COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
WICKED
- The Colorado Rockies continue their 10-game road trip tonight with the second of four games in Atlanta … following this series, will travel to Cincinnati for three games … this is the first of two 10-game road trips for the Rockies this season (also: Aug. 4-13).
- Captured the series win over the Red Sox 2-1 despite dropping Wednesday’s contest 6-3 … was just the second series win at Fenway Park in franchise history, joining the 2007 club who took two out of three June 12-14.
- The Rockies won three consecutive games Sunday-Tuesday with the winning run scoring in their last at-bat, the first time they’ve had three-straight last at-bat wins since July 4-7, 2010.
- The Rockies are in a stretch of 16-straight days with a game, and 33 games in 34 day overall from May 19-June 21 … are 10-17 through the first 27 games of this stretch.
THAT’S A LOTTA BASEBALL
- Won each of the first two games in Boston in extra innings, their first time playing back-to-back extra innings games since Aug. 20-21, 2022 vs. San Francisco … was their first time winning consecutive extra-innings games on the road since June 14-15, 1998 at San Francisco and at Los Angeles-NL … entering the series, the Rockies had gone a franchise-record 78-straight games without extra innings since Sept. 23, 2022 … their 67 games to begin a season without an extra-inning game marked the third-longest such stretch since 1901, trailing Boston in 2005 (98 games) and the White Sox in 2002 (69 games).
MAC ATTACK
- Ryan McMahon has reached base in 21 of his last 23 with 11 multi-hit games since May 23 … is slashing .368/.461/.701 (32-for-87) with seven doubles, two triple, six home runs, 20 RBI and 14 walks over that span … since May 23, leads the National League in batting and OBP, is tied for first in RBI, tied for second in extra-base hits (15), is second in OPS (1.162) and third in slugging … his 20 doubles on the season are the fourth-most in the NL.
- McMahon’s 2.4 WAR (Baseball Reference) ranks first among NL players with at least 50% of their games at third base this season with the second-best, Washington’s Jeimer Candelario, clocking in with a 1.9 WAR … his 10 defensive runs saved at third base are tied for the most among third basemen (Sports Info Solutions).
- Since moving from second base to third base on April 18, McMahon has slashed .292/.373/.518 with 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 30 RBI.
THIS ‘N THAT
- Since giving up six earned runs through one inning in his season debut on May 21, RHP Matt Carasiti has allowed one earned run (three total runs) through 15.0 innings over nine games … his 0.60 ERA through this span is the fifth-lowest among all Major League relievers (min. 10 IP).
- SS Ezequiel Tovar’s 15 doubles since April 26 are the fourth-most in the Majors … his 19 doubles on the season are tied for the fifth-most in the NL.
- OF Brenton Doyle swiped his 10th base of the season Thursday in Atlanta, six more than any other Rockie … he is the first Rockie in history to begin his career with 10 steals within his first 37 games with a plate appearance (41 games overall).
MR. JONES
- Since his recall from Triple-A on May 26, Nolan Jones is slashing .333/.389/.591 with five doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and four stolen bases while recording a hit in 14 of 18 games … ranks ninth in the NL in slugging and OPS (.980), and 11th in batting over that span.
- The 25-year-old’s walk-off home run Sunday vs. San Diego was the first of his career, and the first walk-off home run by a Rockie since Elias Díaz on Sept. 9, 2022 … measured at 472 feet, it’s the longest walk-off home run in baseball in the Statcast Era (since 2015) and the eighth-longest overall in the Majors this season.
- Jones also hit a 483-foot home run on June 7, the second-longest home run in the Majors this season … is the only player in the Majors with two of the 10 longest home runs in baseball this season.
- The home run on June 7 was measured at 114.2 mph off the bat, the third-hardest hit home run by a Rockies player in the Statcast Era (since 2015), trailing two Carlos González home runs hit in 2016 (117.4 mph, June 4 at Arizona) and 2018 (114.4 mph, July 31 at Cincinnati).
BABY GOT BACKSTOP
- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz’s .294 batting average ranks ninth in the National League and is the highest among all MLB catchers … his .336 (36-for-107) average at home is the seventh-highest in the Majors while his .365 (23- for-63) average with runners in scoring position is the seventh-highest in the NL.
- Has appeared in 57 games at catcher, the second-most in the Majors … his 12 catcher caught stealing are third-most in the Majors.
D-FENCE
- Catcher Elias Díaz’s and 3B Ryan McMahon’s 1.2 defensive WARs (Baseball Reference) are tied for the fifth-highest among all players … SS Ezequiel Tovar’s 1.0 dWAR is tied for the 11th-best in the Majors.
- Brenton Doyle’s outfield assist Tuesday night was recorded at 99.2 miles per hours via Statcast, the second fastest throw on an outfield assist in the Majors this season … Doyle has three of the top five fastest throws among all outfields assists in MLB in 2023.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #32 DINELSON LAMET RHP
HOW WE GOT HERE
- Dinelson Lamet will make his fourth start in a Rockies uniform today … joined the rotation last week after making 12 relief appearances to begin the season before a stint on the injured list … placed on the IL on May 4 with lower back stiffness, reinstated prior to his last start on May 31.
- Originally claimed off waivers by Colorado from Milwaukee on Aug. 5, 2022 and signed a one-year deal with the Rockies this offseason to avoid arbitration … was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Aug. 3 after being acquired via trade from San Diego on Aug. 1 … the Brewers received Lamet, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP Taylor Rogers and OF Esteury Ruiz from San Diego in exchange for LHP Josh Hader.
LAST TIME OUT
- Tossed a season-high five innings, taking a no-decision, in the Rockies eventual 5-4 walk-off win over the Padres at Coors Field on Sunday …
allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, walking three and striking out a season-high five. - Last threw five innings on June 20, 2021 vs. the Reds while with the Padres … marked the 27th time in his career he had thrown five or more innings while allowing two or fewer earned runs and striking out five or more.
BACK AT THE FRONT
- Took the loss in the Rockies 10-4 defeat by the Giants on June 6 … threw three innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
- Made his first start since June 26, 2021 on May 31 at Arizona … suffered the loss in a 6-0 Rockies defeat against Tommy Henry and the D-backs … pitched three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
PEACHY
- Will be making his sixth career appearance against Atlanta (third start) … is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA (16.0 IP, 4 ER) with four walks and 22 strikeouts against the Braves (12.38 SO/9).
- In his two starts against the Braves, is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (12.0 IP, 4 ER) with three walks and 15 strikeouts … has never started against the Braves at Truist Park.
SETTING THE TONE
- Has made 59 starts over his career, going 14-19 with a 3.94 ERA (262.2 IP, 130 ER) … opposing hitters have slashed .218/.302/.384 when the righthander starts.
- Used solely as a starter in each of his first three seasons from 2017-2020 … began the 2021 season as a starter before transitioning to the bullpen in September after missing time with forearm injuries.
- Won his MLB debut at Citi Field back on May 25, 2017 … tossed five innings and allowed one run, three hits and two walks while striking out eight.
START ME UP
- Made three rehab starts with Triple-A Albuquerque, posting a 0.84 ERA (10.2 IP, 1 ER) with six hits allowed, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
- Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings his last time out May 26 vs. Round Rock, allowing two hits with one walk and six strikeouts while throwing 63 pitches … tossed four perfect innings in his previous outing, May 20 vs. Tacoma, striking out four while throwing 38 pitches.
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Long Ones
Matt Olson’s seventh-inning home run last night traveled 456 feet, his third home run this season of at least 450 feet. As a team this year, the Braves have hit 14 home runs of at least 450 feet, easily the most in baseball and eight more than any other club. Colorado and Los Angeles (AL) are the next closest teams with six. Since Statcast began tracking in 2015, the most home runs of at least 450 feet by a team in a single season is 19, set by the Rockies in 2021. The most by a nonColorado team is 15, done by the 2017 Marlins and Yankees.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Rockies tonight continue a four-game weekend series with the second of seven total games between the clubs this season….Atlanta and Colorado will next meet for three games at Coors Field, August 28-30.
- The Braves beat the Rockies, 8-3, last night to win the opener.
- Atlanta went 6-1 in seven games with Colorado last season, the Braves’ most wins in a single season versus the Rockies since winning six in every year from 2011-2013.
- Last season marked the first time the Braves won the season set with the Rockies since going 4-3 in 2014…From 2015 through 2021, Atlanta played to just a 12-28 (.300) record versus the Rockies… Colorado played to a .700 winning percentage versus Atlanta in those years, but just a .477 winning percentage overall.
- The Braves won two-of-three with the Rockies here at Truist Park last season, their only series win here since the park opened in 2017…With last night’s win Atlanta improved to just 5-11 (.313) against Colorado here, and the Rockies’ .688 winning percentage in this building is best of any National League team.
- LH Jared Shuster is set to make his first career start against Colorado and just the eighth of his major league career…The 6-foot-3, 210-pound lefthander is 3-2 with a 5.05 ERA (20 ER/35.2 IP) in his first seven career turns, yet has won each of his last three decisions dating to May 21…Shuster is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA (9 ER/22.0 IP) in four total starts in that span.
- RH Dinelson Lamet has made two starts and five total appearances against Atlanta in his career, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA (4 ER/16.0 IP) and
22 strikeouts…In two relief appearances against the Braves last season, he pitched 2.1 scoreless innings…The 6-foot-3, 228-pound native of
Santo Domingo, DR, is 1-3 with a 10.38 ERA (25 ER/21.2 IP) in 15 games and three starts for the Rockies this season.
WIN: Atlanta scored five times in last night’s second inning to power a series-opening 8-3 win over Colorado…The Braves moved to a season-best 17 games over .500 with the win.
- RH AJ Smith-Shawver started for Atlanta and earned his first career win… At 20 years and 207 days old, he became the youngest Braves starting pitcher to earn a win since Steve Avery (20 years and 132 days) on August 24, 1990 vs. the Cubs.
- RH Michael Tonkin recorded the game’s final 13 outs for Atlanta, matching the longest outing of his MLB career…He earned his first career save in his 157th appearance.
- The Braves improved to 12-5 (.706) in games started by opposing left-handed pitchers this season, the second-best record in MLB behind
Tampa Bay (11-3, .786).
OFFENSE: Atlanta scored eight runs and tallied 11 hits last night, and has combined to score 24 runs and collect 32 hits in its last three games.
- The Braves’ .872 OPS in the month of June is best in baseball, and Atlanta leads the majors in average (.303), slugging (.510), home runs (23, tied), runs (81) and runs per game (6.23) for the month.
- Atlanta as a club has combined to produce a majors-best wRC+ of 132 for the month of June, meaning the team as a whole is producing 32 percent above league average this month…That wRC+ is nine points better than any other club (San Diego & Texas, 123).
- The Braves have scored at least five runs in 10 of their 13 games this month, and are 9-1 when doing so.
- When scoring at least five runs in a game this season Atlanta is 35-3 (.921), the best such record in baseball…San Diego is 27-4 (.871) to rank second… Just three teams in the majors have scored at least five runs more often than Atlanta, with the Dodgers (43 times), Rays (41) and Rangers (39) all doing so.
KEVIN PILLAR: Doubled home a pair of runs in the second inning to give Atlanta a lead last night, and ended the game 2-for-4.
- He has hit safely in 18 of his 23 starts this season, tallying 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI…The Braves improved to 16-7 (.696) when he has been in the starting lineup.
- Among players with as-many-or-fewer plate appearances this season (101), he is tied for second in extra-base hits (12) and tied for third in RBI (17).
- Seven of Pillar’s 17 RBI (41%) on the season have given Atlanta a lead.
BULLPEN: Atlanta used just one reliever, RH Michael Tonkin, to go 3.1 innings and close last night’s win… It was a career-long outing for Tonkin, who earned his first career save.
- Atlanta’s bullpen has gone 5-1 and compiled a 2.16 ERA (12 ER/50.0 IP) in June, fourth best in the majors.
- Their eight saves this month are tied with the Blue Jays for the most in baseball.
SUMMER MONTHS: Yesterday’s win moved Atlanta to 10-3 (.769) in the month of June, the best record in baseball…The club went 21-6 (.778) in June last season to lead the National League.
- Since the Braves began their streak of five straight N.L. East titles in 2018, their .613 winning percentage from June-October is third-best in the majors, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers (.661) and Houston Astros (.620).
- In June specifically, Atlanta’s .645 winning percentage since 2018 is the best in baseball.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #45 Jared Shuster LHP
2023 Record: 3-2, 5.05 ERA • 2023 MiLB Record: 2-0, 3.28 ERA
vs. RHB: .250 (25-100), 1 HR • vs. LHB: .167 (5-30), 1 HR
Home: 2-0, 4.79 ERA (10/14.2) • Away: 1-2, 5.40 ERA (9/15.0)
Tonight’s Game
- Set to make his eighth career start.
- Earned his third win of the season while allowing eight hits and three runs over 5.0 innings pitched in his last start against Washington.
- Became the first Atlanta pitcher to toss at least 5.0 frames without recording a strikeout or issuing a walk since Tim Hudson on September 17, 2012.
- His last victory extended his winning streak to three games.
- Pitching to a 4.00 ERA through five starts since being recalled on May 16.
- Owned a 8.31 ERA in his first two outings before being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on April 17.
- Has a 1.04 WHIP in his last five starts and a 2.42 WHIP in his first two.
- Is 2-0 with a 3.28 ERA and 23 strikeouts in five starts with the Stripers.
- Averaging 8.39 strikeouts per nine innings with Gwinnett while having a 5.33 rate with Atlanta.
2023 Recap
- On May 21 Shuster became just the second pitcher in Braves franchise history (dating to 1901) to hold an opponent to one hit or less while pitching at least 6.0 innings and recording seven or more strikeouts in one of his first five career starts… Ian Anderson became the first pitcher in the organization to do so on September 9, 2020.
- Held Seattle to one hit, a solo home run, with seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings of one-run ball.
- Recalled to Atlanta on May 16.
- Was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after last start against San Diego on April 7.
- Made his major league debut against Washington on April 2.
- Allowed six hits, four runs and five walks through 4.2 innings pitched.
- Was the third player from the Braves’ 2020 First-Year Player Draft to debut with the club.
- Joined Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder as the other hurlers from the ‘20 draft class to play for Atlanta.
- Became the eighth Braves pitcher to debut with a start against the Nationals/Expos.
- Pitched to a 1.74 ERA in six appearances, four starts, with 19 strikeouts through 20.2 innings pitched in Spring Training.
- Began the Spring without allowing a run in his first four outings (12.2 IP).
- Made his firs Opening Day Roster.
