COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
A LONG ROAD
- The Colorado Rockies continue their 10-game road trip today with the finale of a four-game set in Atlanta today … 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).
- The Rockies look to avoid their seventh sweep of the season today, their fifth on the road and their second in a four-game set (also: May 29-June 1 at Arizona) … Atlanta last swept a four-game set over the Rockies just last season at Coors Field, June 2-5, but this would mark Colorado’s first time getting swept in Atlanta since July 29-Aug. 1, 2013 … prior to the current set, the Rockies had won 11 of their last 14 in Atlanta and 16 of their last 23.
- Captured the series win over the Red Sox 2-1 earlier this week … second series win at Fenway Park in franchise history, joining the 2007 club who took two out of three June 12-14.
- 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 10-19 through the first 29 games of this stretch.
BIG MAC
- Ryan McMahon has reached base in 22 of his last 24 with 11 multi-hit games since May 23 … is slashing .363/.453/.681 (33-for-91) with seven doubles, two triple, six home runs, 20 RBI and 14 walks over that span … since May 23, is second in the NL in OBP and slugging, is third in OPS (1.134) and batting, and tied for third in extra-base hits (15) … his 20 doubles on the season are tied for the fifth-most in the NL.
- McMahon’s 2.4 WAR (Baseball Reference) leads NL players with at least 50% of their games at third base this season … 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 .291/.371/.513 with 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 30 RBI.
THIS ‘N THAT
- The Rockies’ bullpen through the first three games of this series has allowed two earned runs through 12.2 innings (1.42 ERA) … has walked four and fanned eight.
- 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 since May 24 … 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 tied for the fifth-most in the Majors … his 19 doubles on the season are tied for the seventh-most in the NL.
- OF Brenton Doyle, father to Braelynn, 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 38 games with a plate appearance (42 games overall).
MR. JONES
- Since his recall from Triple-A on May 26, Nolan Jones is slashing .324/.400/.563 with five doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and four stolen bases while recording a hit in 15 of 20 games … ranks 10th in the NL in slugging, 11th in batting and 12th in OPS (.963) through this span.
- The 25-year-old’s walk-off home run last Sunday vs. San Diego was the first of his career, and the first walkoff 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.
BABY GOT BACKSTOP
- Catcher Elias Díaz, father to Eliana and Elanie, is batting .295, the ninth-highest average in the Majors and the highest among all MLB catchers … his .336 (36-for-107) average at home is the sixth-highest in the Majors while his .359 (23-for-64) average with runners in scoring position is the ninth-highest in the NL.
- Has appeared in 58 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 Ryan McMahon’s 1.2 defensive WAR are tied for the fifth-best in baseball (Baseball Reference) … SS Ezequiel Tovar’s 1.0 dWAR is eighth-best in the NL.
- 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 … his four total outfield assists are tied for the third-most among Major League rookies.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – $26 AUSTIN GOMBER LHP
DIRTY WATER
- Last time out on Wednesday in Boston, took the loss after allowing three runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one.
- His 91 pitches marked a season-high for the southpaw, last throwing at least 91 pitches on July 17, 2022 against Pittsburgh when he threw 94.
HURLING AGAINST THE RED LEGS
- Will be making his eighth career appearance (fourth start) against the Reds, having gone 1-0 with a 4.29 ERA (21.0 IP, 10 ER) dating back to June 8, 2018.
- In three appearances as a starter against the Reds, is 1-0 (team record 3-0) with a 4.58 ERA (17.2 IP, 9 ER), striking out 10 and walking four.
- In five outings at Great American Ball Park has recorded a 2.70 ERA (9.2 IP, 3 ER), holding batters to a .133/.257/.233 slash line.
- Last faced the Reds on May 17 in a Rockies 11-6 win, taking a no-decision after allowing five runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings.
HOW THE TURNTABLES…
- Has gone 4-2 with the Rockies logging a 7-3 record over his last 10 starts since April 24 … has posted a 5.72 ERA (50.1 IP, 32 ER) over that span with 19 walks and 32 strikeouts … has received 41 total runs of support this stretch, a 7.33 run support average.
- Was on the losing side of each of his first four starts of the season, the eighth time a Rockies starter has started 0-4 through their first four starts of a season … first since Roy Oswalt (five straight, June 20-Sept. 14) and Jeff Manship (four straight, Aug. 8-24) in 2013.
ON YOUR LEFT
- Left-handed hitters have hit .390 (23-for-59) with five home runs off Gomber this season after holding opposing lefties to a .221 average in 2022 (30-for-136), the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced.).
- Entering this season lefties had slashed .236/.294/.373 (88-for-373) with 10 home runs off Gomber.
WON FOR THE ROAD
- Has won two of his past four road starts, allowing seven total runs on 20 hits across 19.2 innings (3.20 ERA)
- Is 2-3 with a 4.60 ERA (29.1 IP, 15 ER) overall in six road starts … went 6-11 with a 6.07 ERA (105.1 IP, 71 ER) in 22 road starts in his first two seasons with the Rockies from 2021-22.
- Went 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA (46.0 IP, 13 ER) in his first nine career road starts with the Cardinals.
HEART OF THE ORDER
- So far this season, opposing number 3-4-5 hitters are hitting .232 (23-for99) against Gomber, striking out 17 times.
- Conversely, the 1-2 spots in the order are 28-for-74 (.378) off the southpaw
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TRANSACTIONS
- Before tonight’s first pitch, the Reds are expected to return from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstate from the 60-day injured list 1B Joey Votto, who will make his 2023 season debut…he is in the lineup at first base, batting sixth…the necessary 26-man and 40-man roster moves will be announced prior to gametime.
- Votto on 2023 Opening Day went on the 15-day injured list while recovering from 8/19/22 surgeries to repair the left biceps and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder…missed the last 46 games of the 2022 season.
- Votto joins the Reds’ active roster after 12 rehab apps with Louisville (6/3- 6/18, 10gs at 1B, 2gs at DH, 6-37, .162, 1 2b, 2hr, 6rbi, 13bb, 11k, 6r).
RED HOTS
- The Reds’ 8-game winning streak is the longest active winning streak in the Major Leagues and their longest since a 10-game winning streak from 7/19-7/29, 2012.
- The Reds are coming off a 10-day, 8-1 road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only the second time, 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)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Reds baserunners in 61 attempts have scored 60 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
- Reds batters ranks second in the Major Leagues with 76 stolen bases (TB 96), their highest total since 2019 (80sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all last season…have been successful on 36 of their last 39 attempts, including 13 of their last 14 steal attempts.
- 9 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (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)…12 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
- Chattanooga OF Rece Hinds last week was MiLB’s Southern League Player of the Week…was the Reds’ second-round draft pick in 2019.
- Chattanooga RHP Connor Phillips last week was MiLB’s Southern League Pitcher of the Week…won the award for the second straight week (6/5-6/11)…in March 2022 was acquired from the Mariners as the player to be named in the trade that sent 3B Eugenio Suárez and OF Jesse Winker to Sea.
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Shelby Cravens’ Rockies and Game 1 of a 7-day homestand that includes Thursday’s off day followed by a 3-game series vs the Braves.
- Following this homestand the Reds travel to Baltimore for a brief 3-game series vs the Orioles before returning to Great American Ball Park for a 3-game series against the Padres, Cin’s last home series of the first half.
BRAVES UP NEXT
- The Braves lead this season’s series, 3-0, following their series sweep from 4/10-4/12 at Truist Park…was their first series sweep win over the Reds during the regular season since 4/25-4/27, 2014, also at Truist (3g). • The Reds are 25-26 vs Atl in the last 51 regular season games and went 4-3-1 in the previous 8 season series.
THE ONLY REDS
- LHP Andrew Abbott is the first Major League pitcher since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, to begin his career with 3
consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings…over his first 3 starts has begun his Major League career with 17.2 scoreless innings, a new club record since 1893…in Fri’s 2-1 win at Hou, he broke that team record held by Wayne Simpson, who in 1970 began his Major League
career with 15.0 scoreless innings…@EliasSports. - In last Mon’s 10-inning, 5-4 win at KC, RHP Ricky Karcher became the only Reds pitcher since 1969, when the save became an official statistic, to record a save in his Major League debut…was the third pitcher in the Major Leagues this season to record a save in his Major League debut, joining TB’s Braden Bristo (4/13 vs Bos) and Min’s Brent Headrick (4/19 at Bos)…SF’s Keaton Winn joined that short list on 6/13 at StL
Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP
- Tonight is making his seventh Major League appearance and start…will be is second appearance vs the Rockies.
- On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19.
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k).
- Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari).
- In that 3-1 win on 5/16 at Col, allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, his first career batter faced, but didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo HR in the sixth inning snapped the scoreless tie…Williamson retired 14 consecutive batters leading up to Tovar’s home run.
