CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS
Returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 7-day concussion injured list OF Stuart Fairchild (#17). Placed on the 10-day injured list IF Matt McLain (right oblique strain).
TONIGHT’S GAME
Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Nick Oldham’s Giants and Game 8 (4-3) of a 10-game road trip that included Wed’s day/night doubleheader sweep at LAA (3-0 at LAA, 1-3 at AZ, 0-0 at SF). Is the Reds’ third trip of the season to the West Coast.
SERIES NOTES
Beginning with the 2008 season the Reds are 55-42 vs SF, at .567 the best winning percentage of any Giants opponent since then (minimum 50g). Beginning 6/29/12 and including the 2012 season’s National League Division Series, the Redlegs have won 21 of the last 35 meetings at beautiful Oracle Park to improve their all-time record here to 40-39. In the 3-2 win on 7/19 vs SF, the Reds started rookies at the 4 infield positions (1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 2B Matt McLain, 3B Spencer Steer, SS Elly De La Cruz)…the Reds started rookies at those 4 positions for the first time since 9/30/1992 vs LAD (1B Tim Costo, 2B Jeff Branson, 3B Willie Greene and SS Freddie Benavides).
BIG ROAD MACHINE
The Reds are 30-15 over their last 7 road trips covering 14 road series. The Reds won 10 of their previous 14 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).
ROOKIES ON THE ROSTER
The Reds had a season-high 11 rookies on yesterday’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 and LHP Brandon Williamson. IF Matt McLain went on the injured list today. RHP Lyon Richardson was the 12th rookie on Wed’s roster as the 27th player for the doubleheader at LAA. 14 Reds layers have made Major League debuts this season, the most of any team 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, RHP Lyon Richardson and IF Noelvi Marte. 21 rookies have played in at least 1 game for the Reds, the most of any team in the Major Leagues. The Reds have used 57 players overall…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 49 HR (Spencer Steer 18, Matt McLain 16, Elly De La Cruz 11, Christian Encarnacion-Strand 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). Tue at LAA, in his 64th career game, Elly De La Cruz recorded his 20th stolen base to become the fastest player since 1900 to accumulate at least 10 HR and at least 20 steals…Barry Bonds did it in his 65th career appearance, just ahead of Reds rookies Chris Sabo (66g) and Gary Redus (67g)…courtesy @EliasSports. 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.
RED HOTS
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…courtesy @OptaSTATS and @EliasSports. 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.
Tonight’s Pitcher – #41 Andrew Abbott, LHP
Tomorrow will make his 16th Major League appearance and start…will be his second appearance vs the Giants. Since his debut on 6/5, ranks among the National League leaders in starts (T2nd), wins (T4th), ERA (6th), strikeouts (7th), batting average against (7th, .221), innings pitched (11th) and WHIP (13th, 1.17). Has stopped losing streaks of 4, 2, 3 and 2 games…in 9 starts overall following losses is 6-2, 2.35 (53.2ip, 14er, .211baa). 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). 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 by Wayne Simpson, who in 1970 began his Major League career with 15.0 scoreless innings…@EliasSports. 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…@EliasSports. Abbott’s 16.0-inning scoreless streak was snapped in the second inning of the 6-5 win on 7/31 at Cubs…when snapped was tied for the longest active streak in the Major Leagues
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Giants continue their six-game homestand with game one of a three game set against the Reds. SF and CIN split a four-game series in July at Great American Ballpark with the Reds outscoring the Giants 20-18. Entering tonight’s game, the Giants and Reds are tied for fourth in the Wild Card hunt, 1.5 games behind the D-backs. The Giants have homered in each of their last nine games against the Reds, which is their longest active such streak against any team.
HOME DEBUT: Bay Area native, LHP Kyle Harrison, will make his second career start and his first at Oracle Park. Made his Major League debut on August 22 at Philly nd threw 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Eight of the nine outs he recorded against the Phillies came on his four-seam…he got 10 misses on 23 swings against his four-seam and threw it for a strike 68% of the time (SIS). Posted a 14.39 K/9 in the minors, which ranked second-best in all of MiLB (min. 65.0ip)…he also struck out 35.6% of the batters he faced, which was fifth-best among Minor Leaguers.
LEFT ON READ: The Giants are 21-14 this year when their opponents start a lefty, but have only slightly outscored their opponents (146-143). The Giants are 5-2 in their last seven games vs. a lefty starter since July 29. Today is the third of four straight games vs. a lefty starter. SF’s .685 OPS vs. southpaw starting pitchers is 27th in MLB.
PUNCH ‘EM OUT: The Giants have 12 pitchers with 50 or more punch outs this season, the most in a single season in franchise history and the most in MLB this season (Stats, LLC). Prior to the Giants 12 pitchers with 50+ Ks this season, the most was 11 Giants pitchers in 1999. There are six MLB teams tied with 11 pitchers with 50+ strikeouts this season.
FEELIN’ THE FLO: IF Wilmer Flores has reached base safely in 37 of his last 41 games, batting .349 with 24 runs, 10 doubles, 11 homers and 24 RBI. Since June 1, his 1.031 OPS is fifth-highest in MLB (min. 175 PA) behind LAA’s Shohei Ohtani (1.225), LAD’s Mookie Betts (1.130), TEX’s Corey Seager (1.090) and ATL’s Matt Olson (1.042). Since July 1, he has the fourth-higest batting average in the Majors along with 10+ home runs. MLB, Highest AVG with 10+ Home Runs – Since July 1 (Stats, LLC)
SETTLING IN?: OF Wade Meckler has reached base safely in 10 of his last 16 PAs since August 22 (6-for-12, 3bb, 1hbp, rbi). Meckler went 3-for-21 with 13 strikeouts and two walks in his first seven Major League games from August 14-21.
TODAY’S STARTER – KYLE HARRISON LHP #45
2023 RECORD: 0-0, 5.40 ERA
WITH THE GIANTS: Will be making his first career start at Oracle Park after he making his MLB debut on Tuesday in Philadelphia… was selected in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of De La Salle High School (Concord, CA).
TODAY’S GAME: The Bay Area-native will be pitching in front of a large number of family and friends in his home debut tonight… Harrison will be coming off an extra day of rest after his 65-pitch outing on Tuesday.
LAST OUTING: Had his contract selected from Triple-A Sacramento on August 22 and made his MLB debut that night in Philly…
Harrison’s first five outs were all strikeouts by the way of his fastball…SF stayed true to their 65 pitch limit on Harrison, as he was
pulled after 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk
with five strikeouts.
YOUNG BUCK: Harrison became the youngest Giant (22 year, 10
days) to make his first MLB start since Madison Bumgarner in 2009
(20 years, 38 days) (Stats, LLC)…his debut Tuesday also made him
the third-youngest pitcher at the time of their first start in MLB this
season.
VS. CINCINNATI: This will be Harrison’s first career game vs. the Reds.
RAKING IN THE AWARDS: In addition to being the No. 1 ranked player in the SF system on MLB.com, Harrison is the game’s No. 20 overall prospect and top left-hander…he has earned 10 awards on MiLB.com including two Triple-A Pitcher of the Week awards this year.
STRIKE FIRST: He left the Minors with a 14.39 K/9, which is second-best in all of MiLB (minimum 65.0 innings pitched)…he is also striking out 35.6% of batters faced, which is fifth-best among Minor Leaguers…Harrison struck out five of the 16 batters he faced in his MLB debut (31.3% strikeout rate).
TIME ON THE IL: Since returning from a hamstring strain on July 31, Harrison has pitched in four Minor League games, three for Triple-A Sacramento, posting a 3.86 ERA (4er, 9.1ip) with 13 strikeouts at Triple-A…he suffered a moderate hamstring strain on July 5 while training in between starts and did not pitch in the Futures Game.
LEFT ON READ: Harrison limited lefties to a .171/.284/.232 slash line in the Minors this year with three extra-base hits and no home runs…he has a 36.8 strikeout rate of lefties faced this season compared to 35.0% of righties, and has a 10.5 walk rate vs. lefties compared to 19.0% vs. righties.
JOINING THE PARTY: The lefty was the Giants’ third draft pick from the 2020 draft to make his debut, joining C Patrick Bailey and IF Casey Schmitt…other players from the draft are LHP Nick Swiney (Triple-A), IF Jimmy Glowenke (Double-A), RHP R.J. Dabovich (Triple-A) and RHP Ryan Murphy (Double-A).
HE’S NOT ALONE: Harrison became the 11th Giants player to make their MLB debut this season, and fourth pitcher…he also became the first Giants pitcher to start in his MLB debut since RHP Logan Webb on August 17, 2019 at Arizona.
