COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
DOWN THE STRETCH
- Began their final road trip of the season tonight in San Diego … will play three games at Petco Park Monday/Wednesday and finish with a weekend series (Friday-Sunday) at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Began their last homestand with a series win over the Chicago Cubs, their first series win since taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox Aug. 18-19 … took three of four from San Francisco, their first time with back-to-back series wins since May 22-28 against Miami (3-1) and New York-NL (2-1). Since Aug. 7, 33 of the Rockies 36 games have come against teams with winning records … 10 of the 3 games remaining on the schedule are also against teams at or above .500, with the lone games against a non-winning team coming against San Diego.
TWICE AS NICE
- On Saturday, the Rockies swept the Giants in a doubleheader for the first time in franchise history, their first doubleheader sweep overall since Aug. 17, 2014 vs. Cincinnati … was the first doubleheader the club has played in 2023 (last: Sept. 4, 2022 at Cincinnati). Marked the fourth time the Rockies and Giants met in a doubleheader, all taking place at Coors Field, with each club going 4-4 in those games. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar collected multiple hits in both games, going a combined 5-for-8 with three runs scored, one double, one triple, five RBI and one stolen base … per Elias, he was the second Rockie in franchise history to combine for at least five hits and five RBI across a doubleheader, joining Eric Young Sr. on July 23, 1996 (7 H, 5 RBI) … also per Elias, he was the first Major League rookie to achieve the feat since Ronald Acuña Jr. on Aug. 13, 2018 (5 H, 5 RBI).
YOU’RE THE WEST AROUND
- Colorado has won a season-long five-straight games Sept. 12-16 during its last homestand, its first time collecting at least five consecutive wins since July 12-16, 2022 … that five-game stretch also marked the last time the Rockies won five in a row at Coors Field. The Rockies earned their first series win against an NL West opponent in 2023 by taking three of four from the Giants at Coors Field this past weekend … their last series win within the division came Sept. 9-11, 2022 vs. Arizona when they took two out of three at Coors Field … have gone 12-33 against the NL West this season, a .267 winning percentage that is the lowest in franchise history against the division.
THE FULL MONTY
- 1B/DH Elehuris Montero has reached base in a career-best 25 games since Aug. 14, the longest active streak in the Majors … it’s the longest streak by a Rockies player under the age of 26 since Nolan Arenado reached base in 30-straight games April 9-May 10, 2014. Montero has slashed .345/.423/.560 over this stretch with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 14 RB … his batting average ranks seventh in the Majors over this span, while his OBP is eighth … his .982 OPS is 10th-best in the National League (min. 90 PA).
STRONG ARMED
- Rookie outfielders Nolan Jones (98.7 MPH) and Brenton Doyle (96.4 MPH) rank first and sixth, respectively, among all Major Leaguers in average arm strength … the pair own four of the top five fastest outfield assists in the Majors, with Doyle owning five of the top 11, and they are the only players in the Majors with multiple outfield assists over 100 MPH … per Sarah Langs, the Rockies four outfield assists of 100+ MPH are the most by any team in the Statcast Era, just ahead of the 2015 Rays (three). Jones’ 16 outfield assists are the second-most in the Majors and tied for the second-most outfield assists in franchise history with Brade Hawpe (2006) despite only 77 starts in the outfield … one shy of tying Dante Bichette with a franchise-record 17 outfield assists in 1999 through 144 games … Doyle’s 10 outfield assists are tied for the eighth-most in the Majors … they are just the fifth pair of rookie teammates in the expansion era to have 10 or more outfield assists in the same season, the first since Marty Cordova (12) and Rich Becker (12) of the 1995 Minnesota Twins.
GOLDEN GLOW
- Center fielder Brenton Doyle’s 19.4 UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating), which factors in arm strength, range and errors, is the best in baseball, leading second-place Fernado Tatis Jr. with a 12.3 UZR (FanGraphs) … the Braves’ Michael Harris II is the nearest center fielder with a 5.5 UZR. Ezequiel Tovar’s 13 DRS are the fourth-most among Major League shortstops and second in the NL … his .987 fielding percentage is tied with Troy Tulowitzki (2007) for the best fielding percentage by a rookie shortstop in MLB history. Ryan McMahon’s 16 defensive runs saved are the ninth-most in the Majors and are the second-most among all third basemen.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #50 TY BLACH LHP
DENVER COUN-TY
- The Denver-born Ty Blach will be making his 11th start of the season today for the Rockies, his 18th appearance. Attended Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado. Selected by the San Francisco Giants selected in the 12th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Creighton University. Signed by Colorado to a Minor League deal on Dec. 17, 2021 after being released by the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 10, 2020. His nickname is “The Preacher”.
LAST TIME OUT
- Allowed three earned runs through five frames on Sept. 13 against the Cubs while earning the win, his seventh start of five innings or more this season … walked one and struck out four. Did not allow a home run, one of four homer-less starts this season.
SUNNY SAN DIEGO
- The southpaw has made one appearance and no starts against San Diego, allowing two runs through three innings on April 1 during the 2023 opening series. Has faced the Padres 13 times in his career, including five starts against the Friars … is 0-3 as a starter in the match up with a 4.23 ERA (27.2 IP, 13), his most recent start coming on April 13, 2018 at Petco Park (5.0,7,4,3,1,3) … holds a 5.27 ERA (13.2 IP, 8 ER) in three career starts in San Diego.
RELIEVER STARTER
- Has posted a 4.09 ERA (50.2 IP, 23 ER) with 15 walks and 33 strikeouts in his 10 starts since July 23. Made his first start of the year on July 23 at Miami in what was a bullpen game at the time … spun three innings and allowed just two hits with two strikeouts. Became a regular member of the rotation after his first start … tossed five scoreless innings with three hits allowed in his second start, July 30 vs. Oakland. Made seven appearances out of the bullpen before joining the rotation … over the seven relief appearances allowed 13 runs (10 earned) in 13.1 innings … allowed 24 hits, two walks with five strikeouts. From April 28 through the first inning on Aug. 5, tossed 12 consecutive scoreless innings, tied for the third-longest scoreless inning streak by a Rockies pitcher this season.
HOME SWEET HOME
- Has gone 3-0 with a 4.7 ERA (30.1 IP, 16 ER) in nine appearances (four starts) at Coors Field this season. The Colorado native has combined to go 4-1 with a 5.25 ERA (73.2 IP, 43 ER) in 27 career appearances (seven starts) at Coors Field. Has posted a 4.95 ERA (56.1 IP, 31 ER) in 20 total appearances (five starts) at Coors Field as a member of the Rockies … has allowed just seven home runs at home over that span (1.12 HR/9) and holds a 1.92 BB/9 rate.
EASY ROAD GOIN’
- Has gone 0-1 with a 5.37 ERA (52.0 IP, 31 ER) in 21 appearances on the road since joining the Rockies in 2022. Won in Baltimore on Aug. 27, the first Rockies’ win in any road game in which he had appeared (19 games without a win) … pitched seven innings and allowed one run on three hits … tied a career-high with seven strikeouts (also, July 23, 2017 vs. San Diego). Has not earned a win in any road game since Sept. 3, 2019 at Tampa Bay.
SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:
Juan Soto homers twice with his 1st grand slam as Padres sweep A’s in yesterday’s 10-1 win
- Juan Soto hit a 7th inning 2-run HR and followed with an grand slam in the 8th…it was his 4th multi-HR game of 2023, his 1st-career slam, and a career-high 6 RBI. Nick Martinez got the start, and he went 3.0 innings of scoreless, 1-hit ball, striking out 5…Pedro Avila followed Martinez in relief, and he also went 3.0 innings of 1-hit, scoreless ball with 5 strikeouts (though he did walk 1 batter)… San Diego pitchers struck out 16 A’s yesterday.
Padres claim their 1st 4-game win streak of ’23
- With yesterday’s win, the Padres have won 4 straight games (was their 9th time this year with an opportunity to win 4 straight), and it’s their longest streak since their 5-games from Sept. 16-21, 2022…SD was the last team in MLB to have a 4-game win streak, and they’re 1 of 3 teams (Washington and
Cleveland) to not have a 5-game win streak so far this year.
- Excluding strike and pandemic seasons, this marks the latest date in any season the Padres began their 1st winning streakof 4+ games (in 2016, San Diego did not have a win streak of 4+ games).
Padres to break the Petco Park attendance record today
- The Padres surpassed the 3,000,000 home attendance mark in their last home game and have MLB’s 3rd highest home attendance total at 3,026,191, trailing the Dodgers’ 3,517,134 and Yankees’ 3,038,001… the Padres’ original home attendance record was set in Petco Park’s 1st season in 2004 (3,016,752)… however, earlier this season, the Padres played 2 of their home games in Mexico City, with the total attendance at 39,244, so with their “Petco Park” attendance at 2,986,947 this year, they’ll need 29,806 more fans in their game today to break the “Petco Park” record.
Padres record vs. lefty and righty starters
- Today, SD will face lefty Ty Blach…against right-handed starters, the Padres have a .443 (47-59) record, but versus southpaw starters, they are .568 (25-19)…their .125 difference in win percentage (lefty over righty) is the highest in the National League…their 58 homers hit vs. LHP ranks 5th in MLB.
STARTING PITCHER – MICHAEL WACHA
Wacha makes his 22nd start of 2023
32-year-old Michael Wacha takes the mound for his 22nd start of the season…2023 now is his 3rd straight season in making 20+ starts (7th of his career), and his next win will be his 12th winning decision, tying 2017 for his 2nd-most in a season (trailing his 17 from 2015 w/ STL). Looking to turn the page on his last 2 outings Wacha was saddled with the loss on both September 6 vs. PHI and Sept. 12 @ LAD…he went just just 4.0 innings with 7 hits allowed in both starts, and in his last outing, he allowed a season-high-tying 7 ER…it’s his 1st time this year going 4.0 or fewer innings in consecutive starts…he’s also walked multiple batters in a season-long 5 straight starts since Aug. 21st.
2nd-best winning percentage in MLB since ’22 (.786)
Earned the win in 4 of his last 7 starts and enters tonight’s tilt with a 11-4 record and the Padres are 13-8 in his 21 starts…among all qualifying pitchers since the beginning of 2022, Wacha’s .786 winning percentage (22-6) is the 2nd-best in the Majors, trailing just Tony Gonsolin (24-6, .800).
Stints on the shelf
After posting his 9th quality start on June 19 @ SF, Wacha had his turn skipped in the rotation twice due to shoulder fatigue…he then improved to 8-2 in his 15th start on July 1 @ CIN and was then placed on the 15-Day IL with right shoulder inflammation on July 4…was reinstated on August 15, and since then, he’s gone 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA.
Happy 10.000
On Mon, July 17, Wacha reached 10.000 years of ML service time…he’s currently 1 of 7 Padres with 10.000+ years of service time, with Xander Bogaerts recently joining the club Aug 6.
With RISP/bases loaded
Michael has yet to allow a hit with the bases loaded this year (opponents are 0-for-9)…with RISP, opponents are hitting just .184 (18-for-98).
