COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
DOWN THE STRETCH
- The Colorado Rockies continue their final road trip of the season today with the third and final game of a three-game series at San Diego … will play three games at Wrigley Field Friday-Sunday to conclude the 2023 road schedule. The Rockies are coming off of a 5-2 homestand, taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs and three of four from the San Francisco Giants, their first time winning back-to-back series since May 22-28 against Miami and New York-NL … Colorado won a season-best five-straight from Sept. 12-16, their longest winning streak since July 12-16, 2022. Since Aug. 7, 35 of the Rockies’ 40 games have come against teams with winning records, with the Rockies going 12-28 … following this series against the Padres, the Rockies will finish their season with 10 games against teams above .500.
THE FULL MONTY
- Elehuris Montero had his 26-game on-base streak snapped last night, the second-longest streak by a Rockies player this season … it was 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 .326/.400/.522 since Aug. 14 with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 14 RB … his batting average ranks seventh in the NL over this span. #19 With his two RBI Monday night, Charlie Blackmon passed Vinny Castilla (745) for the sixth-most RBI in franchise history … he is two shy of tying former teammate Carlos Gonzalez (749) for the fifth most. Since being reinstated from the injured list on Aug. 14, Blackmon has slashed .324/.422/.491, reaching base safely in 28 of 30 games with 15 walks and 15 strikeouts.
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 79 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 14 defensive runs saved are the third-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 tied for the third-most among all infielders and rank second among third basemen.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #45 CHASE ANDERSON RHP
MR. ANDERSON
- Chase Anderson will make his fourth start today after being reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Sept. 3 … placed on the IL July 28 with right shoulder inflammation. Joined the Rockies after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on May 12 … designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on May 10 after being acquired via trade with Cincinnati in exchange for cash considerations on May 3. Was signed by the Reds to a Minor League contract on Feb. 20 after spending the 2022 season with the club.
NO NO-NO
- In his last start on Sept. 15 vs. San Francisco, spun seven no-hit innings, allowing one run to score after a leadoff walk in the second came around to score on a fielder’s choice … tied for the longest no-hit bid of his career (3x, last: May 27, 2017 vs. Arizona). The Rockies took the combined no-hitter into the ninth inning (Chase Anderson, Justin Lawrence, Nick Mears) before J.D. Davis spoiled the bid with a leadoff double in the ninth … tied for the second-longest no-hit bid at Coors Field in franchise history with Germán Márquez’ eight no-hit innings on June 29, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh and trailing Kyle Freeland’s 8.1 no-hit innings on July 9, 2017 vs. Chicago-AL Tied a career high with five walks (3x, last: July 9, 2016 vs. St. Louis), becoming the seventh Rockie in franchise history (10th time) to walk five or more while throwing at least seven shutout frames, the second to do so at Coors Field (also: Jason Jennings, June 20, 2006 vs. Oakland).
BROWN AND YELLOW
- Has made 10 career starts against the Padres, going 3-1 with a 3.88 ERA (58 .0 IP, 25 ER) in those contests … 1-0 with a 3.70 ERA (24.1 IP, 0 ER) in four career starts at PETCO, going at least six innings in three of his road outings. Last tossed against the Friars on Aug. 7, 2018 at American Family Field in Milwaukee … allowed four runs on five hits, two of them home runs, with four walks and four strikeouts … earned a no-decision in the 11-5 Brewers’ loss.
ANNOUNCE HIS PRESENCE WITH AUTHORITY
- Made his first career start with the Rockies on May 16 vs. the Reds, drawing a no-decision in a 3-1 Rockies loss … pitched five scoreless innings with one hit allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. Became the ninth pitcher in franchise history to toss at least five scoreless innings in his first start with the club, the first since Antonio Senzatela did so in his Major League debut on April 6, 2017 … first Rockies pitcher to accomplish the feat in a home game since Drew Pomeranz on his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 2011.
RAYS OF SUNSHINE
- Made two relief appearances for Tampa Bay on May 3 and May 9, both in relief, after being acquired from Cincinnati on May 3. Pitched five innings without allowing a run in his relief appearances. Tossed three scoreless innings on May 3 vs. Pittsburgh, garnering his first career save in an 8-1 Rays win.
SAN DIEGO PADRES NOTES:
Blake Snell lowers ERA to 2.33 as he goes 7.0 hitless & scoreless innings, and Xander Bogaerts hits his 1st walk-off HR as a Padre
- Starter Blake Snell went 7.0 innings of no-hit, no-run ball, striking out 10 with 4 walks allowed…it tied his outing on August 31, 2021 @ AZ for his longest without allowing a hit, and he finished his start leading MLB in ERA (2.33) and opponent average (.181)…with his 5th strikeout of his 10 last night, Snell set a new career high in punchouts in a season (has 227 SO in ’23, besting his previous high of 221 in 2018). Snell and Robert Suarez held the Rockies hitless, but to lead off the 9th, Josh Hader allowed a single to CF by Brendan Rodgers, ending their combined no-hitter bid…the latest into a game the Padres ever had a combined no-hitter was July 9, 2011 @ LAD (went 8.2 innings without a hit, losing 1-0). SD was held scoreless until the 9th, when Xander Bogaerts hit his 2nd-career walk-off HR (1st since July 14, 2018 vs. TOR).
Padres riding a 6-game winning streak
- With yesterday’s win, the Padres have won 6 straight games, their longest streak since their 8-game winning streak from June 17-25, 2021…the Friars have also won a Major League-most 7 games since September 11 (are 7-1), and they’ve now won 3 straight series, which is their 2nd time in 2023 that they won 3 straight series…a win today would be their 2nd straight series sweep, their 1st time sweeping their opponents in back-to-back series since June 17-20, 2021 vs. CIN and June 21-23, 3021 vs. LAD. The Padres’ 8 wins over the Rockies this year are already the most against any single opponent, and thought the Padres won 9 over Colorado last year, they played 6 fewer games against them in 2023.
Snell continues to astound
- Blake Snell went 6.0 scoreless, 1-hit innings on Sept. 13 @ LAD, and after last night, he became the 1st Padre to ever have back-to-back outings of going at least 6.0 scoreless innings with 1 or 0 hits allowed…it’s the 1st time he’s done so in his career, and he’s the first pitcher this season. Snell is also the 1st pitcher in MLB history to have a 21 start stretch with a 1.23 ERA, 64-or-fewer hits allowed, and at least 173 strikeouts…he’s posted those marks in his 21 starts since May 31.
Padres in their final homestand of 2023 season
- The 6-game, 7-day homestand vs. Colorado & St. Louis is the SD’s final homestand of 2023, with this set being their penultimate home series…after tomorrow’s off day, they’ll host the Cardinals for 3 G.
STARTING PITCHER – SETH LUGO 67
Lugo makes 3rd start of ’23 vs. Rockies
33-year-old Seth Lugo takes the mound for his career-high 25th start of the year, having surpassed his 18 starts from 2017 for the most in a season…it’s his 3rd start this year against the Rockies, having gone 7.0 innings in both of his previous outings (on April 2 in SD and July 31 in Denver) for a 1.93 ERA (3 ER, 14.0 IP). So far, he’s held Rockie hitters to a .180 opponent AVG (9-for-50) with 16 strikeouts against just 3 BB, and in his last outing against them on July 31, he allowed 2 ER in 7.0 innings @ Coors Field, fanning a since-tied career-high 9 batters (tied his total on August 18 vs. AZ).
Last time out: Friday @ Oakland
Lugo was credited with the win on Friday against the A’s after tossing 6.0 inings of 5-hit, 3-run ball…he punched out 7 with 1 walk allowed for his 7th win of 2023 (now 7-7)…Lugo has now gone at least 6.0 innings in 5 of his last 6 starts.
In pursuit of his career-high 8th win
With his win in his last start @ OAK, Lugo has tied his career high win total of 7 with his 2017 and 2019 seasons…his next will set his new career best…he’s already blown past his career high in innings pitched (131.2 this year, besting his previous high of 101.1 in 2017 and ’18), and his 24 starts and 126 strikeouts entering today are also his most in a season.
Quality starts
Seth Lugo has the 2nd-most quality outings (15) on SD’s staff behind only Blake Snell’s 19… before this season, his career-high in quality outings were his 8 in 2017…San Diego starters lead the National Leage in quality starts (69).
Seth, his sinker, and his curveball
Lugo has held batters to a .202 opponent AVG when throwing his sinker, the best mark of any starter in MLB when throwing a sinker (min. 100 batters faced). With his curveball, his spin rate of 3,243 RPM (revolutions per minute) is the highest in all of baseball this year…however, opponents are hitting .288 against it compared to the .159 clip against it in 2022.
