COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
THE GANG HITS THE ROAD
• The Colorado Rockies continue their seven-game road trip this afternoon with the final game of a four-game set against the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies … following today’s game, will head to Cleveland for three games against the Guardians.
• The Rockies have dropped each of the last two games to the Phillies 4-3 after winning the series opener 5-0.
• The Rockies .273 winning percentage is last in the National League and tied for the worst winning percentage through 22 games in franchise history (also: 2002, 2005).
• Yesterday’s loss ensured a seventh straight winless series to begin the season, the first time in franchise history that Colorado has failed to win any of their first seven series … have lost four and split their previous six series prior to this four-game set … the 2005 Rockies were the only other club in franchise history to go winless through their first six series of the season.
WIT OUT
• Colorado has made a MLB-high 17 errors and allowed an MLB-most 17 unearned runs through their first 22 games.
• Rockies pitchers have posted a 46.1 ground ball percentage so far this season, tied for the fifth-highest percentage in the Majors … opposing batters have put 558 balls in play against Rockies pitching, the third-most in the Majors.
ROCKY
• Charlie Blackmon is sitting at 890 career runs scored, two shy of tying Larry Walker for the second-most in franchise history.
• Blackmon’s 291 career doubles are six short of tying Walker for the second-most doubles in franchise history
• Germán Márquez needs just seven strikeouts to tie Jorge De La Rosa for the most strikeouts in franchise history … Márquez’s next win will be the 66th of his career, breaking a tie with Jeff Francis for the third-most wins in franchise history … De La Rosa holds the franchise record with 86 wins.
YOUSE GUYS
• The Rockies bullpen has tossed 85.2 innings of relief through 22 games, tied for the third-most in the Majors and the most in the National League.
• Over the last 17 games since April 4, the bullpen has posted a 3.54 ERA (68.2 IP, 27 ER) with 34 walks and 73 strikeouts while allowing five home runs.
• Justin Lawrence tossed a career-high 2.1 scoreless innings of relief Thursday night, allowing two hits with one walk and a career-high tying four strikeouts (also: May 8, 2021 at STL) … has not allowed a run on the road this season (5.2 IP) with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
• Brent Suter’s 1.46 ERA (12.2 IP, 2 ER) is the eighth-lowest in the National League among relievers with at least 10 innings pitched … the left-hander has spun more than one inning in seven of eight games this season.
GOBBLER
• Elias Díaz’s 20 games at catcher are the most in all of baseball … his .333 batting average ranks eighth in overall in the NL … his 24 hits (22 as a catcher, two as a pinch-hitter) are the most among primary catchers in the Majors.
• His five caught stealings are tied for third in baseball while allowing six stolen bases, a 60 percent stolen base rate that is second in the Majors among catchers who have seen 10 or more attempts … his only two errors behind the dish came on two catcher’s interference calls on Opening Day.
SCRAPPLE
• Kris Bryant homered for the second consecutive day on Tuesday night, his first two home runs at Coors Field as a member of the Rockies … hit each of his first six home runs with the Rockies came on the road, including his first home run of the season last Friday at Seattle.
• Bryant is slashing .288/.360/.450 on the season and has reached base safely in 19 of 21 games … has reached base safely in 56 of 63 total games in his Rockies career, slashing .300/.370/.467.
TAP MAC
• Ryan McMahon has made his last five starts at third base after starting his first 17 at second base in place of the injured Brendan Rodgers (2022 2B Gold Glove winner) … McMahon was a finalist for the Gold Glove at third base in both 2021 and 2022.
• At the plate since returning to the hot corner, McMahon is 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles, one home run and four RBI.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #51 JOSÉ UREÑA RHP
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
• Made 17 starts in a Rockies uniform in 2022, going 3-8 (Rockies 6-11) while posting a 5.14 ERA (89.1 IP, 51 ER) with 38 walks and 60 strikeouts … allowed 10 home runs while opponents slashed .289/.356/.425 (102-for353).
• Signed by the Rockies to a Minor League contract on May 16 … was a member of Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster and made four appearances
out of the bullpen before being designated for assignment on May 2.
• Re-signed by the Rockies to a one-year Major League contract on Nov. 11, 2022.
RIGHT THE SHIP
• Allowed three runs over five innings on April 12 vs. St. Louis, his longest start of the season after failing to make it out of the third inning in his first two starts of the year … all three runs came on a solo home run and a two-run home run.
• Logged six strikeouts for the first time since Sept. 28, 2022 at San Francisco … walked one batter after walking seven and striking out one over his first two starts.
• Last time out, allowed a season-high five earned runs through 4.2 innings, with seven hits and two home runs allowed.
THE HOME RUN HIGHWAY
• His seven home runs allowed are tied for the second-most in the Majors, tied for the most in the NL.
• Has allowed at least one home run in every start this season … surrendered two in each of his last three outings, a streak that is tied for the second-longest in Colorado Rockies history (last: Kyle Freeland, June 5-16, 2021).
• Nelson Cruz (April 19-May 8, 2003) and Jason Jennings (Aug. 28-Sept. 13, 2002) hold the franchise record with four-consecutive starts with two or more home runs allowed.
ONWARDS
• Failed to make it out of the third inning in both of his first two starts, allowing 10 total runs (eight earned) on 12 hits across five innings this season … has walked seven and struck out two.
• Was the first starter in franchise history to begin a Rockies season with two starts of less than three innings … RHP Victor Santos (Sept. 14 & Sept. 22, 2002) and RHP Marvin Freeman (April 27 & May 2, 1995) each began their seasons with two such starts, but not at the beginning of the Rockies’ season.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
• Has received 30 total runs of support over his 21 starts with the Rockies since last season, a 2.60 run support average that is the lowest in the Majors (min. 20 GS).
• Received three runs of support in his last start against Pittsburgh … prior, had not received more than two runs of support since Aug. 30 of last season, his last win (3-2 Rockies at Atlanta).
• His 2.42 RSA in 2022 was the lowest in the Majors (min. 15 starts) and the lowest for a Rockies starter in a single-season in franchise history (min. 15 GS).
THE FINAL STRETCH
• Spun at least five frames and allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts for the Rockies in 2022, good for a 2.25 ERA (28.0 IP, 7 ER) through that span.
RING THE BELL
• Has made 18 career appearances against Philadelphia, 13 starts, going 3-6 with a 4.62 ERA (76.0 IP, 39 ER) and 16 home runs allowed.
• Gave up six runs, five earned runs, through 4.1 innings on Sept. 12, 2020 against Philadelphia in his last outing against the opponent … prior to this start, posted a 1.67 ERA (27.0 IP, 5 ER) through his previous five games, four starts, against the Phillies.
COORS FIELD
• Was 2-5 (Rockies 3-5) in eight starts at Coors Field in 2022, posting a 6.30 ERA (40.0 IP, 28 ER) with 18 walks and 29 strikeouts … allowed opponents to bat .311 (51-for-164) with six home runs … walked multiple batters in seven of eight starts (4.05 BB/9).
• Received a total of nine runs of support across his eight starts, with seven of those runs coming Aug. 19 vs. San Francisco in a 7-4 Rockies win … received no runs five times and one run twice.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #22 RECAP: The Phillies defeated the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, in a Saturday matinee at CBP in South Philly … Starter Cristopher Sanchez (ND) made a spot start and went 4.1 innings – he allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts …. Nick Castellanos went 3-for-4 with three extra-base hits (2 HR, 2 2B) and scored two runs … Connor Brogdon (1.2 IP), Gregory Soto (1.0 IP), Seranthony Dominguez (1.0 IP) and Craig Kimbrel (1.0 IP) made scoreless appearances in relief of Sanchez.
TRANSACTIONS: Prior to today’s game, the Phillies recalled RHP Yunior Marte from Lehigh Valley (AAA) … Following yesterday’s game, LHP Cristopher Sanchez was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: After starting the year 0-4 and being outscored 37-12 (-25) through their first four games (3/30-4/3), the Phillies have gone 10-8 with a +9 run differential in their 18 games since … Philadelphia has won three of their last four (since 4/19), five of their last seven (since 4/16) and six of their last nine (since 4/14).
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: Through nine games at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies are averaging 38,888 in attendance per game which ranks 5th among all clubs in MLB behind only the Dodgers (49,418), Padres (40,343), Cardinals (39,881) and Yankees (39,577).
CASTY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND: Yesterday, Nick Castellanos had three extra base hits in a game for the eighth time in his career (last: 8/16/22 at CIN) and he had two home runs in a game for the 10th time (last: 9/1/21 with CIN vs STL) … Castellanos put three balls in play over 100 MPH – 107.0 MPH on a home run, 106.0 MPH on a double and 100.0 MPH on another home run.
JUST. SCORE. FOUR.: This season, the Phillies are 9-3 in 12 games when they score at least four runs … Conversely, they are 1-9 in 10 games when they score three runs or fewer … Dating back to the start of last season, the Phillies are 80-26 (.755 win %) when they score four or more and 17-61 (.218 win %) when they score three or fewer.
WHEELS AT 200: Today will mark the 200th career start for Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler … Of his first 199 career starts, 73 have come with the Phillies … Since joining the Phillies prior to the 2020 season, Wheeler is 31-20 with a 2.91 ERA (148 ER, 458.0 IP) and 486 strikeouts to 103 walks (4.72 SO/BB ratio) … Wheeler made his postseason debut last year with the Phillies – in six starts, he posted a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) with a 0.73 WHIP … He faced 135 batters last postseason and held them to a .153/.222/.226 slash line … In any single postseason in MLB history, among all pitchers to face at least 100 batters, Wheeler’s .448 OPS in the 2022 playoffs ranks 6th all-time behind only Mike Mussina in 1997 with BAL (.406 OPS), Madison Bumgarner in 2014 with SF (.407 OPS), Curt Schilling in 2001 with ARI (.435 OPS), Orel Hershiser in 1988 with LAD (.439 OPS) and Randy Johnson in 2001 with ARI (.439 OPS).
FOUR TO GO FOR 400: In yesterday’s 4-3 win over the Rockies, Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless 9th inning (1 SO) and picked up his 396th career save … Kimbrel’s 396th career save came in his 719th game – the only two pitchers in MLB history to reach 400 saves in 800 or fewer career games were Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (400th SV in 697th career G) and Trevor Hoffman (400th SV in 706th career G) … Billy Wagner currently ranks 3rd-fastest in MLB history as he reached his 400th save in his 813th career game.
SLAMMIN’ EDDY SOSA: Since joining the Phillies at last year’s trade deadline, INF Edmundo Sosa has started 24 games for the Phillies and is slashing .342/.366/.618 with a .984 OPS in 83 plate appearances … The Phillies are 15-9 in the 24 games Sosa has started since being acquired (.625 win %).
MARSH MADNESS: Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh enters today’s game slashing .359/.438/.719 with a 1.157 OPS that leads major league baseball (next: LAD’s James Outman, 1.122 OPS) … Marsh has reached base safely in 19 of his 20 games played this season, including each of his last 18 (since 4/3 at NYY) … Since being acquired by the Phillies via trade from the Los Angeles Angels for Logan O’Hoppe at least year’s deadline, Marsh is slashing .311/.360/.541 with a .901 OPS that ranks 10th among 193 MLB players with 200+ plate appearances in that span.
STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, GOOD LUCK: In Friday night’s 4-3 win over the Rockies, Jose Alvarado picked up his 3rd save with a scoreless 9th inning … Alvarado did not record a strikeout for the second consecutive appearance – on 4/19 at CWS, Alvarado snapped a streak of 14 consecutive appearances with 2+ strikeouts (9/13/22-4/18/23) … Alvarado, who has faced 32 batters this season, has 18 strikeouts and 0 walks … Since his last walk on Sept. 21, 2022 vs TOR, Alvarado has faced 51 batters and has struck out 30 of them (58.8% SO rate) with 0 walks.
BULLISH ON THE PEN: Over the last seven games (since 4/16 at CIN), the Phillies bullpen has totaled 21.0 innings pitched with only 2 ER allowed (0.86 ERA), with 26 strikeouts and three walks (8.67 SO/BB ratio), while averaging 14.3 pitches per inning … Over their first 15 games of the season (3/30-4/15), the bullpen posted a 7.19 ERA (45 ER, 56.1 IP) with 60 strikeouts to 41 walks (1.46 SO/BB ratio) while averaging 19.7 pitches per inning.
50 SCHWARBOMBS: On 4/13 at CIN, Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th career home run as a Phillie (regular season only) and became the fastest in franchise history to reach 50, doing so in his 168th game … Schwarber eclipsed Jim Thome’s previous franchise record of 50 HR in his first 172 games with the club … Ryan Howard (50 HR in 182 G) ranks 3rd, Rhys Hoskins (50 HR in 192 G) ranks 4th and Chuck Klein (50 HR in 195 G) ranks 5th … Of Schwarber’s 51 regular season home runs with the Phillies, 48 have been hit with an exit velocity north of 100.0 MPH (94.1%) and 16 of those 51 have been hit over 110.0 MPH (31.4%).
TODAY’S STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
LAST START: 4/18 at CWS: W, 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO …
Wheeler vs Lynn … Josh Harrison returned to Chicago and went 3-for-5 \with a HR and 4 RBI and Bryson Stott extended his hitting streak to 17 games
TODAY’S START:
• Citizens Bank Spark: Wheeler is 6-1 with a 1.58 ERA (14 ER, 79.2 IP), 0.92 WHIP and 87 SO to 22 BB in his last 13 home starts (since 4/28/22), the lowest in the NL in that span and 3rd-lowest in MLB behind Justin Verlander (1.43) and Shohei Ohtani (1.45) … He has not allowed a HR at home since 8/9/22 vs MIA (Has 4 straight homerless starts at home) … His 2.22 home ERA (64 ER, 259.1 IP) since joining the Phillies is also 2nd to only Alexander (2.04) among all Phillies pitchers with at least 25 starts at home since ER became an official NL stat in 1912 …
Since Wheeler joined the Phillies, he has the lowest home ERA in baseball among pitchers with at least 40 home starts
• Mr. 200: Wheeler is making his 200th career start today … He will join 35 other active pitchers in the 200-start club (most Zack Greinke, 519) … His first start came nearly 10 years ago on 6/18/13 at ATL (W, 6.0 shutout IP), and his 100th came exactly 4 years ago today on 4/23/19 against PHI, when he threw 7.0 shutout IP against his future club
• In The Yard: Wheeler has allowed just 1 HR this season and is one of just 10 NL pitchers to have thrown at least 20.0 IP and surrendered 1 or 0 HR
• Ace True Value: Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler’s 14.0 fWAR is the 2nd-highest in MLB, trailing only Corbin Burnes’ 14.6 and is nearly a win over the 3rd place pitcher (Aaron Nola, 13.2) … Since 2020, he ranks 6th in MLB in IP (458.0) & BB% (5.6%), 8th in MLB in ERA (2.96, min. 400.0 IP), 9th in SO/BB (4.72)
• Battery Operated: Wheeler has made 60 starts with J.T. Realmuto behind the plate, more than any other catcher who has caught him … His 4.71 SO/BB ratio with Realmuto behind the dish is the highest among all catchers who have caught Wheeler for at least 10 games, and his 2.87 ERA (118 ER, 370.2 IP) is 2nd (best: Kevin Plawecki, 2.19 in 12 starts)
• vs NL West: 14-9, 3.43 ERA (79 ER, 207.0) in 34 starts
HOME:
• 2023: 0-0, 2.38 ERA (3 ER, 11.1 IP) in 2 starts
• Career: 36-31, 3.34 ERA (230 ER, 619.0 IP) in 100 starts
• CBP: 20-9, 2.37 ERA (80 ER, 303.1 IP) in 47 starts
2023 SEASON:
• On 4/12 vs MIA extended his streak of home starts without allowing a HR to 4 and his streak of 5 or fewer hits allowed at home to 9
