were swept in each of their previous 2 doubleheaders, on 9/13/22 vs Pit (6-1, 1-0 losses) and 9/17/22 at StL (5-1 loss, 1-0 loss in 11 innings).
• The Reds last swept a 9-inning doubleheader on 7/6/2014 vs Cubs (4-2, 6-5 wins) and last swept a 9-inning doubleheader on the road on 6/5/1999 at KC (7-4, 9-4 wins).

ROOKIES ON THE ROSTER

• The Reds have 11 rookies on today’s roster, the most of any team in the Major Leagues (IF Elly De La Cruz, IF Christian Encarnacion-Strand, OF TJ Hopkins, IF Noelvi Marte, IF Matt McLain, OF Michael Siani, IF/OF Spencer Steer, LHP Andrew Abbott, RHP Fernando Cruz, RHP Brett Kennedy, LHP Brandon Williamson).
• RHP Lyon Richardson, who is on the Taxi Squad, also is a rookie.
• 14 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 EncarnacionStrand, RHP Lyon Richardson, IF Noelvi Marte).
• 20 rookies have played in at least 1 game for the Reds, the most of any team in the Major Leagues..
• When he plays, OF Michael Siani will become the 21st rookie with an appearance.
• The Reds have used 55 players overall, not including OF Nick Martini or OF Michael Siani…RHP Michael Mariot was on the roster for 1 day (7/8) but did not appear in a game…in 2022, the Reds used a club record 66 players.

LET THE KIDS PLAY

• The Reds are the first team in Major League history with 3 rookies, in a single season, with at least 10 HR & 10 stolen bases each (Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer).
• For the first time since 1890, when Cincinnati joined the National League, 3 Reds rookies have produced at least 10 HR…courtesy @EliasSports.
• Reds rookies have combined for 45 HR (Spencer Steer 18, Matt McLain 13, Elly De La Cruz 10, Christian EncarnacionStrand 4)…the franchise record for home runs in a season by rookies is 54 in 2008 (Joey Votto 24, Jay Bruce 21, Chris Dickerson 6, Ryan Hanigan 2, Paul Janish 1).
• Elly De La Cruz is the first Major League player since RBI became a statistic in 1920 to produce in his first 60 career apps at least 60 hits (64), 10 HR (10), 25 RBI (26) and 15 stolen bases (19).
• Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer on 7/4 at Wsh became the first set of rookie teammates in Major League history to finish in the same game 4-for-4 with at least 1 RBI (since RBI became an official statistic in 1920)…courtesy @EliasSports.
• IF Matt McLain (5/22-5/28) and IF Elly De La Cruz (6/19-6/25) each earned National League Player of the Week awards, McLain in the second week of his career and De La Cruz in his third week.

16.000

• Joey Votto yesterday reached 16.000 years of Major League Service.
• He is 1 of only 5 active players with at least 16.000 years of MLS, joining Miguel Cabrera (20.074), Zack Greinke (19.030), Adam Wainwright (18.000) and Justin Verlander (17.146)…service time as of yesterday.
• Nelson Cruz was at 16.013 when he was released by the Padres in July

Tonight’s Pitcher – #51 Graham Ashcraft, RHP

• Tonight is making his first career appearance vs the Angels.
• In his first 6 starts through 5/2 went 2-0, 2.00 (.202baa).
• In his first 3 starts (19ip, 3er) became the eighth Reds pitcher, since 1901 and including Nick Lodolo in 2023, to begin a season with at least 17.0 innings while llowing 4 earned runs or fewer.
• Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a non-COVID season with 3 consecutive quality starts since Amir Garrett in 2017 (3qs).
• Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a season with 6 starts without allowing more than 2 earned runs in any of those starts since Luis Castillo began the 2019 campaign by allowing 2 ER or fewer in each of his first 7 starts.
• In his next 8 apps from 5/7-6/24 went 1-6, 12.82 (.386baa).
• In the 17-4 loss on 5/7 vs WSox allowed a career-high 8 runs in 1.2 innings…was the shortest start of his career and the shortest start by a Reds pitcher to that point in the season…was charged with all 8 runs in the second inning after throwing a perfect first…entered that 5/7 start leading all National League pitchers in bWAR (2.1), the third-best bWAR among all players in the Major Leagues (Gerrit Cole 2.5, Ronald Acuña Jr. 2.2).
• In his last 9 apps beginning 6/30, including 8 quality starts, went 3-2, 2.17 (58ip, 14er, .218baa).
• His 3-2 win on 7/19 vs SF snapped the Reds’ 6-game losing streak that tied their season high.
• Has made 10 apps since a 15-day stint on the injured list (left calf contusion, 6/9-6/23)…in those 10 starts went 3-3, 2.90 (62ip, 20er, .241baa).
• Was charged with 2 pitch timer violations (5/12 at Mia, Jorge Soler walked & 8/9 vs Mia, Josh Bell batting).
• Between a solo HR by Pit’s Bryan Reynolds in his season debut and a 2-run HR by WSox’ Hanser Alberto’s on 5/7 in his seventh start, Ashcraft recorded a career-high homerless streak of 33.0 innings.
• Started the third game of the season and on 4/2 earned the 3-1 win vs the Pirates…following 2 rainouts, didn’t pitch again until 4/10 at Atl.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:

LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the fourth (1-2) of six games on a homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays (1-2) and Cincinnati Reds (Aug. 22-23)…Halos went 2-4 on last road trip against Houston (1-2) and Texas (1-2)…LAA was 2-5 on last homestand against the Mariners (0-4) and Giants (2-1).

HE’S BACK: Today the Angels have reinstated OF Mike Trout from the injured list…He missed 38 games on the IL with a left hamate fracture…In a corresponding move, OF Jordyn Adams was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake following Saturday night’s game.

ROSTER MOVES: RHP José Marte returned from rehab assignment, was reinstated from the IL and optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake…In a corresponding 40-man roster move, RHP Zack Weiss was designated for assignment… Additionally, C Chad Wallach cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake.

LET’S PLAY TWO…AGAIN: Yesterday’s postponed game has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader tomorrow at Angel Stadium…Along with Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Tampa Bay, this is the first time the Angels will play two doubleheaders at home in a one week span since playing a pair of twinbills on Sept. 6,
1978 vs. TEX (rain) and Sept. 9, 1978 vs. KC (scheduled).

TURNING THREE: Friday night vs. Tampa Bay, the Angels turned the seventh triple play in franchise history and the first since July 5, 1997 vs. Seattle…The play was the first 6-4-3-2 triple play since Milwaukee did so on April 28, 1971 at Boston…Nolan Schanuel became the first player to be part of turning a triple play in his MLB debut since Sal Fasano on April 3, 1996 for Kansas City at Baltimore (ELIAS).

RARE FEATS: Friday vs. Tampa Bay was the eighth time in MLB history that a team hit a grand slam and turned a triple play in the same game…It was last accomplished by the White Sox on May 22, 2019 at Houston. (ELIAS).

LOW WATER MARK: With a 60-63 record, Angels are three games under .500, which matches the low water mark for the season…Angels have not been four games under .500 since finishing the 2022 season with a 73- 89 record.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Nolan Schanuel was the Angels first round selection (11th overall) 40 days ago in the 2023 Draft…He became the third Angels player to debut in his Draft year, joining LHP Brian Anderson (1993) and DH Danny Goodwin (1975)…He also became the first player to debut before September in his Draft year since Chris Sale for the 2010 White Sox and was the first U.S.-born player to debut within 40 days of being drafted since Toronto’s Brian Milner in 1978 (credit: ELIAS & ESPN Stats & Info).

NEAR NO-HITTER: On Wednesday night at Texas, Reid Detmers carried a no-hit bid through 7.1 innings before a Marcus Semien double with one out in the 8th inning…Detmers previously tossed a no-hitter on May 10, 2022 vs. Tampa Bay.

MOST SINGLE-SEASON HR IN ANGELS HISTORY:

1. Troy Glaus (2000) – 47
2. Shohei Ohtani (2021) – 46
3. Mike Trout (2019) – 45
4. Shohei Ohtani (2023) – 43

HOME RUN LEADERS: Angels lead the American League and rank third in the Majors with 184 home runs this season…Only the Braves (237) and Dodgers (194) have homered more.

HELLO, MY NAME IS…: Nolan Schanuel became the 60th different player used this season by the Angels (most in the Majors)…LAA set a franchise record last year with 66 players used.

VS. CINCINNATI: The Angels and Reds are meeting for the first time since 2019, when the teams split a four-game season series (each club swept their two home games)…Angels lead the all-time series 10-6 and are 7-1 at The Big A; the only Reds win at Angel Stadium came on June 8, 2002 (LAA has won six straight home
games vs. Reds).

THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 15 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 29 times this year for 26 different players.

RECORD SETTING PACE: Shohei Ohtani’s 43 home runs through the first 125 team games of the season are the most in Angels history (the previous record was 41 HR by Mike Trout in 2019)…Club record through 126 team games was also 41 HR by Trout in 2019.

SETTING THE TONE: The Angels rank second in the Majors with eight leadoff home runs this season (four by Mickey Moniak and two each from Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo)…Only the Dodgers (11 – all by Mookie Betts) have hit more this year…The eight leadoff homers are tied for the third-most in a season in Halos history (LAA had 10 leadoff HR in 1986 and
nine in 2021).

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP LUCAS GIOLITO 7-8, 4.44 ERA
Has allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in seven of 13 starts since June 6

TODAY’S GAME: Making 26th start of the season and 12th at home…Making fifth start as an Angel since being acquired via trade from Chicago (A.L.) on July 26…Is in eighth Major League season.

• LAST TIME OUT: Took the loss on August 15 at Texas, pitching 6.0 innings and surrendering four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
• HOT STOVE: Acquired in a trade with the White Sox on July 26, alongside RHP Reynaldo López in exchange for minor league C Edgar Quero and LHP Ky Bush.
• VS. REDS: Took no decision after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts in only previous start vs. Reds on July 3, 2018 in Cincinnati.
• INTERLEAGUE PLAY: Is 8-10 with a 5.44 ERA (150.2 IP – 91 ER) and 161 strikeouts in 27 career Interleague starts…Is 2-2 with a 7.23 ERA (37.1 IP – 30 ER) and 37 strikeouts in seven Interleague starts in 2023.
• AT ANGEL STADIUM: Holds a 4-0 record and 3.96 ERA (36.1 IP – 16 ER) with 46 strikeouts in six career starts at Angel Stadium (five with White Sox)…Is 2-0 this season with a 4.85 ERA (13 IP – 7 ER) and 16 strikeouts in two starts at The Big A this season…Made one start at Angel Stadium this season as member of White Sox on June 28, in which he pitched 7.0 innings and surrendered four earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts…Making second start as an Angel at The Big A tonight.
• FOUR SCORE: This season, 29 of 74 (39%) of runs allowed have come in the 4th inning.
• IN THE ARSENAL: This season, has thrown changeups 23.7% of the time and is holding opponents to a .226 (31/137) average with 42 strikeouts…Throws sliders 30.2% of the time, with opponents batting .238 (40/168) with 44 strikeouts against the pitch.
• STRIKEOUT ARTIST: Ranks ninth in the American League with 150 strikeouts this season…Since start of 2021, is fourth in the American League with 528 strikeouts; 26.1% strikeout rate ranks third (min. 450 IP) in the A.L. during that time.
• BOUNCED BACK: Notched first career win as an Angel on August 8 against the Giants, in his third start since joining the team…Held San Francisco to three runs and struck out seven following two starts where he surrendered a combined 12 runs and seven strikeouts in his first two outings for the Halos…Won first
  career home outing at Angel Stadium.
• JUNE BLOOM: Posted a 2-1 record and 2.32 ERA (31 IP – 8 ER) with a .198 opponent batting average in the month of June…31.2% strikeout rate ranked third in the A.L. in the month… Surrendered two-or-fewer runs in four of five June starts, and struck out eight or more batters in three of five starts.
• WORKHORSE: 482.1 IP since 2021 ranks sixth in the A.L…Has made at least 20 starts each year dating back to 2018 (2020 excluded) and has made at least 30 starts in consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022.
• BETTER WITH TIME: Opposing hitters are batting .257 (52/202) this season against Giolito in their first appearance of the day; .242 (47/194) in their second PA; and .216 (30/139) in their third PA.
• GOOD DAY: This year, has a 4.10 ERA (74.2 IP – 34 ER) in day games, compared with a 4.81 ERA (67.1 IP – 36 ER) at night…Has a 3.89 ERA (363.1 IP – 157 ER) in 65 day games in his career, versus a 4.62 ERA (608.0 IP – 312 ER) in 107 career night games.
• SPOTLESS STARTER: Has pitched six innings without giving up a hit in two starts this season: April 18 (2) vs. PHI (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO) and June 6 vs. NYY (6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO).