HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros and Angels will play the middle game of their three-game series tonight in Anaheim which features a matchup of lefties in LHP Framber Valdez opposite LHP Reid Detmers…Valdez has been on his game in two starts against the Angels in 2023, going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA (1ER/15IP) in those outings.
FRAMTASTIC: All-Star LHP Framber Valdez has once again been one of the top hurlers in all of baseball in 2023 as he enters tonight’s start sporting the lowest ERA in the Majors (2.51)…among AL starters, he also ranks first in opponent OPS (.603), second in home runs per 9.0 (0.57) and second in pitching WAR (3.5)…he became the first Astros pitcher to enter the All-Star Break with the lowest ERA in the Majors since RHP Roger Clemens in 2005 (1.48 ERA).
VS. THE ANGELS: The Astros and Angels meet for their third series of the year…the Astros are 6-2 to begin the season vs. their AL West rival and have won both series, including winning three-of-four at Minute Maid Park in early June… IF Alex Bregman has been phenomenal vs. the Halos in ‘23, batting .357 (10×28) with a double, triple, homer and eight RBI.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: This three-game set in Anaheim kicks off a nine-game, three-city road trip for the Astros, who are 26-19 (.578) in road games, which ranks second in the AL… after this series, the Astros will head to Denver for a two-game series against the Rockies starting Tuesday, and will finish out the road trip with a four-game series vs. the A’s.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS: The Astros beat RHP Shohei Ohtani and the Angels last night by a score of 7-5 in the opening game of the second half…the Astros hammered out 10 hits on the night, including big nights by 1B Jose Abreu (3×4, RBI) and RF Kyle Tucker (2×3, RBI)…RHP J.P. France (2ER/4.1IP) started for Houston and was followed by five relievers, who combined to allow just one run in 4.2 innings…with the win, the Astros improved to 3-0 against Ohtani this season and have scored 11 runs in 18.0 innings against the All-Star.
PITCHING IN: The Astros rank second in the Majors and lead the AL in team ERA (3.65)…they’re third in the AL in bullpen ERA (3.51) and fourth in starter ERA (3.74).
Lowest Team ERA – MLB Lowest Bullpen ERA – AL
- Atlanta: 3.59 1. New York: 3.16
- Houston: 3.65 2. Cleveland: 3.34
- Minnesota: 3.69 3. Houston: 3.51
ROOKIE RUMBLE: Of the nine starters the Astros have used this season, four are rookies…Houston has received 37 starts from rookie pitchers, ranking third in the Majors behind Oakland (46) and Cleveland (41)…all nine starting pitchers used by the Astros in 2023 are products of their minor league system.
SLAMMING THE DOOR: Astros closer RHP Ryan Pressly is on an incredible run, having tossed 12.0 consecutive hitless and scoreless innings over his last 11 appearances dating back to June 18…since that date, Pressly owns a 1-0 record and is ninefor-nine in save opportunities…additionally, dating back to June 21, Pressly has retired 30 of his 31 batters faced (one walk).
INJURY UPDATES: The Astros have been working through several injuries…below are a few updates on sidelined players:
- OF Yordan Alvarez (right oblique discomfort) was scheduled to start a rehab assignment last night with Triple A Sugar Land but that assignment was delayed due to illness…Alvarez has missed the last 29 games, last playing on June 8.
- 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) took soft toss and hit off a tee in the batting cages yesterday…his hitting and fielding work will continue to progress…Altuve has missed the last seven games and has missed a total of 50 games this season between two IL stints.
- OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) continues to hit off a tee in the batting cages…prior to the All-Star break, Brantley had progressed to hitting full BP before a shut down.
- RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) made his first rehab appearance last night in a start for Triple A Sugar Land, tossing 2.0 innings and 32 pitches (22 strikes), while allowing one hit and one walk and a pair of unearned runs…Urquidy will need multiple minor league rehab starts prior to his activation.
ROADIE: All-Star RF Kyle Tucker has an active 12-game hitting streak in road games, dating back to June 11…in those contests, Tucker is hitting .435 (20×46) and has reached base safely in 28 of his 54 plate appearances for a .519 OBP.
COMING UP CLUTCH: 1B José Abreu has 50 at-bats with runners in scoring position and two outs, which ranks second in the Majors, trailing only 3B Josh Jung (54)…he’s done his damage in those situations, hitting .420 (21×50) with 30 RBI… with runners in scoring position, regardless of the number of outs, Abreu is hitting .279 (24×86) with an .890 OPS.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: LHP FRAMBER VALDEZ
LAST START – 7/8 VS SEA: allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts in 6.0 inings, surrendering 2 walks…was his 1st start since June 27 at STL due to right ankle soreness…recorded his 13th quality start of the season.
SOUTHPAW: for his career, he’s recorded a 3.22 ERA (224ER/625.1IP), which is the best among left-handed AL starting pitchers and 6th among left-handed MLB starting pitchers since 2018.
COMPLETE GAME: on May 21 vs. OAK, Valdez delivered the 2nd complete-game shutout of his career, striking out 7 batters while allowing 4 hits and no walks through 9 scoreless innings…was the 1st complete-game shutout from an Astros pitcher since Valdez’s 1st career complete-game shutout on Sept. 12, 2022 at DET…was the 5th complete-game shutout from an Astros pitcher since 2017 with Valdez and Justin Verlander tossing 2 of them (May 16, 2018 at LAA, Sept. 1, 2019 at TOR), and Gerritt Cole contributing the other on May 4, 2018…were the fewest hits allowed in Astros complete-game shutout since Verlander’s no-hitter on Sept 1, 2019 at TOR…the last Astros pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout without issuing a walk was Dallas Keuchel on May 30, 2015 vs. CWS…is 1 of 5 AL pitchers to throw a complete-game shutout this season.
LEAGUE LEADERBOARD: ranks 1st in the Majors in ERA (2.51)…in the AL, also ranks 1st in groundball percentage (53.3), 1st in opponent OPS (.603), T-3rd in quality starts (13), T-8th in innings pitched (111.0), 9th in WHIP (1.05), 10th in strikeouts (116) and 11th in opponent’s batting average (.224).
REVERSE, REVERSE: has posted reverse splits to open his ‘23 campaign, holding right-handed hitters to a .220 batting average (77×350) while lefties are batting .250 (14×56)…traditionally, has been extremely tough on left-handed hitters, holding them to a .210 average (92×439) and a .613 OPS throughout his career, allowing just seven homers.
VS. LAA: is the foe he has faced the most in his career with 17 appearances (13 starts), posting a 3.46 ERA with a 9-4 record with 107 strikeouts vs the Halos…it is the only team he has over 100 K’s against…has 7 quality starts against them, including his last 4 starts vs LAA…has a 2.88 ERA (16 ER/50 IP) in his 8 games (6 GS) in Angel stadium.
SINK AWAY: by sacrificing about 4 inches of drop and adding 1.6 mph to the pitch, his sinker has a -15 run value per Statscast…only two pitches in the Majors have produced a better run value while no sinker has produced more outs than Valdez’s sinker (151).
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the second (0- 1) of nine games on a homestand to begin the second half of the season against the Houston Astros (0-1; July 14-16), New York Yankees (July 17-19) and Pittsburgh Pirates (July 21- 23)…Angels went 0-5 on last road trip before the break against the Padres (0-3) and Dodgers
(0-2)…Halos went 3-4 on last homestand against the White Sox (2-2) and Diamondbacks (1-2).
HOME SWEET HOME: In his last four home starts, Reid Detmers is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA (25.2 IP – 4 ER) and 35 strikeouts.
WINS AND LOSSES: Angels enter tonight’s game looking to snap a six game losing streak…This is the Halos losing streak since a six game stretch from Aug. 20-25, 2022…Last longer streak was the franchise record 14 game losing streak from May 25 – June 8, 2022.
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.85 ERA (34 IP – 7 ER) and has converted all 21 of his save opportunities this year…He set the franchise record for consecutive save chances converted to begin a season (previously Lee Smith converted his first 19 chances in 1995)…The only player in Angels history with a longer save streak without a blown save at any point in a season is Francisco Rodriguez (25 game streak in 2008 and a 22 game streak spanning 2005-06).
THE INJURED LIST: Angels currently have 15 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 24 times this year for 22 different players…The 15 players
currently on the IL are tied with Dodgers for the most in the Majors.
LEAGUE LEADER: As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in home runs (32), triples (6), total bases (228), XBH (53), slugging percentage (.659) and OPS (1.046)… On the mound, he also leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.192) and is third in strikeouts (139).
SHO OFF: Last night, Shohei Ohtani made his 18th career pitching start (fourth this season) for the Angels while also leading the Majors in home runs as a batter…In 2021 he became the first player with multiple pitching starts in a season while leading Majors in homers since Babe Ruth in 1919.
FIRST HALF HR KING: Shohei Ohtani was the Major League home run leader at the All-Star Break for the second time in his career (also, 2021)…According to ELIAS, he is the fourth player since 2000 to lead MLB in homers at the Break in multiple seasons, joining Barry Bonds, José Bautista and Aaron Judge.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES: Yesterday, the Angels reinstated LHP Matt Moore and INF Zach Neto from the injured list, recalled INF Michael Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake and selected the contract of INF Trey Cabbage…In corresponding moves, INF Anthony Rendon (left shin contusion) and OF Jo Adell (left oblique strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list, RHP Sam Bachman (right shoulder contusion) was placed on the 15-day injured list and INF David Fletcher was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake.
MY WISH: Starting tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. PT, the Angels will be featured as part of ESPN’s “My Wish” series, which highlights inspirational stories of children with critical illnesses who wish to meet their sports heroes…Eli, a six-year-old with a heart condition from Corsicana, TX, met Mike Trout earlier this season and the feature will air on SportsCenter throughout the day.
SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL: Tomorrow’s game vs. Houston will air on ESPN for “Sunday Night Baseball”… It will mark the first visit to Angel Stadium for Sunday Night Baseball since June 12, 2022 vs. New York (N.L.)…With the 4:10 p.m. start time, all totals from tomorrow’s game will still be considered day game statistics.
GETTING BACK TO .500: With a 45-47 record, the Angels are two games under .500 for the first time this season……Halos finished the first half within one game of .500 for the fourth time in the last five full seasons (see list below):
RECENT ANGELS (FULL SEASON) FIRST HALF FINISHES
2023: 45-46 (.495)
2022: 39-53 (.424)
2021: 45-44 (.506)
2019: 45-46 (.495)
2018: 49-48 (.505)
VS. HOUSTON: Astros lead the 2023 season series 6-2 after taking two of three in first series of the year at Angel Stadium from May 8-10 and three of four games in Houston from June 1-4, in addition to last night’s series opener.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP REID DETMERS
2-6, 4.31 ERA
In last four home starts, is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA (25.2 IP – 4 ER) and 35 strikeouts
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 17th start of the season today and 10th at home…Second start of 2023 vs. Astros… Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season…Is in third Major League season with Angels.
- HISTORIC STRETCH: From June 8 – July 2, had five straight starts with 8+ strikeouts and two-or-fewer runs allowed…The only other player in Angels history with such a streak was Nolan Ryan (seven games; his final three games in 1972 and first four in 1973).
- SUPPORT ME: Averaging 3.15 runs of support per nine innings this season, which is fifth-fewest in Majors (min. 80 IP).
- LAST TIME OUT: Took the loss in last start on Saturday at Dodgers after tossing 3.1 innings and allowing a career high seven earned runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts…The start came on his 24th birthday; was first Angels pitcher to start on his birthday in consecutive seasons since Mark Langston (1990-91)
- WINNING STREAK: With victories on June 8 and July 2, won consecutive decisions for third time in career.
- STAY UNFAMILIAR: This season, opponents are batting .204 (53/260) the first two times through the order, but are batting .379 (25/66) the third time through the batting order.
- EARLY SUCCESS: Has a 3.75 ERA (48 IP – 20 ER) in the first three innings of games, compared with an 5.01 ERA (37.2 IP – 21 ER) from the fourth inning on…20 of 46 runs allowed this year (43%) have come in 5th and 6th inning.
- GOING OFFSPEED: In 2023, is holding opponents to a .232 (47/203) average against off-speed pitches, including a .152 (7/53) clip on curveballs…Among A.L. pitchers, his .152 average against on curveballs ranks third (min. 50 PA ending on the pitch).
- VS. HOUSTON: In five career starts vs. Houston, is 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA (25.1 IP – 13 ER) and 23 strikeouts… This season, is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA (5 IP – 4 ER) and two strikeouts following first outing vs. Astros on June 1 at Minute Maid Park…Earned first career Major League win on Aug. 15, 2021 (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) vs. Houston at Angel Stadium.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 24 career games at Angel Stadium, is 7-6 with a 3.49 ERA (134 IP – 52 ER) and 146 strikeouts…This year, is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA (51 IP – 19 ER) in nine home starts…Last season, was 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA (72.2 IP – 26 ER) in 13 home starts, including no-hitter on May 10 vs. Rays (seventh individual no-hitter in Angel Stadium history).
- 12K: Matched career high with 12 strikeouts on May 19 vs. Minnesota and carried a no-hitter through 5.2 innings…Previously tallied 12 strikeouts on July 31, 2022 vs. Texas.
- STREAKS SNAPPED: Victory on June 14 ended a career-high streak of five consecutive losing decisions…Also ended streak of 10 straight winless starts to begin a season, which finished tied for third-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark – 12 starts in 1968 and Hector Santiago – 11 starts in 2014).
