HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros continue their current, 6-game road trip tonight in St. Petersburg with the 2nd of a 3-game series vs. the Rays at Tropicana Field…RHP Luis Garcia (1-2) will start for the Astros vs. Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (3-1)… VS THE RAYS: The Astros have had success vs. the Rays over the last 2 seasons (2021-22), posting a 9-3 mark in that span…HOU was 5-1 vs. TB in 2022, which included a 3-game sweep at Tropicana Field, 9/19-21…the Astros have won 6 of their last 8 and 11 of their last 16 games vs. TB overall, and have won 5 of their last 7 games at Tropicana Field.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP: The Astros fell to the Rays last night, 8-3, in the 1st game of this 3-game set…RHP Jose Urquidy (1-2) took the loss as the starter (2.2 IP, 6 ER)…Alex Bregman (No. 3) and Jeremy Pena (No. 4) each had solo HR…Mauricio Dubon tripled in his 1st AB to extend his MLB-best hitting streak to 18 games.
ABOUT LUIS: Tonight’s Astros starter RHP Luis Garcia was outstanding in his last start on 4/19 vs. TOR, allowing just 2 hits in 7.0 shutout innings while tying his career-high with 9 K’s… VS TB: tonight will be Garcia’s 4th career start vs. TB…he is 2-1 for his career vs. TB with a 3.94 ERA (7ER/16IP)…in his 2 starts vs. TB in 2022, Garcia was 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA (1ER/11IP), allowing just 5 hits in 11.0 IP (.135 opp. BA).
ROADWORK: Alex Bregman has enjoyed success on the road in 2023, hitting .324 (12×37) in 10 road games with 3 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI and 11 BB with just 4 SO…he ranks 4th in the AL in road OPS (1.128) and road OBP (.479), and 5th in road SLG (.679)…he is 6×15 (.400) on the current trip (1 HR, 4 RBI).
SWEEPSTAKES: The Astros 3-game sweep of the Braves over the weekend in ATL was their 1st series sweep of the season and their 1st since taking a 3-game set over the Rays at Tropicana Field, 9/19-21 of 2022…it was the Astros 1st sweep of 3 games or more vs. the Braves since 6/2-4 of 1995 at Fulton County Stadium…Late Surges: The Astros outscored the Braves, 9-0, from the 8th inning on in the three wins (all come-from-behind).
ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the 5th game (3-1 thus far) of a 6-game road trip in which the Astros visit two first-place opponents in ATL (15-8) and TB (20-3), who have a combined record of 35-11 (.761)…HOU is 6-4 on the road thus far in 2023…ROAD SUCCESS: The Astros were an AL-best 51-30 (.630) on the road last season and are 101-71 (.587) on the road since the start of the 2021 season, which also is tops in the AL.
VS. THE BEST: The Astros are 9-7 this season vs. clubs that are at .500 or above, which continues a trend of recent years…in 2022, the Astros were an AL-best 42-27 (.609) vs. opponents that were .500 or better and were 35-20 (.636) in the regular season vs. opponents that qualified for the playoffs…additionally in 2022, HOU ended up with an 11-2 (.846) mark in the 2022 postseason (3-0 vs. SEA, 4-0 vs. NYY, 4-2 vs. PHI).
RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 4 of their last 5 games, 5 of 7 and 9 of their last 14 games, all vs. clubs with above-.500 records.
FIRST-PLACE CLUB: From April 7-26, 5 of the 6 clubs that the Astros have played are currently in first place in their respective divisions…those 6 clubs have a combined record of 92-45 (.667)…HOU is 9-7 in that stretch thus far with 2 games to play…the 1st place clubs are MIN, PIT, TEX, ATL and TB…TOR is not in 1st place, but are 14-9 on the season.
FAMILIAR PACE: Currently at 12-11, the Astros have a similar record to the 2022 and 2021 clubs after 23 games…they were 12-11 at this point in 2022 and went on to win 106 games and the WS…they were 12-11 in 2021 and went on to win 95 games and the AL Pennant.
STREAKER: Mauricio Dubón tripled to lead off the game last night, extending his career-long hitting streak to 18 games… which is the longest hit streak in the Majors in 2023…his streak is the longest by an Astros since Michael Brantley’s 19g streak in 2019, and the longest by an Astros 2nd baseman since Jose Altuve’s 19g streak in 2017…Dubon is 26×77 (.338) during the streak with just 6 strikeouts…he has made all 19 of his starts at second base this season while filling in for the injured 2B Jose Altuve.
Longest Astros Hit Streaks – Before May 1 (source: Elias)
- Bob Watson – 19 games (4/9-27/1973)
- Mauricio Dubon – 18 games (4/2-current)
T3. Craig Biggio – 16 games (4/5-26/2000)
T3. Billy Hatcher – 16 games (4/6-23/1987)
UNDER THE RADAR: RHP Phil Maton and RHP Bryan Abreu have been outstanding in the early going this season…Maton has allowed just 2 hits and no runs in his first 9 appearances (10.2 IP) with 13 K’s…opponents are just 2×34 (.059) vs. him (RHH are 0x16, LHH are 2×18)…Abreu has tallied 19 K’s in his 12.1 IP while allowing just one run for an 0.73 ERA, also posting a .128 opponent’s batting average (5×39).
RACKIN’ UP RBI: LF Yordan Alvarez’ 27 RBI are tied for the most ever by an Astros player in the first 23 team games of a season.
Most RBI in First 23g – Astros Franchise History
T1. Yordan Alvarez: 27 in 2023
T1. Lance Berkman: 27 in 2006
- Jeff Bagwell: 26 in 1994
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP LUIS GARCIA
LAST START – 4/19 VS. TOR: had his most productive start of the season and one of the best starts of his career…tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts in the Astros 8-1 win…tied career highs in innings pitched and in strikeouts.
• marked the 5th time in his career that he’s recorded a career-high 9 strikeouts in a single game (last, June 15, 2022 at TEX)…also tossed a career-high 7.0 innings for the 7th time in his career (last, Sept. 3, 2022 at LAA).
• also was the first time in his career for him to toss 7.0 scoreless innings in a single game, previous career-high was 6.2 scoreless innings on Aug. 24, 2021 vs. KC.
ABOUT GARCIA: Venezuelan starter has pitched in parts of 4 seasons (2020-23) in Houston, going 27-19 with a 3.67 ERA (141ER/346IP) in 67 games (61 starts).
• has dominated right-handed hitters in his career, including this season…has allowed a .200 (10×50) opponent average and a .693 opponent OPS vs. right-handed hitters this season…in his career, has held righties to a .193 average (130×672)…lefties have hit 71 points higher against Garcia, posting a .264 average (162×613). vs. TB: will make 5th career start against Rays tonight, which includes an abbreviated start against them in the 2020 ALCS…was great against the Rays in 2022, going 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA (1ER/11IP) in his 2 starts vs. TB.
• a rookie in 2020, Garcia got the start in Game 5 of the ALCS vs. TB, which was played at Petco Park in San Diego…all 7 games of that series were played consecutively without off days, forcing the Astros to use Garcia in Game 5…that start was just his 2nd Major League start and his sixth appearance overall…tossed 2.0 hitless innings in the start, working around a pair of walks with a strikeout.
GARCIA’S NEW LOOK: prior to it being outlawed this season, had one of the most unique windups in the Majors, which was a mix of rocking a baby and a salsa dance…his windup was developed during the 2020 season as he worked at the Astros Alternate Training Site over the summer…Garcia did not have a strong origin story for his windup, instead saying he wanted a windup that he felt could be repeatable.
• according to Astros Pitching Coach Josh Miller, this offseason, Garcia simply returned to his windup style he used throughout his career prior to 2020 to get back in compliance with Major League rules.
BROTHERLY LOVE: Garcia has two brothers, including younger brother RHP Heribert Garcia (pronounced: eh-ree-bear), who the Astros signed to a minor league contract last week…he’s currently assigned to the Florida Complex League…the 23-year-old Heribert has spent the last 5 years within the Kansas City minor league system, last appearing with Single A Columbia in 2022…this is the latest instance of the Astros having brothers within their system, with Garrett and C.J. Stubbs both under contract from 2019-21, Carlos and J.C. Correa in 2021, and with Yainer and Victor Diaz currently
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
OUTSHINING THE ‘STROS — The Rays won their sixth consecutive game with an 8-3 series-opening victory over Houston on Monday night at Tropicana Field, improving to 14-0 at home…the Rays faced a pair of early deficits, 2-0 and 3-2, but plated four runs in the third inning to claim a 6-3 lead…LF Randy Arozarena (2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 2RBI, 2R, HBP) and C Christian Bethancourt (2-for-5, RBI, R) both drove in a pair of runs while SS Wander Franco (4-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2R, SB) matched a career high with four hits.
Making his third career start, RHP Taj Bradley (5.0IP, 4H, 3ER, 6SO) overcame a pair of early homers to retire each of the final nine batters he faced…became the third pitcher in MLB history (since 1901) to earn a win and strike out 6+ batters in each of his first three career starts, and the first since PHI Randy Wolf in 1999.
Tampa Bay became the seventh team in MLB history (since 1901) to win 20 of its first 23 games, including the first since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers (also 20-3)…only the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1911 Detroit Tigers (both 21-2) have recorded more victories in their first 23 games.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS — Prior to tonight’s game, the Rays selected the contract of RHP Heath Hembree from Triple-A Durham and activated OF Jose Siri from the 10-day injured list…the Rays also optioned RHP Taj Bradley and INF Vidal Bruján to Durham.
RED HOT AT THE TROP — Tampa Bay has won 14 straight home games to open the season, the longest home win streak in franchise history and longest to start a season in the modern era (since 1900)…in all of MLB history, the Rays have matched the 1885 Chicago White Stockings for the fourth-longest home win streak to open a season, trailing only the 1880 White Stockings (21G), 1886 Detroit Wolverines (18G) and 1884 St. Louis Maroons (16G), per Elias. Ê The 14-game home win streak is the longest in the majors since the New York Yankees’ 15-game run from 5/24-6/23, 2022…since 2012, only the 2022 Yankees and 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers (15G, 8/30-10/3, 2021) have strung together longer home win streaks within a single season.
The Rays lead the majors in several categories at home, including runs scored per game (7.29), runs allowed per game (2.43), hits (132), home runs (29), OPS (.925), ERA (2.41), opponents’ batting average (.171), opponents’ OPS (.532), WHIP (0.87) and pitcher strikeout rate (29.2%).
HOMER HAPPY — Tampa Bay has hit a major league-best 48 home runs, third most through a team’s first 23 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901) behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (52HR) and 2019 Seattle Mariners (49HR)…the Rays homered in each of their first 22 games, the longest streak to open a season in MLB history…marked the longest home run streak at any point in a single season since the 2019 Houston Astros (25G, 9/1-29, 2019).
The Rays homered in 23 straight games overall from 10/5/22-4/23/23, the longest streak in franchise history, surpassing a 21-game run from 9/20/15-4/12/16.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best 12 players with multiple homers, ahead of San Francisco and St. Louis (10 each)…the Rays are tied with Atlanta for the most players with at least five homers (4).
RANDY LAND — Randy Arozarena has amassed 24 RBI, third most in MLB behind TEX Adolis García (28) and HOU Yordan Alvarez (27)…matches the most RBI by any player through Tampa Bay’s first 23 games in club history (4x, last: Evan Longoria & Carlos Peña, 2009).
Arozarena paces the majors in both go-ahead RBI (8) and game-winning RBI (5)… since the beginning of 2022, his 29 go-ahead RBI are tied for fifth in MLB, while his 17 game-winning RBI are tied for seventh.
This season, Arozarena ranks among qualified MLB outfielders in hits (T2nd, 30), multi-hit games (T2nd, 9), total bases (T2nd, 51), batting average (3rd, .353), fWAR (4th, 1.3), OPS (5th, 1.018) and homers (T7th, 5).
GOING STREAKING — Harold Ramírez owns a 10-game hitting streak, slashing .447/.512/.737 (17-for-38) with 6 XBH and 7 RBI in that stretch…since the streak began on 4/12, he ranks among MLB leaders (min. 40PA) in average (2nd), on-base pct. (2nd) and OPS (5th, 1.248)…it matches the second-longest active streak in MLB behind HOU Mauricio Dubón (18G).
Christian Bethancourt is riding an eight-game hitting streak, batting .400 (12-for-30) with three doubles, 3 HR and 8 RBI in that stretch.
Yandy Díaz has hit safely in six straight games, producing a .462/.481/.731 (12-for-26) clip with five multi-hit games, 2 HR and 6 RBI in that span…he paces the majors in hits since the streak began on 4/18.
NO TIME TO LOSE — The Rays have scored 67 of their 157 (42.7%) runs in innings 1-3, outscoring opponents, 67-23 (+44) in those frames…the Rays have held a lead after three innings in 14 of their 23 games this season, winning all 14…Tampa Bay has posted a 19-0 record when leading or tied after three innings, compared to 1-3 when trailing.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK — The Rays lead the majors in runs scored (157) while surrendering the fewest runs (64)…Tampa Bay’s +93 run differential is the best mark through the first 23 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901), ahead of the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (+88)…the current record since 1901 through 24 games is +92, held by the 1902 Pirates.
Tampa Bay’s 157 runs scored are its most through 23 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (144R)…the Rays are one of 18 teams since 1901 to score 157+ runs through 23 games, and the first since the 2000 Chicago White Sox (176R) and 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (169R).
The Rays’ 64 runs allowed are the fewest through 23 games in club history, ahead of the 2019 team (68R)…since 2019, only the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers (57R) have allowed fewer runs through 23 games.
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.72 ERA is the best mark in the majors, ahead of New York-AL (3.16)…this includes the best starter ERA (2.67) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.79)…Rays pitchers pace the majors in opponents’ OPS (.569), opponents’ average (.192), HR/9.0IP (0.61), fewest pitches per IP (15.45) and WHIP (1.03) while trailing only Chicago-NL (86.8 mph) in lowest average exit velocity (87.3 mph).
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters lead MLB in batting average (.287), OPS (.896), on-base pct. (.360), slugging pct. (.536), extra-base hits (97) and total bases (422)…the Rays offense has produced the majors’ lowest groundball rate (37.9%) while tying for the second-highest flyball rate (29.5%) behind Los Angeles-NL (32.0%).
OUT OF THIS WORLD — The Rays and Astros continue their six-game season series tonight at Tropicana Field…Tampa Bay dropped five of six meetings with Houston in 2022, including all three at Tropicana Field…the three-game skid, which was snapped in Monday’s win, marked the longest home losing streak against Houston in club history…the Rays have dropped six of eight and seven of their last 12 matchups with the Astros overall.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP DREW RASMUSSEN (3-1, 2.01)
RAS EFFECT — Pitching in his sixth big league season, Rasmussen is coming off a career year in his first season as a regular member of the Rays rotation…went 11-7 with a 2.84 ERA (146.0IP, 46ER) over 28 starts, holding opponents to a .222 average (121-for-545)…was originally acquired by the Rays along with RHP J.P. Feyereisen on 5/21/21 in exchange for SS Willy Adames and RHP Trevor Richards.
CUT AND DRY — After adding his cutter to his arsenal during the 2021 offseason, Rasmussen utilized the offering 32.8 pct. of the time in 2022, the ninth-highest rate in MLB (min. 1,500 total pitches)…per Baseball Savant, the pitch produced a 30.0 pct. whiff rate, second-best in the majors on any pitcher’s cutter behind HOU Luis Garcia (42.8%) (min. 700 cutters thrown).
Has thrown his cutter 35.0 pct. of the time through three starts this season, inducing a 34.5 pct. whiff rate.
BACK ON TRACK — Rasmussen earned the victory on 4/19 at Cincinnati after throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out seven batters.
It was his third start of the season in which he tossed 5.0+ scoreless innings while striking out 7+ batters…Rasmussen is one of three pitchers to have three such starts this season, joining Atlanta’s Spencer Strider and Arizona’s Zac Gallen…Rasmussen has six such starts in his career, three of which came last season (4/27 vs. SEA, 5/18 vs. DET and 9/9 at NYY).
ANYTHING DREW CAN DO — Rasmussen saw his 13.0 scoreless inning streak to start the season come to an end after allowing a lead-off homer to George Springer on 4/13 at Toronto…the 13.0 scoreless inning streak was the fourth longest by a Rays starting pitcher to open a season in club history, trailing only Mark Hendrickson (14.0IP, 2006), Jeffrey Springs (13.2IP, 2023) and Matt Moore (13.1IP, 2013)…Rasmussen’s streak was also the 10th longest by any pitcher to begin a season in Rays history (Elias).
Name Dates IP
Mark Hendrickson 4/6-27, 2006 14.0
Jeffrey Springs 4/2-14, 2023 13.2
Matt Moore 4/5-17, 2013 13.1
Drew Rasmussen 4/3-4/14 13.0
Collin McHugh 5/6-9/30, 2021 12.0
HOUSTON, WE DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM — In three career starts vs. Houston, Rasmussen is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (18IP, 6ER) striking out eight against one walk…he earned the win in his last outing against the Astros on 9/30/22 at Minute Maid Park after tossing 7.0 innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
FAMILIAR FOE — In 11 career appearances (9 starts) vs. AL West opponents, Rasmussen is 7-2 with a 2.42 ERA (521P, 14ER)…Rasmussen tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts in his lone start vs. the AL West this year, earning the win vs. Oakland on 4/9.
